Midas Touch ➸ Taekook

- Fifty-fourth -

Taehyung stood amidst the debris, his fiery gaze piercing through the soldiers in front of him. Despite the inhibitor collar around his neck, he radiated an intimidating, almost inhuman presence. His fists were clenched, and the taut muscles of his arms, like steel cables, hinted at raw power ready to explode.

Jungkook, still crouched after dodging a hail of bullets, looked up at him in astonishment. The collar was supposed to nullify his powers completely. Yet Taehyung had shattered an allegedly unbreakable window and immobilized a soldier with one hand.

"Taehyung...?" murmured the Cajun, confusion mingled with a hint of admiration.

Taehyung, his features hardened by anger, didn't stop glaring at the soldiers.

"Stay back, Jungkook." he growled in a raspy voice. "I'll handle them."

Before anyone could react, Taehyung stepped forward, crushing shards of glass underfoot. A panicked soldier fired a shot, but Taehyung dodged it effortlessly. The bullet smashed into the glass of a cell behind him, but he paid it no mind. His icy gaze remained locked on the terrified soldier who had fired at him.

He didn't fully understand what was happening, nor did he know why the Institute had been attacked. All he knew was that it had awakened a wild rage within him. There weren't many places on Earth where Taehyung felt even remotely safe. Xavier's Institute was the only one. It wasn't perfect, and he didn't feel entirely at home or free there, but at least he knew no harm would come to him. The people there were good. None of them deserved what these men had done to them.

And he would make sure to avenge them.

"You really think your stupid weapons are enough?" he murmured with terrifying coldness. "They worked once, but not twice. I've learned my lesson."

The soldiers instinctively backed away, but the commander barked orders to rally them. Two men charged at him with electric batons, hoping to subdue him in close combat. Bad idea.

Taehyung waited until they were within reach before moving. With a fluid motion, he grabbed the first soldier by the wrist, twisting his arm with unnerving ease. The sharp crack of a broken bone echoed through the hallway. Without hesitation, he flung the man against the wall with a single palm strike. The second soldier swung at his head, but Taehyung ducked smoothly, retaliating with a kick that sent the man flying several meters away.

Jungkook, now standing, couldn't believe his eyes. Taehyung shouldn't have been able to use his powers. That super strength—he had stolen it with his own ability—but the inhibitor collar was still blinking around his neck. So how was this possible?

He took advantage of the chaos to approach the young mutant, whose anger hadn't diminished even after obliterating the guards.

"How...?" he began, but was interrupted by another hail of gunfire.

He leapt aside, tossing an energized card toward the group of soldiers. The explosion scattered their ranks, and he used the confusion to get closer to Taehyung again.

"How are you using your powers?" he asked, keeping an eye on the guards behind them. "You shouldn't be able to!"

Taehyung finally turned his gaze to the Cajun, and for a moment, his anger gave way to immense tenderness and a hint of regret. But it lasted only an instant before his serious demeanor returned.

"You remember? The super strength I stole didn't belong to a mutant... So I guess their collars aren't advanced enough to block powers that don't come from the mutant gene."

"Ah, I see... Well, you're as impressive as ever, chéri."

Taehyung's heart skipped a beat at the nickname. After their separation in New Orleans, he'd honestly thought he'd never hear it again.