[Jungkook x Taehyung] Bloodlines and Ties

//31

As Jungkook drove toward the Blackstone Gang's mansion with a group of trusted guards who had worked in Tae's mansion for years, Tae's phone buzzed. It was his mom. He hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to answer, but knew he couldn't ignore her.

Taking a deep breath, Tae swiped to accept the call. "Hey, Mom."

"Taehyung, where are you? I haven't seen you around the house. Is everything alright?" Mrs. Kim's voice was calm, but there was a hint of concern.

Tae glanced at Jungkook, who was focused on the road, his eyes hidden behind his mask. The guards sat quietly in the back, their eyes scanning the surroundings, aware of the danger ahead.

"Yeah, Mom, everything's fine," Tae replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "I just needed to step out for a bit with some of the guards. Don't worry, I'll be back soon."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Are you sure? You sound a bit off. I don't want you getting involved in anything dangerous."

Tae's grip tightened on the phone, his thoughts racing. He couldn't tell her about the mission, not yet. "I'm just running a quick errand. I'll explain everything later, I promise. Just stay in the main hall with the guards and watch some TV."

Mrs. Kim sighed softly. "Alright, but be careful. You know how much I worry about you."

"I will, Mom. I'll call you when I'm back." Tae hung up, feeling a pang of guilt.

Jungkook, having heard the conversation, glanced at Tae briefly. "She doesn't know?"

Tae shook his head. "She has no idea what's going on. If she knew, she'd lose it."

Jungkook nodded, his hands tightening on the steering wheel as they approached the outskirts of the city. "Let's make sure she never has to find out."

The car fell into silence again, the weight of the mission settling in. As they neared the Blackstone Gang's mansion, Tae couldn't help but feel a mix of fear and determination. They had to succeed, for his family's safety, and for the peace of mind his mother deserved.

Tae's phone buzzed once more, and he sighed before picking up, anticipating another concerned question from his mother.

"Hey, Mom," Tae greeted, trying to sound casual.

"I didn't know you were working as a model now!" Mrs. Kim's voice was amused. "And... you even have a boyfriend? It says on TV."

Tae froze for a second, his eyes flicking over to Jungkook. He could feel Jungkook's smirk forming beneath the mask, and the guards in the back softly chuckled, overhearing the conversation.

Clearing his throat, Tae tried to compose himself. "Yeah, I, uh... I was going to tell you about that. It's... kind of recent."

"Oh, really?" Mrs. Kim sounded more curious than angry, which surprised Tae. "I've been hearing a lot about it. You know, the media loves to talk about these things. I just hope he's a good man."

Tae bit his lip, unsure how to respond, especially with Jungkook listening. "Yeah, Mom. He's... he's a good guy." His eyes caught Jungkook's for a second, who raised an eyebrow teasingly.

"Well, I trust your judgment, Taehyung. Just make sure to bring him over sometime so I can meet him properly," Mrs. Kim continued, completely unaware that the man she was referring to was currently in the driver's seat, about to lead a mission against a dangerous gang.

"Sure, Mom. We'll talk more when I get back. I love you," Tae quickly said, trying to close the conversation before it got any more awkward.

"I love you too, sweetheart. Stay safe," Mrs. Kim replied before hanging up.