The Art of the Con (???xMReader)

Chapter VI - The Protege

(A/N: I thank you for your patience as I juggle between college life and this story. I have a plan now and it's getting clearer and clearer by the second. In this chapter, I introduce the last character for the team. Enjoy!)

"Welcome back," said Jeongyeon as Y/N slowly trudged into the apartment.

"You good, man?" asked V.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm good," Y/N took a deep sniff. "I found our last recruit. We're going to meet her this afternoon."

Y/N held up five tickets.

"XXX Theatre? I didn't know you enjoyed that stuff," commented Jeongyeon.

"I don't," retorted Y/N. "She works as an actress there. I thought you all should get a good look at her before I recruit her."

"It better not be Shakespeare," said Jennie. "I hate Shakespeare."

"'Romeo and Juliet'," read Rosé, peering at the tickets in Y/N's hands.

Jennie stared blankly at Rosé. "Is that Shakespeare?"

"Anyway," interrupted Y/N, ignoring Jennie. "The show starts in about an hour, so we should probably get ready to leave soon."

----

"Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again. I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins, That almost freezes up the heat of life."

In the small, dark theatre, Dahyun stared uncomfortably at the audience, enthusiastically struggling to recite her memorized monologue. The five sat in the back, as several of them attempted to watch a poor performance of an iconic theatrical piece. Y/N watched her intensely, silently mouthing her lines as Dahyun recited them on stage. The others tried their best not to show their absolute distaste in the performance.

Rosé snored lightly, leaning on V's shoulder as if it were a pillow. Jennie sat with her legs bundled up in her seat, her lips wrinkled in disgust. A fight had broken out on V's face between victorious agony and a poker face. Jeongyeon sat with her fingers masking her facial expressions, but her movements still too clearly expressed her true opinions as she constantly squirmed and wiggled in her seat.

"This is the worst thing I've ever seen," whispered V.

"She's, like, injured," commented Jennie quietly. "In the head."

Dahyun's hands awkwardly flapped about in continuity with her monologue.

"To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in, And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?..." She froze and repeated her previous line, desperately trying to remember what came next. "And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?" she repeated.

Jeongyeon lightly nudged Y/N with her elbow. "Are you sure we want her? This has got to be the worst actress I've ever seen."

Not turning, Y/N raised his hand to silence her, continuously monitoring the girl on the stage.

"This is not her specialty," Y/N stated simply. "She wasn't made for this stage."

Y/N stood up and slowly moved towards the door. Jennie helped V get Rosé on his back and they all silently moved out of the theatre as Dahyun threw herself onto the floor, emulating Juliet's fake death.

The team silently exited the theatre and stood in the lobby.

"What now?" asked Jennie.

"We just entered Act 4 Scene 4. Juliet just faked her death," stated Y/N. "But given we just left, I estimate in about 5 minutes the few remaining audience members will probably leave and in 15, she will be available for a little chat."

"You're deadset on having her on the team, aren't you?" asked V.

Y/N turned to face him. "Yeah, I am. I'll meet you lot back at the apartment."

V trudged off into the freezing world outside with a sleeping Rosé on his back, followed by an eager Jennie and Jeongyeon. Y/N stood in the lobby, waiting to watch the last audience members leave the building before leaving to the back of the building.

He stood at the entrance of the alley where the backstage door was located. He watched his breath condensate before his eyes, climbing upwards into the cloudy sky. His attention snapped back to the door when he heard the lonely squeak of the door. A girl in a bright pink parka stepped out and stood in the alley, rummaging through her purse. Bouncy brown curls dripped from her hood, captivating Y/N and causing a light red color to form at his cheeks.

Today's awfully chilly, he thought.

He coughed loudly to clear his throat. "That was quite a show, Kim Dahyun," he shouted, slowly taking a couple steps towards her.

She looked up from her purse and whipped out a can of pepper spray.

"Stay back," she cried out. "I know how to use this."

Unthreatened, Y/N proceeded to move closer. "Sana told me about you. I'm an old friend of hers. We go back."

The can lowered slightly as Dahyun narrowed her eyes.

"Stop," Dahyun commanded. "Why should I trust you?"

Y/N came to a halt. "No Sana no life?"

Dahyun didn't flinch. "I still don't trust you."

"Look," said Y/N. "That squirrel recommended you for a job I'm running and I want you in, so could you please put that down."

Dahyun lowered the pepper spray and took a few cautious steps forward. Y/N continued to observe her with his hands tucked away in his pockets.

"So," began Dahyun. "A heist?"

"The biggest one yet."

"Why me?" asked Dahyun. "You just saw my performance. Everyone left before the end."

Y/N smirked. He raised his hands and proclaimed loudly, "'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances.' - As You Like It, Shakespeare. You of all people should know it."

Dahyun stayed silent, pepper spray still angled downwards.

"Theatre is not your stage," stated Y/N. "Plus Sana thinks I can pick up from where she left off with you. Win-win situation, don't you think?"

Dahyun didn't move and continued to stare at Y/N. He sighed as he buried his hands further into his pockets.

"My God, you are a difficult person to please."

He pulled out the old receipt and handed it to Dahyun. Hesitantly, she retrieved it and read what was on the back.

"She was the one who told me where you were."

"This is her handwriting," pointed out Dahyun.

"Yeah, it is. Do you trust me now?"

Dahyun puffed out her cheeks in defeat.

"Fine," she pouted. "What do you want me to do?"

Y/N smiled.

"Care to meet the crew?"

(Second A/N: Now that all the characters are put into play, any theories as to who this ???xreader is about? If you enjoyed any of the chapters so far, please share the love by clicking that vote button and sharing it with someone you think might enjoy it as well. Feel free to drop a comment below your thoughts and opinions about the story.)