Louder than Bombs | KNJ

Tower Operations

Lara stopped Namjoon, not for the first time during this tour when they reached the third floor of the Tower and the recording studio as she worked to take in the building and everything that the guys had built here.

She had met the Choi's and had been delighted by Mrs. Choi and charmed by the gruff exterior of Mr. Choi. Then delighted all over again, as the man had pressed a small candy into her hand as they left. Something she vaguely remembered people doing when she was a little girl.

Then Namjoon had led her through the second floor and the empty office spaces. He hadn't said anything, but Lara had counted off the spaces and realized there was more than enough room for Sentinel to work from here.

Which meant that not just Namjoon, but all of Bangtan had worked to include them all into the design of the tower. It made Lara frustrated with herself, but also grateful. She'd known Namjoon was patient, had known that from the beginning of their relationship, but this spoke to her of faith unwavering.

He knew they'd be back together again, even when she hadn't known herself. They'd made love twice now, and Lara felt as if her heart was whole again. But she didn't let the words that wanted to bubble up and out into the open escape her lips. Something was still holding her back, and she thought it was herself.

She had used her sister's feelings to hide behind for years, so that she didn't have to examine her own. Didn't have to think about Namjoon, and what he meant to her. Didn't have to think about what it would mean if he wasn't in her life anymore.

Didn't have to spend time thinking about what if he was.

Now as Lara stopped again on the third floor and listened to Namjoon explain the recording studio, Jimin and Hoseok's dance studio, and even a Tattoo studio for Kookie, Lara's thoughts were absolutely awhirl with ideas. For herself, for her friends. For their business, and for these spaces in the Tower as well.

Namjoon watched her carefully and waited until she indicated she was ready again. He hoped that she was getting the idea of the tower but knew some of the more challenging discussions happened over the next few floors.

He led her back to the elevator and out into the first of the supply floors and Hoseok's office, where they met up with Paige and Hoseok.

Paige and Lara huddled for a few minutes and Namjoon watched again until Hoseok nudged him.

"They know Joonie. They know what we do, they know how we can help. They know us," he whispered, and Namjoon turned to him. Hoseok smiled and it was a smile that forced you to smile back, and Namjoon did so out of reflex.

"Trust in our girls to know we're doing the right things. Paige is already on board. I think we can trust them to understand what we're doing now," Hoseok said, and Namjoon shrugged. He wasn't sure Lara was too keen on the mercenary part of Bangtan, in fact, he was fairly positive that she didn't like that idea at all.

But she was taking everything in, and he was willing to keep going through the Tower and explaining what and why they did as Bangtan.

Finally, the girls broke apart and Paige walked over to Hoseok and Namjoon.

"I think she's willing to keep moving Joon-ah," said Paige quietly and Namjoon nodded and stood up to get Lara's attention again.

He walked the girls through the fifth and sixth floors, then stopped at the contact solution and opened the vault door. Paige murmured something to Hoseok, but Namjoon watched Lara as the door opened. She raised an eyebrow, and smiled a little, then stepped through into the coolness of the armory floor.

They walked past Jimin's office and found he was showing Darcy around. Lara looked over some of the plans that Jimin had printed and nodded slowly before she looked back to Namjoon. Darcy and Jimin followed them down the hall to Jin's command center and Namjoon knocked on the door frame.