Guns and Roses

Chapter 1: Crossing Paths

Jungkook was going to prove to his gang that he was a reliable member, not just a foolish kid like the man he'd been training with, Park Jimin. Once Jimin had betrayed the gang by abandoning them during a mission, he fled from town and hasn't been seen since. Everyone needs to stick together, if you don't do your part to help, you're the next target. Namjoon and his gang were planning on getting money from another gang that had plagued the city. They had arrived at a party where the rival's leader was rumored to be there. They had broken the first floor window of one of the empty rooms. Namjoon, Yoongi and Jungkook were quick on their feet and went over the plan one last time. Namjoon would locate their target and would signal Yoongi to do the dirty work. Jungkook was to keep watch and make sure no one was nearby when Yoongi 'chatted' with the target.

Yoongi cut the power and him and Namjoon ran into the party. Jungkook could hear voices of confusion and hushed whispers fill the air in the room next to him. He caught sight of a mirror and stared at himself with his dark, wide eyes. What am I doing here? Why am I here? How will I, Jungkook, cause harm to someone? Do I really want to live like this?.... Doubtful thoughts filled his mind and he began to question why he was joining the gang in the first place. Just then a loud bang pulled him out of his thoughts accompanied with the sounds of screams and scurried feet. Jungkook felt his heart pounding in his chest and he began to shake slightly. Gunshot? Was that a fucking gunshot? We were just coming for money, not blood. Jungkook began to reach for the doorknob when the other side of the knob was pulled open and a young man with blonde hair ran in. He was breathing heavy like he had been running for his life. Jungkook quickly took off his mask and kicked it under the chair nearby his feet. The new tattoo on him hurt like a bitch every time he moved his arm but he had to act tough around the others. Jungkook and the other man stared at each other for a few seconds before the other man spoke. "Jungkook? Is that you? I can barely see anything, it's too dark."

Jungkook recognized the other man's deep voice as soon as he spoke. It belonged to a classmate Jungkook had admired for his beauty. He would sometimes get lost in the man's boxy smile as he laughed during class. "Kim Taehyung? Photography major?" Jungkook asked him although he already knew the answer.

"Yeah, its me. We need to get out of here quick, I'm fucking terrified." Taehyung said with a serious tone.

"What happened?" Jungkook asked confused, not understanding how the plan went so wrong, so quickly.

"Where have you been Jungkook? Under a rock? We were all dancing when the lights shut off. I heard three men yelling and then gunshots. Fucking gunshots." Taehyung looked like he was going to pass out as he reached for something nearby to keep him upright.

"I had to use the bathroom and suddenly it got dark when I was drying my hands." Jungkook quickly put together a lie that he hoped Taehyung would believe.

He saw Taehyung nod his head slightly and glanced down at his clothes. Dark splotches were on his shirt and his hands began to shake as he pulled on it, trying to get a better look. "Are you alright? Did you get hurt?" Jungkook asked with worry beginning to pierce his heart.

Taehyung stared back at him with wide eyes. "It's not mine. It could've been but someone took the bullet for me. A person i had never met risked their life for me." His eyes were glued to the floor as tears worked their way out. Suddenly Taehyung wrapped his arms around him and began to cry in his arms. His tears streamed down his cheeks and landed on Jungkook's shoulder. "Why would someone do that for me? I'm so terrified, I shouldn't of even came here. I hope that person is ok."

Jungkook tried to comfort him and began softly rubbing his back. He was shocked at the sudden hug but didn't mind it. He used to imagine them hugging but in different circumstances. Being a dreamer, you to deal with what you're dealt. "Taehyung, don't worry, ok? We'll get out of here, together."

Taehyung's grip became tighter and he let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you." Taehyung managed to say before getting choked back with tears.

"Jungkook, where the fuck are you?" Jungkook heard Yoongi's voice through the chaos in the other room. It echoed in his head and he prayed that Taehyung hadn't heard it.

"We should go, now." Jungkook pulled away and reached for Taehyung's hand.

"Where?" Taehyung asked hopelessly as he stared back at the door.

"...The window over there. It looks shattered, maybe they broke it when I was in the bathroom on the other side of the room." Jungkook lead Taehyung to the window as they both tried to avoid the broken glass scattered across the floor.

"You didn't hear the window shatter?"

"..The music was too loud. It's all I could hear."

"Be careful, try not to get cut by the glass." Taehyung stated in a quiet, uneasy voice. Both of them slowly climbed out and Jungkook was the first to land on the ground. Taehyung stopped abruptly and began to wince in pain.

"Tae!?" Jungkook asked in a panicked voice. Although this was one of his first interactions with Taehyung, he already had immense care for him.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Taehyung answered quickly, trying to reassure Jungkook. He wasn't convinced. Taehyung landed and grabbed his leg. He pulled out his phone and turned on the flashlight. Jungkook saw the damage the broken glass had caused. It ripped his jeans and left a gash in his left thigh.

"Is it bad? I can't see it." Jungkook didn't want to worry him about the gash because he didn't know how deep it was.
"There's a cut in your thigh, Tae. I don't know how serious it is. I should take you to the hospital just to be sure." Jungkook stared at Taehyung silently waiting for a response. He was unsure why tears were welding up in his eyes.

"Thank you so much. For everything."

Taehyung wrapped his arm around Jungkook's shoulders and they made their way to the car. Jungkook was about to open the door for him when Taehyung stopped him. "Kooks, I don't want to get blood on your seat.." Taehyung said concerned.

"Oh,right," Jungkook laughed softly. He thought it was cute that Taehyung had been worrying about the car when he was the most important thing at that moment. Jungkook took off his denim jacket and handed it to him.

"You can use this." Taehyung took it from his hands and smiled at him. They both climbed in the car and Jungkook began to drive. They sat in silence for a few minutes. It was a comfortable silence that they both needed after the events that had previously unfolded behind them. Just then a sense of panic rushed over Jungkook. What would happen the next time he saw Yoongi and Namjoon? How would they react? He quickly pushed those thoughts out of his head and tried focusing on the road and the man beside him. He would soon find out just how horrific the two men would react.