Blue

Mistake

Jungkook scanned the area as he entered Bluebirds, he had sent Vante a text but received no reply so naturally presumed he was busy working. He was a little surprised that he would be working, given the bruising on his body but considered that perhaps he had less revealing constumes for such purposes. It made him feel a mixture of rage and nausea whenever he thought about it, he couldn't think about the injuries without reliving the nightmares. The club was busy tonight and Dente was on stage doing his thing, he'd watched Dente perform many times and understood his allure because he was very good at what he did. You could see the experience he had just in the way he handled the audience and the way he mingled with them afterwards like they were old friends. Vante treated the audience very differently, he looked down on them, he almost pretended they weren't there at times and rarely interacted with anyone. Jungkook presumed that it was the air of mystery that shrouded him, the face behind the mask, the man that always left you wanting more, that was what made Vante so popular and so desired.

He was slightly cautious when he saw Yoongi working behind the bar, he was definitely less approachable than his partner and Jungkook came to expect the frosty glare.

"He's not here." Yoongi said matter of factly, not bothering to ask what drink he wanted.

Jungkook frowned "But he said he was working tonight?"

"He is, but not here. Last minute change this afternoon." Yoongi put a glass of honey coloured liquid down in front of him on the bar.

"Where is he? Is he okay?" he could feel the nausea in his stomach.

"It's no concern of yours." Yoongi pushed the drink closer to him, his voice impassive.

"No thanks, I just want to know where Vante is."

Yoongi put a receipt beside the glass and pushed them both a bit closer "Suit yourself, but you really look like you could use a drink."

Jungkook thought for a second, remembering the note Hobi had slipped him the night he had taken Vante back to his place. He hoped he was on the right track when he handed Yoongi some money and thanked him for the drink that he knocked back, pushing the empty glass his way and slipped the bit of paper in his pocket.

"Thanks. Maybe you're right. It's been a long day. I'll see you around."

"Yeah. Have a good evening, Sir." Yoongi went back to stacking glasses on the shelf as Jungkook walked away, heading out of the fire exit, making sure he was a few blocks clear of Bluebirds before taking the slip of paper out of his pocket, hoping he was right.

He stood in the shadows beside a building like a criminal, the faint glow of a street light providing just enough light to look at the receipt without needing the torch from his phone. His heart hammered in his chest and his body vibrated with anxiety as he saw a message from Vante:

*Change of plan. Sorry. Don't come looking for me. V*

The policeman rested his head against the cold brickwork of the building, his stomach sank reading Vante's words. He really thought they'd turned a corner but maybe he was wrong? Every moment in the last few days flashed through his mind, the tender touches and the way Tae had wanted such intimacy with him. There were moments where Vante was more prominent but the time that he allowed Tae to come through was getting longer and he was seeing more of that side of him. Maybe it was all a very convincing act? His gut instinct was urging him to find him, if he was working it must be at one of the clubs and he knew it wasn't Bluebirds now.

If no one was going to help him he would have to do it alone, there were only two places he could be so he hailed a cab "Magpies please." he would just try them both, starting with the one closest.