Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will.
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The Art of War
Sun Tzu

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A sudden coldness washed through Taehyung's body, locking his limbs and suffocating his breath. This . . . This couldn't be true.

This couldn't be happening. 

These two pieces of papers - a birth certificate and a paternity test tying his father to another son - had to be illegitimate. The inky lettering and bold stamps were probably forged by an experienced professional; the witness signatures were most likely falsified. Even the table that compared DNA data and confirmed the relation between the child and parent had to be counterfeit.

This all had to be one corrupt and illogical scheme.

Because if it wasn't - if the documents were valid and authentic - that meant two people Taehyung trusted with every fiber of his being had lied to him for years. People he looked up to, people he idolized, could have deceived him for years. 

Years.

Just thinking of the possibility left him disoriented and dizzy, with his heart thrashing against his rib cage and his lungs unable to suck in much-needed air. Every inch of his skin tingled with an other-worldly apprehension, an innate awareness that he was nothing but a clueless, defenseless pawn in a game he didn't fully understand.  

And as much as Taehyung wanted to deny, deny, deny, he couldn't. Deep down, a small, nagging feeling - one that would be easy enough to ignore for the time being - took root in his core and began to grow. It burned brighter and overthrew each conscious thought until he knew. He knew these creased, yellowed papers were real; he knew his loved ones had concealed this information from him.

Really, he shouldn't be so surprised. The world Taehyung lived in was nothing more than a web of gossamer lies, a gorgeous illusion that lured in its unknowing prey. From afar, the untold truth painted the perfect picture, an intrigue for all to admire. Legitimacy and deceit were finely spun and interwoven, making it impossible to discern fact from fiction.

But that web was also fragile. One wrong move would destroy the entire facade; a vindictive hand could corrupt the sticky weavings and tear it all down within an instant.

Taehyung was aware of all of this; he acknowledged how pretty lies could become if twisted in just the right way. And even though he knew these things, he still instinctively trusted those around him. He put his faith in others. He always accepted their deceptions as universal truths and assumed they had his best interest in mind.

No foul play was ever suspected. 

But his loved ones betrayed him, and that hurt infinite times more than any treachery from his faceless enemies or malicious ex. They played him like a fool, holding onto their secret knowledge all while setting their traps from the sidelines. And Taehyung unknowingly fell into that trap; he was caught in a web of someone else's making.

And now, all Taehyung had known up until this moment was put to the test . . . He questioned everything he was once taught. And with the weight of this discovery, he no longer knew who could be trusted or where he should turn to for honest answers.

So much had changed within an instant, tilting Taehyung's world on its axis and introducing him to a slew of fresh doubts. And that was all because of two flimsy pieces of paper, because of the names on those papers that linked father and son together.

Kim Chinhwa and Namjoon.

Namjoon, the man whom Taehyung owed everything. Namjoon, the man Taehyung spent the last three years of his life with. Namjoon, the man whom Taehyung couldn't save.

The man who did so much for Taehyung, who protected his life with his own, was his brother.

Or using Jungkook's own words - the words he spoke the day they first met - his half-brother. His brother by blood.

Brother.

The very ironic part of this all was how badly Taehyung wanted a brother when he was younger. He longed for that built-in friend, that confidante he could get into trouble with and learn from. He thought it would be the best thing in the world to have a guaranteed supporter, someone who would cheer for him no matter what. But when he begged his parents to give him a sibling, they had laughed it off and told him to keep on wishing.

So he did.

Up until his tenth or eleventh birthday, he never stopped hoping that his wish would come true. But, as he got older and realized siblings weren't bought in some store, he let go of those prayers. He stopped wishing.

But somewhere along the line, fate had decided to play a rather cruel game with him. It gave Taehyung the brother he always dreamed of having, just to rip him away when he couldn't pull his fucking trigger.

This knowledge caused nausea to swell up within Taehyung's stomach; it made the room spin in circles around him. The muscles at the back of his throat constricted until it was almost impossible to swallow, and the tears . . . Fuck, the tears blinded his vision until his immediate surroundings became nothing more than a drab blur. Everything he felt - grief, guilt, injustice - bubbled to the surface and escaped through the salty liquid coating his cheeks. Though one emotion remained, festering inside of his heart and pumping through his veins.

Anger.

Taehyung was so fucking angry. Angry at the world for dealing him this hand. Angry at himself for not better protecting his family. Angry that he was kept in the dark for so long. And perhaps what Taehyung was most angry about was that Namjoon probably knew the entire time. The elder - his brother - knew of their connection throughout his tenure as a bodyguard, and yet he said nothing. 

Namjoon acted the part of Taehyung's paid protection and nothing more.

Nothing. More.

And that awareness constricted Taehyung's lungs more so than before, leaving him to gasp in short, shallow breaths.

"Tae?" Jungkook's voice seemed very far away as he set down the documents he held, quickly refilling his empty hands with Taehyung's. "Can you look at me?"

The warmth of the younger's hands helped redirect the raging fire igniting Taehyung's core. He focused on that touch alone as he turned towards his boyfriend, doing everything in his power to pull himself together. Even still, his voice shook as he finally spoke.

"When did your mother give Namjoon that book? The Art of War?"

Jungkook's eyebrows scrunched together as he gnawed at his lower lip, a clear sign he was sifting through his memories. "It was right before she left. I was sixteen, so Joon had to be around nineteen."

As much as Taehyung would love to believe the book was just some kind offering from an errant mother to her well-read son, he knew better. Based on everything the younger once said about his mother's terrible parenting skills, it was highly unlikely she wanted to leave her eldest with a parting gift. No, the woman probably used the book as a front, as a way to safeguard the truth of Namjoon's identity.

"I was never allowed anywhere near it," the younger continued, the sound of revelation coating his tone. "Namjoon told me the book was his most prized possession, an invaluable belonging that I wasn't to touch without his permission. I thought he was just a nerdy bookworm, so I never questioned it. But now . . ."

"Now, we know why," Taehyung finished for him, his words low and bitter. Sure enough, his body temperature steadily increased as the sound of blood pounding in his ears muted everything else. "That book confirmed the name of his birth father. And if he really had those documents since he was nineteen, he knew the whole time we worked together. He knew we were brothers, and yet he never said anything."

A soft hum of consideration sounded from Jungkook, who was rubbing soothing circles over Taehyung's knuckles. "Do you think your dad might have forbidden him from talking to you about it?"

It was a good thought, though highly unlikely. "If my dad was that concerned about keeping Namjoon a secret, I don't understand why he would've allowed him to be my bodyguard in the first place. And it's not like he didn't know Namjoon got the gig . . . He sat in on the final interview with me."

None of it made sense to Taehyung. Fuck, he needed to talk to two people so badly, but one of them was dead and the other he didn't exactly trust at the moment.

Once again, he found himself entrapped in a web, his wings torn and his body bound. And with each new question came another snare; every misgiving unveiled additional falsehoods. The simple, uncomplicated life Taehyung once knew was a thing of the past, a distant memory.

And while this discovery unnerved him to no end, leaving Taehyung with an overabundance of information that he couldn't process quickly enough, he found comfort in the fact that he wasn't alone. Unlike his previous episodes of confusion and anxiety, he now had a loved one by his side.

He had Jungkook this time around.

And his love, who had his lower lip secured in between his teeth, wore a pensive expression as he broke their momentary silence. "Angel, I think I know the answer to this question, but I need to make sure. You and I aren't related, right?"

Squeezing their interlinked hands, Taehyung shook his head. "No, sweetheart, we're not related. We may share a half-brother, but we don't share a parent."

The younger exhaled a deep, long breath, his shoulders relaxing noticeably. "Thank fuck. That's what I thought, but . . . I don't know what I would've done if we were."

Taehyung didn't know either, but luckily neither of them needed to put much thought into the subject. But on a similar topic, more confusion remained.

"You once told me that your mother's affair was kept a secret for years, that none of you knew your father wasn't related to Namjoon," Taehyung started, licking his lower lip as he recalled all he once learned from the younger. "How did you find out? Did . . . Did my dad come for him?"

Jungkook's lips twisted into a pained frown. "No, my mother admitted to what happened. She was always such a spiteful woman to us all, but especially to my father. Whenever she got worked up - or was drinking too much - she'd compare him to some lost love of hers. She never went into much detail, but we knew this guy apparently meant a lot to her.

"But what we didn't know," the younger went on, "was that she met this man a couple of years after my parents got married. She unloaded that bomb when she was shit faced, practically smiling when she saw our devastated reactions. And maybe she just liked hurting my dad, but after he started to get emotional, she revealed that Namjoon wasn't even his son."

A small puff of air pushed through Taehyung's lips. "Wow. She really said all that in front of you and Namjoon?"

"Yeah," the younger admitted quietly, tilting his head down to look at their clasped hands. "And even though I was only eight, witnessing that made me lose faith in love and relationships. It became difficult to trust others. But . . . I trust you. I love you, Tae. And finding out about Joonie and your dad . . . I'm so sorry."

When his boyfriend kept his gaze downturned, Taehyung gently shook his hands free. He brought them to Jungkook's face, cupping his cheeks and holding him reverently. "You have no reason to be sorry, Kook. You didn't know. You couldn't have known."

Jungkook finally met Taehyung's eyes again, a deep sadness spilling from the depths of his soul. "That doesn't mean I don't hurt for you. I can't even begin to imagine what you're feeling."

"I don't understand half of what I'm feeling either," Taehyung admitted with a shrug. "Part of me is so fucking angry that both my dad and Namjoon hid this from me. Another part is guilty . . . I didn't save my brother from a death I could've prevented."

Jungkook's eyes narrowed at that, presumably upset that Taehyung still blamed himself for the two murders. "Tae -"

"But then I'm also confused," he cut right back in, needing to get all of his thoughts out. "Fuck, Kook. I'm so fucking confused. I just don't see my dad as the sort of person to have an affair. He loved my mom so much; I don't doubt that for an instant. But when I consider the possibility of him cheating . . . That hurts in a different way."

The younger took hold of Taehyung's wrists, lowering them from his face. He scooted backward on the bed, leaning against the headboard as he patted the space next to him. "Come sit with me."

Without pause, Taehyung crawled up the bed and laid down beside his boyfriend. He rested his head in his lap, briefly closing his eyes when Jungkook started carding through his hair.

"Let's talk this through. Do you know when your parents met?" Jungkook asked as he brought his other hand to hook over Taehyung's waist.

A soft smile tugged on the corners of Taehyung's mouth. "Yeah, my dad loved telling me the story. It was New Year's Eve of 1993. They met at a mutual friend's party, and as soon as he saw my mom, he knew he wanted to be her New Year's kiss. They talked and danced most of the night, but my dad really wanted to impress her. So he went outside and built a snowman, hoping it would come off as a big romantic gesture.

"But he ended up getting locked outside of the house and missed the countdown to midnight," Taehyung chuckled, easily envisioning his parents' goofy grins when they retold this same story. "It wasn't for another hour or so that my mom finally found him outside, but when she did, she kissed him. After that, he said he knew she was it . . . That she was the person he wanted to love for the rest of his life. They were married in June of 1994."

The gentle smile that had adorned Jungkook's lips spread into one more confident. "Based on that, I don't think your dad cheated. Joon was born on September 12, 1994. And if it takes nine months for a baby to be born after conception, that means your dad and my mom probably slept together in early December. That's a couple of weeks before he met your mom."

While that made Taehyung feel marginally better, that still didn't explain why his dad never told him about having another son. The man was a good father, so surely he would've wanted to be an active part of his child's life. Hiding him away from family - especially if he knew of the difficult home life - just didn't add up.

And what still baffled Taehyung was why Namjoon never said anything himself. Unless he was blackmailed or threatened, there couldn't be a good reason for him to remain silent.

Right?

"Did Namjoon ever hint at anything? Did he ever say anything questionable that made you wonder?" Taehyung asked, folding his hands on top of the younger's.

The answer flitted across Jungkook's face before he voiced it aloud. "No. He never showed any signs of knowing."

Taehyung figured that was the case, but that didn't mean he didn't physically hurt hearing those words.

"There must be a reason why he didn't say anything, angel," the younger said softly, reading the tense and pained atmosphere in the room. "But whatever that reason is, it's not because of you. You did nothing wrong, Tae, so please don't blame yourself."

"I'm trying not to," Taehyung admitted, closing his eyes again while the younger's touch traced over his eyebrows. "I'm trying to be objective, to convince myself that Namjoon interviewing at his father's company to protect his half-brother was merely a coincidence."

But both Taehyung and Jungkook knew this had to be more than a fluke or happy accident; this wasn't some miraculous story of long lost family members finding one another by chance. This was the real world, a place where people lied and did fucked up shit to push forward their ulterior motives.

And there were definitely ulterior motives here, but what those were remained to be discovered. All Taehyung knew was that he was a gullible idiot who trusted too easily, who always chose to see the good in others. And maybe he became blinded because of that. Maybe there were signs all along, but he ignored them in favor of the less complicated pretenses.

Maybe Taehyung was so starved for a healthy connection with anybody, that he only focused on filling that void.

"Did I ever tell you what I thought of Namjoon during his interview for the role?" He asked the younger, opening his eyes and peering up once more. "What my first impression of him was?"

"You said he was the big brother you always wanted."

"Yeah. Pretty ironic, huh?" Taehyung smiled tightly, his lips pressing together in a thin line. "After I dumped Bogum and left behind his group of friends, I no longer had anyone anymore. So when I met Namjoon - this person who was smart and mature, but still endearing and kind - I saw him as a role model. I wanted to be just like him . . . To learn from him and make him proud."

Jungkook softly caressed his stomach, his hand warm and comforting. "It's impossible not to be proud of you, angel. So whatever was going on behind the scenes, I'm sure Namjoon loved working with you. I'm sure he viewed you as his friend."

As much as Taehyung wanted to doubt those words, to doubt everything and everyone, he forced himself to abandon the negative thoughts. Getting answers to his burning questions wasn't likely to occur, and it wasn't worth getting upset over. It also wasn't worth sickening himself by solely concentrating on his naivete; he had to focus on what he actually had power over.

He needed to realize this discovery affected someone else besides just him.

"Kook?"

A soft hum of acknowledgment sounded from the younger.

Taehyung reached up towards his boyfriend, gently pushing back his silky hair and savoring the feel against his fingertips. It felt like home. "How do you feel about everything?"

Jungkook's eyes fluttered shut at the contact, another hum rumbling in his throat. "Honestly? Each bone in my body feels heavy with this numbing sort of pain. I don't know . . . Maybe that's what betrayal feels like."

Taehyung remained quiet as he studied the younger's conflicted features, noticing his taut lips and locked jaw. While he wanted to soothe him with words, Taehyung recognized the importance of having space to talk about one's feelings, and he didn't want to rob Jungkook of that opportunity.

"I'm angry Joon didn't tell me," Jungkook revealed after a few more seconds ticked by, his tone a cross between regret and hostility. "After we found out that my dad wasn't Joonie's dad, we tried so hard to uncover the truth. We tried for years and years. Even when Namjoon gave up hope, I continued searching. I wanted to give him answers, to give him closure. So the fact that he found out and didn't tell me . . . I don't know why he didn't trust me with that."

It seemed Namjoon kept a lot of things from them both, though Taehyung refrained from expressing that sentiment out loud. He didn't want to upset his love any further, so he kept quiet as Jungkook continued sharing.

"And sure, maybe he hid this because of something I'm not even aware of. That's certainly a possibility. But it reminds me of how he hid me from the world for years, how he restricted me from fully living my life. It makes me wonder how many other secrets he had and what else I didn't know. And on top of all that, I feel guilty for harboring this resentment towards him. It feels wrong to be so angry."

"Because he's dead?"

"Yeah."

Taehyung shifted into a sitting position, resting his hands on the younger's slim hips. "I don't think either of us should discount our feelings . . . If we convince ourselves we can't be hurt or angry just because he's no longer alive, we're going to end up repressed and hateful. I don't want that to happen."

"Neither do I," Jungkook agreed as he clasped his hands behind Taehyung's neck. "It's just tough, you know? Namjoon was my hero . . . He'll always be my hero. And I'm afraid that learning all this stuff will make me see him in a different light."

"Heroes make mistakes, too. They're human. So yeah, maybe your hero messed up, but that doesn't mean he isn't still deserving of that title." Taehyung spoke the words with conviction in an attempt to come across as confident and assured. He had to; he desperately needed to believe the sentiment himself.

"My boyfriend sure is wise," the younger said lightly, the corners of his mouth quirking up into a small smile. "Who taught you those things?"

"My hero did," Taehyung whispered as he grazed his nose against Jungkook's. "My dad. And even though I'm doubting his intentions and actions, I'm choosing not to lose faith in him just yet. I'm counting on years of good things to outweigh this."

That decision was difficult for sure, but for his own sanity and mental health, he had to maintain his trust in his dad. Considering the alternative would only make him fall apart faster, and he needed to keep his wits about him.

Jungkook angled his head slightly, causing his mouth to brush over Taehyung's sweetly. "I love you, Tae. And if I know anything, it's that I have faith in you and in us. We'll figure this out together."

"We're a team," Taehyung confirmed, his breath fanning across the younger's lips. "That's what being in a relationship means. Leaning on each other, supporting each other, offering advice and providing solace."

"And having mind-blowing sex?" Jungkook teased, a hint of laughter masking his prior seriousness.

"Obviously."

Taehyung pressed his mouth to his boyfriend's, relishing in the quiet comfort they both gave and received. This - holding Jungkook, loving Jungkook - was all he needed. It was what kept him sane in the troublesome aftermath of their discovery.

After a series of tender kisses and whispered affirmations, Taehyung broke away with a sigh. "There are two things I want to do. Actually, no. There's one thing I want to do and one thing I need to do."

Jungkook's eyebrows rose in question. "Start with what you want to do."

"I want to breathe fresh air, to go for a walk," Taehyung said, his muscles practically itching to move and stretch.

"Tae, I don't know if that's smart -"

"We'll stay around the orchard," he rushed to add, already planning out the safest areas and envisioning potential hiding places if needed.

Judging by the narrowing of the younger's dark eyes, he was taken aback by something. "We?"

"Unless you don't want to come with me," Taehyung explained, running his hands down his boyfriend's sculpted arms. "I'll be okay on my own."

Jungkook rolled his eyes, a gesture that looked more cute than annoyed. "Of course, I want to go with you. I just didn't expect you to let me tag along."

"I stand by what we agreed upon. Unless it's not safe, we stick together."

"Good," the younger responded, lightly grazing Taehyung's cheekbones with his thumbs. "Now, what exactly do you need to do?"

Taehyung dreaded the thought of having the following conversation, but it was necessary. "Call Yoongi."

"Right."

After placing a reassuring kiss against Taehyung's nose, Jungkook leaned over towards the nightstand to grab the phone. A noticeable wince twisted his features, and a sharp influx of breath filled the otherwise silent room.

"Sore?" Taehyung attempted to smother his grin but ultimately failed. It wasn't like he enjoyed seeing his boyfriend in pain, but he couldn't deny his surge of pride.

"Clearly," the younger retorted, pressing the phone into his palm. "I just had the best sex of my life."

"The best sex?"

"Just call Yoongi."

Deciding not to comment further, Taehyung dialed the Chief's number. It was almost midnight, so he wondered if the man would still be awake or not. Either way, however, the elder undoubtedly would be concerned about them calling twice in such a short window of time.

Sure enough, when Yoongi answered on the second ring, his voice sounded strained. "What's wrong?"

"We uncovered some new information," Taehyung started to explain, holding the phone in between his ear and Jungkook's. "Are you in a safe place?"

"Yeah, I'm -"

"Who is it?" A new, sleep-filled voice cut off the Chief. "Is it Kookie and Tae?"

Jungkook scoffed lowly, whipping his gaze to meet Taehyung's. Lowering his voice, he whispered, "Hoseok."

A few rustling noises came from the other side of the line before the Chief spoke once more. "What's your news?"

With no reason to sugarcoat the truth, Taehyung opted for a blunt answer. "We found Namjoon's birth certificate and a paternity test. His birth father is my dad."

If Yoongi was shocked, he made no indication. His tone was steady as he responded, "Kim Chinhwa? How did you find this out?"

Taehyung nodded towards Jungkook, signaling him to answer.

"My mother gifted him a book around six years ago. I found the book in the Seoul house when I was there a couple of weeks back and took it with me. The documents were between the pages."

The younger went on to detail everything he knew, everything he had previously disclosed to Taehyung. And all the while, the Chief remained silent and didn't once interject to ask clarifying questions. He simply listened.

That or the call dropped, but Taehyung knew otherwise.

"And we're guessing that Tae's dad and my mom hooked up in December of 1993, just a few weeks before he met Tae's mom. Other than that, we have no other clues on their relationship together," the younger concluded before sitting back and taking a breath.

"Okay. Thank you, Jungkook. There's not much I can proactively do until I verify those documents. I don't want to raise suspicions before I know what we're dealing with," Yoongi said neutrally, his pace slower as he began piecing together a plan on his end.

"Should we come back to Seoul?" Jungkook offered, looking at Taehyung and silently asking the same question.

Honestly, Taehyung didn't know what the best call was here. If it were up to him, he'd probably suggest that they stay where they were. Traveling on the road for hours on end just didn't seem like a good idea.

After a few seconds of consideration, the Chief hummed his dissent. "No. I still believe it's safest for you both to stay away from here. As long as you have everything you need in the bunker, I'd like to keep you there. And it's too risky to mail the evidence, so I'll have someone meet you in the morning."

The Chief went on to confirm a location and time for his people to collect the documents, instructing how the papers would switch hands. They agreed upon a place for Taehyung to hide the materials, and then a place for him to watch from afar. Yoongi didn't want anyone seeing Taehyung, even though they worked for Korean National Oil as well.

"I've learned not to trust anyone," Yoongi said once he finished setting their plans in place. "That's the best way to get the job done and to stay alive."

Taehyung swore he heard Jungkook mumble something about the Chief trusting Hoseok enough to sleep next to him, but he chose not to push that particular topic. "Alright, then. I'll meet your guy tomorrow at noon."

"Great. So, if that's all -"

"Hold on, Yoongi, wait," Taehyung quickly interrupted, words rolling into one long, jumbled mess. "I need to talk to my dad. I want you to arrange a call between us."

"I told you already, Taehyung," the Chief sighed softly. "I don't think it's wise to act before knowing the legitimacy of the documents. If you tell Mr. Kim -"

"What? How will asking my dad is he hid a brother from me my entire life mess things up?" Taehyung interrupted again, his blood pulsing in his neck. He very well understood the implications of bringing this to his father - to anyone - too soon, though his more rational side wasn't working at the moment.

"Tae," Jungkook said under his breath, moving a hand to grip his thigh. It wasn't a warning or a lecture; no, it was merely a reminder that he was there for support.

"I know you must have a number of questions, Taehyung," Yoongi said, no vehemence or irritation to his tone. "We all do. But I'm making my best judgment call on this. I'm doing what I can to protect everyone to the best of my abilities."

Taehyung's shoulders slumped at that. He appreciated the efforts the older male made to keep everyone safe, he really did. And he didn't mean to take his frustrations out on Yoongi either. It had just been an exhausting night, and Taehyung's hold on his emotions had slipped long ago.

"I'm sorry," he said at last. "I realize you're doing everything you can, and I'm really grateful to you, Yoongi. But either way - whatever happens with those documents - can you please set up a call for me and my dad? I just . . . I really need to talk to him."

"I will," the Chief affirmed matter-of-factly. "We'll touch base in the morning, before and after the drop-off. Until then, hang tight. Both of you."

The call ended, and Jungkook pulled Taehyung into his arms. "I guess we're in a waiting game now."

"Aren't we always?" Taehyung chuckled darkly, securing his arms around the boy's waist. He relished the feel of the sturdy muscles beneath his hands, the warmth seeping into his palms. Jungkook truly soothed him as no one else could.

Tucking his chin over Taehyung's head, the younger let an intelligible mumble pass through his lips. "I didn't realize how late it was. Are you still up for a walk, or do you want to sleep?"

"I think I'm too wired to sleep," Taehyung murmured, closing his eyes and pressing his ear against the boy's heart. "My mind probably won't shut off anytime soon."

"Walking it is. Should we get changed? Put on dark clothing and cover our faces?"

Taehyung had a feeling he was joking, but that was precisely what they were going to do. "Yup. We're going to blend into the night. That's the only way I'll feel comfortable going out there. That and wearing our guns."

"Are you going to put bullets in mine again?" Jungkook asked tentatively, sounding like he very much wanted no bullets in his gun.

"Not tonight," Taehyung settled upon. "We're staying close to the bunker, so there's no need."

Fifteen minutes later, both Jungkook and Taehyung wore black clothing and matching bucket hats. They pulled the visors low over their eyes, obscuring the top half of their faces and slightly limiting their sight. But that was preferable than showing all of their features, so they'd have to make do.

Once the guns were tucked into their pants - one loaded, the other not - they made their way out of the bunker through the tunnel. Taehyung showed Jungkook how to operate the keypad to unlock the doors, having him practice a few times to drill the procedure into his mind. It wasn't a complicated process, though it was imperative for the younger to feel confident operating the system under pressure.

"Alright, let me out first," Taehyung whispered while pushing up the hatch door. He stuck his head through the opening, turning around slowly to survey the area. It was dark and difficult to see anything in exact detail, though an almost full moon illuminated their immediate surroundings.

He carefully stepped outside, barely registering the refreshing breeze carding through his hair; he was too preoccupied with straining his ears for any out of place noises. After waiting for another couple of moments, he signaled Jungkook to join him.

"Let's walk along the perimeter of the orchard, near the woods. There's more coverage there."

Jungkook intertwined their fingers and gave a reassuring squeeze. "A romantic, moonlit walk. Does this count as our fourth date?"

A smile tugged at Taehyung's lips, and with a tiny snort, he beamed widely. "I think we can make any activity into a date. Moonlit walk? Date. Handing over evidence that may or may not be related to a crime case? Date."

"That's the spirit, Taehyungie. You're sounding more and more like me as the days go on."

"Then what will we be like after a couple of years? Will we be the same exact person?"

They had reached the tree-lined edge of the forest by that point, a heavily thicketed and dense boundary. But before they dipped under the umbrella of branches and leaves, Jungkook turned towards Taehyung. The moon bathed his features in a subtle glow, creating a pleasing contrast of soft versus sharp. His jaw and cheekbones appeared more contoured, while his eyes were gentle and compassionate.

Fuck, his eyes. They shone with love, an open and candid expression that took Taehyung's breath away.

"Years?" The younger repeated softly, a vulnerable note coloring his tone. "You want to be with me for years?"

Taehyung stepped closer to his boyfriend, barely blinking as he maintained their eye contact. "I think I'm just like my dad. He knew within days that my mom was the only person he wanted to love for the rest of his life. And you, Jeon Jungkook . . . You're the person I want to love for the rest of mine."

"Angel . . ." Jungkook murmured, taking a step forward so they could rest their foreheads together. "In all my life, I never thought I'd find a love like this. But I found it. I found you. And I want to be with you today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and for all of the days after that. Until the end of time."

The words were said with a quiet sincerity, causing Taehyung's heart to swell in his chest. He never imagined this for himself; he never knew he had the ability to feel this way about someone else. It was nothing short of a miracle that he'd found his way to Jungkook, that their souls heard the other's calling out.

And despite the hardships and suffering they each experienced, they were lucky. They were so fucking lucky.

"I don't know what I would do without you, sweetheart, and I don't ever want to think about it. You're the most important person to me, now and always," Taehyung breathed, his hands tingling as they came into contact with Jungkook's face. "My eyes are always on you. I love you."

The distance between their mouths closed as their lips ghosted over each other's, the gesture yielding and raw at the same time. The mere touch of skin against skin was enough to erase every single thought in Taehyung's head, until all that remained was Jungkook. He reveled in the taste of his addicting mouth, luxuriated in the feel of his jaw beneath his hands. He savored the tiny gasps and hums that met his ears, reveled in the pounding of their hearts merging into one harmonious rhythm.

And he loved the way they loved each other.

Freely.

Honestly.

Unconditionally.

But because they were out in the open of a dangerous environment, they broke away after a few moments. Their quiet breaths were lost amongst the sounds of crickets and tree frogs, fading into the sounds of the night.

"I love you," Jungkook said, his tone lower and slightly husky. "Always."

Taehyung pressed one more faint kiss to the younger's lips before stepping back, exchanging connected mouths for interlaced fingers. "Let's walk for a bit and then go to bed."

Hand in hand, they strolled along the edge of the orchard, remaining quiet as they enjoyed the other's presence and the cool night air. Taehyung kept a watchful eye the entire time, often pausing to better hear the various noises around them. Even though they were well concealed, that didn't stop him from acting overly cautious. It was risky enough coming out here in the first place, so he vowed to be as diligent and observant as possible.

A kilometer-and-a-half later, they reached the end of the orchard. The trees slowly began to thin out and turn into familiar looking farmlands, signaling their proximity to a place Taehyung very much wanted to avoid. He never realized just how close the bunker was to his old safe house; cutting through the woods was apparently a more direct route than taking the main streets.

Tugging on Jungkook's hand, Taehyung turned them around to head back the way they came. Thankfully, his eyes felt heavier and his breathing slowed, meaning he would probably fall asleep a bit easier now.

Lord knew he needed it.

As they retraced their steps, Jungkook quietly spoke up. "I've been thinking . . . Jin must have known about Joon and your dad. He was so adamant about finding one of Namjoon's possessions, making me believe he wanted The Art of War. He probably wanted to hold onto the documents, right?"

Taehyung thought about that for a moment and determined that made a lot of sense. "I think you're right. But what I don't get is why he'd want the birth certificate and paternity test in the first place. It's not like they would be of any use to him."

"Yeah, I don't get that either," the younger agreed, voice thick with confusion. "I can't seem to figure it out -"

In an instant, Taehyung had pulled Jungkook to the ground and covered his mouth with his hand. He held his breath and strained his ears, trying to pick up any additional sounds to the one he heard seconds prior:

The distinct and undeniable cocking of a gun.

It came from behind them, back in the direction of the old safe house. And while there were no other accompanying noises, while it would be too easy to blame a snapping twig or even his overworked mind, Taehyung knew what he heard. Namjoon had spent years training him on how to distinguish one sound from another.

Fuck, this was bad. Really bad.

They needed to find cover, a place to hide until he could ensure it was safe to move. There were limited options, however. All that surrounded them were trees, none of which were wide enough to conceal their bodies. So with sheltering in place out of the question, all that was left was running. But how far could they get? There was no telling how many people were out here, and without knowing how exactly they were found, it was too risky to head back towards the bunker.

And then there was Jungkook.

If Taehyung was on his own, only needing to watch out for his own back, he'd chance fleeing into town. But now he had someone else with him, a person he was fully responsible for in this situation. He wasn't going to put Jungkook's life on the line by attempting to escape and hope for the best.

Fuck.

Taehyung needed to make a decision, he needed to act, he needed to -

A blaring gunshot disturbed the peacefulness of the woods, making Taehyung's ears ring and instinctively crouch lower. Dizzy with dread, he fumbled for Jungkook's wrist and brought them to their feet, sprinting deeper into the cover of trees. By this point, he had lost all sense of direction, a feat Namjoon used to warn him against, and kept running and running until his labored breathing required him to stop.

Jungkook was right behind him, panting and hunching over as he tried to suck air into his lungs. "Tae -"

Another gunshot pierced the air around them, causing a colony of bats to emit these high-pitched screeches that added to the tense and strained ambiance.

Taehyung pushed Jungkook flat against a tree, stepping in front of him and whipping out his gun. He extended his arms and trained his eyes on each subtle movement between the branches. And after a moment of silence and stillness, he saw a body pass by a nearby trunk.

He progressed a few yards forward, his steps making no audible sounds as he approached the spot he last saw someone. On the outside, he appeared to have his shit together, but on the inside, he was absolutely terrified. And while fear tasted vile on his tongue, he refused to give it more power. He refused to give in to the shakiness of his limbs, the clamminess of his hands.

This scenario would not be a repeat of a few weeks ago; he would not let that happen.

But that determination still didn't stop the hairs on his arms from rising; it didn't prevent the sudden beads of sweat matting his hair to his forehead. And it certainly did not prevent the shrill cry yelling out from behind him, a terrorized plea that drove knives into his heart.

"Angel, run -!"

A loud thumping sound and a pained grunt filled the air and Taehyung was running, running back to Jungkook, running to the spot where he left his love and his heart unattended and unprotected. Heavy footfalls and breaking branches roared around him, and he could barely make out the outlines of two people dodging in between the trees.

A limp body was hoisted over one of their shoulders.

And even though it was dark, he knew the shape and the lines of his sweetheart. They had Jungkook.

Taehyung ran, keeping his eyes locked on the silhouettes as best he could, though as he weaved in between the trees, they disappeared from sight. But that didn't matter; he knew exactly where they were heading.

So without hesitation, Taehyung moved his legs faster than he ever had before, tearing through those all too familiar fields and farmlands. And as he descended upon the dark house that was the source of all of his pain, guilt, regrets, and love, he knew without a doubt he was walking into a trap.

That web of lies, the sticky glue of secrets that bound everything together, had captured him yet again, this time using his love to lure him in.

His love, his sweetheart, his Jungkook.

Taehyung didn't care if he had to hand himself over; he'd storm into that house and save Jungkook from the horrors within. There was no other option.

And as he walked down the somber and foreboding driveway, a solitary light flickered to life in a corner of the house.

They were waiting for him.

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》 V A L E N W R I T I N G 《

This is where it gets real, y'all. How are we feeling?

Lots of information in this chapter, all things that will slowly start to piece together in the coming chapters. It's crazy that we've come this far - some major truth bombs will be revealed soon! Tell me your theories and what you're thinking!!

It also feels so good to be back! I ended up giving myself more time/an extended break, which honestly was much needed. I'm finally feeling a bit refreshed and am amped to write these next several chapters. Thank you all for being patient with me . . . I love you all so much!