Valley Of The Dolls - Marina and The Diamonds

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It took a lot of will power for Jungkook to not run out that door and get as far away from here as possible, yet he knows that he can't do that as much as he wants to..

She will always find him and then he will most likely actually die.

So with a few deep breathes he turns around, facing the woman's familiar office before sitting down on one of the leather chairs in front of her rosemary colored desk. Iodine is in the midst of taking her time to move a few papers and folders aside, not even sparing Jungkook a lot with her gloved black laced hands that connects with the blouse over her body organizing everything to complete neatness. She remains with a dark look in her eyes before putting everything aside and finally looking up at him, an cold look on her face.

"Why are you here?"

Her voice never fails to intimidate him to bits.

She's so terrifying.

Jungkook nervously rubs his hands together, "Little Gem had a cocaine overdose, along with a few beatings.... I found out that Yeonjun was giving him the drugs so-"

"We agreed that I would never see your face around here again, even if it comes to family," She growls lowly, leaning over her desk, "If the kid is doing drugs than that's on him. He's eighteen Jungkook, close to nineteen. He should be responsible enough to look after himself!"

It stabbed Jungkook so hard to the snarling words from her lips, yet he still managed to maintain his head high with the little to no dignity he had, "How can he look after himself if he's never had anyone he can look up to?" He says back, fighting hard to not pour it with an attitude, "Our father is a literal psychopath, my mother is a drug addict that fucks different guys every day for money and practically abandoned us. My sister is left dealing illegal shit just so she can have money for the both of them. I was in a fuck up mind set before leaving. He clearly doesn't have good influences around him!"

Iodine purses her lips and narrows her eyes, "And that's not my fucking problem! My problem now is the fact you came waltzing in here, beat one of my kids when you know damn well the rules around here, especially when you said you weren't coming back!"

Jungkook is left to keep his mouth shut, avoiding her glaring eyes. He remembers being in this type of scenario many times in the past, where she would scold him for stepping out of line. Before Jungkook wouldn't care but still listened to her, now he has grown to keep his mouth sealed and forced to understand where she's coming from.

This is her streets.

Her property.

Everyone down stairs or involved with her are her kids, and he was once her kid.

That was before she sent him to leave to have a better life than being here. She always saw Jungkook's potential go far beyond these petty street affairs, and she wanted him to go as far as he wanted to as well.

At that time, they both knew it was a wise decision for him to go, Jungkook had to leave as much as she wanted him to go.

That doesn't mean she has lost any type of affection towards him. As she looks at him now with his head down, remaining calm as she scolds him, she knew he already grew up.

He's not Raven anymore, now he's Jungkook.

He's not a boy but a man.

It's about time.

Iodine only leans back to her desk with a more relaxed figure, moving onto the important issue for the ravenette, "Who beat up Little Gem?"

Jungkook slowly perks his heads up, grinding his teeth against his lip, "Jeno, from Segas. He's always messed with Little Gem in the past and no matter how bad I would beat him up, he just never gave in."

A low hum buzzes her throat to this to this information, obviously it sounding familiar to her ears, "I'll send a few of my children to send a message," She states lowly and sits up, "You can't be seen either way, unless you want your father to catch you."

The mere mention of that man felt like acid is being poured down his throat. Jungkook can only wish to see that man just to kill him for hurting him and his siblings. However he knows he can never do that. He's not a killer, yet he knows if that man was in front of him than that will surely change.

He doesn't deserve to live after all the suffering he made them go through.

Jungkook scowls to the mention of him, looking away from her with arms crossed, "I'm going back tomorrow, so it's not like he will be near me."

To this Iodine keeps her eyes sole on him, remaining silent as she studies the bruises on his face and the cuts of blood on his knuckles, "If you do that.... Take Little Gem with you."

Wait what?

Jungkook looks at her with a more mortified eyes the second she said those words, "What? Are you insane? Little Gem pratically hates me! He wouldn't go with me-"

"Just like you, Gem has a lot of problem he caused here," She snaps, leaning forward, "Including murder. Just as I fixed your stupid mess, I'll fix his and that means not being around to cause more messes. He's my kid, like you once were, but he needs to go, away from here for a while."

By now Jungkook is running a hand through his raven hair in frustration, "Murder? Fuck! Who was it?"

"Segas member, which is not bad since he was a mere goon but still caused problems, especially for him," She continues with a slight scowl, "He needs to be away from this. It will kill him Jungkook, especially since he has no stable balance. Once everything is settled down, you can bring him back."

This is so stressful.

It'll be so hard looking over Gem while living in a dorm. The kid practically breathes going outside and causing trouble. If he comes along than Jungkook will not only have to focus extremely hard on his studies, figure out what the fuck is going on with Jimin, but control an unsteady brother who despises him with all his heart.

That's definitely going to be a hassle he's not looking forward to.

But Little Gem is his brother, his family, and he cares about him. He would do anything just for his brother to be okay.

"As for Lisa, don't worry about her," Iodine continues, making Jungkook snap his eyes to her, "She doesn't cause trouble. I will make sure she's safe at all times. However I do recommend in the future for the three of you to get out of here. It's not good to stay in this place."

Jungkook only leans back against the chair with a deep frown, "She wouldn't want to come back with me now either way. I've tried to convince her in the past but it's a no deal. So that's why when I do get a stable job than I'm taking them with me," He says with a tired sigh, "Alright, I'll take Gem with me, just please keep me informed of what happens."

"Of course," She mutters and crosses her fingers over the desk, now a stone cold look in her eyes, "Does anyone back there know about any of this?"

Instantly Jungkook's mind flies to Taehyung, who's still back to Lisa's apartment, and he gulps nervously, "Someone came with me. He doesn't know anything else about me, but I'm have to give him some sort of explanation."

Iodine's face slightly falls, "Is he someone special?"

Jungkook didn't know how to respond to that. Sure him and Taehyung have their intimate moments, but special? Well.... He wouldn't like to see him dead. They have something that Jungkook feels like it's close to a nice happiness, but.... They're nothing more than what they are.

"Perhaps," He responded back, only making Iodine's face harden like stone in that familiar expression of authority.

Here it comes, the explosion.

"If you want to maintain him alive than keep him away from here," She orders coldly, "I'm tell you the same thing I told Woosung when he told me about his little princess; No one must ever know about this side, so you better come up with a damn good excuse. I protect my kids and I don't trust anyone. The second you spill anything, I don't want to hear shit that you've been arrested or cops blaring in here because of a snitch! Got it!"

Well that was direct.

It's not like Jungkook was ever going to tell him either way. If he did than that means Taehyung will either have to die or go through some intense procedure here in order to make sure he doesn't say anything.

This isn't some little kids game.

There's no room for snitches while dealing with this need for survival in a place where money and food is scarce.

That's why whoever ends up having a relationship here, no matter how small it may be, it must always be informed to Iodine. It's always going to be for their protection if she knows, in that way she can see who she has to keep an eye on. That's why it's no surprise that Woosung told her about his relationship since his life still remains tangled here.

She doesn't trust anyone around her kids, yet she lets them roam free to their own desire as long as they follow the rules.

Jungkook isn't part of this, but his past is still laced here and many people still know him if they see him. Even the not so good ones.

Even if he's away, he will always be Iodine's kid.

So Jungkook nods to her in understanding, "Got it. I wasn't going to say anything either way, I'm no snitch."

There's no denying about that. In fact Jungkook was he most loyal person she's had around these streets, which was why it was hard for her to send him off. He was never one to tangle with the gangs here, but he was always around and Iodine liked that about him.

He knew how to keep his mouth shut while also protecting himself.

For the first time in a while, Iodine twitches a smile to this and nods her head, "Good so that settles it, now you are dismissed. Don't be reckless like this again or I'm have to force a punishment on you, got it?"

Jungkook only stands to his feet and bows with a sheepish smile, "Thank you Seulgi."

"It's Iodine!"

"As you wish, your highness," He snickers while walking to the door, not failing to make the woman roll her eyes but smile to his behavior.

Jungkook really did grow up huh?

It's almost refreshing to see how college has changed him into the man he wanted to become for so long. All this effort for those he cares about, and for his own life.

Now all that is left is to hope that being away from here will have little gem yanked away from the thorns of this life as he moves onto the next.

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A/N:

Who doesn't love business meetings.

So we are taking glimpses of Jungkook's past, anyone have any questions??

Next chapter is about to be very.... Sentimental, so please grab your tissues!

I PURPLE YOU! <33