Chapter Text
The rain hammered the streets, turning the city’s lights into smudged halos in the mist. Puddles formed where the once-organized paths of Dark Seoul had started to pool, reflecting the chaos above. People dashed by, their hurried footsteps squelching against the wet pavement, desperate for cover from the relentless downpour. But somewhere within the flurry of rushing figures, a lone figure moved at his own pace. His footsteps were deliberate, lazy almost, unbothered by the storm surrounding him.
Slim-fit trousers clung to his legs, only interrupted by each step’s soft rustle. A linen black shirt draped effortlessly, collarbones peeking out as he moved, breathing in the damp night air. He wore a black cap low over his face, hiding all but the slightest tilt of his head, and the heavy hum of a lollipop dangled from the corner of his mouth, rhythmically rolling between his lips. His headphones hung loosely around his neck, the wider world faded to nothing as he walked. With every slow, unhurried step, the rain fell harder.
His steps slowed, coming to a halt. The golden neon sign bathed his silhouette in a soft light with delicacy. The Rabbit Hole’s letters were scattered messily above the glass door, which revealed the wooden floor and oak counter at the front, no barista in sight to warn the man not to step inside the lions’ den. The music inside wasn’t loud, it was even-toned despite the place’s status as a bar, but perhaps considering where this bar was located, it wasn’t an oddity.
“Yoongi!” a sweet, manly voice called, slightly louder than the chatter of the current customers. The man who spoke — it wasn’t right to call him a man since his face was more of a boy’s — waved his tattooed hand at the newcomer, Yoongi, with a grin that was much too wide, “Come, come!” Yoongi tilted his head upwards slowly to look at the man-child, his black irises landing on the hunched figure next to him. His eyebrows raised slowly as his feet carried him towards the corner table, next to an open window.
“Taehyung-ah,” Yoongi’s words left his lips in a whisper, a courtesy of him not to let the others hear the name none should know. However, he wasn’t speaking to his earlier caller, his eyes were narrowed on the man with bright red hair, tousled and curled to a point it covered his liquid honey irises. Taehyung tilted his head, his eyes landing on the other, and his cherry lips curling into a line. A sign of guilt, but his mirth was obvious in the way his eyes lit up. “Yes, hyung?”
And maybe if Taehyung hadn’t done what he’d done four days ago, Yoongi would have let the other’s soul-healing voice, sun-kissed skin, and years of brotherhood, sway his heartstrings to a pause. But Taehyung had already run away from his work, leaving Yoongi in mountains of paperwork, which led him to use his rugged breaths to curse the younger’s existence. It wouldn't have been a problem if it had been only that, but the overwhelming work caused his failure at his final exam in music composition, which was intolerable in Yoongi’s books.
“I will kill you.” Yoongi pointed his index finger at the amused youth, his voice filled with annoyance, exasperation, and sincerity, “One day,” he promised. It wasn't clear if the vow was for himself or the other to prepare, but it didn't faze the younger who grinned in delight as if he was a child promised to be given the world's sweetest candy.
“I know,” Taehyung said, his eyebrows wiggling while staring at Yoongi as he sat down across from them, “Wouldn't have it any other way.”
The man-child sitting next to Taehyung wasn't as delighted, his lips curled into a pout while he glared at them both in annoyance. “Can you not talk about killing my boyfriend in front of me?” He aimed his words at Yoongi, despite the venomous stare he threw at his lover. “He is my baby brother, Jungkook.” Yoongi scoffed softly after holding his lollipop between his fingers, “I can do whatever I want with him.”
“That's an exaggeration,” Taehyung laughed after sipping from his drink— red wine or champagne, his taste was consistent— he tapped his fingernails on the glass as he mused, “I would like to think I can fight back.”
Jungkook pinched Taehyung's side in fake annoyance while scolding him, “Don't annoy him on purpose.” Unfazed, the red-haired man shrugged his shoulders, “This is siblinghood. You do it with Jin-hyung, too.” Before Jungkook could retaliate, Yoongi exhaled slowly, “Anyway, Epoch is waiting for us upstairs.” He informed, even when he was sure the two were waiting for him to go together, “Let's go.”
The three of them stood up and walked to the room behind the counter, uncaring about the customers' eyes that followed them. If this was any other place, they would've been worried about leaving the bar unattended. But this was The Dark Seoul, and no one dared to mess with The Rabbit Hole and its employees. Inside the room, there was a flight of stairs that led to the second and third floors of the building, where the employees lived and spent most of their time in this part of Seoul.
The third floor was where the trio headed, where Yoongi, Seokjin, and Namjoon lived and shared an office. They didn't bother to knock on the door before walking in, either, since they never had before. What met them was the figure of a man with broad shoulders and purple hair, dressed in a long baby pink coat and raven suit, hunched down on another man, their lips pressed together in a kiss.
“We're here,” Yoongi said, his voice dripping in disgust and with a grimace on his face as if the sight had wounded his entire being.
“Oh,” the man who was being kissed let out a little breathlessly, “Uhm,” he cleared his throat in slight embarrassment, purposely ignoring his lover's obvious amusement, “Welcome, sit down.”
Taehyung smiled slyly, thinking of a hundred ways to tease the two older men, and sat down on the sofa across from the office. Yoongi and Jungkook followed him with varying degrees of horror, Jungkook because he definitely did not want to see his older brother, Seokjin, kissing someone, even if it was one of his role models, Namjoon. And Yoongi because, well, he just didn't want to.
“So,” Namjoon let out with a sigh, his back leaning on his chair but his voice serious, “I have news.” His tone did not suggest it was anything good, and Seokjin's frown amplified that belief, “the Heroes' Union has been preparing for war.”
Jungkook's eyes sharpened at those words, his jaw clenching in fury. Yoongi and Taehyung remained expressionless, a sign of their mastery over poker faces, but they also didn't look pleased. “Did Dusk tell you this?” Yoongi wanted to make sure it was a piece of reliable information.
“Yes,” Seokjin replied this time as he stood next to Namjoon, “I met with Hobi this morning and he told me.” It was unquestionable then, since Hoseok was the expert in stealth and providing intel. The man was the best at the job, thanks to his flexibility and his awakened power. “Against Dark Seoul, right?” Taehyung's voice had become lower, more dangerous almost. Namjoon nodded in affirmation, his sigh spoke volumes, “Though we don't know when it'll start or how it will happen.”
“That won't matter,” Yoongi stated, his voice harsh and low, “it won't matter,” he repeated because it shouldn't, it wouldn't. This neighborhood wasn't a place that could be conquered. It wasn't a dungeon of brainless monsters who wanted to spill blood and destroy humanity. No. Dark seoul was a home for Seoul's Villains who didn't seek the stupid idea of conquering Seoul or the entire world like most did.
They weren't the kind of people who would amuse themselves by torturing civilians. Admittedly, there are Villains of such sort in Seoul who hid themselves, but Namjoon—Epoch, the ruler of this neighborhood—never allowed them in.
Seokjin’s gaze met with Yoongi’s as the silence between the five enveloped them in a delicate embrace, the sound of the downpour outside soothed the tension. Yoongi put his lollipop back into his mouth. For now, he will stay quiet, but his concern for Jungkook might not keep his lips closed for long.
“Well,” Seokjin’s voice grew soft, much like his eyes that were set on the younger couple, “Yoongi is right. Even if the rest of DS burned to ashes,” he paused as his irises swept over the other four men. His voice became smug with affection and confidence, “As long as the six of us are together, we will be fine.”
Jungkook’s flare in his eyes shed a softer touch, he hummed his affirmation to his brother’s words. The world could burn or be destroyed, all he cared about was this small, dysfunctional family which he chose and loved immensely.
It was the same for all of them, and if Hoseok—Dusk— was here right now, he would’ve laughed at their seriousness and joked about how unusual it was.
“Okay, but,” Taehyung spoke, one eyebrow raised, and his voice light as he smiled, “Can one of you three help me with my Art assignment?” beside him, Jungkook snorted and shook his head with helplessness. His eyes fell on the three older men, feeling sympathy and amusement as they collectively avoided meeting Taehyung’s eyes.
“I’m busy,” Namjoon coughed, his hands rummaging through the papers scattered on his desk. “I have a new menu to prepare for the restaurant.” Seokjin hurried towards the door, escaping Taehyung’s puppy eyes, and Yoongi suddenly felt naked when they fell on him. Dammit, he shouldn’t have come.
“Uh,” he cleared his throat, mind racing to find an excuse, and his voice was hesitant. Yoongi parted his lips, his tongue soaking them as his voice refused to come out. Fuck Taehyung’s art assignments that the younger treated as invaluable source of entertainment and borderline torture for whoever of them agreed to help.
But, much to Yoongi’s dismay and horror, Taehyung clapped his hands together as he grinned and his eyes lit up, “Thanks, hyung! I knew you wouldn’t reject helping your brother!” Great. Perfect. This is how Yoongi will spend his weekend now.
Yoongi sighed, glaring at Namjoon’s faint smirk of victory, but there was no bite in it. He stood up and turned to the door, grumbling, “Whatever, I’m going to sleep.” The door closed behind him, and he remained unaware of the three pairs of eyes fondly following his every movement.
‘I’m surprised you’re alive, Taehyung.” Epoch mused, and Jungkook laughed at his boyfriend, who shivered. ‘Don’t joke like that, I’m lucky he’s a genius in music composition or I might have died.’
“He wouldn’t hurt you, Tae-hyung,” the younger of the three spoke with a grin, his hand caressing Taehyung’s bright red locks, “You’re too precious.”
Taehyung snorted as he swatted his lover’s hand and side-glanced at him, “Kookie, I love you, but shut up. You know damn well he would.”
Namjoon shook his head and chuckled as he got up and walked to the office door. “Come on,” he beckoned them with a wave, “It’s pretty late, and we have to return to Seoul early tomorrow morning.”
At his words, the couple stood up as well. Taehyung groaned out loud at the thought of his 9 a.m. classes tomorrow in SNU. He wasn’t ready to go back there yet, “ Can’t I skip this week’s classes?” he muttered to himself, annoyed. “No, you can’t, hyung.” Jungkook said immediately as they walked, behind Namjoon, down the stairs to the second floor for their bedroom, “Don’t make me go alone, that’ll be worse.”
“You two are being way too dramatic,” Epoch rolled his eyes but there was a smile on his lips that flaunted his dimples, “It’s the last semester, it’s not long before you graduate.”
Taehyung hummed, his arm slipping around Jungkook’s, “I can’t wait for that to happen.” The stairs squeaked as they ascended it, right uptill the very last step.
“You will need to worry about money and work after graduation.” Jungkook pointed out.
“And don’t even think about working as a bartender again, Tae,” Namjoon warned with a tired voice, recollecting the consequences that decision had caused once.
“You are mean,” the red haired man’s lips curled downwards when they stopped at the second floor.
“No,” Namjoon shook his head with a solemn expression, “life is mean, Tae.”
Eidolon pursed his lips to a thin line and muttered under his breath, “it sure is.” He walked off, his expression turning blank, the same way Yoongi usually looked. He closed his room's door right after, choosing not to wait for Jungkook despite them sharing the same room.
At his departure, Jungkook looked at Epoch and said with a sigh, “I’ll go to bed too. Goodnight, hyung.” he turned around after the older man nodded with a smile, “Don’t break the door again when you close the bar!” the youngest warned with a teasing grin.
“These brats,” Namjoon muttered while rolling his eyes as he clambered down the stairs to the first floor. The bar was completely empty, Save for the empty glasses and bottles at the tables, it seemed as if no one had come at all. Namjoon hummed an offbeat song of a girl group as he walked towards the glass doors and closed them, locking up for the night. He looked at the black watch around his wrist, then pursed his lips. 3 a.m., he had only three hours left to sleep.
“I know you’re there,” Namjoon spoke out loud to the emptiness surrounding him, which was immediately shattered by the delighted laugh that echoed not a second later. He shook his head, his feet guiding him towards the row of cabinets behind the bar counter. Upon opening the third cabinet, he sighed at the sight of a very familiar, grinning man.
“Aw,” Hoseok let out, “what gave me away?”
“We didn’t stock Pinot Noir,” Namjoon pointed out, reminding the other that they never close a cabinet unless it’s completely full. “Ah, that’s true.” Hoseok nodded solemnly, “Kookie, Tae, and Yoongi-hyung didn’t notice, though, so I will consider it a win.”
“Why are you there anyway?” Namjoon asked as he gave his friend a hand to help him out from the tiny space he weaseled himself into. “I needed a moment,” the other winked with a playful smile, ‘I thought of staying at the Heroes Union HQ, but nothing’s like home, you know?” He sighed dreamily, limbs collapsing across the floor the moment he squeezed out
Namjoon looked down at him, narrowing his eyes, but his lips curled into a teasing smile, “you mean the cabinets at home.”
As he stood up, Hoseok gasped, “Exactly! You know me so well, Joon.”
Epoch rolled his eyes, hands waving dismissively as he started walking to the stairs, “Whatever, I need some sleep or I might go insane tomorrow.” the other hummed as he followed, hands tucked into the pockets of his black jeans while his jacket was draped loosely on his shoulders, “Got many meetings tomorrow because of the war declaration?”
“Don’t we all?” Namjoon sighed. He glanced over. “Will you even make it?”
“Probably not until evening,” Dusk replied apologetically as they stepped onto the second floor. They both paused, and Namjoon mumbled, “Don't worry, we’ll wait for you to discuss the important things. Do what you have to do.” The shorter man grinned, mirth returning to his eyes.
“Yes, sir!” Hoseok beamed, even as something unreadable flickered in his eyes. Then he looked ahead, whistling as he headed towards his room. Namjoon waited until he saw the other person at the door, then went to his own on the third floor.
******
The music was unbearably loud for Yoongi’s liking, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle. The lights were in dim shades of orange and blue, casting an atmospheric beauty on the otherwise small bar. The tables were dark oak, matching the modern, brown and white sofas surrounding them. Yoongi found himself enjoying the place more than he thought he would, considering it was recommended by Taehyung and Jungkook.
He wasn’t going to let his guard down, though. The young couple never ceased to both impress and horrify him in many ways and this had to be one of them. Yoongi drew his eyes away from the flock of people at the dance floor and towards the empty streets visible through the open window he was sitting near. He squinted at the unmistakable, obvious red hair appearing above a big bush of roses and lilies. The villain was sure he would hear the two grown, adult men if he focused enough, but he couldn’t be bothered.
Instead, Yoongi stared at the bush in amusement and dragged his glass of champagne to his mouth leisurely, unconcerned about the end duration of Taehyung’s art project. The wind played gently with his hair as the moon’s rays reflected off Yoongi’s skin, making it appear like beautiful, unbreakable porcelain of a well sculpted doll. He heard light footsteps approaching toward his table and he really hoped it wouldn't be another person mistaking him for a pushover because of his pretty features.
“Hey, you.” he heard a man’s voice to his left. Yoongi raised an eyebrow and turned to face a skinny man with a scar running down from his right eye to his sharp jaw. He stared, unblinking, at the rude intruder while the latter continued, “This is a table I usually sit at with my friends. So, move.”
A few seconds passed by in which they both locked eyes with each other, the villain’s lips twitched and his hold on the glass of champagne tightened. He leaned back against his chair, his gaze not wavering from the tall man as he took another slow sip. “No,” Yoongi eventually drawled out, “First comes first served.” he added, after a pause in which the other’s face darkened in displeasure.
“If you don’t move, I won’t be held responsible for my actions.” the stranger gritted out as he took out his wallet and showed a badge. A hero badge given by the Heroes Union for every registered awakened. Yoongi merely looked at it as his eyelashes fluttered lazily. It wasn’t worth noting, and the fact that a D-ranked hero would threaten a normal civilian made the villain want to laugh. He stared back at the man in front of him for a moment then mused, “If you touch me, I won’t be held responsible for my actions, either.”
The stranger lunged forward, aiming to snatch the glass from Yoongi’s hand and to pin him down on the table. The villain chuckled in amusement at the sight, and leaned back until he felt the soft cushions against his red blazer. He moved his leg forward with great force, landing it on his opponent’s right knee. The latter’s eyes widened in shock as his face twisted in pain, his open mouth letting out a pained scream.
“Eric!” a woman rushed from the crowd on the dance floor and knelt down next to the stranger, her hands rubbing circles on his back before she glared at Yoongi, “The fuck have you done?!” she yelled. “He attacked me,” the villain said simply as he took another sip from his glass, “I defended myself.”
“Defended yourself?” the woman scoffed in disbelief, “how would a civilian be able to harm a hero? Have you lost your mind?” Yoongi raised an eyebrow at her words while his lips twitched upwards slightly, “he probably needs more practice then.” he uttered casually, causing the other to stand up, her face filled with rage, “You-” her words were cut off by a softer, more delicate voice— the serenity of which made Yoongi glance at the man coming closer.
“That’s enough.” The words were said with a smile. The beautiful man was dressed in leather pants and a silver, shiny shirt. Oddly, the woman froze and whipped her head around to look at the man who had emerged next to her, “Jimin-ssi?” she said in shock.
“Hello, MunYoung-ssi.” he nodded, still polite, “I was watching what happened here, and I have to say, Eric Nam-ssi is at fault so I hope you leave before the situation escalates.”
MunYoung opened her mouth, hesitating to reply. She glanced at Eric who was now trying to stand up then back at Jimin.Yoongi stared at the charade in front of him for a second, then back at the street outside the window. His eyes narrowed at the bush of roses and lilies where Taehyung and Jungkook had hid themselves but he failed to see the red strands of hair.
He frowned, searching for them as his heart squeezed in worry. A hand entered his vision, waving from inside the bush, and it was then that Yoongi could see two pairs of eyes looking straight at him as they hid skillfully between thorns and flowers. The sight caused a laugh to bubble up in his throat while he sipped on his alcohol, causing him to fall into a fit of coughs.
“Hey,” a worried voice came from beside him as a hand stretched and gave him a napkin. Yoongi put down his glass and took it gratefully to cover his mouth until he calmed down. He sighed and wiped at his eyes to get rid of the few tears. “Thank you.” he said half heartedly to Jimin, who stood next to him.
“For saving you earlier or now?” the man asked in amusement, his voice almost teasing.
“Now,” Yoongi replied with a tilt of his head to gaze at the stranger, “I didn’t need saving earlier.”
Jimin hummed in understanding and nodded, “I suppose not, but a thank you wouldn’t hurt, would it?”
Yoongi rolled his eyes, his lips stretching into a small smile as he mused, "Thank you, then, for being my knight in shining armor and saving me from my dilemma.”
The young man’s eyes crinkled into a smile as he held back a laugh, his body leaning slightly closer to Yoongi who studied him quietly. “Well,” Jimin started with a wide grin, “Since you are so grateful, I’m sure you’d give me your number, right?”
The black haired man glanced at his drink, then finished the rest of it in one go, “I’m not particularly that grateful so I’ll have to decline.” he replied with a subtle scoff. In all honesty, he wanted to take the stranger, Jimin, up on his offer, but he could tell that involving himself with this man would be more trouble than it was worth. If a D rank hero was so cooperative and even scared from another person then it only meant this man who stood by his side at this moment was a very high rank hero.
After all, the hero leveling system was no different from the villains’ one. The stronger ones were treated with respect and fear, something that Yoongi himself knew too well.
“That’s unfortunate,” Jimin said as he ran a hand through his hair, “I was looking forward to talking to you since I always see you on campus.”
Campus? Yoongi thought, absentmindedly, as he stood up slowly. The couch flattened at the movement and he didn't bother looking at the stranger — Jimin — again, or voicing out his curiosity. “I see.” He drawled, as he walked past Jimin — who stood quietly watching him. “Good night.” Yoongi added as an afterthought while he walked further towards the exit, unbothered by the pair of eyes he felt on his back, following his movements.
The wind was a bit colder outside, making him breathe in relief as he felt his slightly reddened cheeks return to their usual paleness. He didn't bother trying to find Taehyung or Jungkook. Like they all had agreed forever ago, none of them should be spotted along with the other by anyone outside of Dark Seoul’s gates.
Instead, the black haired youth moved his legs and walked aimlessly for half an hour before slipping into a random deserted alleyway. He sighed and leaned against the cold wall while whispering faintly, “DS station.” In the very next second, all surrounding noise disappeared and black, shadowy hands stretched from the wall behind him until they hugged every part of his body and swallowed him back with them.
Yoongi kept his eyes closed until he felt the warmth disappear from around him. When he fluttered them open, a familiar abandoned train station stood in front of him while scratchy lines, blurred by mold and other drawings, were written on the wall next to him in bold letters: DS Station.
The villain hummed under his breath as he approached a dark corner in the station. One that was covered by wasted paper. He removed them carefully, not wanting to make any noise, until he spotted a black safe. Inside was a small fancy box, crimson headphones and a black cap. He took the latter two and wore them unhurriedly.
After restoring everything to how it was, Yoongi climbed the stairs, each step pulling him closer to the surface until the faint glow of streetlights washed over him. Dark Seoul was, as always, a contradiction. The streets were strangely pristine, but chaos clung to the edges—trash bins lined up neatly along the curb while graffiti snaked like vines across crumbling brick. The storefronts were a fever dream of clashing aesthetics: a sleek neon café sat beside a vampire-themed convenience store, a circus-style casino loomed across the street, and just down the block, the gates of a horror theme park yawned open, breathing in the night.
Passerbys weren't any different —whether it was their clothes, hair, aesthetics or even their speech. Yoongi was reminded of it as he walked by a middle aged woman and a kid, probably not older than twelve, arguing over the name of a dish in the new restaurant, Liciel. He originally had thought about checking out the new place with one of his friends, but now, after hearing a portion of the debate between ‘A taste of God’s ass.’ and ‘The meaning of fuckery.’ he decided some places were better not explored.
The Rabbit Hole was not far from the station, nestled between a shady antique shop that was barely holding up or even noticeable due to the unprofessionally carved lines of words Yoongi couldn’t even see. On the right side, a doll shop fit perfectly with its glass doors and mannequins staring at the streets along with the cute yet eery plush toys.
“Hyung, what are you doing outside?” A voice interrupted Requiem’s staredown with the cookie plushie that was said to be based off on him. “Hm?” He turned his head around, face blank, to see Hoseok peering at him through the bar’s doors.
“Fresh air.” He added, after a pause.
“There's fresh air inside too.” Hoseok retorted with a lighthearted voice as he watched Yoongi bring some sweets from behind the bar. The entire place was empty — an unusual occurrence in the popular drinking place in Dark Seoul. However, every regular and even passerbys knew that when the neon sign’s lights were off, the bar would be closed.
Dusk plopped himself on the bar stool across from where Yoongi now stood as he rummaged through the drawers until he found some sweets. He rested his chin against his hand, eyes scanning the overwhelming pile of candy. “You're going to eat all of our stock?”
Yoongi paused his movements then looked up slowly until his eyes locked with Hoseok's. “Yeah.” He nodded, deadpan, and sat down with the pile tucked between his hands.
“You're such a child,” Hoseok laughed, shaking his head helplessly. Grinning, he asked, “speaking of children, where are those two troublemakers?”
“I'm offended you think of us as children.” Jungkook’s voice interrupted the conversation. The glass doors were opened, and Jungkook strolled in with a frown on his face while Taehyung followed closely behind, holding in his hand a heavy black trash bag.
“You are children.” Hoseok’s eyes sparkled in mirth, his lips curling into a sly smile.
“You're one year older than Taehyung-hyung.” Jungkook scowled, his eyebrows furrowing in displeasure.
Yoongi watched the exchange in silence, his sweets now spread on the bar table and a strawberry candy in his mouth. His eyes fell on the trash bag that Taehyung held, then back at his face, finding him already staring back at him.
He raised an eyebrow, a silent what's that? crossing his mind as he swallowed. As if Taehyung understood him, he tilted his head slightly to the side, his lips curling slowly into an amused smile before he shrugged casually.
Yoongi nodded, his mind instantly understanding the series of actions as this being one of his brother's unusual hobbies. Ones that he preferred not to ask too much about. Meanwhile, Jungkook already sat down next to Hoseok, his hand sneaking one of Yoongi’s candies into his pants’ pockets.
Taehyung put down the trash bag in one of the empty cabinets — the one with a complicated lock on, then sat down next to Yoongi.
“Where are the hyungs?”
“They're coming down right now.” Hoseok replied as he held a phone and shook it as emphasis, “apparently Joon broke the office door.”
“Typical.” Yoongi groaned, knowing full well that he will be the one to fix that. He had been the one to fix all Namjoon Related Problems since he had met the guy, which admittedly made him learn a very large, unnecessary set of skills.
He glanced at Taehyung and Jungkook who were being disturbingly calm since their arrival and asked, “Why did you two take longer than me to come?”
Jungkook flinched slightly at the question, making both Hoseok and Yoongi look at the two in wary. Taehyung sighed before ruffling his hair and answered, “we'll tell you once the hyungs come. They need to hear it too.”
“Is it something bad?” Yoongi asked calmly, his voice deep but as soothing as ever. Eidolon hesitated before shaking and nodding his head at the same time, “it's…neither. For now.” He licked his lips, “it's just something to keep in mind.”
“I see.”
“But it is something urgent.” Jungkook added hastily. Hoseok exchanged glances with Yoongi,humming in response, his heart beating fast in both worry and something else. Something he couldn't quite pinpoint.
Footsteps echoed from the hidden stairs behind the curtains. Two men appeared shortly after, both clad in casual clothes and sandals.
“Hey.” Seokjin grinned at them before his gaze landed on Yoongi's. He held his hands up and finger gunned him as he winked, “I'm counting on you, friend.”
Yoongi's eyebrows twitched, his face becoming more expressionless. He turned his head to the side, refusing to look for another second, knowing he’d hit the man otherwise.
“Sit down already.” Hoseok and Jungkook urged them with complete opposite levels of enthusiasm.
Seokjin sat down next to Jungkook while Namjoon settled next to Taehyung. “Alright.” Namjoon’s expression became stern as he said, “let's officially start the meeting. What do we know so far?”
“The war will begin in two months at the latest.” Hoseok’s voice lost all its previous playfulness, his eyes narrowing into something cold and business-like, “I don't know much, since it's highly classified information but from what I gathered and spied on, they've already prepared most of everything before declaring the war.”
“That's to be expected.” Seokjin sighed as he spared Jungkook a glance. The youngest’s eyebrows were furrowed, his jaw clenching and his ear flushing. He's furious, Taehyung noted to himself.
“It is.” Namjoon nodded and caressed his chin as he thought, “I assume they've prepared weapons made of rubies and highly skilled heroes, is that it?” He asked.
“Yes, but..” Dusk trailed off, his mouth curling downward, “we should expect them to prepare the best.” He added, “I remember seeing a list for a second. I couldn't confirm because the officer was just passing by.”
“What is it?”
“I suspect it's a list of the Heroes who will be taking part in the war. Korea has nine S level heroes in total, making it the second strongest nation in the world, right?” Hoseok’s eyes locked into Namjoon’s who was waiting for him to continue, “from what I saw, aside from many A and B heroes, there are seven S level heroes as well.”
The room fell into a strange silence as they all looked at each other in wary. “I understand.” Epoch spoke as he ran a hand through his hair, “it won't be a problem if each of us took care of one of them or something. Plus, Dark Seoul isn't lacking in manpower.”
“We need to wisely organize our troops.” Yoongi commented calmly as his gaze fell on the decreasing pile of candy then at the sun-kissed fingers that were taking a handful of them. “What about the weapons?” He held Taehyung’s wrist with his right hand then shook it until the man let go of the candies with a sheepish smile.
“They should all be made of rubies.” Jungkook guessed as he watched the exchange between the two brothers, his stiff shoulders finally relaxing. “It's the only weakness for both heroes and villains.”
“Weakness for all abilities.” Seokjin corrected with a resigned smile, his elbows resting on the bar, subtly covering some of the closest candies with them. “But the problem is about how big and fatal they are.”
“Well, they're mostly swords and all types of guns like the usual. Thankfully technology hasn't evolved yet for them to create bombs.” Dusk chuckled softly while his eyes narrowed at Seokjin's actions before returning to the pile.
Namjoon hummed, nodding in agreement as he shamelessly filled both his hands with the candies then shoved them into his pants. Yoongi froze for a second, silently scowling at him but not stopping him.
“It's doable.” Namjoon shrugged at Yoongi then looked back at the rest, “We're strong and have sufficient resources but those can be lacking in the face of theirs.” His eyes sharpened, “ S level heroes’ information and abilities are classified, we haven't met any, either. The only ones who are in the spotlight are Raven and Mythic.”
Taehyung glanced at Namjoon then pointed out with a frown, “Information is the problem. Once we have it, no matter how little it is, it'll help.”
Hoseok groaned in response then sighed helplessly, “I'll try harder but don't expect much, please.”
“Ah. Actually.” Jungkook held his hand up as if asking for permission to speak, his face holding a nervous edge to it as he looked at Taehyung. “Remember what we said before about something urgent?” He looked at Requiem and Dusk who both nodded.
“We eavesdropped earlier, coincidentally, on some heroes whispering to each other.” He spoke slowly, allowing time for the others to process each word carefully, “it seems that they're going to do a re-evaluation and investigation of every employee at HQ.”
“Even if the chances are low, they want to confirm they have no spies.” Taehyung continued instead, his forehead creasing as he licked his lips, “It's a delicate time for them, so they're exercising caution.”
“I see.” Hoseok muttered under his breath as he felt a sudden lump in his chest. Not a big one, but one that was enough to let his eyebrows furrow in concern as his mind raced in thought. How to pass the evaluation without problems for starters, and what kind of evaluation it was.
Perhaps because of how occupied his mind became, he failed to notice the quiet stares aimed at his direction and the momentary silence that plunged the room. Hoseok was not one to be underestimated when it came to his skills or calculations. He was even on par with Epoch, the leader and ruler of such an unhinged city.
The five of them, however, didn't want him to be faced with any potential risks, despite how dangerous it was to be a spy in the Heroes Union, so they collectively reached a conclusion. “Hoseok.” Epoch called out to the other slowly, snapping him from his daze, “you need to stop coming here for a while.”
“What?” Hoseok's body froze as he looked into Namjoon’s eyes in shock mixed with disbelief. He blinked, feeling the lump in his chest squeeze his heart and stealing the blood from his face like a greedy parasite. His eyes slowly swept over the others' faces. Concern was obvious beneath their calm and firm expressions and maybe that was exactly what stopped him from throwing a tantrum.
“You're serious.” It was a statement, one that was filled with bitterness and resignation as Hoseok resolutely refused to look at the man across from him. His hands clenched slightly under the table, trying to comfort himself by the fact he would still be able to communicate with them.
“You have to cease contact with us for a while.” Yoongi spoke this time. His voice was gentle, calm and indifferent like usual but there was a softness that Hoseok always relished in. A softness that was only meant for him as his best friend. Yet that same softness now seemed like the finest drops of blood that fed that parasitic lump to grow into his throat, making him unable to speak or breathe properly.
He slowly lifted his head, tilting it to look into Yoongi’s eyes that were already fixed on him. Hoseok’s mind understood where the decision was coming from. It was the most logical and rational one. But it also was one that made him leave the home he felt most comfortable and proud of and he knew he wouldn't be able to survive it for long.
“Alright.” He said slowly and quieter than usual, his eyelids lifting to look at the other three men. He smiled at them as he internally wished it wouldn't look as broken as he felt. “I'll do it.”
Jungkook’s lips curled into a light smile in response and nudged him playfully as he spoke, “Don't feel glum. It'll be so quick you won't notice we are gone.”
Hoseok laughed at that and ruffled his hair with a bright smile, “you better or I won't join you in your shenanigans anymore.”
“Petty.” Taehyung muttered under his breath.
“You punk, you're the last person to talk about pettiness.” Yoongi smacked the red haired man’s head but his lips betrayed a hint of his amusement.
“Plus,” Namjoon interrupted gently, “We need someone to stay in Seoul permanently as well.”
At his words, four heads immediately snapped to look at him in shock and surprise. Seokjin rested his chin on his hand, already understanding what Namjoon wanted to achieve. He glanced at the other three and locked eyes with Taehyung’s eerily calm ones.
He knows, and is displeased. Seokjin internally sighed in worry while he watched the second youngest of their family throw a sidelong glance at Yoongi.
“Someone needs to monitor any and every news.” Epoch explained slowly, “Hoseok will be busier and probably monitored so he can't inform us. We need someone else to do it for us and it needs to be one of us.”
“I can do it.” Yoongi said as he ate the last piece of candy. His fingers leisurely slid a rebellious strand of hair that kept poking his eye. He lazily arched a brow up while noticing the others’ different reactions.
Hoseok’s gaze subtly lit up at the suggestion but he averted his eyes quickly to not be spotted. Jungkook’s eyes widened and lips slightly parted with his hand frozen mid scratch of his cheek. Seokjin’s expression was a mystery Yoongi couldn't solve easily; with a careless smile and laid-back demeanor. Namjoon', however, was the calmest of them all. He had expected it.
“Why?” Seokjin spoke after a moment of silence, probably to convince a certain silently enraged younger brother. “I've graduated this semester so I have plenty of time to spare.” Yoongi shrugged, “and frankly, I'm the most rational option. Namjoon obviously can't. Same for you since you share half of the work.”
Then, he glanced at the young couple and mused, “and these two can't move an inch without the other.”
Taehyung scoffed in response and crossed his arms, “So what? We can be the new hot couple in the neighborhood.” Hoseok snorted while Seokjin' pointed out, “You have classes too.”
“Exactly.” Yoongi chuckled.
Namjoon hummed in approval, “Okay. That sounds good. I'll take care of the accommodation and let you know tomorrow, Yoongi-hyung. For now, please pack some clothes and necessities.”
“Sure.”
“I don't like this.” Taehyung uttered under his breath, only for Yoongi to hear. The latter's lips twitched, wanting to laugh at his younger brother's unreasonable protectiveness, but he whispered instead.
“Stop acting like a possessive partner, Tae. I'll be fine by myself.”
Taehyung scowled slightly, but then slumped his shoulders and didn't protest anymore, understanding that it was the only rational option.
Meanwhile, Namjoon spoke again, “when we get further information, we'll organize our troops, but for now we'll focus more on training and strategizing for a bit more and getting some weapons ready from Oracle.”
“But,” Jungkook interjected with a sharp voice, “are we just going to wait for them to attack us? Is that reasonable to any of you?” he turned his head to look at Seokjin then at Hoseok.
“No. It isn't.” Taehyung also spoke up as he uncrossed his arms and pushed some of his curled hair away from his eyes, “We are villains, not cowards who know only to defend, right?”
Seokjin’s smile deepened into an amused and sly one as he hummed pleasantly, “Of course not. I'm sure it's only right for us to strike first, since they so kindly and desperately want us to.”
“You all..” Epoch massaged his temple with a small, helpless smile and sighed, “I suppose I failed to consider that option since protecting the city is my first priority as the ruler.” He admitted and relaxed his hands on the bar table, “I'll give you all the liberty of deciding that.”
Jungkook’s face instantly brightened in delight while Hoseok raised his arms up excitedly and Taehyung seemed to perk up. “Who wants to go?” Dusk asked as he looked at the other five and added, “I obviously can't so it has to be one of you.”
“It kind of sounds like a pain.” Seokjin waved his hand, utterly uninterested, “I'll pass.”
“Me too.” Namjoon shrugged, “I'll be busy anyway.”
Hoseok looked at the rest and hummed, “then it's one of you three? Or two?...or all three?” He furrowed his brows in confusion then turned to Seokjin, “how many should we send?”
“The hell should I know?”
“Right.” Dusk pursed his lips as the other three exchanged looks. “I'll go with Yoongi-hyung and Crow.” Jungkook suggested after a pause, “Me and hyung will launch a surprise attack on HQ, then Crow will teleport us away.”
Namjoon' blinked and smiled widely, “Good plan. It should be good to do in about a month.” He glanced at Yoongi who stayed silent, “Of course if hyung is fine with it.”
“Should be fine.” Yoongi agreed after a moment, “I can wear a mask to cover my face. same with Koo.”
“Perfect.” Seokjin grinned and clapped his hands, the sound echoing in the silent bar. “Since this is all done, I'll take my leave.” He stood up slowly while the others' gazes followed him.
“Are you in a hurry?” Namjoon' asked curiously. “A little.” Seokjin nodded, “I'll have to contact our craftsman to start working on upgrading our weapons.”
“Ah!” Taehyung shot up as if he remembered something, “I'll announce the start of training to the citizens.”
“I'll go pack up.” Yoongi stood slowly and walked away from the bar. “Then I have to go back as well.” Hoseok sighed as he watched his friends disperse one after the other, feeling a deep unease pick at his chest.
—
Yoongi paused at the entrance, his sharp gaze sweeping over the modest apartment complex before him. The building stood three stories tall, its weathered brick facade tinged with the faint orange glow of the setting sun. Each floor housed two identical doors, their chipped paint and worn numbers hinting at years of use. Narrow balconies jutted out unevenly, some cluttered with potted plants or laundry left to dry, while others stood bare and forgotten. The sun cast long shadows across the cracked pavement, adding to the quiet, slightly worn-down charm of the place. It wasn’t much, but it had a tired kind of warmth—like it had seen countless stories unfold behind its unassuming doors.
“Hello, sir.” A jaded voice entered his ears, soothing them with its warmth. He turned his head around to see an old man with a fat belly walking toward him, smiling widely. “You are the new tenant of apartment 032?” The man asked.
“Yes.” Yoongi bowed respectfully, “I'm here to take the keys.”
“Of course, of course.” The man laughed as he patted his shoulder, “I'm Ha Jinhun, the owner of this place. You can call me old Ha.” He seemed like a very friendly elder, Yoongi noted absentmindedly while nodding silently.
Old Ha chuckled and took out a key from his pocket and gave it to Yoongi. “There you go. Do you need help moving in?” He peered at Yoongi’s two suitcases. The younger man shook his head and offered a small smile, “No, thank you. I'll be fine.”
“Alright. Call me if you need anything.”
“I will.” Yoongi watched the older man walk away, back to his apartment on the first floor. He sighed, looking at his apartment number that was attached to the keys. Third floor, second room. He looked back at his suitcases reluctantly, then dragged them with him towards the stairs.
The place was actually pretty good in his opinion. Once he opened the door, there was a living room and a small open kitchen. Perfectly fitting for him. He scanned the place slowly, his eyes mulling over every inch. Yoongi sat on the sofa, subtly nodding in approval. It was nothing compared to home but it would do, for a while.
Three knocks echoed suddenly in the silent space. Yoongi fluttered his eyes open slowly, feeling drowsy from the uncomfortable nap. He stood up and walked to the front door as he rubbed his sleep away. His hand gripped the door knob and twisted it. “Who is it?” He mumbled as he opened his eyes fully.
Brown hair, warm brown eyes, and that cocky grin—now frozen in surprise. The face was unmistakable, achingly familiar even after just one encounter. Park Jimin.