...

Again, like many times before Taehyung was considering his luck. It was outstanding. He thanked the angels and his mother a million times by now. He almost wanted to laugh out loud at just how lucky he was. The last few hours turned from smooth and easy, to a complete nightmare in a manner of seconds.

He tried to rewind the film in his head so many times by now, but everything was in a blur. First of all, he had no idea who the other team was and why they were there in the first place. This was the second time they interrupted him, even though this time he did manage to make a swap, but he also managed to lose the ring and the diamonds when his pouch was cut loose and fell into the pool when a few of the bullets flew past his head. He had no time to retrieve it. His brothers were screaming in his ears and he just had one thing in mind – he had to escape.

He ran behind a massive pillar, zipping the suit parts to form the connected part between his legs and each arm with his body and promptly ducked his head when another bullet hit the concrete next to his head. There was no time to think at that moment so he simply acted. He was on the edge with one strong jump and without a glance back he pushed himself from the building.

The hours of Namjoon's careful explanations of how to use this bloody thing evaporated from his brain, but instead of the hard-gripping panic, Taehyung felt thrilling joy.

-'' This is so awesome!'' – He screams to his brothers.

He used his instincts and quickly learned how to manoeuvre. A slight shift and he moved right, another shift and he moved left, lean forward to go fast, lean back to ease the speed.

-'' Taehyung, open the parachute!!!'' – Namjoon screamed in panic, and Taehyung remembered where he was. He found the lever and pulled hard. The parachute opened and jerked him back. Somehow he managed to ease himself enough to touch the rooftop of the small building with his feet, but the momentum and the wind pulled him further and he lost his balance and fell. He detaches the parachute, allowing it to fly away, only to have one string caught up on his backpack and proceeded to drag him across the surface.

-'' Cut the rope, Tae! Cut the rope!'' – This was Jin, and Tae obeyed instantly. There was something pleasant having them there with him. He felt safe even though he was far from it. He reached for his knife that was always holstered at his thigh and began dragging the blade across the thick rope. It finally breaks and Taehyung barely had time to grab the edge of the wall with his hands and legs, his knife falling across together with the parachute. He grunts, pulling himself onto safety and began gasping for breath.

-'' You one lucky bastard.'' – Jin says in a wavery tone. Taehyung knew he was almost in tears.

Taehyung giggled, still trying to catch his breath. His heart was drumming so hard in his chest.

-'' Shut up Joonie, you didn't kill him.'' – Jin scolded.

-'' What's...with... H-Hyung?'' – He asked panting heavily.

-'' The fool dropped to the floor, clutching his head and chanting "I killed him. I killed him." Idiot.'' – Jin was even more bitchy now as he always is when he is extremely irritated, scared, glad and angry all at the same time. It was a gift of his.

Taehyung laughed so much at that.

He chuckles in his bathtub. It was still so vivid in his memory. He remembered dragging himself to his storage, to take off his mask and his gear, and then driving home. He met his brothers in the hall waiting for him. Namjoon pulled him in the bone-crushing hug, weeping in his shirt how sorry he was, but Taehyung just laughed and said that his plan B saved his life.

Jin waited patiently on the side, only to be pulled into a group hug by Taehyung.

-'' I'm still mad at you.'' – He murmurs and buries his face in Taehyung's shoulder, squeezing both of them hard.

After several assurances that he was fine and well he went to take a shower, only to decide on a bath instead. His muscles were sore and after a while, he began to shake, feeling like he will jump from his own skin. He must have been dropping from the adrenaline rush. Jin found him struggling to get out and rushed to help. He wrapped him in the towel and took him in his arms. He murmured something softly to him and yelled for Namjoon.

-'' Quick, bring Xanax.'' – He orders when Namjoon ran into the room.

-'' I'm f-fine H-Hyung.'' – Taehyung murmured.

-'' Yeah, you will be. Now breathe deep, go.'' – Jin instructed and Tae closed his eyes taking a deep breath. He repeated this several times when Namjoon rushed in with the sedative and water.

-'' Come, drink this. You'll be fine.'' – Jin brought the pill to Tae's lips and then helped him to wash it down with water. He continued to control his breathing, still cradled in Jin's lap.

-'' That's right, there you go.'' – Jin spoke softly. – '' Joonie, bring his jammies. The silk one, you know he likes them.''

-'' Hyung... '' – Tae calls softly. – ''I'm s-sorry I l-lost the diamonds.''

-'' Fuck the diamonds, I'm just glad you got away.'' – Jin hugs him closer and then chuckles. – '' Unbelievable.''- He says with a smile. – '' The situations you keep finding yourself in Tae are insane. You must be the luckiest, craziest fucker on the planet.''

Tae giggles at that, and Jin joins him. Right then Namjoon returns with a silken fabric.

They dressed him up and lay in bed. Taehyung keep repeating that he was fine, but they just told him to shut up and let them take care of him. In the end, Namjoon left to check the news about the robbery and shooting and to try to erase any clues about the mysterious figure that jumped from the building, while Jin stayed next to him, spooning him and cuddling into sleep.

A few days later, things were calmer. The news did report some truth to what happened, but the most information Namjoon found was from the Police themselves. He hacked into their security system and ran through their data. Taehyung was mentioned, but only as a hooded figure. One of the surviving security guards witnessed. Well, at least his face was covered. Namjoon hummed in thought.

The Police were on the crime scene in record time, which was surprising. If Taehyung didn't fly he would be stuck in that elevator when the police swarmed the place. He would be eventually found and caught, and this time the mask nor Jimin would be able to get him out. Crazy little fucker. He chuckles, thinking of Taehyung's foolish bravery and luck. He was so slippery. His spirit was truly hard to capture. Namjoon wished for it to always roam free.

He flicked through their security cameras with practised ease, stopping abruptly when he saw a pale slender man with dark hair. Pretty. It crosses Namjoon's mind. The man seemed so focused on something under his microscope that Namjoon wished he could see what it was.

He began scanning through the man's computer, trying to find his access code, while switching to another camera to check another angle.

Namjoon didn't know why he was so intrigued by him. He was probably just a worker, nothing more and nothing else, but the man's swagger and well-practised moves, the calmness of his face as he worked made Namjoon drawn like the moth to the light.

The small beep announced that the password was found, and Namjoon had to drag his eyes from the man so he can look through his computer. He quickly found out that the man in question was none other than Min Yoongi, Seoul's finest Special Forces Branch forgery specialist and a Chief of the Special Intelligence team.

-'' Wow.'' - Namjoon was delighted. He went to find out more about Min Yoongi, and what he found...he loved. Min Yoongi was born in the Daegu district, on March 9, 1985. He was studying at two universities simultaneously – Criminology and Criminal Justice at the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice, and Psychology at Seoul's National University. He passed both with flying colours when he was only 23 years old. Then two years later, he took classes in Gemmology and Jewellery studies, becoming a Jewellery Forensic, specializing in vintage, historical and high-end jewellery. He speaks 2 languages fluently – Japanese and English, besides his native Korean, as well as some Mandarin and Russian.

He was on the top of his branch for the past 7 years, and his resume is outstanding. Namjoon flicked through his achievements, as well as his cases and he found Yoongi's reports, analysis, and thoughts so detailed, organized and to the point.

The next step took Namjoon to search if there is some social media, but there wasn't any. Min Yoongi simply had no time for it. He did find, however, his application photos, several of them actually. What he concluded was that Min Yoongi didn't age at all. His features were so soft and pale with soul-searching eyes, which reminded Namjoon of those of a cat.

He dug deeper, finding a video of the lecture he held some years ago, from gemology – Inside Out: Journey into the Center of the Gem - where he talked about the microscopic depths of rubies and sapphires and how to distinguish their age and subspecies.

Namjoon spent the next sixty minutes listening through the entire lecture, utterly captivated by Min Yoongi's voice and mannerisms. The way he slurred his words a bit, the raspiness of his voice was completely opposite to his gentle features.

-'' Who is that?''

Namjoon almost jumped from his chair, turning his head so fast that his neck cracked. He stared at Jin's surprised expression, and clutch at his heart.

-'' Dammit, Hyung! Don't sneak up on me like that!'' – He gasped.

Jin just watched him hurrying to shut down the tabs he was looking at.

-'' Joonie, what made you so flustered?'' – Jin asked with a dose of laughter in his voice. Namjoon wanted to kick him. He was always too observant. Damn these cheeks!

-'' I'm not flustered! You just scared me, that's all.'' – He was quick to defend himself, the lie evident to Jin, who didn't call him out for that.

-'' Aw, Joon, sorry I scared you, but I did knock, twice.'' – His brother said in his defence.

Jin looks at the screen where the lab camera was. Min Yoongi was typing something on his computer before rolling his chair back to the microscope to look for something in it.

-'' Who is that?'' – He asks again.

-'' Umm, he is a gem specialist, he umm...'' – Namjoon didn't know what really to say, so he let his fingers dance over the keyboard, scanning the files and reports of Yoongi's ongoing cases, searching for the one he's working on right now. – '' I think they got the ring Tae lost. '' – He says, glancing at Jin who watched him analytically. He hated when Jin did that because it was impossible to hide anything from him.

-'' Does he?'' – He asks, still looking at Namjoon, watching him squirm before glancing at the security camera. – '' Did they find the fake ring as well?''

Namjoon checked. – '' No. Just this one.''

-'' Are we sure it's the real ring?''

-'' Well...'' – Namjoon scratches his head. – '' In the report says they found it in the pool, together with diamonds, so we know it's Tae's.''

-'' Hmm...'' – His brother hums. – '' Let's hope no one will find out about the fake one. The fewer complications the better.''

Namjoon nods then glances at Jin. – '' You are still pissed off.''

-'' How wouldn't I be?'' – Jin asked. – '' He evaded them twice, first in Greece, now, here.'' – He was talking of the two crews sent to steal the exact same thing Taehyung did. –'' Joon, I want to know who they are and how they know when Tae is gonna strike!'' – Jin said, utterly exhausted.

-'' I've checked already. They are private contractors and ex-military specials. They work for a man named Clint Dawson, an American. He's been in Japan for years now.''

-'' Yes, but how does he know?'' – Jin wanted to ask.

-'' Hmm...those two tips came from the same source, right?''- Namjoon asks, and Jin squints his eyes. – '' The tip in Greece, and now, here in Seoul, it came from Yoshi, yes?''

-'' That son of a...'' – Jin began. – '' But I never told him anything except to find the location of the specific jewel.''

-'' Which is exactly what he did, but he told more than one person.'' – Namjoon concludes. – '' There isn't anyone else that knows, beside us three. All of us are smart enough to keep our mouth shut.''

Jin shakes his head. – '' Of course, it's not either of us. It gotta be him, there's no else.'' – Jin's face was thunderous. – '' He almost got Tae killed.'' – He spoke in a very dangerous tone Namjoon knew all too well... luckily it was never directed to him or his brother.

-'' I know, but he didn't know that we will go for it.''

-'' He didn't know my ass, why would I ask then if not to do a job.'' – Jin hisses.

-'' Hyung, please, calm down.'' – Namjoon patted Jin's arm. – '' I'll give him a spook, but let's keep it away from murder if that's what you're thinking off.''

Jin grumbled. – '' I'm considering it.''

- '' Where is Tae?'' – Namjoon asks, to change the subject.

-'' I think he's in his room, painting, why?'' – Jin asks.

-'' Oh, I'm just curious...and slightly worried, I guess. I haven't seen him properly in two days. He is always buzzing somewhere.'' – Namjoon confesses. – '' I half expected he is out again.''

Jin's expression turns affectionate. – '' Tae is fine, he is resting.''

Namjoon nods? – '' Good, he needs a good rest.''

-'' So do you, Joonie.''

-'' I'm doing fine. Been sleeping for seven hours for almost a week. Waste of time, but I still did it.'' – He rush to add when he saw Jin's dangerously arched eyebrow.

-'' Hmm...'' – Jin hums and then turned to leave. – '' Take a break from those screens Joon. Your eyes will hurt.''

Namjoon only then realizes how dry his eyes are. He pushes his glasses on the top of his head so he can rub them, taking a yawn.

-'' M'kay,'' – He agrees and soon after hears the locking mechanism of the door which announced that his brother had left.

Namjoon raises his arms and stretches in his chair, enjoying the feeling in his limbs and muscles. He let his body loose and for a few moments basks in the after-stretch. It was like floating on the clouds.

He reaches to put his glasses on when he discovered that they weren't on the top of his head anymore, so he let his hands glide down to his neck, but felt only the soft fabric of the hoodie. He moved in his chair, looking behind him, but there weren't there either. He was damn sure they were on the top of his head the last time he touched them.

He stood and looked around, nothing. He moved his chair and things on his table, still nothing. He even checked his garbage bin next to his desk, moving the empty bag of chips and cans, but no, it wasn't there either. He groans frustrated.

This phenomenon happened many times before when he was younger. He would simply lose things, only to have them appear later on out of the blue. The thing is, Namjoon's mind doesn't forget, he remembers everything, but from time to time, as Taehyung will say, things just decide to play hide and seek with him.

Namjoon knew where to go next.

-'' Tae, I can't find my glasses.'' – Namjoon all but whines to his brother as soon as he entered the studio. He had that frustrated expression on his face.

-'' Did you check your desk?'' – Taehyung asks not moving his eyes from the painting he was working on.

-'' Of course, I did. I've moved everything from my desk and back, checked the chair, under the table.'' – Namjoon scratches the back of his head, raking his brain, but right now, even his photographic memory cannot help him. – '' I even asked Jin Hyung if he took it. He just stared at me like I'm crazy before saying no.'' - Taehyung snorts amusingly at that.

-'' What's the last place you saw your glasses?'' – Taehyung asks, mixing his colours before applying them to his work.

-'' They were on the top of my head.'' – He touches his head with his hand.

Taehyung gave him a soft glance. – '' I'm sure they will show up, Hyung.'' – He says gently. – '' Why don't you take a break and not think about it for a few minutes, come, sit next to me.'' – He says as he taps the small stool he used to relax his legs occasionally.

Namjoon sighs in frustration but did as his brother asked of him. He always found it relaxing watching his brothers work. It was like watching the leaves fall, or clouds fly in the sky. He loved how focused and calm both Jin and Tae get when they work on their art. Jin with his jewellery, carefully polishing and cutting the stones and precious metal, and Taehyung with his paintings.

-'' What are you working on?'' – He asks. – '' Better not be another scam. You nearly escaped that whole gallery thing.''

-'' Hmm...'' – Taehyung hums unperturbed. – '' No, it isn't. Hyung told me not to play with that anymore.''

-'' It was very risky.'' – Namjoon says. – '' Luckily, Jiminie got her out. That woman was foolish but innocent.''

-'' I just painted the paintings.'' – Taehyung's voice was calm. –'' I had no idea for what are they used, blame Lee's men.''

Namjoon growls quietly, but Taehyung still heard him. He turns his round eyes to look at him innocently. – '' Don't worry, Hyungie, none of them knew it was I who did some of those paintings.'' – He explained. –'' Everyone thought it was the Wu, the Chinese guy, and V was only the middle-man. Lee's men were caught, which is not bad, and the artist is safe in his homeland, we talked.''

Namjoon shook his head. – '' Your games Taehyung will cost you your head one day, plus Dong-Ho was furious. You cost him his men.''

-'' Pff, it doesn't endanger us in any way.'' – Taehyung says dismissively, waving his hand.

-'' Dong-Ho is a very dangerous men, Taehyung. You better get used to that idea already.''

-'' Hyung, what makes you think that after all these years that might happen?'' – Taehyung says. – '' But enough, please. I'm in a good mood, I don't want to talk about that man.''

The room grew silent. Namjoon had a mind to leave Tae to his work when his brother hums softly.

-'' There is a painting I like a lot.'' – He says in his calm deep voice, and the brush in his hand taps gently on the canvas. – '' But it's not within my reach, so I will make myself a copy of the original.'' – He leans back and takes his phone where an open photo of the original painting was.

-'' Van Gogh?'' – Namjoon asks.

-'' Mm-hmm.'' – Taehyung hums.

-'' Nice.''

-'' Hmm, yeah.''

They sat in silence for a few moments, Taehyung lost in his art, checking the original on his phone from time to time and Namjoon just meditating next to him, observing the strokes and gentle taps.

When Taehyung reached for the colour tube, Namjoon eyes zeroed on the label.

-'' SH 703 Vermilion Hue'' – He reads.

-'' ShinHan, it's the brand.'' – Taehyung says and Namjoon nods. -'' Vermilion is the colour.''

Namjoon takes the tube from Taaehyung to examine it, before looking at the palette in his brother's hand.

-'' I like that colour.'' – Namjoon decides. –'' it's very pretty and warm.'' – He watches Taehyung carefully smudge his brush in the fresh orangy-red paint. Then the information about that particular colour came rushing from his mind's archive. – '' Vermilion – originally made from a red mineral, called cinnabar, which is poisonous since it contains mercury.'' – He says, making Taehyung smile every time Joon uses his ''Joonpedia'' as Tae calls it. He squits his eyes, remembering more about what he once read when he went through colours. – '' Back in the day, working in the cinnabar mines was the equivalent of a death sentence.''

-'' That's awful.'' – Taehyung sympathises.

-'' They will make it by adding Mercury to molten Sulfur, which forms a black isomorph or mercuric sulfide. The black mass is ground, heated to sublimation, then condensed to form vermilion.'' – The information just flows from Namjoon in his soothing voice, which Taehyung loved very much.

-'' Later on, they found a less harmful alternative based on cadmium. These days, however, vermilion is made from modern harmless and stable pigments.''

Taehyung let his smile spread on his face, still taping on his painting. – '' I'm glad they found a safe way to make this beautiful colour.'' – He says, spreading more and more colour onto it. – '' I'm almost ashamed to call myself an artist as you seem to know so much more about the origins of the colours than me.'' – He murmured.

-'' Hey, don't be. I just remember things, but you... you feel them.'' – He affectionately nudges Taehyung's shoulder with his, which jerks Tae's brush a bit.

-'' Aish, watch it.'' – The younger man warns.

-'' Sorry, sorry.'' – Namjoon quickly apologizes, making a guilty face. – '' Did I mess it up?''

Taehyung inspects the canvas, finding no mistakes, he sighs in relief. – '' No harm done.'' – He switch the brush in his other hand so he could pat Namjoon on his back, only to gasp and pull Namjoon's glasses. They were stuck on his necklace when they slid from the top of his head, dangling all this time on Namjoon's back.

-'' What the hell?!'' – Namjoon exclaims and Taehyung burst out laughing. Namjoon gave a litany of curses, taking his damnable glasses from Taehyung's shaking hand. One look at his annoyed face sent Taehyung into whoops of laughter again. He looked so defeated, so annoyed and so relieved that he found them at last.

-'' I told you they will come back to you.'' – Taehyung said through giggles. – '' Here, let me.'' – He says, extracting the glasses from Namjoon's fingers and proceeding to untangle them from the thin chain Namjoon wore around his neck.

-'' The possibility of this happening was a million to one.'' – He grumbles, making Taehyung bit his lower lip, his teeth still showing as he was trying not to laugh.

-'' Hyung, with you, everything is possible.'' – He manages to say as he finally, separated the glasses from their captor. He brushes the lids with his shirt and places it on Namjoon's nose. – ''There, all better.''

-'' Don't tell Jin Hyung.'' – Namjoon murmured. – '' He will laugh his ass off and scold me at the same time for losing them.''

-'' Like you did your passport that one time?'' – Taehyung teases and Namjoon groans.

Taehyung pursed his lips together to stop a laugh from erupting, but then grew serious. – '' I wouldn't dream of it.'' – He says and then giggles.

-'' Ass.'' – Namjoon grumbles, slapping Tae's thigh in the good measure before standing up and stretching. – '' I'm off to read a bit.''

-'' Good idea.'' – Taehyung approves.

-'' Yeah.'' – Namjoon agrees. – '' Oh, and Tae?''

-'' Hmm?''

-'' Thanks.''

Taehyung doesn't have to ask what exactly was he thanking him – for finding his glasses, a chat, or something else – because he knew. It was a mere closeness, their souls connecting and meditating together, each in his own way and speed. Tae glanced at his dear brother, smiled and softly says. – '' Any time, Hyungie.''

__________________________________________________

This chapter was calm, telling us what happen on the rooftop, and Namjoon's newly found fascination with Min Yoongi (who isn't fascinated by him? I'm still to meet them) was so adorable. Either way, things will get serious, because in the next chapter we will join Jungkook, and things will soon lead him very close to Taehyung. 

Until Friday, take care darlings. Lots of love 💜💜💜

*shout out to SXPRS who did this amazing art of Taehyung painting. I love it!*