The Black rose (Minsung ff)

Paranoia?

It had been a week since Jisung and Felix's outing, and although he had enjoyed every minute of it, a strange feeling had been gnawing at him since then. Something unsettled. Trapped, maybe? He wasn't sure, but he needed to go out again. This time, though, he wanted to be alone.

Not that he didn't love Felix, but today he felt like if he didn't have some time to himself, he might lose himself completely.

The mansion, though beautiful and grand, sometimes felt like a prison—Minho's loving, protective arms had become a comforting cage. Jisung felt like he needed a breath of fresh air, and not just in the literal sense. He craved the freedom of being by himself, without bodyguards or any supervision, even if it was just for a few hours.

As he left his room, his mind was buzzing with thoughts of where he could go to clear his head. Cycling in seoul again after so long was so simple yet sounded so appealing to the brunet—just the rush of wind and the world blurring by.

Without wasting any more time, he headed toward the Black Roses Headquarters.

His usual bodyguards following close behind as he made his way toward Minho's office.When he arrived on the floor where Minho's office was located, he saw Changbin and Hyunjin standing outside, visibly annoyed. They were trying to convince the guard at the door to let them in.

"We need to talk to him," Hyunjin said, his patience visibly thinning. "Tell him it's urgent."The guard's voice was firm as he repeated himself. "The Black Rose is busy. He hasn't allowed anyone inside."

Changbin sighed in frustration, and both of them gave up, walking over to the couch nearby to wait.

Jisung approached with a confused look. "Oh... okay, I'll come back later." He pouted, disappointed.

But the guard quickly shook his head. "No, no, sorry, sir, you're allowed to go in."Jisung blinked in surprise, completely taken aback. "What? But why me?"

Hyunjin, overhearing this, snorted and said with a chuckle, "Oh, Ji, you don't know how much he loves you." He winked, clearly amused by Jisung's obliviousness. "You're basically the only person allowed to interrupt him."

Still unsure, but now feeling a bit better, Jisung stepped toward the door. He was barely inside when he heard Minho's familiar voice, cold and commanding. "If you're not Jisung, get out now."

A small smile tugged at Jisung's lips as he silently padded across the room, approaching Minho's desk. Minho was busy with some paperwork, barely glancing up before pulling Jisung into a tight hug the moment he was close enough. It was instinctive, this touch. Like Jisung was the one thing that could momentarily pull Minho out of the ruthless, calculated world he ruled over.

"Princess. What's up?" Minho asked softly, releasing him from the embrace but keeping his hands on Jisung's arms. His intense gaze softened as he looked at Jisung's face, sensing something was on his mind.

Jisung hesitated. He knew Minho's protective nature—getting him to agree to this wasn't going to be easy. "Hyung, I..." He trailed off, then took a deep breath. "Can I go out today? Like... alone. No bodyguards, just me. I'll be back in three hours. Promise. I just... really need some time by myself."

Minho's expression instantly shifted. His brows furrowed, and there was a hint of worry in his eyes. "Alone? No bodyguards?"

Jisung nodded, looking hopeful but also anxious, knowing how rare Minho allowed such freedom. "Please, Minho. I just need to clear my head. I'll be back by 7 PM sharp. I promise."

There was a long pause as Minho considered it, his eyes searching Jisung's. He could see the restlessness in Jisung's demeanor—the way his shoulders were tense, and the slight edge in his voice. Jisung needed this. After what felt like an eternity, Minho sighed heavily and nodded, though his face was still clouded with concern.

"Alright, fine." Minho's voice was firm, though laced with reluctant agreement. "But you follow two rules: you're back here by 7 PM, no later. And don't get hurt. Got it?"

Jisung's face lit up, his excitement barely contained. He threw his arms around Minho, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, hyung! I promise, I'll be careful!"

He bolted out of the room before Minho could change his mind, a spring in his step. The bodyguards were quickly informed of the plan, though Jisung made sure they wouldn't follow him directly. He wanted to be alone, not watched. Freedom felt exhilarating.

---

Jisung spent the afternoon cycling around the city. The wind in his hair, the sights and sounds of the bustling city around him—it was everything he needed to feel grounded again. He stopped by some parks, strolled along empty streets, and just soaked in the world outside of the mansion's walls. For the first time in a while, he felt like he could breathe.

But as the sun began to set, something went wrong.

While cycling near the park, he misjudged a curb and twisted his ankle as he tried to regain balance. He fell hard, scraping his knees and elbows in the process. Wincing in pain, he sat on the sidewalk, frustrated with himself for being so careless.

 His ankle throbbed, and the scratches on his arms and legs stung, but he shrugged it off. It wasn't that bad, and he was almost back.

However, as he limped toward the car Minho had sent for him, a strange feeling crept over him. He glanced around and felt a chill run down his spine. It was subtle at first, but soon it became undeniable—someone was following him.

Jisung quickened his pace, ignoring the pain shooting up from his twisted ankle. His heart raced, and his mind spun with scenarios. Was it just paranoia, or was there actually someone tailing him? He wasn't sure, but he didn't wait to find out. As soon as he spotted the car, he all but sprinted toward it, relieved when the guard stepped out to help him inside.
---


By the time he arrived back at the Black Roses mansion, it was 8:30 PM—an hour and a half later than he had promised. He had broken both of Minho's rules.

As the car pulled up, Jisung panicked, his mind racing with what he could do. He couldn't face Minho right now—not after being so careless. He limped over to the guards at the entrance, practically begging them not to tell Minho he was late. "Please, just... don't tell him. I'll sneak in, okay?"

The guards exchanged looks but nodded. "The Red Rose's orders come above the Black Rose's, Don't worry we won't tell anyone."

Jisung smiled in relief, thanking them quietly before sneaking inside the mansion. He knew exactly how to move through the hallways without being seen, heading straight for his room. The lights were off, and he let out a breath of relief, thinking he had made it without being caught.

But the moment he stepped inside and shut the door behind him, the lights flicked on.Minho was sitting on his bed, his expression unreadable, his eyes locked onto Jisung. The air in the room was tense, heavy with disappointment.

"You're late." Minho's voice was low, but it carried a weight that made Jisung's stomach drop. "I'm so sorry, hyung! I really tried—"

"Roll your pants up," Minho interrupted, cutting through Jisung's excuses. "Now."

Jisung gulped and did as he was told, revealing the bruises and scratches on his legs. His ankle was swollen, clearly twisted. Minho's eyes narrowed, but there was no anger in them—just a deep, familiar concern.

"I asked you to take care of yourself." Minho's voice softened slightly as he knelt down to inspect the damage, carefully tending to the wounds. His hands were gentle as he applied bandages, the tough exterior of the Black Rose momentarily falling away.

As Minho worked, Jisung hesitated but eventually spoke up, his voice shaky. "I... I think someone was following me, hyung. I'm not sure, but it felt like it."

Minho froze for a moment before looking up at him, his eyes darkening. "What?"

Jisung nodded slowly, recounting the feeling of being watched and how he had run to the car. Minho's expression hardened again, but this time it was out of concern, not anger. He stood up, walking over to the door and calling for the head of security. The command was brief but clear: increase the security around Jisung, no exceptions.

As the guards left, Minho turned back to Jisung, his face serious but not cold. "I'm worried about you, Ji. I can't lose you. Be more careful. I'll look into it don't worry, my love."

Jisung nodded, feeling a mixture of guilt and warmth in his chest. Minho's protectiveness could be suffocating at times, but in moments like this, he understood why.

And though the night had ended in pain and fear, there was something oddly comforting about the way Minho had tended to him—something that made him feel safe, no matter what was lurking out there.