Cat's Cradle

V: I'm Finally on the Other Side of an Interrogation

"We should probably visit Tae," Jungkook said, his chin resting on the table as we watched the view behind his amazingly massive windows. The afternoon sun glinted through the panes, his living area in glowing in the golden light. "Namjoon said he's in a room now, and Jimin's been over there since he was admitted. The operation was pretty quick, just a few stitches."

I hummed in acknowledgment. My mug sat beside my face, a ring of coffee grounds gathered at the bottom.

"Hoseok's good at what he does, finding people and all that," Jungkook continued. "So I'll probably be out tonight."

"Nothing more invigorating than a good interrogation." My cheek and temple still throbbed lightly, but my vanity was more injured by the bruising than marred my cheek. "It's fine. Jimin and I will be here, all alone, while you, his loving boyfriend and my dear friend, damns his soul."

He smiled, rolling his eyes. "You're so dramatic. And I think it's morally justifiable if I'm doing it to protect the people I love."

"You're so sentimental," I countered. There was little chance that any testimony Lee offered would have much value—anything done tonight would be done out of revenge, as a punishment for hurting Taehyung (and threatening me, if you were a certain Jeon Jungkook). "At least Hoseok is probably having a field day, between capturing the guy, and any subsequent sadistic punishment he gets to dish out."

Jungkook remained silent for a moment. "We should probably go now."

"Hi, we're here to visit Kim Hyeontae?" Jungkook stood before the hospital reception desk, a face mask hiding his polite smile. I stood beside him, tapping my fingers along the fake wood, much to the receptionist's chagrin.

"Kim Hyeontae already has three visitors up there. Rooms are limited to two visitors per patient, so you'll have to wait outside their room," she said, sliding two visitor badges across the desk and eyeing me in annoyance. "We won't hesitate to remove you from the premises should you ignore our rules."

"Thank you." He bowed slightly and grabbed my wrist, pulling me towards the elevator. "There should've been guards set up," Jungkook muttered as he pressed the badge into my hand.

"I bet you Ms. Sunshine 'removed them from the premises,'" I mocked in a nasally voice. It wasn't a secret the last bit had been aimed at me.

Jungkook didn't laugh. "I know Yoongi and the rest are up there, but I don't like how exposed we are."

We stepped into the ward, brushing past shuffling patients and racing nurses. The halls were cold and detached, clouded in the distinct smell of antiseptic, and the slight aroma of the bland meals being distributed to rooms. Taehyung's room was obvious—Yoongi and Namjoon sat on a bench opposite of the door, Yoongi calmly reading a home and garden magazine, and Namjoon clicking furiously through his computer.

"Is Jimin inside?" Jungkook asked, standing above the two.

Licking his finger, Yoongi nodded and turned the page.

"There's no guards downstairs." He hovered, rolling his shoulder reflexively where he'd hidden a gun beneath his suit jacket.

"We had some," Yoongi replied, holding the page closer to his face to inspect the backsplash varieties. "But security was getting on my nerves, and I'd rather not expend my resources, so I sent them away. We're bringing him home tonight, anyway. It was a clean wound, so all we have to do is make sure he stays in bed for a week."

Jungkook hesitated a moment before before he nodded and entered the room.

"Is that allowed?" I asked, mildly offended by Jungkook's abrupt decision to abandon me and leave me alone with Yoongi. And Namjoon, of course. But mostly Yoongi.