Heathens - Twenty One Pilots

Nothing has changed.

This place that is.

From the outside it's still an abandoned old school, hidden to the side of the highway, down a barren street, surrounded by trees from either side to arrive upon a large parking lot with that old high school building up ahead. Appeared forgotten, but very much alive.

The headquarters of Phoenix.

And right behind this building is the neighborhood and urban streets where Jimin grew up in, all leading to the city of Busan that lies in along, far distance behind.

This is his district. Where he grew up. Where the poor relied on something powerful to finally feel like they have the upper hand in a society where they're spat on; used to overwork with little pay; not expected to achieve here than where they are now.

Phoenix.

Man, how nostalgic is it to be back here.

Jimin grimaces to the sight, adjusting the blazer on his body before moving forward. There's a few broken down cars stranded here, Phoenix Children either on it as they converse or do other shit that Jimin preferred not lingering his gaze on to dwell the familiar memories that's coiling in his head. He just continues with a head high, past the few crowds of children and hush whispers circulating the air as he passes by them to the front entrance.

This is when it began to feel like a whirl of memories grew more powerful and reflective.

Phoenix children are everywhere, despite how late it is; talking, cheering onto a friendly fighting match by the center of the lobby, hollering and howling on the staircases or on ground level with every single on of them glowing with a familiar tattoo on their skin. Others are moving around the hallways, many smoking, a couple drinking, large enough betting money.

A life Jimin use to be part of.

Actively.

Maybe now it has grown a bit more reckless since the last time he's been here, but this was the only place where everyone was equal and did not feel like an outcast.

As much as Jimin hated to admit it - but that's how he felt the second he stepped into the scene.

Like home.

Dammit.

"Been a long time fallen bird," A familiar voice spoke, one that made Jimin freeze in his stance, "Or should I say Jewel."

Jimin's eyes snaps to the tender yet amusing voice that oozes the pair of lips from beside him, slowly turning his head to see a male standing there next to him with a soft mess of dirty blonde hair now parted down the middle and caressing his handsome face in waves - as though he was the one fighting a few moments ago in there.

The same, everything about this man is still the same, perhaps just a tad bit older.

It made Jimin feel sick to his stomach, especially when he smiled at him.

"Joshua," Jimin kept his cool, muttering back, "Not so surprised to how you noticed me so fast."

"Oh you know I have such a great set of eyes," And he turns to stand in front of Jimin now, blocking the view of the fight, grinning more wider with eyes twitching, "Your breath is growing uneven, nervous?"

Jimin steps back, eyes narrowed to Joshua's quick analysis, but the man grabs his arm and takes a small sniff, gasping his lips, "Oh you were seeing a club owner? Hm, the smell of expensive cologne with cheap cigar and doses of cocaine is stained all over you. Causing trouble again?"

Similar to Minki's quick eyes to notice small details, Joshua's skill is almost the same but all around. He's sharp, so sharp that he can immediately tell where someone was in the past hour just by a second around them. Strong sense of smell, sight so clear to notice the faintest pulse thud against anyone's skin in nerves, hearing that no matter how loud a place could be he would still catch onto anything the more he focuses on it. Can't say so much about the taste but touch he can figure out a lot whether something is cocaine, salt, or sugar.

Many say he's gifted, but it's just the way he conditioned himself.

While growing up, Jimin would see Joshua studying heavily all around the human anatomy, even as young at five. From the last tissue and small bone in one's body, he memorized it all to perfection. Someone would even ask Jimin to question him things based on the notebook of notes he had.

From there he would practice how to noticed small things, study different senses and sounds and how one's focus is so important in order to notice such small details about a person. Since this place resonates with the art of fear hidden in the communities, he's had a lot of practice with people to enhance his skill.

It's amazing really, would made out to be a fine agent or doctor if he tried.

But he dropped out of high school due to wanting to provide help for mother, so he worked hard to give all that he earns to her. To this family.

That's how much he respects mother; how much everyone respects her really.

She's all they have.

At least she has Joshua, a first gen like Jimin, who was like her right hand.

Probably still is.

"Joshua," Jimin warns, glaring back at him, "I need to see mother."

Joshua tilts his head slowly to the side, lips gapped a little, "Oh, you are who she was waiting for. Silly me," And so his grip tightens on his elbow, "Let me lead you the way."

Jimin wanted to slap his hand off, but he just let him do the honors instead and used him to camouflage within the crowd to not catch so much attention then be attacked for being a Seeker.

Maybe once upon a time, Jimin's heart would leap to the single touch by this man on his skin, but now he just can't help himself but scowl as he guides him down the hallway - away from everyone else - and goes to the door that has office written on it.

Joshua just barges in, dragging Jimin along with him before letting him go.

"Oh mother! You have a guest!"

Jimin immediately gets into a stiff, straight posture, head facing ahead when a door in this office opens after the announcement; and out comes a familiar female, dressed in nothing but black fitting attire with her heavy combat boots and drips of red on her perky lips.

She hasn't changed, not a single bit, just like Joshua.

But she looks stronger than how she did at the hospital, fierce and in her true nature of being the most powerful person in the room.

To which she is.

When her eyes met Jimin's, he got into a resting position with hands to his back, still staring ahead.

And a slow smile twitches her lips, "Relax boy, you look like you're about to shit yourself," She snickers a laugh, easily going to the front desk and sits on it, facing him, "Didn't expect you to stop by so soon."

Good to know she still has her charming sense of humor.

"I said I would, right," Jimin remarks while relaxing to her order, glancing at Joshua's grinning face as he leans against the wall with arms crossed, "And I see you got a new person to be your Shadow."

"Well my previous Shadow was shot dead, fourteen times," Jimin's face dropped, being suddenly struck by the news, "The only first gen I have is you, this idiot, your brother, and two others lingering around. And of course Jihyo."

Suddenly out of the office that Mother came out of exits another familiar person, female, with messy brunette hair tied up with pretty curtain bangs hanging down over her face. She still carries this strong glow on her features, enchanting beauty that would make anyone drool - and not just from physical features, but her unique intelligence.

The second she saw Jimin's face, she seems to immediately recognize him and suddenly smiles brightly.

"Well look who rose up from the ashes," The new woman, Jihyo, coax with a grin as she goes and stands in front of Mother while still facing Jimin, "Want another empire to hack down for messing with our family?"

Jimin tried not to frown to her words - even if it was meant as a praise than a mock - but only remains with his expression still being motionless, even after seeing Mother rolling her eyes to Jihyo but tugs her back by the shoulders so she could stand between her legs, wrapping her arms around her shoulders with a chin to the crown of her head.

"Leave our boy alone," Mother scolds, making Jihyo snicker but rest her elbows back to Mother's thighs with fingers drumming her knees, "Alright Jimin, if you're here then it must mean you handled the problem, correct?"

Curtly Jimin nods, "That's right. It all fell accordingly - He now knows I'm the Runaway Fallen, he set my friend free but in return he wants me to make it official that I am a Phoenix Child."

Mother twitches a grin, "Just as you said you would happen, smart kid," She murmurs to herself, "I know you said you did not want Phoenix involved with this issue and you did not want anyone knowing you're the Runaway Fallen for obvious reasons, are you sure you don't want us to handle it thought?"

"Your protection will be enough. I'll handle the rest."

This time Joshua perks a chuckle, "You'll handle it alright," He mutters, picking at the black paint of his nails, tugging the lip piercing with his teeth, "With a man like that, who wants to kill you to make others suffer, it's pretty hard to just handle it."

This dude is so fucking annoying.

Jimin rolls his eyes and snaps him, "Not only do I have one, but two people after me. The second person wants to actually torment me, so if you got any brilliant ideas, start speaking the fuck up."

Joshua smile falls, his sharp dark eyes snapping to Jimin with a deep scowl on his face to the harsh tone that dripped out of Jimin's mouth.

Okay, maybe Jimin should've watched it a tad bit.

He's not back him, he's in Phoenix territory now.

They don't fuck around.

"Alright knock it off," Mother broke the glaring session between the two, "We will proceed with the initiation and trust your gut that you got it covered. Once you get the mark, anyone who sees it will know you're part of Phoenix and will report to us if you are in danger or need assistance. However that mark also brings issues. Businesses will probably not accept you in jobs due to rebellious accusations. Knowing this, are you still sure you want to continue?"

This is for Jeongguk and Taehyung.

Just as boss said, if he does this, he will make sure they won't be tormented.

He has to stick with his own work.

Jimin slowly looks back to Mother, lips pursed tightly together but gives a final nod.

And Mother smiles, pressing a kiss to Jihyo's head - who was equally smiling brightly - before she nods and leans back, "Glad to have you back -"

A quick knock suddenly hits the door, not even waiting for it to be given the permission to pass before it was barged open by a young girl, who's looking quite startled and stiff as she lets her eyes find mother.

"We have a Seeker."

Jimin furrows his eyebrows to the nickname, remembering it being refer to as someone who's not a Phoenix Child being spotted in the building. They don't usually have Seekers here, and if they do it's usually to stir up problems against them.

Hm, guess he's about to experience a show so soon.

Mother sighs, getting off the desk as Jihyo moves to give her space, and she nods to Joshua and Jimin, "Come with me, may never know who it can be."

As if compelled to, Jimin finds himself following behind her with Joshua beside him as well, meanwhile Jihyo strays behind with an amusing smile and a baseball bat in hand. Jimin was prepared really, to jump in and be a shield for Mother in case she is in a line of fire. That use to be his task before leaving; being her shield. Maybe because he's quick, or he can read the room quite easily, and Jimin would never let anything bad happen to her in the process, not even a scratch on her skin.

That's why they called him Jewel, because of how valuable he was to Mother.

And how valuable she is to him.

Him, along with the few she previously mentioned, Jihyo and the Shadow who passed, helped her build this community. Without them, she wouldn't be where she is now. They have taken care of each other while being kids, saw one another live off in the streets and barely survived off pieces of bread a day. They were there for each other through their worst, and best.

You could say Jimin has built the best connection with Mother, and it wasn't because he just respects her. They work well together on running things, protect each other like iron shields, and care for each other like family.

No matter how far Jimin travels, he will still be Mother's favorite boy.

And best friend.

Even if right now it doesn't show due to their respective roles. Even if she's not far from his age, he still has to refer to her as mother, and she still has to refer to him now as her child - like how she does to everyone here.

So that's why Jimin confidently walks behind her like a soldier ready to charge into battle, keeping his appearance fierce and expressionless. Meanwhile Joshua beside him whistles, skipping and twirling in his feet, the knife he had in his stealth out now as he drags the tip against the lockers with a careless smile.

Some things never change.

Coming upon the scene now, Jimin can't really see anything because of the crowd they are approaching. However it began to open as Mother made her appearance, and she easily walks slowly towards the center to see two of her children holding a guy down by the arms to their knees.

He must've tried to pull a fight, silly move.

Mother tusks, crossing her arms over her chest, "Lift your head up kid, who are you?"

The guy didn't move at first, but after an aggressive push on the shoulder, he grunts and slowly moves his head up.

And Jimin's blood froze.

Face now coiled in horror, losing complete composure to what he previous had, he couldn't help but whisper.

"Karma?"

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A/N:

.........

Looks like Taehyung did not come to play....

Oh boy.

I PURPLE YOU! <33