An Ace up my Sleeve (English)

Chapter 5

After the alliance of both organisations, a new chapter was to begin. Namjoon and Jin were in the office to talk about their respective heirs.
Indeed, both Taehyung and Jimin were 6 years old and Jin believed it was time for them to start their training.

"Honestly Jin... I don't know about this." Namjoon sighed.

"Why not? They're ready. The longer we wait, the harder it's going to be for them to learn." Jin answered.

"They're still very young. They don't have the physical capacities to take on a training like this." the younger man argued.

Jin was starting to get annoyed but remained calm nonetheless. 

"Listen, I see enough potential for them to take the next step. You know they can't just be good, Namjoon. They have to be the best."

Namjoon stayed silent, thinking everything over. Jin got up and went to his side. He put a hand on his shoulder, applying slight pressure.

"Trust me. I believe in their abilities and by now I think you know me well enough to know that I always mean what I say." Jin said with a casual smile.

Namjoon brought his head up to look at his coworker. The look in his eyes was very serious. So much so, that Jin thought it best to take his hand off Namjoon's shoulder, who simply complied with a nod.

Another smile graced Jin's face as he asked the butler to call in the kids to the office. A few moments later, Jimin and Taehyung knocked on the door and entered the room in silence.
Calmly, Namjoon spoke up.

"Very well. We've called you in because we have an announcement to make. You see, Jin and I have decided to train you."

"We will help you perfect your psychological, intellectual and physical aptitudes." Jin continued.

Only one of the two kids was surprised. Jimin had known for a while that this time would come. However, Taehyung had had the privilege of keeping his childhood innocence up until now. So he didn't seem to understand what the two adultes were talking about.

"What are we gonna do, daddy? Are we gonna join the scouts?! Can I bring my Tigger plushy?" Taehyung went on excitedly.

Namjoon's throat closed up. He looked at Jin and than back at his son not knowing what to say, so Jin took the matter into his own hands.
He crouched down in front of the young boy and held his hands.

"Tell me, young man, what do you think of your father?"

"My dad is the bravest and the strongest and the smartest! Just like uncle Yoongi!" Taehyung answered proudly.

"And you want to become like him don't you?" Jin continued.

The child nodded his head with a big smile.

"Well that implies sacrifices. That means listening to us and doing what we tell you to do even if it's hurts. Even if you cry, your dad and your uncle won't always be there to cheer you up. You'll be alone, like a big boy. Okay?" Jin finished. His eyes were piercing through Taehyung's soul as his grip on his hands tightened.

"But I- I can't be alone because Tigger is always with me!" Taehyung argued getting increasingly worried as Jin hold on his hands became stronger and stronger. His eyes were beginning to glisten with tears.

"I'll make sure you can get rid of that thing." Jin said with a fake smile.

Namjoon only took a second to intervene. He pulled Jin away from his son, just about ready to kill him.

"Let me make myself clear. This is the first and last time you approach him like that. If I catch you doing it again, I'm putting you in an early grave."

Jin eyes were locked onto Namjoon's due to the close proximity. He smirked and stepped away, paying little attention to Namjoon's threat.
The younger man turned to his son.

"Tae... you'll have the week-end to get to know Jimin enough for you two to know how to work together. Then next week we'll give you your schedule. Just... tell yourself it's a necessary bad moment to get through but once you do you'll be happy about it, okay? Like at the dentist."

"Daddy I'm scared of the dentist..."

Taehyung's voice was shaking, he didn't like what he was hearing. Namjoon took his son in his arms as Jimin looked at them with envious eyes. He looked over to his own father who was looking at Namjoon and Taehyung in disgust. Jin then looked over to his son and mouthed the words, "watch him".

The two children left the office. They were walking side by side in the hall, with a heavy silence between the two. They crossed path with a few henchmen who bowed to them in respect before Taehyung finally spoke up.

"So we're gonna train." He said with as much optimism he could muster after having cried just a few minutes back.

"Why do ask questions you already know the answer to?" Jimin retorted.

"I don't like it when you talk to me like..." Taehyung lowered his eyes and held his stuffed animal tighter.

Jimin looked at him, slightly annoyed.

"Could you stop complaining? Yes, "daddy" isn't always going to be hear for you. That's the way things are so stop crying about it." The boy said, bitterly.

"I- I don't always cry! I'm strong! Strong et than you, even!" Taehyung cried out.

Jimin ignored him and left, both boys going their separate ways. There went their bonding week-end.

[The following week.]

It was hard. Really hard. For both Jimin and Taehyung. The days were long and the only thing both boys wanted was for it all to be over. But it was only the beginning.

It was hellish. Some days consisted of endurance training,  followed by hand to hand combat. Their bodies were aching due to the sudden change in lifestyle. At the end of each training session, Jin's face showed perverse satisfaction.

With Namjoon, they trained with every weapon imaginable. They were expected to adapt to all of them and Namjoon was unforgiving. He wanted perfection.

The only time they had to themselves were lunch and dinner breaks and night time when they could finally rest.
Taehyung and Jimin's rooms were shared a wall, so sometimes Jimin could here the other boy cry. Sometimes he could even hear Namjoon come in his room to comfort him. Jimin's envy spread life a wild fire inside of him. Taehyung had something that Jimin could only imagine. A father.