Chapter Text
It was a Thursday evening and Jungkook’s collar was chafing his neck. His shirt was damp under his arms and he couldn’t remember if he had reapplied deodorant. He wouldn’t have remembered to eat if it hadn’t been for Hoseok texting him every now and then. He really didn’t care. The adrenaline of working under The Legendary Kim Namjoon more than sustained him.
The traffic light turned red and the glare from the setting sun surprised him. He checked his dashboard and yes, it was late into the evening. It was a lazy, warm night. The pink streaks across the clouds seemed to be pointing in the direction he was driving. It was eerie how calm and comforting the colors painted the filthy city.
Jungkook heard his text alert go off and he yanked it out of his jacket only to find it was Hoseok once again letting him know he let another 12 hours go by. He swiped the text off his screen and Namjoon’s name appeared. His heart jumped and the alert didn’t get the chance to go off. He opened the message and the air left his lungs. Cars blared their horns behind him so he let his phone drop between his spread thighs. For the last few months he had been put through the same rollercoaster between Namjoon and Park Jimin.
Jungkook was from a sleazy city full of rich men that had the police wrapped around their pinkies. Instead of being angry and powerless he had vowed to enlist and change the game. He graduated early and he made more enemies than when he lived on the streets. In the very first month he was put to do desk work, and Daegu’s arsonist nearly killed him.
He was in the wrong place at the right time. Something had called him back to the streets he spent endless cold nights on after overhearing bribes and files “get lost”. Dressed head to toe in black, with his old reflexes having him blend into the crooks and crannies of the alleys, a shadow dropped from above. Jungkook instantly threw himself to the side, conveniently into an empty building. Not a second later the doorway was engulfed in flames and he scurried further into the building to look for a way out.
He heard footsteps run towards him coming from behind the fire and then they stopped.
“Fuck!” A deep voice yelled.
Jungkook’s mind startled back to reality and he ran towards the dark. There was rustling in the creaky bones of the floors above him. More footsteps. Heat chased him and seeped through his clothes faster and faster. The fire illuminated his path and exposed the darkest corners of the old warehouse. A peculiar shadow from above followed him and matched his desperate sprint.
“Stop!” The deep voice boomed over the crackling and thunderous thuds of the building collapsing around him. He didn’t know why but his boots jammed into the ground and he did as the voice said. The floor above him dropped with an old copy machine. Jungkook sucked in a breath in fear and he blacked out.
When he woke up he tasted smoke and coughed into the mouth of a man. Later he would feel bad for the desperate kick he aimed straight into the man’s chest while disorientated. The man had groaned and rubbed his chest. That’s when Jungkook registered the uniform, and the sounds of sirens.
“He’s alive!” The man yelled over his shoulder. “Hey, you’re safe. You inhaled a lot of smoke-” Jungkook drowned the rest out when he caught the trademark trenchcoat of none other than his idol. It all suddenly made sense. It was only a matter of time before The Daegu Arsonist came for his city.
“He’s not ready yet, Namjoon!” The firefighter grabbed Namjoon by his shoulders but Jungkook had already locked eyes with him.
That’s how he found himself personally working with renowned Detective Kim Namjoon on the Daugu Arsonist Case.
If Jungkook was hated before for being the golden boy of his class, the rookie, and the only cop in his station that had yet to be corrupted...he was absolutely abhorred now. He had a hit on his back as soon as Namjoon was out of the picture, he was sure. And it was fucking worth it. He was learning more than he ever would have back at his station; punished with desk work. Namjoon was chaotic, a genius, and a genuinely sincere man who believed in justice.
The morning after another fire, Namjoon texted Jungkook an address. It was a quaint little building obviously decorated with love. The inside was just as enigmatic and to this day, Jungkook is not entirely sure what Jimin sells. There were books in all sorts of languages, beautiful fabrics, random expensive furniture. People were interspersed between the nooks and couches, some with mugs and others with exotic looking foods.
“Jungkook, over here.” Namjoon’s warm voice called.
Jungkook found him by what looked like an antique receptionist desk. The man on the other side of the desk struck him with confusion. Jungkook couldn’t understand how a grown man could look so ethereal, practically cherub. Namjoon seemed unfazed by the man’s beauty and nodded as he wrote in his small notepad that he carried everywhere. Vaguely, Jungkook recognized a twinkle in the man’s eyes that was slightly out of place in his worried face.
Any concern Jungkook had about the man melted away at the sound of his melodic voice. It was so pure and delicate as he greeted Jungkook. He was utterly disarmed as the man gently touched his hand and offered him a cup of coffee. Namjoon nudged him and Jungkook accepted the cup completely speechless. He barely remembered to utter a thanks before Namjoon continued his conversation..
“If you can think of anything else, please call me. Once again, I’m so sorry, Jimin.” Namjoon said.
Jimin, like Jungkook, had been at the wrong place at the right time and had barely escaped the Daegu Arsonist as well. His husband, however, had yet to be found. Though there had been a chance that he was one of the bodies discovered at the site of the latest fire, Namjoon was holding out hope that Jimin’s husband was alive. Guiltily, he later admitted to Jungkook that he hoped just as much for Jimin’s sake as for the sake of the case.
“Thank you so much,” Jimin bowed and smiled at them both. A little too bemused, just a little too excited. “Please, sit down. My Chef is dying to feed you.” Jungkook snapped out of his reverie and looked at Namjoon.
Jimin’s laugh twinkled ever so softly, “In appreciation for all your hardwork in finding my husband of course.” He cupped his cheek and smiled adoringly at Namjoon. Jungkook felt ridiculous for interpreting the motion as purposeful, as if he meant to show off all the expensive wedding bands adorning his fingers. There was no mistaking the rings were matrimonial. Distantly, Jungkook knew he heard warning bells, but they were silenced with Jimin’s’ giggle.
An assortment of food was presented to them and Jungkook couldn’t help but gorge himself as Namjoon pushed his food around watching Jimin work. Jimin was very light on his feet and moved to a rhythm that offset the quiet indie music playing from the speakers.
Since then, Jungkook frequented Jimin’s...well he wasn’t sure if it was a store or restaurant as he saw people purchase almost everything that was displayed. Sometimes he saw people go into other private rooms that he hadn’t explored yet. Despite that, he stopped by whenever he had any information that pertained to Jimin’s husband. Namjoon was always present as he was leading the overall investigation on the case. As time went on, Jungkook had started to feel like Namjoon was escorting him when he visited Jimin. If he ever sent Jungkook out to Jimin first he instruct him to wait for Namjoon to arrive before going in. Jungkook never questioned Namjoon.
Every time they saw Jimin, his eyes would shine even brighter even though it was becoming less likely they would be able to bring his husband to him alive.
“I’m sure you’re worried…” Namjoon trailed off.
Jimin’s eyebrows rose and his mouth (though still in a smile) opened wide and he touched his hand to his chest. “Of course I am,” he laughed and threw his hand back. “I can’t sleep, I’m so worried!”
Jungkook watched the disappointment on Namjoon’s face as he finished his banana bread that Jimin had personally brought out to him.
Jungkook finally managed to sneak into Jimin’s place without Namjoon. As always it was lively and filled with people from all sorts of walks of life. The conversations sounded comfortable and added to the atmosphere. Every time Jugnkook was struck by the wealth dripping from every inch. Somehow, it wasn’t obnoxious or off putting. It only made the place seem more interesting and like a much needed break from reality.
Jimin was usually the first one he would see but he was surprisingly away from the desk. He took a seat by a bookcase while he waited for him. A man walked in soon after. Jungkook’s instincts flared as he noticed the man was trying hard to remain unseen. Jungkook was out of his seat when he saw the man going for the back that only Jimin had access to. Then, Jimin walked out and immediately received the man.
Jungkook couldn’t hear them but he could see the man pout and brush off Jimin when Jimin tried to wipe a scuff off his chin. Jimin noticed him then. He seemed surprised but he smiled as always. The man walked into the back and Jimin walked to Jungkook.
“Your employee?” Jungkook couldn’t help but ask.
“How nice to see you again. Isn’t Namjoon with you?” Jimin asked.
“No, I’m alone.” Jungkook answered.
Jimin seemed pleased and proceeded to spoil Jungkook with endless teas and treats.
A shriek had all eyes on an older man with an empty glass of wine standing above a waiter.
“You think you’re better than me?” The older man hissed.
Jimin left the pitcher of water he was pouring on the customer’s table with a thud and a gasp from the couple he was serving. He ran over to the other table, fighting the exhaustion and hunger dragging his muscles down. Jimin caught the wrist before the older man managed to slap their new waiter. He smiled up at the man and pulled Taehyung behind him. Jimin felt the cold cut of the customer’s Rolex on his small palm and when the metal clinked under his grip, his smile was purely saccharine before he let it go.
“I apologize on his behalf, sir. He’s new-” Jimin began, and the older man interrupted him, practically spitting in his face.
“How dare you make excuses for him! I’ve never had such unprofessional service in my life-”
“I am so sorry. You are right, sir.” Jimin gave Taehyung a slight push and he felt the boy disappear. Jimin lowered his voice and looked at the man from under his eyelashes, and let his voice drop, vaguely resembling a titaliating whisper. To others, it could be justified as a submissive move to quench the man’s ire. The subtle look of surprise on the man's face let Jimin know he delivered it just right. “His inexperience is no excuse,” Jimin continued and took a step closer. Though he recoiled inside, he reached out and boldly caressed the very wrist he had stopped. “I will serve you in his place. I will ensure you are completely satisfied with my service.”
The man flushed red.
He was the first
Namjoon happened upon him before he was promoted and regaled as a prodigy detective. During that time, Namjoon was at best considered eccentric and everyone’s errand boy. At 21 he was naive and passionate, with a bleeding heart especially soft for Jimin. It was entirely convenient and advantageous for Jimin’s beginning
“Do you have any idea where he could have gone? Has he ever taken trips without informing anyone? Any business trips he may have failed to mention?”
The officer questioning him was a rude piece of shit. He stomped through Jimin’s shop, uncaring of the damage he caused as he looked around. He knocked over three of Jimin’s most expensive potted flowers, disrupted one of his customer’s breakfast by forcing them to leave the reading nook, and wrecked his bathroom. Jimin was livid.
Jimin eyed the officer’s stained jacket and dirt covered boots. He clicked his tongue as he saw a clump of dirt fall onto his wooden floor. He snapped his eyes back at the man and if he left the sneer on his face, Jimin didn’t care. With a sigh he softened his expression to a shameless look of boredom.
“Why no, officer. I have no idea.”
The officer nodded completely unbothered by Jimin’s insincerity.
Namjoon walked in, bringing the officer a cup of coffee. He had refused Jimin’s own coffee and forced Namjoon to get it from a shop across the city. Arrogant, weak, and insecure of Namjoon’s potential.
“Oh, dear. You’re all wet.” Jimin rushed over and fussed all over Namjoon, enjoying how much he could fluster him. Namjoon stammered and politely tried fighting Jimin off as he dried him with a towel. The officer coughed and looked at Namjoon with disapproval. Namjoon went red and looked down.
“We’re going to check his office again and see if there’s anything we missed.” The officer said.
“We’ll let you know as soon as we know anything.” Namjoon muttered quietly.
Jimin, stood in the shop completely funded by his first husband, decked out in designer brands, and lathered in luxury beauty products smiled at the middle aged officer obviously at the end of his career.
“I’m confident you’ll find him, officer.”
He was the second.
Namjoon was almost immediately promoted after his superior mysteriously went missing. No one was surprised to find out he had been taking bribes from both government officials and crime lords. So when Jimin’s second husband also went missing a couple years later it was Namjoon who was leading the investigation. He was devastated for Jimin. He gave Jimin a long speech which would have surely comforted anyone else but Jimin only smiled with his red tinted lips. He now wore both sets of wedding bands. He even went through the trouble of having the first set resized so he could wear them both at the same time.
“In memory of my first husband,” Jimin explained to Namjoon when they reconnected.
If Namjoon was a complete sucker for Jimin’s lies, the rest of the officers were even worse. Jimin was practically spelling it out for them. He didn’t bother to secure his alibi, or even tell the same story twice.He went on endless shopping sprees and dated openly. He held many open nights in his shop with extravagant dinners and giveaways. He even invited the entire police and fire stations because he thought it was absolutely amusing.
He emptied out one of his second husband’s bank account and donated it to Namjoon’s station.
“To aid in his search.” Jimin had said with a pout when they tried to refuse it.
Jimin was posed on a red velvet love seat, legs crossed, a black veil draped across half his face. His eyes were lined black and complemented with a red smokey eyeshadow. Sensual reds popped from the walls in paintings and fabrics. A sweet and spicy scent flowed through the room.
“He’s dead,” Jimin said before Namjoon could confirm they had recovered his husband’s body from the fire.
“Yes. Most of his assets and smaller companies have been liquidated.” Namjoon stated.
Jimin readjusted himself and looked down at his rings. Namjoon hummed and began walking around the room.
“Your business is about the only investment he had that wasn’t illegal or corrupt,” Namjoon looked over his shoulder. “Wasn’t your first husband the one who started this?”
Jimin brought his hand to his face once again bringing attention to his rings.
“He was the first one to fund my business, yes. If that’s what you’re inferring.”
Namjoon nodded and turned back to face Jimin. “Of course,” he answered with a smile.
“Will I see you at this funeral as well, Namjoon?”
“If I’m invited.”
“Always.”
It was then that Jungkook finally understood the obscenity of it all.
“Why?” Jungkook uttered, and maybe his eyes were a little wet.
Jimin finally looked at him and his face melted in a loving smile. “Oh, my sweet boy.”
Namjoon turned back to Jungkook, his eyes hard.
Both their phones went off at the same time. Sirens howled nearby.
“Be careful out there.” Jimin said around a devilish smile.
Another fire.