UNDER HIS SPELL { taekook }

二 ; ０６

"Kim Taehyung. Stop there and don't move."

When the hooded man had said that, Jeongguk could feel himself freezing where he stood. Taehyung's arm was placed out protectively over his chest, and the younger boy could only gulp at the intense eye contact the other two males were making.

Choi Woosik... A member of the Acre gang? Meaning, those guys that had beaten Taehyung? On one hand, Jeongguk's blood was boiling. He remembered how fast his heart had been beating that day while he watched from afar, Hoseok and Jimin beside him, and Taehyung on the ground taking punches from these guys. These Acre assholes.

But Jeongguk didn't know how to fight. Of course, he exercised on the regular and wasn't quite lacking in the muscles department. Still he didn't know the first thing about gang activity. He could really fuck this up for Taehyung, who seemed strangely calm for a man who had a concealed gun aimed at him. At the very least his relaxed demeanor held Jeongguk back from freaking the fuck out right then and there. Though admittedly, the boy still felt a bit nauseous.

"You know my full name, hm? I'm so flattered~" Taehyung cracked a side grin, arm lowering back to his side.

The man's eye twitched.

"Fucking asshole... You still have the guts to talk like an idiot even when your life's being threatened?" The man, Woosik, spat out. Jeongguk held his breath. He didn't seem like the type of guy who'd hesitate to shoot, even at such a public location.

Taehyung, for the love of god... he thought. Don't piss him off.

"My life? Being threatened..?" Taehyung's smirk widened. "Please. You're the one who's got some fucking nerve pointing that thing out in broad daylight. This may be a secluded area but people still live here, moron. Someone might be watching, or come out at any point and call the cops. All they have to do is hear us."

"I'll shoot if you make any loud noises," Woosik's eyes narrowed. "Don't test me. I'll even shoot the boy."

Jeongguk squeaked in fear, earning a glance from Taehyung, and the younger could feel the blood suddenly rush his veins.

Me...? He'd shoot me...? Jeongguk let out a shaky breath, trying to stabilize the fright quickly rising inside of him.

Taehyung's face became deadpanned, a cold ice in his glare. He slowly raised both his hands up into the air for the Acre man to see, to confirm they were empty, and for a second Jeongguk thought he had surrendered.

"Lighter," he spoke, deep voice ringing smoothly in Jeongguk's ears. Taehyung then proceeded to dig one hand into his pocket, and Woosik flinched for a moment before he understood. He watched Taehyung fish out a lighter from the pocket of his jeans and then wave his left hand that had remained in the air. "Cigarette."

Taehyung then grabbed a cigarette from his left pocket, placed it to his lips, lit the stub, then tucked the lighter back into his pocket.

"So.." he exhaled a draft of smoke, "This how Acre's doing shit now, hm? Threatening innocent lives?"

Woosik nearly grunted, chest puffing, back straightening, snarly pupils that were locking Taehyung straight into the center of his bullseye. Jeongguk was convinced that a part of him would be shot any second now.

How badly would it hurt, he wondered. But he wasn't quite keen on ever finding out.

"Oh, that's just rich coming from a Bangtan boy!" Woosik's words seeped out like venom, and Jeongguk fought his instincts to start running because, surely, he wouldn't make it out unscathed if he did. "Are you forgetting what you fucking did to my sister, asshole?!"