The previous night :

Jimin's pov -

It's been a few days and simply lying here and staring at this stupid perforated hospital ceiling couldn't have gotten more boring.

I shifted my arm a little to the side, trying not to strain my wounded shoulder as i lift my sore back from the bed and toss over to one side.

A groan left my mouth, causing the man sat on the couch hiding behind his newspaper to divert his attention to me.

"You okay?" Yoongi held the tall papers away from his face, his pale skin coming into view.

"Do i look like it?" I spat back, rolling my eyes at his attempts to appear concerned.

Yoongi sighed, folding the papers and keeping them away as he reached for the foot of my bed.

"It's been a few days and the doctor said you were already recovering so i asked--"

"Exactly my point," i interrupted him, making him scoff but i didn't care about his attitude at the moment," Why the fuck am i still here then?"

Yoongi flashed an incredulous look before shaking his head patronizingly at me.

"You know you need to rest for the whole week." he said as a matter of fact and i held in a sneer.

"Sure... but i don't get why you suddenly care." I questioned, trying not to make my voice lace too much with mockery. It did.

"Chi-" He stopped, inhaling shortly at how my face contorted at the nickname that never came out," I mean Jimin, please. Can we not- can we not put everything behind us and try to make things work? At all?"

I felt my face heat up, anger beginning to rise through each of my veins as i shot him a glare that i wished could turn him to dust at that very moment.

"Behind us? Put everything behind us you say?" I raised my voice, lifting my body to sit up on the bed. He reached out to help me but i stopped him with a palm to his face, not wanting the man anywhere closer to me. "You're asking me to put behind whatever happened? Forget all that you did to me? Well isn't it easy for you to ask that Min Yoongi?"

I know my shouting on the top of my voice inside an infirmary wasn't the most ideal thing to do but i couldn't help it. Especially considering the fact that this was the first time we were talking about that dreadful night.

"Jimin i really don't have time for this right now," Yoongi sighed, pinching his nose in exasperation.

"Ofcourse. Ofcourse you don't, Min. It's not like i expected anything out of you anyway," i turned away from him, voice clogging up in my throat.

It was basically a lie. The fact that i didn't expect anything out of him. The truth was that i did. I did expect him to apologize to me after whatever happened, whatever he did to us. And i still do. As dumb as it may sound.

But he didn't have to know that. Not right now, not ever.

A loud ring broke the uncomfortable silence forming in the cabin, reverberating from his trouser pocket until he reached for it and held it close to one ear.

"What did you find out?" Yoongi asked the caller, his perfect brows drawing together into a grim frown.

The line buzzed from the other end indicating someone was talking, but i couldn't hear what they said.

"What?" Yoongi suddenly blurted, too loudly for that matter and had my attention instantly when he uttered the next words," so the call to the police on the day of the raid... was made from his phone?"

I furrowed my brows, not knowing who was being talked about. But fuck... they caught a police informer?

Who could it be??

Yoongi looked up when he noticed my curious gaze plastered on his face and held the phone away, mumbling out a small 'I'll be right back' before walking out of my cabin.

I allowed the door to swing shut completely after him before crawling out of my bed and tip toeing towards it. Fortunately that idiot chose to go on with his conversation right outside the door, making it easy for me to eavesdrop him.

Ofcourse i was going to. He joined this gang after me, what makes him think he can hide shit from me?

"So It was him." I heard him say, his voice sounding muffled as i pressed my ear against the wooden door," We've had our suspicions."

The caller replied with something from the other side, dragging it on for a long minute whilst killing me with silence and curiosity alike.

I finally heard Yoongi sigh before he opened his mouth again.

"Yes, Namjoon hyung. It was difficult to believe for me to at first. Then we caught some embedded signals entering our network area today. Hoseok suspects it was the Korean NIS* trying to break in. But the worst part was that they had been given a lead first. Like a number, or a call that was made from here in order for them to find us."

I frowned, taking in the new information. Whoever this insider was seemed to have planned it all beforehand and quite perfectly at that, peeking my interest in finding out who it was.

But what i heard next had my thoughts freezing at the back of my head.

"Yes. It means Taehyung contacted them first. Probably just around the same time he informed the American police of our location. I got the records checked multiple times like Jungkook asked me to and they're a clear match. Infact, Taehyung still has his phone right now and recently had a 7.5 minute long conversation with the old police chief from his village. I can't  believe we were only two and half minutes away from being busted right there!" Yoongi said and by his voice i could tell how frustrated he was about the whole ordeal.

But i, on the other hand, was barely able to process any of this. I slowly moved away from the door, watching it in shock as i let the information sink in.

Taehyung was the police informer?

The insider who outed us not only to the L.A police but the Korean National police too?

I couldn't bring myself to believe it. It just sounded... odd. I admit i didn't know the boy too well, nor did we ever share a proper bond from the time he joined us last month, but Taehyung... a police informer?

I agree staying in the mafia has definitely taught each of us one thing and that was to not even trust or spare our own shadows at times like these. And i admit i had myself once suspected the boy of being a spy owing to his obvious policing background back then, but the same thought just didn't feel right at the moment.

Something just didn't feel right.

My palms began to sweat, mind growing restless as i thought more and more about the boy. I don't even know why my heart was refusing me to believe this.

Or maybe i did know why.

The dainty cop definitely wasn't one of my favorites but i couldn't put aside the fact that he was... not really a bad person. I realized this not long ago when he saved my life that one time at the grocery store. Taehyung could've just let me die there, afterall i was one of his kidnappers too right?

Moreover, there was this other emotion that i felt for him. Although diminutive, it was very much there, something in him that i could relate with myself and it probably made us both pretty similar too.

We both were doomed to love the wrong men.

I immediately sensed Taehyung had probably fallen in some deep trouble. The odds all spoke against him and very strongly at that. And knowing Jungkook's father he must've gotten to know about it already, which was bad news. Very bad.

I quickly reached for the door again, pressing my ear against it and trying to take in the leftover bit of whatever conversation still went on.

This time Yoongi was speaking to someone else, his voice more controlled and somber like it was when he spoke to our boss. I heard him brief the man about Taehyung's telephone records being a perfect match.

A beat passed and i held my breath, waiting alongside Yoongi for Jungkook's next orders. And then he said it. It was inevitable but i felt my heart drop down to my stomach when i heard them.

"Got it sir. He will be executed tomorrow itself. Goodnight sir." He spoke professionally, as if to cover the sliver of emotion he might've felt at that moment. I instantly felt bad for him.

Knowing Yoongi and how reserved he was around newer people, he had exceptionally developed a soft spot for Taehyung. From the very beginning if i might add. And having to be the one to kill him after finding out about his apparent betrayal was going to be just as difficult.

But it was his job, just as it was Jungkook's.

And being obviously smarter than the rest, my job was to not let it happen at any cost.

I heard Yoongi walk away and down the corridor, calling for a nurse and took the chance to get my phone from the bedside table. Looking over my shoulder to be extra cautious, i dialed the only person who i know i could trust with this.

"Hello?" Hoseok greeted from the other side, sounding sleepy and confused. I greeted him back before quickly briefing him about everything i heard earlier, along with the rough plan to rescue Taehyung.

"Jimin... are you sure about this? We have evidence against Taehyung. We shouldn't be helping him." Hoseok asked back, sleep gone and now only worry seeping through his voice.

"Having evidence doesn't prove anything! I know mafia don't operate like the police or the criminal courts but just think about it, anyone could've called them using Taehyung's phone right? All those phones records can be circumstantial or fake even... maybe someone's trying to frame the poor guy??" I reasoned with him, knowing i was risking quite a lot by trying to save an accused informer purely on the basis of my gut feeling. But i couldn't help it when it felt like the right thing to do.

"Its possible," Hoseok hummed thoughtfully, "But who could frame Taehyung and why?"

"Guess we'll find that out later," i told him, throwing a quick glance at the closed door," but for now listen to me carefully. We can't convince Yoongi to not do his assigned job because that'll  just complicate things, so the only way out is to follow them and get Taehyung out of there as soon as possible."

"What do you need me to do?" He asked and i bit my lip apprehensively.

"Find Yoongi in the morning and put a tracker on him, then send me his location." I blurted my idea and as expected, heard the other gasp from the other side.

"Jimin! That's-- i can't do that--"

"Hyung please," i begged, mind whirring with odd feelings," Taehyung's your friend too right? Don't you think he should be atleast given a chance to explain himself?"

The line went silent for a whole minute. I bit my lip again, hoping it does the trick.

"Please hyung... i owe him this one--"

"I get it." The older replied and surprisingly enough gave in to my request,"but if anything goes wrong, and he turns out to be the culprit, you know what to do."

"Yes. I'll kill him myself." I told him, meaning that too. I definitely would if it turned out like that and there was no questioning it.

"Consider it done then. Let's go save our friend!"

I smiled gratefully and thanked him before hearing footsteps echo on the empty corridor on the other side of the door. I quickly hung up and threw my phone back onto its usual place before diving back into my bed.

Just as i did, Yoongi swung the door open and walked into my cabin. I pretended to have fallen asleep but could still feel him shuffling for a pretty long while as if he was simply pacing back and forth in the room.

The shuffling eventually stopped when i heard a familiar squeak of the sofa, indicating he was probably resting.
Then I closed my eyes too, nerves buzzing as i hoped everything went as planned for the next day.

Not for Yoongi, preferably.

________________________________________

The present day:

Evening fell over the quiet country skyline, turning it into a light pink hue that expanded vastly over barren honey soaked fields dotted with little villages.

Jimin's car proceeded on soundlessly, sticking onto an unknown dusty route that consistently took them further and further away from the rest of developed America.

Much like the outside, a characteristic silence hung over the atmosphere inside the compact vehicle as well. Although oddly enough, it wasn't so uncomfortable.

Jimin reached to his right and pulled the gear down, slowing down the car to save all the leftover gas for their ongoing destination-less journey. He glanced to the side, a sigh leaving his lips when he found the blue haired boy sitting in the same position for the last three hours, blankly looking out of the window.

"Uh so... are you hungry?," Jimin began awkwardly, trying to make some conversation to cut the silence,"the roadmap said we would find a place to eat right ahead on this route."

His words hung in the air, the boy not even batting an eyelid at his attempt to make conversation. The older cleared his throat in embarrassment. This was probably the first time he was having a civil talk with the boy and he clearly didn't know what else to say.

"Um, do you perhaps... want some water then?" Jimin tried again.

Taehyung seemed to have finally broken out of his trance and moved a little, blinking up at the older.

Slowly he nodded his head in compliance, making the older crack a smile and quickly reach for a bottle of packaged water from the backseat before handing it over to him.

Taehyung accepted it, unscrewing the cap and gulping large contents at one go. He finished with the bottle and placed it next to him on the seat before resuming what he had been doing earlier, stare out of the window.

The ravenette took the clue that he probably needed to be left alone with his thoughts for now. Who wouldn't, after being nearly killed on the orders of someone you loved? But to his surprise, Taehyung was the one to speak up first.

"T-thank you."

The said boy turned to look at Taehyung, who was still facing away, eyes fixed at nothing in particular.

"You don't need to say that," the older sighed, feeling a pang of sympathy for the boy. Taehyung lowered his head, a melancholic smile lacing his dry lips.

"But i do," he replied, finally looking up to meet his eyes. That's when Jimin noticed how empty and lifeless they looked, almost as if all life had been sucked out of him. "I d-do need to thankyou f-for saving my life."

"I never thanked you for saving mine either. Now we're even i guess." The older shrugged, training his eyes on the road ahead and the dusk looming overhead.

Taehyung shrugged back, quietly fiddling with his fingers.

"I was accused of treason against your own gang. I don't think It's the same." He stated somberly.

The other paused for a moment, thinking deeply.

"I know. And i... also know what im risking by trying to rescue a suspect." The older replied just as seriously, making the younger look up at him.

"Then why?"

Jimin remained quiet, not knowing what to say to that. He knew his reasons but he wasn't sure if saying them aloud would make the least bit of sense at the moment. Thankfully Taehyung didn't question him further, probably too tired to process anything.

"Can i ask you something?" Jimin suddenly asked, the boy only nodding in response. He sucked in a sharp breath and faced him again.

"I want you to be honest with me and tell me the whole truth. I want to know what really happened that got you in that spot, Tell me everything. And don't you dare lie or hide a thing from me otherwise I won't hesitate to kill you myself. Can i trust you with this Taehyung?" 

The blue haired boy bit his lip, tears falling down his eyes again. Trust. Of all people in this big wide world, the only person who was showing trust towards him was this-- his so called enemy. Something that even his own people back at home couldn't do for him.

Taehyung felt like laughing but only tears came out. Endlessly, as he began telling him what he asked for. He told him everything in detail, right from the night Jungkook began distancing himself, to losing his phone at the party and finding it in Seokjin's room and then the missing call logs. Everything.

By the time he was done, night had already drawn upon the skies and their car had stopped moving, resting by some shabby shack on the way.

Jimin dropped his hands, literally stunned at the revelation Taehyung just made. He carefully assessed the boy's face and realized that he had infact been speaking the truth. It was quite evident from the disorganised details given and the lack of the boy's motive to betray them at all.

So he was right about Taehyung being innocent all along!

Well... that was a relief.

On the other hand, If Taehyung was speaking the truth then that would mean someone had actually framed the boy as the informer. Not only that, but the real informer was probably still there, aiming his next target on the gang.

Fuck, Jimin had to stop whoever this was. And that too before he got too late.

The ravenette quickly pulled his phone and dialed Hoseok, the older picking up  at first ring.

"Jimin what the fuck? Didn't i ask you to call as soon as you get out of there?? Is Taehyung okay?"

"Hyung we were right. Taehyung's innocent." Jimin interrupted him, pressing his temples in worry. He then proceeded to fill the elder in about the important details, hearing as the older gasped in confusion and surprise.

"That's fucked up!" Hoseok let out and Jimin hummed in agreement.

"But hyung... we're still to find out who did it and why they framed only Taehyung out of everyone. We have to do something and quick."

"Thats right, I'm onto it don't worry. Where are you guys headed by the way?"

"I'm not sure... and i don't see a proper place to rest so the car it is. We'll see where to go in the morning. Any news from Yoongi?" Jimin asked back, checking the time on his watch.

"Yep he called me to ask what the fuck was going on and i kinda filled him in on our plan as well. Like you said, it wasn't easy to convince him and it literally took me a few hours and a whole ass contract to make him shut his mouth."

Jimin chuckled at the older's frustration but for once, he didn't regret putting themselves into trouble like this. Taehyung deserved it.

"That's classic Yoongi for you. Anyway im glad he didn't follow us or go snitch to his boss immediately," the younger rolled his eyes.

"Come on Jimin-ah... he's not that bad, you know that." The orange head sighed but Jimin had already hung up with a blunt 'sure whatever, just ask him to stay quiet for now.'

As soon as Jimin put his phone away, Taehyung bombarded him with questions.

"What are we g-going to do now?? What happens when they find out about what you did and me still being alive?? What if J-jungkook finds out?? You think he'll believe me this time?"

Jimin couldn't help the little smile lacing his lips.

"And what... if he never finds out?" He said, as his smile twisted into a small smirk.

"Wh-what does that mean?" Taehyung asked, confused.

"You'll see."

_________________________

A/n: This chapter still needs a few edits. Since I've felt my writer's block popping up here and there, this one was pretty difficult to write too.

Do you understand Jimin's pov better?

And are you ready for some repentance from the boss himself? ;)

See ya soon! Please watch BTS' Indian interview. I loved it 💜