Royal Flush | pjm; jjk

Chapter Nineteen

Jimin ran out of the room to the location of the noise and saw Nora on her fours, collecting the smithereens. "Nora.." Jimin tried to begin, but she quickly raised her head and shook it. She wanted to know everything, but in no way they should do it in front of the Prince. If by chance Jungkook figures out that Nora didn't even know who she was working for, he might definitely rethink his decision of joining them. "Not now." She whispered to Jimin, and he simply nodded. Four more heads quickly peeked through the frame of the door.

"Sorry, I tilted it too much and it fell down.." Nora tried to speak in a calm tone, afraid that Jungkook will read her through. Jimin quickly knelt down and started to pick up the pieces with Nora. She spun her head towards him, the reality of the situation overtaking her. A Prince helping me clean up, while another one watches. If the situation wouldn't have been so tense, it could have been comical.

"Go inside guys, I'll help Nora clean up and join you." Jimin spoke calmly, yet his tone remained firm. Nora finally understood why to her, his simple requests sounded like commands and were so familiar to Jungkook's. Jin, Yoongi and Hoseok quickly went inside the room, whereas Jungkook shifted on his feet a bit, as if making a decision. Nora didn't dare to lift her eyes up, she couldn't look at Jimin either. Focusing her gaze on the shattered cups on the floor she nearly jumped, when Jungkook knelt down too. "Let me also help." He whispered calmly. The three of them cleaned up in silence, no one lifting their eyes, sweat was forming on Nora's forehead from the anxiety.

"Tell me what you want to know." Jimin instructed, when all of them were finally sitting down. Jungkook tilted his head a bit, pondering what he'd like to know first. "Why did you leave?" He finally spoke, making everyone turn their eyes to Jimin. It was obvious that he was uncomfortable by the stares and Nora cleared her throat. "I think.. Maybe we should leave you two alone for this?" Yoongi, Jin and Hoseok quickly hummed in agreement, already standing up. Jimin nodded to them, but lifted his palm towards Nora. "You - stay." He stated calmly, and Nora slowly sat back down, wondering if she should really hear his story like this. It didn't take long for the trio to disappear behind the doors and Jimin raised his eyes back to Jungkook. "I left, because otherwise I would have been killed."

Shivers ran through Nora's spine, palms were getting sweatier with every silent second. Jungkook placed his elbows on the table. "Elaborate." He commanded Jimin, but the latter simply sneered. "Don't order me around, brother." Jungkook slowly sat up straight, hawking at Jimin, but his expression didn't seem angry. Now Jimin leaned to the table. "How much do you remember?" Jungkook scratched his head. "I remember us playing together. I remember you working as a helper to the maids. I remember when you told me that you were my brother and then you disappeared. Father told me that you passed away." Jimin released a manic laugh. "Of course that's what he'd tell you! He wanted me to do so, maybe he was manifesting it." Jimin sneered again. Silence fell over the room after that, Nora kept playing with her fingers, feeling like she most definitely should not be here.

"Ji-yeon told me of who I really am." Jimin began again, now Nora lifted her eyes to him. "Until then I was working at the palace, all I knew that I was a son of a maid. I think I was sixteen when I finally found out. I brought this question to the King, and oh boy, when I tell you he fumed." Jimins face darkened for a moment, quickly returning to the usual sarcastic expression. "He told me to leave the palace and disappear completely. He promised that if someone will find out - I'll be dead before I know it. But there were people who already knew, and they found me quickly. I also told you, and look I'm still alive!" Jimin smiled, pretending to check his pulse.

Jungkook lowered his eyes. "Because I never told him." He mumbled. "What?" Jimin tilted his head. "I never told him that I knew." Jungkook mumbled again. Jimin leaned back on his chair, resting his chin on his index finger. "Why not?" He asked after a small pause, eyebrow tilted. "Because you told me not to."