Hustlers || Taekook

Chapter 32

Jungkook tugged Taehyung down corridors and flights of stairs by the wrist, dragging him roughly all the way to the exit at the back of the building's ground floor, that led out to the web of alleyways and courtyards where executions were held. Made sense that Jinwoo and Taehyung had decided to meet here, seeing as the blood of whoever fell would have blended right in with the dried splashes already staining the concrete. He flung the door open and it slammed against the brick wall. The thunderclap of a sound echoed through the dirty courtyard illuminated by moonlight, and Jinwoo spun around in the centre of it. Jungkook stepped outside and let out an irritated growl, jerking his head to signal Taehyung to hurry the fuck up and follow him out, before slamming the door shut again.

Jinwoo was frozen for a second, staring at Jungkook wordlessly. Then his eyes narrowed and a shadow appeared at the corner of his tight mouth, and he shot Taehyung an icy, dirty glare.

"Before you assume he ratted you out to me or whatever, no, he was fully intending on holding up on this bullshit agreement and coming here to settle your fight without me knowing, but I caught him taking my gun." Jungkook started loudly, cutting Jinwoo off before he could speak. Jinwoo paused, closing his mouth slowly and lowering his head just a little, eyes flashing in the shadow falling over his face. Jungkook could see Taehyung discreetly massaging his wrist out of the corner of his eye.

"I wasn't assuming anything of the sort." Jinwoo replied quietly, each word like chips of ice. Jungkook stiffened, fingers curling into a tight fist. It was a small lie, but one nonetheless and he was not tolerating this from any of his subordinates, especially not Jinwoo.

"Don't you dare start lying to my face. I've already had enough of your attitude for the past week." Jungkook hissed, pointing a threatening finger at Jinwoo and watching him give a tiny, ever so barely visible flinch. His eyes widened and he bowed his head down lower, holding his hands together and hunching over just a little in submission. Good, his message clearly got through. Jungkook tilted his head up to the moon and let out a long, deep breath, shaky with his anger.

"Jungkook-" Taehyung murmured softly and Jungkook held up a hand to stop him, shaking his head and gathering his thoughts as best he could with the disorienting sparks of pent up anger, irritation and frustration towards these two igniting his frazzled mind.

"This is a personal issue between you two so I wasn't originally going to intervene. Especially since I love both of you dearly and you're both so important to me - I didn't want to favour one of you and estrange the other. But I can't lose either of you and this is fucking ridiculous. I have too much shit to deal with - no, we're all busy people that have too much on our plates to be dealing with bullshit like this. I know you don't like it, but unfortunately you both answer to me. And now that Taehyung's living with us, I'm just gonna have to use my authority to force you two to get along. Neither of you are dying, not without my permission. Got it?" Jungkook growled commandingly, harsh, grating voice cracking the quiet air of the night, ringing out in the courtyard and bouncing off the dirty surfaces as threatening echoes. Jinwoo was silent, head still bowed, and Taehyung stared at him, wide eyes glittering with something unreadable.

"I'll... I'll get along with him if you want me to." Taehyung spoke reluctantly, something in his posture deflating and Jungkook almost smiled. He could visibly see Taehyung trying his best to bite down almost overpowering resentment, for his sake. Jinwoo lifted his head and shot him a look, one that Taehyung returned with a little distaste, but controlled.

"I'll give you guys this one opportunity to get your resentment towards each other out of your systems, then I expect nothing but peaceful coexistence and cooperation, alright?" Jungkook stared them both down  till they lowered their heads in deference, though not without narrowed eyes. At least they were both smart enough not to argue or talk back. Evidently the extent of his anger and surpassed tolerance was all too clear.