ʟᴜᴘɪɴ│ᴛᴋ [complete]

.47. ɪɴ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴ

The trip back to England was perfectly miserable. In fact, the closer they were to their destination, the more Jungkook felt as if he was leaving some of that continental joie de vivre behind, along with the carefree and untroubled disposition that had come to define his existence ever since he had reunited with Taehyung.

Or perhaps it was just the gloomy British weather and its unfailing capacity to put a damper on the brightest mood.

Lizbeth's tearful smile when presented with Taehyung's fruity liqueur did manage to raise his spirits which — taking on weather-like qualities — had drastically moistened by the time they'd reached Baker Street. And his fiance agreeing to stay the night had himself buoyed up by the prospect of spending more time with his man.

They would eventually have to address the issue of their future home together, but now was just not the time. Whatever was happening across the Channel had to cease for him to find peace of mind.

Jungkook was going through the papers the following morning, when Lizbeth delivered two telegrams, one for himself and one for Taehyung whose eyelids still hadn't opened since he'd reached the breakfast table by feeling his way along. They read the missives quietly before glancing at each other and exchanging the slips of paper.

Jimin and Namjoon had both reached out to their respective friend for advice.

Should the reporter publish the story of stolen artworks and how the thefts could all be traced back to Kim Namjoon's book tour? No newspaper had yet made any sort of connection between these events and few people were even aware of such robberies taken place around Europe, printed news often focusing on strictly local affairs.

Namjoon, on the other hand, was wondering whether it would be wise to cut his trip short. The successful author was growing increasingly uneasy at the thought of showing up at any kind of venue for fear of seeing it being robbed of one of its prized work of art simply because he stared at it a little too long.

Breakfast turned oddly quiet as the men mentally weighed the pros and cons of each decision they would put forth.

When Lizbeth returned with a fresh pot of tea, Jungkook noticed something sticking out of her apron's large front pocket.

"Lizbeth, what paper is this?"

The tea pot almost spilled its content on the table as the old woman quavered with embarrassment. "Oh, it's nothing, Sir."

But the detective had already recognized the unmistakeable header. "Please don't tell me you read that gossipy Midnight Star!"

Well. There was no point denying it any longer so the housekeeper took out the neatly folded newspaper to justify its purchase. "You both looked so handsome on that front page, I just had to buy myself a copy."

She placed it on the table and Taehyung got up to stand next to Jungkook and have a closer look at the picture. There they were, walking out of the busy train station (Jungkook had still not reconciled with the idea of air travel), hand in hand, pulling their luggage behind them. The text underneath read:

After disappearing for a few months, Kim Taehyung — everyone's favourite bachelor — has returned to London, with a ring on his finger and a fiance on his arm.

Taehyung couldn't resist kissing the top of Jungkook's head. "I'm definitely having this one framed as well."

Jungkook sighed to express disapproval, but the smile on his lips told another story. He kept reading.

What happened in Europe, we may never know, but word has it the continent has been plagued with a series of thefts, which would explain why our most distinguished private eye made the trip abroad.

Taehyung let out a whistle. "The MS really upped their game. It almost sounds like proper investigative journalism!"

The detective growled at that. "That's it, I'm having Jimin print his article ASAP to shift the focus away from you."

"Don't do that, love. You're going to get Joonie in trouble."

"I'm sure Namjoon can handle a few hours of interrogation."

"So can I, if it comes to that."

They were back to that same old argument again.

"Tae, babe, I don't want the police anywhere near you."

"Gukie, sweetie, you don't have to be so protective all the time. You almost got us both killed last time you tried to defend me."

That hurt. Taehyung didn't know how many times Jungkook had relived the scene in his mind, and how many times he'd wished he'd made different decisions. But what was the point of asking oneself 'what if' when there was no going back? So the man gave away the only justification that had kept him sane all these months. "For your information, Rieken is now locked up in a sanitarium. He likely would have hurt you either way. How could I have lived with myself if I'd let you give yourself up to a lunatic with a loaded gun?"

Gentle arms wrapped around his frame. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that," Taehyung whispered in his ear. Nuzzling his temple, he added, "I know how much you wish to keep me safe all the time. And I love you for that." The kisses on Jungkook's cheek were some of the most heartfelt. "I'm so, so lucky to have you."

Taehyung's affectionate words held the power to turn Jungkook into a puddle. Always had.

"I just want them to end. The robberies—" Jungkook was finding it harder to make coherent sentences, lost as he was in the fluttery warmth of his fiance's multiple tokens of devotion. "Please, tell me they'll end soon."

Taehyung's touchy care came to a hesitant halt. "I don't think they will, no."

Jungkook whined, but was confused as to whether it was because of the heat fading away as Taehyung took a step back, or because of the implications of that last statement. "Once Jimin's article is printed, police might be more prepared," he countered, hoping his words didn't sound as if they lacked conviction, because he certainly did.

"Police assume the only way in and out of a building is through its doors or windows. They won't be any closer to capturing that thief."

Jungkook's look of disbelief at the abrupt disclosure had Taehyung giggle. "I know how much you hate it but Gukie, love, if you really want to catch them, you're going to have to learn how to fly."

Jungkook doesn't have it in him to ask Taehyung to be quiet. The man's eyes were telling enough. Trust me, they said. And so Jungkook did. "What is this flying thief after?" he enquired instead.

Oh. If only he hadn't.

Taehyung smiled when he answered, "they're after the same thing I was, I suppose".

—

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