PERSONA ✓

08.

"Just knock, Namjoon."

Namjoon, decked out in his Persona outfit, stood awkwardly in front Choi Byungho's house. He fidgeted with his mask. Seokjin sighed over the comms. "The worst thing that could happen is he isn't home."

Persona swallowed and rang the doorbell. He heard footsteps, and then the door opened to a grey haired teenager. The boy's mouth fell open.

"Beomgyu!" a woman's voice came from inside. "Who is it?"

The boy, Beomgyu, continued staring. His mother approached the door, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel. She slowed down as she noticed Persona.

"Hello," Persona said. As usual, he sounded more confident as a hero than as himself. "I'd like to speak to Choi Byungho. Is he here?"

"He ⁠- he should be back from work in a few minutes..." said the woman. "Is ⁠- is it urgent?"

Persona tilted his head to the side. His blue hair fell into his eyes. "I'd like to speak to him as soon as possible." At the look on the woman and her son's faces, Persona added, "He's not in trouble or anything. I just have a few questions, is all."

The woman nodded and opened the door wider.

-

Persona sat awkwardly, a cup of tea in his gloved hands. Across from him sat Beomgyu. His mother, who had introduced herself as Bo-young, was in the kitchen.

"So," said Beomgyu. "You're Persona."

Persona nodded. "Yup."

"And you can, like, fly?"

Persona nodded again. Knowing that Beomgyu would like to see it for himself, he hovered a few feet into the air and crossed his legs.

Beomgyu's mouth hung open. "Awesome."

Persona chuckled, floating back into his chair. Beomgyu stared.

"What?" Persona asked. "Do I have something on my mask?"

"Is my dad in trouble?"

It was natural for the kid to be worried about his dad, especially when a superhero personally knocks on the door to ask for him.

"No," said Persona. Then he paused, not wanting to give Beomgyu reassurance that might be false. "...I mean, I'm not sure."

"Clearly, you're a man with words," Taehyung's voice echoed in Persona's ear. Persona rolled his eyes under his shades.

Someone unlocked the front door and closed it behind them. Persona swallowed, getting up from his seat.

Now, they could get their answers.

-

"Mind control," said Persona. He and Byungho were in his study, after Persona had politely asked if they could talk. It was a cozy room, with several bookshelves filled with binders and books, papers overflowing and sticking out.

"Mind control," Byungho repeated. He was sitting in his seat, while Persona sat in mid-air.

Persona leaned forward. "You created it, correct? Or, at least you got close enough to perfecting your work, until it was stolen."

Byungho looked ashamed at the last part. He nodded.

"I need to know who stole your research. A name, appearance, anything."

"I don't know who stole it," Byungho admitted. "I woke up one day and my papers were gone. But..."

"Butt?" Jungkook giggled in the comms.