I Want the Headline

48

"I don't remember why I love her."

Taehyung eyed Jungkook oddly, head tilting to the side. That certainly wasn't a conversation he anticipated having. The older of the two licked his lips, handcuffs clinking together as he raised his hands up to scratch at this temple. The room was too warm, he noted, and warm temperatures tended to make Jungkook rather testy. He'd have to be careful with his wording.

He had wondered when his brother was finally going to go pay him a visit. In the past Jungkook was rather speedy in getting his father to get the other organization members free, but right now it looked like he was stalling. Taehyung's eyes boredly passed over the slouch in Jungkook's shoulders; he'd bet money it had everything to do with you. He should have killed you when he had the chance. Whatever the hell you were doing or saying to Jungkook was clouding his judgement.

The family came first. That was the first rule.

Had he forgotten the rules so quickly?

"Jungkookie." Taehyung's low voice rumbled. Jungkook lifted his gaze to Taehyung's unusually stern expression. Why did it sound like he was about to be scolded? Perhaps voicing his troubles with you to Tae wasn't the best of ideas, but there was no one else to talk to about them. Didn't you say talking things out was the best way? Quietly, the man studied his younger brother. Jungkook had dark bags under his eyes, ruffled hair partially hidden under a knit cap and rumpled clothes concealed by his jacket. "What are the rules?"

"Number one: Family first." He whispered softly,"The boss before all." He added after a breath. His head bowed, a bit shameful that he had broken the first rule so easily. How had he gone so long without being punished for it? Jungkook fell silent, hands wringing together as he struggled to continue. He knew he had broken the second rule as well. "Tae, I-"

"Number two, Jungkook." Taehyung hissed. "What's the second rule?"

"If they're not family, they're the enemy." He mumbled gruffly. His hands started to sweat; yes, your weren't in the family technically, but you were there. You were with them, shouldn't that have meant something? Jungkook considered you family couldn't that be enough? He licked his lips, Taehyung was just going to make him list all the rules.

All the reasons why he shouldn't be wasting his time with you.

But the rules were just rules, they didn't take into account how he felt. Or at least, how he thought he felt. Tae nodded slowly,"She's not family. Three?"

"If it's for only you, then it's not for the family and it needs to be cut out."

Taehyung held his hands up smugly, an arrogant gaze plastered across his face as he shook the handcuffs on his wrists. "You've been stomping all over that rule, haven't you? Four?"

"The boss' word is law."

"Hm, I'm pretty sure Namjoon's told you to stay away from her or something along those lines and yet..you're still chasing her down even when she's trying to avoid you. Five?"

"You don't leave family."

Taehyung laughed out loud, dramatically looking around the small conference room. "And where the fuck is the family? Stuck in this shithole while you dance around town. You're on a roll with breaking the rules, Jungkookie. I don't even think Namjoon's favoritism towards you is gonna keep you safe. Six?"

Jungkook closed his eyes. He didn't want to reminded of how he had broken this rule. "You don't cross family."

Surprisingly, Taehyung didn't give an examples, instead just moving onto the final rule. It wasn't always a rule, it only sprang up after Namjoon had announced that he wanted Jungkook to one day take his place. Many members had been angered by the biased addition, but Namjoon had made it simple and clear.