D E S P E R A D O

seven

"You're Jeon Jungkook." But it was like he was reminding himself. Jungkook doesn't know what happened with the man but he feels a chill run down his spine from the expression the man was sporting. Although he seemed emotionless, Jungkook felt as if he was staring right into his soul calculating... something.

"Yes," he replies.

"You're the next leader of the clan." Jimin smiles but it has a sting to it.

"Yes."

"Then tell me, why are  you here with me?" Jimin spits. "I know you don't give a shit about other clans."

Jungkook doesn't understand what made him change his attitude so suddenly. His dialogues were dripping with pettiness as if he had something against Jungkook, which made no sense since they were fine just a few seconds ago. 

"I... don't know," he says the truth because he doesn't know what else to say.

"Yeah, everyone from your clan is the same. No sense of loyalty. I bet you think allies are worthless, don't you." Jimin hisses and Jungkook feels like he wants to defend himself though everything Jimin is saying is correct.

"Loyalty is useless in our business Jimin, you should know that." he mocks.

"Like leader like successor. You disgust me." Jimin eyes got a whole lot harder.

What the fuck? 

Jungkook scoffs, "You won't be saying that once I rule this world. I bet you'll be on your knees begging for life."

"You plan to kill off all the other clans so that you can claim the 'no:1' spot." Hoseok's words 'He's bat shit crazy' ring in Jungkook's mind as he looks at Jimin.

Jungkook is getting read like a book and he doesn't like it. "Yes, and what about it?"

"Bet you take Yoongi for granted too." 

"I don't need-"

Suddenly in the blink of an eye, Jungkook was pulled against a familiar hard chest and a knife was held right below his jugular. He sucks in a breath and grips Jimin's forearm. He was completely immobile. If he struggles he knows he's going to get his throat slit. 

"You don't need what? Aren't you going to scream or call for help?" Jimin whispers against his ear. The only sounds that could be heard are Jungkook's breath and his feet struggling to keep balance. "Without allies, you wouldn't have anyone to look for help anyway. You're going to die Jungkook." Jimin laughs with his whole chest and Jungkook feels like crying.

He's never felt this scared his entire life. During training, he was always great. He had the top spot in everything. He killed people without a second thought and has never faced defeat. He was always told he was meant to achieve great things. Why was this happening to him? This was never a part of the plan. 

"You may be strong Jungkook, but skill beats you in any game." Jimin's voice was much softer now as if he was genuinely informing him. Jimin slowly moves them closer to the railing and Jungkook's breaths got faster. "I could throw you off this cliff and no one would notice," he warns once Jungkook had a good look at the drop. "I'll  do the same to that bastard Seojun right after you."

"Don't talk about him like that!" 

"Oh?" Jimin seems surprised. "You're concerned for a man who would replace you without batting an eye." 

"You don't know him-"

"No! You don't know him. He's a spineless traitor just like the rest of you!" There was more feeling to his words this time, more hurt. But that was soon replaced with a tone filled with mirth. "Without allies, you have nobody to turn to when your world starts to crumble." 

And then he can breathe again. Once Jimin lets go his knees give in and he falls to the ground. He turns around panting to see Jimin walk to his car as if nothing happened. He tries to move away but something stops him. His hand was handcuffed to the railing. He turns back around to see Jimin staring at him blankly as if he was just observing Jungkook.

"You're just going to leave me like this?!" his eyes are wide and his breathing just got a whole lot faster. It gets really cold at night, especially in hilly areas they were currently at. He didn't have his phone or anyone to call for help. Nobody would hear him scream, though he was too proud to do that anyway. He was going to freeze to death.

"I'm sure you'll find your way, golden boy," Jimin adds extra enunciation to 'golden boy' as if he was mocking Jungkook, which he was.

Jungkook watches as Jimin gets inside the car and winks at him right before driving off. He probably saw the fear in his eyes. Jungkook was scared, for the first time in a LONG time. He couldn't count the number of personalities Jimin had just expressed. The man was also right about every, single, thing, that he had said. 

He wanted to cry. He wanted to scream. He just wanted someone. That was a feeling he's never felt. Everything made him weak and vulnerable. His chest got tighter, his legs didn't have strength, his heart ached. 

You don't need anyone. He tries to convince himself. You're fine on your own. You're fine. You'll be fine. Except the voice trying to convince him that wasn't his own.

You don't need anyone. You're better than all of them.

What a bitter memory.

Just go with them and everything will be fine.

Jungkook couldn't help the bile rising up his throat. 

You don't want to make me angry, do you? 

He was still pulling on his handcuffs. The wound on his arm from Jimin's knife was still fresh, maybe if he pressed harder he would lose enough blood. Maybe he deserves to just cut his entire hand off and suffer. 

Useless piece of shit! You can't do anything right!

"I can't do anything right," he whispers to himself. 

"Jungkook?" a familiar voice snaps him out of his trance. 

He lets go of his grip on the handcuffs and looks to his side to see Hoseok coming towards him with a concerned look on his face. He's never seen that look before. What made it worse is that Yoongi was right beside him giving him the same exact look.

"Hey, are you okay?" Hoseok asks once they near him.

Nobody has ever asked him that either. Jungkook could only imagine how weak he must look. His hand bloody handcuffed to a rusty railing and him on the ground practically freezing. Hoseok takes a metallic thing from his pocket and works on the handcuff. 

"What happened?" Yoongi crouches down to see Jungkook better.

"Hyung?" 

"Hoseok texted me saying something about you being in danger so I came as fast as I could." 

"Yeah. I didn't know where the psycho took you, pretty scary," Hoseok says releasing his wrist from the contraption.

Bet you take Yoongi for granted too. Fuck, Jimin knew exactly how to break a person.

Jungkook wanted to hug Yoongi and cry right there. But he doesn't, he's not weak. He refuses to cry ever again. Yoongi has seen him in his weakest moments. Still, Jungkook couldn't trust anyone, not in this world. He knows betrayal more than Yoongi, and he knows better than to put someone in front of his own needs. He doesn't need anyone else.

"I'm fine," he says nonchalantly, brushing the dust off his shirt as he gets up. "I just have another person on my 'torture before killing' list."  Even though Yoongi was his family in many ways, he knows that family can stab you in the back too.

Yoongi and Hoseok exchange a look but don't say anything in response.