available on ao3

—————————————————————————-

It was rare that there was anything Jeon Jungkook couldn’t obtain. Money, drugs, women, upper class luxuries. Ever since he had been introduced to the world that put the term ‘sin’ to shame, it had bowed down at the mention of his name. Never his actual name, of course. To the world of guilty pleasures and intoxicated misfortunes, he was simply known as The Ghost. Never seen, never heard; yet somehow possessing the ability to make moves no one saw coming from miles away. Tilt the world on its axis without leaving a trace.

He had acquired the business from his uncle who had been in his late 50s and looking to retire; put aside the life of living in the shadows and enjoy what he had left of it. Jungkook had been 22 and searching for his path in life — the timing was perfect, the moment inevitable.

He was now 27 and had mastered the business like an art form — at least mostly. He oversaw nearly every drug import and export that occurred in South Korea, with his base being in the heart of Busan. The city wasn’t nearly as busy as Seoul; less potential eyes on him and his operation. But he was close enough where he could catch an hour plane ride to the capital if he needed to.

“He knows the shipment is supposed to arrive an hour after the confirmation time. This is his last job, he was already on thin fucking ice.”

The words he muttered to himself had been nearly the first spoken by Jungkook in the past hour. Rarely ever out of his office, he now stood underneath the familiar pier, looking out into the clear sea before him. The night sky made it nearly impossible to see, illuminated only by the slivers of light from the moon. 

The businessman was accompanied by two muscular guards about 8 inches his stature, both sporting black hair with fitted black t-shirts and slacks. They stood silently and watchful, more silent than the gentle waves around them. Each sported simple pistols near their waist, unafraid to use them if necessary.

When the sun rose, Jungkook owned a security company. It was how he had become acquainted with the guards who followed him around most of the day. They were quiet and loyal men — had been since Jungkook started the business. 

Truthfully, his security business mostly ran itself. He had an old friend, Park Jimin, who had gone to college for accounting. He ran the books and formed schedules; he mostly worked remotely but he’d visit the office a couple days out of the week. It was fairly simple — clients who needed security paid in cash, Jungkook would supply the workers and Jimin handled anything inbetween. He was compensated well for it. 

Jungkook did his best to make sure the finances for both his endeavors never clashed. The last thing he desired was to put his classmate, who knew nothing of his second life, in harms way. His personal guards were on payroll like everyone else the company hired — however, any overtime they received was directly from Jungkook, off the books. He paid them handsomely for their silence and loyalty. 

Contemplating, Jungkook began to pace back and forth in the thinning sand, hands shoved deeply in the pockets of his dark grey, Giorgio Armani suit. His black tie was rather unruly—loosened thirty minutes prior when his patience had started to run dry. 

In his line of business, structure was vital — deadlines, organization, punctuality. All of which were currently being violated.

Twenty minutes passed before the sound of rougher waves drew his attention. An hour later than expected, the small boat could be seen off in the distance, closing in on the drop off location. They never traveled large or in anything flashy; never wanting to stick out, operating in the shadows. Fairly content now that he laid his eyes on the boat in the distance, Jungkook turned his feet in the sand, looking at the body guard that stood to his right. 

“When he drops off the load, please make sure all $50,000 is there and the inventory matches the order. Lock it all in the safe, then you’re free to go. I’ll handle distribution in the morning.”

The day had been much longer than expected. 

On average, Jungkook was home around 9pm. However, he was beginning to encounter the issue of delayed shipments and logistical errors he had to fix. He wasn’t a fan of having to come out of the shadows — it put everything he worked hard for at risk.

One of his oldest workers, Jihun, was a friend of his uncle’s who had originally stayed on to make sure Jungkook easily acclimated himself to the business. He was a major part of the operation — performing background checks to make sure sellers were credible, scheduling meetings to perform trades and drop offs . What was suppose to be a couple years turned into five years and he was finally ready to retire. Jungkook couldn’t help but oblige. However, finding a replacement for him proved to be difficult. Jungkook had been attempting to do it remotely with the help of a few workers who had only ever communicated with him over email and had never seen his face. It was sloppy, but he was working every day to tighten it up.

The hum of gentle music on the radio settled him in for the 45 minute drive home. He relaxed in the seat of his black Mercedes truck, reaching for his personal cellphone he rarely ever used unless the sun had set. A warm smile spread across his lips as he looked down at the phone, clicking on the message thread titled ‘babygirl 💗’.

jungkook:

missing you, thinking about you. home soon, baby. 00:13 

babygirl 💗:

missing you too, baby. 00:14

The message came with a photo attachment Jungkook immediately opened, halfway keeping his eyes on the highway as he drove through the night.

The attachment displayed a picture of a woman in a pink silk nightgown that hugged her curves, black lace v-line exposing the plump of her breasts just enough to leave something for the imagination. He muttered curses under his breath, quickly typing back a response while keeping his eyes ahead. He felt the zipper on his pants struggle to expand as he attempted (failed) to keep his wild thoughts at bay. 

jungkook:

you’re fucking beautiful. be at the door when i get there. 00:16

The 45 minute drive home was a breeze, city lights flashing in the distance, loafer clad shoe pressed hard to the gas. His eyes played over the photo what felt like a million times, desire running through his veins like a river. 

She had the garage door open for him when he arrived, liked clockwork. She made everything function and flow behind closed doors for him; where as he was in charge and structured in his daily life, she kept their home life in order. She always had a meal cooked, his clothes pressed, the house clean, their appointments in order, the groceries stocked. He cherished her; more than anything else in his life — in his world that was black and white during the day, she filled it with her radiant colors at night. 

He parked his car, fingers slipping into the glove compartment to grab the golden band that waited for him. A soft smile on his lips, he slipped it onto the ring finger of his left hand. Unlocking the door of his home, Jungkook took in the smell of washing powder, accompanied by her sweet scent of vanilla and spring that filled the air, garage door closing behind him. His eyes immediately glared towards the dimly lit entry way, seeing the woman standing in the same pink silk nightgown she wore in the sultry picture.

A low groan emitted from his lips, dark brown eyes pooling with shades of lust that the woman found all too familiar. She gave him a teasing smile, softly curled hair pooling over her shoulders in a way that made her look angelic. He removed his suit jacket, laying it over the couch next to them.

“Strip.”

Keeping eye contact with Jungkook, the woman slowly began to shred her gown as she had been told. She was always a good listener when he spoke. 

His daze followed her fingers as she removed the straps of her nightgown one by one. The fabric slipped easily from her fingers, catching ever so slightly as it slipped past the plump of her breasts. Jungkook’s breath hitched, causing him to loosen his tie, followed by the belt. He stepped closer to her with calculated steps, almost as if he was scared to touch her — scared to ruin the perfect image that stood before him.

The cold air sent shivers down her spine as she gently teased her hair, watching him stare at her in amazement.

“….You’re a work of art. You know that?”

Stepping closer towards her, Jungkook gently cupped her face, thumbs rubbing her warm cheeks. She smelled of vanilla body wash and ecstasy, drawing every inch of sanity he had left to the brink. She shivered as she felt his clothed body press against her skin, the bulge in his pants growing larger as he held her.

Catching the glow of her eyes in the dim light, he smiled at her briefly before meeting her perfect lips with his own. Their lips danced in a familiar, yet electrifying rhythm that sent sparks through his body. In 5 years they had kissed what felt like a million times but kisses like this never got old. She nearly melted into his touch, feeling her knees begin to weaken. He was so warm, so handsome, so hers. He smelled of amber and sandalwood, skin of his hands as soft as it had been when he left that morning. Good, she thought. He was unharmed.

Her fingers entwined in his pristinely cut hair, four carat diamond ring never catching on the gentle strands. It had been three years since they had gotten married. As with most things in Jungkook’s world, the proposal had been in the dead of night.  He woke her up from her sleep, chanting about a surprise that couldn’t wait. With tired eyes she held out her arms as he slipped on her robe and carried her to his truck. She fell asleep nearly instantly in the Mercedes, the soft human of jazz music luring her to sleep once he hit the highway. When she woke up, Jungkook was kissing her cheek, luring her out of the vehicle and into a park that had the perfect view of the stars in the sky. He had walked her around the park for a little while, going over memories from their past and professing his love in a way only Jungkook could — calculated, perfect and with beautiful imagery. Once they had reached the end of the park, there was a picnic table next to the river in their sight. The table was covered in glowing candles, a small meal he prepared and 24 bouquets of the deepest red roses combined to make one large bouquet. One for every month they had been together. 

He got down on one knee in a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants, asking her to be his forever. And she couldn’t have said yes faster. It was the proposal she had asked him for, back when their one year anniversary came around and he asked her if she ever considered forever with him. She told him ‘of course’, thinking he couldn’t have asked a sillier question. But she requested that her proposal not be anything flashy; just simple, meaningful and when she least expected it. And he had delivered in every aspect.  

“So perfect like this. Look at you, baby.”

The wide palm of Jungkook’s hands groped the plush of her ass, kneading it ever so slightly as her eyes locked on his — sultry innocence and uncharted passion; he lived for it, breathed it even.

Locking in on her eyes, Jungkook slowly dropped to his knees, hands pressing into her hips and caressing her pelvic bone. She wore a small lace thong that kept nearly nothing to the imagination with its slit in the middle. He pressed a gentle kiss to her stomach, then to her clit. The moan she swore was gentle echoed through the walls of the mansion. It was way too big for just the two of them and their dog, Bam, asleep upstairs — but they called it home. 

“You’re so sensitive. Been waiting for me to come eat you all day, haven’t you?”

She moaned a hasty ‘yes’, fingers gripping his hair as his tongue began to gently lick her wet folds, slit in her thong providing him perfect access. The familiar taste of her arousal earned a moan of appreciation from him. He had thought it was insane to say she tasted like home but he knew no word greater to describe the taste of her on his lips. She tighten her grip in his hair as she held back her gentle cries, lost in the way his eyes lazily met hers as he took his time devouring her.

In this space, time stood still. In this home, they were in their own world. 

The cool touch of his wedding band against her pelvis made her smile, head dipping back in ecstasy as his lips began to softly suck her sensitive clit. As her orgasm neared, the touch of his ring brought back a distant memory. 

“I’m not a good person.”

It was their second month together, his eighth month in the business. They stood in the middle of a crowded club, neither of their style but they made an amusing commitment to start trying new things together. They had both been dancing, smiles on their faces as the music ran through their veins. The freedom he had felt as they danced, the way his heart pulled at him like he knew what this was becoming — or what it already was. He found himself no longer being able to looking into her eyes and promise her a world with no faults. As she stared back at him her eyes sparked of something Jungkook couldn’t quite place. She gave him a gentle smile, tightening her grip on his hand that rested in hers.

It wasn’t the smartest conversation to have in a room full of people, Jungkook knew better than that. He was a ghost in his work life and he never allowed himself to be seen out in public during working hours. 

“Good is subjective, Kook. Do you hurt people?”

There was a small furrow of his eyebrows that he prayed she didn’t see. He stared down at her eyes, looking back at him as if he controlled the stars. He’d never get over that, the way she looked at him. He was convinced he wanted to see that look for the rest of his life. Hold that trust close to his heart like a prayer.  

“Sometimes. Not unless I have to.” He firmly spoke, fingers never letting go of hers. By now the song had changed but the people around them continued to dance, paying them no mind.

“Do you actually own a security company?”

“I do.”

“Is that where you go when you tell me you’re going to work?” 

“That’s usually where my day starts.”

“If I ever ask you what you mean — all this saying you’re not a good person. Will you be honest with me?” 

Jungkook answered without hesitation, taking himself partly by surprise.

“I will. You have my word.”

“Then stop talking and keep dancing with me.” 

She gripped the couch behind her, feeble feeling arms being the only thing holding her up.  

“You’re so wet for me, baby. Been waiting all day to taste you.”

“God, Jungkook.” Whimpers escaped her lips as her fingers tightened in his hair in an effort to brace herself. He used one hand to hold her hip while the other began unbuttoning his dress shirt that had become far too hot. 

In the rush of feverish kisses and passionate touches, they found themselves moving from the living room to the california king with her cheek pressed to the mattress, his hips driving her to the brink of insanity and pleasure. He kissed the arch of her back as he thrusted his hips, the recoil of her ass making him feel dizzy. 

“Who do you belong to, baby.” His growled his words like less of a question, more of statement. Tears of pleasure welled in her eyes and she melted into his steady pace, lips parting as she struggled to breathe out an answer. She felt so full, so complete — mind so empty, bliss unmeasured.

“You, Kook. I belong to you.”

“And this pussy?” He kept a hand on her waist as the other wrapped her curly strands around his palm, pulling her hair ever so lightly to the rhythm of his thrusts.

“Yours, Kook. God, harder.” She gripped the sheets, fingertips shaking with impending arousal. He always did this. Fucked her to the point where she felt insatiable and nearly incoherent; craving him so much it made her entire soul shake. Like an addict breaking sobriety. 

“You’re going to cum again for me? So fucking greedy. Go ahead, cum.”

Her orgasm arrived shortly after, her fingers clutching the sheets as she cried out his name. The pump of his hips stilled abruptly as he pressed his head against her back, hands gripping her breasts as he released inside of her. He moaned in a way that rung in the woman’s ears, sex heavy in his tone and her name breathless on his tongue, heightening her climax beneath him. The ragged sounds of their breathing clung to walls of the bedroom. Jungkook pressed gentle kisses down the woman’s spine, savoring the feeling of being inside of her for just a little longer — safe, peaceful, perfect.

“Rough day at work?” She spoke after they had finished cleaning themselves briefly, lying in their afterglow and catching their breath. Her head rested on his chest, tracing his abs with gentle and familiar intrigue. 

“Frustrating to say the least.” 

“I could tell. You fucked a little harder than usual tonight.”

With her head against his chest, she listened as his heartbeat sped up. “Harder? Was I too rough today, baby?”

“No, never, Kook. I don’t think you could be rough with me if you tried.”

His finger pressed against her chin, tilting it just enough so that her lips met his in a warm kiss. It was lazy, thankful, still a little hungry — he always did a great job of that; expressing what he didn’t say with kisses. She relished at the taste of herself still left on his lips.

His fingers gentle brushed hair from her face, stroking the plump of her cheeks as he pulled her closer. 

The sound of the central air slowly pulled them towards sleep, dinner long forgotten at the table in exchange for serotonin and coitus. 

“I’ll be leaving early in the morning, around 6.” Jungkook lazily mumbled, arms around the woman’s body pulling her impossibly closer. She hummed in response, eyes heavy with sleep and satisfaction.

“If I’m not up, wake me when you get up?”

“I promise, beautiful.”

When the sun set, Jungkook was a husband.

She had been his secret. In the life full of drugs, money and evil he lead, he had somehow managed to keep her hidden away. It started off when they met 5 years ago during a charity event. Ironic, probably. She was an advocate for the development of cancer research and therapy for patients and families affected by the disease. Jungkook was an anonymous donor. He sat in the crowd but donated virtually under a pseudo name, assuring that he was always one of the highest donors. 

They first locked eyes when she gave a speech at the end of the event. She had been wearing a light pink dress with bows that fell on her shoulders. She wore soft white heels and a smile that showed how passionate she was about the cause. Her eyes scanned the crowd as she spoke, clearly having obtained training in engaging an audience. He sat in nearly the furthest row but their eyes still met. Immediately, there was something curious yet familiar that hung in the air between them — something they couldn’t quite place their hands on. Her eyes hovered over him a few seconds too long before finishing her speech, engaging the crowd and thanking everyone for their volunteer efforts.

He was a man of stealth but he was a man of opportunity.

So he waited until the crowd dwindled and the donors said their farewell before walking up to her, watching her begin to clear her speech material from the podium. He had suavely introduced himself — confident, with a sweet smile and eyes that hoped she’d give him a few minutes of her time. She shook his extended hand, introducing herself with a playful glimmer in her gaze that he longed to know more about. 

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Jeon. Have we met before?”

Jungkook woke up around 5:30 am. The smell of eggs and toast was the first thing to fill his nostrils. She had gotten up before him after all. She always did. As he came to, he felt the gentle presence of warm lips pressed against his neck, smooth hands sliding across his bare chest in a way that made his soul smile. 

“Good morning to you too, baby.”

She echoed a hum of appreciation at his words as she continued to kiss his neck, hands sliding down until they reached the bulge in his boxers, caressing it softly.

“You drive me insane, do you know that?” Jungkook continued to keep his eyes closed, enjoying the sensation of her touch all over his body. She kissed her way down to the hem of his boxers, toying with the fabric. She pulled them down ever so slowly, cock springing out to brush against the plump of her cheeks. She hummed in desire, beginning to press soft kisses to the head.

“If we had more time, I’d ride you.”

He twitched in her mouth, a groan for what could have been leaving his lips. A sleepy laugh slipped from both of their mouths. She gripped the girth in her hands as she began to alternate between slowly tracing her tongue over the head and taking what length she could into her mouth, eyes hypnotized in pleasure as she savored the weight of him on her tongue.

The guttural moan he released sounded throughout the bedroom, precum sucked from his head as soon as it appeared. 

“Tonight, then. For right now, keep sucking baby.”

When they finished, the couple showered together and both indulged in the breakfast she had prepared. She helped him get dressed in another dark suit that occupied his closet, pressed to perfection just the way he liked it. She prepared an iced coffee for him and a protein drink for the drive. 

She had mastered the art of Jeon Jungkook to a science. She knew his routine like the back of her hand; knew what he would say sometimes before he said it.

Soulmates.

Before she knew it, she was watching Jungkook seat himself in the drivers side seat, practically pulling her in the car as he covered her face with gentle kisses. If his crew could see him now — tucked into the shadows of his own home, bathed in the glow of the woman who made his heart sing — they’d never believe he was the same person they knew.

“Don’t worry your mind too much today, okay? I’m feeling a little tension in your shoulders.” Jungkook playfully massaged the woman’s shoulders, getting a lazy but fond smile from her in return. 

“Can I make a request for the masseuse to do a home visit for you? Or would you rather go in person?”

“A home appointment sounds great, Kook. Thank you for thinking of me.” She traced random lines on his chest as he held her close, eyes scanning her face in search of what she wasn’t saying.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

She loved that about him; his ability to know something bothered her without the need to pry. 

“Nothing’s bothering me, I just haven’t been sleeping well lately.” She hated to lie to him. He always knew, without fail. But he never pressed. It wasn’t in his nature — with her, at least.

“I’ll make the call but if this massage doesn’t work, we’re seeing a doctor.” 

She loved the way he spoke. So sure, so steady. He never left room for confusion or uncertainty, but he always took her into consideration.

He wanted to tell her that when she was ready to really tell him what was plaguing her mind, he’d be there. But he let her have it for now, not wanting to push her before she was ready.

“That sounds fine baby.” She gave him a soft grin, kissing his lips and stroking his cheek. She took a few seconds to admire him — the rosy tone of his cheeks that spread just a little as she stared at him — his big brown eyes that she never regretted getting lost in. He was everything she ever needed, she had been thoroughly convinced a million and one times. 

“Be safe. Eyes on the road and head on a swivel.”

“I promise, my love.”

Soon she was waving goodbye to Jungkook as he pulled away from the home and onto the road. She waited until he was far in the distance to close the garage door. Once he did, she double checked that the doors in the house were locked and that the security system was armed. She closed all the curtains and headed to the kitchen, opening a bottom drawer she knew Jungkook would never check. Inside the drawer laid two pistols she quickly checked to make sure were still fully loaded with bullets. Seeing that they were, she closed the drawer contently, heading to her office. 

Her office was her personal sanctuary. Having one at his place of work, Jungkook understood how important it was to have your own space to relax and work on your ideas, so he never entered without her permission. That’s why she had been able to leave the positive pregnancy tests on her desk for the past few days without him finding out. 

She was only about a few weeks along, nowhere near close to showing. She figured she had a couple of months before she had to break the news. This had never exactly been in their plan. It was somewhat an unspoken assumption that they’d never have children — with the lifestyle that Jungkook lived and how busy he always was, it never seemed in the cards. They had used the family planning method for years without difficulty. She had recently recovered from being under the weather and she suspected that threw the cycle of things off somewhere along the lines. 

For now, she tucked the four tests in her top draw, lying next to yet another black pistol. Tears welled in her eyes and she held her cellphone in her hands, contemplating if she should just call him and tell him. 

Her excuse ended up being that he was likely driving and she didn’t want to distract him. 

When she thought it about later, her excuse was that he must be busy at work and she wanted him to focus.

Her excuse when he came home that night, earlier than expected and in a much better mood than the previous day, was that he deserved to relax and she didn’t want to ruin his good day with news she was sure would devastate him.

It hadn’t been something they talked about, even when they got married. He never brought it up, so neither did she. She just loved him almost blindly, a blessing and a curse she was aware of. 

As she held him that night, listening to his soft snores and stroking his hair as he slept, her mind raced and she contemplated what life could look like for them if she confessed and continued the pregnancy. Would he have to give up what made him Jungkook? Would she be stuck at home to care for the child while he continued to place himself in whatever situations he dealt with on a day-to-day basis? She couldn’t fathom that. 

Staring at his sleeping face, she sighed and put her thoughts to rest, enjoying the weight of his body in her arms and eventually drifting off to sleep. 

She wasn’t completely oblivious to everything.

She had long known that Jungkook only wore his wedding band at home. Through some snooping, she found out that he always kept it in the truck, safely tucked away as the only thing in his glove compartment. He thought she didn’t know that he took it off the second he got in the truck to leave for work. Or that he put it back on as soon as he parked in the garage every night. She found out after they had been married for about 3 months, noticing the lack of lines on his finger whenever he washed dishes.

She didn’t think he was throwing himself at women when she wasn’t around. But she did worry that they’d throw themselves at him. She did believe he portrayed himself as single once he left their home. What she didn’t believe was that he was doing it for some adulterous reason. At least that was her prayer. 

She knew more about him than he thought. But she’d never ask him about it.

In 5 years together she hadn’t figured out exactly what he did outside of his security job.

She knew it likely wasn’t legal and that his daily life was surely more dangerous than he let on. She held his promise close to her heart every day; the promise he made to tell her his true occupation — the one that paid for the house, the cars, the suits, the lifestyle — if she ever asked. Truth was, she found herself a little too scared to ask. It’s better to be unaware, she convinced herself. She somehow told herself that it was better to sit at home and be unaware of if her husband would come every night than deal with the fact that the man she loved could be the devil himself.

Ultimatums, definites — two widely different sides of the spectrum.

His love was all consuming like that; thoughtful, selfless, inciting, promising. She had never feared him, not for a single second. But what scared her the most was that she knew she could find out he was the reincarnation of sin himself and she’d still never turn away. He treated her too good, loved her too hard, fucked her too perfect, knew her too well. She’d make any excuse in the world for him and sometimes that terrified her.

So she let him keep his secrets for now. She had hers too. 

Taehyung immersed himself inside of the bubble filled tub, allowing his restless thoughts and sore muscles to relax for the first time that day.

Truthfully, stress was rare for Taehyung — a usually bold and upbeat man who always had a smile on his face. Of course he was human; he had days where work could be tiresome or life concerns threatened to weigh him down. But not only were his fellow bandmates always there for him — his girlfriend of 2 years stood beside him as well. And he couldn’t have been more grateful.

“You’re quiet, honey.”

His large brown eyes turned to the woman he called his, her frame seated on a folded blanket next to the bathtub at his request. The idea was for him to indulge himself in the bath she had prepared for him after he called from dance practice stating how tired he was.

It was suppose to be some alone time for him to unwind — but 2 minutes in he was practically begging her to join him. She mentioned having just showered but still obliged him by sitting next the tub, running her hands through his hair.

The thing about the rarely-stressed Taehyung was that he would never attempt to hide it. That reigned true for every area of his life. If he was upset, he didn’t mind crying. If he was hungry, he didn’t mind eating until he was full and then some. And he didn’t mind expressing exhaustion when he was.

She appreciated that about him; she marveled at the fact that he didn’t attempt to hide an inch of himself from her. It was one of the first things about him that had captivated her.

Her fingertips continued to massage his scalp lightly, his body subconsciously slipping neck deep into the water as bliss consumed him.

He had a habit of melting under her touch in a way that always made her blush, leaving her a bit prideful of the power that she held over him.

More than anything, she was delighted to see him so at peace.

“I want you to relax and clear your mind. If I talk to you, that requires you thinking. Relax, T.”

At the sound of her sweet voice and the feel of her gentle strokes, Taehyung complied.

His lips pressed warm, soft kisses along the woman’s arm as she continued to stroke his hair.

Somehow the action was reminiscent of the relationship they both shared. It was delicate, passionate and calming, burning with desire, yet soft as cotton. The touches, the kisses, the gazes; they both overflowed with love and admiration for one another, assuring both of a love that would never expire.

It had been two years, after all. Two years of dating and dealing with constant separations due to Taehyung’s obligations as one of the biggest musical artist in the world.

But somehow, the passion hadn’t gone cold.

There was a genuine peace and comfort they felt in the presence of one another. An unbreakable bond that had survived a world tour, random last minute separations for company trips and long distance video calls that were sometimes only a few minutes long.

They had survived it all and they couldn’t have been more grateful.

In the tub Taehyung had fallen asleep about 10 minutes post the woman’s caresses, her taking the opportunity to shampoo his hair for him.

Their love was the definition of selfless.

After a while she pondered on whether she should wake him or not, finding herself thinking about his perfect, sun-kissed skin becoming wrinkled under the weight of water.

The idea made her nose scrunch and a small laugh slip from her lips so much so that she chose to wake him.

On her knees she leaned over the tub and ran her dry thumb over his cheek, staring at the sleeping man with eyes full of love.

Overcome with adoration, she leaned forward, kissing his pouty lips slightly. Eyelashes batting softly against his cheeks he slowly began to awaken. Seeing her flustered face hiding a smile as she looked back at him, he beamed at her, heart overcome with love in its purest form.

He was so appreciative of the way she cared for him.

He smelled the strong scent of shampoo on his hair as he began to rise from the tub, meaning she had washed his hair while he was asleep. As he rinsed himself off with the shower head, he pondered whether or not he would ever get used to the fondness they ignited in one another.

In his heart, he prayed that they’d never stray from the practice of loving one another in the most serene way they knew how.

He allowed the water to drain once he was done, taking the cotton towel she held out for him with ease.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you, baby.” He breathed, drying his hair partially with the towel before leaning forward and pressing a kiss to her lips. She giggled gently into the kiss as small drops of water fell on her shoulder.

“Thankfully you’ll never have to know.”

In a matter of minutes she was seated on the bathroom counter, Taehyung captured in-between her legs with a face full of shaving cream.

“You always do this better than I can.”

His eyes were heavy with love as she gently dragged the razor across his face, mind full of the woman he planned on spending the rest of his days with.

Helping him shave had become a habit when Taehyung was far too tired, or when he just didn’t quite feel like it. When he shaved himself, the process was quick, simple, efficient; when the razor was in her hands, her gentleness extended the session for nearly 10 minutes longer than he was use to but she never noticed. And he didn’t mind.

“I’m a bit of a perfectionist.”

He cupped her thighs with his large hands as she slowly parted her lips in concentration, not daring to meet his eyes that hadn’t stopped staring at her.

He refused to look anywhere else or even grab his phone as he watched her facial expressions in adoration.

Within 20 minutes Taehyung was freshly shaven and dressed in his favorite silk pajamas, clinging to the king bed as he awaited her arrival from winding down the house for the night.

It wasn’t long before she arrived in the shared bedroom, body clad with an tshirt of Taehyung’s and a cute scarf wrapped around her head.

Though he watched her get into bed nearly every night these days, it had been a while since she had worn one of his shirts. It made his heart beat a little faster, endeared at the sight.

Seeing her in his clothes briefly gave him a thought of what a combination of the both of them might look like.

Maybe his stunning brown eyes, her perfect nose and plump cheeks.

He knew it was something that he wanted — eventually at least. Yet, the steps he had to take to get to that point were…nerve racking to him.

“Taehyung, why aren’t you asleep?”

The use of his full name drew Taehyung completely away from his sleepy daze, his large brown eyes watching her lift the comforter and slide into the bed beside him.

She laid for all of two seconds before his body rolled to her side of the mattress, completely engulfing her in his arms.

“You know I have trouble sleeping when you’re not in bed yet.” His tired voice hummed into her neck, running a tingle through the woman’s body.

“Plus, I never got a chance to thank you for taking care of me tonight. You think I’m letting that go unnoticed?” Taehyung’s warm lips that were pressed against her neck began to lay warm kisses along her collarbone.

“I love you. An unbelievable amount. You’re so good to me.”

He breathed his words as he continued to press kisses along her jawline, feeling the way she exhaled in bliss at his touch.

“You’re my world.”

His fingers slipped under the large tshirt in search of her hips, gently stroking the flesh with his fingertips. Once he made contact she released a quick breath, goosebumps covering her skin.

“I love you too, Taehyung. I’d do anything for you.”

“Anything?” He smirked as he lifted the shirt higher, pressing kisses to her hips and earning an immediate shudder from the woman above, her eyes closing as his kisses spread across her stomach.

She knew what he was asking for.

She saw it in the way his eyes looked up at her, half lidded and covered in a lust that made her nearly combust at the sight.

He was breathtaking in his own right but he was exceptionally beautiful like this — laid between her legs, honey skin flushed with lust, practically begging to taste her on his tongue.

“Anything baby.”

He hummed in satisfaction, a devious but kind smile on his face and he pressed kisses to her wet clit, earning an immediate whimper from her.

“Moaning already? That was just one little kiss, baby.“

He pressed another kiss, this time to her folds, earning another whimper from above. He smiled as he slowly began to dip his tongue into the folds, warm arousal wet on his tongue immediately.

He moaned at the taste, bringing one of his gentle fingers to her entrance.

There was an art form in the way Taehyung tasted her; it was her favorite thing, watching him devour her so wholly — as if she was his last meal.

He always found himself so focused on her pleasure that he often got carried away; so carried away that he hardly ever noticed the way he would begin to grind his hips back and forth, his dick solid and aching, precum beginning to slip through the front of his silk pajama pants.

It drove her insane, watching him so caught up in her; so drunk off the way she tasted.

By now he was 3 fingers deep, lips sucking gently on her clit as she nearly cried from pleasure.

She wanted to tease him; tell him how filthy he looked fucking himself off the taste of her. But she was cumming around his fingers with a cry of pleasure long before she could, his name leaving her lips as she tugged on his hair.

The slight pull of his strands was all it took before he was pulling away from her wet folds, burying his face into her thigh with a groan as he desperately released himself into his pants. He gripped her thighs to steady himself as he slowly rocked back and forth, riding out his high as she continued to tug lightly on his hair.

Pure ecstasy.

When the next day rolled around, the woman wasn’t awake until half past ten.

Even once she woke, she didn’t allow herself to move too soon, tired body nearly engraved into the comforter after the night before.

She only opened her eyes when she sensed the coolness to her side. The chilly sheets indicated to her that no one had inhabited them for a while.

“Taehyung?”

The woman’s voice, heavy with sleep, was as loud as she could spare, finally lifting her tired body away from her sheets. As her senses began to come-to, the familiar aroma of pancakes began to fill her nose.

She quickly concluded that Taehyung must be cooking.

With a hum of understanding she dragged herself to the bathroom to freshen up before heading downstairs to see her beloved boyfriend.

The man she loved most in the world.

It wasn’t until she had grabbed her toothbrush from its handle and opened the cap that she had noticed the ring on her finger.

In all its glory, the beautiful 4-carat diamond shined, heavy on her hand in a way she couldn’t believe she didn’t notice as soon as she awakened.

With the water still running the woman nearly dropped her toothbrush in the sink, staring at the ring until she felt her mouth grow dry.

She would have never brought anything like it for herself. It was far too expensive and extravagant to be one of the few casual rings she owned. She was positive that Taehyung had never purchased any rings for her; they weren’t her usual jewelry staple and he knew that. Her mind raced as she shook her head in confusion.

Once she got her bearings she turned off the running water and nearly marched down the small set of stairs, heart racing in anticipation and search of answers.

She turned the thin corner to walk into the kitchen, eyes finding a sleepy Taehyung beaming fondly at her. Immediately he peaked his head from behind the bouquet of white roses he held close to his chest.

Her mouth was slightly agape as he handed her the flowers, her hands shaking and palms clammy.

“Good morning, beautiful.”

Fondly Taehyung smiled, staring at her shocked expression and trying to gauge her thoughts.

Not trusting her shaking voice, the woman proceeded to simply lift her hand, turning it towards her boyfriend in search of an explanation. Taehyung kissed her forehead as he took her the ring-clad hand into his, smile never leaving his lips.

The way his brown eyes danced around the diamond made the woman’s stomach flip, watching him study it closely as if he had never seen it before.

In all honesty, he was admiring the way it looked on her finger — just right.

“It’s a beautiful, ring, don’t you think? It reminded me so much of you.”

He had envisioned it for the entirety of their relationship — a diamond of his choice being placed on her finger as a small symbol of the life commitment he wanted to make to her.

And after months of talking to Namjoon and Hoseok, who were happily married to their respective wives, he knew he was ready to take the biggest step he could in this life.

He had been beyond nervous.

Taehyung had awaken at 5 in the morning to rehearse his written lines for his proposal. Yet, the more he stared at the ring and the woman he loved that stood before him with cutest look of confusion on her face, the less he remembered his perfectly prepared speech.

With a heart full of love and a mind full of memories, Taehyung quickly got down on a single knee in the middle of the kitchen, holding his girlfriend’s shaking hand in his own.

That was when the tears really began to flow.

The pair began crying as their eyes met, taking a second to embrace this moment; standing in the weight of what it meant.

“Goodness, baby, don’t make me cry yet!”

Taehyung chuckled as he held her hand more tightly, wiping his tears with his free hand. The woman above him gave a small chuckle as she tried her best to stop breaking down, wanting to give him a chance to speak what had been on his heart for far too long.

Tearfully, he stared into her large eyes that awaited him, trying to calm his heart so he could speak from it with sincerity.

“In the two years that I’ve known you, you’ve shown me that love is an action, rather than an emotion. I’ve watch you continuously love me and care for me; embrace the people i love as if they’re your own. You’ve truly shown me what love is and made me feel an unbreakable attachment to you. I’ve fallen in love with your smile, your hugs, your touch; the way you comfort me. The way you never turn your back on me.”

He released a breath but kept his genuine eyes glued to her, watching her put a shaking hand to her mouth as tears continued to fall.

“I knew I loved you when I couldn’t stand to be away from you for too long; when I was on tour and I’d rush to the hotel so I could call you. Ever since I met you I haven’t envisioned a life that doesn’t have you by my side. It’s all I want. You’re flawless, hardworking, determined, lovely, beautiful — serene in all that you do; loving me in spite of my faults and flaws. I want to spend every day I have on this earth with you, being the man of your dreams and loving you with every inch of me — if you’d have me. Will you marry me?”

By now, tears nearly made the woman incoherent. The pure surprise of it all made her tremble, but Taehyung’s actual words were what brought her to her sobbing state.

Taehyung gripped her hand more tightly and kissed it gently, almost as if to playfully remind her that he was waiting for a response.

No matter how obvious she made her answer by her actions, his heart still shook with anticipation.

“Of course I’ll marry you, Taehyung. Yes, yes, yes!” A beaming smile poked through the her cries, tearstained cheeks rising to form a smile that rivaled his own.

Taehyung jumped to his feet hurriedly, immediately cupping the sides of the woman’s face with his large hands as he pressed his lips onto hers.

The kiss was slow and gentle, their lips moving in unison that lingered with a new found hunger. Adrenaline rushed through their veins as they held one another, continuing to share tearful kisses.

As they pulled apart briefly for air, the pair stared at her hand that rested just over his heart.

Their eyes fixated on the diamond ring before meeting one another’s gaze, glossy eyes filled with love and warmth.

This was the start of a new chapter — their first step towards forever.

available on ao3

a/n: thank you all so much for the love on this story! there will be six parts total. :) as always, any form of feedback is appreciated!

_____

The dim glow of the old lightbulbs in the warehouse served as the only source of light for the men, dusk beginning to bask the city of Busan. The day had been fairly uneventful. Jimin came by the office to speak with Jungkook briefly about how staffing had been flowing and the influx of new customers they were having.

They briefly chatted about how he had begun to see someone but he wouldn’t spill any details. Though he was not one to get personal outside of his home, Jungkook welcomed the brief talk about anything other than drugs for a change. It made him feel a little more human to have someone outside of his wife that he could chat with or joke with a little. A friend. Especially one who knew him only as a the fairly quiet kid from college who was great at nearly every sport.

Not as a drug dealer with an unforgiving reputation.

Currently Jungkook sat in his small warehouse by the water’s edge, eyes scanning the remainder of the package before him: 6 kilograms of cocaine that he paid a hefty price for. The Korea coast guard was beginning to conduct more random searches on the water at unorganized times during the day. His payment included fees to pay a few of them to look the other way once his shipments came in.

Business had been flourishing, so he found himself making the drive from his office to the warehouse more often. For anonymity, he never allowed a supplier or delivery person to ever step foot off of their boat. One of his personal bodyguards, either Seojoon or Eunwoo, would bring the product into the warehouse for him to inspect. He’d inspect it and if it was up to par, he’d pay the delivery person with a suitcase of money he’d hand to either man.

Just before he took over the business (but after he agreed to), his uncle forced him to take chemistry class for no other reason than learning how to test if the product he received was pure. He participated in a 6-month crash course that helped him learned the advanced basics of chemistry.

He was the only student in the class. The course was instructed by a man who taught in the basement of his own home with a little too much enthusiasm and a focus solely on testing drugs after the third month. But it was effective.

Dressed in a medical hazmat suit with gloves on his hands, goggles over his eyes and a face mask, Jungkook cut a small slit into the plastic block before him. He had just received one of his largest shipments in the past few months about half an hour prior and he took his time to test everything — amphetamines, cannabis, cigarettes only available in South America. And the recent crowd favorite: cocaine.

After cutting into the bag, he took a small spoon, scooping some of the product into a dish and grabbing a small bottle of dye. Eunwoo stood next to him, eyes darting back and forth between the chemistry experiment and his coworker, Seojoon, who stood outside and monitored the delivery man on the boat.

Watching the product turn the proper color listed on his colorimetric kit, Jungkook nodded and looked toward Eunwoo.

“The product looks good. Pay him.”

Eunwoo nodded, using his walkie talkie to signal to Seojoon that he’d meet him halfway to hand him the suitcase full of cash in his hand. It was a routine the three men had mastered, using it most nights. It allowed them to watch the delivery person, keep Jungkook anonymous and make sure neither was too far from the sight of the guards. Jungkook had taught them both how to test product as well so on rare occasions when he couldn’t be at a drop, they took over.

When Eunwoo returned with paperwork Jungkook was shedding his protective outwear, walking towards the sink to wash his hands.

“Who sent this shipment?”

Jungkook was known for keeping meticulously records. His warehouse sported a custom safe that was nearly impenetrable — in a way. It had taken nearly a year to build, all a product of his own imagination. The 7 foot safe had a compartment in the bottom where anything could be placed inside for him to later sort. But once you placed something inside, you couldn’t retrieve it unless the safe was opened with the proper combination. What made it so impenetrable was that the safe was created to self destruct if someone put in the wrong combination after 10 attempts. At the last wrong attempt it would emit a fire so strong that it would take the safe and the entire warehouse down with it.

The only people in the world that had the combination were himself and his wife.

“I have a code I need you to remember. If anything happens to me and you need…leverage.”

Looking away from the plants she tended to, the woman looked up at Jungkook, his hands full of all the supplies she would need for the maintenance of the garden. They had just purchased the large home in the quiet neighborhood. There were only 6 other houses around them, all spread out and equally as impressive as the next. The home had cost just over 3 million dollars, but every inch was worth it. The property sat on 3 acres, sported a large swimming pool and more land than they knew what to do with. It was a 6 bedroom, 4 bathroom home with a stunning view of the East Sea. It was perfect.

She wanted space for her garden and he guaranteed that she had that.

“Okay. I’ll remember, but don’t ever make me have to use it.”

Her hand reached out towards him and he instinctively handed her the small shovel, watching as she dug a hole for her flower seeds.

“I don’t plan on it, my love.”

He told her that the code was for a safe inside of a warehouse and what would happen if it was entered incorrectly too many times. They would rehearse the code every month or so, sometimes with his prompting, sometimes with her playfully showing him that she remembered. And not once did she ever forget.

He often thought she was perfect in that way. So perfectly made for him. Smart, loyal, affectionate, never asking too many questions — able to see through his tough exterior.

“They sent a random delivery man but the supplier’s name was….a Kim Seokjin from Gwacheon.”

“If this sells well, keep him on the list as a regular. He’s timely, organized. I appreciate that.”

“Yes sir.”

Jungkook dried his hands before taking the paperwork and securing it in the safe. He was headed towards his vehicle, Seojoon and Eunwoo walking closely behind when his cellphone rung. Not his work phone he kept in his right pocket. But his personal phone. The one only a few people had the number to. The one that never rang because everyone who had the number knew only to call if it was an emergency.

Stopping in his tracks Jungkook immediately picked up the phone, seeing ‘Chanwoo’ across the screen. Chanwoo was another early member of his security team. He had formerly worked for his uncle for a few years before he retired. He was a little older than Jungkook; sharp, trustworthy. It was only right that Jungkook gave him the most important assignment of all. One only the two of them and the men behind Jungkook knew about.

He began to speak immediately before Jungkook got the chance.

“Boss. We have a problem.” Chanwoo’s voice was slightly blocked by the sound of muffled screams; a person in the background was clearly attempting to call for help through what Jungkook assumed to be duct tape.

“What’s going on?”

His guards stood firm behind him with furrowed eyebrows, looking at each other and trying their best to interpret the situation through Jungkook’s few words.

“I found a man walking around outside the house taking pictures. His license says his name is Lee Dowon.”

His breath ceased as he took in the words, grip on the phone impossibly tightening.

“Who is he?”

“Looks like he’s a plumber from Itaewon. He’s not saying much else. He had a pistol on him….it was loaded.”

Jungkook’s blood ran dry and his head began to spin, heartbeat increasing.

“A pistol?”

“Yes sir.”

“I’ll send someone to come get him and bring him to the warehouse. In the meantime, check him for a wire and keep watching the house.”

Hanging up the phone, Jungkook took a deep breath, closing his eyes and doing the best he could to keep himself together. His thoughts ran wild, palms sweaty as he stared down at the phone in his hands.

How did someone get that close? He had been in the business for more than 5 years and he had never had an occasion where his identity was almost compromised. He never had any visitors at his home or at his old apartment before they moved. So how? How did someone manage to get so close to the very thing he worked so hard to protect?

Scrolling through his contacts he quickly found his wife’s, pressing her name and bringing the phone to his ear. She picked up after two rings. Two rings too long for his heart to handle.

“Hey Kook. Everything okay?”

Five years together had taught her he never called while he was at work, at least not at this time of the day. Sometimes he’d call on his way home or if he just needed to hear her voice after a particularly difficult deal. But all of that was rare.

“Hey, beautiful. Everything is fine. Are you okay?”

He didn’t mean to sound as dishonest as he did but there were some things he couldn’t fake. He couldn’t fake the feeling in his chest knowing that someone was just in his yard, likely minutes away from making their way inside his house. His sacred space.

“I’m great! I just finished picking vegetables from the garden with Bam. We’re about to eat some snacks, I’ve been craving pickles with cheese.” She giggled, removing maybe 2% of the tension he felt in his shoulders.

“That’s nice, baby. I’ll be home a little late tonight, just wanted to let you know.”

“That’s fine, honey. We’ll be waiting for you.” She hummed, the sound of her chopping pickles on a cutting board in the background.

“I love you, you know. More than anything.”

He hadn’t meant for his words to convey the slightest bit of finality the way it did, but he couldn’t help it. He was so horrible at pretending when it came to her — he couldn’t hold in the way he felt thinking that when he left for work this morning, that could have been the last time he saw her; spoke to her, felt her warmth.

“I know you do, baby. And I love you the same. Hurry and get home, please?”

His lips formed a small smile, thankful he could do whatever he could to keep her world as happy and carefree as she sounded.

“Will do.”

Hanging up the phone Jungkook stared straight ahead, mind racing.

“Eunwoo, please go to my house and collect the man from Chanwoo. He’s in the back of the Escalade. When you get him, bring him here.”

Without a word Eunwoo gave Jungkook a curt nod before walking towards the replica Escalade and taking off.

Jungkook’s little family was everything to him; they embodied everything that was good in the world — his only peace in the life of chaos and death that surrounded him; that he inherited. He’d do anything to make sure his family was never touched.

That’s why he had Chanwoo guard his wife.

It was something he only trusted his most loyal guard to do; looking after the most precious thing in the world to him when he couldn’t be there.

He hadn’t told her. The black Escalade was often parked randomly on the street, just close enough to look as if belonged to their 50 year old neighbor across the street who had more cars than he knew what to do with. But it was always parked far enough from the neighbors yard that he figured it belonged to Jungkook and his wife, who were parking it across the street because their garage was too full. It was the perfect scenario and the neighbor never questioned them about it. It didn’t seem as if he was home half the time, anyways.

If his wife ever left anywhere, Chanwoo would trail her car, making sure to never stray too far from her. Jungkook didn’t think of himself as possessive — Chanwoo would never report to him the places she visited or who she might meet up with. It was his job to simply make sure she was safe and out of harms way. He had been assigned to her shortly after they began dating; after Jungkook took a risk and effortlessly failed on his promise to himself to never get emotionally involved with someone if he accepted his uncle’s invitation into the business. It took him all of 6 months to forgo that.

But he figured the least he could do was keep her safe to the best of his ability.

So he removed Chanwoo from his personal detail and asked him to take care of his wife. Chanwoo had been uncertain at first about being taken away as Jungkook’s main bodyguard; he had known him the longest out of all the available guards; promised Jungkook’s uncle that he’d take care of him. But that uncertainty turned into honor when Jungkook explained that there was no him if she wasn’t safe. That his wife was the most precious thing in the world to him and there was no one else he trusted to protect her remotely close to how he could but Chanwoo.

Jungkook wasn’t sure how long he stood there in the middle of the dirt path, staring off into the body of water ahead of him. No one had ever gotten this close. Never.

“You good, boss?”

Seojoon’s words drew Jungkook out his trance, him turning his head to face the man. He looked at his phone to see that 10 minutes had passed since his last phone call.

“I will be in a couple hours. Take a break, I’ll be sitting in the warehouse until they get here.”

An hour and a half passed before headlights illuminated the dirt path that lead to the building, shining through the windows of the warehouse. Jungkook had spent his time in the warehouse pondering on his next move, thinking through the past.

The only thing that broke his trance momentarily was his wife sending him a picture of herself and Bam cuddled on the couch, Bam resting his head on her stomach as they watched tv. She sent a message about missing him and telling him to hurry home. He smiled fondly saying he’d be there before she knew it.

Then back to pondering.

He stayed seated as the doors on the truck slammed, obvious sounds of someone struggling being heard.

He watched as Seojoon brought the man through the front door and to the middle of the warehouse, pulling him towards a seat Jungkook had set up. Through the duct tape covering his mouth and the zip ties that bound his wrists and ankles he squirmed, making poor attempts to get away that went nowhere.

The men lifted him into the sit and had him face Jungkook, his eyes wide as if he knew something. As if he knew maybe a little too much.

Jungkook stared at him silently, taking in the man’s appearance. He was around 5’9, maybe early 40s if he had to guess. He was no one he had ever seen before; he would have had a bit of a forgettable face had it not been permanently etched into Jungkook’s brain now.

“He had a phone on him, boss. Chanwoo disassembled it and it’s being taken to the tech guy, Min Yoongi. He says it’ll take about a day to dissect everything.”

Jungkook gave a small nod of response at Eunwoo’s words, never taking his eyes off of the cowardly man before him. He had removed his jacket prior to the man’s arrival, sleeves rolled up to his elbows; it was a rare sight these days.

“Give me his gun.”

Immediately Eunwoo handed the man’s gun he had been carrying to Jungkook, who stood from the table in a way that made the man jump in his seat. Tears began to well in his eyes, mixing with the dried blood on his face; likely from putting up a fight when Chanwoo attempted to capture him.

“Who are you?” Jungkook firmly spoke, expression cold in a way that sent chills down the man’s spine. He peeled the tape from Dowon’s mouth with quick speed, watching the way he jumped and tried to his move his body further away.

“P-please don’t hurt me, I’m just a plummer. Lee Dowon.”

“A plummer from Itaewon? What is a plummer from Itaewon doing snooping around my house all the way in Busan? Looking at real estate? Last time I checked, none of that shit is for sale.”

Immediately the man began to cry, attempting to pull at the zip ties that were around his wrists once more.

“Please, please I was just doing a job.”

“What job?” Jungkook was far too calm on the outside as he stood before him, face cold and commanding an answer.

“This random man came to my job. He paid me $5,000 dollars to visit some houses in Seoul and Busan; see who lived there, take some pictures. He said they were looking for someone, that’s it. That’s all I know, I swear!”

Jungkook began to pace ever so slightly, tapping the tip of the gun against his thigh.

“Who did he tell you he was looking for?”

“He didn’t say, they just told me to take photos. Please, I’ve got a wife and a daughter.” The man sobbed, continuing to attempt to shake himself free from his zip ties to no avail.

At his words, Jungkook stopped pacing, a smirk on his face that drew the whole room to near silence.

“You’ve got a wife and a daughter? You didn’t think about that before coming onto my fucking property, did you?” Jungkook cocked the gun in one stroke, the sound echoing through the walls of the warehouse. “And I don’t know too many plumbers who carry around pistols.”

He was a version of himself he hadn’t had to be in a few months. Cold, ruthless, filled with anger from a place not too deep down inside of himself. It was always lurking in the shadows, waiting for him to succumb to his dark side.

Because what would have happened? What would have happened if he didn’t have security sitting outside of his house? Or if Chanwoo had been dozing off and this Dowon character somehow made his way inside? Where his wife lay her head, probably watching television or distracted by something else. She said on the phone that she had just gotten in from tending to the garden; what would have happened had she caught him off guard and he had the gun in his hand?

His body was filled with a rage he had never experienced before. In all the deals that went sideways, all the buyers and sellers who attempted to short him? He had never had someone come this close to sabotaging what was his; peeking at the spoils of the empire he built and threatening to take away his biggest victory of all — his wife.

“I’ll send your family $20,000. You won’t be seeing them again.”

“Sir, please. Please, I didn’t—“

A single gun shot rang through the warehouse, echoing off the walls.

A bullet straight through head, right in-between the eyes. Perfect precision.

The body hit the ground with a thud a second later, blood beginning to pool on the ground around it after a matter of seconds. Jungkook pulled his finger from the trigger, handing the gun to Seojoon who stood next to him. His expression was partly shocked, but he quickly hid that emotion once Jungkook looked at him.

“Clean the gun then get rid of the mess. You’re both free to go home after that. Take the next couple of days off.”

Jungkook was halfway home before his adrenaline rush had begun to partly dissipate. He was so focused on getting back to his place that he forgot to send his usual text message to his wife before his arrival. He didn’t want to do anything out of the ordinary that might let her know he hadn’t had the best day. Whenever he was home, he felt she deserved the very best of him, to the best of his ability.

jungkook:

almost home. you good, baby?” 23:44

babygirl 💗:

i’m great. i made tteokbokki for dinner.☺️ 23:46

jungkook:

not too hungry tonight. eat without me. 23:47

As Jungkook began to pull into his garage, he watched the tail lights from the Escalade across the street light turn on. The vehicle slowly drove away, headlights off until it got further down the street and out of sight. Perfect, like clockwork.

She could feel the heaviness in the air as soon as he walked in the door. He wasn’t wearing his usual outfit; he wore his dress pants and a plain white t-shirt that he sometimes wore under his suit jacket and dress shirt, or kept in the backseat of his car just in case. His old clothes were tossed over the bag he placed down on the couch.

Her worried eyebrows were obvious as she stared up at him, but they began to dissipate once he reached out in the small space between them, gripping the woman’s shoulders and pulling her closer to him.

There was something in his hug that said he just needed her right now; and she was happy to oblige him. She nuzzled her face into his collarbone, arms wrapping around his neck as she inhaled the scent of his cologne that still lingered on his skin after a warm day.

“Welcome home, love.”

He pulled back slightly to press a kiss on her lips that left her speechless. It was passionate but not rushed, gentle as if he had been dreaming about it all day. She melted into his arms, shivering at the way his large hands caressed her back.

When he broke the kiss, it was to place warm ones on her cheek and forehead, a fond smile painting her lips.

“I missed you so much today.”

She looked into his eyes at his words, removing a few strands of hair from his face and studying his expression. He looked a little bit exhausted and a little bit lovestruck, as if everything he had been working so hard for had paid off and he had just reached the finish line. A place where he didn’t have to be everything for everyone all the time.

“I missed you too baby. Go to bathroom in the bedroom, I’ve got a bath ready for you.” She reached for his clothes, Jungkook refusing to let her go until her placed one more kiss on her neck.

“A bath? You’re always taking care of me, huh?”

“When you’ll let me.”

She walked towards the laundry room, checking to make sure nothing was in the pockets of his clothes before tossing the items in. Jungkook removed his shoes, eyes heavy as he made his way towards his wife.

“Will you join me?” He began to slip off his shirt, watching as his wife’s eyes lingered over his torso with a hunger he was all too familiar with. But she held it in.

“Sure honey. Give me a few minutes.” She took the remaining clothing items from him and tossed them in the washer.

In the bathroom Jungkook had begun to slowly sink into the tub, thankful for the warm water and soft candle light that surrounded him. The smell of lavender foam helped him calm his mind as he leaned his head back on a rolled up towel, closing his eyes.

In a matter of minute his wife was buried into the bubbles with him, naked body laying against his in the large bathtub they never got to use often. She rested her head on his shoulder, both their eyes closed as he traced his fingers over her figure in the warm water.

A slight panic ran through her body as his large hands began to caress her sides and her hips. She said a silent prayer in hopes that he didn’t feel how different her stomach felt — how she had started to put on just a little more weight near her love handles and her belly button.

Luckily if he did notice, he didn’t say anything.

Their bath continue in silence, embracing one another and enjoying the feeling of each other’s company. When they finished they dried each other playfully, Jungkook wearing a smile she hadn’t seen since he walked in.

“Thank you for this baby. I needed this.”

After their bath she guided him to the kitchen, completely ignoring his previous message saying he would forgo dinner. She watched him eat a full bowl of tteokbokki in a way that made her heart smile. When they finished dinner, they crawled onto the couch with Bam, watching some movie she didn’t remember. Nearly 15 minutes in she had fallen asleep, partly due to the warm feeling of her husband’s body and the comfort she found in his arms. The last thing she remembered was hearing him softly chuckle in her direction, placing a kiss to her temple as her eyes closed.

Jungkook finished the movie before carrying her to bed, Bam close behind and choosing to sleep next to her side of the bed. He found it hard to sleep that night, so he opted for watching her sleep instead, feeling her snuggle more deeply into his arms as the night went on.

It wasn’t killing someone that was plaguing his mind, keeping him up at such a late hour. It was the fact that someone had gotten so close to this. To his perfect home life where his wife made him dinner, washed his clothes, ran baths for him when she thought he needed it. Where she woke him up with hot breakfast and his dick in her mouth whenever she could. Where she always took care of him in the ways he needed it but couldn’t say.

His perfect home where he didn’t have to use 110% of his brain and he didn’t have to be the bad guy. Where he could just exist as Jeon Jungkook.

He finally drifted off to sleep when the weight of his thoughts became too heavy and his eyelids finally gave in.

The air had been cold when she awakened.

The woman wiped sleep from her eyes before reaching her hand out in search of Jungkook’s usual body heat. Instead of touching his sleeping face or stomach, she was met with the warmth of his exposed thigh. Opening a single tired eye in confusion, she turned her body enough to look up at Jungkook.

His back was against the headboard and his eyes briefly met hers before looking away, sporting a look she couldn’t quite read which was hard. In all their years together she had learned to know nearly every expression Jeon Jungkook could make.

But this one was different.

Feeling sleep begin to slip away from her, she opened both her eyes, eyebrows furrowed at she looked up at him once more, sitting herself up slightly.

“Jungkook? What’s wrong, baby?”

She followed his eyes and landed on the small black and white picture that he held in his fingertips.

The sonogram. Her sonogram.

Her body stilled as she stared at the image, mind racing with a million thoughts a minute.

How did he find it?

Where did he get it from?

Was he angry?

“I went to your office this morning to put some flowers on your desk. You left this out.” His throat was dry with a tone she hadn’t heard from him before. His words were strangled as if he hadn’t spoke in ages and was trying to find his voice again.

“I-I…I don’t know what to say.”

“How long have you kept this from me?”

She wasn’t strong enough to meet his gaze for longer than a few seconds. When she looked at him, she saw a pain on his face that she couldn’t begin to digest.

“I’m so sorry, Jungkook.” Her words were whispered as tears began to fill the corners of her eyes, staring at the small photo he hadn’t put down.

“How long?”

“I only found out a few weeks ago. I’m 2 months along.” By now she was sitting up with her back against the headboard, shoulder nearly touching his. She would have moved closer had she not been so afraid. Her finger tips trembled with anxiety so much so that she planted them on the mattress in hopes of keeping herself grounded.

“When were you going to tell me?”

“I thought about it last night but it…it just wasn’t the right time.”

Jungkook turned his body towards the side of the bed, planting his feet on the ground as he continued to stare at the photo. There wasn’t much to see being that she was so early along; but he could make out a small white dot in the translucent space, nearly the shape of a bean.

“How could you keep this from me, baby? We don’t keep secrets; not ones like this.” He didn’t cry. She couldn’t recall the last time she had seen him cry at all, maybe on their wedding night 3 years ago? But she could tell from the hoarseness of his words that he nearly did.

The woman felt her heart shatter, shaky hand touching his back as if to comfort him but also ground herself. She was thankful he didn’t pull away from her touch.

“I was so scared, Jungkook. We…we never talked about it.”

”I didn’t think we had to, baby. I just thought the answer was obvious.”

“And what’s that?”

“That we wouldn’t have kids because of the life that I live.”

Jungkook stood, body clad in just his boxers, embraced by the cool air of their bedroom. He never let go of his death grip on the ultrasound photo, slowly pacing back and forth.

“I only know how to protect you. I’ve been doing it for so long, more than you know.”

She’d have to ask him about that later.

“I understand. Do you want me to get rid of it?” Tears began to flow from her eyes as she hugged a pillow close to her chest, Jungkook quickly turning his head at the sound of her sniffles. He rushed to her side of the bed, getting on his knees and cupping her cheek into the warmth of his hand.

“No! No, that’s not what I meant at all. It’s just…I never thought we’d have a child. I never even considered it. That’s all I’m saying, baby. I’m sorry.”

Jungkook crawled back into the bed, arms wrapping around his wife she sobbed into his shoulder. His eyes were wide at the sound of her; the way her body rattled against his. He could feel the burden that the secret had been holding on her beginning to shed; the freeing feeling of finally setting it free. But in its place was now his heavy, ill-spoken words.

“Don’t cry, baby, I’m sorry. I-I didn’t mean it like that.”

His eyes began to get teary as he pulled her into his lap. She wrapped her legs around his torso, face never leaving the crook of his neck as her tears continued to fall.

They weren’t sure how long they stayed like that; wrapped in each other’s embrace, comforting each other as the weight of the world rested on their shoulders.

“How are you feeling?” Jungkook eventually whispered, warm hands caressing her back and pulling her impossibly closer. Her eyes were closed as she embraced the feeling of his touch, emotions running rampant through her body. She could tell in his tone that he meant not only now but how she felt being pregnant.

“I’m fine, Kook. Just a little nauseous sometimes. Emotional.”

He hummed in understanding at her words, hands going under her shirt to continue to softly rub her back.

“I’m sorry…for not telling you sooner. I thought about it. So many times.”

“It’s okay.”

“It’s not.” She fought the tears that threatened to leave her eyes once more, wanting to be far stronger than she was right now.

“I think I can understand. I’m probably not the best choice when it comes to…fathers you could have picked.”

Through her teary expression, her eyebrows furrowed at his words, pulling back slightly to look up at him.

“You’re the only choice, Jungkook. It’s no competition.”

She knew what he meant — he didn’t think he would be fit to be a father with the world he lived in. Crime and cribs didn’t exactly mix.

Still, she had hardly ever heard him speak from a place of insecurity. He had been honest about faults he had but never insecure.

“I’ve never imagined myself as a father, with the life I live…how can I watch them grow up, be there for you and run the business? That’s why my uncle didn’t have kids. He didn’t adopt until he retired and all those kids are grown.” She listened to him ramble, feeling a pain in her chest as she listened to his doubts, his fears.

Deep down inside she knew he was right. What kind of life would it be to have a father who was always away, risking his life everyday and leaving her at home with a baby? It didn’t make sense, it wasn’t sustainable, it wasn’t smart. But how could she get rid of something made from such perfectly imperfect love?

“Are these doubts or are you saying you don’t want it, Kook?”

“No, they’re just…they’re just doubts baby. Come here.” Jungkook pulled his wife closer, resting his forehead on hers as they both closed their eyes. He hated to see her cry. No matter the reason he always felt like it was his responsibility. Today he had been too reckless with his words, too fast to react. He had experienced an unbelievable rollercoaster of emotions in the past 24 hours.

“I’m thankful to have a little piece of me inside of you. It’s more than I deserve. More than I ever thought I’d be capable of.”

His wife’s heart pinched as his words, causing her to press a palm to his chest, just above his heart. Instinctively his hand met hers, lightly interlocking their fingers.

“You’re going to be a great dad, baby. You deserve this.”

But he knew he didn’t. Why did he deserve to be happy? All the lives he had taken, all the fathers he had taken away from their happy families? Granted they were all either guilty of trying to screw him over or threaten his livelihood, but still. Why did he get to have a wife and baby when he was maybe no better than they were.

For some reason, he had a feeling he couldn’t shake.

He could feel it in the way the hairs on the back of his neck stood up when he was in a silent room for too long. The way he woke at the smallest sounds while his wife snored lightly next to him, peacefully in a dream world. The way he would catch himself checking his rearview mirrors far too often as of late, alternating his routes home more than usual.

He had a date with karma that was long overdue.

And he had a feeling it wouldn’t be pretty.

“I think it’s time I tell you what I do for work.”

———————————————————————————