Vice

Chapter 18

Jungkook waited until Seokjin drove away, the Aston's engine revving loudly as it turned the corner, before he began walking down the block to the hacker's apartment building. He would just get Seokjin's car and go. No messing around, no seeing the gamer, no lighting his own building on fire in the hopes that Taehyung would die, trapped up on the top floor.

Jungkook was very glad that Seokjin had listened to him and gone back to the mansion, but he was just the tiniest bit concerned about the hacker driving by himself. He didn't want Seokjin to get in a car accident if he suddenly got sick. Maybe this is how the gamer felt, constantly worrying about Seokjin's episodes, wanting to keep an eye on the hacker at all times to make sure he didn't die. Maybe protectiveness was a side effect of being in love with someone that was terminally ill. But, no. He and Taehyung weren't similar, not even in that small way.

He made his way down the street, keeping his head bowed and his hands in his pockets, trying to be inconspicuous. Jungkook knew full well that he shouldn't be out by himself. Jimin would scold him for not having a body guard or two, but he hadn't wanted anyone else intruding on his and Seokjin's private time. There was no guarantee of how many moments like that they would have left.

The building's security guard knew him of course, and the door to the lobby was opened for him without a moment's hesitation. He hurried to the elevator and hit the button marked 'garage', tapping his foot impatiently as it began to move.

Jungkook wanted to curl in on himself, roll into a ball on the floor, just so Seokjin would be sweet to him again. He had felt more loved in those few moments than he had any right too, considering he wasn't loved at all. More than during any post-sex cuddle session, more than waking up with Seokjin in his arms, more than the numerous kisses the hacker gave him throughout the day.

That was the kind of relationship he wanted, Jungkook thought as he exited the elevator, clicking the 'unlock' button on Seokjin's keys. The kind where you could comfort and be comforted. Give and take. Balance.

Headlights flashed to his right, and he made his way to the navy blue Lexus. As he was about to open the driver's door, he noticed something incredibly inconvenient. Through the window, he saw that a steel bar was attached to the steering wheel, one of those locks to stop people from stealing a car.

He looked at Seokjin's keys, trying to find one that would unlock it, but there wasn't anything small enough. "Fuck," he muttered, pulling out his phone and opening Seokjin's message thread.

You:

'Hey sweetheart, did you put a steering lock on your car?'

Beloved:

'No, why would I have? That garage is secure as shit.'

'Why do you ask?'

'Ok, I was just checking. Also, don't text and drive.'

'You texted me first! And I'm at a stop light!'

'Oh wait! I'm in your car! I can run all the red lights I want, and I won't get pulled over! Woohoo!'

'Seokjin don't do that! I want you to get home in one piece!'

'Kidding lol. Take good care of Bae, I don't want to see a single scratch on her.'

'Bae is in good hands, don't worry.'

"Fuck," Jungkook repeated, louder this time, leaning against the car and covering his eyes with one hand. Taehyung must have put the stupid bar there so Seokjin would have no choice but to talk to him. At least the criminal was the one here, he could handle the gamer easily enough.