A Maryland ANG 104th FS A-10 takes off from the Jägala-Käravete Highway in Jägala, Estonia

Wdym wdym he died protecting Korra wdymwdymwdymwdym that he fought the Red Lotus with Tonraq, Tenzin, and ZUKO????

WDYM THAT ZUKO HAD TO WATCH HIS BEST FUCKING FRIEND DIE???? AND NOT BE ABLE TO STOP IT???? WDYM HE HAD YO GO BACK TO KATARA AND TELL HER HER BROTHER DIED AND HE LIVED CAUSE OF IT???

IS THAT WHY WE NEVER SAW HIM WITH KORRA UNTIL HE JUST FUCKING POPPED UP OUTTA NOWHERE LIKE ARE YOU SERIOUS WDYMMMMMEAAAANNN

like can you imagine the survivors guilt he must have because of that

he was gone long enough for Korra never to really mention him and instead of him being her firebending master like he was with Aang the White Lotus took care of her; Katara, Toph, and Zuko aren’t really shown together at all in old age…. Like. Like I feel like Zuko would have just cut himself off after that.

Losing Aang must have felt like such a blow, and then four years later Sokka dies protecting the new Avatar, and none of them are young anymore, they don’t hang out, they’re busy.

Katara still has her family, of course, but theres also Tenzin who was also there when his literal uncle died, so the whole Avatar family would have been dealing with that, and not to mention that the Southern Water Tribe lost their chief, so EVERYONE is grieved by his death. (And what about Bumi and Kya? Especially Bumi, the only other non-bender of the family? Who Sokka understood the most because of that and when Aang was busy with Tenzin, and Katara was with Kya, Sokka would be there for Bumi?) And Katara realizing she should be there for her kids and be near Korra to protect her like Sokka had, like Aang would have, to watch her grow up safe. To know that the Gaang’s time really is over. That she has a family to look after, and a tribe to help.

And then Toph, who wasnt there either, would also have felt useless. Like I just know how she would be pissed off and even more alone, because her relationship with her own kids isn’t ideal, and then she’s across the fucking world when Sokka dies - Sokka, who was also with her most of her time in Republic City, being friends, being fucking family, and then she wasn’t even there when he died and that isolates her even more from the new world. But when Korra comes, beaten down, but so much like Aang and Sokka it’s painful, but she’s gonna help her in any way that she can, but she tries not to be so reckless because she also knows her family, and having Korra around, this teenage girl who’s been through hell, probably reminds her of her teenage years. And she definitely wants to help.

@yakumtsaki is a genius and managed to get Ang's links to work, and kindly re-uploaded their poseboxes here! Nearly all have previews and some are nsfw, which are clearly labeled (thank you again<3).

F-4 Ds 119Fw "HAPPY HOOLIGANS" North Dakota in late 70s.....

credit F4 site

12. “It’s the right thing.”

Chapter Warnings: pregnancy

Taglist: @marihoneywk @amarawayne @chimmy-licious

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Feet glued to the floor in front of your full-length mirror, you were deliberating your outfit choice. It looked better in your head than it turned out in reality - you’d underestimated how quickly your belly was growing, and now this shirt was a bit snug. You threw a light cardigan over the business casual blouse, masking the tightness around your sides.

You needed to look just the right amount of professional, yet not too stiff. This was an exit interview after all. You had nothing to prove to these people anymore, and thus cared less about impressing them.

It was a decision you made reluctantly the other day, to go in and speak to Minjun. Jimin certainly wasn’t over the moon about it, but when all was said and done, you wanted to know that you left with your head held high. That you defended yourself to the company at least somewhat. Your skeptical boyfriend would have to live with it.

When you were satisfied with your appearance, you popped some lip gloss on and exited the master bedroom.

Jimin was on the phone again. It seemed like that’s all he did now. This was the thick of the storm, three days since your hospitalization and the outbreak of the news. He was constantly speaking to company executives, the members, his family. Anyone who knew him or had a stake in this situation.

Of course, there was also a firestorm of media personalities trying to get his comment on the situation. Request after request flooded in, aching to capitalize on this. He stonewalled them all, for now. You were both waiting for the company to post its own statement, which was drastically overdue at this point. The longer they went without publishing anything, the more the rumors festered, the more extreme opinions became.

Jimin glanced at you and said into his phone, “Hey, let me call you back later. Y/N and I are leaving for a meeting…Alright, bye.”

You raised your brows as you went to get your bag, realizing that he was fully dressed and ready to go, “We are leaving for a meeting?”

His expression was stern, “Of course. You don’t think I’d let you walk into that lion’s den alone, do you?”

“I mean, yeah, I do,” you sighed, “I’m a grown woman. I can handle these people. We’ve been over this.”

“It’s not about your capability. It’s about putting on a show of unity.”

You leaned against the wall, twirling your Keyes in your hand anxiously, “Jimin if we walk in there together, there will be ten times the amount of attention on us, maybe even more photos taken. I thought that was the last thing we wanted right now.”

“That part wouldn’t be ideal, I know, but I’m talking about when we’re in the room with Management. They need to see that we’re our own team. Usually, when there’s something like this, I’m obliged to be on their team. We want them to know that this time, it’s us against them.”

His strategy wasn’t wrong, but it made you uncomfortable.

You looked down, “I think you’ve already made it clear to them that you’re not on their side at the moment. And I don’t think they will steamroll me.”

“You won’t get steamrolled in the room,” Jimin huffed, taking a step closer to you, “But if this meeting goes the wrong way, you could get steamrolled in the press. Again.”

That last word weakened your resolve, though only slightly. You fell silent.

“I thought you said you didn’t think they’d stoop that low…”

His gaze fell from you to the floor. You had trapped him in his own words.

A paranoid look in his eyes, he went on, continuing to close the gap between the two of you, “I did say that, but I changed my opinion when I got to thinking more about it. Don’t you see, baby? Don’t you know why they haven’t put out a statement yet? They are waiting until they get to speak to you…Then they will use whatever you say to spin the story in their favor. That doesn’t necessarily mean they will make you nor me look bad, but they’re a corporate entity. They’ll do whatever they must to paint themselves in the best possible light, even if it casts a shadow on us.”

You shook your head slowly, throwing his former logic back to him, “They wouldn’t do anything to cast one of their top artists in a negative light. If they thought they’d be alienating you away from them, they wouldn’t disrespect me publicly. As a corporate entity, they must know that stepping on you would be a horrible idea. They know your fans would take your side any day of the week.”

Jimin cracked a small, perhaps slightly nervous grin, placing his hands on your arms, “Exactly. My presence today would cement that into their minds, which is why I should be there with you.”

You sighed once more, “Fine. But know that I’m not agreeing with you fully. I just don’t really have the bandwidth to argue about it anymore.”

“It’s the right thing,” he kissed your forehead, “You’ll see.”

Only a few steps off the elevator and already you were drawing eyes. A confident Jimin walked beside you, holding your hand, just as he had when you left the hospital. He’d given you a small pep talk before you left home, but you didn’t need it. You had even driven separately, only so you could listen to your favorite music and have a few extra minutes to sort your thoughts. You were self-driven to appear undeterred today, even if you were still inwardly shaken.

You’d entered the building through the parking garage underground, avoiding any press camera lenses and a long procession through the multitude of offices. That was something, at least.

Minjun was at the front desk, chatting with the secretary as he waited for you. He was professional, but still looked taken aback by Jimin’s presence.

He bowed his head and smiled, masking all disapproval, “I hope both of you are well today.”

Jimin opened his mouth to say something, but you beat him to the punch.

Grinning in return, you nodded, “We’re well enough.”

The manager was cordial as ever, glancing at your bump, “It’s a good thing we’re set up in the conference room. There will be plenty of space for all of us.”

A red flag went up in your boyfriend’s mind. His gut told him it was an intimidation tactic they had set up for you, wanting to lure you into a giant room with loads of executives staring you down. Little had they anticipated Jimin stepping into the fray.

They clearly still underestimated the magnitude of his affection for you, even after he disclosed it over the phone.

A big mistake, Jimin thought.

The two of you went with Minjun, you had a bad cramp in your side, either from the baby pressing against your organs or from the nerves. There was something in his tone that reeked of condescension - that sickeningly polite demeanor of an executive. You didn’t know if you were reading too far into it, but it was off.

Against your own interest, you caught the peering of others in the office space. They were failing in their efforts not to glance and you, and vice versa. You couldn’t fault them for it, though. In front of them just walked a scandal. Human nature dictated wandering eyes in cases like this. Bit by bit, and glance by glance, your confidence took hits. And at the worst possible time.

Then you entered the conference room and that confidence was fully decimated. Not a shred left. Jimin came to the precipice of losing his mind, dumbfounded and livid.

Sitting on one side of the table, among a handful of other executives, were Seoyeon and the man you correctly presumed to be her husband.

Jimin’s chest was aflame to the point of physical pain. He was locked inside of himself, stuck in a skin he wanted to escape, just so he wouldn’t have to bear the challenge of keeping this fire contained.

He could only look at his ex for a moment, before his eyes darted to the other executives, some of which he knew but was too blind in rage to remember their names. They were looking at one another briefly, not having anticipated him showing up to this meeting.

Your face was beet red as you waited for him to explode. You studied Seoyeon’s expression, seeing how uncomfortable she was to be in the same room as him again. The same could be said for her husband, Daejin, who took a hold of her hand. She looked a lot more pregnant than the first time to met her, and despite the tornado of negative emotions overtaking your being, you had compassion for her. Clearly, she was just as rattled as he was, as you all were.

Jimin glared at Minjun, who was taking his seat as if nothing was amiss, “So this is what you had in store for her, huh?”

He stepped further in front of you as Minjun said nothing, almost like a guard.

That earned a pronounced scoff from him. This time, he directed his question to all of them, “This is what you wanted to set up?? An ambush??”

One of them replied softly, “This is no ambush, Jimin. Please sit and we can-”

“If you think we’re sitting down for this, you’re out of your goddamned mind.”

He was grinning a bit now, only so he wouldn’t go past the point of no return. You maneuvered yourself to his side, not wanting to appear as some shrinking violet by lingering in the background.

Your boyfriend’s voice didn’t even sound like him anymore. In the recent days, you’d seen him become bitter and vengeful, but not like this.

“Regrettably, I must agree with him,” Daejin spoke up, mindful of his wife’s state, “These are not the conditions we accepted. I think we should leave.”

Seoyeon looked at him and nodded.

As the two of them got up to leave, Jimin took your hand. It was his way of telling you it was time to go, and you wouldn’t force him to stay. Whatever the company was planning to do had failed impressively.

The perfect time to gain the advantage.

You grasped an ounce of courage, “I’ll stay.”

Jimin was perplexed, to say the least. The other woman was too. Her eyes bore into yours, searching for an explanation as to why you’d want to subject yourself to this. Clearly, you hadn’t been told that she and her husband would be there. How were you suddenly comfortable meeting with these people, knowing you couldn’t trust them?

You looked into the eyes of the one who loved you, only for a second. He had no idea what your motive was, but even this extraordinarily odd circumstance couldn’t hinder his ability to read you. You had an idea brewing behind those irises.

Though your body was weakened, he knew you were inwardly strong. He believed in your creativity and your wit, and although it felt like an abandonment of his protection over you, he couldn’t ignore that plea behind your eyes for his trust.

He let out a much calmer breath through his nostrils and loosened his hold on your hand. It surprised you, after all that insisting he did shortly before arriving. He’d been so firm on being present with you, and relinquished it all to you, just like that.

Your gaze switched between your boyfriend and the other couple, who looked concerned. It made sense to you that they might be worried. After all, you knew things about Seoyeon that could be used to slander her. Keeping your intentions hidden from the executives in the room, you decided against offering the two of them any assurance. For your half-baked plan to work, Minjun and the others couldn’t know your exact position.

Seoyeon and Daejin left the room quietly. She didn’t look at Jimin, but he did.

There was no time to waste. He had to leave now. You turned to him once more and offered a small grin, “I’ll see you back at home.”

He nodded with a twinge of reluctance, but nodded nevertheless. He had nothing more to say to the others in the room - they knew where he stood. But just to cement it further, to give them one last indication, he opted for what would have been unthinkable before. It was, after all, a new reality.

Cupping your face, he kissed you. It was tender. Not impolite, yet not rushed. Long enough to declare his point. You realized what he was trying to do, but it also let you know that he had faith in you, and that strengthened you.

When his lips left yours, he stroked his thumb up and down your cheek modestly. Then, he exited the scene.

Letting out a sigh, you set your bag on the conference table and sat down at the head opposite of Minjun. Now it was time to play a little trick, and you prayed it would come across as authentic.

You furrowed your brows for a moment, pretending to feel your phone buzzing in your pocket. You lifted your rear off the seat to withdraw the device from your pocket and looked at the screen.

Then you glanced up, “Sorry, one moment. Something from my OBGYN.”

The lie seemed to stick. All of them obviously knew about the recent scare. It was believable that you’d be in close contact with your healthcare provider at this time. Little did they know, however, that you weren’t replying to Doctor Yoon.

Rather, you were sending a crucial message to Jimin. You could picture his bewilderment upon reading it. All you could do was hope that he’d go with it and trust you.

On the other side of things, he was just making his way out of the managerial office, he saw it. Your text was almost laughable, to the point where it made him briefly doubt your sanity. It truly sounded like lunacy, what you were asking him to do. Again, it was something that would have been unthinkable before.

New reality, new way of doing things.

Jimin kept walking slowly. He had to, unless it was his desire to remain in this goldfish bowl - all eyes fixing in his direction.

There was wisdom in this madness. He swallowed that truth painfully, quickly coming to understand your reasoning. If the two of you wanted to give yourselves the best chance of peace, and even controlling the narrative, you needed them in alignment.

He looked ahead and saw his ex lover and her husband getting into one of the elevators. He quickened his pace to catch up to them before they disappeared.

As discreetly as he could, Jimin slipped into the box after them, before the doors could close in.

The couple was displeased. Seoyeon looked up at the ceiling, speaking to him for the first time since their breakup.

“Jimin, could you have possibly taken a different elevator or waited for this one to-”

“I’m sorry,” he rushed out, pressing the button to the parking garage, where he knew they had to have parked for security reasons, “I know neither of you want to be in company with me right now, but the situation isn’t looking good for any of us. We need to be united here. The four of us should talk.”

The elevator traveled downward, and they were silent.

Daejin scoffed, but seemed open. He was a businessman. He knew when to make alliances, and this might have been their best chance too.

“And do you suppose we do that?” he asked.

The box halted as it reached the correct level, doors parting open.

Jimin couldn’t believe he was about to say it.

“Come to our place. We’ll discuss. In the meantime, Y/N will handle those guys and meet us back there.”

You settled into your chair once more. The other managers in the room introduced themselves, but your veins were too full of adrenaline to pay close enough attention. All of their names went in one ear and out the other.

Kindly, one of them slid you a cold plastic water bottle. You thanked him, taking a sip to calm refresh yourself.

Minjun took this opportunity to resume the meeting, “We appreciate you staying, Y/N. Apologies for that discomfort. We didn’t suspect that Jimin would be joining us for this.”

You raised a brow, “Forgive me, but that’s not the point. It was uncomfortable because she’s his ex and I know their history. It had nothing to do with him being present.”

One of the others, who admittedly had a kind face and cadence, “Truly, we didn’t intend to intimidate you by doing that. Simply put, we didn’t think you would agree to the meeting if you knew they’d be here.”

You nodded, “I see…But then why invite them in the first place, if not to throw me off? To listen to me rattle off personal details about my relationship with Jimin?”

“No,” Minjun, “Though that was the purpose of this meeting when you and I last spoke on the phone, our perspective has since shifted.”

You looked around at each of them, “In what sense?”

“We no longer need to know exactly how this came to be,” the same one who gave you the water said, “We’re all adults, after all. Clearly there was flirtation in the workplace, which led to rendezvous outside of the workplace. It happened, and there’s no point in revisiting a past that we cannot change. Now is the time to focus on creating the best possible outcome for all involved. Jimin, you, the rest of the band members, the company…and your child, of course.”

You were puzzled, “I agree with you fully…But how is it proper to discuss that without Jimin here? Why shouldn’t he be a part of this?”

It seemed to fall on Minjun, the response to such a delicate inquiry.

“Y/N, you worked with the guys up close. You saw how this all works, and why they are so popular.”

It was a statement, but the way he said it led you to believe that he was waiting for you to voice an answer to the rhetoric. But your body was worn - you weren’t in the mood for this.

“They’re popular because they work hard and they’re talented. Handsome…? I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“Those are all true, but it goes deeper than that. We create an image for them. We steward their careers by making sure they are seen as too good to be true. With Jimin, that hasn’t been hard, since he is good-hearted by nature. But the fans viewed him to be as pure as an angel, until recently.”

You were beginning to understand, “You mean to say that by having a child with me, his image is tarnished?”

One of the others jumped in, “That’s a strong term. No one at this table would say it’s ‘tarnished’. But it absolutely does change people’s opinion of him. To the public, this is so far beyond his character. It’s been shocking. I assume you’ve seen the headlines? The comments?”

Your stomach churned, “No, actually I haven’t. We’ve both been doing our best to stay off our phones. Stress hasn’t been kind to my body over these last months.”

Another chimed in, “Then we will not go into detail with that. The last thing we want is to worsen your condition.”

Your patience was thinning, “I-I think we’ve gotten off topic. You started by talking about creating the best outcome for everyone. What exactly is your point?”

Minjun maintained a professional posture, “The point is, we want that pristine image of his to be restored, as much as it can be. That helps the group and the company as a whole. It may never return to where it was before, but if we make the right moves, it could mean the difference in his career long-term. Simply put, we want you to use your influence to persuade him to make a comment on the situation.”

This was beginning to feel surreptitious. You sat up straighter and put your hands on the smooth, cool surface of the table, “What sort of comment?”

“One that clarifies his position on the matter. He will have to bow his head a little, making sure the public knows he regrets the way this all came about. That he violated the rules of his contract and set a less-than-ideal example. From there, PR will step in and his reputation will mend with time.”

Your heart sank. Your stunned brain attempted to string a sentence together, but for a moment all that translated was a befuddled expression on your face. It started to make sense. That tense conversation Jimin had on the phone replayed in your mind, as did his words:

“There is no circumstance in which I would ever-”

He couldn’t reach the end of his sentence by the time you walked into the room, but now you knew what he was talking about. They had already put this request to him, and he rejected it with vigor.

Your tone dropped, jaw setting a little tighter, “That’s why you didn’t want Jimin here for this. You already tried to get him to do this, and he shot it down…And now you want me to change his mind.”

The executives around the table concurred.

“It’s the right thing to do.”

Your blood was starting to boil, mouth releasing sour words, “You…You have the nerve to have me come in today, planning to ambush me with my boyfriend and father of my child’s ex girlfriend, so that you could all ask me to do your bidding?”

One responded, “That’s simply incorrect. Seoyeon and Daejin were supposed to be on attendance so they could hear this plan. Don’t forget he is the head of a spearhead marketing agency. We want them to know we will take care of things, so they don’t declare a PR war against us.”

“And it’s not our bidding,” Minjun added, “It’s your bidding too. And his. This will make sure his career continues to flourish. I know you desire that for him.”

“Of course I do,” you snapped back, “That doesn’t mean you’re going to use me to get him to do something he clearly doesn’t want to do.”

“We are prepared to offer a few things to you in return, to show our appreciation for your cooperation,” he replied, folding his hands on the table, “We would arrange a new position for you at a competing company. So you can continue to do what you love, just for another group elsewhere. Our connections are more than substantial, and it would be almost a guaranteed role for you.”

A scoff escaped your lips as you shook your head, “That isn’t worth it to me. Look I came to this meeting to try to be polite but I think it’s gone as far as it can.”

You rose from you seat and took the company-owned laptop out of your bag, placing it on the table. You just wanted to go home. Hopefully, Jimin had gone along with your text and you’d be able to meet with all three of them and talk things through.

Then Minjun finished his offer, “We would also arrange security for you and your child, for as long as you wanted it.”

Your movements paused. Standing, you looked right into his eyes.

He had your attention now, “It would give you a more peaceful life. Your child could have a more normal upbringing, protected the same way Jimin is. Not just in the physical world, but online too. We would work with you both to ensure his or her identity is protected.”

You were intensely studying his face, looking for signs of dishonesty, but there were none. He meant it, leaving you with no choice but to reconsider. Maybe this little baby didn’t have to endure this strain. He or she could have a real childhood. Having a possible job lined up was a bonus to the equation. You had been prepared to go without work for a while, but you certainly wouldn’t mind the opposite. You adored your job, putting your creative mind to use.

Maybe this was in everyone’s best interest. Maybe trying to convince Jimin was the right thing to do. Your voice was much softer now, “Show me what you want him to say.”

He may have been the one to invite them, but it made him shudder to see this woman on his couch again. It felt sinful to even think about those times, now that he had you.

Jimin was being a cordial host, but this was achingly bizarre. The married couple took comfort in sitting beside one another. Daejin’s body language was a little defensive - he felt his wife’s reservations against this celebrity ex of hers. He was aware of their story. Jimin could only guess that he didn’t think too highly of him.

“Before we get into things, I have to use the restroom.” Seoyeon said. Daejin stood up to help her up. It was then that Jimin allowed himself to take in how large her bump was. It struck a chord of sympathy, to see her basic movements hindered by being so far along. Someday soon, that would be you.

As she walked away, both men remembered that she needed no help in getting there -she’d been in this apartment many times and knew where the bathrooms were. Politely, of course, Seoyeon opted for the guest bathroom, even though she was most used to the master one.

Once the door closed, the husband sighed, “Sorry. She has to go so frequently now…I’m assuming yours is the same?”

It felt so strange to speak with this man about you.

“Not quite there yet,” he replied in a guarded manner, “I’m glad for it. She’s been through enough.”

“Yes,” the other was sincere, “I was sorry to hear about that. We both were. I don’t mean to pry, but we do hope everything is alright.”

Jimin pursed his lips together, not knowing what to make of this man, this Seoul business mogul.

It took a moment, but he answered, “Thank you. Miraculously, it is. Just a scare, due to…”

There was a pause.

Daejin’s dark eyes softened, but held conviction, “I can imagine. I’ve been worried about Seoyeon too since it happened, that horrid story breaking. I’ve been worried that it might put her into labor early and…Forgive me. I probably shouldn’t be discussing that with you.”

He shifted uncomfortably on the cushion, finding a new position as if to start anew. Jimin sighed. First he pitied his wife, and now him. This was his life now - odd scenarios, broken trust, unlikely alliances.

“No, I get it. All you want to do is keep her and your kid safe. And now you find yourself here, sitting across from a man who you’ve never met, but probably don’t favor.”

Daejin concurred, “Honestly, I can think of few people I’d want to be in a room with less than you, Mr. Park.”

Jimin wasn’t even that perturbed by such a comment. He didn’t say it with venom. Rather, the mood was sullen. He was simply being honest, and no one could blame him. If there wasn’t a much bigger objective at-hand, perhaps he could have had time to feel defensive about it.

He nodded slowly, gazing down at the coffee table for a moment, biting the inside of his cheek, “I don’t mean to be rude, but if we are being frank, I could say the same.”

It was then that Seoyeon reappeared from the bathroom. She padded back into the living room and took the same place. It wasn’t difficult to sense the cumbersome mood in the air between the two men.

“Okay,” she breathed out, “So what is this about?”

Jimin couldn’t conceal a frustrated chuckle. He hung his head low for a moment as he shook his head, “I don’t know exactly. It was Y/N’s idea.”

Then he looked up at them, “But I know what she was getting at. None of us should trust the company right now. They have proven themselves to be dishonest, the way they maneuvered to arrange that meeting…Can I ask what they told you it would be about? I struggle to understand why you two were invited in the first place.”

Both of them shrugged. The man answered, “It was vague. To my knowledge, they wanted us present to nip any negative presuppositions in the bud. It wasn’t a bad move on their part - they’re aware that we’re prepared to take legal action.”

“You have grounds to sue?”

“Not solidified, but we’re not naive. Minjun alluded to their suspicion that Seoyeon was the source behind the article that ignited this fire. That basically accuses her of attention-seeking and libel. We’re not just going to sit and let them run with that idea. We have proven her innocence in this matter, but it was all off the record. To our knowledge, they haven’t found the culprit yet, which leaves room for them to let her name continue to be slandered.”

Jimin’s brows furrowed, “Oh…Is that what the public believes? We haven’t kept up with any subsequent commentary.”

Seoyeon’s brown eyes glistened with anguish. She became tense, “Of course that’s what they believe, Jimin. Your fans all think either I’m actually pregnant with your child, or I’m a crazed liar who made it up for fame and clicks. How could they not? There’s been no one else to point to.”

A grave dilemma hit him. Was this the moment to tell them who was behind it all?

If he exposed Chaeyoung, it would cement their trust in both of you. If he wanted to protect his love and his child, then he needed the faith of this couple. The best way to galvanize was to share a common adversary, was it not?

On the other hand, was it worth it to take this kind of revenge? Chaeyoung would lose her job, but there was a possibility that her husband would too. He was too close to the situation, working for Daejin at Gravitas. If he chose to exact punishment by firing him, then Jimin felt he would have created hardship for yet another small family. They had two small children.

Would it make him no better than Chaeyoung, to toss a grenade into someone’s life as a means of protecting someone else?

With the interest of you and the baby in his heart, Jimin went for it anyway.

“Actually, we know who it was. Her name is Chaeyoung. She is…was, a coworker of Y/N’s. I believe her husband works with you?”

Their shock was evident on their faces. Seoyeon knew exactly who he was talking about. She remembered her from when they dated, and from the airport when traveling to LA.

Nearly speechless, she shook her head briefly, blinking, “H-How are you certain?”

He licked his lips for a second, “She told Y/N. That’s actually what put her in the hospital. Well, not entirely, but that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It was such a betrayal, shocked her so much that she became overwhelmed and fainted.”

Daejin’s jaw was tight as he rubbed his woman’s shoulder, trying to ease her distress, “Did she say why she went to the press to disgrace my wife’s name?”

He was treading lightly now, sensitive to their feelings. Still, he didn’t break eye contact, “Apparently, she thought that you would have gone to the press if she didn’t. Something about you asking questions about Y/N. We didn’t know it at the time, but she knew the truth about Y/N and me, the baby. She said that this was her way of trying to protect her identity.”

The woman was astounded, jaw agape, “That’s ridiculous. I was almost certain that you were the father of her baby when I met her at the airport. I’m sure you’re aware of that by now. I knew and if I wanted to stir up trouble, it would have happened way sooner.”

Jimin could have dispelled that sentiment if he caved to his lesser, spiteful nature, but held himself back. That wasn’t the point to focus on.

The man scoffed, repositioning himself once more on the cushion, “Well that explains why that company of yours wants our capitulation so badly. Why they want our trust…They know that one of their own did this.”

Jimin ran a hand back through his hair, “I don’t know about that. We haven’t told them.”

“Even so,” he replied, “They have to suspect it by now. If it wasn’t Seoyeon, they must draw the conclusion that the next logical answer would be an employee. Someone close, who may have been around long enough to make the connection between you two.”

“Well…that does add up.”

“I hope your girlfriend is reporting it as we speak. Otherwise I will in a heartbeat.”

“W-We can discuss that later,” Seoyeon tried to reel him in, “Bottom line is, they are aware of Daejin’s position and connections. If we decided to battle this out in the media, it wouldn’t be easy for them. It wouldn’t be like all the other scandals and rumors they just make disappear. They wanted to create a sense of transparency and trust, so we wouldn’t utilize our resources against them. And they know we have cause to do so. They may have already put out that first statement, but haven’t refuted the claim that I’m the one behind it. I’m not a lawyer, so I don’t know if we actually have a legal case or not, but there’s always the court of public opinion. And they are willingly letting people drag me through the mud, when they know I’m not the one who did this!”

Jimin nodded slowly, absorbing that notion and, amazingly, wishing he could make her feel better. This was someone he once loved, after all. She had tears in her eyes. She was in the same boat as you were, being crushed under the weight of mass scrutiny. Daejin put his arm around her, reinforcing her, and she gradually composed herself. It was like looking at another version of himself and you.

His eyes were hardened as he looked at them, “I’m sorry for all you’re going through. I don’t think what you’ve said is far-fetched. And it’s all the more reason for us to be on the same page.”

“You mean in terms of public relations?” Daejin asked.

“Exactly. If the four of us can reach a point of mutual understanding and work together, then they won’t be able to touch any of us. Unfortunately, Y/N and I can’t rely on the company to give us the support we need. You, on the other hand…you could.”

It seemed the marketing professional caught on quickly, “We have the media power that could paint us all in the right light against any kind of smears they could attempt.”

“But that doesn’t work out,” Seoyeon rebuked, “Let’s say we get positive articles and use our connections in the media. That would still leave too much to chance. Your company is just as well connected as we are, more so in the realm of the entertainment industry. They always win, always control the narrative. Your star power alone isn’t great enough…no offense.”

Jimin cracked a soft grin, if anything just to lighten the mood, “None taken. You’re right. But it wouldn’t be just mine. The other members would side with me.”

“You’re sure?” Daejin inquired.

The reply was immediate, “Absolutely. We don’t work for them, we work for each other. In a scenario where the company turns against me, they would stand firmly at my side. Now we’ve always tried to remain humble and give our contract the respect it deserves, but we know our collective influence. The company and their network couldn’t strangle us even if they threw everything behind it. In fact, they would quickly realize they would be destroying themselves, not us.”

The couple was latching on now.

Seoyeon nodded as she put the pieces together, “Which is why they wouldn’t even try. They’d back down and leave it alone.”

Daejin became stern, leaning forward a little, “Then again, there’s always a chance they don’t back down. I agree it wouldn’t be wise, but I’ve seen companies toppled by poor decision making time and time again. They are made up of flawed human beings, after all. Just know, this could all backfire. And that wouldn’t be good for anyone involved.”

Jimin paused, eyes traveling elsewhere as he pondered that. Then he began to rub his palms together, “I know…”

“And you’re willing to take that chance?”

It took him another beat to respond. As his lips parted to speak, you came in. The sound of the door opening and shutting was enough to reorient your boyfriend’s focus entirely.

You set your now mostly empty laptop bag down on the floor, keys on the console table. Your eyes met Jimin’s. They were round and curious, scanning you for signs of distress, but you seemed fine.

You looked at Daejin and Seoyeon, two people who you never foresaw being in your home. You nervously greeted them both.

“Hello…Um, how have things been here?”

Jimin made room next to him for you, glancing back at the couple, “I think we’re all more interested in hearing how the meeting went. You’re home much sooner than I thought.”

“Yeah, it was quick,” you gulped, sitting down next to him, “But fine, I guess. It…wasn’t really what I expected it to be about. Minjun initially said they wanted to hear how this all happened. I mean, you and me.”

As if he couldn’t help it, Daejin blurted, “Did you tell them about Chaeyoung?”

“Oh, n-no I didn’t,” you admitted, assuming Jimin was the one to reveal that to them, “Sorry…”

The man looked at his wife, face looking as if he wanted to explode. She briefly cupped his face in her hand, letting him know that now wasn’t the time to talk about that.

Jimin urged you with his intent gaze to continue, taking your hand. He masked his inner disquiet well, aching for you to spit it out but wanting to be your rock, as always.

You weren’t even sure this was something to discuss in front of your somewhat unwelcome guests. Your apprehensive demeanor, however, only heightened their intrigue in what you had to report.

“They want me…I mean you, Jimin, to go live and make a statement yourself.”

His movements, even on his face, ceased. Frozen in a state of disbelief for just a second, before it turned to an anger similar to that he felt when the two of you walked into the conference room.

Shaking his head, he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, face planted directly into his palms.

“No, I…God!,” he groaned, voice growling past a locked jaw and clenched teeth, “Their treachery knows no limits!”

You had an inkling he would react this way.

Seoyeon and Daejin, you noticed, were confused. To them, the idea wasn’t half bad, but they didn’t know the full context.

Jimin’s face resurfaced with a completely different expression. His eyes had been reborn as fiery.

He was speaking to you alone, “I already said I’d never do that, and I damn well meant it. So they just went to you instead, to get to me. I cannot believe they’re playing it this way. So underhanded.”

Seoyeon couldn’t help herself from commenting, “This is no surprise to me. It’s like I said, they always control the narrative. They’ve always used means like this…You’re just used to it being in your favor.”

As much as you wanted a reason to get upset with her, you saw her point. Jimin had nothing to say to that.

He looked at you again, “How did they take it when you told them no?”

You couldn’t bear his gaze. He looked so sure that you would have refused that advance. Obviously, you wouldn’t agree to join sides with the company, to act on their behalf to get him to comply.

Though you had been given appealing incentives, guilt reverberated in your body. You’d gone into that meeting so determined to be strong, but they had made you an offer that you couldn’t outright reject.

Your mouth hung slightly open as you willed yourself to speak, but nothing arrived. Your shoulders became tense. It was all the response he needed to learn where you stood on the matter.

Jimin’s eyes shut in disappointment as he let out a sigh. When he opened them, his tone was pleading, “Baby, how could you? Why??”

It felt inappropriate to hash this out in front of these other people, who were practically strangers to you. You chose not to tell him about their full offer until they left.

It pained you to see your boyfriend forlorn over your decision, but you were steadfast as you gave the reply to all three of them, “I recoiled at first, I did. But then I realized that it may not be the worst idea. You would go live and clear the air.”

Jimin was baffled with you, withholding most of his disgust so as to know argue with you in front of the others, “If the statement they showed you is the same as what they suggested to me, then you should know why I can’t do that.”

Your voice was shaky, as you knew exactly what he meant, “I believe it is. And no, it’s not how I would written it, but I still think it’s worth considering.”

Daejin hesitantly chimed in, “If I may, I’m very familiar with things like this. Our Public Relations branch covers lots of celebrities. Could I take a look at what they have drafted? I doubt they would have sent you home without a copy.”

The man was clever. You glanced from him to your fuming boyfriend, “S-Sure.”

The paper they gave you had to be retrieved from your bag. When it was placed into the man’s grasp, Seoyeon leaned over to read with him. Jimin sat back. He didn’t need to read it word for word, aware of the gist. It took them a minute - this was a long, thorough selection of words.

Daejin looked up at both of you, “Honestly, it’s well written. But man-to-man…and father-to-father…I can see why you wouldn’t want to say this.”

Jimin appeared to appreciate that commiseration. There was a lump in your throat. Your gaze fell away, hand subconsciously cradling the bottom of your belly as your child moved. The other woman could see it in your body language that you needed respite. Her company was only making your life harder at the moment.

Eyes fixed on you, she nudged Daejin, “I think it’s time we head home.”

Her husband could read her reasoning and went along with it, “Yes, we’ve discussed all we needed to, for today.”

As hosts, the two of you got up to see them out the door. The energy in the home was off-kilter as this improbable foursome left the living room. Seoyeon’s gait was almost a waddle. You recalled that she was about two months further along than you, which would have made her approximately eight months.

For the first time, you watched a congenial grin form on Daejin’s face. You knew he was probably only trying to be polite, but it was still appreciated.

“Thank you for inviting us to talk,” he bowed his head slightly in a nod, “Let’s hope we can help one another. We all want the same thing.”

Despite his unsettled mind, Jimin took the moment to mirror a similar cordial attitude, “Thank you for being open to it.”

He extended his arm for a handshake. The other man engaged for a firm, professional gesture of respect. After that, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. From there, he withdrew a small business card.

“Here,” he handed it to Jimin, “This one has my personal cell on it. Call once you’ve reached a decision on the statement. If need be, we’ll talk about next steps.”

Your boyfriend nodded, “Thanks.”

You felt like you needed to say something, “I’m sorry that our circumstance has affected your lives in this way. You don’t deserve this. If we don’t meet again, I hope you enjoy the beginning of your family.”

Seoyeon showed you a small smile, “Thank you, Y/N. You guys don’t deserve this either. And we wish you good health from here on out.”

“Thank you,” you said, “Now, please don’t think me rude, but I need to shove something in my mouth right now. I’m ravenous.”

She laughed a little, “By all means. I know the feeling. Goodbye.”

Trying to be as gracious as possible, you reciprocated, “Bye.”

Jimin watched as you left his side to pad in the direction of the kitchen. He then opened the door for the guests to leave. Daejin started out the door when both of them noticed Seoyeon planted in her spot, cautiously looking at Jimin.

She then gave her husband a specific look. His lips pressed together as he seemed to understand. Then he turned to his wife’s ex once more, “Thanks again. Honey, I’ll meet you in the car.”

She gave him a pleasant grin before he went on his way. Jimin was perplexed, the door closing, leaving the two of them alone, closer than they’d been in a long time. Too close for comfort.

“I’ll be quick,” she told him, “I don’t mean to be weird, I just…I want to tell you…I-I don’t know…”

He tilted his head a little, studying her featured before staring down at his shoes. It was strange being in such close proximity to her again. Her perfume was different. It used to carry stronger earthy notes, bold and seductive. Now it was soft and floral, understated.

Jimin forced his eyes to meet hers, “l feel the same way.”

“You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

He mustered up an easy smile, “You were going to say that you held a grudge against me before, but you’re happy for me now.”

She was surprised, breaking into a subtle smirk, “Suddenly you can read my mind?”

Jimin chuckled, “I know, I was terrible at it before. Maybe that’s why we were doomed from the start. Could never get on the same page, or fully understand each other’s perspective. But we’re in the same place now, you know? I get how you feel.”

“And you’re telling me you don’t hold a grudge against me anymore? I know what they say about me. I know how the members feel.”

From the kitchen, you couldn’t help but eavesdrop as you rummaged through the cupboards, waiting for him to reply. You weren’t sure you liked it.

“I did have a grudge before, and I’m not even saying that it’s fully gone. But we weren’t meant to be, that much is clear…And I don’t have room in my heart to carry the resentment anymore. You got the kind of man you wanted in the end. He seems nice.”

It wasn’t the easiest thing in the world, to hear them patch things up, but closure was often imperfect.

“Thank you, but the ‘kind of man I wanted’ wasn’t just a rich and famous one. I was enthralled with your lifestyle, I’ll give you that. But I wanted someone who would love me in the open air…You were never willing to do that and I couldn’t cope with it. But you were never really mine, and I was never really yours. She is.”

Now you were intently listening.

Jimin’s smile became brighter momentarily, but this still felt too odd to let it continue.

“Take care of yourself.” was all he said.

“You too,” she replied, “Also, I’ll make sure Daejin doesn’t fire Chaeyoung’s husband.”

Jimin furrowed his brows, “Huh?”

She chuckled, crossing her arms, “I could tell you weren’t one hundred percent keen on sharing that with us. She’ll lose her job, and you’d feel guilty if my husband got spiteful and tossed him out the door too. They’ve got two young children, I get it.”

He grinned, “Thanks, I would appreciate that. Y/N would too.”

“Right,” Seoyeon sighed, “Well…Good luck with everything, for both our sakes, I guess.”

“Yeah” Jimin nodded, “You too.”

She bid him goodbye for the final time as she walked out the door. The sound of the door shutting was a relief for you, as you cut up some fruit near the sink. The footsteps of your boyfriend drew closer to you.

You turned your head over your shoulder, watching him sit down at the island.

He huffed, “It’s been an interesting day.”

You resumed cutting, “Yeah.”

He released a sigh, knowing you had more to talk about. It wasn’t over.

“I won’t read that statement, baby…”

You halted, turning around with an apple slice between your fingers, “Can we take a break and talk about this in a little while? That little side conversation between you and Seoyeon just now was…weird.”

He was running on a short fuse, becoming more exasperated, “What would you rather have had me do? She was the one who initiated that. Don’t tell me you’re getting the wrong idea.”

You placed your hands on the countertop and tilted your head back, closing your eyes. A huff escaped your chest, “No, I’m not. Sorry. I’m just tired.”

“I am too, baby. But I need to know why you’re siding with the company all of the sudden.”

His name came out of you in annoyance, “Jimin, I’m not siding with them. There’s more to the story than what I told you guys. I just didn’t think it was appropriate to share the rest of it in front of them.”