Blue

The Picnic

Vante hadn't seen Jungkook since the ice cream and in the days since, he'd had to accept that he missed him... or at least he thought he did. It was easy to ignore the feelings if he was angry at the policeman but then being consumed by anger wasn't good for him either.

He was giving himself the once over before the stage beckoned him and he knew that one table would be empty tonight, the spotlight wouldn't find Jungkook's face and Vante would feel alone. The cop had told him that he wouldn't be at the club but wouldn't explain why. Vante had asked him several times but hadn't got anywhere so he'd had to accept it until he could ask him again.

The mask he wore tonight was a pale pink with silver glitter over one side, it matched the pale pink and metallic bodysuit that left nothing to the imagination, hidden under the shiny black, sequinned cloak. The body suit was completely sheer, with a silver heart over his crotch and each nipple and long sheer sleeves so from a distance it actually looked like he had hearts covering his modesty and that was all. He wanted to go out in bare feet but had been told that he had to wear the pink heels for this one and he also wasn't entirely keen on the feather boa but took that anyway.

"Pink suits you, V."

Dente's voice travelled from the doorway and Vante smiled.

"Yeah, it might suit me but these feathers get everywhere."

"You always find something to complain about. Azure has been asking where that cop is, do you know?"

Vante sighed "I don't know why he hasn't been here, Dente."

The blonde, whose shoulders were broad and his face was kind, closed the door behind him "But you know where he is?"

"Why are you asking me? I don't get why everyone is so fixated on the guy."

"You have no idea, V."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"If you know anything, tell me. I don't want you getting yourself into trouble over him. I know what you're like and I know you like to rebel but please, V, I don't want anything to happen to you."

Dente hoped that pleading to Vante would be enough. Over the years that he had known him, they had shared some special times, sitting on the floor of Dente's room, eating takeaway pizza and drinking the soju he had bought on his way home from the club. He had kept Vante to himself for as long as he could but Cyan had seen him perform once and that had been the end of it. Dente knew that it would happen, that they would see how good Vante was and he knew what would come from that as a result but he could see the shy, sensitive guy underneath and he wanted to protect him for as long as he could. He was pleased that Yoongi and Hobi had taken him under their wings because it meant more protection and more people to look out for him. The tall blonde stripper was too close to Cyan and Azure at times, they expected him to 'deal' with Vante when he was being bratty but he always chose the kinder route because he couldn't bring himself to hurt him. He was told constantly that being the manager of a club brought responsibilities and he should live up to it but Dente knew that he could never be like those above him, no matter what he said or appeared to do.

"Nothing will happen to me. Stop worrying, you worry too much."

"We both know differently. You are expendable to them and you know it. V, this is me, asking you to please be careful. Keep your head down and follow the rules."

"Where's the fun in that huh?" Vante winked at Dente before reapplying his mask.

Dente sighed, he had seen Vante grow into the person he was now and in many ways he had matured so much but this life had brought out a side to him that got him into trouble many times. He fought against the system that had given him a life instead of allowing him to rot on the streets. Dente totally understood why he rebelled, this life wasn't a safe one, it was rarely happy and any joy they found was usually when they were away from the clubs, having a laugh together. But it was their lives and they earned good money doing what they did, they were in too deep and this life did not simply release you from it without you paying the price for your freedom, sometimes that price was your life.