Agent detective Jungkook thought he had seen it all-until he stumbled upon a dark secret that shattered his world. His boyfriend, the charming and enigmatic Kim Taehyung, was selling himself to an underground club notorious for exploiting the vulner...
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Chapter 15: Serious Situation
Jungkook, his usual calm facade slightly fractured, offered a tired but sincere thank you to Sook-ja, the housekeeper, for her dedication to preparing a meal amidst the chaos. The aroma of the simmering stew, usually comforting, felt strangely discordant with the lingering fear.
"You should rest, Sook-ja," Jungkook said gently, his voice a low murmur. "You'll be needed bright and early tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, sir. Goodnight." Sook-ja responded.
"Goodnight, and thank you for everything," Jungkook replied, his voice warm with genuine gratitude.
He watched her leave, the quiet click of the door echoing in the unsettling silence that followed. He let out a long, weary sigh, running a hand through his already disheveled hair, the gesture betraying the exhaustion that lay beneath his composed exterior. He turned, and there stood Taehyung, his silhouette against the dimly lit room, a silent sentinel guarding against unseen threats.
"You should go to bed, Taehyung," Jungkook said softly, his voice a gentle balm against the storm of anxiety that raged within them both. He approached him slowly, his movements deliberate, reassuring. "You need your rest. You've been through a lot."
Taehyung's eyes, wide and filled with an apprehension that mirrored his own, reflected the exhaustion and fear that clung to them both. His unspoken fear was clear: the vulnerability he felt after the attack, the raw terror of another potential assault, the chilling uncertainty of whether they were truly safe.
"And you?" Taehyung asked, concern lacing his voice. "Won't you rest as well?" His gaze held a plea, a quiet request for reassurance.
Jungkook's gaze softened, understanding the unspoken plea beneath the question. He knew Taehyung's worry stemmed from a deep-seated desire for protection, a desperate need for his presence as a shield against the darkness.
"I'll be right here," he reassured him, his voice firm yet gentle, a promise whispered against the encroaching shadows. "I need to make a call to a colleague. Just a quick one."
Taehyung's brow furrowed. "Are you sure you don't need rest first? You look exhausted."
"I'll be fine. It'll be a very quick call." Jungkook offered a reassuring smile, a carefully constructed mask to hide the fatigue that gnawed at him. He gently ruffed Taehyung's hair, the familiar gesture a small comfort, before pecking him on the cheek.
"Alright," Taehyung said, a hint of a smile finally gracing his lips, a fragile bloom in the desolate landscape of their fear. "Goodnight, then."
Jungkook hummed in response, watching Taehyung ascend the stairs, his footsteps a slow, measured rhythm against the oppressive silence. Once alone, he retrieved his phone, the cold metal a contrast to the warmth he craved, and descended to the basement, to his recording room—a sanctuary filled with the silent witnesses of his investigations, his security cameras. He initiated the call, the tension palpable even through the electronic intermediary.
"Did you catch him?" he asked directly, his voice low and urgent, cutting through the static.
"Yes, just barely. We managed to apprehend him before he could escape. It was a close one." Jimin's voice, laced with the exhaustion of a long, grueling night, responded.
"His identity?" Jungkook pressed, his eyes scanning the grainy footage on his monitor, searching for any overlooked detail, any clue that might shed light to consume them.
"Jaek Hewon," Jimin replied. "31 years old, underemployed. We had to use facial recognition; he wasn't cooperating. A real piece of work."
"Any connection to Saebo?" Jungkook's eyes narrowed, focusing on a fleeting image in the video, a momentary glimpse that might hold the key to unraveling the mystery.
Jimin sighed, the sound heavy with the weight of the investigation. "He used to work for one of Saebo's parents' illegal businesses before it was shut down. We believe he was blackmailed into this. It's a messy situation."
"Blackmailed?" Jungkook's curiosity was piqued, and the pieces of the puzzle slowly began to fall into place.
"Yes," Jimin confirmed. "Hewon's a pedophile. We found damning evidence on his computer. An email from Saebo's assistant threatened to expose him unless he cooperated. We're investigating further, looking into Saebo's associates. It's a deep rabbit hole."
"Where is he now?" Jungkook asked, his voice tight with a controlled fury.
"Yoongi's interrogating him," Jimin said. "He's being uncooperative, but Yoongi's persistent. He's not giving up easily."
"And Lia? Anything suspicious?" Jungkook shifted his focus, his mind already racing ahead.
"Nothing overt," Jimin admitted. "I've got someone tailing her, but I'm investigating her movements as well. She's incredibly sharp, everyone in the station knows it. We can't afford to overlook anything."
"Thank you, Jimin," Jungkook said, appreciating the thoroughness of the investigation and the tireless dedication of his colleagues.
"How's your boyfriend? He's okay, right? He wasn't hurt?" Jimin's voice changed tone, shifting from the grim professionalism of the investigation to a more casual, almost gossipy tone.
"He's fine. I arrived just in time. And why the sudden concern for my boyfriend?" Jungkook chuckled, a hint of amusement in his voice, a momentary respite from the weight of the situation.
"Well," Jimin admitted, a sly tone entering his voice, "I met him the other day, and… well, let's just say he's quite striking. Unassuming, but incredibly attractive. He's quite the charmer."
"Please, mind your own business. At this rate, I'll have to keep him hidden from the world." Jungkook pretended to sigh dramatically, the playful banter a welcome distraction from the grim reality of the situation.
"Possessive, aren't we?" Jimin chuckled.
"Just protective," Jungkook retorted, his voice laced with a playful defensiveness. "He's been attracting unwanted attention, and he doesn't even realize it. People are… peculiar, to say the least."
"If I were you, I'd be doing the same," Jimin teased. "You're just lucky you got there first."
"Just focus on your work, Jimin. We'll catch up later." Jungkook laughed, the sound was genuine and heartfelt.
"Fine, fine," Jimin replied playfully. "Have fun! And keep him safe." The call ended with a final chuckle from Jimin, the sound a comforting counterpoint to the lingering unease.
Jungkook smiled, the tension easing slightly, replaced by a quiet contentment. He ascended the stairs, a quiet contentment settling over him, a fragile peace in the wake of the storm. Taehyung slept soundly, his peaceful breathing a balm to Jungkook's weary soul, a testament to the sanctuary he provided.
Jungkook showered, the warm water washing away the grime, then slipped into bed beside Taehyung, clad only in his boxer shorts. He gently kissed Taehyung's forehead, whispering a soft "Goodnight, sleep well, love" before pulling him close and drifting off to sleep, feeling a sense of security and love enveloping him, a fragile peace.
