#head assassin

***

“Alright, the first thing you need to understand, is that this is your life now.  Accept it.  Nothing you do can change it, so learn to deal with it.”  Eunseo stood across from the Song women, trying not to laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation.  Here she was, in a posh sitting room giving a hard knock lesson to two noble women.  They were in designer clothes, while she was in Taehyung’s t-shirt and sweats.  The borrowed clothes swamped her, but they were still better than her other option, the skimpy gold dress that the women had first met her in.

Eunseo had jerked awake that morning with Taehyung softly calling her name.  Before she was even fully aware, Tae had kissed her forehead, telling her that the stuff from her old apartment was on the way and that he would be home in the afternoon.  He then smoothed the hair out of Hong-Do’s face, and then walked out the door.  

Now, she and the Song women were having their little “meeting” while Taehyung was away.  Eunseo would have liked to have at least been in her own clothes when she met with the noble women, but when she had snuck down the stairs to scavenge breakfast for her and her son; she had come face to face with the women who wanted to capitalize on Taehyung being gone.  To Ga-Yoon and her mother’s credit, they didn’t bat an eye at her clothes, and had some servants bring food to the sitting room for all of them.

“Kim Taehyung is a Scorch-Hybrid.” Eunseo continued, glancing out the window where she could see Hong-Do and a servant playing in the garden that faced the sitting room.

“What does that actually mean?”  Ga-Yoon’s mother asked.

“That means that he was bred by the Noble Houses and the Old Regime to be a psychotic mass killing weapon.” She brought her focus back on the women, and could tell that they were uncomfortable with how blunt she was being. “I’m not going to sugar coat things, so if you want me to stop, now is the time to tell me.”

“No…we…we need to know.” Ga-Yoon said, sitting taller in her chair.  Both women were pale, but also held determined looks on their faces.

“Scorches are extremely territorial, aggressive, and lethal.  Tae could kill us all with his bare hands in seconds.” Eunseo went on, after hearing that the other women were willing to learn.  “He doesn’t have any moral code, except what he has decided for himself.  Which means he can be highly unpredictable and somewhat unstable.  Most never know exactly where they stand with a Scorch. They despise anything that could be seen as challenging their authority, which is why there are so few male servants in this house.”

“Which is why he…killed everyone when he came… I mean the men anyway.” Ga-Yoon’s whispered statement made Eunseo’s heart break a little, but she didn’t let it show.  They all had to become immune to these types of things if they were going to survive.

“Exactly.” Eunseo said, trying to ignore the haunted look on both the noble women’s faces.  “Taehyung got rid of anything he felt was a threat, and replaced everything with people that would be in his control.”

“Which means, he doesn’t think we are a threat.” Ga-Yoon’s mother spoke again.  A knowing look in her eyes.

“Correct.” Eunseo threw a smile at the older woman.  “Which is a very, very good thing for all of us. Instead of a threat, we are all now part of his territory.  He sees us as something that belongs to him; and even though it doesn’t sound like something to be proud of, for us it is a wonderful thing.  Why?  Because if we belong to him, he will keep us looked after and safe.”

“As long as we do exactly what he wants.” Ga-Yoon said, anger seeping into her voice.

“True.” Eunseo answered, nodding her head.  “Our safety rides on the ability to keep Taehyung happy, but he is actually a lot easier to navigate than you think.”

“He wants a family.” Giving her daughter’s hand a reassuring squeeze, the older woman again looked at Eunseo.

“Yes.” Eunseo smiled, happy that the noble woman was picking up on things.  Moving away from the windows, she sat on a plush chair facing the women.  “He wants people who are happy to see him when he gets home.  Wants to be asked how his day was, and to be told to wash up because dinner is going to be soon.  He wants the type of family that is only ever seen in ancient movies.”

“So, if we do this, we will be safe?” Ga-Yoon asked, disbelief in her eyes.

“Not totally, no.” Eunseo said, dreading where she had to go next.  “Scorches need to have two main things to keep them happy.  Sex and blood.”  Forcing herself to overlook the other women’s bright red faces, Eunseo took a deep breath and continued on.  “I’m here to take care of the sex, but he needs to kill things; and we need to be ok with him coming home covered in blood.  We need to ask no questions, and expect no answers.”

The two women gasped. Clutching at each other; their eyes turning glassy.

“That being said,” Eunseo hurried to continue, hoping the other two wouldn’t faint.  “Taehyung seems willing to not bring that part of his personality home.  So even though it’s something you should be aware of, he might be unwilling to sully where his family resides.  So, we might be very lucky and never see the blood.”  Eunseo felt bad that she had to take it this far, but the truth was the truth. She still had nightmares about being tossed into Taehyung’s room after he had come back to the center from a killing spree; blood everywhere.  She shook her head a bit to dispel bad memories.

“So, we need to focus on making him think we are a family?” Ga-Yoon’s mother finally broke the silence; wanting to get back onto somewhat safer topics.

“No,” Eunseo shook her head, giving both women a sad smile.  “Not think we are a family.  We have to truly become his family.  Taehyung is not dumb.  I am sure he knows that whatever pleasantries you’ve given him have been forced and fake. That will only keep him happy for so long.  He needs to feel our complete acceptance of what he is and what he does.  That is the only way it will work.”

“But he’s a monster!” Ga-Yoon yelled, jumping out of her chair to pace back and forth.  “You’re saying that we have to accept—“

“Yes!” Eunseo interrupted Ga-Yoon’s coming rant, walked over and taking the younger woman’s hand into her own.  “The only way we will survive and have even a smidgeon of happiness for ourselves is if we learn to love the monster that is Kim Taehyung.”  Leading Ga-Yoon back to the chairs, Eunseo also took a hold of the older woman’s hand.  “It’s better to be beloved of the devil than to be in his war path.”

The three women gripped each other’s hands and shared sad smiles, until the door opened and a servant announced that the boxes from Eunseo’s old apartment had arrived.

“Why don’t I text Lieutenant…I mean Taehyung and see what he would like for lunch.” Ga-Yoon’s mother stood tall, wiping at slightly damp eyes.  “You did say he would be back in the afternoon, yes?”

Before she knew what she was doing, Eunseo embraced the older woman.  Seeing her accept and try to follow through with the plan made Eunseo truly feel that they were going to be a team.  The noble woman went absolutely still, before slowly bringing her own arms around Eunseo.

“I think that is a wonderful idea.  Taehyung would like that, I’m sure.” Eunseo said, pulling away from the woman with a soft smile.

~~~

“I don’t like the cloths you brought from your old apartment.”  Taehyung glared at the open door of the massive walk in closet that held both of their cloths; then without waiting for any reply stalked to the bathroom and slammed the door.  The sound of the shower turning on coming through the door a few seconds after.

Eunseo sighed, and then sat at the edge of the king size bed that was in the middle of the room that she would be sharing with Tae from now on.  He had been pleasantly surprised when he had come home for lunch, and everyone greeted him with smiles.  Eunseo knew that he especially liked that she and Hong-Do had given him a hug; but his mood seemed to steadily worsen from there.  Every time Taehyung came across something else that had been delivered from Eunseo’s old apartment, he became moody and petulant.  The worst being when they had put Hong-Do to bed together, and the boy had immediately cuddled an old brown bear and not the new stuffed animal that Tae had brought home.  Eunseo knew that she was very close to having to deal with a Scorch-Tantrum.  Taking a deep breath, she started mentally preparing for what she was about to do.  It was time to take on Kim Taehyung.

~~~

 Taehyung turned from toweling his hair dry, when the bathroom door opened, and something came flying across the room; hitting the small garbage can which toppled to the ground.  It took him a moment to figure out that some of Eunseo’s cloths were on top of the overturned can.

“You know, I’m not sure I like any of my old cloths either.  I guess you are going to have to buy me new ones.”

Taehyung turned toward Eunseo’s voice and then stopped dead.  She leaned on the door frame, a smug look on her face and not a stich of clothing on her body.  The towel fell from his hand, forgotten as his eyes wandered over the body that was his again. Even after having a child, her breasts were pert.  Her hips and thighs were a bit thicker than he remembered, but that just made his lust kick up a notch.  He had always thought that the center kept the girls too thin.

“Get on the counter.” Taehyung growled out his order.

“No.” Eunseo turned on her heel and was out the door before Taehyung could even react to her refusal.

“What did you say to me?” Taehyung caught up to her, grasping her arm, he swung her around to face him.  “You don’t get to say no!”  Tangling his hand in Eunseo’s hair, he forced her head back and covered her mouth in a bruising kiss.  It was a kiss to prove dominance.  It wasn’t meant to be soft.

“I said no!” Eunseo gasped, doing her best to evade his overpowering kiss.  Managing to get an arm free, she raked her nails down one of Taehyung’s cheeks.  Drawing blood.

“Fuck!” Taehyung released her, more from surprise than actual pain.  Bringing a hand up to his cheek, he came away with blood on his fingers. “You scratched me!”

“Oh please,” Eunseo backed away giving him an eye-roll.  “Your fancy genes will heal you in no time.  Get over it.”

Eunseo knew that she was teetering on the edge right now.  Things could get bad quick, but she wasn’t going to back down.  Not now.  She wasn’t in the center anymore.

“I’m not a fuck-girl anymore Tae.” Eunseo watched as Taehyung’s red-rimmed eyes turned back to brown.  She knew that he was listening.  “I no longer have to jump when you call.  I, too, get a say on how our sex life goes down.”

“So, this was just a power play?” Taehyung’s eyes again started to turn red, and he took a step towards Eunseo.

“Nope.  It was the new truth of how we are going to live.” Eunseo also took a step towards Taehyung, which the hybrid was not expecting. Brief confusion crossed his face, and he stopped; giving her time to close the gap.  Going onto her toes, she tangled her hands into the back of his hair; pulling his head to one side, she bit Taehyung above his collar bone before letting her tongue sooth the site.

“Fuck…” They way Taehyung said it this time, was more of a soft purr.  Eunseo could also feel his cock twitch under the towel that was still wrapped around his waist.

Sliding back down his body, making sure her breasts were pressed against him the whole time.  She smirked at his aroused state.

“If you are a very good boy, maybe I will let you bite me too.” Eunseo stepped back, and eyed Tae.  “Lose the towel, and get on the bed.”

Taehyung’s eyes flicked back and forth from red to gold.  Letting Eunseo know that he was warring within himself.  Finally, his eyes remained gold denoting that he was full on lust mode.  Letting the towel drop to the floor, Tae threw his own smirk her way, when he heard her quick intake of breath and saw her own eyes darken with lust as she ran them over his body.

“Like what you see?” He asked, situating himself on the bed.

“You always have been and will be the sexiest hybrid alive.” Eunseo said, giving him a saucy wink. Climbing on the bed, she straddled Taehyung and allowed him to grab her ass with both of his hands.

“It can’t always be like this.” Taehyung whispered, pulling her closer to his body.  “You know I have to have it rough.  Have to be in charge.”

“I know what you need, baby.” Eunseo steadied herself on his shoulders, leaning in she tilted her head and kissed the cheek that still had a bit of blood on it from her scratch. Meeting his gaze again, she saw his eyes zero in on the blood that was on her lips.  She felt his dick harden even more under her.  “When I said I was no longer a fuck-girl.  I meant that we would give and receive equally.  So, right now you are going to be my very good boy.” She ground down, causing him to moan.  “Later, I can be your very bad girl who needs to be punished.”

 ~~~

“I… I was hoping to find some time to speak to you about going back to school, now that they are opening back up.” Ga-Yoon’s voice only stuttered a little bit, as she leaned closer to Taehyung and passed some paperwork his way.

Eunseo was proud to see that Ga-Yoon was finally able to look at Taehyung’s face when speaking to him. It had been a month since the women under Taehyung’s rule had decided that they were going to become the family he needed.  It was slow going, but both noble women had stopped calling him by his title, and had even teased him when he pouted after loosing at cards.  Things were still stiff and formal at times, but all in all things were on track.

Ga-Yoon had brought up that she had been in college for fashion design before the war, and that she missed it terribly.  Eunseo had told her that this was the prefect thing to bring up to Taehyung.  Not only to have something to talk about, but to also let him feel that he is able to provide something for her.

“Wow, Fashion design!” Eunseo slid onto the armrest of the chair Taehyung was sitting on, causing him to wrap his arm around her waist to steady her as she looked down at the paperwork in his hand.  “Maybe you could be the next big must-have brand that all the celebrities have to wear!”

“That’s the dream.” Ga-Yoon’s face turned pink, giving Eunseo a shy smile.

“I don’t see why you can’t re-enroll and get back into the swing of things.” Taehyung said, still reading the paper in his hand.  “As long as you have your bodyguard with you at all times; and your tracker is always turned on.”

“Oh, thank you!” Ga-Yoon jumped out of her chair, a huge smile on her face.  “I’m going to go let mother know!  Thank you, Taehyung!”

Taehyung’s own face lit up as he watched Ga-Yoon fly out the door to find her mother.  She never seemed to want anything, and only politely thanked him when he would bring home presents.  Now he finally knew what she wanted in life; and he was proud that he was the one who could give it to her.

“You old softy.” Eunseo teased, brushing Taehyungs bangs out of his eyes; bringing him out of his thoughts. “You’re probably Ga-Yoon’s favorite person right now.”  

Taehyung, came to his feet, bringing Eunseo off the armrest with him.  Throwing the paperwork onto the coffee table, he wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her into a hug.

“What about you?  Am I your favorite person too?” Taehyung asked, kissing the top of her head as he rubbed circles into her lower back.

“Are you fishing for compliments, Kim Taehyung?” Eunseo pulled back, giving him a flirty smile.

“Maybe.” Taehyung brought his lips close to Eunseo’s; before she pulled out of his loose grasp when the sitting room door opened.

“Sorry to interrupt.” Jimin called, as he entered the room, not caring in the least that Taehyung was glaring at him.  “Yoongi has been trying to get a hold of you.  Why aren’t you answering your phone?”

“Shit.” Taehyung mumbled, patting his pockets.  “I must have left it in the bedroom.  What does he want?”

“No idea.” Jimin said as he sat down in the chair Taehyung had just vacated.  “I’ll wait here while you talk to him in case we need to go somewhere together.”

Taehyung left the room, leaving Eunseo alone with Jimin.  Something she always tried to avoid.

“I’ll go see if Taehyung needs help finding his phone.” Eunseo said, trying to get to the door as fast as she could.  Jimin was faster.

“So how goes the whole, one big happy family scam?” Jimin leaned against the door, effectively cutting off Eunseo’s escape.

“I don’t know what you mean.” Eunseo took a step away from Jimin, but was stopped by Jimin’s hand around her upper arm.

“I mean,” Jimin said, pulling Eunseo closer to his own body.  “have you gotten tired of playing the part that Yoongi cooked up for you yet?”

“Now I’m really lost.” Eunseo yanked her arm out of his hold, and took a few steps away from Jimin, knowing that the only reason she could was because the Anchor allowed her to do so.  “Yoongi? I’ve not seen Commander Min since I approached him to help me find Taehyung, so I am really not sure what you are asking?”

“Enough!” Jimin advanced towards Eunseo, his eyes briefly flashing red, which let her know how truly upset he was.  Anchors rarely let their emotions show, so Eunseo started feeling a bit worried that he was doing so now.  “You and I both know that you would never put yourself into a hybrid’s hands willingly.  Especially Tae!” Grabbing her again, he swung around, and pushed her against the door, caging her in with his arms.

“Move away from me!” Eunseo pushed at his chest, but Jimin didn’t budge an inch.

“Tell me the truth!” Jimin’s eyes again flashed red.

“I wanted to find Taehyung so that Hong-Do and I could have his protection and so he could finally know his son!” Eunseo said, forcing herself to look directly into Jimin’s eyes, hoping he couldn’t hear how fast her heartbeat was at that moment.

“Lies.” Jimin whispered, moving his arms so that one hand gripped her waist, as the other started to stroke her cheek.  “You never wanted to be Tae’s woman.”

“No!” Eunseo jerked her cheek out of his hand, anger replacing her fear.  “It was you who I never wanted to be with, not Tae!”

Jimin brought both hands up and slammed them into the door on either side of Eunseo’s head.  His eyes fully red now.

“I would be careful what I say, if I were you!” Jimin growled out.

“It would take me screaming once for Taehyung to come busting in the door.” Eunseo said, forcing herself to remain calm.

Jimin’s eyes slowly turned back to brown, as he started getting a hold of his temper.  He knew what Eunseo said was true, and had no wish to fight Tae at this time.  Pulling her away from the door, Jimin yanked it open; not caring that Eunseo fell to the floor.

“Tell Taehyung that I’m waiting for him in my car when he gets off the phone with Yoongi.” Jimin threw over his shoulder at Eunseo as he walked out of the room.

~~~

“Finally found it…” Ji-Soo sighed. She had spent almost an hour placing call after call to materials management trying to get the correct tubing sent to the floor that she was helping today.  Finally, after yet again getting regular tubing, instead of blood tubing she decided to go down to the damn warehouse herself.  The nurses had already run to other floors and borrowed from them, but Ji-Soo wanted to see that they got stocked properly.  

“She is a pretty little thing; too bad she is a hybrid whore!”

Startled by the comment, she came to a stop as she rounded the corner at the front entrance of the supply warehouse. She saw two unknown men who seemed to be talking to her bodyguard.  “Chen, who are-”

Ji-Soo stumbled backwards as one of the men began stalking towards her.  He was huge, wearing work boots and a black beanie; eyes full of malice.  Ji-Soo looked to Chen and was shocked to see a sadistic smile on his face.  She stared stupidly at the man who was supposed to keep her safe. Finding the warehouse void of workers hadn’t phased her when she initially came down, as she was only focused on finding at least one box of tubing to take back to the floor.  Now, the stark reality of it all came crashing down.  She was alone, and in danger.

Reacting purely on instinct, Ji-Soo turned and ran.  Only taking a few strides before the huge man shoved her to the floor.  Clawing at the concrete floor and gasping for breath, she tried to get back on her feet, but a heavy steel-toe work boot crashed down on her back grinding her further into the floor.  Laughter met her scream of pain.  Suddenly the foot was gone, and a pair of rough hands grabbed Ji-Soo by her hair and flipped her onto her back as she gulped air into her bruised lungs.

“Not so high and mighty are we now, Bitch?” Chen sneered, dragging Ji-Soo off the floor to her feet. He  back-handed her sending her tumbling to the floor again, smiling when he saw the blood pouring from her mouth.

“Grab the tramp and let’s go.” The second man said, as he pushed his glasses further up his nose and glanced worriedly at the door to the warehouse.  

“No!  I’m going to take what’s coming to me!” Chen snarled, before straddling Ji-Soo and pawing at her shirt.

JI-Soo’s will to fight had subsided for a moment as she battled against the dizziness and nausea threatening to overwhelm her, but feeling Chen’s hands and body pressed against hers brought back the need to fight.

“Bastard!” She screamed, before scratching and biting blindly, hoping to strike anything she could reach. Trying to kick her legs up to buck him off was useless, but still she tried.  Chen continued to rain blows down on her face to stop her from resisting, but at this point she was numb to the pain.  She knew that if she stopped fighting, she would be raped and killed.  She wasn’t going to stop fighting.

“I should have known, a hybrid slut liked it rough!” Chen wrapped his hands around Ji-Soo’s throat and squeezed.  He felt a thrill as she sputtered and clawed at his hands, trying to suck oxygen back in to her burning lungs.

Blackness was overtaking her.  Ji-Soo felt herself fading and wondered if this was the end.  Her last thought was that her mother would miss her terribly.

```

 Jungkook was done with his meeting at the hospital but couldn’t make himself leave.  After much debate, he just decided to give in and do what he really wanted to do; ask where Lee Ji-Soo was stationed.  Learning the floor where she was stationed made him feel giddy.  He knew it probably wasn’t right, but he was really looking forward to talking with her again.  Their encounter on the hospital steps earlier that day had been somewhat embarrassing, but if he was truthful with himself, it had also been extremely pleasant.  Not only was she funny and kind, but his body had felt scorched when she had flattened against him trying not to fall. Feeling his face heat up, Jungkook was very happy the elevator was empty.  He also knew that Namjoon would kill him if he became aware of what he was thinking.  The elevator doors opened, and for a split second Jungkook almost hit the down button that would take him away.  Away from the inappropriate thoughts and feelings, but then he couldn’t.  Stepping out, he made his way to the main desk.

“Ji-Soo went to materials.” A harried unit clerk answered Jungkook as she typed into a computer.

“Wasn’t that a while ago?” A passing nurse asked, after hearing their conversation.  “I would think she would have been back by now.”

Jungkook felt a knot form in his stomach when the clerk asked others if they had seen Ji-Soo return, and all shook their heads no.

“How do I get to materials?” Jungkook asked.

“It’s on lower level 1, but you can’t access it.  You need a badge.”

Ripping the badge off the clerk, Jungkook ignored her and her co-workers’ shouts and headed toward the stairs.  He didn’t completely understand why his gut was telling him to hurry, but he wasn’t going to ignore it.  Using his phone to send a message to Namjoon, Jungkook started running.

 ```

 Namjoon loosened his tie and sighed as he rubbed his eyes.  Meeting after damn meeting.  He never realized how much bullshit red-tape one had to cut through to run a military. Well, a government, really.  Hearing his phone beep for what had to be the thousandth time that day, Namjoon suppressed the urge to throw the thing at the wall.  Taking a steadying breath, he brought up his messages.  He felt his blood run cold, and his breath stop.   Jumping out of his chair, he ran out of his office and down to the garage of the building. Almost colliding with Yoongi and Jimin who were doing the same after also receiving the message from Jungkook.

“I’ll alert the hospital to go on lockdown.” Yoongi said, as they all three pounded down the stairs. Namjoon didn’t reply as he pushed through the basement door, tearing it off its hinges.  The three raced to a car.  Yoongi barely managed to open the car door for Namjoon before he tore it open, saving it from being demolished.  Piling in, Jimin threw the car into gear and sped out, narrowly avoiding smashing into the opening garage doors.

 ```

 Bursting through the stairwell door, Jungkook followed the signs that led him to materials.  Getting closer to the warehouse door, his years of training kicked in, and he silently made his way down the rest of the hallway. He didn’t know what was going on, but he was ready for anything.  At least he thought he was.  Hearing a muffled, but obviously female scream, Jungkook’s training for stealth flew out the window.  Not even remembering that he had a badge to unlock the door, Jungkook threw a powerful kick at the door, splintering it to pieces.

The three men surrounding Ji-Soo jumped when an inhuman roar echoed around the warehouse.  Chen had a moment of confusion when he suddenly saw his two friends on the floor staring at him with glassy eyes and broken necks.  Before his brain could fully process what was going on, he flew through the air, and felt his head crack against the wall.  He felt the thick gush of blood before slumping to the floor unconscious.

“Ji-Soo?” Jungkook forced himself back under control, as he knelt next to Ji-Soo and tried to feel for a pulse.  It sickened him to see the bloody mess that the three men had made of her.  Calm settled over Jungkook as he discovered she still had a heartbeat and that she was getting air through her battered throat. Jungkook gathered Ji-Soo up in his arms and began muttering what he hoped were soothing words.

Ji-Soo fought her way through the darkness.  She could feel strong arms still had her in their grasp and decided that she was still not going to give up.  Letting out a hoarse cry, she again began to weakly thrash around.

“Ji-Soo!  It’s ok.  It’s Jungkook.  I have you. You’re safe.” Jungkook soothed trying to keep Ji-Soo from hurting herself more.

“Jung…Jungkook?” Ji-Soo blinked a few times, finally bringing Jungkook’s face into focus.  Then she turned her head and saw two bodies lying at horrible, unnatural angles, obviously dead.  “I’m going to be sick…”

Jungkook helped Ji-Soo scramble to her knees and held her hair back as she retched and vomited.  He knew it was all too much for her.  Not only had she been attacked, but this was probably the fist time she had ever seen death.  After a while, Ji-Soo slumped back into Jungkook’s arms again.

“Chen was with them!” Ji-Soo rasped, as she burrowed further into Jungkook’s warmth.  “I thought I was going to die!”  With that she began to sob.  Clinging to Jungkook like he was her lifeline.

Jungkook let her cry. Let her clutch him in a death grip. He knew that he should be calling for an emergency team to get down here and start treating her, but instead he sat and held her.  He didn’t think he had ever been so scared, when he thought for a moment that she was dead. Glancing over at Chen to make sure he was still out, Jungkook had to force himself, yet again, to not kill him. Even in his rage, he had known that he needed to keep Chen alive.  The bodyguard needed to be questioned, but it had taken everything in him to not crush the man’s skull.  He could hear people running down the hall and started to turn towards the door.

Namjoon, followed closely by Jimin and Yoongi, ran into the room.  Namjoon quickly took in the scene before zeroing in on Ji-Soo. Kicking the dead bodies away so that Ji-Soo would not have to look at them, he crouched by Jungkook and began taking Ji-Soo into his own arms.

Not being able to keep completely up with what was happening so fast around her, Ji-Soo thought someone was attacking her again, and trying to take her away from Jungkook.

“NO!” Ji-Soo screamed, and clutched tighter to Jungkook as she became hysterical.  Jungkook immediately pulled her tighter against him, and away from Namjoon.  Namjoon felt like he had been slapped when his wife burrowed deeper into Jungkook to avoid his hands and continued to hyperventilate and cry.  Shock finally setting in, Ji-Soo slumped into oblivion.

Jungkook, feigning caution to hide his reluctance, gave Ji-Soo over to Namjoon who’s eyes were boring into his own.  The two hybrids gave each other dark looks, before Namjoon quickly took Ji-Soo to the elevator and the emergency room.  Looking down at his now empty arms, Jungkook fought the ridiculous need to go and demand Namjoon give Ji-Soo back.  Taking in the blood that stained his suit, Jungkook felt his heart speed up at what could have happened if he had not got here in time.

“Was Chen down when you came?” Yoongi asked.

“No.  I did that to Chen.” Jungkook shook himself from his thoughts and forced himself to think about the here and now.  Coming to his feet, he faced the other two hybrids. “Chen was part of it.  When I came in, he had Ji-Soo on the ground.  I killed the other two and incapacitated him.”

Just then, Chen moaned, and slowly his eyes opened.  When his eyes finally focused, he was met with the truly terrifying site of a grinning Yoongi.

“Hello, Chen.” Yoongi’s voice rang out almost scarily cheerful.  “We are going to get to know each other very well.”

 ```

Namjoon wanted to kill someone.  No, not someone.  Chen. He wanted to kill Chen.  Knowing that he was needed to be kept alive to find out what the hell was going on, did nothing to lessen this desire.  The only thing he had cared about, at first, was getting Ji-Soo to medical help.  He allowed the community hospital she volunteered at to stabilize her, and then transferred her to a secured location for the rest of the treatment.  It was a hybrid run hospital, and Namjoon felt slightly less anxious now that she was on one of his military bases.  Looking at her, he felt his stomach tighten.  She was covered in nasty bruises and suffered a concussion and several cracked ribs.  It had been 2 days since the attempted kidnapping, and Ji-Soo wanted to go home, but Namjoon wanted to keep her at the hospital, just to ensure she was healing properly.

“No….no don’t…. help…. Jungkook….”

Namjoon reached for Ji-Soo’s hand as she slipped into the throes of another nightmare.  She had them almost every time she was finally able to drift off to sleep.

“It’s ok.  You’re safe.  I’m here.” Namjoon said, waiting for her to either calm, or awake.  It killed him every time she had these dreams. It was something he could do nothing about.  He wanted to banish them for her, but he couldn’t.  It also killed him that she called out for Jungkook every time. Jungkook had saved her, and even now Namjoon knew that she only truly felt safe when Jungkook was in the room. She never told him that, or even asked to see Jungkook, but Namjoon knew.  It made his demon furious.  It made him jealous.  It made him ashamed.  He wasn’t the one who protected her, and he would never forgive himself.

Ji-Soo’s eyes popped open and frantically darted around the room.

“Namjoon?”

“I’m here.” He answered, gently helping her sit up in bed.  He made sure the pillows were where she wanted them, and then poured her some water.

“It still makes me chuckle to think that the big bad General Kim is fluffing my pillows and pouring me water.” Ji-Soo smiled before accepting the water.

“I know, my rep is taking a serious blow.” Namjoon forced himself to tease back.  This was another thing she had started to do.  Always trying to say something funny or trying to always have a smile on her face.  She would never acknowledge the nightmares and had only talked about the attack once. The other attempts to bring it up, whether by Namjoon or the therapist, were met with clipped yes or no answers to questions.

A knock at the door, had Ji-Soo grabbing his hand.  Giving her a reassuring squeeze, Namjoon smiled.

“Jimin and Jungkook are going to stay with you while I attend an important meeting.” Namjoon said, before going to the door to let them in.

“General.” Both hybrids bowed.  Namjoon acknowledge them but couldn’t stop his jaw from clenching and giving Jungkook a hard stare.  He was afraid that he was fast coming to hate Jungkook.  It was harsh, and unfair as he owed Jungkook for saving Ji-Soo; but even that fact was not stopping the hate.  His demon wanted to beat the Golden-hybrid bloody and then laugh as he watched him die.  Those feelings always gave Namjoon pause, as he wondered if he was somehow more closely related to a Scorch than anyone knew. Turning back to Ji-Soo, Namjoon plastered a smile on his face while Jimin and Jungkook followed him into the room.

“I should be back by lunch.” Namjoon said, “You can contact me at any time.”

“I know, I know.” Ji-Soo smiled.  “If I get so much as a broken nail, these two will tell you.  Don’t worry.”

Namjoon stood looking at Ji-Soo for a bit, before finally forcing himself to walk out of her room.  The door shut, and Namjoon could make out Jungkook saying he brought one of those trashy entertainment magazines for her.  He could imagine the truly beautiful smile that she would grace Jungkook with.  A smile, that she had never given him.

“Want me to kill Golden Boy?” Yoongi asked, bringing Namjoon out of his thoughts.  His second in command was lounging on one of the hallway chairs.  Namjoon eyed him for a moment, trying to see if he was joking. Then scoffed at himself.  Of course, Yoongi wasn’t joking.  If Namjoon wanted Jungkook dead, Yoongi would gladly do it.

“Not at present, no.” Namjoon answered, walking past Yoongi towards the elevators.

“Liar, liar.”  Yoongi taunted, before following.

“What I do want.” Namjoon bit out, showing his frustration.  “Is for you to start doing your damn job and finding out why my wife was attacked!”

“I plan to pay Chen a visit tonight.” Yoongi said, not at all phased by Namjoon’s outburst.  “I usually wouldn’t let my prisoner see a single soul for at least a week, but I moved up my timetable for you.”

“I appreciate it.” Namjoon deadpanned, before punching the elevator button.

 ```

 A blast of freezing cold water hit Chen, bringing him out of his stupor.

“Wakey, wakey!”

Trying to figure out where the voice was coming from, Chen rubbed at his eyes.  The sound of a chair being dragged across the concrete, grated on his already shot nerves, and he moved to the corner to huddle.  Only daring to look up when it was quiet again.

~~~

Kim Namjoon let himself take in the surroundings before fully stepping into the room.  The hotel restaurant, was one of the best, usually taking months to get a reservation.  When the management was told that he would need to meet a party there today at 7pm, they happily cancelled everyone to book him.  When the head assassin wanted something, he got it. Of course, Head Assassin was not his official title.  No, when the war ended, and his side won, he got a new fancy title and started being the poster boy, albeit the scary one, for the new military.  Gone were the days that he was the ghost in the night that no one could actually identify; now his face was one that everyone knew.  

“I believe your party is already here, General. We put them in a private room.” The jittery hotel manager stated, standing just behind Namjoon’s entourage.

“You may leave.” Namjoon said, as he made his way into the room.  The manager already relegated to bothersome background noise.  Namjoon knew where his target was.

“`

Lee Ji-Soo had given up on sitting in her chair.  She took to pacing around the room, much to her mother’s annoyance.  She already felt like she was trapped in a cage.  An expensive cage, but a cage none the less. It was taking all her willpower to not throw open the doors and run out of the restaurant as fast as her feet could carry her.

“Please come sit.” Her mother’s soft plea made her look up from where she was staring at the floor and muttering.  Still a beautiful woman, her mother sat almost regally on one side of the table. Dressed in black, and looking oh so tired.  Ji-Soo could see her hands clamped together, turning white with loss of blood.

“It will be fine, Mother.” Ji-Soo wrapped her own hands around hers, and started rubbing some warmth back into them.  “I mean, it isn’t like we don’t know him…I mean we grew up together, kind of.”  With that ridiculous statement, and probably due to the tense situation they had both been in for days- months really, the two women looked at each other and started laughing.

“Yeah, be sure to bring up his childhood, I am sure that will work in our favor.”  Her mother’s laugh took on a clearly hysterical pitch, and suddenly she was crying.  They both were.   This was how Namjoon found them as he entered the room.  Both women wrapped up in each other’s arms, laughing and crying.  Both telling each other to, ‘stop it, it will be fine’.

Two sets of eyes widened as they finally took notice that he and his men had come into the room. Both women stopped dead, and just stared at him mouths hanging open.  Ji-Soo’s mother being the first to gain back her senses.  She cleared her throat and stood looking Namjoon straight in the eyes. He gave her points for still having courage to do so.

“General Kim.” She said with a slight bow, and then gestured for him to take a seat.  Ji-Soo had also come to her feet when her mother did, and even gave a sort of a bow, but Namjoon could see that she was somewhat shell-shocked right at this moment.

Namjoon sat, with two of his staff members taking seats next to him, while the other four set up what could only be called a perimeter around the room.  For a moment both sides of the table just stared at each other, until finally Namjoon shook his head, letting his subordinates know that he was ready.

“We are here today, to finalize the marriage contract between the Kim and Lee family. In accordance to the wills of both heads of family.”

“That contract was for Jisung and me…” Ji-Soo interrupted, and then plastered on her best fake smile. “It would be nice for us to know to whom we are speaking to right now.”  Finally having the courage to look Namjoon in the eyes, Ji-Soo was taken back to see how dark and merciless they seemed.  She was glad to look away, after he gave a tight nod, and the other man started talking again.

“You may call me Jin. I am the General’s legal advisor.” Jin then went around the room introducing the other men.  All of them were gorgeous, and deadly.  Then again, all of their kind were.  Gorgeous, that is, and deadly.  They were hybrids.  Half human, half demon.  Bred for centuries to do what the government had wanted them to do.  Every hybrid was fast, smart, and totally loyal, or at least that was what the government thought.  The higher-ups had put in place a training for each hybrid that was “fool-proof”.  Boy were they wrong.  No one saw it though, not for centuries.  The governments horrible little plan had worked.  Noble families each bred a hybrid.  They were part of the family, but not.  Ji-Soo knew that they faced brutality within their so-called family and then at puberty were shipped off to the government training school.  There they suffered even more horrors, Ji-Soo was sure.  Only now that the old government was gone, was it all coming to light.  

“Like my daughter pointed out.  The old contract between my husband and the General’s f-father,” Ji-Soo’s mother only hesitated on that word a bit, after throwing Namjoon a quick glance to see how he would take that title given to the man who raised him. “was meant for Kim Jisung and my daughter, not the General.”

“Maybe that was the intent, but the men did not actually state any names. Just that the marriage was to take place between the two families.  Now that the General is the only one left of the Kim family, it is to him that your daughter will be married. Per the will. Per the laws that there must always be a head of family for each noble house.”

“Meaning, that since my husband has now passed away.  My family no longer has a head of house.”

“Correct”. Jin gave a slight smile to the older woman.  “Further, since your family no longer has a head of house, it is actually a saving grace that the Lee and Kim family had this pact in place.”

Jin didn’t go into further detail about that.  He didn’t need to.  Everyone in the room knew what happened to unprotected families.  The highest bidder won.

“What if my daughter can find someone else to fill the role of head of house?  I am sure that the General would rather find a more fitting family to align his with, one with more stature- “

“No.” Namjoon’s voice was quiet, but no one in the room had any trouble hearing him.  “My family felt it best to join with yours, so I will do so.”

“Your family that you despised?  Your family that you killed?” Ji-Soo was speaking before her brain could catch up. “You can’t possibly want to marry me! Especially if they wanted it!”

Ji-Soo’s mother gave her arm a little shake, and then gave an airy laugh.  “Forgive my daughter, she doesn’t know what she is talking about. She is just overwhelmed.”  

Ji-Soo felt flushed, but oddly proud after her statement.  Namjoon had locked his eyes on her during the whole outburst.  Even still he hadn’t looked away.  Hadn’t seemed at all phased, even when she accused him of killing the rest of the Kim family.  It was common knowledge that the massacre that happened at the Kim property, only 2 miles away from her own, was done on Namjoon’s order, if not carried out by himself.  The only ones left alive, were servants who had never been at the home when Namjoon had.

“As to stature,” Namjoon finally looked away from Ji-Soo and spoke directly to her mother. “Your family is currently of the highest stature left to the noble families, as you never took part in the hybrid program.”

Ji-Soo held back a snort at that, realizing that she was probably close to a break-down with how she was acting.  Imagine, the one thing that had the old noble families sneering at her father and mother, was now their saving grace.  The Lee family stood firm, for centuries about the hybrid program.  They did not participate.  During the old regime, they were at the lowest stature due to this… now it seemed they had come up roses.  Again, Ji-Soo held back an insane giggle and tried to pay attention to what was being said.

“Now that the General has put your fears to rest, of him not finding your family adequate, let us proceed- “

“I need to use the ladies room.” Ji-Soo abruptly stood and started making her way towards the door, not caring that she interrupted, or that her mother was trying to catch her hand.  She had to get out.  The room was closing in on her.  Coming to the door, she looked up at the hybrid manning the door.  “Excuse me, please.”  After a beat where he didn’t move, she jerked her head towards Namjoon. His dark eyes bore into hers again, making the panic that she was already feeling, grow.  Finally, he gave a nod, and the hybrid opened the door. Forcing herself not to run, she tried to remember where the restrooms were.  Turning to go the opposite way, she almost rammed into the hybrid who had been at the door.

“Son of a- you scared me!” holding a hand over her heart, Ji-Soo frantically backed up a few steps. “I didn’t hear you.”  Taking a breath to compose herself, she tried to keep the anger out of her voice. “Why are you here?”  So far none of Namjoon’s fellow hybrids had said a single thing except Jin.  She wasn’t even sure she remembered this ones name.

“The General wanted me to make sure you found your way.”  He said, and then gestured towards where the bathroom must be.

“Tell Namjoon that I am not going to run away!  Where would I go?  Plus, my mother is still in there.” Ji-soo saw his mouth tense a bit when she didn’t call Namjoon by his title, and in a very crazy way, she liked that she was pushing his buttons.  It oddly made her feel a bit less panicked.

“This way, please.” He again started gesturing towards the hallway.

Sighing, Ji-soo started walking, realizing, and trying to not let it freak her out more, that this was going to be her life now.  At Namjoon’s whim.  “What was your name again?” Ji-Soo asked, right before going into the bathroom.

“Jimin.”

“Well Jimin, good work.  You didn’t allow me to run away.  Maybe Namjoon will pat you on the head or something.” Ji-Soo shut the door in his face. She knew it didn’t actually accomplish anything, but being a bitch made her feel just a bit better.  She even had an insane notion of refusing to come out of the bathroom, just to see what would happen.  Looking at herself in the mirror, the slight smile she had at that thought, fell off her face.  What was she thinking?  Nothing she did would change anything.  Plus, did she really want Namjoon to have to actually come and take care of something himself?  Remembering his cold dark eyes, she shivered.  She wasn’t dumb, she knew that Jimin was just as deadly as Namjoon, but somehow the thought of the General coming to make her stop being childish was almost terrifying. Gone was the sad, and lonely child that she tried to play with and sometimes give treats to when no one was watching.  Now, he was just The General.

”`

“So General, is she to be your wife. Or your revenge?”  The room tensed at the older woman’s audacity, but Namjoon just had a slight smile as he leaned forward to speak with her.

“Does it matter?  Even if you know, you could do nothing to stop me.”

Ji-Soo’s mother did not waver as they stared at each other.  Namjoon gave her credit.  Even other hybrids could not look him square in the face for long.

“Probably a bit of both.” Namjoon almost felt a bit of remorse when her face paled.  “More so wife, though.  I need an heir after all.”

“Then I ask that you try to remember that the Lee household has always been against what happened to your kind, and that my daughter actually tried to befriend you when you were young.”

Namjoon held up his hand to stop the older woman from continuing on.  He did not want to listen to or be reminded about his childhood. Narrowing his eyes, he felt a tiny bit of satisfaction when she slightly shrank in her seat.  He had no need to terrorize the women, but he wanted to make sure that she knew, he was no longer that child.  He was in charge now.

“The only reason your family is alive, is because of those facts.”

Ji-Soo’s mother took the hint and dropped the subject, remembering that all other people who had known Namjoon as a child were no longer living.  

The door opened, and Ji-Soo walked back in, taking her place at her mother’s side.  Both women as calm and collected as they could be under the General’s watchful eyes.

“Please continue,” she looked towards Jin, “the sooner we can get through all the legality the better.”

“`

“I would like to speak to Ji-Soo, alone.  Jungkook, escort my mother-in-law to the car.”

Ji-Soo felt her stomach drop.  They had just finished signing the paperwork, when Namjoon spoke.  Briefly she thought about clutching to her mother and demanding that she stay, but in the long run she knew it would do no good.  Giving each other a brief hug, the hybrid who must be Jungkook ushered her mother out the door, all the other hybrids following.

They were alone.

“Now what? You throw me down on the table and rape me?” Ji-Soo didn’t know what in the hell she was saying, and almost immediately wanted to take it back.  She could never stop and think before talking, especially now when it felt like she was about to lose her mind with worry.

Namjoon just tilted his head to the side, his eyes becoming darker.  “Not the plan.”

Swallowing hard, Ji-Soo stared at the man with wide eyes.  Like all of his kind, he was incredibly handsome.  Tall, well built, and had the face of an angel.  Every hair was in place, and his suit fit like second skin.  The way he stared at her was unnerving, like she was a new toy and he was deciding if he was going to play with it or brake it.

“What is the current plan, then?” Ji-Soo finally got out, feeling like she was about to scream if the silence wasn’t broken.

A dangerous smile formed on his lips, and it affected her more than she would care to admit. His lips were full, and looked to be soft, and Ji-Soo was cursing herself for even noticing something like that. He was a cold-blooded murderer. He came to his feet, and she jumped to hers.  An even bigger smile formed on his face, and she knew she had really lost it, when she took time to notice his dimples.

“My plan involves getting to know each other again.” Namjoon stalked towards her, as she backed away from him, trying to head towards the door.  Just as her hand reached the door knob, his larger hand pushed against the door, effectively stopping her from opening it.  Still she pulled a couple of times for good measure, hating how he was now smirking at her.  

“Where exactly do you think you can go, Kitten?” Namjoon rasped in her ear, causing her to jerk away from him and the door.  Breathing hard, she took a few steps away from him.  He in turn crossed his arms and leaned against the door, watching her with his fathomless eyes.

“Fine, you want to catch up?”  Ji-Soo blurted out, angry.  Angry at him, angry at the situation, angry at herself. “So how was it, killing your own family?” She saw him tense, but she was too far gone.  “How was it killing the man I love?  Jisung, the one I should be marrying?”

He moved so fast, she didn’t even have time to scream. One arm wrapping around her waist as he hauled her up against him, his other arm winding around the back of her neck forcing her face up. His face hard and cruel above her.

“You are mine.” His voice low, and guttural.  His eyes flashing red. Pulling her even closer. “MINE!”

~~~

Taehyung stared in awe at the little boy who sat cuddled against Eunseo.  Hong-Do, in Taehyung’s eyes, was perfect.  Big brown eyes, and delicate, almost elfin, features.  The boy was beautiful.  Taehyung had paid the babysitter, and then commandeered the woman’s living room for this meeting.  Yet, so far, they had done nothing except stare at each other.

“Hongi, remember how I told you that we were going to be meeting one of Mommy’s friends soon?” Eunseo asked, smiling down at Hong-Do.  The boy nodded, never taking his eyes off Taehyung.  He didn’t appear scared, but still had a tight grip on his mother.

“I’m Taehyung.” Taehyung said, sitting down on the floor scooting closer to the two on the couch. It annoyed him that Eunseo had called him “a friend”, but he would deal with that later.  Even he knew that he couldn’t bombard the child with a lot of information at once.  “I’m so happy to meet you.”

“We are going to go live in Taehyung’s house.” Eunseo continued, her cheerful and bright voice making it all seem like they were going on a big adventure.  “You will have a big yard to run around and play in!”

“Toys?” Hong-Do asked, his 2-year-old thoughts going to the most important thing.

“All the toys you want!” Taehyung jumped in, moving closer.  He would buy a whole damn toy store, if that was what it took.  He felt immediately rewarded when Hong-Do gave him a shy, but excited smile. Taehyung felt his heart melt at the sight, and knew that he would give the boy everything he asked for in this world.

“It will be so much fun!” Eunseo gave another huge smile, and then set Hong-Do down on the floor. “Go and start packing up your bag in the play room.  I will come help in a minute.”  

Jumping in place a few times, with excitement, Hong-Do made his way to the room where Taehyung had banished the babysitter, babbling about all his new toys.

Eunseo watched Taehyung as Hong-Do left.  He had a huge smile on his face as his eyes followed the boy out of the room.  She could see that the hybrid was enamored with her son. It had shocked her how calm and nice Taehyung had been while meeting Hong-Do.  She had prepared herself for Taehyung making demands, which would then cause Hong-Do to start acting out or crying.  So far, nothing had come of her fears, and things had been somewhat easy; but she knew that the storm was coming.  A 2-year-old was temperamental and easily angered.  Adding a Scorch to the mix?  Well, she would have to stay on her toes.

“He’s beautiful!” Taehyung said, still looking at the door that Hong-Do had gone through.

“Yes.  He is also very smart, and quick on his feet.” Eunseo smiled when Taehyung looked back at her.  “His vocabulary is huge for a 2-year-old, and his motor skills are above average as well. I’ve been worried that I don’t have the resources he needs to advance his skills.  That is why I am so thankful that I was able to finally contact you.”

Eunseo assessed his reaction to her statement.  She knew that he was still furious with her, but also knew that he would feel proud that he had what she needed.  That he was the one who could help them.  Taehyung wanted to feel needed, so for her son’s survival she would damn well make him feel needed.  She already knew that she could survive hell and even though Yoongi might have forced her down the path of this plan, for the sake of her son, she knew that she could and would stay on this path come hell or high water.  Taehyung was the one hybrid that actually could keep them safe from all the others. Eunseo wondered if the others knew how their plan could backfire?  They had concocted this whole story to make Taehyung more manageable, but in reality they had handed the Scorch a prize that he would do anything to keep.  Even if it meant killing everyone else.   Well, that wasn’t her problem.  She would stand by Taehyung and laugh with him if he decided that the world needed to burn, as long as her son was safe.

“Mama!”

“Coming, Hongi.” Eunseo called to the boy’s excited yell, and then walked to the room.

After a beat, Taehyung followed, leaning against the doorframe and taking it all in.  Hong-Do jumped around the room, bringing back toys to try and push into his bag. Eunseo calmly, but firmly told the boy no.  Taehyung tensed when for a moment Hong-Do looked like he was about to cry and put up some sort of fight, but Eunseo was able to navigate the danger well.  She distracted him with zipping up his bag, somehow making it seem like a job only special boys got to do.  Looking at Hong-Do and Eunseo, Taehyung knew that he would do anything to keep them with him.  To make them his.  Woe be to anyone who tried to take them away from him.

 ```

 “Does he think the genetics guy is his father?”

Even in the darkness of the car, Eunseo could see Taehyung’s hands tighten on the steering wheel,  from where she sat in the backseat with a sleeping Hong-Do.  The boy had crashed minutes into the car ride.

“No.  I always called him a friend.” Eunseo said.

“A friend.  Like how you introduced me?” Taehyung’s annoyance could be heard.

“I had to go slow.” Eunseo hurried to defend herself.  “I will make sure he knows you are his father, don’t worry Taehyung.  We just need to take it a step at a time.  He is going to be throwing enough tantrums with the new places and things.  He is excited and acting well now, but soon everything will be too much for him, and the terrible twos are called that for a reason.”

“But he is…normal?” Taehyung quietly asked the tension noticeable in his shoulders as well.  It took a minute for Eunseo to understand what exactly he was asking.

“I’ve seen nothing in his actions that points to him being anything other than a normal 2-year-old boy.” Eunseo said, watching as Taehyung’s posture relaxed.  “He rages, and throws fits because he gets juice in a blue cup when he wanted the green cup, but so do all the other toddlers in the world.”

“Then he isn’t-”

“I don’t think he is a Scorch.” Eunseo cut off his worried question.  “I mean, time will tell, but so far he is no better or worse than any other child.”

“Good.”

Eunseo found it interesting that Taehyung would be so worried that Hong-Do would be the natural Scorch that the scientists wanted him to be.  She would have thought that the hybrid would want his son to follow in his footsteps.  Be a copy in every way of himself.  Apparently, judging by how Taehyung’s shoulders relaxed when she said Hong-Do seemed normal, she had been wrong.  That was interesting, and it also set her mind a little more at ease.  She was sure that she would still have to keep her guard up, but at least she now knew that Taehyung had no immediate plans to indoctrinate her son into the ways of the Scorch.  She felt a reluctant admiration for the hybrid.

 ```

 “So, this is crazy, I know.” Eunseo adjusted the still sleeping Hong-Do on her lap as she looked at the two women who were still staring with huge stressed out eyes at her. “It’s ok.  We will get through this together.”

Taehyung had practically pranced into the Song Manor, excitedly telling everyone that Eunseo was his soon-to-be-wife, and that Hong-Do was his child.  Then before anyone could say or do anything, called for the servants to start getting rooms ready, going up the stairs to oversee things.  Leaving Eunseo to try and put together the pieces.

“I can imagine what it must feel like.” Eunseo sighed, gently placing Hong-Do down on the couch cushion and looked at the Song women.  “Here is a woman and child, of unknown origin, being brought into your home, and you’re expected to just roll with it.” Eunseo felt her face heat up, as she tried to pull down on the skirt of her dress.  Damn Taehyung and how he felt no need to even give her a heads up on the situation!  Even Yoongi hadn’t mentioned that she would have to deal with traumatized noble women. So here she was, feeling like a fool in her too-tight gold dress that hardly covered anything.  Damn them all!

“This is Lieutenant Kim’s home.  He can do whatever he feels is best.” The older woman robotically answered, pasting a smile on her face.  Eunseo saw the younger girl follow suit.

“Wow, he really did a number on you two.” Eunseo said, finding herself laughing.  It was crazy, really.  How the three of them, who would normally never even see, let alone meet each other; were now going to have to become each other’s life lines.  “Listen, ladies.  I am sure you’ve done an amazing job up until now trying to navigate the terror that is Kim Taehyung, but now that I am here things will become much better. I will give you the skills to not only deal with him, but become happier while doing so.”  Eunseo felt déjà vu wash over her as she began her spiel. She use to do this for the newbie girls that would be brought in at the hybrid center.  Suddenly her confidence was back.  No longer was she intimidated by the grand house, and the obnoxiously wealthy women before her.  When it came right down to it, they were all fuck-girls now.

 ```

 “Interesting that I was not told anything about this.”

“I guess the powers that be, didn’t think the great Lieutenant Park needed to know about little old me.” Eunseo didn’t even try to hide the disdain in her voice as she moved to tuck the blankets around Hong-Do better.

The Song women had retired to their rooms, after being promised a future Hybrid 101 class by Eunseo and after assuring Taehyung that his new family was perfect in every way. Taehyung had then called Jimin to come over and see his son.   Eunseo and Jimin were currently standing in Hong-Do’s room, while Taehyung went into the hall to take a phone call.  The Anchor was noticeably upset.

“If he didn’t look almost exactly like Tae, I would call you a liar.” Jimin said, moving closer to Eunseo.

“Sorry you can’t try to use that against me.” Eunseo stood her ground, even when Jimin invaded her personal space.  He looked her up and down, smirking when she pulled down on the skirt of her dress.

“Seems having a kid didn’t ruin your body.” Jimin felt a thrill when Eunseo glared at him and took a step closer.

“I guess we are right back to where we use to be.” Eunseo let her voice become softer as she moved towards Jimin’s ear.  “Where you lust after me, but will never ever get me.”  Moving away, she gave him a smirk of her own when he briefly balled up his fists.  

At the hybrid facility, she had been told that not only had Jimin requested her so-called services, but had almost come unglued when he had been told that Taehyung came first.  Then things had gotten worse, when Eunseo became what amounted to Taehyung’s property.  It seemed, that even though Jimin and Taehyung were an amazing Anchor-Scorch team there was still rivalry to be had.  Although, in this case it was one sided.  Eunseo was sure that Taehyung had never been told about Jimin’s desire for her.  So, it was Jimin who was left to stew about Taehyung having what he wanted.  Even the knowledge that Eunseo had absolutely no say in the matter had not kept Jimin from holding what could only be called a grudge against her.

“Isn’t he perfect!” Taehyung was back, happily standing between Jimin and Eunseo looking down at Hong-Do.  Wrapping his arm around Eunseo’s waist, he brought her closer and then turned to Jimin with a huge smile, not noticing how the other man’s eyes briefly hardened when he looked at the arm around Eunseo.

“Yes, the child is perfect.” Jimin returned Taehyung’s smile with one of his own, and Eunseo was hard put to figure out if the smile was genuine or not.  That was one of the things that was so baffling about Park Jimin, she never knew if he was sincere when it came to Taehyung.  They had a bond that was unbreakable, and she was sure they would willingly  lay their lives down for each other. And yet, she was also sure that if Jimin could somehow force her away from Taehyung and into his arms he would do it.  Which would then cause Taehyung to kill him to get back what was his. Their relationship was a hard concept to grasp.

“So, tell me again how Eunseo was able to escape the facility, taking your child to safety?” Jimin asked, as he and Taehyung moved away.  Eunseo sighed and then brushed the hair out of Hong-Do’s eyes.  She knew that Jimin was searching for plot holes. She hoped Yoongi knew what he was doing, as she just bet he was about to hear from a mad Park Jimin and why he wasn’t told something this important about his Scorch.

Gently sitting down on the bed, she felt tiredness wash over her.  Looking around the huge room done up in soft greens and blues, she tried to tell herself how it really was better for her son; that Taehyung could not only protect them, but could also giver her son the life that he deserved; how it was old hat to deal with hybrids, and that she didn’t need to be so worried. Feeling tears pool, Eunseo wiped at her eyes and then pulled back the blankets.  She had planned to cuddle just for a little while with her son, seeking comfort in the nightly ritual.  Soon the warmth of the blankets and the stress of the day caught up to her, and she was fast asleep.

```

 Taehyung stood over mother and son in bed, debating what to do.  He knew what he wanted to do, he wanted to take Eunseo to his bed, where she rightfully belonged, but some foreign part of him also wanted them to be comfortable and feel safe.  He wasn’t even sure where these thoughts and feeling were coming from, but here they were.

Turning, Taehyung left the room.  Returning with blankets and pillows.  Dropping them on the floor, he arranged them before turning off the light and settling down in the nest he built for himself.  If his family wasn’t going to come to him, he would go to them.

 ```

 Yoongi forced himself not to chuckle at Jimin’s state when the other hybrid joined him at the bar. They had decided to meet at a hotel restaurant after Yoongi had gotten an angry call from Jimin.  The Intel was not shocked, and found it all a bit funny. He knew that Jimin would not be happy about this little set-up that he and Namjoon constructed, but also knew that Jimin didn’t have any say in the matter.

“So, how’s the happy family?” Yoongi’s smile became wider when Jimin just glowered at him.  “I bet it was so nice to see Eunseo again, seeing as you and she have a history.”  Yoongi took a drink from his beer bottle, enjoying the tick that started in the other hybrid’s jaw.  Things were starting to get fun.

“Am I going to be told the real story, or are we sticking with the bullshit that was told to Taehyung?” Jimin sat, ignoring Yoongi’s last statement and gesturing for his own drink.

“No bullshit, all truth.” Yoongi dead panned, causing Jimin to roll his eyes.

“Yeah, because I’m going to believe that Eunseo would willingly give up her freedom to get help from Taehyung.”

“Just because you are pissed that she wants to fuck Taehyung and not you, doesn’t mean it’s not true.” Yoongi loved seeing Jimin’s hands tighten on his glass after that statement. It was a sick little game of his to try and get a rise out of Jimin.  Anchors were all about being level headed and thinking things through, he enjoyed when he could break one of Jimin’s kind.

“Fine.  Don’t tell me.” Jimin drained his drink and then threw a couple of bills on the bar.  “Just remember, Eunseo beat the system before.  She could do it again, this time with Taehyung in tow.”

~~~

“Your time in my employ is at an end.  The New Regime is fast on your tail.”

The man sighed but did not try to argue.  He had known that this moment was coming ever since he started passing information from what was left of the Old Regime to the Resistance.  He came to this meeting, thinking that he was going to get more information to pass along, but he was wrong.  His time of dark alleys and bags of money being exchanged, seemed to be at an end.

“My family- “

“Your family will be taken care of.  They will have, not only the money I have given you, but the money that you also took on the side from the Resistance.”

“I never- “ the man said, wringing his hands together.

“No need to get anxious. I don’t really care that you had a side line.  Good for you. I’ve always liked people who have an enterprising spirit.”

Silence fell, The man’s heavy breathing the only audible sound. He had been approached several months ago to help the Resistance.  He had accepted.  Not for their cause.  Screw the cause.  The New Regime treated him no better or worse than the Old Regime.  No, the man did it for the money.  Money that his family desperately needed.  Even now his family was disappearing with the help of his boss, whom the man nicknamed “The Shadow”.  The Shadow never told the man why he was helping the Resistance, nor how he had found out about the illness plaguing the man.  The illness, that everyone just called “The Wasting”.

Even the marvel of current science could not cure The Wasting.  It left the patient a puss filled, howling monster who no longer knew themselves or their loved ones.  Huge amounts of pain medication would only let the patient sleep for minutes at a time while all their organs slowly rotted away.  So when The Shadow had shown up one night, telling him that if he passed information for him, not only would his wife and three sons be taken care of, but the man would also be given a quick and easy death when the job was at an end.  The man had said yes.  Now, it seemed the job was at an end.

The man took a few deep breaths, and then bowed his head.  He felt the cold steel of the gun at the back of his head.

“Do it!” the man yelled.

A shot rang out.  Then silence.

  ```

 “Fuck!” Yoongi yelled. Rubbing his hands through his hair, as he paced back and forth in front of the dead body.  “Fuck, fuck, FUCK!” He kicked out the chair from under the dining table, sending it crashing to the wall. The sound of splintering wood helped him gain back a bit of control.

Yoongi had never been this enraged.  Never felt like such a fool.  Judging by the decay of the body, the bastard had been dead for at least two days. Meaning the traitor that Yoongi was truly after was ahead of him by two days.  It had taken far too long to find out about this man who had been passing information to the Resistance.  Even longer to find this hovel. Yoongi had rushed over to capture the bastard, torture and maiming at the front of his mind, all with the intended goal of making him spill his secrets about the traitor he was working for.  Instead he walked in to find the bastard slumped over the dingy dining room table, dead as a door nail.

Taking a steadying breath, Yoongi closed his eyes and counted backwards from ten.  When he finally was back in full control, he punched in some numbers on his phone.

“Send the team.   I want to know everything about this guy. I want to know everything about this ratty apartment.  I want it done yesterday!”

Signing off, Yoongi stomped out to his car.  Breathing hard, he flung his head back against the head rest, wrestling with the criticizing laugh rumbling in his chest.  Here was the great Yoongi.  Best of the best, Intel of all intels being dragged around like some damn puppy on a leash. Starting up the car, Yoongi let himself take in the apartment of the dead man one last time.  Whoever was holding his leash, was going to pay.  Yoongi smashed his foot on the accelerator, the car tires spinning out before roaring away.

 ```

 Namjoon read the text from Yoongi letting him know that he would be out of touch for a while. Namjoon had already heard about the dead informant, and assumed that Yoongi was on his way to the highly exclusive club Madam Suki’s.  Namjoon had never cared that his second in command was into BDSM.  Truthfully it wasn’t surprising that the Intel would need complete control when it came to sex.  Namjoon just hoped that whomever was Yoongi’s sub was up to the task.

“Coffee….and water please.”

Namjoon put away his phone as the door opened, and Ji-Soo came into the formal dining room, clutching her head and whispering to the servants.

“Good afternoon, Ji-Soo.” Namjoon chuckled when she glared at him, and then slouched into a chair at the far end of the table.

“Apparently I am no longer allowed to request meals in my room?” Ji-Soo asked, flinching at her own voice and how loud it seemed.

“Yes.  We’ll never get to know each other again if we never see each other.”

“I am hung over, General. I don’t really think this is the best time.” Ji-Soo snapped, gingerly laying her head down on the table with a moan.

Coming to his feet, Namjoon made his way to where Ji-Soo was sitting, and took the chair next to her. Pouring out the coffee and water that the servants brought, and then took a bottle of Tylenol out of his pocket, shaking it.  Moaning again, Ji-Soo held her hand out to catch the pills.

“I’m never drinking again.” Ji-Soo said, gulping down pills and water before again resting her head back on the table.

“That might be a wise decision.” Namjoon found himself smiling down at his wife.  Reaching out, he twirled a messy strand of her hair around his finger.  Ji-Soo stiffened and looked at him out of the corner of her eyes, but did not jerk away.

“Remember we are having dinner at your mother’s tonight.” Namjoon said, releasing her hair and standing back up to go and grab his suit jacket from his original chair.  Tucking it over his arm, Namjoon started for the door.

“Where are you going?” Ji-Soo asked, staring at him with wide eyes.

“Unlike some, who can sleep until noon, I have a job.” Namjoon joked.

“But,” Ji-Soo sputtered, “you made me come all the way down here just to get coffee and water, and now you’re leaving?”

“Is this your way of saying that you will miss me?” Namjoon asked, smiling when Ji-Soo rolled her eyes.

“I just meant- “

“No worries, Kitten. I’ll be home soon.  How about I leave you with a look at my dimples before I go, would that help?”

Ji-Soo’s mouth fell open, feeling like she had been hit over the head.  Before she could even come up with a reply, Namjoon flashed a full on 1000-watt smile.  Then giving her a wink, he left.

Bringing a hand to her flushed cheeks, Ji-Soo took a few deep breaths to steady her racing heart. She did remember talking to Namjoon about something last night. Slowly, vague memories floated to the front of her brain. Heaven help her, she had mention dimples to him.

“Oh, no.  Oh no!” Ji-Soo felt her blush intensify as she again laid her head down on the table.  She would just have to throw herself off a bridge now.

 ```

 “Can’t you see, General? How we have been trying to conduct business is the old way.  The way of fear!  We need to start fresh if we want this government to succeed.  We can’t have everyone fearing us all the time!”

“They should fear us!” Hoseok interrupted Jungkook’s criticism.  “It’s the only thing keeping the humans from trying to bring us back under their control again.  I know some of us didn’t suffer quite so badly being raised by the humans, but most of us will never forget the horrors they inflicted on us.”

Jungkook clenched his jaw and took some deep breaths through his nose at Hoseok’s statement.  Forcing himself to ignore the heat on his cheeks, he again addressed Namjoon.

“If we stay with the old system, we will not get any results.” Sitting down, Jungkook stared straight ahead, not meeting any of the other hybrids’ eyes. He knew that the other hybrids looked down on him.  They thought he was “soft” because of his upbringing.  It was why he hated their weekly meetings at headquarters.  It just seemed to give the other hybrids a chance to gang up on him.

Jungkook was a new model hybrid.  A type that the other hybrids laughingly called the “Golden Boy”.  The old government had been trying to tweak their formula: raise a super soldier, who was not criminally insane.  Jungkook straddled the very uncomfortable line of human and hybrid.  Even though the older hybrids had human DNA, their demon DNA far out weighted it, and most considered themselves fully demon. He was given bits and pieces from almost all the hybrids, making him excel at every demon skill his fellow hybrids possessed. However, he was raised very different than the other hybrids.  The Jeon house, while not loving, made him a part of the family.  He was treated more along the lines of an impoverished cousin the Jeon household was forced to take in which was a far better treatment than any of the older hybrids received.  He was not starved nor beaten.  He attended family trips and was even allowed to play outside just like any other human child.  The “harshness” came in the guise of repeated talks, some in person and some in the form of tapes that he was made to listen to over and over again, about how humans were better than him, and that he was lucky to have been made to serve them. All in all, his life had been far from the horror of the others.  

The only reason Jungkook had not been killed outright, like the other “Golden Boys” had been, was because he had proven himself somewhat to Namjoon by helping bring down the tower guards at the start of the uprising.  The other Goldens had flat out refused to help, choosing to remain loyal to the old government.

“I do think some of what you are saying is correct.” Namjoon tilted his head at Jungkook.  “I will let you work on some ad campaigns with Jin.”

“Yes, you can help bring out the softer side of the new government.” Taehyung laughed from the far end of the table where he had ignored the whole meeting, twirling around and around in his chair.

The other hybrids smirked, watching to see how Jungkook would react.  He only bowed his thanks to Namjoon and then calmly gathered his papers together as the meeting ended.  He refused to let the others know how much Taehyung’s comment had hurt.  Jungkook would never admit it, but he felt so alone. Had done so his whole life.  While the other hybrids had each other he had no one. Jungkook was too human for the hybrids and too hybrid for the humans.

 ```

 Jungkook was sulking in the back seat of his town car.  He knew it was childish, but couldn’t stop.  He truly felt that he had good ideas to help this current government succeed. Succeed, and not repeat the same mistakes the Old Regime had.

Sighing, he was about to tell his driver to turn around and head to a bar instead of home when they neared another town car with a flat tire on the side of the street.

“Wait, stop!” Jungkook called, after realizing that the women he saw standing by the side of the car was the General’s wife.

Jungkook got out of his own car and made his way towards the stranded one.  The driver and bodyguard both tensed, until they saw who it was.

“Need any help?” Jungkook asked the two men, but was waylaid as the General’s wife gave him the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.

“Finally, some help!” Ji-Soo grabbed her purse, and then started making her way to Jungkook’s car. “We put the call in for help some time ago.  One would think a big fancy car like this would have a spare tire?  Nope.”  

“We were not told that Officer Jeon was coming.” Ji-Soo’s bodyguard called, trying to catch up to her hurried strides.

Ji-Soo stopped, and then made her way back to where Jungkook was still standing.

“Didn’t Namjoon send you to take me the rest of the way to my Mother’s?”

“No. Namj- I mean, the General did not send me to help.” Jungkook felt foolish as he stumbled over his words.  From the moment he had met Ji-Soo, she had captivated him.  Not only was she beautiful, but she didn’t scrape and bow to Namjoon, or any of the other hybrids for that matter.  He found her very interesting to watch.  “I just happened to be passing by.”

“Well, wonderful!” Ji-Soo smiled, and then turned to again head towards his car.  Both the bodyguard and Jungkook hurrying to keep up.  “My mother’s house is very close to the Jeon manor, so I guess I will have to ask you for a favor.”

“I am not sure the General- “

“Officer Jeon is one of the General’s most trusted men, you really think he would have a problem with me getting a lift from him?” Ji-Soo interrupted her bodyguard.  “I am hot, tired, and just want to get to my mother’s home.”

The bodyguard looked back and forth between Ji-Soo and Jungkook.  The only men from his entourage who the General had expressly forbidden his wife to ever be alone with were Kim Taehyung and Min Yoongi.  So even though he still felt somewhat reluctant, he saw no reason why she couldn’t get into Jungkook’s car.

“Perfect.” Ji-Soo said, capitalizing on her bodyguard’s wavering resolve.  Motioning for Jungkook to hurry up, Ji-Soo opened the car door and slid in.

 ```

 Namjoon walked into the Lee family’s parlor and came to a stop.  He was surprised to see not only Ji-Soo and his mother-in-law, but also Jungkook.  He had been informed that Jungkook had given Ji-Soo a ride, but didn’t expect the younger hybrid to still be at the Lee home.  They were seated at the far corner of the room, in a little nook by the window. They were all laughing and had not noticed him.

“So, the dog really did eat your homework?” Jungkook asked, wiping at his eyes.

“I swear!” Ji-Soo raised her hand in a solemn pledge, which caused everyone to go off in a fit of laughter again.

Feeling his stomach drop, Namjoon felt like he couldn’t move.  This was the exact picture that, as a child, he had wanted so badly.  A small family, laughing and chatting together. Warm smiles, and happiness.  It had been his dream.  And there sat Jeon Jungkook enjoying his dream.  Taking deep breaths, Namjoon forced himself to hold back his need to pick up Jungkook by the neck and toss him out of the room. The Golden Boy would be lucky he didn’t strangle him later.

Backing out of the room before they could notice him, Namjoon stumbled to the bathroom down the hallway. Hunching over the sink, Namjoon stared at his reflection in the mirror. His demon screaming to be let loose and spill Jungkook’s blood. While his rational part tried to be heard over the roar.

~~~

“The perimeter is secure. Our guys have it closed up.” Yoongi said as he sat, swinging his legs up onto the desk and stretching out.  “What the hell is this room, and what is going on upstairs?”

“This was Kim Ji-hoon’s way of showing his power.” Namjoon said, looking around at the animal heads mounted on the walls, and elaborate paintings of the Kim ancestors that adorned the study.  He hated this room.  “It will be gutted soon and rebuilt for my own needs.”

“Daddy dearest is rolling in his grave as we speak, I am sure.” Yoongi only smiled back at Namjoon’s hard look.  “So, upstairs?”

“My wife is having some servants help her block the interconnecting door that is between our rooms.  I think her plan is to place any and all heavy objects against it.”

Yoongi wondered if Namjoon knew that he had a smile on his face while he talked about what Ji-Soo was doing.  Probably not, the General didn’t like showing emotion in front of others.  Not even his friends.

“She doesn’t know that those types of measures are useless against you, I take it?” Yoongi truly smiled for the first time in a while.  Namjoon was what they called a “B-hybrid”.  B for brains, B for brawn, and some liked to say B for brake everything.  His class of hybrid were extremely smart, and extremely tough.  They were usually the ones who planned out the battle, and then could also be sent in to bust down whatever highly reinforced door was in the way.  Namjoon could open the door that Ji-Soo was barricading without breaking a sweat.

“I felt no need to enlighten her on the subject.  She needs to feel like she has some sort of control right now.” Namjoon went back to reading a daily report. The door opened, and Jimin bowed to both men before taking a seat next to Yoongi.

“So how goes the blocking of the door?” Yoongi asked Jimin.

“She told me to leave, that I was a spy for the enemy.” Jimin shared a chuckle with Yoongi at that. “As I was leaving, she was telling 4 of the strongest men to go around to the General’s room and see if they could push open the door.”

“Joonie, she thinks you only have the power of 4 men.  Are you amused, or offended?” Yoongi asked, laughing at Namjoon’s annoyed look.

“How about we focus more on work, and less on what my wife is up to?” Namjoon said, causing Yoongi to finally bring his feet off the desk, and Jimin to sit straighter in the chair. He was in “General Mode” now.

```

Ji-Soo jerked awake.  Chastising herself for falling asleep, she got up from the settee to check her “security”. The mountain of things that were in front of the connecting door, were still in place.  Going to the main door, she saw that it was still locked.  Ji-Soo knew that the tiny lock would do nothing to stop Namjoon if he truly wanted to come in, but she was at least happy with the major concern of the door that lead straight into his room.  Having that secure, went a long way for her mental well-being.  Sitting down on the bed, that she was trying her hardest not to get into, Ji-Soo took in the room again.  It was very light and airy.  If a room could be called dainty, it was it.  The last women who had lived in this room was Jisung and Namjoon’s mother.  Not that Namjoon thought of her as such. Ji-Soo was pretty confident that Namjoon had no familial feelings whatsoever for the Kim family.  Which was not surprising.  Hybrids were not treated like family.  Really not treated as humans.  Hybrids were tools being bred to serve the noble houses and the old government. Even Jisung, didn’t understand why she had felt sorry for Namjoon.  Why she wanted Namjoon to come and play with them, and get the same treats that they were getting as children.  To Jisung and the rest of his family, Namjoon did not deserve and would not understand those types of things.  Ji-Soo had felt different, so would try and sneak things to him whenever she could.  Jisung had thought it dumb, but did not try and stop her.

“Oh, Jisung…” Ji-Soo whispered, feeling pain slash through her heart.  She mourned her old friend.   Unlike what she said to Namjoon in anger, she did not actually love Jisung, at least not in a romantic way.  Her feelings were that of a familiar friend who one felt comfortable around. She knew that Jisung felt different, and eventually she would have had to bring her own feelings to light...but then a war started.  The government changed, and then Jisung was dead.  That macabre thought, propelled Ji-Soo off the bed.  Pacing, she rubbed her arms, suddenly feeling cold.  They all were dead.  In this very house.  The house that she was now a prisoner in.  Shuddering, she moved towards the balcony hoping that some fresh night air would help her.

```

Namjoon felt trapped. He hated this house.  Hated how small and wounded he felt just by being here.  Even though he knew it was impossible, he could feel all the broken bones that he received while living in this house.  Namjoon would have gladly watched it burn to the ground, taking all the bad memories with it.  Unfortunately, the new Chancellor wanted the noble houses to remain intact, being led by hybrids.  Namjoon understood the reason, but it didn’t mean he was happy to be back at the Kim manor. This was only the second time he had been back to the house since he was young.  The first being when he had set Taehyung loose on the remaining Kim family. Yes, he set a Scorch on his so-called father and brother, along with any servant that had laid a finger on him as a child.  Namjoon knew that modern morality said he should feel guilty for that.  He didn’t.

To escape the gloom that was pressing down on him, Namjoon stepped out onto the balcony.  He was stretched out, his long legs crossed in front of him, enjoying the night air when Ji-Soo’s door slid open, and she too came outside.  Knowing that she had yet to notice him, Namjoon just let himself drink in the sight of his wife.  Ji-Soo was a beauty.  Dark hair, big brown eyes, and a face that lit up when she laughed or smiled.  He had wanted her from the moment he even understood what that meant.  As a child he lived for when she came to visit Jisung.  Would do anything, even though he knew he would be punished afterward, to be in her presence.  The treats that she would force Jisung to let him have were worth the beating that Jisung made sure he got afterwards.  She was everything he had always wanted.  Light, joy, beauty, and laughter.

“Couldn’t sleep?”

Ji-Soo jumped, and then peered into the dark corner where Namjoon sat.  She felt her breath leave her, as she realized that the balcony was just one long one between his and her rooms.  Feeling her heart kick-up a beat, and her face going red.  Here she had spent hours erecting a barrier between the interconnecting door, not knowing that a flimsy glass door was mere steps away for him.

Namjoon could almost hear the wheels turning in her head as Ji-Soo thought.  Forcing himself not to laugh when color flooded into her cheeks, and she tried to take on a more dominate pose.  He loved that she did everything in her power to not be the wilted rose in front of him.  He remained seated as she walked towards him, he would let her feel that she had the higher ground.

“I wanted to talk to you anyway,” Ji-Soo said, feeling happy that her voice sounded matter of fact.  “What exactly am I supposed to do here?”

“You mean other than be my loving wife, and mother to my children?” Namjoon’s heart sped up when she threw an adorably rude gesture his way and then with a sigh leaned against the balcony railing facing him.

“Yes.  Other than that.” Ji-Soo said, rolling her eyes.

“Each room of the house will be re-done, so I assume you will want to oversee that.  I also assume you will want to continue your work with the local hospitals?”

“You know I do that?” Ji-Soo asked, shocked that he knew of her volunteer work.  She and her mother had started helping at the hospital during the war, and they both took great pride in their jobs.

“I know everything about you, Ji-Soo.  In fact, my men have instructed their households to help with the benefit you and your mother are throwing, I gather there has not been much interest so far.”

Ji-Soo felt a tingle go down her spine, at Namjoon’s statement of “knowing everything about her”; but then focused in on what he was talking about.

“Oh, my goodness, how wonderful!” Ji-Soo clapped her hands together in joy.  “The hospital needs the money so badly, and we were worried that nothing would come of our efforts.”

Namjoon saw when Ji-Soo realized who she was talking to.  The bright smile on her face slowly slid off, and her body again became back-breaking straight as she took a few steps away from him.  For a moment she had been the happy and excited girl that he remembered from childhood.  Now she was back to the women who had been married against her will to a monster.

“So, you are fine with me going about my life normally then?” Ji-Soo asked, back to a poker face.

Coming to his feet, Namjoon leaned against the railing facing Ji-Soo.  “As long as you take your body guards wherever you go, and I am made aware of your schedule at all times; I don’t see why you can’t pursue your past times.”

“Body guards?  You mean Jimin is going to be following me around all the time?”

“No, Jimin is far to important and busy to be your personal body guard.  He has his own job to do and house to run.” Namjoon said.  “I will introduce your driver and body guard to you tomorrow.”

“I will not be followed by your little minions, General!”

“It is my minions, or you don’t leave this house.”

Ji-Soo glared at Namjoon, but also began to weigh the pros and cons.  Yes, she would be followed by people who would report anything and everything to him; but she would also be able to see her mother, and do the other things that she had been worried Namjoon would take away from her.  The minions it was.

“Fine.”  Ji-Soo turned to go back to her room, but felt her stomach start to tie in knots when she thought about how close her sliding glass door was to his own.  Taking a deep breath, she faced Namjoon again.  “Will you…will you promise not to use this door?”

Namjoon could almost feel his cold heart break as he took in Ji-Soo’s face.  He knew that the only reason she allowed him to see her fear and vulnerability was that she had no other choice.  He knew how much this request was costing her.

“I promise not to use your balcony door.”

“Thank you.” Ji-Soo’s soft voice floated back to him, as she quickly went back into her room.

```

“Why are we doing this again?” Yoongi huffed, pulling at the collar of his tux, scowling.

“Because the General wants to get inside his wife’s pants.” Taehyung said, ducking away from a slap to his head by Jimin.

“Because,” Jin straightened his own collar, and pulled down on his lapels to make sure everything was straight.  “It is good press for the new government.  Showing the 7 noble houses of this region coming together to better the community.”

“…and because Namjoon wants to get in his wife’s pants.” Hoseok chimed in, causing everyone except Jin to laugh.

“The women of my house were not happy when I told them they were going to be helping.” Jungkook spoke up combing through his hair with his hands.  “It seems they don’t like the Lee family.”

“You’re too soft on them if they think they can question what you tell them to do.” Taehyung’s lazy voice drifted over to them from his position slouched in a chair.

“While we are on that subject.  There will be photographers and journalists.  So, we are nothing except happy families.  Yes?  Especially you, Tae!  No scaring people to see if you can make them wet their pants!” Jin snapped the last part, glowering down at Taehyung.

Taehyung made a motion that could be either yes or no, and then came to his feet stretching.  “Let’s get this party started.  Why don’t I go find my lovely ladies, so we can get the pictures taken, before anyone…how did you put it?  Wets their pants?”

Sighing, Jin looked towards Jimin.

“I’m on it.” Jimin said, as he followed after Taehyung.

“I would have never thought I would say this about a noble house, but I feel pity for Tae’s people. Even I worry that one night I will wake up to him happily slashing at my throat.” Yoongi said, coming to his feet. “Good thing Jimin is his anchor.”

Anchor Hybrids were bred specifically to be attached to the Scorches.  Anchors were a different side of the same coin.  Scorch Hybrids were frenzied, out of control, bloody mayhem, who were happy to rip off people’s heads and play catch with them; while Anchors were controlled, calculated, hit the target and get out.  So, the Scorches and Anchors went in to battle together.  Mostly so that the Anchors could stop the Scorches from playing bloody-head catch and get on with things.