Midas Touch ➸ Taekook

- Thirty-first -

Jean-Luc kept his eyes riveted on the wall of debris that had formed for a long moment, separating them from the X-Men and their target. It was the perfect opportunity to carry out the mission they had been given, but the plan had failed miserably. The man sighed, turning his gaze back to his son, who stood proudly in front of him, his chest bulging, his face dark and serious, another rampart between the guild and the X-Men.

"What are you playing at, Jungkook?" asked the thief, anger in his voice.

Jungkook didn't answer, remaining perfectly still, his fists clenched. His whole body was tense, and despite the neutral expression he wore, it was easy to guess the different emotions he was wrestling with.

"It was the perfect opportunity for us, Jungkook, they were finally at our mercy... So why did you help them escape? Don't you think you've done enough already? Because they obviously didn't find this place on their own... You must have helped them..."

Jungkook's eyes darkened, their red and black colour becoming much more menacing. His father was accusing him of treason. Again. As well as being a thief, a manipulator, a liar, Jeon Jungkook was also a traitor. The list of his faults only seemed to get longer. Everyone was constantly suspicious of him, he always had to go to great lengths to gain someone's trust.

And he finally had won someone's trust. A hard-won trust that he had tried to earn. It had been long and hard, but the reward had been divine. And all too ephemeral. He had touched trust and love with his fingertips, and he had ruined it all.

And for what? The members of the guild looked at him with disappointment. He felt as if he had gone back five years ago. Nothing had changed, despite what he had wanted to believe. His crimes had not been forgiven, and perhaps they never would be. Not even by the boy who had won his heart.

"Give me a break..." sighed Jungkook. "Without my intervention, Antoine would have been caught. You'd have to be pretty stupid to try and break into a telepath's mansion... But I told you not to do anything, and you just did as you pleased..."

"You've had plenty of opportunities to carry out your mission, too many in fact, but you've never done it." Jean-Luc spat back, looking as dark as his son.

Jungkook couldn't deny it. There had been plenty of opportunities. In fact, he could have done it the very evening he arrived at the Institute. It would have been so easy for him. But he couldn't. He had never been able to do it. He had found himself alone with Taehyung many times, and instead of carrying out his mission, he preferred to enjoy these intimate moments, which seemed more precious than a treasure.

"I followed orders blindly, Jean-Luc, that's the way it's always been. But the mistakes you accuse me of won't erase the crimes you've committed. There's a difference between stealing and playing with human lives. You've crossed a line, you've become something I don't recognise myself in any more."

Jean-Luc let out a chuckle, but it conveyed a certain unease. The younger man's words rang horribly true, and that was frustrating.

"So what, you've taken a liking to these... mutants? You, who have always been a proud thief?"

"I'm a mutant too, Dad." Jungkook murmured, his voice vibrating with emotion. "I've always been one, and for once I'd found a place where that wasn't a problem. Where I was seen as having a use other than breaking locks."

"What are you trying to tell me, Jungkook?"

The young man took a deep breath, trying to relax his muscles and his body. He'd never thought he'd be doing this one day. What he was about to say was insane, and yet he couldn't see any other way out. It was the only way to atone for his sins. To make amends with him.