Midas Touch ➸ Taekook

- Eighteenth -

Taehyung and Kitty didn't even have time to set foot in the Institute on their way home from class when they were called to the training room. Taehyung was tired and all he wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep until the next day, but he knew that was impossible. During his month's absence, the hostage situation had progressed well. The mercenaries they had captured on the port of Houston had not consumed the famous anti-mutant substance, certainly because they were mere underlings of no importance. However, despite their lowly position in the hierarchy, they had enough information for the X-Men. As a result, they had captured more of the traffickers' bases, freeing more hostages. Taehyung was upset that he hadn't been able to take part in these operations.

When he arrived outside the training room, changed into his combat gear, Taehyung was surprised to see Jungkook leaning nonchalantly against the wall. The teenager arched an eyebrow as he joined him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Okay, Jungkook was staying here for the duration of the mission, but he wasn't a member of the X-Men. He had no obligation to take part in their training. Especially as Taehyung was convinced that Jungkook probably didn't really want to be a part of it. The man would surely have preferred to lie on the grass in the garden rather than take part in this training.

The Cajun looked up at him with amused eyes, his usual smile quickly forming on his lips.

"Hello to you too, ma beauté." he sighed so sensuously that Taehyung felt his cheeks (and lower abdomen) heat up. "You left without saying goodbye this morning. It broke my little heart."

Jungkook made a puppy face, which didn't impress Taehyung at all. He knew the man was a bit of a liar and a manipulator, it was something he'd picked up on quickly; so he knew he didn't mean a word of it. To Jungkook, he was surely some kind of attraction, his power unique and fascinating. Yet, despite knowing this, Taehyung couldn't resign himself to keeping his distance completely. He tried, but each time he was drawn back to him. It was as if an invisible force were drawing them together. He seemed to resist it with more difficulty than Jungkook. Perhaps the Cajun didn't even feel it.

"You didn't answer my question." Taehyung continued.

"I wanted to spend a bit more time with you."

Taehyung didn't really believe it, but he didn't say anything. In any case, once Jungkook had decided to be like that, nothing could be done about it. He was roused from his thoughts when he heard someone clearing their throat, and he turned to see that Namjoon was standing in front of the door leading to the danger room, seeking everyone's attention. The chatter around them died down, all eyes on the leader. Even Jungkook, who attached no importance to the man's authority, fixed his gaze on him all the same.

"As you know," began Namjoon, "the case of the mutant traffickers has progressed so well that we've been able to capture several of their bases. Thanks to the knowledge we've gathered, we know one of their new hideouts. And certainly one of the last. We can finally see the end of it."

Everyone's eyes widened. They'd discovered another of their headquarters?

"And where is it?" asked Hoseok, just as impatient as the others to find out more.

Namjoon sighed.

"That's exactly where things get complicated. It's a huge villa, right in the centre of L.A. By searching the minds of the prisoners, the professor was able to draw up a fairly accurate map, and I can tell you that the place is a real anthill. It's nothing like anything we've seen before. Their underground network stretches under the whole district."

Logan came up beside him, arms folded across his chest.

"You've never been trained for this kind of operation. We can't just rush in without preparation. So the aim of the next training sessions will be to train you to fight in this kind of environment. And I warn you, we'll be uncompromising. It's a matter of life and death."