Midas Touch ➸ Taekook

- Eighth -

Taehyung was thrown backwards by the force of the explosion. However, just as he was expecting to collide with one of the crates in the warehouse, he instead felt two powerful arms wrap around his waist and he crashed into a torso. The person didn't let go of him, even after he'd steadied himself, and his first instinct was to look up at this stranger.

The first thing Taehyung noticed was the man's eyes. He had very special ones: his irises were as red as blood, and the normally white part of his eye was completely black. It was so strange and captivating for Taehyung that he couldn't take his eyes off the stranger, who was staring at him with the same intensity. Except that, unlike Taehyung who had completely paralysed, the man quickly smirked.

"Well then, chéri, can't you look away anymore?"

The provocation brought Taehyung back to reality, and he suddenly realised the dangerous closeness between them: the teenager was literally in the man's arms. It had been two years since he'd been this close to someone physically. Even with Chris, he had always kept his distance so as not to endanger him. Taehyung immediately extricated himself from his embrace, making sure that no part of his body came into contact with the man's skin. And with more distance, he was able to get a better look at the stranger.

He really was handsome. If Taehyung had to be honest, he was totally his style. He was tall, overtly muscular, without being too muscular (something he criticised Piotr for, for example). His skin was white and delicate, his long black hair rising in the breeze. His features were fine, but his little smirk and the confidence he exuded made him particularly attractive.

It was only when he heard growling behind him that he remembered the situation they were in. Taehyung turned around and saw that the mercenaries who had surrounded him a few minutes earlier were all on the ground, unconscious or writhing in pain, all thrown by the violence of the explosion.

The explosion. Taehyung turned his attention back to the man, who was dusting off his long brown trench coat with a nonchalance that didn't fit the situation at all.

"Are you a mutant?" Taehyung asked, looking completely bewildered.

The man looked up at him, an amused look on his face. He pointed comically at his eyes.

"I think that's enough to answer your question, joli cœur."

Taehyung didn't understand the last word he'd used, but the way he'd said it made him blush involuntarily. He didn't know why, but he had the impression that it was something pleasant.

"Taehyung!"

The two turned and saw Jin running in their direction. The young man immediately pounced on Taehyung, checking, without touching him, that he was all right.

"There was an explosion and suddenly I couldn't see you!" Jin panicked. "Are you all right?"

"Y-Yes, don't worry, Jin... On the other hand..."

He directed his gaze towards the stranger, and Jin followed him, before frowning at the sight of him.

"Who are you?" he questioned in a harsher tone. "Are you with the mercenaries?"

The stranger laughed openly at this question and pulled a pack of cards out of his pocket, playing absent-mindedly with it.

"Of course not. I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm the one who put them all out of action, mon ami."

"He's telling the truth..." added Taehyung.

Jin still wasn't convinced. This man was suspicious, after all he'd come out of nowhere, into a supposedly deserted warehouse occupied by mutant-dealing mercenaries, whose existence only the CIA should know about. And his nonchalance wasn't helping his case.

"And may we know your name, sir?"

The man smiled wider, bowing comically to them and even winking at Taehyung, who widened his eyes.

"Jeon Jungkook, at your service. But you can call me Gambit."

Jin had no intention of giving him the pleasure. He still didn't trust him, even knowing his name. He grabbed Taehyung by the shoulder, and they both took a few steps back.

"It's better to keep your distance." he explained to Taehyung a little lower down. "We don't know what his real intentions are."

Taehyung nodded, and watched silently as his teacher raised his hand to his ear, activating the small earpiece he wore there.

"Namjoon, do you hear me? We've been looking after the mercenaries here, but we've come across something... unusual. What's your status?"

"We've finished here too. We've found Logan and Auroro's groups. We're heading your way now."

"What about the hostages? Have you found them?"

"No. They're not here."

A short laugh cut short their discussion, drawing the attention of the two X-Men.

"They haven't found them, have they?" Jungkook asked. "No wonder, the 'hostages' aren't here."

Jin frowned, approaching the man and grabbing him by the collar.

"And how do you know that? You're with them, aren't you?"

Despite the threat, Jungkook didn't lose his cool, grabbing Jin's wrists to free himself from his grip.

"I already told you I'm not with them." he replied. "You and I have a common goal: to find the hostages. I've been investigating longer than you, so it's normal that I know more. I've been after them for weeks, and with your impromptu raid, you've ruined everything. Now they're going to get suspicious and be even more careful. So the one who should be angry here is me, not you."

Jin couldn't deny the truth of his words. They'd failed, the hostages weren't there, and if they'd been more patient, they might have been able to avoid this situation. The gang must surely be aware by now that they were being hunted. The chances of finding the hostages had diminished. Jin sighed.

"All right, I admit I was insensitive, I apologise for that. But this mission is particularly important to us."

"I can see that." Jungkook joked.

The man's gaze shifted to Taehyung for a moment, his charming little smile reappearing immediately. And that smile really unsettled the poor teenager.

"I'll make you a deal. I've got the information, you've got the firepower. I'm alone, so taking action is complicated for me. I propose that we work together to find the hostages."

"I can't decide that alone."

At the same time, the rest of the team arrived, all widening their eyes curiously at the sight of Jungkook.

"Who's that guy?" Kitty asked curiously.

Jin and Taehyung exchanged mixed looks, before observing for a moment the man who called himself Gambit. Then Jin sighed. He didn't really like what he was going to say, but at this point, this warehouse was the only lead, and they'd failed miserably. They really had no other option.

"Someone who could help us find the hostages."