KPOP TRASH

JJ (she/they) | 98 liner (27) | NAVIGATION | MDNI

[justsomekpopstuff]

My name is JJ, and I love talking about kpop!

she/they | 98 Liner (27) | INFJ | Scorpio Sun Main: @jjtherosereblogs Other Fic Recs: @jjdoesficrecs Anime: @riptobyssock - More about me! - MINORS DO NOT INTERACT - 18+ ONLY - MINORS WILL BE IMMEDIATELY BLOCKED

☾ Groups I Blog For ☽

Seventeen | Monsta X | Ateez | Stray Kids | NCT 127 | Big Ocean | Sunmi | Chungha | B.I (Hanbin)

Biases (The Dans): Joshua (The Reigning King Dan), Jongho, I.M., Bang Chan, Changbin, Yuta Bias Wreckers: Mingi, Hongjoong, Yeosang, Kihyun, Lee Know, Taeyong, Johnny, Jaehyun (...I have a serious problem)

Not a Dan or Bias Wrecker but has plagued my brain so much that I can’t not include him somewhere: Jung Wooyoung

☆ NAVIGATION ☆

CURRENT MASTERLIST | FORMER MASTERLIST | FIC RECS

PLACES TO DONATE

Feel free to drop an ask or a message any time! Welcome again!

All my best,

❤︎ JJ

[yonglixx]

Felix＜RUN IT SEOUL＞ OFFICIAL MERCH MAKING FILM♡

[vent-stink]

Crazy (For You)

pairings: mingi x idol!reader genre: fluff, one-shot a/n: I just wanted to post something so this is what I wrote like when I first started the blog, and I thought I'd write more, but I kind of like it the way it is!

You can only stare at Mingi, who's currently air drumming with pencils and engrossed in his own world, and wonder how this happened.

You honestly thought he didn't like you when you first met, and despite his assurances, you are still not convinced that he did. The cold stare he gave you when you'd knocked on the Ateez's dressing room door to give them your group's album had chilled your bones and you almost cried as you introduced your group. Thankfully, Hongjoong had come out to witness the introduction and thankfully accepted our album. (Mingi once begged Hongjoong to give it to him once you'd started dating, but Hongjoong refused).

From that moment you actually kind of feared him. You'd get nervous when he walked by, and if he noticed, he'd look at you weird. You couldn't hate him, not when he was visually exactly your type, but damn if you'd ever be caught in a room alone with him. You hadn't watched any Ateez content aside from the occasional music video or promo playing on a TV in a cafe, so you didn't know his personality outside of the cool and intense person he was when he was performing.

The day that image of him shattered was when you were in the MBC building, having just come out of the bathroom. Ateez was in the room right beside and Mingi was just coming out, the tone his voice high and scratching as he was complaining about Yunho not coming with him to do something. "COME WITH ME!" He screamed (similar to the way he yelled at Yunho for betraying him in that one show where they put flowers in each other's lockers).

He then turned his head, making eye contact with you, the weird idol girl he'd see around. He saw you stifled a laugh and immediately cover your mouth in shock before he went right back inside, slamming the door shut behind him.

When you saw him later, he avoided eye contact to an obvious degree, prompting Yunho to look in the direction he was avoiding, laughing animatedly and smacking his arm repeatedly when he saw you. You had been so embarassed that you avoided Ateez for a long time.

But for some reason, now that you had seen him to one embarassing thing, it seemed to happen all the time. You had literally witnessed him tripping over his feet as he passed you, his weird laugh when Jongho had said something while you were at the table next to him. You even watched him goofily do Hongjoong's hip movement from Crazy Form from the sidelines during showcase prerecordings as your group was up next.

Your personal favorite was when he was in the middle of a gutteral and goofy roar inside of his waiting room, facing the door as Yeosang was going inside. You'd just happened to turn your head in that direction, making eye-contact with through the crack in the door before that roar turned into a screech that was cut off by the door closing behind his fellow member.

The worst part was that every single time these things would happen, he'd somehow accidentally make eye-contact with you and freeze. You'd run away every time. He had to have hated you now that you kept seeing him in embarrassing moments. You figured you'd never talk to him for the foreseeable future.

"You have to take responsibility for me."

You looked at him dumbfounded when he'd approached you after you'd seen him miss the draw six times in a row when attempting to drink from a water bottle. "Huh?"

"Y/n, you've seen me in too many vulnerable positions and my honor is at stake. I don't think I'll ever be at peace knowing that a hot girl has seen me look like a bumbling idiot and she wasn't even my girlfriend."

"WHAT!?" "PLEASE, I'M EMBARRASSING MYSELF ENOUGH IN FRONT OF YOU. PLEASE GO ON A DATE WITH ME."

Mingi got scared as you laughed out loud at the memory.

"What?! What happened?"

"Nothing," you giggled, "I was just thinking about the time you first asked me out."

"Oh my god," he groaned, "Do not even speak to me."

"You know I thought you seriously hated me, babe."

"I did," Mingi admitted bluntly, and your mouth fell open. "Excuse me?!"

"There's a seriously thin line between love and hate, baby. I always thought you were hot and I hate hot people for no reason, they just make me angry. Then you saw me acting stupid with Yunho and I was so mad that this annoyingly beautiful woman saw me at my worst-"

"Your worst-?"

"But then I started paying attention to you and I was trying and failing to look cool in front of you but you never really made fun of me... you were always laughing and it was really cute and asked you out because I panicked."

"There is seriously something wrong with you."

"I know," Mingi sighed, "I am just crazy... for you."

Taglist: ------------------------------ @ad0rechuu @spooo00oky @jaerisdiction @soso59love-blog @potatos-on-clouds @intartaruginha @hwasa28 @stacey-stonem @skersey33 @altxrr-ego @sunnyhokyu @sunnysidesins @that1sadgrl

[wooyos]

[hyunienohanashi]

── .✦ you forget to kiss him in the morning.

⟢ ┆ stray kids x reader. ot8. established relationship.

⟢ author’s note: helloo! this was requested twice lol so i guess it’s a popular trend going around and i finally brought myself to write it after the odyssey my life went through last month. i had lots of fun with it and i hope you all enjoy it<3

[kittypusslov]

ATEEZ helping you while you are scared / had a nightmare

Genre: Fluff • Comfort • Established Relationship

Pairing: ATEEZ x Reader

Members: OT8 (Individual Scenarios)

Word Count: ~ 4.7k

Warnings:

• Horror movie references

• Nightmares

• Mild anxiety/panic

• Lots of cuddles and comfort

• Sleepy affection

• Teasing / slightly suggestive if you squint 

Seonghwa 430 w

Your sweet boyfriend was trying his best to fall asleep, but after the movie it seemed almost impossible. Surprisingly enough, he had managed to convince you to go to sleep, though he wasn’t having much luck himself. Holding you in his arms, curled against his chest, made him feel at least a little safer.

He could feel himself finally drifting in and out of sleep when he suddenly felt your body freeze. Your breathing quickened, then stilled, then turned uneven again.He watched your sleeping face scrunch up as your body tensed beside him.

“Y/N…” he whispered softly.

Seonghwa curled himself around you even more protectively, gently stroking your face and running his fingers through your hair. When you suddenly woke with a small gasp, dazed and disoriented, you could feel your heart pounding against his chest. Still shaken from the adrenaline of the nightmare, the feeling of Seonghwa wrapped around you instantly calmed you a little.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Seonghwa asked gently, taking deep breaths with you in an attempt to calm you down. You licked your lips before pressing your face further into his chest and the base of his neck.

“Nightmare…” you managed to whisper against his skin. You could feel a small shiver run through him. Seonghwa wasn’t completely sure if it was the reminder of the movie or the slight brush of your lips against his skin, but either way, it made him pull you even closer.

His slightly cool hands slid down the back of your neck and along your spine, the soothing sensation sending a shiver through you too.

“Your heart’s beating so fast,” he whispered, thumb brushing beneath your eye.

“You scared yourself that badly?”

The faint smile in his voice made you groan quietly before hiding your face against his neck again.

“Don’t laugh at me…”

“I’m not,” he murmured, clearly lying.

“Mm… remind me never to let Jongho pick movies again,” he mumbled before pressing a sleepy kiss against your forehead. “Look what it did to my baby.” he murmured softly as his hands continued rubbing slow circles along your back. It was working.

You could already feel sleep beginning to pull you back under again. Wrapping your arms around him, you pulled the two of you impossibly closer before mumbling softly,

“You need to sleep too…”

It was the last thing you managed to say before sleep finally pulled you back into peaceful dreams.

Hongjoong 620 w

Hongjoong was neither a fan nor a hater of horror movies. Honestly, he enjoyed watching everyone else’s reactions more than the movie itself. Half the time he barely even paid attention to what was happening on screen anyway.

He loved watching the members jump and get startled, but nothing compared to your reactions. The way you would lean into him, squeeze his hand, or bury your face against his chest whenever a particularly graphic or scary scene appeared.

After the movie ended, he had to bite back laughter while San and Mingi tried to play it cool, insisting the movie “wasn’t even that bad.” Especially when you joined in, confidently claiming it could barely even be considered a horror movie.

It was all fun and games until Hongjoong practically had to kick everyone out and send them back to their own rooms. While the two of you got ready for bed, you were noticeably clingier than usual, following Hongjoong around while you both went through your nighttime routine.

And once it was finally time for bed, you were even worse. The second Hongjoong turned off the last light, your body froze before you immediately moved to cling onto him. A soft, knowing chuckle left him.

“What’s wrong, baby?” he asked. “Don’t tell me you’re scared.” He paused dramatically before adding, “I mean, that movie could hardly even be called a horror movie.” He mocked your earlier words to the group perfectly.

“Don’t be mean to me, Joonie… please,” you pouted, still gripping him tightly.

“Can you turn the light back on?” Your voice was barely above a whisper.

You knew it was silly to be frightened, but the darkness always left too much room for your imagination. Every shadow suddenly looked like something moving. Unconsciously, you pushed yourself even closer to Hongjoong while tightening the blankets around the two of you.

Hongjoong debated teasing you a little more. “Baby, be a big girl and go to sleep, hm?” His fingers traced lazily along your neck, feeling the way your pulse jumped beneath his touch. A small smile spread across his lips in the darkness before his hand moved up to your cheek, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“You can do that for me, can’t you?” His voice softened. “You’re so brave, aren’t you, baby?” The tone was soothing, but underneath it still carried that faint teasing edge only Hongjoong could pull off. He guided you both down onto the bed, though you still refused to let go of him.

You huffed softly but knew he was right. Both of you had early schedules in the morning. So you tried your best to quiet your thoughts and force yourself to sleep. Hongjoong could still feel how tense you were against him. Somehow, he always knew when your mind was working overtime. Slowly, he rubbed your back before beginning to hum softly. The melody was unfamiliar — maybe something new he had been working on. Pirate my ass, you thought sleepily. More like a siren. It was one of your last coherent thoughts before his warmth, soft humming, and steady heartbeat finally lulled you into a peaceful sleep.

Yunho 1,045 w

Yunho had honestly enjoyed the movie. The two of you talked about it while getting ready for bed, making small comments back and forth as you went through your nightly routine. At one point, you talked about how well Yunho does as an actor. Honestly, you thought he would fit perfectly in a horror film.

Ironically, that thought ended up being the only reason you were able to fall asleep. In your mind, you replaced the actor from the movie with Yunho instead, and suddenly the fear faded. Even imagining him in a horror setting couldn’t make him seem scary to you.

You knew Yunho’s warm heart too well for that. Your thoughts slowly drifted away from the disturbing scenes from earlier and instead filled with warmth, comfort, and love for your boyfriend. Those thoughts quickly lulled you to sleep.

Yunho had fallen asleep just as quickly, only to wake up not long after to the feeling of you suddenly jolting awake beside him. Instantly, both of your hearts spiked with adrenaline.

“What’s wrong?” Yunho asked quickly, immediately turning toward you. Now fully awake and realizing it had only been a dream, embarrassment washed over you.

“I’m sorry, Yunho…” you mumbled sheepishly. “I had a bad dream. I guess the movie got to me more than I thought.” You were secretly grateful the lights were off so he couldn’t see how red your face had become.

“Oh…” Yunho let out a relieved breath, relaxing slightly now that he knew you weren’t sick or hurt. Still, it upset him knowing the nightmare had scared you badly enough to wake you up like that.

Without hesitation, he pulled you closer, tucking you against his large frame protectively. You immediately snuggled into him, needing the comfort. “Yeah… that movie was pretty graphic, huh?” he murmured softly, trying to reassure you.

No more horror movies for movie nights, he decided silently to himself. He could feel you relax against him a little, but your body still remained tense. “Do you think you can go back to sleep?” he asked gently.

Now you felt even worse. You hadn’t meant to wake him up, but there was absolutely no way you wanted to fall back into dreamland right now.

“I’m not sure…” you admitted quietly before sighing. “But we can at least try.” For the next thirty minutes, the two of you tossed and turned, both struggling to find a comfortable position or enough peace to fall back asleep. Eventually, you gave up.

Turning toward Yunho’s back, you slipped your arms around him and rested your forehead between his shoulder blades. Even without seeing his face, you knew he was still awake.

He was warm. Comforting. Safe. Taking a slow breath, you let his familiar scent clear your mind. You felt him stiffen slightly when your hand slowly trailed from his side to the lower part of his abdomen, feeling his muscles tighten beneath your touch as your nails lightly dragged upward toward his chest.

A soft groan left him. Your hand stilled immediately. Propping yourself up on one elbow, you tried to look at his face through the darkness.

“Do you wanna play a game?” you asked softly, not even trying to hide the fact that you were fully awake now. Though you couldn’t properly see him, you felt him nod.

You immediately climbed out of bed and hurried toward the living room while Yunho followed behind you with a quiet laugh. You turned on the gaming setup and grabbed both controllers before settling onto the couch beside him.

Yunho smiled knowingly. He really should’ve expected this. Of course you meant video games…

The two of you played together for nearly an hour, laughing and talking quietly while the rest of the dorm stayed silent around you. Eventually, you set your controller down and climbed into his lap instead, letting him take over the game you were terrible at but loved watching him play anyway.

After a while, you shifted again until you were fully facing him, your legs straddling his thighs. Even sitting down, Yunho was tall enough that you still had to stretch slightly just to press a small kiss against his jaw before resting your head against his chest.

He kept playing while you stayed curled against him. Every now and then he would mumble comments about the game — complaining about bad teammates, quietly celebrating wins, or talking to you even when he thought you had stopped listening. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your cheek and the constant clicking of the controller slowly lulled you back to sleep.

This time, dreamless.

Yeosang 700 w

Yeosang had claimed the movie was just “ a little scary “ almost immediately after it ended.

Yet somehow, he had also been the first person to flinch during the loud jump scares.

You had laughed at him for it the entire walk back to your room. “I wasn’t scared,” he insisted calmly.

“Mhm,” you replied with a smile. “Sure.”

Now, hours later, the room was quiet aside from the soft hum of the air conditioner. Yeosang lay beside you, one arm tucked beneath his pillow while the other rested loosely across your waist.

You, however, were very obviously not asleep. Yeosang could tell by the way you kept shifting every few minutes. The way your breathing would settle before suddenly hitching again. The way your fingers kept absentmindedly playing with the sleeve of his shirt.

“You’re thinking too much,” he murmured quietly into the darkness.

Your body froze slightly. “I’m not.” Yeosang let out the faintest breath of amusement.

“You keep staring at the corner of the room.”

Immediately, your eyes squeezed shut. “Yeosang.”

“What?” he asked innocently.

“That’s literally the problem.” Another quiet laugh left him, softer this time. You felt him shift closer until his chest pressed lightly against your back.

“You know,” he said lazily, “if there was a monster in here, I think it would’ve gotten tired of waiting by now.” “Yeosang!” This time he actually laughed, the sound warm and low in your ear.

“Okay, okay.” His hand slid down your arm before intertwining your fingers together beneath the blanket. Then, without another word, he pressed a soft kiss against the back of your shoulder.

The teasing melted away almost instantly after that. “You’re okay,” he whispered quietly.

You turned around slowly to face him, immediately moving closer until your forehead rested against his collarbone. Yeosang adjusted the blankets around you without even thinking about it.

There was that tiny teasing smile in his voice again. Your fingers curled slightly into the fabric of his shirt as another silence settled between you both.

Then you felt Yeosang’s hand move slowly up your back, gentle fingertips tracing lazy patterns against your skin. “You wanna know something?” he asked quietly.

“Hm?”

“I wasn’t really paying attention to the movie.”

You blinked up at him. “Why not?”

Yeosang was quiet for a second before answering. “I was watching you.”

Your face immediately burned. “Yeosang!”

“What?” he said again, far too calm for someone saying something like that. “You’re a tease.” A sleepy smile tugged at his lips as he pulled you even closer. “Mhm.”

Despite your embarrassment, you could already feel yourself relaxing completely against him. Your thoughts slowed. The shadows didn’t seem as unsettling anymore.

All you could really focus on now was Yeosang’s warmth, his steady breathing, and the feeling of his thumb brushing softly over your knuckles beneath the blanket.

By the time sleep finally found you again, Yeosang was still awake just long enough to press one last kiss against your forehead.Just to make sure you stayed dreaming peacefully.

San 1,165 w

The two of you were absolutely terrified. By the end of the movie, neither of you could even pretend it hadn’t affected you.

“Whose dumb idea was it to watch this anyway?” you muttered under your breath, shooting Jongho a small glare that only made him laugh. At some point during the movie, you had practically climbed into San’s lap, clinging to him for dear life. Not that he minded. The feeling had been entirely mutual.

San’s grip around you had been almost painfully tight the entire film. You knew he was trying to act brave, but every few minutes you could still feel his body flinch beneath you.

After saying your goodbyes and heading home, neither of you left the other’s side for even a second. Every light in the apartment stayed on. Even once the two of you crawled into bed.

Curled against San’s bare chest, the warmth of him and the steady feeling of his strong arms around you did more to calm your nerves than anything else could have.

Eventually, after enough convincing, the two of you finally worked up the courage to turn the lights off. You pressed one soft goodnight kiss against his chest before falling asleep tangled together.

Then came the nightmare.

In your dream, everything felt wrong. Too hot. Too tight. Your heart pounded violently as panic clawed at your chest. You couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move.

It felt like something was trapping you beneath its weight while darkness swallowed everything around you. A broken gasp tore from your throat as you jolted awake. Your lungs burned while you struggled to catch your breath. At first, you still couldn’t move. Then you realized why.

San — still trapped in his own nightmare — had wrapped himself completely around you in his sleep. His thick arms were locked tightly around your waist and chest, holding onto you like you were the only thing keeping him grounded. If the two of you could’ve gotten any closer, you probably would’ve fused into one person.

Once your head cleared a little, you finally looked up at him properly. Even asleep, his face was tense, brows pulled together while his grip tightened impossibly more around you. Honestly, it probably should’ve hurt. His hands felt tight enough to leave marks against your skin. But somehow, you had never felt safer.

Still, the thought of San trapped inside a nightmare made your chest ache. “Sannie…” you whispered softly against his chest. “Honey, you gotta wake up.”

He didn’t respond. Carefully, you began pressing featherlight kisses across his chest and the base of his throat.

“Sannie, it’s okay,” you murmured softly between kisses. “It’s just a dream.”

Slowly, you felt his grip loosen just slightly. You pressed another kiss over his heart, this one firmer than before, your lips lingering there reassuringly before trailing back upward.

A soft sound escaped him, somewhere between a sigh and a groan, as his heartbeat picked up beneath your lips. Continuing to pepper soft kisses along his neck and chest, you felt his body gradually begin waking.

“Are you awake now, honey?” you whispered after pressing one final kiss near the base of his neck. A choked gasp left him as he finally woke fully, taking several deep breaths while his arms instinctively tightened around you again.

“It’s okay,” you soothed immediately, running your fingers through his hair. “Just a dream, okay?”

It only took him a few seconds to fully orient himself before he quickly pulled you so you were lying completely on top of him.His hands rubbed slowly up and down your back.

“Thank you for waking me up,” he murmured softly.

Then his expression shifted slightly.

“Wait… did I wake you up too?”

You hummed quietly before pressing one last kiss against his chest.

“I had a bad dream too,” you admitted softly. “When I woke up and saw you struggling… I just wanted to help.”

The look San gave you after that nearly melted your heart.

God, how much did he love you?

His hand slid up your spine to cradle the back of your head before pulling you into a deep, lingering kiss.

“I love you so much, Y/N,” he whispered once he finally pulled away.Then, without warning, he shifted, gently rolling the two of you over until he was lying between your legs, nearly fully on top of you again like he couldn’t stand even an inch of distance.

“Let me show you,” he murmured before immediately peppering kisses all over your cheeks, forehead, jaw, and nose until your laughter finally filled the room.At that point, it became pretty obvious neither one of you had any real plans of falling back asleep anytime soon.

Mingi 885 w

Your big baby. Such a soft-hearted princess.

At some point during the movie, Mingi had completely given up on pretending he was actually watching it. In the beginning, he tried.

But his soft heart simply couldn’t handle all the horror. Instead, he had pulled you into his lap, your fingers intertwined while he rested his head against your shoulder, hiding from half the movie without shame.

Even though he wasn’t really watching anymore, he still flinched every single time you did. Whenever something especially terrifying happened, he would gently squeeze your hand before whispering softly into your ear,

“You don’t have to watch if you don’t want to.”

Always trying to give you an excuse to stop. A way out. You smiled softly before bringing your joined hands up to your lips and pressing a kiss against the inside of his palm.

“I’m okay,” you whispered back. “Thank you, baby.” By the end of the movie, goosebumps covered your skin. It had genuinely been one of the scariest movies you’d watched in a long time.

Once the two of you got home and started getting ready for bed, you tried your best to push the images from the movie out of your mind.

Climbing into bed behind Mingi, you wrapped your arms around his massive frame as best as you could. He secretly loved being the little spoon sometimes. Pressing a soft kiss between his shoulder blades, you felt his body relax instantly beneath your touch.

And honestly? So did you. The second you were close to him, all the tension in your body seemed to melt away. You hadn’t even realized how exhausted you were until then. Soft goodnights were exchanged sleepily between the two of you before you finally drifted off.

But sometime later, you woke with a sharp gasp. Your chest felt tight with panic while fear still clung heavily to you from the nightmare. It had somehow been even more graphic than the movie itself. Your breathing shook unevenly as anxiety curled tighter in your chest. You could already feel tears beginning to burn behind your eyes.

Maybe Mingi sensed your trembling. Or maybe he simply noticed your absence beside him. Either way, he woke up almost immediately, reaching for you instinctively. “What’s wrong, sweet pea?” he mumbled sleepily. “C’mere.”

Still barely awake, he pulled you back down against him until your body was completely pressed to his. His eyes remained shut with exhaustion while his hands slowly rubbed soothing circles against your back. The way Mingi could completely engulf you in warmth and comfort had you calming down almost instantly.

You were honestly grateful he sounded too sleepy to fully notice just how shaken up you were. Now that the adrenaline was fading, embarrassment was beginning to creep in instead. Taking a shaky breath, you buried your face against his chest. “Sorry, baby,” you whispered. “I had a bad dream because of the movie.”

A low hum vibrated through his chest beneath your cheek. “That’s why I didn’t watch it,” he mumbled groggily. “Too much.” Despite still being half-asleep, every touch from him remained impossibly gentle.

His hands wandered sleepily along your back and arms, almost like his exhausted brain was trying to keep your focus entirely on him instead of the nightmare. And honestly? It worked. You didn’t even care if you never fell back asleep. The warmth of Mingi holding you like this felt comforting enough to last for years.

Wooyoung 770 w

During the entire movie, Wooyoung kept making little comments and jokes.

Whether it was mocking the actors, pointing out plot holes, or whispering about situations that made absolutely no sense, his constant commentary kept you entertained enough not to completely lose your mind. Honestly, half the reason you survived the movie at all was because of him. Every scary moment got interrupted by his dramatic whispers or sarcastic remarks until the whole thing started feeling more ridiculous than terrifying.

But even after the movie ended, your mind wouldn’t fully let it go. Lying in bed beside Wooyoung, you couldn’t stop replaying scenes from the movie in your head. Unfortunately, letting horror movie thoughts become the last thing in your brain before falling asleep was clearly not good for your psyche.

Because in your dream, Wooyoung wasn’t there. You didn’t have his voice in your ear making dumb jokes or pointing out everything unrealistic until the scary scenes became silly instead. This time, everything felt real. It didn’t take long before you woke up again, the nightmare and the movie still fresh in your mind.

Quietly, you slipped out of bed and made your way toward the living room, turning on lights as you went while trying your best not to wake Wooyoung. Settling onto the couch with a sigh, you hugged a blanket against yourself. Your body was exhausted even if your mind refused to let you fall back asleep. It had only been a few minutes before you heard soft footsteps behind you. Yawning sleepily, Wooyoung walked into the living room.

“What’s wrong, pretty girl?” he asked softly. You looked over guiltily. “Sorry, Woo… I didn’t mean to wake you,” you admitted quietly. “I woke up and don’t think I can go back to sleep.”

Instead of answering right away, Wooyoung simply walked over and dropped onto the couch beside you before laying across it dramatically, using your thighs as a pillow. “Silly girl,” he chuckled sleepily. “You really let that movie get into your head, huh?” Before you could respond, he grabbed the remote and turned the TV on. A second later, the screen lit up with an old cartoon channel. One of your favorites.

You couldn’t stop the small smile that spread across your face. Your hands immediately moved down to brush his messy hair away from his forehead before your fingers slowly scratched against his scalp. A soft, sleepy moan left Wooyoung almost instantly. “Mm… there you go,” he mumbled, clearly pleased.

You continued playing with his hair while the cartoons quietly played in the background. Slowly, the scary thoughts in your head started being replaced by warm nostalgia and the comfort of Wooyoung curled up against you.

At some point, you became pretty sure he had fallen asleep. The soft sounds of cartoons, your fingers moving through his hair, and Wooyoung’s steady breathing eventually lulled you back to sleep too. This time, without fear following you there.

Jongho 1k w

Of course Jongho picked the movie. 😭

You spent almost the entire film curled into his side, trying your best to watch while constantly flinching at jump scares or turning your face into his shoulder whenever scenes got too graphic or gory. Meanwhile, Jongho stayed completely calm through all of it.

He kept one hand intertwined with yours while the other gently rubbed your back whenever he felt you tense up. When the movie finally ended, you looked up at him cautiously.

“So… did you like it?”

Jongho nodded thoughtfully. “It was good,” he said casually. “Though I wish it was a little more realistic.”

You stared at him in disbelief. Ugh, baby… what is wrong with you? You didn’t actually say it out loud, but judging by the look on your face, you were pretty sure he understood anyway.

Getting ready for bed afterward was miserable. Everything suddenly felt wrong. Too dark. Too quiet. Yet somehow too loud at the same time. Your mind kept replaying scenes from the movie no matter how hard you tried to relax enough to sleep. Noticing immediately how tense you were, Jongho gently rubbed the tight muscles in your neck and back while the two of you laid in bed.

He kept doing it until your breathing finally slowed and you drifted asleep beside him. But sometime early in the morning, you suddenly woke up again. Still dark outside. You glanced at the clock. Two hours before your alarms.

Just great. Taking deep breaths, you tried to calm yourself down, but everything felt worse awake in the darkness. It was strange — you hadn’t even noticed how dark the room was before going to sleep.

Though honestly, it probably didn’t help that your brain short-circuited a little every single time Jongho touched you. That definitely made staying rational harder. Being such a light sleeper, Jongho woke up almost immediately the second he sensed your panic. Without hesitation, he reached for you and pulled you into his chest.

“Why’re you up so early, hm?” he asked sleepily. You sighed softly.

“Weird dreams,” you mumbled.

Jongho knew instantly they were more than just weird dreams.

Already accepting that neither of you were likely going back to sleep anytime soon, he reached over and turned the light on immediately, the warm glow easing your fear almost instantly. Then he pressed a soft kiss against the top of your head before climbing out of bed. You blinked up at him curiously.

“Where are you going?”

“Making tea,” he answered simply.

So you followed him into the kitchen, your fingers loosely intertwined the whole way. Jongho made the two of you warm cups of tea while the apartment stayed quiet and peaceful around you. Honestly, it became a lovely way to start the morning.

Sitting together at the table, you talked quietly about work, schedules, and random little things going on in your lives while the sky slowly started brightening outside. Eventually, your alarms began going off from the bedroom. By then, your eyes had already started drooping again. The fear had faded. The movie forgotten.

After a while, Jongho grabbed his phone before heading back toward the bedroom. Confused, you followed after him.

“Wait,” you asked sleepily, “why are we getting back in bed? Aren’t we supposed to get up now?” Jongho glanced over at you casually.

“Took the day off.”

Your heart nearly melted. Before you could even respond, he pulled you back into bed beside him, wrapping an arm securely around your waist.

“Go back to sleep,” he murmured softly. “We’ve got the whole day free.”

And wrapped safely in his arms while the morning sunlight slowly filled the room— you finally did fall back to peaceful dreams.

[papawolfchris]

BANG CHAN @ GOV BALL NYC '26

[hyunpic]

hyuni the blob

[angelics-ink]

𝒲𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝐻𝑒 𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒𝒹 𝑀𝑒

｡ ₊°༺❤︎༻°₊ ｡｡ ₊°༺❤︎༻°₊ ｡｡ ₊°༺❤︎༻°₊ ｡

Pairing : Seonghwa x Reader

Genre : Fluff

WC : >1K

Authors Note : Been feeling super soft for Seonghwa lately so here ya go.

｡ ₊°༺❤︎༻°₊ ｡｡ ₊°༺❤︎༻°₊ ｡｡ ₊°༺❤︎༻°₊ ｡

Seonghwa, who had to work up the courage to ask you for your phone number. When he finally did, he put on a face of confidence, even though his heart was pounding in his chest. He texted you as soon as you were out of his sight.

Seonghwa, who when he asked you to join him for dinner, his voice cracked in the middle of it. He was so nervous to ask you, completely enthralled by simply being near you. He’d pull out your chair for you and ask you how your days been. He’d say you look beautiful when you’re blushing.

Seonghwa, who when he walked you to your door, he gave himself a mental pep talk before cupping your cheek and kissing you softly. His body melting against yours when you wrapped your arms around him. When you went inside, he walked back to his car, pumping his fist in the air in silent excitement.

Seonghwa, who after your first date felt immediately comfortable with you. He’d let out a dramatic sigh when you let go of his hand, side eyeing you playfully. You’d laugh and grab him again, only for him to pull you close and cover your face in kisses.

Seonghwa, who loved when you cooked for him. You’d spend hours in the kitchen, using far too many pans and utensils. But when he tasted it, his eyes lit up and he showered you in praise. He always cleaned his plate as if it was from a Michelin star restaurant. You’d learned how to make his favorite dishes, on the condition that he cleaned the kitchen after. He never complained.

Seonghwa, who when you made love for the first time, spent what felt like an eternity kissing along your skin. His body fit yours perfectly, in every way. His movements slow and intentional. When you’d both finished, he held you in his arms, whispering praises and affectionate words into your ear. He'd say he’d never felt so safe in bed with someone before.

Seonghwa, who when you woke up in the middle of the night and reached for him, wasn’t there. You’d waddle sleepily around the house until you got to the backyard, seeing him sitting in a lawn chair, his notebook in hand. You never interrupted him, leaning against the door frame and admiring the way the moonlight cascaded around him. He looked gorgeous like this, and you lost track of time watching him writing his poetry. 

Seonghwa, who when you came to him after losing your job, tears flowing freely down your face, took you in his arms. His hand splayed across your back as he said “You’re okay, calm down my love…” He knew he couldn’t fix this one, he didn’t hold the answers on how to help. So when you fall apart in his hold, he’s simply a safe place to land. When you were done crying, he’d lay your head in his lap, running his fingers through your hair.

Seonghwa, who when you moved in, gave up half his closet. He had so much clothes but knew you’d also need space. Over time, his outfits took over the closet again. You didn’t mind, it was all worth the fashion shows he’d give you after shopping.

Seonghwa, who on his birthday was shocked to see you’d decked out the apartment with balloons and banners. He’d open your pile of gifts, smiling as wide as a child on Christmas morning. Every time he opened a Lego set, he squealed, asking you how you’d managed to find the rarest ones. He’d spent the afternoon putting them together, showing you the finished product with a grin on his face.

Seonghwa, who when he told you he loved you for the first time, started crying. You’d let him speak, holding his hand as he expressed his affection and admiration of you. When he finished, he looked at you, vulnerable and pleading. And when you kissed him, repeating his sentiment, he made love to you on the living room couch, his touch tender and effortless.

Seonghwa, who struggled with his confidence. That voice in the back of his head was always gnawing at him. When it got bad, you'd massage his shoulders and ask him what he was thinking. You’d spend as much time as you needed counteracting every negative thought. Eventually your voice was more prevalent in his head than his own.

Seonghwa, who held your broken pieces together when you couldn’t anymore. Who looked at every part of you and saw you. He heard your struggles and sat in awe at who was in front of him. He celebrated when your therapist said you didn’t need sessions anymore, then reassured you when that changed.

Seonghwa, who when he loved you, he loved all of you. Every inch, every flaw, every wrinkle. Your laugh was his favorite sound and you were the highlight of his days. He didn’t need to be extravagant or over the top, he just needed to be himself. That was more than enough. He was more than enough.

[sheerfreesia007]

Where Foxes Bleed Neon - Chapter 5

Pairing: Jeongin x OC/Reader

Rating: Mature

Word count: 17,161

Content warnings: Organized crime/Yakuza AU, references to previous violence, attempted kidnapping, attempted arson, non-graphic violence and fight sequences, blood and injury mentions, found family dynamics, established romantic relationship, friends-to-lovers progression, age-gap romance (adult characters), long-distance relationship, emotional intimacy, mutual devotion, kissing, implied/fade-to-black consensual sexual content, excessive Stray Kids sibling energy, affectionate bullying, clingy/lovesick Jeongin behavior, possessiveness played for comedy, and a baby fox slowly realizing that his girlfriend, his clan, and an entire city have all become part of the same future. 

Summary: As Trails' relationship with Jeongin deepens, she says goodbye to Ava and Jay-Jay and is forced to confront just how strongly both Seoul and its young fox faction leader have captured her heart. After accidentally uncovering the true purpose behind the mysterious graffiti appearing throughout the city, Trails helps Jeongin and the Stray Kids Clan expose a planned attack against the First Shrine, earning the respect of both Chan and the rest of the clan, who quickly welcome her as one of their own. When the anniversary celebration comes under threat, Jeongin successfully leads the clan in stopping the rival gang's operation, proving himself as a capable leader while uncovering evidence of a far more dangerous enemy working from the shadows. Amid growing danger, Trails and Jeongin find moments of peace together in the bamboo forests surrounding his faction, strengthening their bond and promising that distance will never truly separate them. After surviving a month apart, their joyful reunion culminates in Trails choosing to remain in Seoul permanently, while an ominous discovery by Chan reveals that the battle threatening the clan is only just beginning. 

A/N: Divider was created by @saradika-graphics, thank you for sharing your dividers with tumblr!

Jeongin Taglist: @kayleefriedchicken, @ivaviavi, @justsomekpopstuff, @lov3rachan, @cixrosie, 

@my-neurodivergent-world, @channiesrightasscheek, @toru-saki, @inlovewithstraykids, @bookswillfindyouaway, 

@m-325, @niku0704, @cliosunshine, @sweetdemon1998, @littlekaylayt,

@alondra6011, @bunbunbl0gs, @nougatjade, @starrynightviper, @karlee10261990,

@pixie-felix, @imsleepingwhataboutu, @matchacha65, @tricky-ritz, @bunnythesiren

The next morning arrives far too quickly as sunlight spills through the curtains of the hotel suite in soft gold bands, painting warm stripes across the carpet and the half-packed luggage scattered around the room. For the first time since arriving in Seoul, the atmosphere felt strangely subdued, it was a far cry different from the first day that the three of you had arrived here excited for your vacation to begin. You sat cross-legged on the edge of Ava’s bed as you watched Ava finish packing her last piece of luggage before zipping it up slowly. Ava looks up from her luggage and frowns softly as her eyes land on you, you watch her quietly waiting to see if she says something.

“You know,” Ava muttered softly with the frown still on her face before she sighs. “I still think we’re abandoning you.” 

“No babe.” you say softly to her as you shake your head at her worried words. She kneels on the carpeted floor right in front of the bed staring at you as you look at her softly. Her and Jay-Jay had decided after the ambush last night that they wanted to change their departure date by a few days so that they could get home sooner, the violence shaking them a bit more than any of you had expected. “I will be fine and follow you guys home in a week.” you tell her softly.

“Yeah, but we’re leaving without you and you’re staying somewhere unsafe.” Ava insisted worriedly and you shook your head at her concern.

“I promise I will be careful. I’m moving to the resort further in the area closer to the bamboo forest.” you tell her just as Jay-Jay walks into the room carrying a brightly colored travel pillow and immediately pointed accusingly at you with a knowing grin on her face.

“Not to mention your scary gangster boyfriend will be protecting you.” Jay-Jay said teasingly and rolled your eyes at her.

“I don’t have a boyfriend.” you argue and Jay-Jay plops down on the bed next to you with a disbelieving look on her face.

“Mmm.” she hums as she side-eyes you before turning back to look at Ava. “That’s not what I heard last night.” Jay-Jay says delightedly which causes Ava to gasp loudly before whipping her head to stare at you with wide eyes.

“You slept with the Gangster Prince?!” she asked you accusingly and you felt heat bloom under your skin as Jay-Jay burst out into delighted laughter.

“More than once.” Jay-Jay supplied importantly and you groaned loudly as you flopped back onto the bed as your hands came up to cover your face trying to escape from their attention.

“Oh my god! You dirty girl!” Ava crowed out proudly as she eagerly climbed onto the bed over you. “Was he good? Did he rock your world!? Details Trails! I need details!” Ava cried out and you burst out into giddy laughter at her antics as Jay-Jay quickly began tickling your side.

“I am not giving you fiends any details!” you cry out as you try to squirm away from the two of them. Ava grabs your wrists and pins them to the bed as she hovers over you.

“You gotta tell us at least if he was good in bed!” Ava cried out amusedly as she stared down at you. “At least tell us one of us got her socks rocked while on vacation!” You stare up at Ava imploringly but she gazes down at you expectantly while Jay-Jay watches you curiously.

“Fine! Fine!” you cry out and they both look at you excitedly. “He’s the best I’ve had.” you admitted and they both screamed with excitement as Ava shakes your wrists.

“Yes!” Ava cries out as Jay-Jay laughs while giving you an impressed look.

“I would hope so. The two of you were at it for a while last night.” Jay-Jay says and you groan loudly underneath Ava.

“Jay-Jay!” you cry out and she bursts out laughing once again.

“What?! You two were loud last night.” she teases you and you groan softly and flop your head back onto the bed as she and Ava laugh at you. 

“Sorry-” you begin but both Ava and Jay-Jay stop you immediately from apologizing.

“Don’t you dare apologize!” Ava gasped out as she shook her head before letting go of one of your wrists and pointed her index finger into your face. “We’ve told you before, if there’s one of us that deserves to find a boyfriend while on this vacation, it’s you. So do not apologize for hooking up with the gangster prince. We both approve fully. Right Jay-Jay?” Ava explains before turning her head to Jay-Jay.

“Absolutely. I 100% approve of this.” Jay-Jay says as she nods her head in agreement as she smiles happily. You look at both of them before you smile softly at them and they both lock in on your face with curious stares as their eyebrows raise slowly. “Oh my god.” Jay-Jay says softly as her eyes widen. “It’s so much more than just hooking up isn’t it?” she asks giddily as she bounces in her place on the bed. Ava looks at her surprised before whipping her head to stare at you before she gasps.

“Okay, okay. I told him I wanted to have a relationship with him and he agreed.” you admitted softly and they both began squealing like teenagers. 

“Oh my god! Oh my god!” Ava gasps out loudly as she moves to sit on the bed on your other side and pulls you up to sit up straight. “So how is this going to work? You don’t live here and you have to go back home in two weeks. Are you going to do long distance?” she asks wanting to know immediately.

“We agreed to commit to a relationship and see where it goes. I explained that we could go slow and figure it out together, but I did tell him that I would return after going home.” you explain to them causing Ava and Jay-Jay to grin at you.

“And what are you feeling for him? Do you think this relationship could work out?” Jay-Jay asked fondly as she looked over at you.

“I know that I’ve only known him for less than a month and that this seems crazy. Trust me I know. But there’s a side to him that just blows me away. He’s cocky, young and reckless but he cares so deeply for those he loves. He’s got this protective side to him that sneaks in without your realizing. Not to mention he actually listens to me and doesn’t try to stop me when I ramble.” you explain before pausing for a moment as you stare down at your hands. “But I think that’s the problem.” you say slowly.

“What is?” Ava asks softly and you smile faintly at her question.

“I don’t feel like I have to explain myself to him.” you say quietly and the room around you silences. “Most people hear me talking about history or folklore or architecture and they smile politely until I’m finished. Jeongin actually listens, he asks questions and he remembers things.” you say as you shake your head slowly with a soft smile on your face. “Half the time I don’t even think he realizes he’s doing it.”

“He pays attention.” Jay-Jay says knowingly as her teasing expression softens at your words.

“Yeah,” you agree as you laugh quietly. “He pays attention.” Your gaze drifts over to the hotel window and you stare out of it as you remember every meeting with Jeongin and the way your relationship slowly developed between you. “And the weird part is that I don’t think he fell for some idealized version of me. He knows I’m stubborn. He knows I disappear into research for hours. He knows I overthink things and wander off by myself and get distracted by old buildings.” you say softly.

“To be fair,” Ava interrupted fondly as she looked at you, “you absolutely do all those things.” 

“I know.” you say as you laugh. “But he likes those things about me.” you say, sounding surprised at that fact. The realization still felt strange to you every time you said it aloud. “And I like who I am around him.” you whisper to them and those words earned complete silence from your two friends. And that was because they both realized that was the real answer to Jay-Jay’s question. It wasn’t the flirting or the attraction or even the way your stomach flipped every time he looked at you with those heated knowing eyes. It was the way being around him felt easy, comfortable and natural. “I don’t know if I’ve known him for three weeks or three years sometimes.” you admit quietly. “When I’m with him, it feels like he’s been part of my life longer than he actually has.” you tell them.

“That’s a dangerous answer.” Ava says as her expression softens while gazing at you.

“I know.” you say in soft awe. “Because that’s the kind of answer people give when they’re falling in love.” you say shocked before you quickly shake your head as Ava and Jay-Jay share a quiet knowing look. “I’m not saying that.” you try to deny but neither of them allow you to as they shake their heads with a wide smile.

“You’re absolutely saying that.” Jay-Jay says teasingly and you look at her with wide eyes as you shake your head.

“I’m not.” you argue but Ava places a hand over yours gently as she calls your name softly. 

“Trails.” she coos at you and you groan dramatically as you try to hide your face once again.

“What I’m saying,” you mutter through your hands while the two of them gaze at you waiting for you to continue, “is that when I picture myself coming back to Seoul…” you say slowly before stopping because suddenly the answer felt obvious. “It’s not the festivals I think about first anymore. It’s him.” you admitted softly.

The problem was that somewhere between the palace, the rose festival, the shrines and the late-night conversations, you had stopped seeing Jeongin as simply an intriguing local guide who kept appearing in suspiciously convenient locations. You had started seeing him, really seeing him. The young man who carried an entire faction on his shoulder while pretending none of it mattered. The man who desperately wanted to be treated like a leader while secretly worrying he wasn’t enough. And that realization was considerably more dangerous than finding him attractive. Because attraction was easy. Understanding someone? That was where things became complicated.

“You’re doing that face again.” Jay-Jay said softly in a sing-song voice which made you blink at her.

“What face?” you ask her.

“The thinking face.” Jay-Jay told you and Ava nodded her head as she leaned into your side.

“The one where you’re overanalyzing everything.” Ava tells you knowingly.

“I am not.” you argue but the two of them nod their heads causing you to sigh deeply.

The room fell quieter after that, the reality of departure finally settling over the three of you as you sat on the bed together. Suitcases stood lined near the front door of the hotel suite as you all prepped to leave. Ava and Jay-Jay’s boarding passes sat ready on the coffee table while all of your phones sat fully charged near them. The trip that had felt endless only a week ago suddenly seemed far too short for all of you but now as you admitted to your feelings for the young man that had stumbled into your lives you felt at peace knowing that your two best friends approved and supported you.

Before long the three of you were checking out of the luxury hotel, Jeongin had thoughtfully booked a chauffeur for the three of you and you met the man outside who bowed to the three of you before gently taking your luggage from you and loading them into the car. The three of you climb into the car and Ava whistles low at just how luxurious the vehicle is. Jay-Jay nods her head as she checks out the drink bar and the snacks that are stored there already, noticing that they’re the snacks that each one of you enjoys.

“Your man thought of everything huh?” Jay-Jay asks you with a soft smirk and you duck your head in slight embarrassment as you pull out your phone and send a quick text message to Jeongin.

Trails: Thank you for the car and everything in it. The girls are very pleased and being absolute menaces about my man.

My Baby Fox: I’m glad they enjoy it. And as they should.

You roll your eyes at his text before you lean your head against Jay-Jay’s shoulder as you stare out the window watching as the morning traffic slips past you on your way to the airport.

By the time you reach the departures section, the airport has become its own bustling world within the busy city. Rolling suitcases rattle across polished floors, boarding announcements echo overhead, families hug goodbye, and business travelers hurry past carrying coffee and stress in equal measure. You walked alongside Ava and Jay-Jay through the crowd, trying not to think about how empty Seoul was about to feel with their departure. At security, the teasing returned one final time naturally as your best friends had to get one last dig in at you. Lovingly of course.

“Text us if the gangster prince kidnaps you.” Ava says jokingly as she wraps her arms around you tightly, but with the way she grips you you can tell that there’s some worry to her words.

“I may like it if he does.” you tell her and she laughs watery before hugging you tightly once more.

“TMI.” she counters and you laugh at her before you both slowly pull back.

“If he breaks your heart, call us. We’ll be on the first flight back to rip him a new one.” Jay-Jay tells you happily before she grins fondly and pulls you into a tight hug. “I highly doubt he’d do that though. The man is so down bad for you.” she whispers into your ear delightedly and you squirm in response while she holds onto you tightly not letting you go. When you pulled away from Jay-Jay the two of them were gazing at you with softened expressions on their faces and you couldn’t help but feel tears well in your eyes as emotions began to fill you quickly.

“You deserve something good, Trails.” Ava said softly as the three took a step closer to each other in a small huddle. “And he’s good for you.” she adds softly which makes your breath catch slightly as the teasing disappears completely between the three of you. The sincerity caught you off guard only slightly and you shook your head at her words.

“Ava’s right, you spend so much time taking care of everyone else. That you finally deserve to have someone take care of you for once.” Jay-Jay says fondly to you and there’s something about her words that lingers for you, because despite your protests Jeongin was already taking care of you. The thought stayed lingering in your mind as your alarm began to ring signaling that they needed to start heading through security to get to the gate in time for their flight. You quickly wrapped the two of them in a tight group hug and they did the same to you. The three of you just standing in the moment quietly before pulling apart, you stayed where you were standing watching as they went through the security line before disappearing beyond it. 

And just like that they were gone. The terminal suddenly felt much larger without them at your side and there was a quietness to your surroundings that weren’t there before. You stood alone near one of the massive windows overlooking the runways of the airport. Aircrafts moved slowly across the tarmac, baggage carts buzzed in the distance, clouds drifted across the pale blue sky and for the first time since arriving in Korea you were completely on your own. No friends, no distractions, just your thoughts and most of those thoughts seemed determined to revolve around one specific person. Your reflection stared back from the glass, your eyes looked tired while your expression was thoughtful. You were a woman who had come to Seoul expecting history, architecture and research notes. Instead you had somehow found yourself tangled up with a stubborn, reckless fox who refused to leave you alone. A small smile tugged at your mouth despite yourself. Jeongin would probably be insufferably pleased if he knew you were thinking about him right now, which is exactly why you would never tell him but then your phone buzzed in your pocket. And as if he had known somehow that you were thinking of him there was a new message from him.

My Baby Fox: Did Ava and Jay-Jay get on the flight okay? You stared down at the message for a quiet moment before you huffed out a soft laugh. Even for two women that he had only met a little less than a month ago he was protective of them, he had already accepted them as part of his faction.

Trails: Yep, everything went well. Thank you again.

My Baby Fox: Of course. Can I see you now? I’m going through withdrawals. You huffed at his text while shaking your head at him before typing out another message to him.

Trails: Greedy fox.

My Baby Fox: For you? Always. I’ll meet you at the bamboo resort Noona. Desire spiked through your lower stomach as a pleased smile slipped across your face as you read his words. You slipped your phone into your pocket before turning and heading out of the airport back to the parking lot where your driver was waiting for you.

As you walked through the airport heading towards the exit that led to the parking garage where your driver was waiting you barely noticed anyone around you your thoughts were more focused on a persistent young fox that had weasled his way firmly into your life. You were walking slowly through the terminal eager to head to the bamboo resort that you were moving to for the rest of your stay here in Seoul when movement on one of the many television screens mounted above a waiting area caught your eye. 

It was a news report and normally it wouldn’t have phased you but a familiar image made you stop in your tracks. On the screen was a mural, large and colorful covered in symbols. A reporter’s voice drifted through the terminal noise as you stepped closer to the television and looked up at it curiously.

“Authorities overseas continue investigating a growing network of protest murals appearing across multiple cities.” the reporter stated which made you frown as you watched the camera zoom in on painted walls covered in intricate artwork. At first glance they looked artistic, political and chaotic. “Experts believe the murals contain hidden messages used to communicate between resistance groups. Repeated symbols, placement patterns, and visual motifs appear to function as coded instructions.” the reporter advised and you instantly froze as recognition crashed into you.

The terminal vanished around you, the noise ceased to be heard, the travelers disappeared from your view, everything was erased as your mind raced backward to each sighting of graffiti that you had seen. The fox imagery, the sparrow, the symbols and weird lettering that was in each painting. 

“No way.” you said softly as your breath caught in your chest.

“Historians note that coded visual communication has existed for centuries. Ancient civilizations often embedded warnings, routes and instructions within artwork that appeared harmless to outsiders.” the reporter continued speaking and something clicked hard within your mind almost as if a lock on a door had turned. You stared up at the screen then immediately pulled out your phone and opened your photo roll. Every photograph you’d taken over the last several days appeared and you quickly scrolled through noting every vandalized shrine, every graffitied fox statue, the murals with all their symbols. And the symbols repeated in each mural that you had photographed. Again, and again, and again. Your heart began pounding as you tried to piece together what it was that you were looking at.

“These weren’t just graffiti. These were warnings, someone was instructing the rival gang.” you said softly to yourself in shock. A businessman that was walking past you glanced at you strangely but you didn’t notice as you slipped your cell phone out of your pocket and quickly tapped on Jeongin’s contact name.

“Hey Noona! Couldn’t even wait til I get to the resort?” he greeted you eagerly but you cut him off quickly.

“Jeongin, I figured something out about the graffiti. Can we meet somewhere closer?” you asked him hoping that he could pick up on your urgency to meet with him.

“Wait, the graffiti?” he asked, confused. “Yeah, I’ll text your driver to bring you to my office. Just get to the driver and he’ll bring you to me.” he told you, sounding intrigued yet confused.

“Okay, great. See you soon.” you told him before hanging up. You quickly headed out of the airport to the parking garage where the driver was waiting for you on the second floor.

“I got the updated location that we’re heading to. Should only be a ten minute drive. Do you need me to stop anywhere beforehand?” he informed you before questioning softly. You quickly shook your head before climbing into the back of the vehicle where he gently shut the door behind you.

When you arrived at Jeongin’s office you idly recognized the building as one you had passed before while exploring the nightlife area but hadn’t paid much attention to it. It was a simple two story building that didn’t stand out with any distinguishing features. The front of it was rather plain looking and only had a simple sign above the front door that said ‘SKZ Offices’. Once the vehicle came to a stop in front of the building you quickly grabbed your travel notebook and cell phone before climbing out of the vehicle and heading towards the building. You were surprised when Dong-Geon stepped out of the front door and held it open for you as if he had been waiting for you inside, he nodded his head at you in greeting.

“Jeongin-ssi said that you found something about the graffiti.” he said as he guided you into the building. The first floor looked like a simple reception area with one desk where a woman sat smiling softly at you as she typed away at her computer. There were two doors behind her one on either side of her desk and you figured one led to more offices and then one led to the second floor.

“Yes, but I need to print out some pictures to be able to explain what I’ve found. Would I be able to do that in his office?” you asked Dong-Geon who nodded his head easily at you. “Okay, good.” you said softly as the two of you continued through the reception area and through the door on the right side of her desk that led to a set of narrow stairs heading to the second floor. 

Once on the second floor there was only one set of double doors and Dong-Geon easily escorted you into the large office behind them. When you entered the office Jeongin looked up as he sat at his desk at the back of the room. He quickly stood from his chair and walked around his desk to meet you in the middle of the room.

“Hi Noona.” He greeted you warmly with a soft smile on his face before pressing a quick kiss to your cheek which surprised you into silence before you blinked and shook your head at him which made Jeongin smirk at you. “Show me what you’ve found.” he says softly and you nod your head at him before pulling your phone out. 

“I need to print these images out. Can I connect to your printer?  And then I need a map of your faction so that we can pinpoint where each graffiti has shown up.” you tell him and he quickly nods his head as he takes your phone and connects it to his printer before handing it back to you before waving at Dong-Geon who wheels over a rolling corkboard that Jeongin had been using ever since the graffiti started showing up in his faction over two months ago. You stare at the map he had poked different colored pushpins into at different areas. “Wow.” you said softly as you saw how many sites of vandalism had been found.

“The green represents the graffiti while the orange ones show the fox statues that were vandalized.” He tells you and you spot the different colors noticing that for every graffiti sight there were at least two fox statue vandalisms surrounding it. The three of you move to the table near the corkboard as you begin printing out the pictures from the graffiti sites and you lay out your notebook on the table before turning to the two of them.

“So while I was at the airport I watched a news report about coded protest murals and how the protesters had been using the murals to communicate with each other on where the next protest was going to be and where to gather together.” you explained to the two of them as Dong-Geon gathered the printed pictures and brought them to the table to lay them out. You followed him and began rearranging the pictures in each graffiti site before writing on the bottom of each picture the area where the site was. “The report spoke about how the protesters were using certain symbolism to relay their messages and it got me thinking about the graffiti and how each one had similar symbols and letters in them.” you explained before tapping a picture of a fox then moving to tap a picture of a broken sparrow and then finally tapping a picture of the letters ‘MIK’.

“You think that the rival gang is trying to communicate with each other?” Jeongin asks curiously as his eyes dart from each picture on the table.

“I don’t know if it’s the gang or someone else.” you tell him softly and he frowns at your words before looking up at you. “The letters ‘MIK’ show up in each graffiti sighting in some small way. It’s normally down in the corner or along the bottom of the walls where the graffiti shows up. It’s almost like a signature or tag.” you say softly as you show them the pictures you took of each ‘MIK’. 

“Who would go by the name Mik? We don’t know anyone by that name.” Dong-Geon said softly as he looked down at the pictures with a furrowed brow. You looked over at him before tilting your head to the side as you regarded the letters.

“What about Kim? Do you guys know a Kim?” you asked curiously and the two men scoffed softly as they looked over at you.

“It’s the most common surname in Korea.” Jeongin says softly with a smile and you look at him helplessly before he leans over and presses a kiss to your temple. “But you’re right, it probably is Kim and not Mik.” Jeongin tells you proudly. You write that down in your notebook under your earlier note of ‘MIK’ and add two question marks to it.

“The fox represents Jeongin-ssi obviously.” Dong-Geon said and you nodded your head at his words in agreement before you pointed to a picture of arrows and patterns around a fox image in one of the graffiti sites.

“But I don’t think that the fox or Jeongin is the actual message of the graffiti.” you explain and Jeongin frowns as he looks up at you. “Or it’s not the main message of the graffiti. I think they’re trying to show directions through your faction, because look at each of the arrows and patterns that surround the fox. Yes, it’s your faction but each graffiti seems to follow the direction of the one before.” you explain and Jeongin turns to the corkboard again as he begins pointing to each pushpin.

“So they’re giving directions on where to do the next graffiti?” he asked, confused and you nodded your head.

“They’re mapping out your faction.” you tell him softly and Jeongin frowns darkly at your words. “They’re planning something that I haven’t figured out yet but the patterns and arrows mean some sort of directional instruction.” you tell them and they both look from the pictures to the corkboard.

“It looks like they’re guiding it around the faction in a spiral.” Dong-Geon murmurs which causes both you and Jeongin to look at the corkboard curiously. Jeongin squints his eyes at the corkboard for a second before he growls low in his throat catching your attention and making you whip your head towards him.

“I know where they’re going.” he says darkly before walking toward the corkboard before tapping his index finger in a section that is along the border of the nightlife section and the traditional section. You move closer and see on the map that there’s a rather large shrine where he’s pointing to and you tilt your head curiously.

“What’s the significance of that shrine?” you ask him and Jeongin looks over at you.

“It’s the first shrine that was erected in this faction.” Jeongin tells you and your eyes widen at his words as the significance hits you. “It’s the oldest part of the faction besides the bamboo forest. It’s like the central point of the faction.” Jeongin explains and you nod your head at him, Jeongin gazes at you for a silent moment before chuckling softly. “I can’t believe you figured this out from graffiti.” he said in quiet disbelief as Dong-Geon nodded his head in shock.

“Art tells stories, even dangerous ones.” you tell them with a shrug of your shoulder. The room grows quiet as the three of you stand there surrounded by pictures of graffiti and the corkboard with the map of Jeongin’s faction on it. Jeongin stares at you with admiration written across his face before he startles suddenly. “I haven’t figured out everything though only directions and that they’re planning something. I don’t have time or reason or even what it is that they’re planning to do.” you say trying to explain that you don’t have all the answers but Jeongin shakes his head as he smiles softly at you.

“This is enough to get the clan moving though.” Jeongin tells you honestly and Dong-Geon nods his head as he points at the corkboard’s side showing the dates of each graffiti sighting.

“Plus there’s another pattern of when the graffiti showed up.” Dong-Geon points out. “Each sighting happened every two days. So if we go based on that pattern we have two days til the next one.”

“Is that enough time to gather the clan?” you ask and Dong-Geon nods his head which makes you breathe a little easier but then you notice Jeongin staring at the corkboard quietly with squinted eyes.

“Dong-Geon, isn’t the anniversary of the first shrine in two days?” Jeongin asks softly which makes Dong-Geon frown softly as he pulls his phone from his pocket and checks his calendar app.

“You’re right, they’re going to attack the shrine on its anniversary.” Dong-Geon tells him darkly and Jeongin scowls angrily as his eyes sweep across the corkboard.

“I have to make a phone call.” Jeongin says suddenly and then pulls his cell phone out of his pocket before tapping on a contact. “Hyung,” Jeongin greets Chan as he begins to pace away from the table, one hand braced against his hip while the other held the phone to his ear. “Yeah. We found out something about the graffiti.”

You watched him carefully from across the room in front of the corkboard while Dong-Geon stood next to you gazing at it with his arms folded across his chest. The two of you were silent as you both listened to the one sided conversation.

“No, not another tag. It’s a whole pattern. Trails figured it out. They’re using the graffiti as directions and instructions on where and when to strike my faction next.” Jeongin explained quickly before falling quiet, your eyes watched him as he looked up at you and smiled slightly before nodding his head once before he began pacing once again but slower this time. “Each graffiti sighting points to the next location. There’s arrows and hidden directions in each site.” he explained and you watched as his expression sharpened as Chan most likely asked a few questions. “The arrows, repeated symbols and the foxes.” he answered quickly as he turned back to the table with all your pictures laid out. There was another pause before Jeongin spoke up again. “No, that’s what we thought too. The fox isn’t the message though, it’s the route.” he explained as he turned and looked towards the corkboard where you stood and his eyes swept across the pushpins. “They’ve been mapping their movement through my faction.” he said darkly. There’s another pause and Jeongin walks up to come stand beside you as he gazes at the corkboard with squinted eyes. “Chan the graffiti spirals inward. We believe the rival gang is going to strike at the First Shrine in two days, on the anniversary.” Jeongin says darkly and pauses. “Chan,” Jeongin says suddenly and you can see his face go cold and still as something clicks in his head. “There are going to be thousands of locals there during the anniversary.” Jeongin says and you freeze in place at that implication as your eyes dart immediately to Jeongin who looks at the corkboard with a concerned look on his face.

Jeongin suddenly paces away from the corkboard and you can tell by the way his shoulders tense that whatever Chan is telling him is not something he wants to hear. And that’s confirmed when Jeongin begins to argue with Chan over the phone.

“No. We’re not waiting. I can’t have anyone else getting hurt because of this rival gang.” Jeongin snaps angrily. “This is my faction. I can get ahead of them. I’ve set up a crew and they’ve been tracking them.” Jeongin insisted and you watched as confidence settled across him, this wasn’t arrogance or recklessness. This was certainty. This was him stepping up to the challenge of being the leader of his own faction and not allowing his elder to silence him. This was him finally accepting that he could do the job. “What?” Jeongin asked surprised as he blinked, there was a brief pause before his ears immediately began turning red as a smile slipped slowly across his face. “Thank you, Hyung.” he said softly as his eyes darted over to you and Dong-Geon. “Yes, I’ll tell her. We’ll meet you there.” he said softly as his eyes trailed over you silently before he huffed at Chan over the phone before hanging up. He stood there for a quiet moment staring down at his phone.

“Well? What’s the plan?” Dong-Geon asked, pulling Jeongin back from his thoughts as he looked up from his phone.

“Gather the crew and meet up at the bamboo resort.” Jeongin instructed him and Dong-Geon immediately straightened at his words before nodding his head quickly.

“Will do.” Dong-Geon said and Jeongin nodded his head at him dismissing him. You watched as Dong-Geon walked out of the office before turning back to Jeongin who was now watching you quietly.

“What?” you asked as you watched his eyes dart around you silently before lifting towards yours. For a  second he looked unexpectedly young, almost boyish before a smile broke across his face.

“Chan-hyung said he was proud of me.” Jeongin says quietly and his words made your heart squeeze with pride as a smile immediately slips across your face.

“Well, he should be.” you said with a sturdy nod of your head.

“Noona-” Jeongin begins to groan out around a soft laugh but you shake your head at him before stepping closer to him.

“I’m serious.” you tell him confidently. “You’ve been working on this for months. You built a team.” you said as you gestured towards the door the Dong-Geon had disappeared through. Jeongin’s smile slipped from his face as he regarded you with a quiet look. “You organized investigations. And you were willing to listen when someone brought up a different perspective.” you said as you pointed to the corkboard while coming to a stop in front of him. Jeongin gazed at you with softened eyes as he took in how confident you were in him. “That’s leadership, Jeongin. You should be proud of yourself too. I am.” he told him and something vulnerable flickers across his face as he lets your words sink in. 

His face slowly breaks open with a smile that’s warm and pleased before he reaches up and cups your face. He ducks his head quickly and presses his mouth to yours in a soft sweet lingering kiss. The two of you stand there in the middle of his office as he kisses you slowly, each kiss deepening as he lets his happiness take over him. You happily kiss him back as your hands come up and grip the sides of shirt feeling confident that he’s finally accepted that he’s a leader in his own right. When he pulls away from you he rests his forehead against yours gently.

“Thank you.” he whispers to you and blink up at him quietly.

“For what?” you ask him just as softly.

“For believing in me.” he answers and you smile warmly at him. “For trusting me to be a leader that you knew I could be.” You press a hand to his chest right over his heart and smile fondly up at him.

“You are this faction, I had no doubt that you’d step into the role of leader without a problem.” you tell him confidently and he grins widely at you before he remembers something and blinks at you.

“Oh.” he says softly and you frown at him as you watch him silently.

“What?” you ask curiously and his grin turns mischievous.

“Chan-hyung wants to meet you.” he tells you and you stare at him surprised.

“What?” you ask again and he grins wickedly at you as he nods his head.

“The entire clan does, actually.” he tells you and you pull back from him for a moment.

“Jeongin, do you really think that’s a good idea?” you ask him worriedly and you could tell he did as he looked far too amused at the idea of you meeting his clan members.

“Relax.” he tells you softly in a coo and you huff at him.

“I am so totally not relaxed.” you said softly with a worried tone and he smirks softly at you as he wraps his arms low around your waist.

“Is there anything I could do to relax you?” he asks you teasingly and you scowl softly at him.

“Right before we’re going to meet your clan members? Are you insane?” you hiss at him and he laughs delightedly at you as he keeps you cradled close to him while backing you up towards the table.

“C’mon Noona. If Jay-Jay’s text from earlier to me meant anything, apparently I’m the best you’ve had.” he says heatedly and insufferably pleased with himself. You groan loudly as you drop your forehead to his chest as he chuckles at your response. “Let me help you relax, Noona.” he says sultrily as his crooked index finger slips under your chin and guides your face back up to look at him. “Promise I’ll get you to the resort on time for the meeting.” he whispers before ducking his head and capturing your lips with his. You don’t mean to fall under his spell but when his hands begin to roam along your body and pull your clothes from you, you're fully and instantly lost to his attention.

The bamboo resort felt almost unreal to you after the chaos of the city that you’ve recently experienced. Nestled against the forested hillside, the traditional resort overlooked steaming hot springs and winding stone pathways that were illuminated by stone lanterns. Beyond the windows, the bamboo forest loomed mysteriously and made you eager to go explore it. Just then behind you a loud clatter rang out and you turned from the window to watch as Jeongin walked through the door carrying your luggage into the room, nearly dropping your camera bag as he stumbled through the door.

“You know I could’ve helped you with that.” you scold him gently but he shakes his head quickly before looking up at you.

“Absolutely not. I’m your boyfriend now, it’s my job to carry your bags.” he said importantly looking rather pleased with himself which made your stomach heat with affection for him. He set your bags down before walking over to you and wrapping his arms around your waist and pressing himself into your back.

“Oh, is that right?” you ask teasingly and he nuzzles his face into the side of your neck humming happily.

“Yep. Boyfriend duties and privileges.” he mumbles out to you causing you to laugh delightedly at him as your hands come to rest on top of his gently as you both stare out the window at the bamboo forest. The two of you stood there for a quiet moment, you let yourself just enjoy it with him as you shifted and melted back against him letting your weight settle against him as he pressed up against you.

“I’m excited to explore the forest.” you tell him softly and he presses a soft kiss to the base of your neck.

“Why am I not surprised?” he asked teasingly and you huff out a laugh at him.

“You agreed to this relationship with both eyes wide open.” you tease him and he chuckles softly at you while his arms tighten around you.

“You ready to meet the rest of the Clan?” he asks you then and you huff out at him as he nuzzles back into your neck.

“I mean I’ve met you and it worked out alright. I’m pretty sure I can handle the rest of your clan.” you tell him and he huffs at you just as his cellphone pings with a notification.

“Good because they’re ready to meet you.” he tells you cryptically before releasing you and then grabbing your hand gently lacing your fingers together as he guides you out of the room.

By the time the two of you reached the private meeting room Chan had reserved for the evening, you had already questioned every life choice that had somehow led you here. Before even stepping into the room you could hear just how loud and boisterous they all sounded just beyond the door and silently wondered if you actually were ready for them. You could hear someone arguing loudly as laughter rang out before someone immediately began arguing even louder than the first person. The sound of a chair scraping across the floor came next and then what sounded suspiciously like multiple people yelling at the same person. You paused outside the door as Jeongin gazed at you looking far too amused for his own good.

“They’re excited.” he muses softly and you whip your head to gaze at him incredulously.

“That’s not the word I’d use.” you say and he chuckles at you knowingly.

“It gets worse.” he promised and you purse your lips slightly at his words.

“Oh, good.” you say sarcastically which makes a grin spread wide across Jeongin’s face.

When he opens the door for you chaos instantly greets you and your eyes widen as you step into the room with Jeongin following you quickly. A short muscular man has a tall slender man pinned to the long conference table with one fist as the other is raised as if to hit him. There were two men, one dark haired and one blond, sitting together at the table next to where the shorter muscular man had the other pinned looking as if this was all normal to them. And then there were three men sitting up near the head of the table, one was buried in his laptop while Minho sat between him and the man at the head of the table, who you assumed was Chan the leader since he had an intimidating aura around him and he watched everyone with bored eyes. 

The room fell silent for approximately two seconds as seven pairs of eyes locked onto you. Even the man pinned to the table was able to twist enough so that he could get a good look at you. The man holding him immediately let him go and straightened before taking a seat next to the head of the table.

“Oh.” the blond man said softly as his eyes widened and he straightened in his seat. “So she does exist.” 

“I thought Jeongin-ssi made her up.” The dark haired man next to him snorted amusedly. 

“I did too.” said the man buried in his laptop without looking up. “Like an imaginary girlfriend or something.”

“An imaginary Noona.” supplied the muscular man with a wide grin on his face.

“That’s rude.” said the man who had been pinned to the table as he sat up and took a seat next to the muscular one.

“You’re rude.” argued the muscular man back before continuing with an incredulous look on his face. “You literally stabbed someone this morning.” 

“That’s unrelated.” snapped the other man back like a petulant child which made your eyebrow slowly raise as you stared at all of them. You then turned to look at Jeongin who was grinning widely with his eyes squinted like a fox as he waited for you to say something.

“These are the men running Seoul?” you asked incredulously and Jeongin’s eyes sparkled with delight at your words. The room erupted into laughter and you turned back to look at the group of seven men sitting at the table.

“She’s funny.” said the man with his nose pressed to his laptop screen.

“I like her already.” cooed the dark hair man sitting next to the blond, he eyed you hungrily for a moment and you furrowed your brows at him skeptically. The blond haired man actually stood from his seat before walking around the table with a bright smile on his face and his hand stretched out towards you.

“Felix.” he introduces himself and you smile happily at him before shaking his hand.

“Trails.” you introduce yourself and he smiles widely at you. “You were there at the Lantern Festival right?” you ask him with a tilt of your head and his eyes widen at your recognition before nodding his head eagerly.

“You remember me?” he asked, pleased and you nodded your head.

“You were hanging out with Chaip and the one who was just pinned.” you said as you nodded your head at the man who huffs softly at your identification of him while the other men chuckled softly.

“That’s Seungmin.” Felix tells you and you nod your head in understanding. “So has the little fox been annoying?” Felix asked fondly and you smirk softly at his question.

“Constantly.” you deadpan which makes the other men burst into laughter while Jeongin pouts prettily at you.

“Noona.” Jeongin whines softly much to the delight of his clan members but you shake your head at him knowingly.

“You said this meeting was a good idea. Consequences meet actions.” you tell him primly and the dark haired man who had been sitting next to Felix bursts out in loud happy laughter.

“Oh so she knows how to handle you already, huh?” he asks teasingly and you slowly raise an eyebrow at him which makes him blink quietly as Seungmin huffs out a laugh at his response.

“Don’t tempt her Hyunjin. She’s probably already able to read you too.” Seungmin says knowingly as he watches you with quiet eagerness.

“Oh really? Go on then, tell me about Seungminnie first.” Hyunjin challenges you and you smirk wickedly at him which makes the whole room take in a quiet breath.

“Seungmin’s the type that starts arguments because he’s bored.” you say unimpressed which causes Seungmin to jerk back as if you’d slapped him while the others explode with happy laughter as they all nod their heads.

“I do not!” Seungmin cries out.

“You absolutely do.” you argue with him and Felix cackles as he leans into your side already wrapping an arm around yours. “As for tall and lanky-” you begin.

“Hyunjin.” Felix and Jeongin supply helpfully and you smirk softly.

“Hyunjin, you pretend not to care what people think but secretly you care a lot and you’re much softer than you present yourself to be..” you tell him and just after you finish his eyes go wide in surprise.

“Oh my god!” gasped the large muscular man with a shocked look on his face. “You figured him out in ten seconds.” he said in disbelief.

“It took me three.” you told him with a shrug of your shoulders which made the others explode with loud cries of awe.

“You’ve known me for thirty seconds.” Hyunjin said bewildered and you smiled softly at him as you raised an eyebrow.

“Am I wrong?” you asked and he stared at you silently before flicking his head to the side with a sniff.

“I don’t like how accurate that was.” he said primly as he crossed his arms over his chest which made you chuckle at him as Felix happily leaned into your side once more.

“I do.” Felix supplied giddily and you smiled while shaking your head. While the others all began to speak up with their thoughts on how you were able to read and understand them so easily your eyes darted over to Chan, who was watching quietly from the head of the table. He was observing and evaluating you and the scene before him, not in a hostile way but more so a curious one. Almost as if he was trying to understand why Jeongin had become so attached to you, you have half a mind to ask him what he finds out because you’ve got no clue.

“You’ve done quite a bit of research.” Chan says bemusedly and his voice cuts through the chaos immediately. Felix instantly pulled away and took his seat once more as the room around you settled almost instantly.

“A little.” you tell him with a nod of your head and Chan raises an eyebrow surprised.

“A little?” he asked amused and you grin at him while Jeongin huffs out a laugh. “You should know that there are some deep dark web forums that speculate about you and your clan. It’s not hard to find if you actually go looking for it.” you tell him with a shrug of your shoulders.

“And what made you go looking for it?” Chan asks curiously as he leans back in his chair and presses his fingers into his temple as he watches you.

“I like knowing the area that I’m traveling to just in case things go sideways.” you tell him with a shrug of your shoulder. He watches you quietly for a moment before nodding his head in acceptance.

“And you thought that this trip would go sideways?” he asked curiously as his eyes darted to Jeongin who stood just slightly behind you at your side.

“Are you asking me if I thought I was going to find a gangster prince boyfriend?” you ask him sarcastically and Chan’s lips twitch with repressed amused as his eyes sparkle at your challenging manner while Jeongin choked on air behind you. “No, I didn’t.” you tell him softly before smiling warmly. “I’m just as surprised as you all are.” you say fondly and that makes Chan burst out into amused fond laughter.

“Please, tell me about the graffiti.” Chan says then as he gestures towards the table. “Jeongin filled me in on what we need to know but I’m curious as to how you made the connection of the symbolism.” Chan tells you and you nod your head eagerly as you step forward to show him your pictures.

“Neighborhood identity.” you say to him and several eyebrows around the table lifted as Chan turned his head to you with attention already sharpening on you immediately.

“Explain.” he says softly as you lay out the pictures in front of him.

“Most cities lose local identity when development happens too quickly.” you explain as you point to a few pictures you had taken of surrounding areas of where the graffiti had popped up. “Seoul didn’t though. Each of your factions have personalities. The businesses, the architecture, the people.” you explain before your eyes glance over at Jeongin. “There’s emotional investment in each of your factions from you. Whoever is running this rival gang is trying to upset that.” you tell him and he looks up at you with a frown. “People paint hardest where they feel ownership. Whoever is running the gang is trying to stake his claim.” you say softly and Chan looks at you with a squinted look on his face as silence fills the room. You can see the interest flicker across Chan’s face as he watches you. “Cities tell you when something is wrong.” you say with a shrug of your shoulders, you’ve seen it before.

“Cities?” Minho asked with a frown gracing his face, your eyes darted over to him and you nod your head.

“People move differently, businesses change rhythms, public spaces become tense, the atmosphere shifts.” you list off knowingly. Chan stares at you long enough that even the others notice. What you just described to them was exactly how gang territories behaved, exactly how power worked in their world, and exactly how instability spreads.

“You would’ve figured it out eventually.” Chan says quietly in awe as he peers up at you with a surprised look on his face. “The clan, the territory, the structure.” he said and you shrugged your shoulders in response.

“Probably. Given enough time most definitely.” you agree. To your surprise Chan laughed genuinely at your simple response. When he was done laughing his eyes swung to Jeongin who still stood at the far end of the table watching you with a look of pride on his face.

“I like you. Innie did good finding you and latching on.” Chan says bemusedly, which makes you huff at him as a wide grin slips across his face.

“Hyung.” Jeongin huffs out softly as Felix practically vibrates in his chair.

“Chaip likes her too.” Minho says softly and the whole room turns to him as you grin widely at him.

“You look more pleased about that than about being Innie’s girlfriend.” Seungmin jokes and you nod your head without a thought that makes the men burst into amused laughter while Jeongin pouts and moves to your side and wraps his arms around your waist.

“Oh absolutely! Have you met Chaip?” you banter back at Seungmin who rolls his eyes at you.

“Unfortunately.” he gripes out and you scowl darkly at him as Jeongin tightens his arms around you keeping you close to him as he still pouts at you.

“You take that back.” you snap at Seungmin who’s eyes widen at your stern tone as Minho looks smug in his chair.

“She adopted you after the second tea visit.” Minho tells you and your entire face lights up with delight.

“She did?” you ask excitedly as you turn to look at him.

“Completely.” he tells you fondly. “You’re family now.”

“Oh that’s dangerous for all of you.” you say softly and the room dissolves into happy, warm, fond laughter from all of them.

As Jeongin looks around the room at his clan and you he can’t help but feel a warmth fill his chest. His eyes swing over to Chan who’s leaned back in his chair watching as the others move to make space for you around the table. There’s something knowing settled into his gaze, the kind of look family gave when they’d already accepted someone. There was no debate, no vote, no conditions. They had fully accepted already and with how the others moved around you he could see that they had all reached the same conclusion.

Jeongin sat in the chair next to Jisung watching as it happened quietly, his eyes darted over to you where you sat between Felix and Hyunjin laughing at something Hyunjin said while Felix leaned into your side needing to be close to you. The way you argued with Seungmin, questioned Minho about the new tea flavors that Chaip was going to get soon, the way you listened to Changbin’s stories of all the canvases he had to do in his faction. You were holding your own against every single one of them and you fit in seamlessly with them. And for perhaps the first time all day, he relaxed. Because somehow the people he loved most had taken one look at you and decided you belonged with them. And judging by the smile on your face, you had decided the same thing which made him feel full with warmth.

Two days later, Jeongin frowned as he stood in the afternoon crowd milling around the First Shrine, the shine should have felt peaceful but instead Jeongin couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Colorful lanterns swayed overhead in the afternoon breeze as locals filled the shrine grounds for the anniversary celebration. Families wandered between food stalls while elderly residents offered prayers at the main altar. Children chased each other beneath strings of paper wishes tied to wooden racks. Jeongin knew that if it had been up to you you would’ve been here as well but he had made you promise that you’d stay back at the bamboo forest resort, especially after your kidnapping attempt that he still wasn’t completely over.

And there at the center of it all stood the First Shrine, ancient and revered as the heart of his faction. Jeongin stood beneath the eaves of a nearby pavilion studying the crowd while members of his investigation crew quietly reported in.

“No activity on the eastern approach.” 

“South gate is clear.”

“Nothing unusual near the vendor stalls.”

Everything sounded normal which somehow made him even more nervous than he felt he should be. Nearby, Chan stood among the crowd dressed in street clothes so that he could blend in with the crowd as an ordinary visitor, the rest of the clan members were doing the same as him. Each one dressed inconspicuously so that they blended in with their surroundings but they were all armed as they watched and waited. 

Jeongin’s gaze drifted toward the shrine itself, his eyes swept over the old stone fox statues guarding the entrance before sweeping up to the lanterns and anniversary banners that fluttered in the slight breeze. Suddenly his eyes narrowed as his eyes caught on one of the lanterns recognizing the pattern that was printed on it, Jeongin’s eyes narrowed further as they darted from one lantern to the next that was strung along the shrine and any buildings near it. Each of the lanterns had a different pattern stamped on it and as his eyes darted to each one he recognized them from the graffiti sightings.

“The lanterns.” he said softly as his stomach dropped with the knowledge.

“What?” Dong-Geon asked, confused as he blinked at Jeongin for a quiet moment before turning to gaze at the lanterns.

“Some of the patterns on the lanterns match the patterns in the graffiti.” Jeongin explained quickly and Dong-Geon frowned softly before recognition fell over his face.

“Not all of them match though.” Dong-Geon said quietly as his eyes swiveled from lantern to lantern and Jeongin nodded his head in agreement.

“You’re right but look at the ones that do match. They’re all on buildings that are more wood than stone or brick.” Jeongin explained softly as they both moved together through the shrine grounds.

“What’s the significance?” Dong-Geon asked as he turned and kept his eyes trained on the lanterns. Jeongin shook his head softly at the question trying to understand the significance before the memory of something you said during the morning he had found you at the shrine where you both offered a prayer. 

“Fox fire.” Jeongin said softly and Dong-Geon whipped his head to stare at him with a bewildered look on his face.

“What?” Dong-Geon asked exasperatedly and Jeongin felt his mouth drop open as he connected what you had mentioned about fox fire and the lantern patterns.

“They’re going to set it on fire. Each of the matching lanterns is where they’re going to set fire to them.” Jeongin said quickly in explanation and Dong-Geon’s eyes widened at the implication.

“Boss, each place with a matching pattern cuts off an exit path.” Dong-Geon said darkly and Jeongin felt his eyes widen at that knowledge.

“Get everyone into position now.” he snapped at Dong-Geon who nodded quickly and began relaying orders to the crew. Men scattered across the grounds and Jeongin turned to see where the rest of the clan members were, when he spotted Chan their eyes met and Chan gave him a single nod that said your call. “They’re going to try and set fire to the lanterns cutting off exit paths.” Jeongin instructed into his headset in a cool tone. “I need Changbin with the south side team. Felix you’re on the east approach. Minho, I need eyes above, on the rooftops.” 

As Jeongin spoke he watched as each clan member moved without question and with a deathly certainty that spoke volumes to him. He stationed each of them in a section that had matching patterns on the lanterns as he continued to move slowly through the grounds of the shrine watching for the spark of the attack.

Not even fifteen minutes after getting them all into position there was a shout near the western exit of the shrine. Jeongin tensed as he waited, knowing how the gang would operate all due to his crew being able to survey them. There was another shout and Jeongin waited once more until the third shout rang out and that’s when he moved. He spotted the three masked figures bolting from behind a storage building carrying fuel canisters in their hands.

“There!” Jeongin shouted as he sprinted straight towards the masked men with Chan following not far behind him. The two of them descended on the masked men and before the first man had time to turn Jeongin was slamming him into a wall. The canister crashed harmlessly to the ground with a loud clang and then the shrine grounds erupted into chaos. 

It’s chaos but it’s controlled chaos, because they’re all working together to stop the gang from getting to the lanterns like a giant bloody brutal game of keep away. Changbin easily tackles two men attempting to ignite the lantern ropes near the south side of the shrine grounds. Felix intercepts another man near the east side of the grounds that had broken away from Jeongin’s crew. Seungmin was able to knock out two men near the prayer hall and had happily taunted Changbin at his accomplishment. Jeongin could see from his peripheral vision that Minho was moving across the rooftops with terrifying speed, cutting off escape routes for the gang before they even formed. Hyunjin fought like a storm through the northern courtyard, his white shirt rapidly becoming stained with dirt and blood as Jisung helped guide panicked tourists and locals away from the areas where the fighting was going on.

The rival gang never stood a chance because for the first time, the Stray Kids Clan had arrived before them and were able to cut them off before they even began. Jeongin drove another attacker backwards and ripped a lighter from his hand before slamming his fist into the man’s face. Jeongin scowled darkly as the man spat blood out of his mouth before laughing loudly and the sound made Jeongin freeze. Because it wasn’t fear or desperation radiating from the man below him, his laughter sounded confident.

“You think this will stop us?” asked the man cryptically and Jeongin frowned at him as he grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt and dragged him up until his toes grazed the ground. “You still don’t get it.” the man hissed at him before laughing once more. “The boss said that your woman would figure out the murals eventually, said that she has a sharp mind on her. Too observant for her own good.” the man said before spitting more blood out of his mouth. 

At the mention of you Jeongin scowled darkly and wrapped a hand around the man’s throat with an ugly sneer on his face. The man smirked at him as Jeongin slowly tightened his hand around his throat until he jolted in his hands as oxygen became a delicacy Jeongin wasn’t allowing him to partake in.

“Who?.” Jeongin growled darkly as his mind began to race with what the man had said. Boss, not leader or captain but Boss. So someone was above them organizing them to move. There was someone more intelligent than this gang with a plan that they hadn’t been able to figure out yet. Someone who wanted to test the Stray Kids Clan from a distance.

“You think this was about graffiti?” the man asked wickedly as he smiled a twisted dark smile that made Jeongin tense further.

“Who is he?” Jeongin asked again and the man’s smile widened.

“You’ve already met his shadow.” the man said cryptically and Jeongin began to lose his patience with him as he raised his fist once more to strike him down. “And he’s been watching you for a very long time.” Before Jeongin could press further or swing his fist down the man slammed his head backward into the wall and lost consciousness.

“Damn it.” Jeongin cursed out before letting the man go from his grip and watching him disgustedly as he crumpled to the floor. The fighting around him ended and soon the rest of the rival gang members were being restrained so that Chan and the others could question them further. Fuel canisters were soon collected and lanterns were taken down just for peace of mind for the time being. The shrine remained untouched, the celebration could continue and the people in his faction were set at ease that the danger had passed.

Slowly, the sounds of ordinary life returned, laughter filled the air as music and prayer bells swirled together to create a beautiful soundtrack for the day. Jeongin stood there breathing heavily over the man he had been fighting with and as his mind swirled with the information the man had provided him with Chan approached. The clan leader surveyed the scene at Jeongin’s feet before looking around the grounds with a shrewd eye. There were no civilian injuries, no damage to the faction, and only a little bit of panic. In Jeongin’s books that was mission accomplished but he waited to hear from his leader.

“Not bad.” Changbin said as he walked over to the two of them wiping blood from his knuckles.

“Didn’t think I’d see the day you’d keep your cool, baby fox.” Minho said with a smirk as he dropped to the ground from the rooftop.

“He’s trying to show off.” Hyunjin said teasingly as he appeared moments later looking entirely too pleased with himself. Jeongin rolled his eyes at the older man who only grinned wickedly at him before wiggling his eyebrows sultrily.

“Someone’s waiting for him at the resort.” Felix teased delightedly as he wrapped an arm around Jeongin’s neck and the others slowly made their way to his side all jeering at him goodnaturedly. Jeongin merely smirked because they weren’t entirely wrong about that fact. 

“What did he say?” Chan’s question cut through the jovial air that had settled over their group and Jeongin looked up with a concerned frown.

“He said there’s a Boss. He’s pulling the strings and has made plans. Said that we’ve met his shadow before too.” Jeongin told him and Chan’s eyes sharpened on him as silence settled over the group with a heaviness and uneasiness that hadn’t ever been there.

“You did good today.” Chan said pleased as he placed a hand on Jeongin’s shoulder. As Jeongin looked up, he could see that Chan wasn’t being just his leader at this moment, he was acting as his older brother, as his family. There was pride within Chan’s expression and that made Jeongin’s chest fill with warmth, happiness, and pride. “You protected your people and your faction. I was wrong to doubt you. I’m sorry.” Chan said seriously, his voice filled with pride and awe as he spoke and looked at Jeongin with a fond smile on his face. 

Jeongin couldn’t stop the pleased grin that slipped across his face at Chan’s words, because months ago those words would’ve meant everything to him. And even now they still did mean everything to him but Jeongin had a better understanding of himself as a leader of his own faction and even if Chan hadn’t given him these words he knew he had done a good job protecting his faction from danger. He knew he was the right person to lead this faction to not only survive but thrive.

Jeongin should have felt invincible, the mission had gone perfectly. Chan had trusted him to lead not only his crew but the clan and had done so flawlessly. The rival gang had been caught before they could damage another shrine in his faction. For the first time in what felt like forever, Jeongin had walked away from a clan operation with nothing but praises ringing in his ear. And yet as he stood there in front of the concierge of the bamboo resort he felt every bit of that confidence evaporate. Earlier when he arrived back at the resort he had found your hotel room empty and felt himself start to panic after not finding you around the resort at all. It wasn’t until he had come to the front desk and asked about you that the concierge had told him that you had left the resort for the hiking trails.

“She’s not here?” he asked the concierge who stood behind the desk who blinked at him with a polite curious look on his face.

“Miss Trails mentioned hiking near the fox shrine trails bordering the bamboo forest.” he said and Jeongin stared at him with a silent incredulous look on his face.

“Alone?” Jeongin asked in a manner that showed he was holding himself back from reaching forward and grabbing the unsuspecting man by the collar of his shirt.

“She seemed quite capable.” the man answered with a firm nod of his head. Jeongin quickly then turned on his heel before the man had finished speaking and headed out of the resort. Of course you had gone alone, because apparently self-preservation was optional for travel writers. Jeongin huffed to himself as he headed toward the familiar paths that would lead him into the bamboo forest, the forest already welcoming his return.

As Jeongin ventured deeper and deeper into the forest, the quieter the faction became. The music from the nightlife area was nearly non-existent here as concrete gave way to stone walking paths that were overrun with moss and roots. Here in the oldest part of his faction neon surrendered to filtered sunlight. Ancient fox statues watched from beneath moss and tangled roots as small shrines hide between clusters of bamboo just waiting to be discovered.

Without even realizing it, Jeongin reached out and brushed his fingers across the head of one fox statue as he passed it on the trail. Then another and another. The habit was so automatic at this point that he never thought about it as he did it. The farther he walked, the calmer he became. The way the forest surrounded him made him feel at peace, the tension in his shoulders began to ease and then when he stepped around a cluster of bamboo he spotted you and felt his body sigh with relief.

You were standing beside an old shrine marker with your notebook open and your pen moving quickly over the page as you wrote. The peace that you exuded made Jeongin relax even further as he stood there watching you in silence. For a moment he simply just watched you, the way sunlight filtered through the bamboo above you made you look ethereal, the way you tilted your head while reading old carvings on the marker made your hair shift around your head in a way that caught his attention and showed him how pretty you looked. The way you looked like you belonged here despite being from the other side of the world made his heart thud heavily in his chest and he shifted in slight discomfort at the feeling. At hearing his footsteps you turned towards him and a happy smile immediately slipped across your face as you recognized him. The expression hit him harder than any compliment Chan had given him that morning and Jeongin couldn’t help the way he melted under your happy look.

“You survived.” you called out to him teasingly. “I was starting to think I’d have to come rescue you myself.” you told him and Jeongin laughed softly as he stepped closer towards you.

“Not a chance.” he told you  with an easy smile as he came to stand in front of you. His hands slid easily around your waist and pulled you close against him. The second you settled naturally into his arms, something inside him finally relaxed all the way as if it had been waiting for this moment. “I told you I’d come back.” he said softly and you nodded at him before tilting your head up to gaze at him easily.

“You did.” you agreed with him while a fond warm look settled on your face. Jeongin leaned down and kissed you in a way that was more relieved than rushed or desperate. It was the kind of kiss that said I found you. The kind that said thank you for still being here. Jeongin stepped further into the kiss trying to be as close as possible to you after being away from you this morning. When he finally pulled away after getting his fill you blinked up at him dazedly which made him proud as a smile slipped across his face.

“You still with me?” he asked softly and you shook your head trying to clear your fog.

“You’re really good at that.” you say softly and he grins wickedly at you.

“And here I thought you just kept me around because I’m handsome.” he dramatically pouted at you. Your laughter echoed softly through the bamboo surrounding the two of you and Jeongin decided immediately that it was his favorite sound in Seoul.

“C’mon handsome. I want to finish the hike.” you tease him before reaching down and grabbing onto his hand before pulling him along the trail. As the two of you walked the trail your shoulders would bump and graze gently in a steady rhythm that became hypnotic. Jeongin eventually intertwined his fingers with yours and watched as a warm smile spread across your mouth making him want to kiss it right off your face. When you came to another weathered fox statue you stopped as you took a quick picture of it before looking up at him. “Foxes are interesting in Korean folklore.” you said thoughtfully and Jeongin groaned dramatically at your words.

“Here comes the lecture.” he said knowingly and you gasped at him with betrayal written across your face which made him grin.

“My lectures are educational, Sir.” you retorted and he grinned teasingly at you.

“So I’ve been told.” he teased back and you rolled your eyes as you tried to slip your hand out of his but he wouldn’t allow you as he kept your hand in his.

“You sound just like Jay-Jay and Ava.” you accused him and he laughed delightedly at the comparison. Jeongin pulled you close until you were only an inch away from him.

“Tell me about the foxes.” he requests softly as his eyes sparkle.

“They aren’t portrayed the same way as Japanese kitsune.” you tell him softly as you reach out with your other hand and gently brush your fingers against the top of the statue. Jeongin watches you quietly as you smile softly to yourself as your fingers continue to brush against the statue.

“How so?” he asks curiously as he tilts his head to the side.

“They tend to be more dangerous.” you answer without a thought in your head as your fingers continue to move along the statue.

“Sounds familiar.” he intones quietly and you huff out a soft laugh as you nod your head.

“Very.” you say teasingly and he grins widely at you. “I get it now.” you say after a moment and Jeongin frowns confused at you.

“What?” he asks.

“Why you touch every fox statue.” you say and he blinks at you in surprise.

“You noticed that?” he asks softly and you nod your head while smiling warmly at him.

“I notice everything about you baby fox.” you tell him honestly and Jeongin feels his chest swell with affection for you.

“Yeah? What else do you notice about me?” he asked curiously.

“That the first time I saw you outside the club, you looked like trouble under neon lighting.” you tell him fondly as you reminisce about your first sighting of him and Jeongin blinks at you surprised.

“You saw me outside of the club before meeting inside?” he asked curiously and you nod your head easily at him in response.

“When me, Ava and Jay-Jay were walking to the club I caught sight of you outside. Didn’t know who you were at the time but you caught my attention back then.” you tell him and Jeongin feels himself start to melt at your words.

“C’mon, there’s some place I’d like to show you.” he tells you suddenly to distract you from the honesty of your words.

Further down the trail the two of you reached a small outlook that sat high up in the forest, a small stone patio with a railing while the city stretched beyond the bamboo below. From here you both could see ancient Seoul and modern Seoul occupying the same horizon. Jeongin let your hand slip from his as you moved to the railing and leaned against it gazing out at the city and his faction in silence with a soft smile on your face.

“Tell me how the mission went.” you requested of him and Jeongin nodded his head as he came to stand beside you gently leaning into your side.

“It went really well.” he said, sounding more excited then he had meant to, your smile appeared immediately on your face. It was warm and proud as you nodded your head knowingly.

“I knew it would.” you told him softly which made his eyebrow rise in thought.

“You did?” he asked and you looked at him with a squinted look on your face.

“Jeongin.” you scolded him gently and he ducked his head as he leaned further into you trying to get away from your sharp look. “You were never incapable.” you tell him gently as your face morphs into genuine confusion at his question. “You just needed confidence.” you tell him and your words land much heavier than he anticipated as his breath stutters in his chest. He’s heard the words before from you and each time they always land square in his chest knocking the air out of him. Chan had given him responsibility while you had given him belief. And that somehow felt even more important.

“Thank you.” he said softly as he wrapped his arms around your waist and buried his face in your neck breathing you in. The two of you stand there for a moment gazing out over his faction as a breeze flows through the air gently as he leans into you and you rest your head against his. “You were always leaving.” he says morosely after a moment and feels your body exhale against him slowly.

“That’s what travelers do.” you tell him gently and he pulls away slightly as his eyes find yours.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.” he pouts at you and you chuckle softly at him as you turn your body fully towards him as your hands come up and cup his face with care. 

“I’m coming back though.” you remind him and he nods his head once before pouting once more.

“What if you don’t?” he asks, the question escaping him before he could stop it as vulnerability courses through him. Your eyes stay locked on his and he feels as if everything else around the two of you ceases to exist. There’s a small smile on your face and your eyes are impossibly soft as they gaze at him while still cupping his face. That smile made him believe he could do impossible things and while he craved that feeling with you he needed your reassurance.

“You’re worth coming back for.” you tell him honestly and he swears he blacks out after your words filter through his mind. Everything inside him goes still as the bamboo sways just past the overlook while the wind whispers through their ancient branches. His world seemed to narrow down to you standing in front of him cupping his face as you kept your eyes connected with his.

“You mean that?” he asks on a soft gasp.

“With every piece of me.” you promise him as you pull him close and rest your forehead against his gently. “You’re stuck with me now. I’m now your problem.” you tell him honestly and a delighted laugh escapes him in relief. He taps his forehead gently against yours as he grins widely at you before pressing a sweet adoring kiss to your mouth.

“Good, I wouldn’t want it any other way.” he says softly to you as he winds his arm around your waist and keeps you tugged close into his chest as you smile softly up at him. Neither of you wanted to move, not wanting the afternoon to end. Below you, the city hummed quietly in the distance. But here among fox statues and bamboo shadows, time seemed willing to slow down for you. And for the first time since meeting you, Jeongin allowed himself to believe that goodbye might not be the end. Sometimes it was simply the promise of a return.

The airport was far busier than it had any right to be, announcements echoed overhead every few minutes, suitcases rattled across the polished floors in a rush and families clustered around the departure board while exhausted travelers buried toward their gates. And yet somehow, standing beside Jeongin none of it felt real to you. Everything beyond the two of you had become background noise. Your carry-on bag sat across Jeongin’s shoulder as he leaned in close to you, mostly because Jeongin refused to let you carry anything yourself.

“You’re aware I have functioning arms, right?” you asked him for what was probably the fifth time since arriving at the airport. Jeongin tightened his grip on your backpack strap before grinning wickedly down at you as he leaned ever closer into your space.

“Yeah, but now you have to give me something to get it back before you leave.” he says teasingly with sparkling eyes.

“Oh we live in a barter system once again?” you asked him jokingly and he nodded his head quickly with a look of pride on his face.

“Yup, get with the times, Noona. These are hard days for the likes of me. I need to get every reward and trade I can get before you leave me for a month.” he said dramatically and you laughed at him while rolling your eyes.

“You poor baby. However, will you survive without me?” you tease him as you turn towards him which catches his attention. He slowly pulls your backpack further over his shoulder protectively and you snort softly at his actions. “You’re impossible.” you tell him goodnaturedly and he grins wickedly down at you.

“I’ve been told.” he said softly while you can’t help but smile at him before grabbing his shirt front and pulling him into a deep heated kiss that makes him go dumb as he hungrily kisses you back. You knew that the closer your departure had gotten, the less Jeongin seemed interested in hiding how much he hated it, not that he’d ever admit it. Instead he had hovered and stayed close enough for your shoulders to brush, for your hands to always touch with any movement you made. He had developed a habit of staring at you as if he was memorizing every detail before you disappeared right before his eyes. So as you kissed him in the middle of the airport you poured every loving, adoring, and reassuring emotion you could into the kiss hoping to ease his heart, mind and consciousness that you would return to him as quickly as physically as possible. When you pulled away just to breathe Jeongin gasped and pouted instantly at the space between you.

“You know, I can’t believe that you’re leaving me.” he said dramatically in a tone that you knew you would have to scold Hyunjin for teaching him. “You’re leaving me here alone, completely abandoned.” he said with a huff and you stared at him incredulously before smirking softly.

“You have seven other people who can keep you distracted while I’m gone. I’m pretty sure Dong-Geon has been eager to get you alone so he can talk business with you.” you tell him with an eye roll.

“They don’t count.” he immediately retorted and you laughed softly at him.

“They absolutely do count.” you tell him and he shakes his head quickly in response.

“They tease me.” he insists.

“I tease you.” you remind him with a smirk and he blinks at you for a moment trying to find an argument.

“Yeah but I like it when you do it.” he says honestly and you burst into incredulous laughter at his reasoning before shaking your head.

“I adore you, you crazy fox.” you tell him fondly and Jeongin beams down at you proudly.

Just then an announcement for your flight to begin boarding rings out in the terminal and Jeongin glances towards the gate before immediately looking away. You catch his look and your chest tightens at it. He was trying so hard to be okay with this, trying so hard to let you leave without making it too difficult.

“You gonna forget me?” he asked you suddenly and you blinked at him before bursting into amused laughter once again.

“Impossible. As if you’d let me.” you tease him which makes him pout before you soften and tug him back down by his shirt. His eyes look at you softly as his forehead rests against yours. “I could never forget you and I’m already counting down the hours and days until I can get back to you.” you tell him honestly and he beams down at you.

“You’ll call?” he asks then and you nod your head slowly against his.

“Every day.” you answer him.

“You better.” he retorts.

“So demanding.” you tease him with a smile.

“I’m heartbroken. Respect my process.” he tells you and that startles a laugh out of you.

“There he is.” you say as you pull back to gaze up at him.

“The handsome guy?” he asks hopefully and you shake your head at him.

“The menace.” you answer and he grins at you.

“Close enough.” he banters back as he laughs softly and warmly at you. He ducks his head once more and kisses you softly, slowly, like he was trying to stretch a few seconds into forever. When he finally pulled back neither of you moved very far away from each other just enough to look at each other. One last time to memorize, to hold on.

“I’ll be back.” you whispered to him and he nodded as he swallowed thickly.

“I know.” he reassured you. He slipped your backpack onto your shoulder as you moved to step towards the gate where the clerk was waiting to take your boarding pass with a smile. As you turned and walked over to the woman waiting for you you could feel Jeongin’s gaze following you. He was waiting, believing, trusting that this wasn’t goodbye. Only the beginning of the distance between now and the day you’d come back to him. And you couldn’t wait to prove him right that you’d be back in his arms in no time.

A month later the arrivals terminal in Incheon airport was packed, families stood in groups near baggage claim signs, business travelers hurried through the crowds with coffee in hand as they rushed past others, children ran circles around exhausted parents and standing directly in the middle of the terminal was Jeongin pacing. He walked a path along the linoleum floor again and again and again.

“Would you sit down?” Seungmin called out exasperatedly from his seat along the wall of windows in the terminal. The tall lanky man sat there with his ankle resting on his knee as he gazed at Jeongin in a tired bored manner.

“I’m fine.” Jeongin quickly retorted and Changbin scoffed softly at his words.

“You’ve checked the arrivals board twelve times.” Changbin pointed out unhelpfully, causing Jeongin to scowl at him softly.

“I’m making sure it’s accurate.” Jeongin told him as he walked another path along the floor anxiously. Felix snorted softly as he leaned back in his chair between Seungmin and Changbin while Seungmin didn’t even bother hiding his eye roll. 

“She’s not arriving faster because you’re staring at the screen.” Changbin supplied unhelpfully yet again which made Jeongin glare at the three of them.

“You guys are incredibly unsupportive.” Jeongin pointed out irritatedly as Felix beamed at him.

“We’ve supported this relationship more than anyone.” Felix argued.

“We suffered through the whole month.” Seungmin corrected Felix’s statement much to the amusement of Changbin and Felix.

“You’re dramatic.” Jeongin said as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“You called her six times in one day because she didn’t answer for three hours. Who’s dramatic?” Felix pointed out and Jeongin frowned at his words.

“I thought she got kidnapped.” Jeongin argued.

“She was asleep.” Changbin retorted and Jeongin threw his hands up in the air exasperatedly.

“I forgot about the time zones!” Jeongin explained, which made both Changbin and Felix burst into delighted laughter.

“Remember when he made Chan approve a citizenship application?” Seungmin asked with a soft smirk forming on his face which made Jeongin immediately freeze.

“That was classified information.” Jeongin insisted softly.

“Nothing is classified when Hyunjin steals Chan’s password.” Seungmin said knowingly as both Felix and Changbin nodded their heads in agreement.

“Hyung!” Jeongin snapped at Seungmin who only smirked up at him from his seat.

“How many times did you ask Chan to get the application approved? What was it? Fourteen times?” Seungmin asked teasingly as Jeongin dropped his head back on his neck.

“No, no, I think it was fifteen.” Felix said teasingly as he tapped Seungmin’s arm.

“Was it fifteen?” Changbin asked with a wide grin on his face, making Jeongin groan loudly.

“Hyungs!” Jeongin snapped at the three of them and they all grinned or smirked at him delightedly.

“It was definitely fifteen.” Seungmin supplied as the three of them started laughing. Jeongin scowled at the three of them looking like he was ready to commit crimes against them.

But just then something in the reflection of the window caught his eye and he quickly turned his head to the side before freezing entirely at what he saw. His entire body went still as if someone had pressed pause on his body and Felix followed his gaze recognizing the change in Jeongin.

“Oh.” Felix said softly and instantly all the teasing from the three of them vanished because there you were. Walking through the terminal doors wheeling a large suitcase behind you. The second your eyes found Jeongin's, your entire face lit up like a firework and suddenly Jeongin was instantly in motion as he ran straight for you.

“Jeongin!” you called out to him the shout barely leaving your mouth before he reached you and wrapped you in the tightest hug you had ever received from anyone. As his arms wrapped around your waist he effortlessly lifted you completely off your feet and swung you in a slow circle. You barely had time to laugh at his actions before he was dragging you close and kissing you like he hadn’t seen you in years as opposed to a month.

The kiss was hard, uncoordinated but happy and it stole your breath all the same. The kind of kiss born from thirty days of eagerly awaiting your return to his side. You wrapped your arms around his neck as you kissed him back just as ecstatic to be back with him. When he finally pulled back for air you both were laughing as your foreheads pressed gently against each other, neither of you willing to create any real distance between you.

“You made me wait a whole month.” Jeongin whined and you smiled softly at him.

“Builds character.” you tease him and he pouts softly.

“I had character already.” he argues and you chuckle softly at him as you pat his cheek gently.

“No, you have emotional issues.” you joke causing Felix to burst out laughing as he, Changbin and Seungmin walked up behind Jeongin. The three men behind Jeongin burst out into raucous laughter at your retort and even Jeongin chuckles at your words. He was more just happy that you were here, actually here back at his side and within touching distance. You were no longer on a screen or over a phone line but physically here.

“You have no idea what I survived.” Jeongin lamented to you and you raised an eyebrow at his theatrics.

“Oh?” you asked, humoring him.

“These three,” Jeongin says and points behind him at the three men who all balk at his audacity. “Were unbearable.” he says jokingly.

“HE WAS THE PROBLEM!” Felix cried out immediately and you laughed as the three older men finally approached. Felix was the first to pull you into a warm hug effectively stealing you from Jeongin as Changbin wrapped an arm around his neck as he mimed punching the younger man. “Trails, please take your man back. We can’t handle all the moping he’s been doing.” Felix explained before pulling away as Jeongin cried out indignantly.

“Seriously, it was tragic watching him act like none of us existed. Even Dong-Geon nearly gave up on him.” Seungmin said next as he wrapped you in a warm hug as well.

“He did not!” Jeongin shouted as he finally managed to get out of Changbin’s hold. He moved to get to your side but Changbin beat him to it as he wrapped his arms tightly around you in a comforting hug.

“Oh he totally almost did.” Changbin argued with Jeongin delightedly.

“I hate all of you.” Jeongin told them before quickly moving to your side once Changbin released you and wrapped a possessive arm around your waist. You laughed so hard tears were gathering in your eyes at all of their antics. Jeongin looked at you smiling softly and happily as you laughed at them before his eyes darted down to your rolling luggage with a curious glint in his eyes. “Wait, that’s new luggage.” he said to you and you tried not to smile but utterly failed as your smile grew wide across your face. The other three already understood what was going on immediately.

“Oh no.” Seungmin said with a frown.

“That’s a dangerous face.” Felix agreed.

“You have news.” Changbin accused as he pointed at you. Jeongin looked between all of you suspiciously before his eyes widened as he realized what the new larger luggage meant.

“Trails.” he said softly as he turned to face you and you bit your lip.

“Yes, my baby fox?” you asked him goodnaturedly as you watched his mind piece it all together.

“Trails.” he said again and your smile broke free across your face.

“I’m staying.” you told him and silence consumed your little group as Jeongin froze in shock before blinking, once, twice, three times as if his brain had stopped functioning.

“You…” he began to say as his voice cracked with emotion that welled up within him. “You mean…” he tried again and you nodded your head at him.

“I’m staying.” you answered him and the grin that spread across his face could have powered half of Seoul.

“Oh.” he said softly before he smirked wickedly at you and pulled you close to his chest. “Oh, Trails. You’re in for it now.” he whispered to you sultrily as he began to pepper kisses across your face.

“Maybe you’re the one in for it.” you teased him and Jeongin smirked at you as he pulled away just enough to look into your eyes. 

“Bring it on.” he told you boldly before ducking his head down and kissing you quickly. This kiss was playful and absolutely shameless as Seungmin groaned loudly behind the two of you.

“Absolutely disgusting.” he grumbled out and you laughed between Jeongin stealing another kiss from you.

“They’re getting worse.” Changbin warned worriedly and Felix nodded in agreement.

“Way worse.” he commented.

Jeongin suddenly pulled away from you as if he had remembered something and his grin turned smug as he pulled out a neatly folded stack of paper and presented it to you. You frowned softly as you looked down at it before opening it slowly. Your eyes widened as you stared at the words typed neatly on the page before whipping your head up to stare at Jeongin shocked.

“Jeongin.” you said in awe and the three men behind Jeongin began laughing as they realized what he had just given you.

“You actually did it?” Changbin asked delightedly.

“Oh he totally did.” Felix answered with a grin.

“You got my citizenship paperwork already approved?” you asked surprised and Jeongin shrugged his shoulders trying and failing to appear casual.

“I asked Chan.” he told you softly.

“Fourteen times.” Felix added.

“Fifteen.” Seungmin corrected him easily which made you laugh in shock.

“You’re unbelievable.” you said softly and Jeongin looked pleased with himself.

“You love me.” Jeongin said proudly before smirking at you. “You even told me so last night over video call.”

“You’re spoiled.” you countered and the other three burst into loud happy laughter at your words. 

Normally Jeongin would deny it but this time when it came to something about you he never would deny it. Instead he simply wrapped an arm around your shoulders and began guiding you towards baggage claim feeling happy and content. His home was finally complete now with you back at his side and he couldn’t be happier.

Across the city, Chan stood alone in the Stray Kids headquarters gazing out of the large window in the room as research papers covered his desk. There were photos, maps, coded mural analysis Trails had uncovered. The red sparrow, MIK marking, rebellion symbols all laid out in stark detail on his desk. All of it was connected and all of it was pointing somewhere dangerous. Chan stared out the window overlooking Seoul trying to find the peace that he normally felt from viewing the city like this. The way the city glittered below, beautiful, vulnerable it made him uneasy. A knock interrupted his thoughts and Minho stepped into the room after a moment.

“You wanted me?” Minho asked softly as he walked through the room until he came to a stop in front of Chan’s desk.

“Yeah.” Chan responded without looking away from the window, Minho straightened as he took in Chan’s tone and his sharp eyes regarded his leader. His older brother.

“What is it?” Minho asked softly and Chan finally turned from the window. He reached forward toward Minho holding one photograph from Trails research and handed it to him. The red sparrow was visible beneath fading paint and Minho frowned as he looked down at the picture.

“I need a recon mission.” Chan told him as Minho’s eyes darted up to him and narrowed.

“Quiet?” he asked and Chan nodded his head once.

“Very.” Chan instructed.

“And Jeongin?” Minho asked curiously and Chan shook his head before turning to gaze back out of the window behind him. His eyes caught on the distant sight of the airport where he knew Jeongin was picking you up. No doubt with a full smile on his face once again.

“He doesn’t need to know.” Chan said softly which made Minho study him for a quiet moment before nodding his head in understanding. 

Outside, Seoul continued to hum beneath the evening sky and somewhere in the city, the young fox was laughing beside the woman he’d waited a month to see. Completely unaware that old ghosts had already begun moving once more.

[sheerfreesia007]

Where Foxes Bleed Neon - Chapter 4

Pairing: Jeongin x OC/Reader

Rating: Explicit

Word count: 10,184

Content warnings: gang au/yakuza au, implied murder/death, attempted kidnapping, violent assault, organized crime activity, street fight, physical violence, weapons, knives, firearm discharge, injuries and wound care, threats of abduction, consensual sexual content, explicit sexual situations, panic during a public attack, descriptions of self-defense, references to dead and injured attackers, blood and injuries, trauma response, emotional distress, discussion of past child abuse (Ava), territorial disputes, age-gap romance, community solidarity, leadership insecurities, youngest sibling syndrome, being underestimated by authority figures, local grandmothers acting as unofficial matchmakers, public embarrassment, relentless side character teasing, everyone knowing about the crush except the people involved, found family dynamics, Dong-Geon being an absolute menace, one fox-shaped faction leader slowly realizing that being loved by his people might matter more than being acknowledged by his peers

Summary: In the days following the Lantern Festival and their first kiss, Jeongin throws himself into protecting his faction from the escalating vandalism campaign threatening its shrines, historical sites, and sense of community, finding renewed purpose in the faith his people place in him even as the clan continues to underestimate him. Meanwhile, Trails returns from a short trip to Busan struggling with both her growing feelings for Jeongin and the realization that her time in Seoul is rapidly running out, only to uncover evidence that the mysterious graffiti is part of a far more dangerous threat than anyone realized. When a rival gang launches a coordinated attack and attempts to abduct Trails and her friends, Jeongin and his men intervene, exposing the ruthless power behind his reputation and forcing Trails to finally reconcile the charming young man she has fallen for with the feared protector and leader he truly is. In the aftermath, Trails brings an injured Jeongin back to her hotel suite, where tending to his wounds leads to heartfelt conversations about leadership, responsibility, self-worth, and the burdens he carries for the people and history of his district. As both of them finally lay their feelings bare, their growing relationship deepens into mutual trust, emotional intimacy, and a shared hope that what began during Trails' journey through Seoul might become something lasting long after her vacation comes to an end. 

A/N: Divider was created by @saradika-graphics, thank you for sharing your dividers with tumblr!

Jeongin Taglist: @kayleefriedchicken, @ivaviavi, @justsomekpopstuff, @lov3rachan, @cixrosie, 

@my-neurodivergent-world, @channiesrightasscheek, @toru-saki, @inlovewithstraykids, @bookswillfindyouaway, 

@m-325, @niku0704, @cliosunshine, @sweetdemon1998, @littlekaylayt,

@alondra6011, @bunbunbl0gs, @nougatjade, @starrynightviper, @karlee10261990,

@pixie-felix, @imsleepingwhataboutu, @matchacha65, @tricky-ritz, @bunnythesiren

The old district was quiet at this hour, the nightlife never reached this far back in the faction and Jeongin enjoyed the quiet as he walked slowly down the narrow stone street with his hands buried in his pockets and his sunglasses pushed low on his nose. But as he turned the corner he frowned darkly as he picked up the smell of fresh paint and cleaning solvents in the morning air. His eyes darted along the old weather stone wall, red graffiti still stretched across the quiet space looking almost violent against the centuries old surface. It felt like a deliberate insult to him and one that struck far too close to home for him. He felt ire rise up within him as he understood the declaration and challenge that this graffiti presented to him, someone had wanted the district to see it. Someone had wanted him to see how far they could walk into his faction and mess with it.

This had been going on for weeks, a rival crew had been pushing further and further into his faction and while it was enough to irritate him it wasn’t enough to start a war. Which is why Chan hadn’t taken it as seriously as Jeongin did. Jeongin had been dealing with the graffiti and the symbols for weeks and had been almost chasing this gang, always one step behind them. It was the same symbols and the same motif to the graffiti, there was always a red sparrow one that looked broken fighting a fox. There were always some phrases or letters mixed in as well but none of it seemed to make sense to Jeongin, it all didn’t make any sense to him but it irritated him all the same.

While most people just saw it as graffiti, Jeongin saw the small acts of disrespect designed to test boundaries. As if someone was touching things that didn’t belong to them, damaging places that had survived generations, treating his home like a playground. Jeongin hated it and after finally having enough of no one listening to him about how they needed to handle this issue sooner rather than later Jeongin had started gathering a crew to try and circumvent the gang.

“Morning, boss.” Dong-Geon greets him quietly as he slips a clip board out from under his arm, Jeongin nods his head in greeting as he watches a cleaning crew come walking up carrying cleaning supplies. They all bowed their heads slightly as they passed him and began getting to work on clearing away the graffiti. There was trust in their movements as they began cleaning the wall and Jeongin felt that trust settle heavily in his chest, he felt as if he wasn’t doing enough for his faction for it to be constantly targeted like this. “We’re got new restoration teams showing up early.” Dong-Geon relayed to him and Jeongin nodded his head.

“Good. Make sure they have at least one crew with them for protection.” Jeongin told Dong-Geon who nodded his head and made a note on the clipboard.

“The shrine committee submitted the repair funds for the faction.” Dong-Geon advises and Jeongin nods his head again.

“Have it approved and don’t spare any expense that they deem necessary. I want the shrines to be restored to the highest level.” Jeongin advises and Dong-Geon makes another note on his clipboard.

“The preservation society wants to thank you personally.” Dong-Geon tells him gently and Jeongin looks up at him with a soft groan which makes Dong-Geon chuckle softly.

“Please tell them that’s not necessary.” Jeongin said softly and Dong-Geon smirked at him.

“They’re going to do it anyway.” he told Jeongin who sighed softly in response. Jeongin moved down the wall to a small fox statue that had red paint staining its face right across his eyes. Workers were carefully preparing supplies nearby as Jeongin stared at the statue, the fox sat there staring silently ahead as if it was patiently waiting. Jeongin sighed softly as he reached out and automatically brushed his fingers across the statue’s head, a habit that he didn’t even think about anymore. Dong-Geon watched in silence as a soft scowl slipped across his face in response to the red paint.

“We’re not going to let outsiders mark our ground.” Jeongin said quietly as his eyes remained fixed on the damaged statue and back to the wall next to it. “If Chan wants proof I can handle this faction, he’s getting it.” Jeongin promised as Dong-Geon sighed softly with concern lining his face.

“You’re running yourself into the ground, boss.” Dong-Geon said softly and Jeongin barked out a humorless laugh. The clan meeting was still sitting under his skin like an itch that he couldn’t scratch, the way they had teased him, the way everyone still looked at him like the youngest brother playing dress up and Chan’s dismissal. All of it made him so frustrated with them, the fact that they couldn’t see all the years of work he had put into building his faction, as if they couldn’t see how well he knew these streets, businesses, shrines and how he took care of them. The clan still saw him as needing protection and guidance, they hadn’t recognized the leader he had already become by stepping up.

“We start implementing the new plan today with the crew trying to get ahead of the rival gang.” Jeongin tells Dong-Geon who nods and pulls out his phone to check his calendar.

“There’s a meeting for a briefing on the situation and what you want them to do in an hour.” Dong-Geon tells him and Jeongin nods his head as they both turn and begin walking away from the wall and the statue to head further into the faction to one of the shrines that had been hit a few days ago. 

He watched as another cleaning crew and volunteers began gathering at the entrance to it carrying brushes and buckets of cleaning solution. An elderly woman directed all of them like a military commander and that sight eased something inside him. This was what mattered, not proving himself or impressing Chan, but the people, the faction, the history here. The old woman noticed him watching and immediately waved him over with a happy smile. Jeongin immediately obeyed because saying no to local grandmothers had never once worked in his favor before. 

“You’re too skinny.” she tells him as she grabs onto his sleeve when he was close enough and he had a sneaking suspicion that it was so he couldn’t escape her. Dong-Geon immediately looked away to hide his laughter as Jeongin groaned low and loud at her words.

“Not you too.” he says softly as his mind is brought back to the lantern festival the other night and he’s immediately reminded of the kiss he shared with you that night making his neck heat with slight embarrassment.

“You work too much.” She scolds him softly and Jeongin is brought back to reality quickly as he blinks at her before pouting petulantly and she laughs at him.

“I eat.” he argues softly and she shakes her head.

“You forget.” she tells him knowingly and he shakes his head quickly.

“I don’t.” 

“You do. You need to find a nice woman who can make sure you take care of yourself and take care of that attitude of yours.” she tells him, causing Jeongin to stare at her in quiet shock with wide eyes and blushing cheeks while Dong-Geon bursts out into loud raucous knowing laughter. The woman startles slightly but Dong-Geon quickly bows to her.

“Don’t worry Halmeoni, he has.” Dong-Geon tells her with a wide cheeky grin on his face. “He’s just trying to convince her to date him now.” Dong-Geon says as he dissolves into more delighted laughter. The woman looks at Dong-Geon before turning to Jeongin who was now blushing a darker red at her critical attention.

“The tourist who always asks questions?” she asks curiously and Dong-Geon grins at her apt description of you as he nods his head. “I’ve heard she’s very sweet and always eager to hear everything someone can tell her. She likes the shrines and the history of this area.” the woman says and Jeongin smiles softly as he nods his head in agreement with her. “Good, she would do well by your side. Make sure you convince her.” She tells him sternly and Jeongin feels utterly chastised and encouraged at the same time while Dong-Geon chuckles next to him.

“I’ll try.” Jeongin tells her and the woman looks satisfied before she releases him to turn and head towards the shrine to continue directing everyone. Dong-Geon chuckles softly next to him and Jeongin shakes his head while blowing out a long breath.

“Does everyone in this faction know my business?” Jeongin asks, making Dong-Geon nod his head delightedly.

“All those that truly matter.” Dong-Geon tells him and Jeongin huffs out a breath at him which makes the older man grin. Both of them began walking away but just before they turned the corner to head to the briefing meeting Jeongin looked back over his shoulder and watched all of the activity, workers moved through the shrine while the paint crew prepared equipment, business owners unlocked their doors and began calling out to each other. The faction was waking up and healing, piece by piece it was righting itself. The damage would take time to erase and the rival crew would almost certainly try again but standing there beneath the morning sun watching as people fought to preserve the things they loved, Jeongin felt something settle inside him. A resolve that created deep roots within himself, let the clan doubt him, let them call him reckless, let them treat him like a kid. He would protect this place anyway, and sooner or later, everyone would realize he had been ready all along just like you recognized and told him he was.

The faction felt alive tonight, you stood at the threshold of where nightlife met the older area and felt an electricity coursing through the air. It’s been three days since the lantern festival and you’ve kept yourself busy with more tourist activities such as visiting Lotte World for a day and then taking a two day trip to Busan with Ava, Jay-Jay and Chaip before coming back to Jeongin’s faction. In those three days you hadn’t had any run-ins with Jeongin which hadn’t really surprised you because you had been out of the area for those days. But when you had returned to his faction it had seemed as if every older woman in the faction that you came in contact with had been staring at you with this calculating look on their face. And when you had asked what was going on they had only given you a bunch of non-answers and lots of giggles behind their hands.

Your vacation was rapidly coming to an end with only a week left of it ahead of you, and while you were excited to get back home so that you could start working on your book you also didn’t feel the same peace you often had towards the end of a vacation. This time your heart twisted with the thought of leaving Jeongin and what you both were developing and a pit settled in your stomach at having to leave this area that you had quickly become so fascinated by. A thought kept fluttering at the edge of your mind that you hadn’t ever thought of before whenever you went on vacation, what if I stayed? The thought scared you but in a good way, while it made you nervous to even think of staying in one place and having to figure out all the logistics of moving countries, the thought of leaving saddened your heart even more. You silently began to think of what ifs when it came to staying here with Jeongin. You also wondered if Jeongin would even want you to stay with him. The two of you hadn’t seen each other since the lantern festival where you had kissed each other and you hadn’t been able to talk about the kiss or if it meant anything. 

“Hey, Earth to space cadet!” Ava called out to you and you whipped your head up to blink at her for a few moments as she grinned at you. “Still thinking about that kiss from your gangster boyfriend?” she asked you teasingly.

“Oh she totally is. Has been spacing since it happened.” Jay-Jay said in agreement as she grinned over at you.

“He’s not my boyfriend.” you retorted as you shook your head at them and picked up your pace to reach their sides. There was a heat filling you from within in slight embarrassment as the two of them laughed at you.

“At least not yet.” Ava said knowingly and you ducked your head. “And don’t say that the man isn’t into you, he’s been chasing you around Seoul since we got here. He’s so down bad for you.” she tells you and you look at her with slight concern written on your face.

“She’s not wrong. He’s hopelessly ruined for you.” Jay-Jay agreed before she smiled softly at you. “I ship it.”

“Oh my god! Jay-Jay!” you cried out exasperatedly.

“Me too! Me too! If any of us should get a hot, younger, gangster boyfriend it totally should be you!” Ava cried out happily as she grabbed onto your arm delightedly.”Now let’s go sing our hearts out tonight! Chaip suggested a few karaoke bars and I want to drink!” Ava cried out excitedly causing you and Jay-Jay to cheer as well. You laughed along with them as the three of you walked down the street towards the karaoke bars, Chaip had suggested a few of the karaoke bars near the older part of the faction and just as you were walking down the street some of the lanterns and neon signs caught your attention. You stopped and raised your phone, snapping a quick picture of them together noting the difference between style and areas of the faction coming to mingle side by side.

“C’mon you’ve taken enough pictures to write three books already!” Jay-Jay said teasingly as you grabbed onto your arm and pulled you towards the karaoke bar.

“Wrong.” you joked as you raised your phone with a grin. “Four books.” you joked as Jay-Jay groaned at you while shaking her head while you laughed.

The night already had been perfect so far, it was laid back and low key after the three of you being on the move the past two days. Dinner had been spent at a quiet restaurant in the older section of the faction near a bamboo forest that had fascinated you, drinks had flowed at your table and the food had been absolutely wonderful. And now as the three of you walked toward the karaoke bar you couldn’t keep the smile off your face as peace just consumed you from within. Tonight was the kind of evening that reminded you why you traveled in the first place, the love of being able to explore new places and the way people lived outside of your own little world. It always makes you excited to experience it all.

Just as you’re passing a narrow alleyway you spot a fox statue that has red paint sprayed across its feet and then your eyes catch onto the graffiti that’s hidden in the alleyway. A frown slips across your face and your mind triggers on the sight. It seemed the deeper that you moved into the faction the more often you noticed the graffiti. At first it had seemed random but now you weren’t so sure, the repetition of red sparrows with broken wings, the strange symbols mixed in between the layers of the graffiti. Each new instance of graffiti was spaced out far enough that it wasn’t every street that was targeted but it felt like breadcrumbs to you somehow. Almost as if they were warnings, and you couldn’t help but think about the symbolism of a fox in each one being a reflection of Jeongin which worried you.

You turned a corner to head down the street that the karaoke bar was located on and nearly ran into Ava’s back as she stood there staring at the large brick wall of the outside of the karaoke bar and you gasped loudly. A large impossible to miss mural stretched across the wall nearly taking up the entire surface of it, it was a massive painting and one that looked entirely too fresh. In the center of it was a fox, its body twisted as if in mid-fight with red paint splashed across its chest while dozens of black sparrows with jagged wings swarmed around it. The symbolism wasn’t subtle and it was much more grotesque in this mural than any of the others that you had seen around the faction, it made your breath catch in your lungs. The message felt deliberate, cruel and predatory as you kept staring at it.

At the bottom center of the mural were three letters painted larger than any other symbol in the mural, MIK. You didn’t know what the letters meant but you quickly raised your phone anyway and began snapping photos. Click, click, click. You photographed every detail of the mural because it felt important and something you wanted to talk to Jeongin about. Every symbol, every hidden mark that you could see and notice. The broken sparrow appeared twice within the mural; the second sparrow was almost hidden within the mural too, as if it was a signature or a calling card. Your stomach dropped as you stared at it all.

“This isn’t art.” you said softly with dread starting to fill you. Ava looked over at you with a worried look on her face as Jay-Jay stared at the mural uneasily. “This is a message.” you said softly as you lowered your phone.

The words had barely left your mouth when a high pitched scream shattered the night air around the three of you. You whipped your head to the entrance of the street and saw people rushing down the street towards you as if they were running from something. A bottle shattered somewhere nearby as people shouted in panic. At a smaller side alley halfway down the street movement exploded and a group of masked figures swarmed the street. You tensed for a moment before instinct kicked in within you as you turned towards Ava and Jay-Jay to begin guiding them to safety, you had your hands pressed to their lower backs wanting to keep them close in the chaos around you. People jostled each one of you as you moved with the crowd and you could see Ava looking around worriedly while Jay-Jay tried to get a hold of each of you as you moved.

Someone grabbed your shoulder from behind and you reacted instantly as you twisted your body away and drove an elbow backward into whoever was behind you. You caught a quick glimpse of the masked man behind you with your movement and watched as he staggered back away from you. The years of self defense your parents made you endure lead you to keep moving to get away from the danger and keep your friends safe. Another masked man grabbed your arm and swung you back around towards him, as you turned you let go of Ava and Jay-Jay not wanting to drag them back with you. When you finally faced the man your eye quickly caught onto the silver glint of metal and your mind instantly recognized the knife. He lunged towards you and you didn’t hesitate as you grabbed his wrist and twisted as hard as you possibly could causing him to grunt out in pain. You didn’t stop twisting until you heard the knife clatter to the ground and even then you slammed your knee up into his chest to hopefully knock him back enough for you to get away. The man cursed at you as he stumbled away from you grabbing his chest in pain.

Your heart hammered as you turned to look for Ava and Jay-Jay, the crowd was already breaking apart as people ran through the street screaming trying to escape from the masked gang. That’s when you heard Jay-Jay cry out loudly in outrage. You turned your head and immediately halted your movement when you spotted Ava being pinned against the wall by a large man. Meanwhile Jay-Jay had a man holding her back at knife point as she tried to get to Ava who looked very pale. Time seemed to freeze as you took in the danger that your friends were in, fear hit harder than a physical blow, but it wasn’t fear for yourself but for Ava and Jay-Jay. 

Suddenly a masked man grabbed you from behind and you latched onto him tightly trying to keep his muscular arm off your neck as he began to drag you back through the street. Ava cried out loudly in distress as her eyes stayed glued to something behind you and you worried what she was looking at. But when the man who had a hold on you turned you spotted the dark van sitting idly at the entrance of the street with its sliding door left open and you felt dread fill you. The meaning of this ambush was instantly clear to you, this wasn’t a robbery or just random violence from a rival gang, this was abduction. The realization sent cold adrenaline down your spine and through your veins before everything kicked up into high gear and desperation. You fought hard against the man who had a hold on you, you kicked and twisted in his hold refusing to make this easy for him. But as you fought against him more masked men began to swarm you and around you, there were too many for you to fend off completely.

“Boss, is waiting for you girl.” One masked man snarled at you near your ear as you twisted again trying to escape and you knew for a fact he wasn’t talking about Jeongin. Fists flew around you as you kept being dragged back toward the waiting van, you knew that if they got you into it you’d never be seen again and you weren’t ready for that possibility yet. Gritting your teeth against the pain that began blooming along your torso with each fist that landed on you, you kicked and bit anything that was close enough to you even as you kept your hands latched onto the arm across your neck. You grunted loudly as you tried to free yourself when suddenly the loud metallic click echoed through the street and you immediately froze. That was the sound of a gun cocking, you had been around firearms your whole life so you knew what they sounded like almost instantly.

“You picked the wrong faction to desecrate.” came Jeongin’s voice in a calm quiet tone that made him sound far more terrifying if he had been shouting.

Silence fell over the street and you twisted again in the masked man’s hold just as Jeongin stepped out from the shadows of the street as if he had materialized from the shadows themselves. For one impossible second you barely recognized him, gone was the cocky flirt, gone was the relentless tease, gone was the young man who followed you through flower festivals carrying coffee. In place was someone else entirely, someone colder and more dangerous than you had ever seen him before. His men emerged behind him in silence with a disciplined professionalism that blanketed the whole street.

The attackers immediately understood their mistake as they instantly turned their attention to the advancing muscular men from Jeongin’s crew. The man who still had a hold on you dragged you closer against his body so that your back was flush to his front and he stepped back a few steps even as you tried to dig your heels into the street. You watched with wide eyes as Dong-Geon threw a punch and viciously knocked back two masked men in one fell swoop of his arm. The rest of Jeongin’s crew were moving much like Dong-Geon, the brutality of their fighting style didn’t surprise you but the way they ferociously jumped into the fight stole your breath. They were an all dominating force and one that should be absolutely studied with how well they worked together. You watched as one man pushed back a trio of masked gang members towards another man who easily disabled them with quick timed sweeper kicks.

“Stay back Vanta Fox!” shouted the man who was still holding onto you and your attention was pulled away from Jeongin’s men and directed right at Jeongin. While all of the fighting was going on around him Jeongin moved through it all with absolute certainty. He fought off at first one of the masked men but then when that first one saw that he was being overpowered by Jeongin’s strength he called for help from his fellow members. Soon two more came to his aid and you watched with baited breath as Jeongin fought the three of them at the same time. He looked like a man who had done this a hundred times before, and maybe he had but that thought didn’t seem to scare you as much as you thought it should have. Because as you watched him fight his way through the men he seemed untouchable and you knew that he was going to get you out, he was going to save you.

Within seconds Jeongin was on the man holding you and the way he slipped into his space was faster than anything you had ever seen before. The men who had been fighting him lay bloodied and motionless on the ground and you idly wondered if they were dead. But just then Jeongin’s hand brushed along your knuckles that were wrapped around the man’s arm before falling to the top of your head where he pushed you down as he raised his other arm and fired the gun he held. You flinched slightly at the close sound of the gun going off before your ears began to ring with the resounding blast and then you felt the arms of the man loosen around you. Jeongin immediately wrapped his arm around you and kept you pressed close to his chest automatically shielding you from not only the view but also from any other gang members. 

Your eyes peeked over his shoulder at the other gang members and saw that they had either been knocked down by the rest of Jeongin’s men or were fleeing trying to escape any more punishment. Dong-Geon barked out orders to the men and soon they were in pursuit of the fleeing gang members. You followed their movements and saw that the van driver had even abandoned the idling vehicle entirely.

Silence returned slowly to the street and it was only broken by the ragged breathing of all of you. Even the distant pulse of music from the nightlife district didn’t seem to penetrate the quiet that now laid over the street. When you heard a sharp shaky breath being sucked in you knew immediately that it was Ava and reality quickly crashed back into you. Soon after that sound you were pushing from Jeongin’s arms to rush to her side. You dropped to her side and laid a hand on her back gently, Ava had a history of physical abuse from her parents and you knew it still affected her to this day.

“It’s okay.” you told her and she immediately turned into your chest seeking comfort. “I’m so sorry Ava.” you said softly to her as she shook in your arms while clinging to you. You sat there on the dirty ground cradling Ava to your chest as she sobbed while you looked up at Jay-Jay checking on her as well. Jay-Jay smiled crookedly at you before nodding her head once and then slowly lowering herself to your side as well. The three of you sat there huddled into each other as Jeongin and his men began dragging the masked men away out of the street. Your eyes didn’t follow the battered, bruised and dead men as they were dragged away but your eyes followed Jeongin as he directs and helps his men.

When most of it was cleared up you darted your eyes up and found Jeongin standing a few feet away watching the three of you silently. He looked disheveled and there was a medium sized tear in his shirt letting you see a small bloody gash on his torso. You frown softly at the sight but then when your eyes move up to his face your mouth drops open in a silent gasp. He’s standing there stoically, his breathing remains steady and controlled but his eyes look as if they’re made of ice. The chill of his stare is directed at you, Ava or Jay-Jay but it’s no doubt directed at the men who had dared to touch people under his protection. And you’re suddenly reminded of the first night you met him in the club. The way he had effortlessly walked into the fight back then now spoke volumes on his character, the way the locals and staff trusted him and had deferred to him, the way the festival workers bowed to him, the way rival gang members feared him. It was all starting to cement in your mind and allow you fully understand just who Jeongin was and what he stood for.

And somehow that realization made the image of him gently fixing a broken rose stem feel even more significant. The young fox of this faction wasn’t just dangerous, protective and loyal. He was this faction. And as you looked at him now standing under the neon glow he became a living version of the stories you had been collecting since arriving here. And now you were hungry for more.

The hotel suite was quiet as you walked back into the main communal area of the suite holding the first aid kit. It wasn’t truly silent though, you didn’t think Seoul could ever be capable of silence. And the tall man standing just inside the hotel suite door shifting from foot to foot couldn’t manage silence either. But compared to the chaos of an hour ago, the space felt unnaturally still. Your eyes darted over to Jeongin as he stood just inside the door with his shoulders tensed beneath his dark shirt, that tear from earlier was still gaping open and you could see the dried blood on his torso now. He looked restless even now after all the fighting had ended and the danger had been stopped, it was almost as if he wasn’t built for stillness.

“You can come in, you know.” you tell him gently. “Ava and Jay-Jay have gone to bed already.” you tell him softly and he frowns softly at your words.

“I wasn’t sure if you actually wanted me to come in.” he said in a low tone as his eyes flickered toward you as you moved to the couches and set the first aid kit down on the large coffee table in front of them. You looked up at him shocked and blinked for a moment as his answer had surprised you. After everything you’d seen tonight you would’ve expected confidence, arrogance and certainty. But as you gazed at him you saw uncertainty written across his whole face it was even evident in his posture.

“Jeongin.” you said softly and he focused fully on you for a moment.

“Hm?” he asked softly in a warm hum.

“You’re bleeding on the carpet.” you told him with a huff which caused him to grin slowly and amused as his head ducked down towards the floor. “There he is.” you draw out and Jeongin lifts his head to stare at you curiously.

“The handsome guy?” he asks teasingly and you huff at him again before taking a seat on the couch in front of the coffee table.

“The menace.” you answer him and he chuckles softly as he tilts his head from side to side in response.

“Close enough.” he retorts with a warmth infused into his words. Despite yourself you laugh at his words before you pat the space next to you on the couch.

“Sit.” you tell him and his eyes narrow on you quietly.

“That sounded suspiciously like an order.” he says loftily and you look at him with a raised eyebrow.

“You were stabbed.” you tell him as if it was a no-brainer.

“It was barely a knife.” he retorts and your eye twitches at his words.

“Sit.” you demand now in a stern tone and he immediately walks over and sits on the couch next to you.

“Yes ma’am.” he tells you proudly and you glare at him as he grins wide which makes his eyes squint closed. You open the first aid kit before turning to him fully and eye him as he lounges back against the couch.

“Take your shirt off, I need to clean your wound.” you tell him and he smirks at you as he rolls his head in a circle on his neck.

“This is just an excuse to see me topless, isn’t it?” he asks you teasingly and you roll your eyes at him before you pull out the cleaning solution from the first aid kit. When you turn back to him and see that he didn’t do as you asked you lean closer to him which catches his attention.

“Either you strip now by yourself or I’ll do it for you and it won’t be pleasurable for you.” you threaten him softly and his eyes widen as your words filter through his mind before he smirks wickedly at you.

“I love it when you get bossy.” he tells you as he leans in close to you before slowly unbuttoning his shirt and then slipping it off his shoulders. He tosses it over the arm of the couch before lounging back happily.

Your eyes roamed over his broad chest noting each mark, scar and bruise that lay patterned across his skin, your perusal of his body made a slow smirk slip across his face which only caused you to huff at him. Leaning forward you gently cleaned the gash on his side and he gritted his teeth slightly while watching you silently. You made sure to pay close attention to your work as you cleaned the wound before bandaging it trying to distract yourself from his warm, sun kissed skin that was right under your hands as you worked. You had seen that he was muscular and fit but you hadn’t realized just how muscular he was. After you had finished bandaging him your eyes freely roamed his body with appreciation coloring your face.

“Like what you see Noona?” he asks teasingly as he leans up towards you out of his relaxed lounge but you quickly stop him with a hand planted to the middle of his chest which makes you pause and blink down at your hand as you feel how warm his skin is underneath your palm.

“Let me finish first before you start teasing.” you plead with him softly and his eyes connect with yours instantaneously for a moment before he leans back for you. You let out a soft sigh as you quickly get to work with cleaning the cuts and marks on his knuckles. But that’s not much of an improvement for your sanity as you feel his warm calloused hands in your own, these are hands of someone accustomed to violence yet he lets you work on him without much resistance.

The room grew quiet again as you worked on wrapping his knuckles after cleaning them, it felt intimate as he watched you patch his hands up. It was the kind of silence that existed when two people suddenly became aware of each other. You studied him for several seconds as you gently held his hands in your own as he slowly sat up to sit straight up in front of you. You hadn’t thought you’d break the silence first but you suddenly asked the question that you had been carrying for days.

“You’re part of the Stray Kids Yakuza clan, aren’t you?” you ask him and for the first time all evening, Jeongin looked genuinely surprised as he stared at you.

“You really do notice everything don’t you?” he asks amused, he doesn’t sound defensive, irritated or caught just amused. 

“You walked around Seoul like half the city owes you rent.” you tell him with a soft smirk on your face and your words startle a laugh out of him.

“Okay, fair.” he relents as he nods his head at your words as his laugh slips into a wicked grin. “But yes, I am.” he tells you after a moment while still watching you silently. There’s no denial, no excuse, no attempt to soften the fact of what he’s a part of. You sat there absorbing the information quietly, you had known deep in your subconscious that it was true. Not officially and not with any actual proof but you had known all the same. You had seen the deference from everyone in his faction, you had seen the way security guards had moved aside for him. The respect he garnered, the fear he instilled in those that wanted to do harm to his faction. It all fit and made everything click into place in a clear image, yet somehow hearing it aloud didn’t change how you saw him. And that realization surprised you.

You reached up carefully and cleaned a shallow cut near his cheek while he watched you the entire time trying to read you, trying to no doubt find the fear that fact should instill in you. You knew he was looking for your reaction to the fact that he was Yakuza but instead you continued to clean the blood from his skin.

“Why do you care this much?” you asked quietly, you were silently hoping for an answer that would align with the way you viewed him but you wanted to hear his honest answer.

“Because it’s mine.” he answered immediately but then stopped himself to pause after the words slipped out of his mouth before shaking his head slightly. “That sounded wrong.” he said softly with a slight frown on his face.

“It sounded honest.” you told him and he shook his head in disagreement.

“It sounded possessive.” he retorted as his eyes drifted toward the city outside the large glass windows of the hotel suite. “I don’t mean it in ownership but in responsibility.” he explains to you and you smile softly as you nod your head at his words. You had been hoping he would say something like this, because it’s exactly how you viewed him now. He took responsibility for every person who lived in his faction, for every shrine and business that was located here. He took on the responsibility of guiding his faction to success and he took on the responsibility of correcting those in his faction when they acted out or wrong. He carried all of it on his broad shoulders whether anyone asked him to or not he still carried it himself.

“Do you even realize how much good you do here in your faction?” you ask him softly and he immediately scoffs out in defense. 

“You’ve only known me for about a month.” he argues and you look at him with a shrewd look on your face.

“And?” you ask him incredulously feeling offended that he’d doubt your judgement of him.

“You don’t know enough to say things like that.” he argued as he shook his head which caused you to stare at him silently for a moment before reaching forward to close your fingers gently around his jaw. Your touch was firm, certain and it made him freeze completely as his breath stalled.

“Listen to me.” you tell him sternly as you locked eyes with his, you could feel his pulse jump beneath your fingers but you didn’t relent on your grip of him. “You protect people.” you tell him firmly. “I saw it at the shrines, at the festivals, and tonight in the street. You look after the places and people everyone else overlooks.” you say confidently and his gaze never leaves yours as you speak. “Everyone in this faction trusts you.” you tell him trying to convince him. You watch as something vulnerable flickers across his face and you understand that it’s starting to sink in for him. “You’re reckless, cocky-” you list off slowly and his mouth twitches with a hint of a smile before he cuts you off.

“Now you’re just being mean.” he says softly but you ignore him as you continue speaking.

“You’re absolutely convinced you’re invincible.” you say and that earns you a ghost of a smile. “But every decision you make comes back to protecting this place that you’ve claimed as yours.” In response to your words his smile vanishes and his eyes take you in silently. “You act like you’re some disaster waiting to happen.” you tell him and his expression tightens and you know you’ve hit something important, something true. “I think you’re terrified you won’t become the person this faction needs.” you say softly and watch as the words land hard within him. You watched as something cracked open behind his eyes and for a long moment neither of you spoke until he spoke up softly.

“The others still see me as a kid.” he admits quietly in a raw tone that makes you soften towards him. “I know they love me but they don’t trust me to handle things on my own.” he tells you and that hurts you deeply as you know without a doubt that he could handle things. You gently squeeze his chin wanting to catch his attention as you watch him begin to spiral silently.

“Thenn stop waiting for permission.” you tell him suddenly and he blinks at you in shock.,

“What?” He breathes out softly.

“Stop waiting for someone else to decide that you’re ready.” you tell him steadily in a calm tone that you hope would encourage confidence within him. “You already know what kind of leader you want to be.” you say and his throat worked visibly as he swallowed causing you to release him slowly from your grip. “You just need the courage to step into it.” you tell him firmly. Jeongin stared at you like you’d somehow reached inside his chest and rearranged things that he hadn’t known needed to be rearranged. The silence between you suddenly felt enormous. It was heavy and charged but you continued to stare at him with a knowing look.

“No one’s ever said that to me before.” he says softly and you smile faintly at him.

“That’s because everyone around you is too busy calling you a baby fox.” you tell him sarcastically and Jeongin bursts out in startled laughter. After a moment his laughter dies down and he grows quiet, almost retrospective.

“You fought back.” he says suddenly and you realize he was thinking about the fight in the street from earlier.

“My parents made sure I could.” you tell him and he blinks up at you curiously.

“Military?” he asks softly and you nod your head as you smile softly.

“Military brat.” you answer and he sits there for a moment taking in that information before he chuckles softly before nodding his head.

“That’s why you moved the way you did.” he said as understanding dawned on him.

“I wasn’t going to make it easy for him.” you tell him and he nods his head as a faint smile slips onto his mouth.

“I don’t expect anything less of you.” he said softly as he stared at you. The room fell quiet again in a soft comfortable manner, the two of you thinking back to the fight in the street and how chaotic it was earlier. “I don’t care what happens to me most of the time.” he says softly speaking up again and you whip your head up to stare at him as concern flashes across your face. “But when they came after you to abduct you…” he says before falling silent. You watch as his jaw tightens and you reach out to brush a hand along his jaw once more which startles him enough to dart his eyes up to you.

“Jeongin.” you say softly and he exhales shakily as he stares into your eyes.

“I couldn’t think straight.” he confesses and the words settle between the two of you. The words were unadorned, there was no flirting, no performance, just the honest truth. The weight of his words fill you with a warmth that makes your lower stomach churn with desire for him.

“You protected us.” you say softly and his eyes dart between your own for a quiet moment. “I should probably be scared of you.” you admit softly and a shadow crosses over his face in a flash and he moves to pull back from you but you hook your fingers around his jaw keeping him close as you lean closer to him.

“Maybe you should be.” he whispers dejectedly to you as you both keep eye contact while a soft smile slips onto your lips. The two of you are close now, close enough that you can see the soft chocolate brown irises of his eyes.

“Too late.” you tell him softly and the silence that falls between you turns electric as you stare into each other’s eyes. 

Jeongin lunges forward and slants his mouth hungrily against yours with a soft growl, you instantly soften his movement as your mouth moves against his hurriedly with desire. You landed back against the couch with Jeongin hovering over you eagerly, his larger body caging you underneath him. Your hands slide down from his jaw to his broad chest and you whimper softly as you feel the muscles under his skin jump and flex under your touch. Jeongin moans softly into your mouth as your fingers dance around his navel before grazing along the waistband of his pants. He pulls back from you breathing heavily as he looks down into your face with darkened lust filled eyes.

“Noona, please. I won’t be able to stop if we keep going.” he tells you softly and you look up at him with certainty written on your face.

“I don’t want to stop. But if this isn’t what you want-” you tell him and Jeongin growls before lunging forward again and begins pressing kisses into your neck.

“I’ve wanted you since I laid eyes on you.” he admits and you gasp softly at his words and the way he sucks harshly at the space behind your ear. “Are you absolutely sure?” he asks you and you nod your head at him quickly. You know that even with all of the obstacles of your insecurity of being with a younger man you want this with Jeongin, he’s shown you how much he’s interested in you and you’ve watched him grow right before your eyes into a man who can lead his faction and people to be a thriving hub of activity. The desire to explore something so intimate with him makes your lower stomach heat with want.

“Yes. Please, Jeongin.” you gasp out at him as desire courses through you. Your hands quickly fall to his belt and you begin to slip it undone in a rush.

“Fuck, Noona. Yes.” he hisses out to you when the clink of his belt sounds out loudly in the air. He helps you slide his pants and boxers off his hips before he looks at you eagerly. He moves to help you out of your own clothes but you stop him with a hand to his chest and he looks up at you shocked with wide worried eyes. But you reassure him with a deep kiss before you push him to sit back against the couch. Jeongin follows your lead and when he looks up at you as you stand from the couch he groans low in his throat when you begin to slip out of your outfit in front of him.

When you’re naked in front of him Jeongin moans loudly as his hand slips down his stomach before gripping steadily around himself. You stare at him as he moves his hand up and down himself a few times while his eyes stay trained on you with lust reflected in his orbs. You don’t waste time and move to climb atop him as he sits there on the couch, your thighs bracket his and Jeongin looks up at you reverently as you situate yourself just above him before reaching down to take his hands place and guide him inside of you as you lower yourself down onto him. The two of you moan loudly at each other as he enters you and the desire reaches a heightened peak between you.

Jeongin’s hands slide from your knees up your thighs to your hips before trailing further up your back until his large hands hook around your shoulders. You gasp as he drags you down into his lap as his hips buck up into you. The stretch of him makes you gasp for air and you shift your hips as you grow accustomed to him. Jeongin groans low in his throat and soon his hips are bucking and grinding up into you in a frenzy before you can even move on your own. You let him move for a few moments on his own before your hips take over and begin to swirl and swivel on him making him grunt softly at your movement as his hands latch onto your hips. 

The connection between you burns hot and electric as pleasure rushes through your bodies, your hands press into his shoulders guiding him back against the couch as you rise and fall above him. Jeongin’s breath begins to come out in hot heated pants of air as he stares up at you with a half lidded desirous gaze that makes heat explode within you. You continue to move above him, your hips swinging in a steady rhythm feeling every inch of him within you and causing your mind to begin to fog with pleasure. You fall further into that fog as your walls begin to close around him and you cry out loudly at the pleasure of it all.

“Jeongin.” you pant out to him and his eyes snap to your face as he rises up from the couch to wrap his arms low around your hips and latch his mouth to your breast hungrily.

“C’mon Noona. Take what you need from me.” he pants out to you against your skin as he bucks up from underneath you. “Take everything, I’ll give it to you.” he babbles softly to you and you can’t stop yourself from gripping him tightly within you at his words. The fact that he’d give up full control to you is intoxicating and something you can see yourself getting used to. The big bad gangster turning into putty underneath you makes your mind fog.

Suddenly it’s all too much for you and your hips slam down onto him with a swift movement that makes the two of you cry out together. Jeongin’s hips buck up against you and you grind down on him further feeling almost feral for him. You hover over him and slide your hands up to cup his face and tilt it up towards you as you gaze down at him.

“Give it to me, baby fox. I want it all with you.” you pant out to him and Jeongin whimpers loudly as his hips slam up into you releasing within you which causes your own orgasm to crash into you with a blanketing warmth that makes you boneless. You moan low in your throat as you ride out both of your highs as Jeongin melts into the couch underneath you. He’s absolutely boneless as you come to slow stop and settle against his lap while gazing down at him. You smile fondly at him and he attempts a smile of his own but it’s loopy and hazy as he stares up at you with clouded eyes. “You did so good.” you whisper to him which makes his hips buck absentmindedly and you groan softly at the pleasure that spikes within you.

“You can’t say that.” he tells you around a low moan and you chuckle at him before pressing a kiss to his opened mouth.

“I’m pretty sure I can say whatever I feel like to you.” you tell him wickedly as you clench around him causing him to moan out at you as his whole body jolts underneath you and his hands grip your hips harshly.

“Noona.” he groans out at you and you smile down at him before capturing his lips once more with yours.

“Shush, baby fox.” you tease him gently as you slowly lift off him. Jeongin watches you tiredly from his spot on the couch before you hold out your hand for him and he gladly takes it before rising to stand next to you. “C’mon let’s get cleaned up.” you tell him softly and he nods his head before grabbing all of your discarded clothes and then following you to your bedroom.

After the shared shower the two of you are lying in your bed together, Jeongin hovers over you on his side while you lay back against the bed. His hands trail lazily up and down the front of your camisole and he hums softly as his eyes take in the way your breath hitches at his touch. He hadn’t been able to keep his hands and lips off you in the shower and after a steamy round two you can feel how tired your body has grown, your eyelids feel heavy as you look up at him tiredly.

“I’m assigning security to you for your protection. I’d feel better if I knew you and your friends were better protected while you’re here.” he says softly and your eyes dart to him with focused attention.

“Jeongin.” you say softly and he shakes his head quickly at your tone.

“No Trails, I need to do this so that I don’t worry about your safety.” he tells you while still shaking his head.

“Jeongin, I’m leaving Seoul in two more weeks. There’s no need.” you tell him gently and you watch as his eyes dart to you with an unreadable expression crossing his face. You can already tell that he’s starting to spiral about the fact that you’re going to be leaving. 

“Will you come back?” he asks softly and the way he sounds so vulnerable makes your heart soften towards him. You think back to what Ava and Jay-Jay had been telling throughout this whole vacation after you met Jeongin, the way they had both been pushing for you to find something meaningful with him. Ava had even pulled you aside and let you know that she hadn’t seen you this animated over something besides your travels, but the way you talked about Jeongin with them had shown her that he meant something to you that you may not have recognized yet. Jay-Jay had agreed with Ava about you being more animated about Jeongin than anything else in your life so far and the way she could see how excited you were to see him every time he showed up told her that you weren’t as annoyed with him as you pretended to be. 

The fact that the two of them could already see how much you had come to care about him in such a short amount of time didn’t really surprise you, they were your best friends for a reason. But what did surprise you is that you had come to care about him in such a way. At first he had been just another young, cocky man who was trying his luck with an older woman but the more time you spent with the more you got to see that he was so much more than just that. He was young, yes, but he had maturity to him that spoke volumes of his character. He was cocky, but there was a reason behind the cockiness that you had learned about was backed up by his strength, power and protectiveness. It wasn’t just all face value like he wanted others to believe. You saw the softer side of him, the vulnerable side, the side that cared so deeply and worried so much about those he claimed to protect.

So with all of that swirling in your mind you made a blind leap of faith that Jeongin truly wanted something substantial with you, because that’s what you wanted with him. Taking in a deep breath you looked over at him before reaching up gently to cup his face directing his face down to yours.

“I know we did this so completely backwards.” you started softly and Jeongin chuckled delightedly at your words. “But if you’re serious about wanting a relationship with me or at least finding out if this is what you truly want then yes I will come back.” you tell him and Jeongin gasps softly at your words. “I want you, Jeongin in every sense of the word. I wasn’t sure when we first met but I’ve seen you and I like what I see. We don’t have to figure it out right away, we can take our time but if you commit to figuring it out with me then absolutely yes.” 

Jeongin’s worried closed expression changes instantly at your words and his whole face lights up with hope before he drops down onto you with a loud groan. You grunt softly at the weight of him before you chuckle softly and card your fingers through his still damp hair. He takes a few moments to breathe you in as his face nuzzles into your neck.

“You can’t say things like that.” he groans out to you and you chuckle at him softly before cooing at him.

“Awww, is my baby fox embarrassed?” you ask teasingly and instantly you recognize your mistake when Jeongin shifts his body over you and cages you in beneath him with a challenging look in his eyes as his hips align flush with yours causing you to whimper softly at the feel of him between your thighs.

“Don’t tease Noona.” he warns you softly and you gasp as he grinds against you. “You know exactly how much I’m not a baby fox.” he tells you heatedly and you pout softly at him.

“But you’re my baby fox.” you tell him and he growls at you softly before ducking down to suck a harsh kiss into your neck. “If it makes you feel better, I have a reservation for a hotel in the older part of your faction. I think I can change the dates to reflect sooner than planned, that way you know where I’ll be and I’ll only stay in the older area of your faction. There’s a few hiking trails and shrines I still want to visit near the bamboo forest.” you tell him.

“You’d do that for me?” he asked you softly as he pulls away from your neck to stare down at you. Nodding your head you reach up to cup his face and drag him down to you so that you can kiss him.

“I know how protective you are. I’m not here to fight you completely on it.” you whisper to him as you press kisses into his mouth.

“I want you to take my phone number too.” he tells you as he follows your lead and presses lazy kisses against your mouth as well. “If anything happens you call me.” he tells you darkly as his kisses trail down to your neck and lower. “I mean it.” he warns you before sliding your camisole up your body.

“You’ll be the first one I call.” you promise him on a gasp as his mouth trails across your chest with a wet heat that makes your whole body come to life underneath him.

“Good. Now let me make you feel good one last time tonight.” he says with full intention and soon your room is filled with nothing but moans, whispered promises, and soft confessions from the two of you.

[sheerfreesia007]

Where Foxes Bleed Neon - Chapter 3

Pairing: Jeongin x OC/Reader

Rating: Teen

Word count: 13,720

Content warnings: organized crime/yakuza AU, physical altercation/fistfight, intimidation and threats, vandalism and property destruction, smoking, first kiss, age-gap romance, slow-burn romance, persistent flirting, matchmaking friends, teasing from friends, romantic tension, protective behavior, identity hidden beneath reputation, emotionally repressed characters catching feelings, recurring themes of seeing beyond first impressions, discovering sincerity beneath arrogance, falling for someone despite every intention not to, youngest leader syndrome, idiots-to-lovers energy, “he fell first but she fell harder” vibes

Summary: Trails arrives in Seoul expecting to research the city's history and culture for her travel writing, but her plans become increasingly complicated when the persistent and infuriatingly charming Jeongin begins appearing throughout her trip. As she explores his district through rose festivals, ancient shrines, hidden markets, and lantern-lit streets, she gradually discovers that beneath his arrogant façade is a fiercely protective young leader struggling to earn the respect of his clan while defending the traditions, people, and cultural landmarks he loves from a growing threat targeting his faction. At the same time, Jeongin becomes captivated by Trails' curiosity, intelligence, and rare ability to see both the soul of his district and the burdens he carries, finding in her the understanding and validation he has long been denied by those around him. Their growing connection deepens through shared experiences, quiet acts of kindness, and conversations that reveal truths about one another neither expected to find, forcing Trails to confront feelings she had no intention of developing during a temporary visit abroad. By the time Seoul's Lantern Festival bathes the city in golden light, both have come to recognize what has been building between them all along, culminating in a long-awaited first kiss beneath the lanterns even as dark forces continue moving in the shadows, threatening the peace they have only just begun to find. 

A/N: Divider was created by @saradika-graphics, thank you for sharing your dividers with tumblr!

Jeongin Taglist: @kayleefriedchicken, @ivaviavi, @justsomekpopstuff, @lov3rachan, @cixrosie, 

@my-neurodivergent-world, @channiesrightasscheek, @toru-saki, @inlovewithstraykids, @bookswillfindyouaway, 

@m-325, @niku0704, @cliosunshine, @sweetdemon1998, @littlekaylayt,

@alondra6011, @bunbunbl0gs, @nougatjade, @starrynightviper, @karlee10261990,

@pixie-felix, @imsleepingwhataboutu, @matchacha65, @tricky-ritz, @bunnythesiren

The afternoon sunlight poured molten gold across the pathways of the Seoul Rose Festival, catching against thousands upon thousands of blooming roses arranged in elaborate tunnels and spiraling arches. Couples posed beneath flower walls while children ran past with strawberry drinks and paper fans as they screamed in happiness. Soft acoustic music drifted lazily through the warm spring air, the entire festival smelled sweet enough to make the city beyond it feel unreal. Almost like Seoul had briefly decided to become soft for a day.

You were absolutely thriving in it as you crouched near a sprawling arrangement of climbing roses, your phone in one hand and notebook tucked beneath your arm while you snapped photo after photo with laser-focused excitement. Ava and Jay-Jay stood behind you enjoying the view of the rose arrangements while chuckling softly at your excitement of attending this festival finally.

“You good down there?” Ava asked teasingly and you laughed softly at her as you stood to your full height and then turned to her and Jay-Jay.

“All these arrangements are actually genius.” you told them and Jay-Jay looked at you like you were crazy as she raised an eyebrow. “They’re using gradients intentionally. Look at this transition from cream roses into the deeper pinks.” you began to explain as Jay-Jay shook her head.

“Isn’t it just aesthetic?” she asked curiously as she looked around at the arrangements.

“Korean flower festivals tend to lean heavily into visual storytelling instead of just dumping flowers everywhere for aesthetically pleasing pictures.” you explain as you walk along the path between both of them.

“You say things like you were personally briefed by the Ministry of Flowers.” Ava said seriously as she blinked at you in awe which made you laugh but you were already moving toward another display leaving them behind as you talked over your shoulder to them.

“And flower festivals here are usually tied into seasonal identity.” you said excitedly as you came to stand in front of another display and began taking pictures. “Like spring isn’t just spring here. It’s community participation, renewal, and public celebration. Everyone comes outside again after winter. It’s symbolic.” you said, sounding almost reverent.

“You’re flirting with the roses now.” Jay-Jay said around a happy laugh and you grinned at her before shaking your head.

“I’m researching.” you told her before turning back to the display.

“You touched that flower like it was made of gold.” Ava teased you and Jay-Jay snickered and nodded her head in agreement as she smiled at you. 

You shrugged your shoulders at them unapologetically before pausing to photograph another arrangement that was shaped like a cascading wall of roses spilling down white latticework. As the three of you moved down the pathways further into the festival the crowds grew more dense, couples drifted past carrying snacks while musicians played beneath lantern-strung trees. The warm sunlight filtered across flower tunnels painting everything underneath them in gold and blush tones.

“Oh my god.” Ava gasped softly and you barely looked up from your notebook as you quickly jotted your thoughts into it.

“What?” you asked her as you were still distracted by your notebook. Ava nudged Jay-Jay with her elbow and then nodded her chin at something that was further beyond you but moving quickly through the crowd towards you. Jay-Jay squinted her eyes behind her sunglasses before her face fell into an exhausted expression of someone witnessing a recurring natural disaster.

“Your emotionally unstable boyfriend is here again.” Jay-Jay tells you delightedly causing you to freeze in your movements as you stare down at your notebook. You sigh long, low and tired before picking your head up from your notebook because even with Jay-Jay’s warning you immediately knew where he was coming from as if you now had a sixth sense of his presence.

And there he was walking along a path further down from where you had stopped to write in your notebook. Jeongin walked through the rose festival like he had personally been invited by the festival hosts, he wore a black silk shirt that was half unbuttoned with silver chains that caught the sunlight just right and glittered against his skin. He wore his normal black tailored slacks, combat boots and dark sunglasses shielded his eyes from the sun. Even his ever present muscular bodyguard shadowed him through the festival wearing all black as well, you idly wondered if they were sweating or not underneath their dark clothes. The two of them looked like they were dressed for a funeral more than a rose festival as you watched them move through delicate rose arches, and yet Jeongin carried himself like he belonged there. You stared at him for a long moment before slowly closing your notebook and rubbing lightly at your temple knowing that this man was going to become a problem.

“Fancy meeting you here.” Jeongin greeted you as he removed his sunglasses slowly once he stood in front of you looking entirely too pleased with himself already.

“You have got to stop pretending these are coincidences.” you deadpanned at him and Ava snorted so hard she nearly choked on her drink.

“He tracked you through a flower festival. This is either romance or organized crime.” Jay-Jay said amusedly.

“Could be both.” Jeongin said while tilting his head to the side casually which made Jay-Jay burst out in amused laughter. You blinked for a quiet moment as you watched the Jeongin, that little comment and head tilt shouldn’t have been as charming as it was to you. A tiny smirk tugged briefly at your mouth before you turned away from him and toward another rose display, but before you had turned completely away you caught Jay-Jay’s eyes and she was looking at you with excited amusement written on her face. You knew Jay-Jay had talked to Jeongin when he had met up with all of you at the palace a week ago and she wouldn’t tell you what she had talked to him about but you had a sneaking suspicion that she was trying to play matchmaker now between the two of you.

“You’re dressed like you’re here to threaten the flowers instead of looking at them.” you tell him as he steps closer to you. He looks down at himself before looking back up to you with a soft frown.

“What’s wrong with this outfit?” he asks you curiously and Ava gasps out theatrically from behind the two of you.

“Everything.” she tells him and he looks back at her before turning back to you as his lips pout slightly.

“You look like a hitman attending prom.” Jay-Jay says in agreement and you chuckle softly at her assessment while Jeongin scoffs as he falls into step beside you anyways.

“I look fine.” he retorts petulantly and you smile while shaking your head at him.

“You look expensive.” you correct him absently as you raise your phone to take another picture of a flower display. You don’t see the please look on his face but you can feel him crowding closer to your back as he peers at the picture that you’re taking.

“Let me take your picture next to the display.” he suggests softly and you look up at him surprised before shaking your head.

“Oh no, these are for my notes for the book.” you tell him but he easily takes your phone from your hands before nodding his head towards the display. 

“You two should join her, she needs more pictures of the three of you together.” he says easily over his shoulder to Ava and Jay-Jay who quickly guide you to the display before you all pose for a few pictures. When he’s done and you’re standing back in front of him surveying the photos you smile softly at how well they came out.

“Thank you.” you tell him softly as you look up at him and he blinks for a moment before smiling widely at your praise.

“Of course.” he says while bowing his head a little before guiding you back along the path and further into the festival grounds. 

As your group moves deeper and deeper through the festival you start noticing things you hadn’t before about Jeongin’s effect on others. Festival workers bow subtly when Jeongin passes with you, security guards avoided eye contact entirely but still kept an eye on him, vendors greeted him with nervous politeness and people moved around him instinctively as if it was natural and automatic. But again like at the restaurant they didn’t move because of fear exactly, it was more so a deference to him. The kind people gave someone powerful enough to alter the atmosphere around them just by existing inside it. You watched your surroundings quietly now as you walked next to him, travel instincts sharpening beneath your calm expression as military brat instincts kicked in as well. Observation matters when you grow up constantly relocating. You learned early on in life to find patterns in the way people behaved and even in your surroundings, and Jeongin was beginning to look very much like a pattern to you.

“Pretty impressive festival, right?” Jeongin suddenly asked you and you blinked at him for a moment as your mind was still clouded with your observations.

“You sound like you’re surprised flowers exist.” you say and he looks scandalized as he stares at you.

“I know things about flowers.” he insists and you smirk softly as you lean into him watching as his eyes dilate slightly.

“Name one rose species then.” you instruct him and he opens his mouth confidently before pausing and then closing his mouth.

“Red?” he says sounding unsure of himself which makes Ava have to stop and bend over as she’s laughing too hard at his response. You have to press your lips together hard as you visibly try to stop the smile from slipping across your face and Jeongin watches you with a grin on his face as his eyes sparkled delightedly at your reaction.

“You’re unbelievable.” you tell him.

“I’m adaptable.” he corrects you.

“Oh, so you’re surviving?” you ask him amusedly.

“Barely.” he counters and you laugh softly despite yourself and Jeongin immediately looked victorious over earning the sound from you. The way his face lit up made your breath stutter in your chest and that felt dangerous, very dangerous.

“And yes, this is a very impressive festival.” you tell him and he nods his head as he continues walking with you. “In fact, this festival is used as a model for local cultural festivals and some foreign flower farmers participate in it. During the festival flower events and cultural performances are held, and visitors can buy flowers from all over the world, which helps promote the domestic flower industry.” you began to ramble and just as you caught yourself rambling you looked up and saw Jeongin nodding his head along with your words as he watched you in awe. “You have no idea what I just said, do you?” you asked him knowingly and he blinked for a moment before sheepishly smiling at you and ducking his head.

“Not a clue.” he admitted and you couldn’t help but laugh at his honesty. “But it’s not because I don’t want to listen to you or understand. I just like when you light up about something you’re passionate about. It’s nice to see.” he explains and you’re thrown for a loop at his words not expecting him to admit that or even say that for that matter.

“He’s looking at her like she personally hung the roses.” Jay-Jay said in an excited whisper that made you roll your eyes at her.

“No, worse. Like she invented Spring.” Ava corrected her and you chuckled softly as you shook your head at them and their commentary.

“Can you two not expose me publicly? Especially in front of her?” he asked as he looked over his shoulder at them.

“No.” came from Ava with a smirk.

“Nope.” Jay-Jay said with a shake of her head as she grinned. You chuckled once more at their antics and Jeongin turned to you grinning like he’d won something. 

You all turned as you reached the central displays of the festival but were startled when a loud crash echoed nearby. Turning your head you spotted a drunk tourist had stumbled directly through a protected arrangement while trying to take selfies. Rose stems bent beneath his shoes while nearby staff rush over nervously trying to get him out of and away from the display.

“Sir, please don’t touch the display.” one staff member said to him trying to guide him out of the display but the man just laughed loudly while waving the staff members off.

“Relax, they’re just flowers.” he said drunkenly as he swayed on his feet. One worker looked genuinely panicked as they tried to help get the man away from the display. 

Before you could even make a move to try and help them, Jeongin stepped forward and you felt a shift in the air immediately. It was like a switch had been flipped within him, there was no more teasing or flirting air about him, no swagger hung off his shoulders, there was just a cold authority sharp enough to cut glass.

”Step away from the flowers.” Jeongin said in a low tone that could only be heard by you, the drunk tourist and the staff members. You could tell he was trying not to cause a scene at the festival.

”Mind your business.” The tourist said irritatedly as he turned towards Jeongin.

”Step away from the flowers.” Jeongin repeated himself but in a quieter tone this time which made the hairs on the back of your neck stand at attention. You watched with baited breath as the tourist seemed to weigh his options. “Now.” Jeongin demanded and just like that the tourist backed away instantly. The staff members all exhaled in visible relief while you watched silently as Jeongin crouched beside the damaged roses and carefully lifted one bent stem upright between his fingers with surprising gentleness. “People work too hard protecting beautiful things for idiots to ruin them.” He said softly to himself and you blinked in surprise at his words.

Suddenly your view of him shifted as if the pieces clicked together and you came to an understanding of Jeongin. This wasn’t performance for your or anyone else’s benefit, protection genuinely mattered to him. You saw at the bar that night when the men had barged in yelling, you saw it now with the tourist, and you had even seen it at each moment he crashed into your life. Little moments of him taking care and protecting those around him without any thought of receiving penance for it.

”You really care about this city, don’t you?” You asked him as he stood to his full height and turned back to you. Jeongin looked at you quietly for a moment as he twirled a broken rose in his fingers, there was no arrogance on his face for once as he looked at you.

”Someone should.” He said with a shrug of his shoulders and you felt it within your chest that this was the real him. A young, tired, protective man who was just trying to keep his city safe while trying far too hard to carry things bigger than himself. You felt yourself soften before you could stop it and just as you opened your mouth to say something a nervous looking staff member hurried over to Jeongin with his bodyguard in tow.

His bodyguard talked to him quietly as he leaned in closer to Jeongin, you couldn’t make out what was being said but by the way Jeongin’s expression shifted instantly into guarded professionalism you knew it wasn’t good. Jeongin nodded his head once before his eyes darted back to you and you knew immediately he was being called away.

”I gotta go deal with something.” He told you softly after taking a step closer to you causing you to tilt your head up towards him.

”Of course you do.” You said understandingly as you nodded your head once at him. Jeongin lingered for a half second longer before slipping the rose he held in his hand behind your ear with a soft smile on his face. Your heart stuttered heavily in your chest at his sweet gesture as you stared up at him before he nodded his head at you once and then turned to leave. You watched as he walked down the pathway with his bodyguard following him closely as staff members and people attending the festival easily parted for him.

”Oh, you are so cooked.” Ava said teasingly as she laughed loudly and delightedly.

”He’s cocky, dramatic, and definitely involved in something illegal.” You said around a scoff while rolling your eyes at her.

”And yet you’re smiling.” Jay-Jay told you knowingly. You froze for a moment as you realized that you were smiling softly, both Ava and Jay-Jay began laughing loudly at you. “You are so done for him.” Jay-Jay said teasingly as she watched you with an eager Ava at her side watching you as well.

”He’s not what I expected.” You said thoughtfully causing the two of them to cheer while throwing their hands up in triumph. Somehow the realization that Jeongin wasn’t what you had thought he would be lingered long after the scent of roses faded from your clothes.

The night settled over Jeongin’s faction thick and humid, neon bleeding across wet pavement while bass from the clubs vibrated faintly through the streets like a second heartbeat beneath the city. The nightlife district had fully awakened now, lines curled outside velvet-rope entrances, street vendors shouted over music, motorcycles screamed through intersections, and perfume, smoke, alcohol and rain hung heavy in the air. Somewhere beneath all of it an irritation simmered hot beneath Jeongin’s skin. Just when he had felt like he was getting somewhere with you he had been called away because Chan had called another meeting with the Clan. It had been nothing but the same thing of them all dismissing his concerns and his plans to confront and stop the defacing of his faction.

Jeongin walked fast through the narrow alleyways with Dong-Geon and three of his men trailing behind him, black dress shirt rolled to his elbows now, silver rings catching under the flickering neon signs overhead. The meeting still sat badly in his chest as he let the words replay over and over again like a mocking song that he couldn’t get out of his head, you’ll get your chance, Innie. Let us take care of it. They all thought he was still a kid and still learning how to handle his own faction, even while he had already been handling his faction just fine and he had been tracking the graffiti throughout his whole faction so far. He had even tracked it enough that he was getting closer and closer to the gang who was doing it. He felt like he just needed one good push to expose the gang and deal with them once and for all.

“You’re grinding your teeth again.” Dong-Geon says carefully as he steps up to his side.

“I’m fine.” Jeongin said softly as he shoved a cigarette between his lips before lighting it, the end of it glowing red hot before dimming into an orange glow.

“That usually means you’re about to hit someone.” Dong-Geon says knowingly and Jeongin exhales a stream of smoke slowly through his nose as his eyes squint slightly.

“Maybe someone deserves to get hit.” Jeongin said softly, causing Dong-Geon to hum like that answer proved his point. The worst part about the meeting was that Chan wasn’t entirely wrong and that irritated Jeongin more. Jeongin knew he was reckless, he knew that he pushed too hard sometimes and that others still saw flashes of the spoiled teenager they’d practically raised inside the clan compound. But he also knew this faction better than anyone. Every alley, every rooftop, every hidden shrine tucked behind the clubs and bars. He knew which vendors needed protection money lowered during the tourist season because business slowed after rainstorms. He knew which grandmothers fed stray cats behind the karaoke buildings. He knew where the fox statues had started getting defaced first. He just needed one chance to show Chan that he was capable and could be trusted leading his own faction.

His cigarette burned low between his fingers as they both crossed into a quieter stretch of the faction. The neon thinned here as older buildings leaned together shoulder to shoulder beneath hanging lanterns while weather worn fox statues hid in corners that no one else noticed. Somewhere deeper in the alleyways someone laughed too loudly before the sound of a bottle shattering rang through the air. Jeongin stilled as he listened to the sounds and Dong-Geon also stopped as he noticed the shift in Jeongin.

“What is it?” Dong-Geon asked quietly but Jeongin didn’t give him an answer as he tilted his head to the side listening. There were voices that sounded young and nervous as they talked with each other and then he heard the telltale sound of a spray can rattling. A slow grin spread across Jeongin’s face in the dark with wicked glee.

“There.” he said softly to Dong-Geon who heard the sound as well. Jeongin quickly moved with Dong-Geon at his back through the winding and entangled alleyways until they came to a small opening behind a family owned restaurant deeper in the faction, Jeongin frowned softly as he realized how deep they were getting in the faction now. Three men stood hunched near the alley wall, red paint still dripped down from the fresh graffiti. It was another red sparrow, bright and ugly in his deformed figure as if it was mutilated or broken. The red bird was fighting another fox in the graffiti and as Jeongin’s eyes danced across the image he felt something heavy settle within him before his eyes were drawn to that familiar tag MIK stamped on a tiny lantern. He didn’t know what any of it meant yet but as his eyes turned to the boys he was hoping to find out tonight.

“Shit!” one of the men hissed out as he noticed Jeongin and Dong-Geon standing there with dark scowls on their faces. The other two men turned and turned pale as they recognized Jeongin immediately while one dropped the spray can in his hand. Jeongin stepped into the alley slowly, cigarette still glowing between his fingers while rainwater reflected lantern light across his shoes.

“You picked the wrong street boys.” he said in a low tone. The tallest man recovered first, lunging toward Jeongin with a confidence that didn’t befit him. His fist swung heavily through the air giving Jeongin enough time to dodge it before dipping in close under his guard and delivering two punches that pushed the man back. Dong-Geon stepped into the alley as well just as another one of the men tried to swing at Jeongin while he was distracted. 

After that the alley exploded into motion that was fast, violent and controlled chaos. One man lunged at Dong-Geon who batted the man into a nearby dumpster as if he weighed nothing while the other two men combined their efforts to try and take Jeongin down. Using his fists that flashed with reflected light from the lanterns on his silver rings Jeongin was able to not only defend himself but also lay blow after blow on each of the men. Each hit to the men sounded out louder and louder with each swing of his arms, sweat began to build up at his hairline as he fought them viciously. For a moment all Jeongin could hear was his own breathing, hot, sharp, and violent as frustration welled up inside him burning him from the inside out as it raced through his bloodstream now. He took a few hits from them but nothing that managed to keep him down. Because every time he was hit it just fueled his frustration, his mind raced with Chan’s dismissal of him and the sound of the clan laughing, even the image of you brushing him aside with those calm unimpressed eyes drove his frustration higher and brighter throughout the fight. 

The way you somehow made him feel like he was sixteen and stupid again every time you looked at him too long, it all tangled together to form something dark and ugly under his ribs. And with all that frustration swirling within him his punches landed harder, never reckless or sloppy. That was the terrifying thing about Jeongin, even when he was angry he stayed precise in his movements like instinct guided him more than thought when he fought. He was a predator playing with its teeth half-bared. When Jeongin swung a deep uppercut to one of the men he was fighting and knocked him clean off his feet he grinned wickedly with delight. Even with three against two, Dong-Geon and Jeongin were able to incapacitate two of the three men. The third tried to run but Jeongin easily grabbed him by his collar and dragged him back to sneer into his face.

“You think vandalizing my faction makes you brave?” he hissed out venomously at the man who cowarded. “Who gave you the right to do this?” Jeongin asked him, shaking him slightly by his collar making him whimper. Blood trickled from the man’s split lip as panic flooded his face at Jeongin’s question. More of Jeongin’s men began to fill the alley thanks to Dong-Geon’s quick text and location ping to them. Jeongin threw the man to the ground at the feet of some of his crew with a curled lip. “Take him to one of our safehouses and see if you can get any information out of him. Make him sing like that sparrow they keep defacing my faction with.” he instructed his men who silently nodded before swarming the alley to grab the three men. “And someone clean that shit off the wall.” Jeongin said irritatedly as he sucked in a few heavy breaths trying to calm his heart.

“Boss.” Dong-Geon said softly as he stepped forward after a moment but Jeongin shrugged him off and began walking lazily out the alley. His knuckles stung and blood dotted the silver rings on his fingers. Rain began to fall lightly overhead in a steady pattern that cooled the humid air as lantern light reflected across the wet cement. Jeongin still felt angry, restless, and like he was clawing at walls no one else could even see but then an image of your face blinking up at him with shocked awe after he slipped the rose behind your ear filtered through his mind and he felt his frustration break like a dam within him. He idly wondered where you were tonight as he lit another cigarette and sucked in the smoke before letting it curl slowly out of his open mouth while tilting his head up towards the dark raining sky. Jeongin continued walking out of the alley and headed toward the deeper part of his faction wanting to distance himself from the ugliness that the nightlife drew in. His mind continued to turn towards you as he wondered if you had visited any of the shrines in his faction.

Morning arrived softer at the edges of Jeongin’s district, the nightlife noise had faded into a distant hum now before being replaced by rustling bamboo, chiming prayer bells and the low murmur of older locals beginning their day near the hillside shrine paths. You had left the hotel before either Ava or Jay-Jay had woken up, after last night you knew that it’d take them much longer to wake up and roll out of bed so you had left a note saying that you were going to do a solo day of sight seeing the old shrines in the area before meeting up with them for dinner tonight. Ever since arriving in Seoul things had been nonstop and constantly going, which normally was fine but there was something different about this trip that made you crave quiet and space today. You had woken up feeling as if you needed several uninterrupted hours where nobody could ask why you had been smiling at random intervals ever since a certain infuriating young man had inserted himself into your travel plans.

So that was how you had found yourself wandering the area and diving deeper and deeper into it while feeling as if the modern city seemed to peel backward in layers the further you traveled into it. Neon humming signs become silent golden lanterns while concrete turns into stone pathways. Club music silenced into the soft wind blowing through the trees and everywhere you looked, there were foxes. Small fox statues lined staircases worn smooth with age. Other fox statues rested beside tiny shrines tucked between old buildings, their stone faces weathered and softened by rain and incense smoke. Red ribbons fluttered from some of their necks while others sat surrounded by tiny offerings left by locals. You were absolutely delighted by all the fox statues you came across snapping pictures of each one with a soft smile on your face.

The morning air blew cool as you followed a narrow path toward one of the older shrines you had marked on your map the night before. Unlike the palace or the rose festival this place wasn’t advertised heavily and you had to comb through online forums to find the location of it. There were no crowds, no tour groups. Just old stone paths winding through trees and weathered fox statues standing watch beneath hanging lanterns.

“This is exactly my kind of place.” you murmured to yourself as you eventually reached the shrine. It was tucked partially into the beginning edge of the bamboo forest that sat at the outer edge of this area. You had heard that there was a hotel and a few more shrines buried deep in the bamboo forest but you didn’t have time to explore those today unfortunately.

The shrine itself was stunning, ancient stone lanterns surrounded the shrine while the wood that housed the shrine was now faded and darkened with age. Fox statues stood solemnly beneath prayer ribbons and drifting incense smoke catching you under its spell easily as you gazed at it all in awe.

“You like the foxes?” asked you softly as he stood near the entrance of the shrine sweeping the stone floor clear of any leaves. He looked at you amused in a quiet manner that calmed and eased you instantly.

“I love them.” you admittedly instantly as you beamed at him which made him smile in return before gesturing toward the shrine.

“They say a fox spirit protects this place. He’s fierce, loyal and dangerous.” he told you as you stepped forward while his eyes flicked toward the surrounding area knowingly. “He watches over the weak but punishes those who defile his home.” he spoke and you were already pulling out your notebook to quickly jot down his words.

“That’s incredible,” you murmur softly as you write. “It’s poetic.” You wrote a phrase carefully beneath your notes on the shrine, the trickster fox who guards with blood. You liked how the words sounded together and soon your thoughts drifted toward Jeongin once again. Jeongin who was young, cocky, with that damned sharp-toothed grin of his, touching fox statues every time he passed one like instinct. The way he guarded ancient things beneath nightclub lights made you think of the fox spirit the man spoke about. Without even realizing it your lips curled faintly as you wrote and the caretaker noticed instantly as he hummed softly catching your attention.

“You smile when you write about him.” he said cryptically and startled so hard you nearly dropped your pen.

“I’m not writing about anyone.” you refute immediately but the man looked unconvinced as he leaned against his broom. 

“Does he know you write about him?” he asked knowingly and you huffed at him which made him grin.

“The man doesn’t know much about me. Just met me two weeks ago.” you tell him softly with a shake of your head.

“You’d be surprised what can be picked up about a person when no words are spoken.” the man says and you look at him quietly for a moment before slowly nodding your head in agreement and your mind turns back to Jeongin. “But you’re one of those, aren’t you?” he asks softly.

“One of those?” you question him softly not knowing what he means.

“The dangerous kind.” he says confidently with a firm nod of his head and your brows furrow at his words.

“I’m not dangerous.” you tell him with a shake of your head but he nods insistantly.

“You’re the kind that actually listens, that makes you dangerous.” he tells you and you look at him for a quiet moment before you beam with pride which makes him chuckle at you. 

You look over at the entrance at the line of fox statues before your eyes catch on one that has been vandalized making you frown at it. Red spray paint slashed violently across its eyes and you understand the dark undertones to the graffiti. The vandalism felt jarring against the weathered stone and the sight of it immediately soured your mood as you stared at it.

“Who would do that?” you asked disgustedly.

“A rival group has been causing problems lately. They destroy what they do not understand.” the caretaker said with a heavy sigh. The damage to the fox statue bothered you far more than you expected and for the first time since arriving in Seoul, you felt genuine anger settle low in your chest. Because suddenly the graffiti didn’t feel random anymore like before when you first arrived, this felt personal. A protective instinct stirred unexpectedly beneath your ribs and settled low in your gut and annoyingly enough your brain immediately connected that feeling to Jeongin because of how protective he seemed over this area.

“Is there no one able to stop them? The police?” you ask curiously already having an idea of the answer. The caretaker looks at the statue for a moment before smiling softly.

“The fox spirit will.” he says softly and you have a feeling he’s not actually talking about ancient folklore.

An hour later you’re wandering through a row of folklore stalls near the shrine looking at all the items that the vendors have created to sell. There are tiny fox figurines lined up on wooden shelves, hand-painted charms swayed gently from overhead displays and an old woman was selling handmade lanterns while children darted between the tables. You were examining a collection of local ghost story books when a familiar voice sounded from behind you.

“I brought a peace offering.” You nearly laughed as your ears immediately recognized the voice before looking up slowly and over your shoulder at him. Of course he was here, you shouldn’t be surprised that he had found you once again. You even had to bite your lip to stop the laughter that had bubbled up within you nearly spilled out of your mouth. Jeongin stood there holding two iced coffees awkwardly in one hand like he’d manifested directly from your ongoing problems. He wore a black shirt again this time with a deep v neck that nearly fell to his navel while silver jewelry graced his fingers and around his neck. He looked entirely too attractive so early in the morning. Jeongin grinned widely at you as he pulled his dark sunglasses down the bridge of his nose to get a better look at you.

“Did you track me through Seoul?” you ask him incredulously as a smile slips onto your face.

“That sounds illegal when you say it like that.” he says with a pretty pout on his face.

“Because it is.” you retort amusedly as you roll your eyes at him. Jeongin’s pout deepened as he handed you a coffee anyway. You look down at it and blink once in surprise before glancing up at him. The coffee was exactly how you had ordered it yesterday, that caught you more off guard than anything he’s done so far. Jeongin noticed your surprise immediately and he tilted his head to the side curiously.

“What?” he asked.

“You remembered my order.” you said softly and he shrugged his shoulders as if it was obvious.

“You talk a lot. Makes remembering things easy.” he said as if it was that easy, and those words should not have made your stomach flip slightly.

“Thank you.” you say softly before taking a sip while Jeongin looked absurdly pleased with himself.

“Victory.” he said proudly and you shook your head at him.

“It wasn’t a victory.” you said with a huff.

“It absolutely was.” he retorted and you rolled your eyes at him yet someone found yourself walking beside him anyway as you perused the vendor stalls still. The two of you drifted through the stalls together never straying far from each other and for once Jeongin wasn’t trying nearly as hard which was a nice change. The two of you relaxed around each other as he listened when you talked, you found yourself rambling about all the different items that the vendors were selling that related to the shrine. He didn’t interrupt you once and he asked questions too, real ones which had surprised you because he was a part of this area so he should know these answers.

“Why are foxes always near gates?” he asked you curiously as he stood next to you gazing at another fox statue that sat at the entry of the vendor area. You found yourself answering before you realized you’d softened toward him at all.

“Foxes usually symbolize thresholds,” you explain while pointing toward a weather shrine gate that had two fox statues bracketing it. “Physical ones, spiritual ones, emotional ones. They exist between worlds.”

“So you’re saying I’m emotionally haunted?” he asked teasingly as he smirked softly. Your eyes darted to him and were reminded of how the restaurant staff referred to him The Vanta Fox.

“I’m saying you look like trouble under neon lighting.” you tell him and that made him laugh softly at your reasoning. His questions continued as you both sipped at your drinks and kept walking through the stalls just enjoying the peace that this area seemed to stir up, and he actually seemed interested in your answers which was somehow far more dangerous than the flirting. He was showing the person he was underneath all the bravado and cocky attitude which was a nice change but it still messed with your feelings that were now under a spotlight since the rose festival.

The two of you find a small stall that’s selling fox themed prayer ribbons and you excitedly find one that you want to place on the shrine. You set down your notebook on the table and begin to pour over each option with quiet consideration wanting to find the perfect one to place on the shrine. When you finally chose the best one you quickly turned from the stall to head to the shrine looking at Jeongin over your shoulder to see if he’d follow you.

“Want to join me while I put this on the shrine?” you ask him softly and he blinks at you for a moment before quickly nodding his head eagerly. The two of you then walk into the shrine before kneeling before it and offering up a silent prayer together, when you finish you reach forward and gently hook your prayer ribbon around the edge of the shrine before kneeling back down. You gaze at the shrine in soft awe before you and Jeongin move back from the shrine. You turn to the side and reach for your notebook before freezing, your notebook wasn’t under your arm where you had kept it for this morning. 

“Oh no.” you say softly and begin quietly panicking as you look around yourself in a hurry.

“What?” Jeongin asks as he looks over at you with a concerned look on his face.

“My notebook. I think I set it down somewhere.” you said as you began checking your travel bag digging through it frantically looking for it. That notebook contained weeks of research and notes on the area for your new book. It also held plans for future events you had wanted to see while you were here. Dread filled you as you thought of everything that was in that notebook. You had even started to outline the guide book and chapters you wanted to include in it.

“You mean this one?” he asked softly and your head whipped up in a rush. Jeongin stood there holding out your notebook towards you with a soft smile on his face. “You set it down at the ribbon stall and I picked it up knowing you’d need it.” he explained to you as you shakily reached out and took the notebook from him.

“Thank you. You don’t know how much you just saved me. My whole guide book notes are in here.” you told him softly and thanked him. Jeongin just smiled warmly at you before shrugging his shoulders as if it wasn’t much to him to pick up your forgotten notebook. The fact that he had just picked it up after seeing you forget about it because he knew you’d need it for later sat like a lead stone in your chest, in his own way he was looking out for you. A different kind of panic rose unexpectedly within you as your emotions and feelings began to swirl within you, this was becoming a problem. A very attractive, persistent and kind problem. Suddenly someone knocked into your shoulder and you could see more visitors starting to gather for the shrine, you looked up at Jeongin who watched you cautiously with a quiet worry on his face as if he had picked up on the change within you. “I should go.” you said softly to him and Jeongin startled at your words but before he could respond you disappeared in the crowd of locals who gathered around the shrine. And for once you left him before either one of you were ready for the separation.

Twenty minutes later you walked through the open doorway of a quiet tea shop you had stumbled across entirely by accident in your rush to distance yourself from Jeongin. You looked around at the cozy atmosphere of the shop, tables were laid out in the main area of the tea shop while a jam packed book corner with plush cushions and seats sat off to the side while a long bar tabletop stood in front of a few large stoves where water boiled for tea. The scent of tea leaves filled the air and it immediately soothed you as your shoulders relaxed and your mind emptied of all thoughts of Jeongin. A woman stood behind the counter and glanced up from the book she was reading. You and her both paused, she tilted her head to the side curiously before grinning widely which made you do the same as the two of you immediately understood each other.

“Foreigner, huh?” she asked smugly and you grinned at her brightly.

“Could ask you the same, couldn’t I?” you retorted. Silence fell between the two of you before you both burst out laughing. The woman then gestures you over to her as she grins widely at you and you happily take a seat at the counter in front of her.

“My name is Chaip, it means-” the woman begins to introduce herself.

“Tea leaves in Korean.” you supply and she happily nods her head as her eyes sparkle.

“The locals gave me the nickname after I moved here half a year ago and set up my shop.” Chaip explained and you nodded your head at her words.

“You can call me Trails, its the nickname I go by the most more than my actual name.” you introduce yourself to her and she grins widely at you.

“Do you hike? Is that how you got the nickname?” she asks curiously as she begins to pour boiling water into a pretty black and red tea pot for you before gathering two cups and then sets the tray in between the two of you. You watch as she moves while preparing the tea and you explain how you got the nickname and why you’re here.

“I write travel guide books for a living. Travel all over the world and find all the hidden gems for others to come and visit when they travel.” you explain and she nods her head along to your words before smiling softly. When you talked with Chaip everything felt natural like when you talked with Ava and Jay-Jay which wasn’t that surprising as you both had something that bonded the two of you together. “I was in a nightlife area about twenty minutes ago but this area feels different, it’s more traditional and gritty.” you say as she places a cup of tea in front of you as your eyes dart around her shop.

“You noticed that quickly?” Chaip asks you, surprised.

“The areas feel different. As if they’ve got two different personalities.” you say observantly and Chaip grins while nodding as she takes a sip of her tea.

“I like you.” she says and somehow you feel as if the two of you have skipped straight past strangers and landed firmly in friendship which doesn’t feel wrong or bad to you. You lifted your tea cup carefully and Chaip immediately narrowed her eyes on you.

“You move like one of my locals. You’ve done this before?” she questions you.

“I read that rushing tea can be considered disrespectful in some traditional tea houses.” you tell her and she blinks at you for a quiet moment before leaning back in shock.

“Oh, so you’re one of those researchers.” she says knowingly as her eyes take on a curious light. You laugh at her words before shrugging your shoulders.

“I’ve been told I’m too observant before.” you say and she nods her head in agreement. Soon your conversation drifted to how she came to set up a shop here, how she had made her and her grandmother’s dream a reality while also fighting with the local leader of this area Minho. That piece of information piqued your interest as you had read about the Stray Kids Clan in this area and had slowly been piecing together that Jeongin was a part of that clan.

“You know who they are?” Chaip asked with a cautious curiosity as you nodded your head.

“I’ve read about them, don’t know names or faces. I didn’t dive that far deep into it but I know of the clan and that there’s eight members in their territory and that they all lead a certain section.” you explain and she widens her eyes slightly at all the information you have.

“Most tourists don’t know about them.” Chaip says and you nod your head as you sip at your tea.

“Most tourists don’t read organized crime archives recreationally.” you tell her and she nearly spits out her tea while laughing. Chaip calms down and then her eyes narrow for a second and you can tell that she’s reading more into why you’re here.

“There’s a man.” she says cryptically and you groan loudly while tossing your head back on your neck which makes her laugh bright, loud and delighted.

“No.” you argue with her already and she nods her head.

“Oh, there is absolutely a man.” she says knowingly.

“There isn’t.” you reply quickly and she smirks suddenly as her eyes light up with understanding.

“It’s Innie isn’t it?” she asks suddenly and you frown at her as your eyebrows furrow. “Jeongin, he’s the leader of the faction next to this one.” Chaip explains and you hesitate at his name. “Oh, this is serious.” Chaip says softly as she leans on the countertop towards you. “What’d the Maknae do?” she asks and you immediately understand the term she uses.

“Nothing, nothing.” you try to dismiss it but Chaip stares at you with narrowed eyes making you sigh loudly. “Since I’ve gotten here he’s been fixated on me. I don’t understand why and he’s persistent. Flirty, cocky, arrogant, reckless.” you begin to explain and Chaip nods knowingly as you list off his traits. “But recently I’ve seen another side of him, he’s protective of the people in his faction, of the older buildings and shrines there. I can tell he wants to prove himself as capable but I don’t think he knows how yet. Or hasn’t accepted that he’s capable if he just drops the pretenses that he hides behind.” you tell her and Chaip stares at you with her mouth slightly open.

“Wow.” she says softly before she smiles softly and warmly at you. “You’ve really taken a good look at him haven’t you?” she asks you happily. “You’re right he is all of that, the good and the bad. He’s the youngest of the group and has been spoiled rotten since the clan formed. He grew up in this life while the others were pushed into it. But Innie’s got a good heart, he cares deeply for those he sees under his responsibility and protection. I think the older members don’t give him the chance to show what he’s capable of and that’s a key part of the issue. But you’re right he’s got it in him he just has to let go of that cocky attitude.” Chaip explains which makes you nod your head in agreement.

Just then someone stumbled through the front door catching both your attention and Chaip as you both turned and spotted Jeongin walking into the shop with a worried look on his face and a slender man with sharp features and dark black hair walked in behind him. You instantly realized that this other man wasn’t Jeongin’s usual bodyguard and when he moved around Jeongin with ease you realized that he was familiar with the shop. Jeongin stopped instantly as his eyes landed on you and he stared at you as if he didn’t believe he was seeing you. And then a dramatic pout slipped onto his face as he quickly walked over to you at the counter.

“I lost you in the crowd and I was worried something had happened to you.” he rushed out as he came to stand just inches from you while his eyes darted around your face with concern. You idly watched as the other man walked around the counter and slipped an arm around Chaip’s waist dragging her into his chest and side with a soft smirk directed at her as he avidly watched Jeongin in front of him.

“I just needed a little space to clear my head.” you said softly to him and he frowned softly at your words.

“Space from me?” he asked bewildered and Chaip chuckled softly at his question.

“First time hearing the word no, Innie?” she teased him gently and he turned his head to her with pout before shaking his head.

“She’s been telling me no since she got here.” he tells her in a tone that makes you roll your eyes at him as Chaip laughs delightedly before turning to you.

“Good for you!” she cries out which makes the man at her side smirk softly while Jeongin pouts even more. You smile at her before she leans forward and gives you her phone. “Put your number in there, I have a feeling I’m going to be seeing a lot more of you before you leave.” she tells you and happily put your phone number into her phone under the name Trails.

“Why does she get your phone number so quickly? She just met you!” Jeongin protests and you turn to him with a soft smirk.

“You’ve never asked for my number yet.” you tease him and he blinks at you before grinning wickedly as he leans in.

“Can I get your number, Trails?” he asks in a smooth flirtatious way that makes your stomach flutter with acknowledgement but you calm it as you lean closer to him making him suck in a sharp breath at how close you were. 

“No.” you tell him and his face falls immediately as you smirk and Chaip bursts out in amused laughter. 

“She got you there Maknae.” the man next to Chaip tells Jeongin who pouts prettily at you and you laugh at him softly.

“Maybe next time, Innie.” you tease him using the nickname Chaip called him earlier and watched as his face bloomed with pink as his eyes widened at the nickname.

“Noona.” he grumbles out softly as he drops his forehead to your shoulder as you laugh softly at him. When he shifted even closer to your side you laughed softly at him still before patting his head gently.

“There, there. You’ll be fine.” you tell him gently and he scoffs at you while Chaip grins and nudges the man next to her. You watch as the man pulls out his phone and begins quickly typing on it and you silently suspect that there is a group chat out there with some embarrassing evidence of Jeongin pouting over you.

Two days later thousands upon thousands of lanterns turn Jeongin’s entire faction gold, nothing flashy or bright but a soft gold that seems to throb around everyone who has shown up to enjoy the Lantern Festival. Rows upon rows of lotus lanterns swayed overhead in the warm May air, stretching endlessly above the crowded streets like floating constellations. Pink, red, white, blue all of them hanging between buildings and temple gates while incense drifted through the festival crowds in pale ribbons of smoke. Somewhere deeper in the celebration, monks could be heard chanting low and rhythmic beneath the pulse of drums.

For once, Jeongin’s faction didn’t feel sharp-edged, it felt ancient. It was such a stark contrast to it’s normal everyday vibe that Jeongin couldn’t help but relax within it. He moved through the crowd beside Felix and Seungmin with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and bruises still darkening around his knuckles. People shifted automatically when they noticed him coming while vendors bowed slightly in reverence. Older residents greeted him warmly with wide smiles and fond looks and children stared openly before their parents hurried them along. Unlike the nightclub area this respect felt different, it had a twinge of familiarity to it like they were all proud family members of his.

“You look too skinny again!” calls out an elderly woman running a skewer stand when she caught sight of him and immediately clicked her tongue on him. Before Jeongin could protest, she shoved two extra skewers into his hands. Felix loses his composure instantly as he begins laughing.

“Oh my god,” Felix wheezed. “Even random grandmothers baby you.” he laughs before the woman then hands him two skewers of his own.

“I hate this faction.” Jeongin grumbles out as he looks horrified at the woman.

“Liar, you are this faction.” Seungmin says dryly as he eagerly accepts two skewers from the woman and begins eating them avidly. The woman swats at Jeongin’s arm affectionately before turning back to her grill.

“Eat more, you’re all bones and bad decisions.” she warns him and Jeongin shakes his head while Felix nearly folds in half laughing.

“That should be embroidered on your clan jacket.” Felix says amusedly as Jeongin bites into the skewer with deep annoyance lining his face while lantern light painted gold across his face. “Heard you almost tore somebody apart tonight.” Felix said casually as they settled near the edge of the stall. “Feel better?” he asks softly, causing Jeongin to exhale slowly through his nose.

“Not really.” Jeongin said with a shake of his head. Above the three of them, the lanterns shifted gently in the wind while the crowds surged around them in waves of color and noise. Children ran past carrying glowing rabbit lanterns while somewhere nearby someone laughed loudly enough to startle a flock of pigeons from a temple roof. Jeongin stared up at the lanterns pensively for a moment before he sighed out. “Feels like nothing I do matters to them sometimes.” Jeongin said softly.

“The hyungs?” Seungmin questioned as he glanced at Jeongin sideways.

“Doesn’t matter how many people bow when I walk by. They still look at me like I’m fifteen.” he scoffs out tiredly and Felix nudged his shoulder gently.

“That’s because you still throw tantrums like you’re fifteen.” Felix jokes and Jeongin scowls darkly at him.

“I don’t throw tantrums.” Jeongin argues.

“You kicked a chair through a wall last month.” Felix supplies gleefully and Jeongin’s scowl darkened even more.

“Wouldn’t you after twenty minutes of your so-called brothers not listening to a word you try to say?!” Jeongin hissed angrily causing both Felix and Seungmin to stare at him with wide eyes. “I am tired of not being heard or taken seriously.” Jeongin said quietly then as he turned and looked down the street of vendor stalls for the festival.

A lantern procession began moving slowly through the street nearby, soft drums echoed between building as volunteers carried massive glowing lotus lantern displays overhead. Golden light rolled across the crowd like water and Jeongin’s attention drifted instinctively toward it as he moved to lean against a wall next to the street where the procession was happening. He leaned against the building and idly thought about you, Trail would’ve loved this. The realization hit him hard enough to startle him and Felix noticed immediately as a grin spread wide across his face.

“So,” he said slowly drawing Jeongin’s attention. “What’s her deal?” he asked and Jeongin didn’t even have to ask who he was talking about. After Minho hyung had sent in the group chat all the details of seeing him and Trails at Chaip’s shop the rest of the clan had been doing nothing but teasing him for his attraction to her.

“She writes travel books.” Jeongin said with a shrug of his shoulders as his mind conjured up an image of you at the shrine the other day as you happily talked about fox spirits with him and their symbolism.

“That’s why you’ve been pretending to understand cultural history for the past few weeks?” Seungmin snorted out amusedly and Jeongin glared at him looking offended.

“I do understand history.” Jeongin countered.

“You asked if lotus lanterns were invented for aesthetics.” Felix said as he cackled with delighted laughter while Seungmin smirked softly.

“They are aesthetic.” Jeongin argued much to Felix and Seungmin’s delight.

“You also thought Yeondeunghoe was a noodle.” Seungmin said around a grin.

“Korean words are complicated.” Jeongin countered before groaning loudly as he knew he’d never hear the end of this as the two of them stared at him.

“You are Korean.” Seungmin supplied and Felix shook from head to toe as he laughed at Jeongin. Jeongin rolls his eyes as he ignores the two of them, his attention being pulled to nearby volunteers who carefully lit another row of lanterns one by one. Jeongin watched them for a moment before speaking again, quieter this time.

“She sees my faction for what it is. She understands me and sees me past all the bullshit.” he explained and both Felix and Seungmin looked at him silently. “At first she wanted nothing to do with me but when she got to understand who I actually am underneath it all she became more interested in me. She makes me want to step up to her challenge.” 

“And what is she challenging you to do?” Seungmin asks curiously.

“To be the leader she knows I can be.” Jeongin said quietly.

“Oh, you’ve got it bad.” Felix says softly as he grins widely at Jeongin.

“He’s completely doomed.” Seungmin agrees and Jeongin huffs at them before rolling his eyes at them.

“You’re both embarrassing.” he says flippantly and they both laugh.

A massive lantern dragon suddenly swept overhead, glowing red and gold against the dark sky,the entire street paused to watch it pass even the three of them went quiet as they watched it move. The lantern light reflected in his eyes as he stared upward.

“She looks at things properly.” he said softly and the other two looked over at him silently. They could both tell that this meant something to him; there was something different in his tone that caught their attention. “Most tourists just take pictures. She actually cares why things matter.” he explained and Seungmin exchanged a look with Felix. This wasn’t flirting anymore or just attraction, this was admiration.

“She got you bad, huh?” Felix asked thoughtfully and Jeongin ignored his teasing as children carrying tiny fox lanterns ran through the crowd, their laughter echoing through the lantern-lined streets.

“She noticed the shrine statues.” Jeongin said quietly and Seungmin looked up surprised.

“The damaged ones?” Seungmin asked curiously and Jeongin nodded his head.

“She noticed it faster than most locals did when it first started happening.” Jeongin told them and that fact landed heavier than either of them expected. Seungmin studied him carefully now with a critical eye.

“Does that bother you?” he asked and Jeongin began to shake his head slowly.

“No, it doesn’t.” he said softly before falling quiet. “I think I’m glad someone else sees them as soon as they pop up.” Felix’s teasing expression fell from his face and he softened slightly as he watched Jeongin quietly. Because that was the real thing underneath all of the arrogance, Jeongin loved his district. He loved the old shrines buried between clubs and karaoke bars, he loved the hidden alleys and bamboo paths. He loved the old women who fed him too much because they thought he was too skinny and the children who waved lanterns at him like he was something trustworthy. And you had seen it too, not the nightlife or the money but the soul underneath all of it and you quickly came to enjoy it just as much as he did. He even dared to think that you had fallen in love with his faction. He remembered you kneeling besides him in front a shrine as you quietly offered up a prayer, he remembered you rambling excitedly about Gyeongbokgung Palace and its architectural patterns, he remembered you smiling under rose-covered archways, all of that made his chest tighten unexpectedly as the images flashed across his mind.

“She has no clue she’s ruining your life does she?” Felix asked knowingly in a soft tone and Jeongin looked over at him feeling lost.

“Nope.” he sighed out before leaning further into the building tiredly.

Another lantern procession rolled slowly overhead, Lotus flowers made entirely of light drifted across the dark sky while the crowd below watched in collective awe. Jeongin watched the lanterns move for a long quiet moment before he spoke up again quietly.

“They keep defacing the old places because they think nobody cares anymore. Because nobody that they view with authority has done anything yet.” Jeongin told them and they both looked at him silently. “But they’re wrong. Just because they don’t see me as an authority figure doesn’t mean that I’m not doing anything.” he said darkly.

“There he is.” Seungmin said proudly as he smirked confidently at Jeongin.

“Faction leader behavior. Scary.” Felix said teasingly and Jeongin ignored the two of them as his eyes darted back up to the hundreds of lotus lanterns swaying overhead like floating stars. He found himself thinking only one thing as he watched the lanterns, he wanted you to see all of it. The festival, the lanterns and himself rising up to protect his faction because you knew he could.

The lantern festival transformed Seoul into something unreal, rivers of glowing lotus lanterns stretched overhead painting the streets gold and amber. Dragons made entirely from light curled through the night sky while paper cranes swayed above the crowds. Temple bells echoed somewhere in the distance blending with soft music and the murmur of thousands of voices. The city felt suspended between centuries. You were absolutely entranced by it all as you walked the streets with Chaip, Ava and Jay-Jay by your side. They were all gazing around the festival as if they had fully descended into the atmosphere along with you.

“Oooh! Look! This is the vendor that Minho bought my hanbok from a few months ago. C’mon let’s go look!” Chaip said excitedly as she grabbed your arm and then pointed to a small vendor stall that had pretty hanbok hung around the stall.

“Oh no, I couldn’t. I wouldn’t be able to justify buying one.” you tell her as you shake your head.

“C’mon try one on then. You could use it as research for your book.” she cajoles you just as Ava and Jay-Jay step up behind her nodding their heads.

“If anything I can buy it for you as a gift for setting this whole trip up for us.” Ava tells you and you look at her with soft eyes as she smiles at you. “You did all the work and we just gave our suggestions. It’s the least I could do.” she tells you fondly.

“I’ll chip in too!” Jay-Jay cries out happily and you feel your eyes starting to well up at their kindness. You quickly rush in for a group hug from all three of them and they laugh and coo at you softly as they hug you back.

“Now c’mon, there’s a pretty plum colored one that looks like it’d look so good on you.” Chaip tells you before guiding you over to the stall. 

Chaip helps with conversing with the vendor who instantly recognizes her before quickly guiding you into the changing area with the plum hanbok. When you’ve finally gotten it you find yourself standing beneath a canopy of lanterns while the vendor adjusts the final fold of plum silk across your shoulders. You stare at yourself in the mirror in the stall and stare at yourself in surprise. The hanbok was beautiful, the deep plum silk was embroidered with silver flowers that shimmered whenever you moved and it made you feel so pretty wearing it. You sigh softly as you stare at yourself gently swaying from side to side watching as the silver thread glistens in the lantern light.

“You look incredible.” Jay-Jay says softly from behind you and you catch her eyes in the reflection of the mirror as Ava and Chaip nod their heads in agreement from behind Jay-Jay.

“I feel incredible.” you tell them and they all beam at you. Your eyes then catch movement across the street from where you stand and you chuckle softly as you watch Jeongin come to a complete stop as he stares at you causing the blond haired man he was with to walk directly into this shoulder. Jeongin’s eyes widen and his mouth drops open causing a heat to bloom within you at his steadfast attention. You watch him say something and the blond haired man and a dark brown haired man whip their heads up to stare at you as well. The two men with him say something but Jeongin doesn’t seem to hear them as he begins walking across the street towards you as if he was in a trance and you can’t stop the soft smile slipping across your face. 

“Oh he’s done for isn’t he?” Chaip asks delightedly and your eyes dart to her to see she’s already turned away from you to watch Jeongin walking across the street with the two men following behind him.

“Completely gone.” Jay-Jay supplies happily.

“As he should be.” Ava chimes in causing you to laugh at the three of them.

You don’t have to wait long for Jeongin to approach you and come to a stop at your side as he stares up at you while you stand on the small platform in front of the mirror. There’s no swagger in him this time and you’re reminded of the morning at the shrine as you smile softly to yourself thinking back about how relaxed that encounter was between you two. The difference between then and now though was that you had come to terms with your growing feelings for the man and had committed to being open about them with him. You were still a little apprehensive because you were only visiting this area on vacation but you couldn’t deny that Jeongin had managed to wiggle his way into your life and heart.

“You found me again.” you say softly before turning your head to him as he still gazed up at you.

“I wasn’t looking this time. I swear.” he said softly and you burst out into amused laughter.

“That is the biggest lie you’ve told so far.” you tease him as he lifts a hand to you and helps you slowly and gently off the platform to stand before him.

“Not this time. This was truly a happy coincidence.” he tells you warmly as he smiles and you feel your heart pick up it’s pace in your chest. “You look beautiful.” he says softly and the words are honest coming from him which make them cause even more havoc on your heart. You duck your head at his praise before he gently tips your head up to stare at you.

“Thank you.” you tell him with a small smile.

“Have you bought it yet?” he asked quietly and you furrow your brow at him softly. “Let me buy it for you.” he tells you and you begin to shake your head at him.

“No, Jeongin.” you begin but he quickly shakes his head.

“Get in line bud!” Ava calls out to him and Jeongin looks over at her confused. “We’re buying that one for her as a gift for setting up this vacation.” she explains and Jeongin nods his head in acquiesce before turning back to you.

“Then let me buy the second one.” he tells you and gasp at him.

“Jeongin! One is more than enough, I can’t buy two.” you argue with him.

“You wouldn’t be buying it.” he tells you confidently before he turns to look at the other hanboks hanging around the stall.

“Jeongin, it’s expensive.” you try to deter him but he scoffs at you before turning to lean down into your space.

“I have the money.” he tells you and you blink at him before shaking your head quickly.

“Jeongin, this is insane. One is more than enough.” you tell him and he pouts softly at your words.

“But I want to give you a gift that you’ll enjoy. Plus there’s a pretty turquoise one hanging over there that would look stunning on you.” he says softly and you stare at him for a quiet moment. “Please, Trails. Let me buy this for you. I know how much you’d enjoy it and how much you’d appreciate it.” he pleads with you softly. And that’s when it clicks in your head, this was instinct to him, to always be willing to give. The need to protect and provide to those he holds dear and the area he has claimed sinks in and it catches you off guard. He’s claimed you. It may not be publicly but in his mind you’re part of his faction now and that makes your heart swell with a heavy longing.

“You should just accept it. He’ll get really annoying if you don’t.” Chaip calls out and you turn to see her standing at the edge of the stall with the two men Jeongin brought over holding festival snacks and judging everyone.

“I’m not taking relationship advice from someone who calls her boyfriend Little Fish.” you retort and the two men next to Chaip burst out in amused laughter.

“Oh I like her already!” calls out the blond haired man as he grins at you.

“She’ll fit right in.” the other man supplies as he nods his head in agreement.

“I call him that because it’s funny and it drives him nuts.” Chaip defends and you shake your head at her.

“That doesn’t make it any more reliable.” you tell her, causing everyone to burst out laughing as she grins at you.

“It wasn’t supposed to.” she tells you amused before pointing to Jeongin. “Look at him.” she tells you and you turn back to Jeongin who pouts at you while fluttering his eyelashes at you causing you to scoff softly at him. “He’ll be even more annoying than that if you don’t just accept the hanbok.” she tells you. “So take the hanbok.” 

“She’s right, you know.” he tells you softly and you sigh at him which makes him grin before he turns to the vendor to settle the bill.

After they had finished with the vendor they all decided to wander the festival together, Ava and Jay-Jay were enthralled with all the stories that Chaip, Felix and Seungmin had begun telling about their “brothers” and the different areas that they lived in. You and Jeongin continued talking about the festival and its meaning for the city while you wore the plum silk hanbok that the girls had bought for you. At some point as you and Jeongin walked together the distance between you disappeared, something that neither of you could pinpoint but weren’t bothered by. One moment you were walking beside each other and the next your hand was resting light on Jeongin’s forearm while he kept you close as you moved through the crowds. It felt easy and natural between the two of you and neither of you mentioned it. In fact, neither of you wanted to mention because while it was reality it still felt too nice to risk ruining it.

Soon the rest of your friends fell behind, it was mostly on purpose as they all started to notice how close the two of you had gotten. Felix had noticed first as you gently tapped Ava’s arm and nodded his head over to you and Jeongin as the two of you walked under lanterns gazing up at them and talking quietly.

“Look.” Felix had said softly causing the rest of their group to look over at the two of you. The two of you were several steps ahead now and as they watched you pointed at different lanterns to Jeongin explaining their design and symbolism as he listened to you with avid interest. The two of you were completely oblivious to everything around you as if the world had ceased to exist.

“Wow.” Jay-Jay said softly as Ava nodded her head in agreement as they both smiled softly.

“What?” Seungmin asked curiously.

“They’re in their own little bubble.” Chaip told him and Felix looked emotional as he watched the two of you continue down the street together.

“Our little Innie is growing up.” Felix gushed out causing Chaip and Seungmin to scoff softly.

“It’s disgusting.” Seungmin groaned out while Chaip nodded her head while grinning.

“Absolutely revolting.” she teased.

“Do you know why they’re lotus flowers?” you asked Jeongin as you looked up at the lanterns above you while still holding onto his arm. Your hand had slid comfortably into his elbow as you leaned against his side while looking up at the lanterns. Jeongin walked alongside you feeling at peace for once, he didn’t feel the need to perform for you, didn’t feel the need to try to flirt or tease. He was just enjoying his time with you as he learned more about you as you talked about the lanterns. He had to admit to himself it was probably one of the few times since you arrived in Seoul that he truly felt connected to you like he had desperately wanted to be when he first met you.

“You ask that like I’m about to fail a test.” he grumbles out dramatically and you grin up at him cheekily making his heart skip a beat.

“You are.” you tell him confidently and he sighs out softly as you laugh.

“Then no.” he accepts defeat and your mouth pulls into a smile that knocks the air out of his lungs. Because that smile was everything and it was so so dangerous for his heart. You could end him with just that smile and he’d go happily into the afterlife.

“They symbolize enlightenment, guidance, and hope.” you tell him as your eyes turned upward as the lantern light reflected in your eyes. “The idea is that even when things are dark, there’s still light leading you somewhere.” you tell him and Jeongin walks with you listening so closely to your words because he knew this mattered to you and he was learning that things that mattered to you were starting to matter to him too.

The two of you wandered onto a quieter street where the crowd thinned and the lanterns glowed softer overhead. Neither one of you spoke as you took in the pretty cozy atmosphere around the two of you. 

“I like how you care about this place.” you said softly suddenly and Jeongin looked down at you curiously as he waited to hear more of what you were going to say. “You protect things in your own way, it may not be a way that’s accepted by others but in your own way you are protecting the area and its people. You surprised me with that knowledge.” you tell him and he stops you in the middle of the street under the lanterns to gaze down at you because your words have struck something within him and he feels its importance.

“Why did it surprise you?” he asked softly, eager to learn how you viewed him now after your first meeting.

“When we first met you were cocky, arrogant, the typical young hot shot.” you told him and he grimaced slightly at your apt perception of him. “But then I watched you at the restaurant, where you were revered by the staff. Then at the rose festival where you stepped in and helped the event staff with that drunk tourist. And then at the shrine. The way you talk about these people and the area you live in, it all shows as ways you protect it.” you explain to him. 

“And how would you describe me now? Still a cocky young hot shot?” he asked in a teasing tone but underneath he was desperate to know if he had changed his image in her eyes. He watches as you look up at him and holds direct eye contact that feels so overwhelming but something he craves from her.

“A young man who’s trying to lead his faction in the way he believes is true to himself.” you say confidently. “And who’s succeeding at that if the reactions from his locals are anything to go by.” Jeongin’s mouth drops at your words because they hit him square in the chest and shock him. “You’re still cocky, but you care deeply about your faction and its people. You’re a good leader Jeongin, you just have to believe in yourself.” 

Jeongin looks down at you as his mind swirls with the echo of your words. You, the woman who noticed damaged statues and graffitied walls, the woman who researched entire cities for fun, the woman who treated history like it was alive, the woman who listened and cared and saw things everyone else missed. Including him. He suddenly understood why he’d been chasing you through half of Seoul since you arrived, it had never been about impressing you. It was because you had seen him for who he was despite his upbringing and his way of life and you had made him feel understood.

Everything around the two of you faded away as he continued to gaze down at you while you stared at him with your face tilted up to him. Lantern light danced across your face and the silver thread embroidery of your hanbok and Jeongin raised his hands to gently cup the sides of your neck. His thumbs brushed at the underside of your jaw on either side and you sucked in a harsh breath at the touch. He leaned down toward you as his eyes flicked down to your mouth before returning to your eyes, he gave you enough time to pull away but when you didn’t he descended faster until his mouth slid against yours. Your hands gripped and clenched at his sides tugging on his shirt as your mouth opened up underneath his. Jeongin lost himself in the pleasure of your mouth as his lips shifted and pulled against your own while effectively stealing your breath from you. 

The two of you stood in the middle of the street like that, not having a care for the world around you as you both shifted your relationship into something neither of you had ever expected since your arrival in Seoul. Your group of friends all stared at you with varying degrees of excitement, happiness and disgust written on their faces. And none of you noticed the dark shadows moving quickly away from the alley way entrances after watching the two of you embrace.

[sheerfreesia007]

Where Foxes Bleed Neon - Chapter 2

Pairing: Jeongin x OC/Reader

Rating: Teen

Word count: 11,620

Content warnings: organized crime/yakuza AU, criminal organizations, faction politics, power dynamics, age-gap attraction between consenting adults, patronizing treatment from loved ones, youngest-sibling frustration, family conflict, heated arguments, anger outbursts, themes of not being taken seriously, references to violence and gang activity, surveillance/background checks, matchmaking friends, mild stalking-adjacent behavior played romantically (following someone through a public landmark), ongoing themes of identity, sincerity, and learning to connect beyond appearances and reputation, slow-burn romance

Summary: Jeongin, the youngest faction leader of the powerful Stray Kids Clan, is growing increasingly frustrated by his fellow leaders' tendency to dismiss him as the clan's baby despite his proven competence, a tension that erupts during a leadership meeting where his concerns about suspicious activity in his district are brushed aside. Amid that frustration, he becomes unexpectedly captivated by Trails, an older foreign travel writer whose intelligence, independence, and passion for history immediately set her apart from anyone he has met before. As the two repeatedly cross paths throughout Seoul, first at Gyeongbokgung Palace and later within Jeongin's own district, his attempts to impress her with charm, confidence, and status are consistently dismantled by her sharp observations and refusal to be swayed by appearances. Instead, Trails gradually comes to appreciate the deeper layers hidden beneath both Jeongin's carefully crafted image and the city itself, while Jeongin discovers that what draws him to her is not the challenge she presents but the sincerity, curiosity, and understanding she offers him. As his feelings deepen and his clan begins noticing just how invested he has become, hints of a larger threat lurking in the background suggest that their growing connection may soon collide with dangers neither of them fully see coming. 

A/N: Divider was created by @saradika-graphics, thank you for sharing your dividers with tumblr!

Jeongin Taglist: @kayleefriedchicken, @ivaviavi, @justsomekpopstuff, @lov3rachan, @cixrosie, 

@my-neurodivergent-world, @channiesrightasscheek, @toru-saki, @inlovewithstraykids, @bookswillfindyouaway, 

@m-325, @niku0704, @cliosunshine, @sweetdemon1998, @littlekaylayt,

@alondra6011, @bunbunbl0gs, @nougatjade, @starrynightviper, @karlee10261990,

@pixie-felix, @imsleepingwhataboutu, @matchacha65, @tricky-ritz, @bunnythesiren,

The Stray Kids Headquarters is located in the heart of Chan’s faction which is the central faction of Stray Kids territory and is known throughout the clan as the political faction since he houses the political head figures for the territory. Headquarters sat on the uppermost floor of the tallest building in Chan’s faction right in the middle of it all and it was where Chan lived as well. The building had always made Jeongin feel as if it had directly grown from the ground itself since it sat above every building within the whole territory, it wasn’t just the focal point of Chan’s faction it was the starting of their lives.

The buildings in Chan’s faction were traditionally tiled roofs that curved against the morning sky while modern security systems hid discreetly beneath carved woods and stone pathways. It was a faction made from old money and fused with older violence. It was beautiful, untouchable, and only a short distance from Jeongin’s own faction. But he still arrived twenty-three minutes late. Yet again.

The sleek black car rolled through the northern gate of Chan’s faction without being stopped once. Guards straightened immediately as it passed and some even bowed before the vehicle had even passed over the threshold between Jeongin’s faction and Chan’s. The car continued into the heart of the leader of Stray Kids Clan’s faction until it came to a slow stop in front of Headquarters beneath the main entrance steps. Jeongin stepped out slowly once the passenger door was opened for him by Dong-Geon, he lazily adjusted the cuffs of his black suit jacket while sunlight flashed briefly across the silver rings decorating his fingers. He appeared unrushed because he ultimately was, he knew they would wait for him as they always did.

“Good morning Jeongin-ssi.” a guard at the front door greeted him as he lowered his head respectfully. Jeongin hummed absently in acknowledgement before continuing up the stone stairs as Dong-Geon sighed heavily behind him.

“One day Chan’s gonna murder you for being late.” the older man murmured softly so only Jeongin could hear which caused Jeongin to smirk faintly at the man’s worry.

“You say that every week.” Jeongin says over his shoulder as they both move through the front doors of the opulent building.

“Because you’re late every week.” Dong-Geon grumbles out softly and Jeongin chuckles lowly before he leads the way up to Chan’s office where the meeting is supposed to be taking place.

“Consistency matters.” Jeongin says flippantly and laughs as Dong-Geon mutters something that sounded deeply threatening under his breath as they board the elevator.

On the uppermost floor of headquarters sat a conference room that took up nearly half of the floor and inside the room buzzed with low conversation and restrained tension. The seven out of eight faction leaders of the Stray Kids Clan sat scattered around the enormous table with at least one of their crew flanking the perimeter of the room along the walls. Each faction leader occupied the space around the table differently, Chan sat at the head of the table still, controlled and impossible to ignore. Authority radiated off him effortlessly in a manner that was absolute but never loud. Even the buzz of the room seemed to organize itself around him.

To Chan’s right, Minho lounged comfortably in his chair with one ankle crossed over his knee, his expression was unreadable in the way that always made people nervous or if could’ve been the knife that he was lazily twirling in his hands. Felix sat next to Minho, turning his silver and gold rings slowly around his fingers while reading over a stack of alliance agreements that he was working on with different clans that surrounded the Stray Kids territory. His cold eyes flicked across the words written on the page with a concentrated silence that just showed how focused he was on the agreements. There was an empty seat next to him no doubt left for the maknae of the clan. Next to that empty seat sat Han at the end of the table where he was busily scrolling through his tablet while munching on a croissant as a slew of other pastry bags littered the table around him. Seungmin sat on the other side of the table next to Han and as he leaned back in his chair looked deeply unimpressed with everyone simultaneously as if the entire world was a meeting he hadn’t agreed to attend. Next to him was Hyunjin who sat primly in his seat with a half asleep look on his face until you realized he was tracking every movement in the room like a slow predator deciding whether today was worth the effort. And to finish up that side of the table Changbin sat on Chan’s left and as he leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed over his broad chest he looked like he was moments away from fist fighting the furniture itself. The muscular faction leader looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else but here in this conference room.

As Jeongin entered the room it fell quieter, not because he commanded silence like Chan did but more because everyone immediately noticed his lateness, again. Chan glanced up from the documents and maps in front of him and one of his eyebrows lifted slightly in acknowledgement.

“Nice of you to join us.” he murmured softly as Jeongin walked over to the table and sat down between Felix and Han with a casualness to his movements.

“Traffic.” Jeongin said dismissively as his eyes darted over to Chan to gauge how angry he was, when he saw Chan smirk a little he knew he wasn’t angry at all.

“You live twenty minutes away, not even.” Minho scolded him gently with a soft scowl on his face.

“Terrible traffic.” Jeongin said and Hyunjin snorted into his coffee as Felix’s face lit up with a wide grin that slowly slipped across it. Han slid one of his pastry containers across the table to Jeongin with a cheeky grin on his face.

“Eat up, baby fox. You’re no good to us if you faint halfway through the meeting again.” he teased gently and Jeongin scowled at him as he caught the container as it slid across the polished table without even looking at it.

“I passed out ONCE!” Jeongin cried out as the others all began chuckling at him. No doubt they were all remembering that one time Chan wanted to have a meeting in Changbin’s faction since it has picturesque gardens throughout the faction.

“You fell into a koi pond.” Changbin said around his loud laughter. “It took the koi a week to get resettled.”

“It was humid!” Jeongin tried to argue and Felix just reached over immediately ruffling Jeongin’s hair like he was twelve instead of a grown man running an entire faction on his own.

“Our youngest looks tired. Were the clubs too rough on you last night?” Felix asks teasingly as the others snicker softly at him. Jeongin shoved his hand away instantly with a dark scowl on his face.

“Stop touching me.” Jeongin grumbled out darkly and Felix grinned delightedly at his reaction to him. Jeongin leaned back in his chair as his eyes darted around the room before landing on Han who was now engrossed with his tablet once more. Jeongin’s eyes took in how quickly Han scrolled on his tablet before a thought flitted through his mind. He wondered how quickly Han could find you on his tablet and if he could get more information about you. “Jisung hyung,” Jeongin says softly and Han’s eyes immediately darted over to him curiously before widening slightly. “If I give you a description of someone I met last night can you find me more information on her?” Jeongin asked softly not wanting the others to hear him but knew it was a long shot.

“A woman?” Hyunjin asked curiously as he leaned across the table with eyes heating with interest. “She must be captivating if she caught your attention.” he says knowingly as his focus on Jeongin while all the others swing their heads to stare at Jeongin curiously.

“Normally the women in your faction don’t catch your attention.” Seungmin says knowingly as he stares at Jeongin from across the table. “What’s different about her?” he asks as he tilts his head to the side. With a sigh Jeongin realizes he probably should’ve waited to ask Jisung to look you up but he wanted to know more about you and he wanted to know it now.

“She’s a traveler.” Jeongin says as an answer to Seungmin before darting his eyes over to Jisung who’s already working on his tablet. “She arrived in Seoul with two of her girlfriends yesterday. She’s staying in my faction near the hotel section, unknown which hotel yet.” he tells Jisung and the room seems to quiet as the man works on his tablet. “She said that she writes travel guide books, does a lot of traveling. She did say that her family had a military background but she doesn’t seem to have one.” Jeongin explained and Jisung nodded his head as he continued working on his tablet.

“That’s a bit vague.” Jisung says as his eyes dart around the screen of his tablet.

“That's all I’ve got.” Jeongin laments softly, causing Changbin and Minho to scoff softly at him.

“What’s the matter Innie? Your charm didn’t work on her?” Changbin asked teasingly as he snickered with Minho delightedly.

“She’s keeping me at arms length. I think it’s because she’s older than me.” Jeongin said softly as he thought back to how you interacted with him last night.

“Older?” Chan asked curiously and Jeongin looked over at him to see that his eyes were sparkling with interest.

“She asks questions about history and architecture. She’s interested in the older parts of the faction. She’s very observant and is really good at figuring things out.” Jeongin explained and Chan nodded his head as he stared at Jeongin silently. “I want to know more about her, I’ve only got a nickname. Trails, her friends call her Trails and it’s because she’s always traveling and writing travel guide books.” he explains.

“You’ve got nothing usable? No name, no location, anything?” Jisung asks as his finger moves along the tablet. “Can you give me a description?” Jisung asks curiously.

“She’s…” he starts then stops as his mind conjures up an image of you. “She’s foreign, not from here. Dresses like she’s trying to blend in but doesn’t fully. Always with her phone taking notes and pictures. She notices details most tourists don’t.” Jeongin describes you.

“That’s not a description, that’s a personality profile.” Seungmin says as he glances up slightly at Jeongin.

“It’s accurate.” Jeongin argues and Seungmin quickly holds his hands up in surrender.

“Alright, travel writer, two companions, recent arrival, hotel district adjacency, frequent movement through cultural sites.” Jisung says more to himself and Jeongin could see how quickly he’s working as he stares at his tablet screen.

“You’re really doing this for him?” Felix asks Jisung as he leans forward on the table eager to know more about the mystery woman.

“I’d do anything for Innie. Plus when has he ever been interested in a woman to ask for a background check.” Jisung retorted and the men around the table all nodded their heads in agreement. Jeongin held his breath as he watched Jisung move and then there was a pause before Jisung beamed happily. “Found her.” he said victoriously and Jeongin was surprised at how quickly it happened. Jisung turned the tablet to show Jeongin the screen and Jeongin’s mouth dropped slightly. “Is this her?” Jisung asked and Jeongin’s head nodded automatically as he stared at a professional picture of you on a website that catalogued all of the travel guides and books you’ve written so far.

“Oh she’s pretty!” Felix says surprised before he turns to look at Jeongin happily. Jeongin stared at the website before Jisung pulled up another social media profile that had public-facing information with travel blog mentions, book listing drafts, and photos from earlier arrivals at cultural landmarks around the world. He could see that some of the posts on your profile had your two companions tagged and then he spotted a photo from earlier that morning of the view from your hotel with the hotel name tagged as the location.

“Oh, he’s actually invested.” Seungmin exhaled softly and Hyunjin nodded his head in agreement.

“I’m not invested.” Jeongin said automatically in his defence.

“You’re staring.” Felix hummed teasingly and Jeongin frowned softly at his words.

“I’m assessing.” he countered and Changbin barked out a laugh.

“You’re absolutely staring.” Changbin agreed with Felix.

“Looks like she’s almost six or eight years older. The school records get a little twisted I guess from all the moving her family did when she was growing up. Looks like she had to be held back or retake a year due to travel abroad.” Jisung said shocked before he looked up at Jeongin. “You think you could handle that type of woman?” he asked half teasingly and half curious of Jeongin.

“What type of woman would she be?” Jeongin asked defensively as he glared at Jisung for a moment.

“The kind you don’t survive.” Minho muttered knowingly as he looked from the tablet to Jeongin. “She’s a foreigner, plus she’s older and has more success under her belt than you do. She won’t be easy to sway just with your charms little fox.” Minho explained to him knowingly. Jeongin sat back in his chair as he stared at Minho quietly, Minho was the only one in the clan who was dating anyone or had anyone in his life in a romantic sense and the woman he was dating was a foreigner who moved to his faction to start her own tea and book shop. A dream that she had growing up that she had finally turned into a reality. “Are you truly ready to take that on?” Minho asked softly and Jeongin sat there feeling that itch he normally got whenever his hyungs looked at him like he was the baby. He wanted to rebel but he knew that wasn’t the answer, you had already shown him that his arrogance wasn’t attractive to you. He wanted to be worthy of you, he wanted to know you, he wanted to see where this little back and forth went with you.

“I am.” Jeongin said resolutely which made Minho and Chan look at him with quiet shocked looks on their faces as they stared at him.

“Alright then little fox,” Chan spoke up finally as he regarded Jeongin in a different light for a brief moment. “Let’s see where your mystery older woman leads you.” Chan told him and Jeongin nodded his head. “Now, let’s get to the updates.” Chan instructed them all.

The rest of the meeting began to flow easily if a little chaotically after Jeongin’s request for more information on you from Jisung. Minho spoke first, his report was concise and efficient that matched his personality exactly. He relayed information on how his faction was faring better and closing the gap between closed and abandoned businesses to open and thriving businesses. Felix was next to give his report, he had the smallest faction among the clan but it was one the busiest hubs for outside dealing with other clans and business vendors. Everything from the outside filtered in through Felix’s faction, it was why his faction was known as the gate so his report was mostly about outside deals that he was working on to strengthen the territory. Changbin reported next that his faction was having some issues with the landscape not being able to withstand the heat that was plaguing South Korea at the moment. Which led into Hyunjin reporting that his faction which consisted mostly of the docks and piers in the territory would be able to start work on the aqueduct system underneath the territory to supply fresh water to each of the factions. Jeongin stayed quiet at first, spinning one of his rings absently while listening as his mind wandered back to you and how last night had gone. He kept on going back to the thought that things could’ve gone better if the night hadn’t been interrupted by the rival gang.

“There’ve been repeated reports of random vandalism near the nightlife faction.” Chan said as he read off a report from one of his men who had been traveling through each of the factions on a survey of the territory. Jeongin immediately straightened in his seat as his eyes darted over to Chan as he began to focus on what was being said.

“Not random vandalism.” Jeongin corrected him gently and Chan looked up from the report to stare at Jeongin. “They’re targeted.” Jeongin insisted and Chan nodded his head once giving him permission to speak. Jeongin leaned forward on the table before continuing. “The graffiti’s spreading in patterns. I’ve been working on mapping it for weeks.” Jeongin tells them as he stands from his seat and pulls one of the maps laid out on the table towards him. He began pointing to the areas that he’s already documented of graffiti. “Mostly its nightlife streets. Entrances, alley access points, supply routes.” he explains and Chan frowns softly as he darts his eyes over to Minho who leans forward on the table.

“Territory markers?” Minho asks softly with a curious lilt to his voice.

”Maybe, I haven’t been able to focus on the why yet. Been mostly focusing on the what and where.” Jeongin told him and Minho nodded his head as he peered down at the map noting the different spots that Jeongin pointed out. “Whoever’s been doing it has been avoiding the older areas. They haven’t touched the shrines yet. Or the bamboo forest.” Jeongin said and Minho looked up surprised as his eyes narrowed slightly on Jeongin. 

The whole room fell into a silence that stuck against Jeongin’s ribs. They all knew what those older sections of his faction meant to him, home, a legacy that he protected, the heart of his faction. For the graffiti to not show up there yet was a surprise since they all knew if those areas were defaced Jeongin would go on a rampage.

”Whoever’s doing it is testing boundaries first. I’ve already started tracking where the marking appear most often and I think if we-“ Jeongin explained before he was cut off.

“We’ll handle it.” Chan cut in smoothly and Jeongin snapped his head up to stare at his leader silently as his mouth dropped open in disbelief and his eyes blinked at him once, twice before anger began to swirl within him.

“I already have been handling it.” Jeongin snipped out angrily at Chan.

“Monitoring isn’t handling.” Chan dismissed easily and the dismissal landed sharper than Chan probably intended but Jeongin still felt it like a punch to his gut.

“Then let me finish and tell you what I think we should do next to figure out who it is that’s defacing my faction.” Jeongin said firmly. “I know my faction better than anyone and I’ve found a pattern of when and where they'll strike next.” Jeongin insisted as Chan sat there listening to him with a look of calm, paternal patience on his face.

“You’ll get your chance Innie.” Chan said dismissively in a gentle tone as if he was placating a tantruming toddler. “For now, leave the heavy work to us.” he said in a tone that procured no argument. The table of men chuckled softly in a familiar laughter that wasn’t meant to be cruel but still dug into Jeongin’s skin like barbs, which was even more humiliating to Jeongin as if they had been cruel.

“Little fox wants to play with the big dogs now.” Seungmin teased softly as he leaned back in his chair smirking.

“Don’t worry, we’ll buy you a leash.” Hyunjin teased as he dragged his fingers across the table elegantly. Changbin snorted into his drink as he took a sip while Felix grinned widely at the show in front of him. Jeongin felt heat crawl instantly up the back of his neck in hot, sick humiliation because once again they weren’t listening to him and were just brushing him aside as if he was just a dumb youngster. No matter what he did, whether it was successful connections for the clan, faction management, building a loyal crew, or intelligence reports that were pristine and easy to read, some part of them still saw him as the youngest. The baby of the clan, still learning, still reckless. Almost as if he was temporary somehow. Rage burned through Jeongin hot enough until it burst out of him and he slammed his hand against the table hard enough to rattle glasses catching everyone’s attention and making the room go silent as all eyes swung to him.

“I’m not a kid.” he seethed angrily as he breathed heavily as rage coursed through him. “I’ve earned my place here.” he hissed at all of them as they all stared at him with shocked eyes. Chan’s expression flattened slightly, in disappointment rather than anger which was worse if he just got mad at Jeongin.

“Enough.” snapped Chan which made Jeongin’s chaw tighten with repressed anger as his rage simmered beneath his skin. “Sit down Jeongin.” Chan demanded as his voice hardened just enough to remind everyone exactly who led this clan. The room stayed perfectly still as they all watched the two of them in their silent war, the youngest against the oldest. Jeongin remained standing another second too long and Chan’s fast hardened even more before Jeongin finally dropped back into his chair, stiffly glaring at the table in front of him. Chan sighed quietly after Jeongin finally sat down, some of the edge leaving his expression. “You’re still learning. Don’t rush the fire, or it’ll burn you first.” Chan told him sagely as his voice softened around the edges with experience.

And there it was again, that tone that grated on Jeongin’s nerves every time Chan used it on him. It was protective and careful like Jeongin was something fragile they were all trying to preserve. He hated how much part of him understood it. Yet he hated even more that another part desperately wanted them to finally stop. 

The meeting continued but Jeongin barely heard anything that the others said as he kept his eyes locked on the table stewing in his anger. Words blurred together beneath the ringing irritation in his chest. Mentions of shipments, diplomacy, political favors, none of it matter anymore because all he could hear was you’ll get your chance. As if he hadn’t already been bleeding for this family since he was old enough to hold a knife.

The moment the meeting ended and Chan dismissed everyone at the table Jeongin quickly stood from his chair. The sound of it scraping against the floor rang out catching everyone’s attention and they all turned their heads to watch him.

“Innie-” Felix called out but Jeongin simply ignored him as he moved towards the door to leave Dong-Geon pushing off from the wall to follow him silently.

“Hey, little fox!” Jisung cried out as he twisted in his chair to watch as Jeongin left the room without looking back at any of them. Chan watched from the head of the table as the youngest left the room before sighing tiredly as the door slammed shut behind him leaving the seven of them in the room. Silence settled over the table before they all turned back to look at Chan.

“That went well.” Minho exhaled out, causing Changbin to rub his face tiredly. Felix stared toward the closed doors with concern pulling faintly at his expression while the others all looked slightly uncomfortable at Jeongin’s display of anger and irritation. Chan was the only one who stayed calm in the room, but as he lifted his untouched tea something thoughtful flickered briefly across his face. Because for the first time, the youngest son had stopped sounding young.

By the time you dragged your two exhausted friends through the towering main gates of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul’s morning haze had finally burned away into warm bright sunlight. The palace ground stretched ahead of the three of you with sweeping courtyards, painted eaves, and stone walkways warmed gold beneath the sun. You practically vibrated with excitement as she gazed out along the palace grounds.

“Okay, no, listen.” you say distractedly as your head turns from side to side as you try to take it all at once. You turn to start walking backwards as you look at Ava and Jay-Jay, both of them are dressed in casual everyday wear that breathes well and moves easily on their bodies. Each of them are wearing large dark tinted sunglasses no doubt to shade the bright sun from their hungover eyes and they both have large iced coffees in their hands that they’re periodically sipping from. “This place was originally built in 1395 during the Joseon Dynasty, but most of it was destroyed during Japanese occupation and rebuilt later. Which means technically what we’re looking at is both ancient and modern restoration.” you explain to them excitedly before turning around and walking along the path with a pep in your step.

“How are you so chipper this early in the morning?!” Ava grumbles out amused as she takes a sip from her iced coffee.

“You say things like you’re being graded.” Jay-Jay teases you and you grin at her over your shoulder as you lead them further into the palace grounds.

“I practically am by every reader who buys my books.” you reply immediately and Jay-Jay nods her head in agreement after a moment.

“What’s the color called again? Didn’t you say it had a special name?” Ava asks as she points to the vividly painted roofs. You lit up instantly with the question as you nodded your head avidly at her silently pleased that she had been listening to you and remembered you mentioning it.

“Dancheong,” you tell her happily. “The painted patterns aren’t just decorative. Historically they symbolized status, protection, and harmony. The colors had meanings too. Green for growth, red for protection, and blue for hope and stability.” you explain and Ava stares at the roof for a quiet moment before turning back to you with a raised eyebrow.

“You know entirely too much.” she grumbles out softly before grinning widely at you.

“That’s why you keep me around and can’t get rid of me.” you tell her cheekily and she gasps loudly at you while Jay-Jay crows with laughter as she points at you amused as you dart away from Ava who’s now trying to swat you with her hand in retaliation.

Across the palace grounds by the east gate, Jeongin was walking through the palace grounds quietly reminiscing on how the meeting had gone. He’d come to Gyeongbokgung for one reason, to distance himself. He needed distance from Chan, the clan, the meeting and the humiliating reminder that no matter how much responsibility he carried they still treated him like the youngest kid at the table.

Jeongin walked through the palace grounds in black slacks, a fitted dark shirt, and sunglasses expensive enough to buy someone’s monthly rent twice over. He knew he stood out because tourists moved around him cautiously without really understanding why as their eyes trail him even after he passed them. Dong-Geon walked a respectful distance behind him as his eyes swept along the grounds picking out different people of interest and keeping track of them as they moved.

“You know,” Dong-Geon muttered softly as he watched another small group of tourists give Jeongin a wide berth, “most people come here to relax.”

“I am relaxed.” Jeongin snipped out quickly while Dong-Geon gazed at him looking unconvinced. Jeongin shoved his hands into his pockets and kept walking along with Dong-Geon, his mind swirling with anger and irritation at the other clan members for how they were dismissive of him. He didn’t realize how much his mood affected his outward appearance as he walked the grounds close to the palace because everyone started keeping out of his way as they passed him. And while he walked he felt like he had a storm cloud hanging over him that all changed when he heard her voice.

“The throne hall was intentionally built elevated so visitors physically had to look up at the king.” he heard Trails say excitedly, her voice flowing through the air and his head immediately snapped up as his eyes moved quickly across the grounds looking for you. Recognition hit him hard as he heard your voice before delight followed quickly and flooded his system. Turning his head he easily spotted you near the main courtyard stairs, you were animatedly gesturing about the building in front of you as your friends followed along carrying large iced coffees and the expressions of women enduring a documentary against their will. But you were animated as you moved around the courtyard talking and explaining things that your friends wouldn’t know just from viewing the palace. Jeongin focused in on you as a slow wide smirk slipped across his face and he felt his shoulders begin to ease from the tense posture he held before.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Dong-Geon sighed softly as Jeongin completely ignored him and changed his route to intercept you and your friends immediately.

You notice him before he even reaches where you, Ava and Jay-Jay are walking. The way the crowd parts for him catches your attention and soon you’re watching his trek across the palace grounds towards you, that cocky foxlike smirk already on his face.

”Oh my god!” Jay-Jay hisses before raising her index finger and dragging her sunglasses down the bridge of her nose as her eyes sparkle delighted at what she sees.

”Your gangster is back.” Ava teases you softly and you scowl softly at her while her and Jay-Jay chuckle at you.

”He is not my gangster.” You argue back and Jay-Jay tilts her head curiously before grinning.

”I mean you gotta give him points for dedication. He followed us to a palace.” She says and you roll your eyes at her.

”It was probably just a coincidence.” You retort and she shrugs her shoulders while the three of you all watch as he approaches you with effortless confidence. Your eyes dart to the muscular man from last night following him silently looking beleaguered and you chuckle softly at the contrast. Jeongin comes to stand in front of you and his smirk turns into a delighted grin that makes his face look even younger than he probably is which makes you tilt your head at him silently.

”Fancy seeing you here.” He greets you happily and you deliberately glance around you before turning back to him with a raised eyebrow.

”At one of the most famous landmarks in Korea?” You ask him sarcastically and notice his companion chuckle softly at your question.

”Crazy coincidence.” Jeongin says as he nods his head before looking around the palace grounds making Jay-Jay and Ava choke on laughter at how arrogant he seems. “What do you say I join your group?” He asks, sounding slightly hopeful and you’re already shaking your head in response as Jay-Jay and Ava gasp loudly from behind you.

”Oh absolutely n-“ you begin but Ava beats you to and cuts you off.

”We’d love to have you join us!” Ava says happily and you whip your head to stare at her incredulously which makes her shrug her shoulders at you before grinning widely. Jeongin easily stepped beside you even if you were shooting him silent glares, his sunglasses slid down slightly as he glanced toward the palace buildings with a sense of peace settling over him.

”I came because I appreciate history.” He says confidently and both you and the muscular man look at him in disbelief. But you give him the benefit of doubt and ask him curiously.

”Do you?” You ask and Jeongin quickly begins nodding his head as he leads your little group around the grounds like a tour guide which Ava and Jay-Jay are loving as they follow behind you.

”Absolutely.” Jeongin tells you and smirks softly as you tilt your head up towards him slowly as you walk alongside him.

”Name one historical fact that you know about this place then. You must know all of it since you live here and appreciate history.” You tease him as you gaze up at him noticing how tall he was standing next to you. Jeongin paused slightly already sensing the trap but with the confidence of a man who was never told no he stepped up to accept your challenge. Your eyes dart to the muscular man who’s only a few steps away as he looks away as if to avoid witnessing this and you have to bite your tongue from laughing.

”This place is…” Jeongin says as he gestures around himself vaguely while glancing at you. “Important.” He finishes and you stare at him for a silent beat. Ava and Jay-Jay both stare at him while sipping their drinks and the muscular man just shakes his head in embarrassment.

”Correct.” You tell him wanting to see if he’d actually have any historical knowledge about the palace that you hadn’t been able to research.

”Very culturally significant.” Jeongin says and you sigh softly knowing that he won’t be able to give you anything as Ava and Jay-Jay begin to laugh softly at Jeongin. The man still looks confident and cocky with himself and you can’t help but smile faintly at him this time as you pat his forearm gently.

”Don’t quit your day job.” You tell him gently and the muscular man chokes on his laughter while Ava and Jay-Jay hide their own laughter behind their hands as they lean into each other watching you and Jeongin like you’re their favorite rom-com movie.

Even with your gentle teasing Jeongin refused to retreat from you or spend time with you. Especially when you had already put him at ease just when he first saw you walking the palace grounds. Jeongin walked beside you even though you hadn’t invited him to, he knew he wasn’t unwelcome to you but you didn’t encourage him to stick around as you walked around the palace grounds with your friends. The way that you were still so unimpressed by him drove him wild and the way you made him feel seen in a silent way made him dizzy. You challenged him in a way that made him breathless because while you weren’t outwardly impressed with him he could see the silent tells that you wanted him to impress you, you seemed to be just waiting for him to figure it out on his own on how to do that.

But while Jeongin silently tried to find a way to worm himself into your mind you kept talking about the palace grounds and the history that was rich here and Jeongin was finding out that he liked listening to you, a lot.

”The palace was designed according to geomancy principles too.” You explained as your little group walked beneath one of the archways. “Mountains behind it, open space in front. Balance mattered in Joseon architecture.” You told them and Jeongin looked at you silently with his head tilted to the side curiously.

”You memorized all this?” He asked surprised and you turned to look at him with a furrowed brow that he found adorable.

”I researched before coming.” You told him matter of factly and his eyes squinted slightly in shock.

”For fun?” He questioned not believing that anyone would research a place before traveling to it, it was unfathomable to him. But as you looked up at him genuinely confused by his question he was finding that you truly were unlike anyone he had met in his faction before.

”Obviously?” You said uncertainly for a moment before shaking your head at him. “It’s kind of my job to research places before traveling to them and then writing about my experience. To help guide them so that they don’t have a bad experience themselves.” You tell him and he slowly nods his head as he stares at you for a second too long. He could tell that you cared deeply about other cultures and traveling like it was the most natural thing in the world. And as he stared after you as you continued walking along with one of your friends he slowly came to the conclusion that he wanted to know more about the little tidbits that you knew.

”Oh you like her.” One of your friends said softly and Jeongin jerked back in shock as he whipped his head to stare at her. She gave him a soft slow smile before her eyes darted over to you and then back to him. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” he said immediately and your friend snorted in response to his quick response.

“Sure.” she said unconvinced as she peers at him.

“I don’t.” Jeongin insists as he darts his eyes over to you making sure that you weren’t close enough to hear him and your friend.

“You followed her through an entire palace, looking like a lost puppy.” your friend teased him softly and Jeongin scoffed softly before correcting her.

“I happened to be here and I’ll have you know I’m a baby fox not a dog.” he tells her primly and she chuckles softly at him.

“Convenient and sure whatever you say sweetheart.” she said, appeasing him and Jeongin huffed softly.

“It’s a public landmark.” he grumbled and she burst out laughing as she looked at him unconvinced, Jeongin hated how similar that expression was to you. Your friend watched him for another moment before glancing toward where you were currently pointing enthusiastically at another section of the palace while your other friend listened patiently, a fond smile softened her features.

“You know what’s funny?” she asked him as she still watched you.

“What?” Jeongin questioned as he too turned to gaze at you, smiling softly himself as he watched how lively you were as you dragged your other friend along with you as you talked a mile a minute.

“Most people assume she’s impressed by flashy stuff.” your friend told him softly and Jeongin frowned as he turned to look at her.

“She’s a travel writer.” Jeongin said, confused as he gazed at your friend.

“Exactly,” your friend said while nodding her head. “She’s been to dozens of cities, stayed in luxury hotels, visited famous landmarks, met rich people along the way. Politicians, influencers, celebrities.” your friend explained and Jeongin blinked surprised as his eyes darted to you surprised.

“Celebrities?” he asked and your friend nodded before smiling warmly as her eyes wandered over to you. 

“One time she accidentally interviewed an actor because she thought he was a museum volunteer.” she said as she chuckled while remembering the fond memory.

“How?” Jeongin asked as he grinned at the thought of you blundering like that.

“That’s not the point.” your friend retorted and Jeongin looked at her incredulously.

“It feels like the point.” Jeongin banters back and your friend laughs softly at him.

“The point is that none of that impresses her.” your friend says and Jeongin’s eyes drifted back toward you automatically. You were currently crouched near a stone feature, taking pictures from three different angles while muttering observations into your phone. The sight made absolutely no sense to him and yet somehow he couldn’t stop watching.

“What does impress her?” he asked before he could stop himself and your friend immediately looked delighted.

“Wow.” She breathes and Jeongin groans loudly as he drops his head back on his neck.

“Don’t.” he warns her and she grins at him.

“No, no. You actually asked. I’m impressed.” she said, still laughing at him as she looked genuinely entertained now. “Okay, here’s the secret.” she begins to say and Jeongin already regrets asking because he knows your friend is only going to tease him. “She likes people who care.”

“That’s the secret?” he asks incredulously and your friend nods her head importantly.

“That’s literally the secret.” she confirms and Jeongin scoffs and then frowns at her.

“That sounds fake.” he grumbles and she laughs at him.

“It’s not.” she said as she nodded her head at you. “Trails loves people who are passionate about things. Just like her. She loves when someone indulges her little rants about places she’s been to or about places that she wants to go to.” she explains and Jeongin glanced back at you to see that you were explaining something to a confused tourist now, completely unprompted and the tourist looked like they were terrified of you and looking for an exit. But Jeongin could see that you were just trying to explain something so that they could enjoy themselves while at the palace grounds.

“She likes people who protect things and places.” your friend continued and Jeongin’s expression shifted slightly. “She likes curiosity and sincerity.” That last one landed a little harder for Jeongin because sincerity wasn’t exactly a common occurrence in Jeongin’s world. “She notices when people are pretending.” your friend says softly and Jeongin turns to see she’s already studying him quietly. He looks away from the scrutiny and that already told her everything. “Oh.” she said softly.

“No.” Jeongin said immediately and she grinned widely at him.

“Oh, you absolutely have been trying to impress her.” she said in delighted awe which made Jeongin click his tongue in slight irritation causing your friend to laugh again. “You know what’s hilarious?” she asked him knowingly and his eyes focused on her.

“What?” he asked petulantly.

“I don’t actually think you’re as cocky or arrogant as you come across and if you just let that go and show her who you actually are I guarantee that would impress her more than what you have been doing.” she said honestly and Jeongin blinked at her as insecurity rose up within him.

“But what if I am actually this arrogant and cocky?” he asked challengingly and your friend shrugged her shoulders at him.

“Like I said I don’t think you are.” she said honestly before adding. “She liked whatever you talked about last night, got quiet whenever we would tease her about you. So there’s something in you that already caught her attention.” Before Jeongin could say anything else your voice carried across the courtyard making both your friend and him turn towards you.

“Are you two conspiring over there?!” you called out to them and your friend immediately brightened.

“Absolutely!” she called out to you before rushing toward you and your other friend leaving Jeongin to follow behind. 

“I knew it.” you sighed out dramatically making your friend laugh and Jeongin to smile softly despite himself. You looked over at him and immediately narrowed your eyes with suspicion evident on your face. “Why are you smiling?” you asked him and his smile widened immediately.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” he asked teasingly and you rolled your eyes at him even as a soft smile caught on your lips.

“That’s why I asked.” you scoffed out at him and he grinned widely at your teasing tone. “You’ve been talking to my friend for ten minutes and somehow become more annoying.” you accuse him and your friend bursts out laughing as Jeongin steps closer to you.

“Jealous Trails?” he asked teasingly and you blinked up at him surprised before scoffing at him and while he thought he should be offended he strangely felt victorious as you friends crowed delightedly behind you. For the first time all afternoon, when you looked at him it wasn’t annoyance or dismissal. There was amusement underneath your exasperation and that amusement felt like a much bigger win than flirting ever could have, especially with you.

“Don’t encourage him.” you warn your friends who are still loudly exclaiming about the two of you.

“Too late!” your friend who had been talking with him cheerfully replied. 

The group of you stopped near Gyeonghoeru Pavilion where sunlight shimmered across the water beneath the structure and you immediately lit up again, already moving on from Jeongin’s attempt of flirting with you.

“Okay this place is incredible.” you say softly in awe. “It was used for royal banquets and diplomatic events. Imagine being invited here centuries ago? The reflection pool alone is unreal!” you explain quickly as your hands gesture around you. Jeongin found himself watching you instead of the pavilion and the people around you. The way your hands moved when you spoke, the way excitement radiated off you as you spoke, the complete sincerity that you held. Nothing about you felt performative, and to Jeongin in his world almost everything was performative. 

His eyes trailed you before something shifted slightly around you and his attention was drawn to a man that was lingering a little too close to where you stood with your friends. He was dressed in average clothes, a baseball cap pulled low over his face hiding it from full view and a phone in his hand. Nothing stood out about his appearance but the way he was watching you made the hairs on the back of Jeongin’s neck stand on end. When the man noticed Jeongin’s attention focused on him he quickly looked away and then began walking away from you and your group. Jeongin followed his path until he disappeared into the crowd, a frown gracing his mouth as he thought how odd it was. But with a shake of his head he figured the man wasn’t threatening enough to matter so he dismissed it before turning back to you.

Dong-Geon’s phone buzzed sharply in his pocket and he quickly pulled it out to gaze down at the screen before sighing heavily. He knew that he was going to have to cut play time short for Jeongin.

“Boss.” Dong-Geon said softly and Jeongin easily ignored him before Dong-Geon tried again as he trailed after Jeongin. “Jeongin.”

“What?” Jeongin asked sharply as he turned his head to glare at Dong-Geon, he felt like he was finally making some progress with you and was now being interrupted.

“The manager from Haneul Holdings is waiting.” Dong-Geon reminded him and Jeongin groaned softly.

“Reschedule it.” he instructed Dong-Geon who quickly shook his head.

“You already rescheduled twice.” he reminds Jeongin who looked at him sharply.

“Then they can appreciate consistency.” Jeongin said and Dong-Geon stepped closer to him while lowering his voice.

“Chan already thinks you’re reckless. Don’t make it worse.” Dong-Geon warned him and those words landed heavily on Jeongin’s shoulders as his expression flattened briefly before he looked over at you. You were already watching him curiously as your eyes darted from him to Dong-Geon and he could see that you were trying to piece things together in your mind. Jeongin exhaled slowly before he stepped over to you and you looked up at him expectantly.

“Looks like I’ll have to leave for your next history lesson.” he tells you softly.

“Tragic.” you reply dryly and he grins while pointing at you.

“You’re gonna miss me.” he tells you confidently.

“I survived before meeting you.” you tell him with an eye roll and his grin widens.

“Barely.” he retorts and you smile fully at that. It’s small and brief but real and that makes Jeongin immediately forget what annoyance felt like. Jeongin stepped backward slowly as Dong-Geon practically prepared to drag him away physically. “Try not to fall in love with Seoul without me.” Jeongin tells you, causing you to cross your arms over your chest with a smirk.

“I was already in love with it before you showed up.” you challenge him and your answer shouldn’t have affected him as much as it did. Because he believed you when you said it and that, weirdly enough, made him want to become part of the city you loved already.

Days later Jeongin is walking through his faction, his mood hanging over him like a dark cloud yet again. Somehow after leaving your little tourist stop at the Gyeongbokgung Palace his mood had only worsened. The meeting that had pulled him away from you had dragged on too long with too many excuses and too much groveling about soured contracts and agreements. All of it had just bored Jeongin as he had already insider knowledge about what was going on before walking into the meeting and this meeting was all just performative to try and lie to him, but the problem was nobody was ever able to lie to him particularly well.

So throughout the whole meeting Jeongin had felt more irritated than actually productive. After laying out exactly how he wanted it all handled and implementing a new overseer of the inner workings of the business Jeongin exited the meeting feeling better than when he had walked in because he had handled it to his liking and swiftly enough that Chan wouldn’t have heard about it and when Jeongin did an update with Chan over the phone the older man had been surprised to hear that Jeongin had handled it so well and so quickly. And while he had praised Jeongin for his swiftness and his presence to handle it, Jeongin was still slightly upset that he was surprised by his ability to handle it.

But now as he walked around his faction the late afternoon sun spilled gold across the narrow streets of the nightlife district. Jeongin liked to quietly walk the streets of his faction whenever he was stressed or whenever he was irritated because it always calmed him down and cleared his mind. And now as he walks the streets he looks around and sees that his faction looked almost deceptively calm. Neon signs slept quietly overhead, club doors stayed shut while staff prepared for the night shift inside as he walked passed. Restaurant owners greeted patrons as they continued to clear up the entryways while music drifted faintly from the open kitchens. The faction felt suspended between personalities that were waiting for sunset. Jeongin loosened the top button of his shirt with a soft sigh as his body began to heat due to the sunlight beaming down.

”You’re sulking again.” Dong-Geon observed softly as he stepped closer to Jeongin as they continued walking the streets together.

”I’m thinking.” Jeongin retorted.

”Dangerous hobby.” Dong-Geon stated and Jeongin scoffed at him before ignoring him. “Looks like you need a fix from that travel guide woman, you were in a much better mood when you were around her the other day at the Palace.” Dong-Geon murmured and Jeongin didn’t refute his claim as he picked his head up from staring at the ground to gaze at the stone fox statue he was passing in front of a small hole in the wall restaurant. Something in the restaurant behind the glass window caught his attention and his eyes focused on you as a smirk slipped across his face.

You sat near the front window of the restaurant he had recommended to you a few days ago at the bar, laughing at something one of your friends said while sunlight beamed through the window catching against the edge of your glass while your travel notebook and brochures cluttered the table around you. Your two friends both looked relaxed as they both sat around the table sipping on their drinks and picking at the last bites of your appetizers. Everything around you felt comfortable while you yourself were fully absorbed in explaining something with animated hand gestures and bright eyes. Jeongin couldn’t hear you through the glass but somehow he already knew you were rambling excitedly again about travel plans. And for reasons he didn’t fully understand yet, he wanted to hear what you were saying. He wanted to know your plans.

”You’re absolutely right, DG. I’m suddenly feeling a better mood coming on.” Jeongin says with soft delight as he turns and heads into the restaurant.

”Oh you’ve got to be kidding me.” Dong-Geon says as he looks and spots you through the window before following Jeongin into the restaurant with a soft groan and an eye roll.

The moment he stepped inside the restaurant, the atmosphere shifted subtly. Staff straightened immediately as they spotted him and recognized him. One server who was just finishing up with a table turned and bowed quickly at the waist as his eyes widened with recognition. The owner himself emerged from the kitchen area almost immediately.

“Jeongin-ssi.” he greeted Jeongin with a deep bow but Jeongin waved a dismissive hand towards him as his attention was already elsewhere. Jeongin moved through the restaurant in an almost silent stalk as his eyes focused solely on your table at the other side of the restaurant. You were already watching him with exhausted recognition written on your face as you sipped from your glass. Even your friends were watching him as he moved closer to the table.

“Your gangster found us again.” one whispered loudly and you rolled your eyes at her which made Jeongin smirk happily.

“He’s not my gangster.” you muttered just loud enough for him to hear and Jeongin felt his stomach heat with the challenge.

“Yet.” your other friend added and Jeongin delighted in the way you choked on your drink before scowling at your friend.

As he got closer Jeongin approached the table with an easy swagger despite the fact that he’d spent an embarrassing amount of time thinking about you since he last saw you at the palace. He wouldn’t ever tell you that but it did flitter through his mind as he moved closer and closer to you. There was a pull in the bottom of his stomach and his mood immediately lifted with the decreasing space between you.

“What a coincidence.” he said smoothly as he came to a stop at your table. “You didn’t tell me you’d take my recommendation so soon.” he said proudly as he slid the chair next to you out and moved to slide into it easily. You blinked up at him once, unhurried calm radiated off you before you answered him and he found himself holding his breath with anticipation.

“And you didn’t ask if this seat was taken.” you told him primly which actually made him pause as he leaned back in the chair. He was shocked he had to admit, usually people folded around his confidence automatically. Instead, you looked at him like he was mildly entertaining weather, as if he wasn’t threatening or impressive but just existed there.

“Sorry,” he said after a beat feeling as if you had scolded him. “I thought-”

“You thought wrong.” you said as you gestured toward the chair that he was still holding out and hovering over as he stared at you. “Try asking next time.” you told him before turning back to your notebook and the brochures. Jeongin plopped down into the seat heavily and looked around the table, your friends stared at him with silent wide eyes as they bit their lips trying not to laugh even Dong-Geon physically turned his face away to hide his reaction. Jeongin stared at you for a moment before chuckling under his breath, he was thrown off by you for sure but he wasn’t offended. It just made him want to get closer to you and show you that he could be someone she found impressive.

The rest of the meal continues and you happily let Ava and Jay-Jay talk about things that they wanted to see during your vacation as you idly wrote in your travel notebook. You can feel Jeongin’s presence beside you without even having to look at him. While he was a slender yet tall man the heavy presence that radiated off him was almost suffocating, almost. It was a bit much to you but not something that made you uncomfortable which was surprising because you started to notice how everyone else responded to him.

Employees watched him carefully while whispering to each other in quiet tones. Servers moved quickly about the restaurant as they kept glancing in the direction of your table. The owner hovered nearby like he was awaiting approval or something. Even the other patrons of the restaurant were watching Jeongin with quiet waryness. The attention he was receiving wasn’t like normal celebrity attention or businessman attention. It was heavier than that and everyone seemed to know him personally or of him which caught your attention as you looked around the restaurant curiously.

“What?” Jeongin asked you softly as he leaned closer to you, he had noticed you watching the whole restaurant. Your eyes had moved around the room curiously falling on each server and patron with a quiet observation that made Jeongin selfaware of it all. Never once in his life did he ever not enjoy the attention but when you started to pick up on it something twisted slightly and he silently wished that everyone would just go about their business and ignore him. It was a weird phenomenon to him and one that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to delve into yet.

“You’re either extremely important,” you said casually as you took a sip of your drink while your eyes darted over to him, “or everyone here’s deeply afraid of disappointing you.” you tell him and he blinks in shock for a moment at how observant you are.

“Can’t it be both?” he asks teasingly and you huff softly at him.

“That answer wasn’t reassuring.” you mutter before taking another sip of your drink which makes Jeongin grin immediately. There it was again, that sharpness within you leaking out. He loved seeing it from you because it made him feel like he was getting at least somewhere with you, all he had to do was turn it favorable now.

“Okay but the recommendation was good.” one of your friends points out as dishes start arriving at the table, one being placed in front of him as well which made you side-eye him silently as he grinned at the server in thanks. Jeongin placed a hand dramatically over his chest as he looked at your friend from across the table which made her grin teasingly at him as her eyes sparkled delightedly.

“Finally. Recognition.” he said as he turned his head to look at you but you were looking down at your notebook as you wrote about the food in the restaurant, you didn’t look up at him before speaking up.

“Don’t let it go to your head.” you muttered and your friends turned to look at him excitedly knowing that he would follow up with a remark.

“Too late. I’m already planning my acceptance speech.” he teased you and your friends snickering before everyone dug into their food. 

It was quiet for a little bit as each of you ate your food, Jeongin’s eyes darted over to Dong-Geon who was sitting at a smaller table not far from your table eating his own meal. Everything settled for a moment and then Jeongin leaned slightly closer to you with a wicked grin on his face.

“You’re sharp,” he said quietly in acknowledgement of your perception of him. “Most people don’t talk to me like that.” he admitted and you looked up at him finally with steady direct eye contact. It nearly stole the breath from his lungs.

“Then maybe you’re surrounding yourself with the wrong people.” you stated simply. The restaurant fell silent before Dong-Geon began choking on his food as he coughed loudly. The owner rushed over to him and helped calm down while hitting him on the back. But while that was going Jeongin just stared at you, the complete lack of performance from you as you simply said the words with honesty made Jeongin slightly uneasy. He wasn’t sure what to do with honesty anymore, especially not from someone looking at him like she genuinely expected better from him. It drove him wild and made him want to challenge himself to be what you expected him to be.

Just then your friends quickly stood from their chairs making them scrape along the floor which caught both your and Jeongin’s attention causing you to turn to look at your friends worriedly. They both stood there for a moment with slightly widened eyes before grinning widely at you.

“We’re going to the bathroom.” one said and you huffed at them.

“Together? What are you still in high school?” you asked them skeptically.

“Yes together and very far away from this conversation.” the other one said and you narrowed your eyes at them immediately.

“Cowards.” you huffed out before turning back to your plate.

“Survivors.” one countered and you rolled your eyes at them before they turned and disappeared, completely abandoning you.

“Your friends like me.” he told you knowingly and you huffed at him softly before shaking your head as a soft smile slipped onto your face.

“My friends are misguided and enjoy chaos.” you told him knowingly and he grinned as he leaned closer to you and resting his elbow on the table so that it was only an inch away from your arm.

“You know…I couldn’t stop thinking about you after seeing you at the palace.” he tells you as his voice lowers so that only you can hear him. You looked over at him with a bored look on your face before grinning wickedly and Jeongin felt a sense of caution fill him alongside a heated desire to lean even closer to you. He wanted to kiss that grin off your face but knew you’d probably punch him if he tried.

“Then maybe you should work on your attention span.” you told him softly causing him to blink slowly at you. Because somehow every response you gave him felt halfway between rejection and invitation. Almost like you were batting him away without fully pushing him off and it was driving him wild.

The two of you continued eating while your friends still hadn’t come back to the table, Jeongin had a suspicion that it was so that he could soak up as much alone time with you to hopefully sway you into actually liking him. When he finished his plate he turned to see that you were back to writing in your notebook again, his eyes fell over the page you were writing on and saw the margins were filled with little notes on top of what you wrote in the body of the page.

“What’re you writing?” he asked curiously.

“Observations.” you told him without looking up as you quickly wrote more.

“About Seoul?” he questioned.

“About your district.” you said and he stilled as that word caught his attention instantly.

“My district?” he asked, trying not to convey how much that word meant to him.

“The nightlife areas are loud on purpose,” you said absently while writing. “But the older spaces are hidden deeper within the area. It feels intentional.” you said and Jeongin went still for half a second as he listened to your words. You understood it, not fully yet, but more than most people ever did who visited his faction.

“You notice a lot.” he said softly in awe and you shrugged your shoulders at his words.

“Occupational hazard.” you muttered and Jeongin chuckled softly while still watching you.

“You’re not what I expected.” he admitted finally and you softly closed your notebook before looking over at him.

“Good. Expectations are boring.” you told him proudly and he stared at you for another second too long before finally shaking his head with a quiet laugh. He stood from his chair with a quick look at Dong-Geon who immediately rose from his table as well. You looked up at him curiously. “Retreating finally?” you asked teasingly and Jeongin grinned wickedly at you before leaning far into your space as his eyes stayed focused on yours. He watched as your eyes dilated slightly at his proximity and your mouth opened just slightly as a surprised breath rushed past your lips. It was the most reaction he had ever gotten out of you and it made his heart sing with pride.

“Regrouping.” he retorted and you laughed bright and happily up at him.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” you tease him and he grins at you before turning and walking out of the restaurant.

After Jeongin left you watched him from the window as he exited the restaurant with the muscular man, the two of them stood in front of the restaurant for a moment talking to each other. Jeongin stood next to a stone fox statue that sat just outside the restaurant’s entry door and as you sat there watching he lifted a hand and gently grazed the statue with his fingertips. The movement looked like habitual almost reverent and instinctive as he stood next to it. You tilted your head to the side intrigued before Ava and Jay-Jay pulled you from your thoughts.

“Awww, did he leave already?” Ava asked teasingly and you rolled your eyes at her.

“Well you two bailed on us like you were running away from a fire.” you told them making Ava burst out in delighted happy laughter as she wiggled her eyebrows at you.

“You didn’t completely destroy him did you?” Jay-Jay asked teasingly and you huffed at her just as your waiter came by the table with a warm smile on their face.

“Your meal has already been covered ladies, so payment will not be necessary.” he said and you looked at him shocked as your eyebrows furrowed over your eyes.

“By who?” you asked and the waiter blinked at you as if the answer was obvious.

“The Vanta Fox.” he told you and all three of you stared at him bewildered.

“The what?” Ava asked confused as Jay-Jay looked out the window trying to find Jeongin through it.

“The Vanta Fox. He must really like all you. Normally he doesn’t pay for anyone’s meals.” the waiter said honestly and you stared at him for another moment before nodding your head.

“Thank you. We appreciated the meal. It was delicious.” you told him and he nodded his head before bowing slightly and then heading back to the kitchen. Quietly you opened your notebook and quickly wrote down The Vanta Fox for you to research when you got back to the hotel. The name sounded familiar but you weren’t sure where you had heard it before.

Outside, Jeongin was already regretting leaving. But he knew that if he had stayed it wouldn’t have ended as well for him as it had. Dong-Geon came to stand in front of them after they stepped away from the front of the restaurant to a small alleyway.

“Where do tourists usually go after this?” Jeongin asked as he turned to look at Dong-Geon who leaned against the alleyway wall while crossing his arms over his chest.

“You cannot be serious.” Dong-Geon said before a loud shocked gasp was heard just past Dong-Geon causing Jeongin lean around him and spot Felix, Changbin and Seungmin walking over to them with smirks on their faces no doubt hearing Jeongin asking about tourists.

“Why are you asking about tourist spots, Innie?” Felix asked delightedly as he grinned widely and his eyes sparkled happily.

“I’m not.” Jeongin said quickly and Seungmin scoffed softly as he brushed dirt from his shirt sleeve.

“You literally just did.” Seungmin drawled out while Changbin gazed at Jeongin before narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

“Wait, is this about the woman?” he asked curiously which made Felix grin, Seungmin smirk and Dong-Geon chuckled softly.

“No.” Jeongin spat out quickly but Dong-Geon shook his head at his response.

“He paid for her lunch.” Dong-Geon supplied and all three of the younger men whipped their heads to stare at Dong-Geon with varying degrees of surprise written on their faces.

“Traitor.” Jeongin hissed at the muscular man who only shrugged his shoulders and smirked softly.

“You paid for her food?” Changbin asked, shocked.

“And her friends’ meals too.” Dong-Geon added and Jeongin groaned loudly as Felix doubled over in happy laughter.

“That’s disgustingly romantic.” Seungmin said as his lip curled slightly in distaste.

“You’re down catastrophically, huh?” Felix teased and Jeongin shoved his hands into his pockets defensively.“You don’t even pay for our food!” Changbin shouted and Jeongin opened his mouth to argue before snapping it closed, because he wasn’t wrong.

[sheerfreesia007]

Where Foxes Bleed Neon - Chapter 1

Pairing: Jeongin x OC/Reader

Rating: Mature

Word count: 14,119

Content warnings: Violence and assault, Fight scenes, Blood imagery, Intimidation tactics disguised as casual conversation, Power imbalance, Smoking, Morally gray yakuza prince energy, Organized crime politics, Military-family training references, Rich boy menace in designer suits, “Everybody talks” paranoia, Emotional repression hidden under sarcasm, Old Seoul vs modern Seoul imagery, Fox symbolism everywhere, Affectionate girlfriend teasing, Neon-drenched Seoul atmosphere, Hints of underground gang culture, Graffiti symbolism, Subtle foreshadowing, Found family vibes, Culture nerd Trails being lovingly bullied by her girlfriends, Emotionally healing girls trip energy, Friendship after trauma and divorce, Yakuza prince flirting like it’s psychological warfare, Accidental profiling of a mafia boss in under ten minutes, Bodyguard side-eye commentary

Summary: Travel writer Trails arrives in Seoul with her best friends Ava and Jay-Jay expecting a month of culture, nightlife, and inspiration, only to become increasingly captivated by the city’s strange duality where luxury modernism bleeds seamlessly into ancient symbolism, hidden alleyways, and districts that seem alive with secrets. While exploring the neon-lit nightlife faction ruled by the dangerously charismatic Jeongin, Trails unknowingly catches the attention of both his allies and enemies because unlike everyone else around him, she notices too much: the fox statues guarding the streets, the coded graffiti appearing in hidden corners, the way the district itself seems built to conceal something older and more dangerous beneath the surface. Beneath his teasing charm and reckless reputation, Jeongin is revealed to be the ruthless young leader of a powerful faction, balancing brutal violence, political control, and the crushing loneliness of being feared more than understood, until Trails’ sharp honesty and genuine curiosity begin destabilizing him in ways nothing else ever has. As the two circle each other through flirtation, psychological sparring, and late-night conversations about cities, history, and identity, an intense connection forms between them because Trails sees the humanity hidden beneath Jeongin’s authority while Jeongin becomes obsessed with the fact that she refuses to fear or worship him like everyone else. But when rival tensions violently erupt inside Jeongin’s nightclub, forcing Trails to witness firsthand the terrifying reality of his world before she disappears back into the city carrying clues she doesn’t yet understand, both of them leave the night profoundly unsettled, sensing that their collision in Seoul was never accidental but the beginning of something far more dangerous. 

A/N: Divider was created by @saradika-graphics, thank you for sharing your dividers with tumblr!

Jeongin Taglist: @kayleefriedchicken, @ivaviavi, @justsomekpopstuff, @lov3rachan, @cixrosie, 

@my-neurodivergent-world, @channiesrightasscheek, @toru-saki, @inlovewithstraykids, @bookswillfindyouaway, 

@m-325, @niku0704, @cliosunshine, @sweetdemon1998, @littlekaylayt,

@alondra6011, @bunbunbl0gs, @nougatjade, @starrynightviper, @karlee10261990,

@pixie-felix, @imsleepingwhataboutu, @matchacha65, @tricky-ritz

The moment you step off the boarding bridge from the airplane and into the terminal it is nothing but blurred chaos. You practically vibrate as you hitch your backpack higher onto your back as you walk along the squeaky clean floor in between your girlfriends Jay-Jay and Ava. The late afternoon sun is bright as it cascades through the windows and there’s an excitement in the air in Incheon Airport.

“Did you know that Incheon’s consistently ranked one of the best airports in the world because it’s designed around passenger comfort instead of just efficiency?” you ask them with a wide grin on your face. Jay-Jay looks over at you with an amused look on her face before darting her eyes over to Ava who’s already huffing at you with a soft fondness.

“You’re already writing in your head, aren’t you?” Ava asks teasingly and you turn your head to look at her as you continue walking towards baggage claim. You laugh softly at her question as your eyes grow wide while you take in the busy airport.

“I can’t help it,” you say softly almost wistfully as your smile softens on your face. “Cities like this…they talk to you before anyone else does.” you say and both Jay-Jay and Ava let out loud groans while Jay drops her head back with teasing exasperation.

“Please don’t start psychoanalyzing the infrastructure before customs.” Jay-Jay teased, causing you to grin widely at her as your eyes sparkled.

“Too late.” you told her and she groaned once again before laughing delightedly at you.

“You’re supposed to be on vacation.” Ava reminds you helpfully and you huff at her softly which makes both Jay-Jay and Ava grin widely at you.

“This is a vacation.” you groan at them both and they begin giggling at you. Jay-Jay nods her head exaggeratedly while Ava looks at you skeptically.

“You’re trying to take ethnographic notes at the airport.” Ava says and Jay-Jay bursts out laughing.

“The airport is culturally fascinating!” you cry out which makes both of them dissolve into a fit of delighted laughter.

“Pay up Jay-Jay. I told you she wouldn’t be able to resist.” Ava crows knowingly and Jay-Jay laughs while falling into your side.

“Aww, leave Trails alone. You know she can’t help herself always writing the next big travel guide. And I’ll buy your drinks tonight at the club.” Jay-Jay says as she wraps an arm around your shoulders and guides you towards baggage claim so that you all could collect the rest of your bags before heading towards the train to head into Seoul.

You huff at the two of them while smiling broadly knowing that they meant well and weren’t truly being mean about your excitement of traveling to a new city. The three of you had been planning this trip for months, you had started doing research on it last year when the idea began to form between the three of you and now you were here in Seoul, South Korea for a whole month! Eager excitement coursed through your veins rapidly as you tried to take in as much of your surroundings as possible as you moved through the airport. 

When the three of you were on the train heading into the city you couldn’t help but stare out the train windows like you were gazing into a giant fish bowl. Your breath caught in your throat as your eyes tracked all of the different architecture of the city. Ava scrolled on her travel app in the seat next to you and Jay-Jay people watched those that were sharing the train with you.

“Seoul feels vertically emotional somehow. Like every era got stacked instead of erased.” you say softly as your eyes dart around a tall apartment complex building and you see each of the different balconies decorated.

“That sentence belongs in your future book.” Ava says absent-mindedly with a softness that belays how much she agrees with your words.

“Ooooh, I’ve gotta write that down actually!” you gasp out and dig out your trusted travel notebook with your pen in the little loop. Jay-Jay and Ava look over at you while you quickly jot down the words with warm smiles on their face as they watch how animated you are as you write down your thoughts quickly. “One thing Seoul does really well is making the airport feel connected to the city instead of isolated from it like other cities I’ve been to.” you tell him softly and they nod their heads in agreement when you look up at them. You look at them skeptically with a raised eyebrow before they grin widely at you and you huff at them goodnaturedly. “Sorry, I just get really excited when traveling.” you tell them sheepishly and they both grin before answering you in unison.

“We know.” Their comedic timing makes all three of you dissolve into laughter as you all lean on each other fondly. “We know Trails. It’s the travel spiral, we’re used to it at this point.” Ava tells you fondly as she grins at you.

The rest of the train ride is spent with you staring out the windows with barely contained quiet excitement as the train traveled from the airport through the city to where your hotel was located. The train station was busy as the three of you moved through it making sure not to jostle or bump into anyone else with you in the lead. When you exited the train station you suck in a deep breath of fresh air and extend your arms out on either side of your body.

“Ugh! Do you feel that?!” you ask excitedly to noone in particular causing Jay-Jay and Ava to look at you with smug smirks on their faces as they throw their fists up into the air and jump forward a step.

“A new adventure awaits!” they shout in unison startling you a little bit causing you to flinch back and they both burst out laughing once again at you.

“I don’t always say that!” you cry out indignantly as they both begin trying to rush away from you and towards the street where your hotel is located. You follow them with a pout on your face passing a stone statue of a fox spirit as you walk along the street that’s encased with nightlife clubs on either side of it. Just as you’re passing a well known club now darkened due to it being too early for the club to open yet something bright red catches your eye and you turn to see what it was. Frowning softly as your eyebrows furrow over your eyes you see down an alleyway a graffiti mural has been spray painted on the wall of one of the clubs on the street. 

Walking slowly down the alleyway you come to stand before it and stare up at it in breathless awe. It’s a large-scale mural of a large fight scene between two karate fighters, one is wearing a white karate-gi with an orange fox symbol on the back of it and the other fighter is wearing a black karate-gi with a red sparrow symbol on the back of it. Behind the two fighters are their respective animals shown in an impressive standoff between the two. There’s other symbols that catch your eye spaced around the mural like arrows and lanterns as well as the letters MIK are graffitied in one corner.

“Mik? What, did they forget how to spell milk?” Ava asks curiously from your side and you flinch back in shock after being so engrossed with the mural and the graffiti. Jay-Jay stands on your other side with her head tilted to the side staring at the painted wall as well in fascination.

“It’s pretty cool, almost like those old fight flyers for boxing matches.” Jay-Jay says impressed.

“I’m surprised it’s been done.” you say softly and they both turn to you just as a large burly looking man dressed in a black t-shirt and charcoal gray slacks walks into the alleyway with a brush and a bucket of cleaner in his hands.

“What do you mean?” Ava asks curiously as you pull out your phone and take a quick snapshot of the mural for your travel notes.

“Graffiti isn’t as widely accepted as in the western countries and it carries stronger social implications.” you explain softly as the three of you move out of the way of the man who grumbles irritatedly as he moves to start cleaning the wall.

“Stupid kids tagging nonsense again.” he grumbles out softly and your eyes dart to the mural once more with soft curiosity.

“C’mon! Let’s get to the hotel I want to take a nap before we go out tonight! Jay-Jay’s buying my drinks!” Ava calls out excitedly and you smile as you turn back to her and nod your head. You quickly step over to the two of them as they wait for you at the entrance of the alleyway just as a sleek black dark tinted car pulls up to the side of the club. Your attention is caught immediately by the vehicle but soon Jay-Jay is grabbing your hand and dragging you along after her as she grins at you over her shoulder.

“C’mon better keep up with Ava or she’ll leave you behind.” Jay-Jay teases you and you pick up your pace to keep up with her.

The car comes to a stop and Jeongin sighs softly as he watches Dong-Geon step away from the building, where he was waiting. The older man moves to the side of the car and opens the door without hesitation. Jeongin slides out of the car smoothly and immediately adjusts the cuffs on his black designer brand suit jacket before straightening the silver watch on his wrist. Mid-day sunlight catches against the rings on his fingers as he looks up at Dong-Geon who nods once before he closes the car door.

“Boss.” Dong-Geon greets him in his normal low steady tone that has been perfected after years of being by Jeongin’s side. Jeongin hums in acknowledgement in a bored manner as his eyes are already drifting towards the nightclub towering above them.

During the daytime hours, the place looked entirely different to him. It was less seductive in the sunlight as opposed to its normal neon lighting. The building looked almost exhausted if you could call it that. Workers moved about the street in front hauling liquor boxes down alleyways and through rear entrances while staff scrubbed down outdoor railing still sticky from the night before. The massive LED sign above the club remained dark in the daylight, leaving the building strangely hollow without its usual neon pulse.

As Jeongin moved closer to the building he looked along the street with a quiet intensity that showed in his slightly narrowed eyes. The building wasn’t the only thing that seemed to be caught in between identities, even the street that the club was located on felt caught within the transition. At a tiny family restaurant directly beside the club building a grandmother watered flowers outside on the open patio of the restaurant while one of the vendor employees unloaded imported alcohol into the alleyway for the club. Traditional tiled roofs peeked out behind mirrored high-rises along the street, bamboo rustled faintly somewhere farther uphill beyond the nightlife district, chaos and history pressed shoulder-to-shoulder in this faction that Jeongin called home. Taking in a deep breath through his nose he sighed calmly as a comfort settled over his shoulders, he grew up in the middle of both the neon dipped nightlife and the traditional historic temples. This was home to him.

“This should be an easy one.” Dong-Geon informed him and Jeongin smirked softly at the older man who sighed softly knowing that Jeongin wasn’t going to keep it easy.

“Easy usually means somebody already screwed up.” Jeongin said knowingly and Dong-Geon didn’t deny his words which was answer enough for Jeongin. A sense of excitement began to fill Jeongin as he started towards the entrance of the club, Dong-Geon held the door open for him and just as he passed through the doorway Jeongin’s hand reached out towards the stone fox statue and brushed his fingers across it absent-mindedly.

Once inside the building everyone took notice of Jeongin’s presence. The two security guards who were stationed at the entrance straightened so quickly that it almost looked painful. A hostess who had been walking across the open space carrying supply sheets executed a deep bow immediately upon seeing Jeongin. And a bartender who had been lifting a crate of alcohol onto the bartop abandoned it mid-lift to step forward and greet Jeongin with a handshake. Jeongin barely reacted to any of them because to him this was simply normal everyday life. Respect followed him through the faction like cigarette smoke, ever since he was an early teenager and had joined the Stray Kids Clan he had been revered in a respectful way. It was practically embedded in his psyche at this point that it was so second nature for him. But sometimes he wondered if anyone saw him beneath the title he carried everyday.

Inside the club the house lights are on and the normally mysterious club has been stripped down of all its glamour under the bright fluorescent lights. As Jeongin moved through the club towards the back office his eyes darted around the space noticing all the nooks and crannies that were normally hidden, the velvet booths looked too empty and offensive, the mirrors showed fingerprints from all the clubbers last night, and the dance floor seemed smaller under the bright lights somehow. Music played faintly through the overhead speakers while workers moved through the opening prep and procedures before the club opened. And Jeongin walked through it all like he owned the oxygen in the room, which technically, he kind of did. As the leader of this faction everything in it fell under his control, his protection. He knew every little thing that happened in his faction because he needed to protect it at all costs, which is why he was here this afternoon to deal with something that he had learned was happening in the club.

“Boss, I didn’t realize you were coming by personally.” came the hurried nassaly voice of the club manager as he hurried down the stairs from the VIP level looking visibly stressed. Jeongin glanced around the club lazily before they landed on the greasy looking man in front of him.

“That’s usually when people tell the truth.” Jeongin explained nonchalantly causing the manager to swallow hard and Dong-Geon snorted quietly behind him. Jeongin continued towards the back office without waiting for permission and the manager scrambled after him at a quick pace.

“It’s just a minor inventory issue-” the manager tried to dismiss quickly but Jeongin cut him off in a low dark tone.

“Three missing shipments isn’t minor.” he said knowingly and the manager went silent instantly. Jeongin smirked without looking back as he continued to the office. “See? That reaction right there is why I hate lying.” 

Inside the back office, a framed panoramic photo of the faction sat on the wall. In the photo Jeongin could see the transition of his territory clearly, the way the packed nightlife streets slowly gave way to quieter roads deeper in the faction where old shrines and hidden hanok alleyways survived stubbornly between modern development. His gaze lingered on the photo briefly before dropping back to the manager who sat behind his desk visibly shaking under Jeongin’s intimidating presence.

“Tell me who skimmed the shipments.” Jeongin demands in a low tone that feels dangerous as it fills the small office. Surprisingly, the manager hesitates which was his first mistake. Jeongin sighs dramatically and drops onto the couch in front of the desk. “You know my favorite thing about this faction?” he asks the room, he doesn’t expect an answer and he isn’t given one as the tension in the room rises. “Everybody talks.” he explains lazily as he spins one of his silver rings absently around his finger. “Bartenders gossip, drivers gamble, hostesses date men with loose lips, and old women sweeping sidewalks somehow know everything.” he explains, his voice drops in volume until it’s so soft like a caress against your face yet being the only sound in the room it’s all consuming.

“Especially the old women.” Dong-Geon says knowingly as he folds his arms over his broad chest.

“Terrifying demographic.” Jeoning agrees solemnly with Dong-Geon as he points his index finger back at him. The manager looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole as he sat in his desk chair visibly sweating. Jeongin’s expression softened slightly into something that looked almost playful, which somehow made him scarier. “Your bartender’s cousin sold shipment routes to outside runners. He’s been using the bartender’s access during prep time to skim some of the products off the truck while the vendor is busy unloading for the past two months.” Jeongin informs the manager who pales instantly and Jeongin smirks wickedly as he leans forward on the couch. “See how much easier honesty is?” he asks the manager sardonically as his smirk turns deadly as his eyes sparkle with brutal excitement.

Ten minutes later, Jeongin is standing in the back alleyway of the club where the loading area is. He stands over the bartender from earlier, the same one who’s been allowing his cousin to come and skim off the shipments that the club receives. The bartender kneels in front of him with blood running from his lip and a bruise starting to form around his left eye, daylight makes the sight of him uglier. It seems more honest in the sunlight as it beams down on them all in the otherwise darkened alleyway. There’s no neon to soften the edges or mute it. Jeongin crouches down in front of the man, his expensive slacks creasing beneath him effortlessly as he peers at the man with a sneer on his face.

“You stole from my faction.” Jeongin tells him in a dark tone that makes the man’s eyes widen in fear.

“I-I was gonna repay it-” the man stammers out and Jeongin’s lip curls with distaste.

“With what? Optimism?” Jeongin scoffs at him in disbelief, Dong-Geon covers a laugh with a cough as he turns his head to the side. Jeongin accepts the clean cloth one of his men hands him and he calmly wipes the blood from his knuckles. His movements are controlled, precise, and too practiced for someone his age. “People think I’m soft because the hyungs spoil me.” he says slowly and the bartender begins to shake violently. Jeongin tilts his head slightly, foxlike and sharp as he regards the battered man in front of him. “But spoiled things still bite.” he says darkly as he stands smoothly as silence swallows the alleyway. Taking a step back, Jeongin swings his leg in an upward arc connecting his foot with the side of the bartender’s face. The man crumples to the ground in front of him and his men all flinch back with his movement, but Jeongin walks away from the scene already bored with the situation.

As he comes to the entrance of the alleyway the same stone fox statue at the entrance of the club stands there and Jeongin automatically reaches out for it once again as if he can’t help himself. He stands there brushing his fingers along the top of the fox’s head in a quick habit-like gesture before slipping his hand into his pants pocket while Dong-Geon steps up beside him from the alleyway. The older man looks over at him with a silent look and Jeongin blows out a breath of air through his mouth as he settles his dark tinted sunglasses over his eyes.

“You play too much, boss.” Dong-Geon says in a quiet warning. Jeongin lights a cigarette as both he and Dong-Geon step back into the daylight streets heading towards the idling car waiting for them.

“That sounds like criticism.” Jeongin says a little petulantly.

“One day somebody’s gonna stop playing back.” Dong-Geon says as he opens the car door for him. Jeongin looks up at him as smoke curls slowly from his mouth around his face and he smirks towards the skyline. In that moment he looked young, cocky and restless before he turned to look at Dong-Geon once more.

“Then I’ll find a new game.” Jeongin tells him before he slips into the car and the door shuts with finality.

At night Seoul transformed, not gradually but completely. The city that you had barely even begun to explore in soft daylight now pulsed with color and movement like something alive beneath the darkening sky. Your hotel stood near the edge of one of the wealthier areas of the city, it was a tall building with glass walls, gold-lit entrances, and valets moving with polished efficiency beneath towering modern architecture. Neither you, Ava or Jay-Jay had wanted to skimp on your hotel accommodations during this month-long trip so most of your travel money had been pooled together to afford this luxury hotel for the duration of your trip. You stand at the entrance of the hotel under the golden lit overhang watching quietly as the valet and staff of the hotel move quickly about as they greet guests before ushering them inside to the front desk.

You’re dressed in a pair of white jeans, a pretty light orange halter top, your make up is done flawlessly and your outfit down to your heeled boots compliments your body perfectly. Standing to the side of the entrance you shift on your feet as you peer down the street as luxury hotels, shops and restaurants line it before narrowing. You could see lanterns strung on invisible string between buildings as they grew closer and crowded into each other. Music drifted from the narrower streets and you could just make out a tall pretty red traditional gate further down the street. The city seemed to change personalities every few blocks, moving from luxury nightlife into the more traditional architecture of Korean culture. There were some streets where the traditional architecture melded with the more modern architecture in the middle of the block and even some streets where everything was combined together. You loved it immediately and were so eager to start exploring the city, this is what made you excited about life. Finding out about other cities and how their culture bled into every aspect of it.

Just then Ava and Jay-Jay stepped out of the hotel and walked over to where you stood off to the side waiting for them. Ava adjusted the strap of her crossbody purse and Jay-Jay looked out along the street watching as different groups of people walked along the sidewalk together heading towards the clubs and karaoke bars nearby. You breathed in deeply as a wide smile slipped across your face.

“So the restaurant is only ten minutes away from the hotel, should we walk or-” Ava began to ask as she pulled out her phone and pulled up the navigation app.

“Walk!” you said excitedly causing Jay-Jay to laugh as she nudged you amusedly with a grin on her face.

“Let’s walk.” Jay-Jay agreed knowing that it’d be good to let you have your time tonight to observe everything.

“Great, love that for us.” Ava said in a deadpanned tone before grinning widely at the two of you before hooking her thumb over her shoulder in the direction of the restaurant. The three of you stepped away from the hotel and began making your way to the restaurant that Jay-Jay had chosen for your first night in Seoul. You hung back slightly so that you could take everything in as your head swiveled from side to side without disturbing Ava or Jay-Jay.

“Look at this place.” you say in a whisper that is nothing but awe as your wide eyes take it all in. “Western cities feel like they close eventually.” you say before you smile softly as something settles within your chest that you’re unable to explain, “Seoul feels like it just changes personalities every few hours.”

“Sounds like your type of city, huh Trails?” Jay-Jay asks teasingly as she looks back at you while Ava grins softly at you over her shoulder as you keep looking around the street rapidly. And somewhere several blocks away as if he heard Jay-Jay’s words, Jeongin looked up into the darkening sky of his faction as he slipped into the backseat of his black dark tinted luxury car.

The splatter of blood against the grimy brick walls of a karaoke club glitters under the flickering neon lights overhead. A man who works for the karaoke club screams loudly as one of Jeongin’s fists slams into the side of his face. The sound barely reaches the main street over the bass vibrating through the walls of the karaoke bar, the sound disappearing like smoke under the pulsing sound from the building. Jeongin stood beneath a flickering red neon sign while his crew member grabbed the man by his shirt as he stumbled back a few steps and then shoved him back against the brick wall.

The man before him had been overcharging guests at the karaoke bar for months, not enough to trigger immediate suspicion. But just enough to insult Jeongin personally, which honestly made it worse. Jeongin had been clued into his misdeeds by a few whispered rumors around the faction, that had then led into a further investigation by Dong-Geon and his crew before they brought their findings to Jeongin. The man had pocketed close to thirty million won from overcharging guests and Jeongin couldn’t have that type of behavior happening in his faction under his protection.

Blood dripped slowly down the man’s chin from his nose, which was most likely broken, as he stared pleadingly up at the man holding him against the brick wall. Jeongin stood to the side with his feet spread shoulder width apart and watched with a bored expression on his face, one of his hands was tucked lazily into the pocket of his black slacks while he watched the punishment continue to unfold with a detached calm about him.

“Boss, please-” the man gasped out after another heavy fist slammed into his face. The uttered plea caused Jeongin to tilt his head slightly in a cold, foxlike manner as his eyes focused on the man.

“You robbed the people in my faction blind.” Jeongin said in a dark tone that slipped through the air like smoke. The man started sobbing apologies as his eyes darted from the crew member in front of him to Jeongin standing behind them. Jeongin sighed softly as if this was inconveniencing him somehow, the man continued to sob loudly as tears and snot began to mix with the blood already pouring from his nose. With a disgusted sneer on his face Jeongin shifts on his feet and his eyes flicker to the crewmember holding the man. “Leave him breathing.” he instructs him with a simple nod before adjusting the cuff of his black shirt before continuing to speak as he glares at the battered man. “We’re not animals, just businessmen.”

The irony hangs thick in the alley air as Dong-Geon steps up to Jeongin’s side and hands him a clean cloth. Jeongin takes the cloth and slowly wipes the blood from his knuckles carefully before tossing the stained fabric aside without another glance. As he walked towards the alleyway entrance he didn’t bother to check on his men already knowing that they’d be fine, he was already checked out and over the punishment for the karaoke bar man. He was already feeling restless once again. But just as he stopped at the entrance of the alleyway his fingers reached out and grazed the tail of the fox statue there before he lifted his head and took in a steadying breath, something felt different tonight. There was a crackle in the air that he couldn’t identify something was happening or was about to happen, he could feel it worming its way under his skin.

Dinner had been absolutely amazing and cathartic for the three of you as you all spilled out of the immersive restaurant into the now fully neon lit street. You had all spent the dinner talking and catching up together since you hadn’t truly been able to have much time to see each other in a year. Ava had shared all her grief, pain and recovery from the divorce of her ex-husband of fifteen years, you had all rallied around her when she had first found out about the cheating and while you had continued to check in on her periodically you hadn’t truly been privy to everything that her ex-husband had put her through during the divorce and after it. Jay-Jay had shared all her milestones and setbacks that she had been experiencing in her career during the year you had all spent distanced. She had explained how she was now preparing to form her own business so that she didn’t have to rely or answer to someone else and that she could be her own boss. And you had shared all of your grand adventures and all the mistakes you had made during the year while traveling as you wrote travel guide books for each of the places that you traveled to.

But now as the three of you walked along the street you were all feeling very comforted with full bellies, bright laughter escaping each of you and warmed hearts at the closeness of your friendship as you all reconnected. As you moved deeper into the nightlife district the streets began to feel alive. Food stalls sizzled with cooking meat for those who wandered drunkenly down the sidewalks after a few rounds of karaoke, perfume and cigarette smoke blending together as patrons of bars and restaurants huddled together outside, couples and groups of friends spilled from bars laughing delightedly at each other, music thrummed through the air from each of the clubs and karaoke bars that lined the streets and scooters weaved in out through traffic recklessly as if they had no perception of how dangerous they cut it close.

You are absolutely in your element as you watch everything around you, excitement bubbling up within you. And then you start to spot them, the fox statues. You had noticed one or two as you had traveled through the area to your hotel, some of them were tiny and tucked away in little corners besides restaurants while others were larger and more weathered as they took up more space next to buildings and businesses. They were stone guardians dotted throughout this area of the city and they absolutely fascinated you. As you spotted a smaller one tucked between some shrubbery by a food stall you slowed until you stood in front of it staring down at it. It was smaller than the ones by the restaurant you had just come from but it was still intricately carved out of stone and when your fingertips brushed it carefully you let your mouth fall open in slight awe.

”There’s fox imagery all over this area.” You said softly as your eyebrows furrowed slightly as you tried to understand why.

”That’s cool.” Ava said a little dismissively as she came to your side while Jay-Jay circled the little fox statue peering at it curiously.

”Does it mean something?” Jay-Jay asked curiously as she tilted her head to the side while her eyes took in your perplexed look.

”Foxes show up constantly in East Asian folklore, but placement matters.” You explain as your fingertips brush against the stone statue once more. “These feel protective.” You say softly as a breeze blows along the street catching your attention and causing you to look up from the statue and peer further down the street where you could see more statues dotted between the buildings as if they were a breadcrumb trail for you to follow. You made a mental note to see if you could follow the statues on a day that you explored the city by yourself. “Almost like guardians of something.” You continued before smiling softly to yourself and then look up at Ava and Jay-Jay who were both watching you with looks of fond confusion on their faces.

”You say things that sound haunted.” Ava grumbles out and you burst out into happy laughter as you lean into her side.

”That's because history is haunted.” You taunt her and she scoffs at you before rolling her eyes.

”C’mon let’s get to the club! I want Jay-Jay to buy me my first drink!” Ava whines softly and you all laugh before continuing your walk down the sidewalk.

You were none the wiser as a pair of eyes landed on your little trio, a man of a relatively tall stature stood partially hidden outside a second-story lounge balcony overlooking the crowded street below. He leaned against the railing of the balcony as he took a drag from the hand rolled cigarette. Most of the time people never noticed him and that was intentional on his part.

His gaze followed you carefully as you talked animatedly with your friends while pointing out architecture details and folklore imagery around the faction. His interest was piqued as he watched and listened to your voice rise above the din of the street below. His mind began to swirl and buz as his eyes stayed focused on you, your beauty shone through effortlessly but that wasn’t the reason for the way his mind began to ruminate on you. It was the way you observed everything, the way you noticed patterns, details and meanings of everything around you. He knew that that kind of mind was useful and dangerous too.

A shorter man stepped out of the sliding glass door way and out onto the balcony before leaning against the railing and peering down at the crowd of people. The two stood there silently just gazing at the people, their eyes alighting on different groups with interest. When your laughter rang full in the air it caught the attention of both of them and their eyes swung to land on you effortlessly as your laughter and your being was a beacon for them.

”Tourist?” Asked the shorter man curiously with a slick tone in his voice.

”Not exactly.” Answered the first man before he took another long drag of his cigarette and let the smoke billow from his mouth slowly to rise around his face as the neon lights blinked in and out of existence around him cascading him into shadows.

Jeongin emerged from the alleyway adjusting the rings on his fingers like a predator among prey, neon lights washed in a rainbow cascade across the dark street around him. He turned his head to the side as he heard Dong-Geon walk up behind him about to tell him which club he was going to be attending tonight when he heard it, a laugh that sounded so warm, unafraid and bright against the noise of the dark gritty faction that he called home. The sound seized his chest and caused his head to snap up automatically as his eyes landed on you and the sight of you made him freeze as if someone had pressed pause on his world.

You stood beneath a glowing lantern sign surrounded by moving crowds, there was a confidence in your posture that captivated him, your smile was sharp and teasing as you looked up at your taller friend standing next to you, you looked so alive even with all the chaos around you. He stared at you as you moved with ease and a confidence that most tourists weren’t able to pull off. You moved as if you belonged here and that struck something deep within his chest as his mouth dropped open slightly.

Jeongin barely noticed when Dong-Geon began speaking to him after he stepped up to his side. Instead he stared across the street in silent awe as everything else fell away from view and there was only you. He watched as you waved your arms in the air excitedly about you as you looked around you with wonder shining through on your face.

”Nightlife districts tell you way more about a city than museums do.” He heard you say clearly to your friends who had fond looks on their faces as their eye danced along your excited movements.

”You say that like a woman moments away from getting kidnapped.” Teased one of your friends as she barked out an amused laugh at you while shaking her head. Your other friend shook her head as she looked around the street at the clubs on either side. You shrugged your shoulders casually and Jeongin’s eyes followed the movement of your pretty halter top as the fabric shifted around your body.

”I’d survive.” You quipped out goodnaturedly and Jeongin felt himself leaning forward wanting to hear more of your voice as you spoke. But when you tilted your head back and laughed so freely, the way the purple, blue and green neon glow from the signs around something strange settled low in his chest. It wasn’t lust, at least not exactly. He’d felt lust before, the way it gripped his insides tightly with a heat that would warm him from the inside out. No, this was something sharper, something deeper. It was curiosity that was sharpened into something far more dangerous.

There was something so profoundly different about you that it practically stole Jeongin’s breath and thoughts as he stood there watching you move about the street so easily. Because as he stood there staring at you dumbfounded he knew that everyone in his faction wanted something. Power, money, protection, an escape. But you? You looked like you already had everything you could possibly want from his faction.

The nightclub transformed completely after night settled over the faction. While in the daylight the building had looked exhausted and hollow it now pulsed like the beating heart of Jeongin’s faction. Bass thundered through the walls hard enough to feel it beneath the skin. Lights flashed in violent bursts of a kaleidoscope of colors. Perfume, smoke hovered through the air while the scent of expensive liquor and sweat blended into something that felt like chaos curated by luxury.

Jeongin stepped through the entrance flanked by three of his men and the entire atmosphere shifted subtly around him. The security guards posted at the entrance straightened slightly as he walked in, staff lowered their heads in reverence of his presence, hostesses suddenly smiled sharper as if they were waiting for their chance with him next. Respect moved ahead of him like a warning siren. Women noticed immediately too, their eyes following him avidly as a few brave ones came close enough to him to make a move on him.

”Jeongin, where’ve you been all week?” One whined softly into his ear as she latched onto his arm before he even fully crossed over the threshold of the club. He easily slipped out of her hold and continued in through the club as people made a wide path for him.

”You missed my birthday, Innie!” Another woman cried as she brushed her fingers along his shoulder with a practiced pout on her lips. Jeongin smirked lazily without slowing his pace as he spoke over his shoulder to her.

”Did I?” He questioned teasingly and her pout deepened with her dismay at his words.

”You’re horrible.” She whined softly to him and his smirk turned wicked as he winked at her.

”And yet here you are.” He teased causing her to huff at him before she disappeared into the crowd. Jeongin chuckles amused at all the attention while Dong-Geon groans somewhere behind him.

”One day this attitude’s gonna kill you.” Dong-Geon warns him exasperatedly causing Jeongin to smirk at him over his shoulder as he looks back at the older man.

”Then make sure I look good at the funeral.” Jeongin quips, which makes everyone around him laugh as Dong-Geon eyes him reproachfully. Jeongin knew exactly how to perform this version of himself around others, to them he was cocky, reckless and untouchable. It was easy for him, too easy.

An hour later Jeongin is leaning against the railing of the VIP balcony that overlooks the packed club below, his eyes taking in the mass of moving bodies below him as the manager stands at his side. The man has been updating him about nightly numbers and guests lists but Jeongin is barely paying attention to him as his eyes dart around the club mindlessly and the bass of the loud music throbs around him. 

“And tonight we’ve got a couple groups of political figures from Chan’s faction wanting to enjoy a night out.” The man says to Jeongin who nods his head distractedly, his eyes darting from one corner of the club to the next when a flash of light orange catches his attention and steals his breath.

His eyes swing back to the spot where he saw the flash of color and spots you, his world narrows instantly to just you as you stand near the far side of the bar with your friends. Your hand is curled around a drink while you scan the club with open curiosity instead of intimidation, that fact alone made you stand out from everyone else around you. Usually everyone who came to the clubs in his faction either wanted attention, feared attention or performed for attention. But you, you gave attention. You were observing everything like you were studying the room instead of trying to survive in it. The strobing lights in the club danced around the room again and caught briefly against the jewelry you wore tonight and Jeongin felt his breath snag unexpectedly in his chest.

”She doesn’t belong here.” He said softly and Dong-Geon who stood close enough to Jeongin’s side to catch everything that he said and everything that was said to him tilted his head curiously at him.

”Who?” Dong-Geon asked as he stepped to the railing and looked down at the crowd below. Jeongin barely heard Dong-Geon’s question as his eyes stayed trained on you as his chest grew tight with something primal.

”She’s too real for this place.” He murmured to himself and Dong-Geon finally locked onto who Jeongin was focusing on. After a quiet moment of watching you Dong-Geon crossed his arms over his chest knowingly as he turned his head back to Jeongin.

”Boss, that one’s not the type to play along.” Dong-Geon warns him softly and Jeongin smirks slowly as interest for you begins to bubble up within him. It’s the first time in a long time that he’s actually interested in someone.

”Guess I’ll have to change her mind.” He murmurs softly before pushing off from the railing and disappearing down the stairs to the main floor causing Dong-Geon to sigh out tiredly before following after him.

You lean against the bar as your eyes drift around the club needing to catalogue everything you see so that you can take notes later. You had already promised Jay-Jay and Ava that you wouldn’t take notes tonight since it was your first night here, so you are avidly observing everything so that you can remember it later tonight when you get back to the hotel. Your eyes barely take in the other clubgoers around you as your eyes pick out each architecture choice of the club.

”You’re analyzing the nightclub.” Jay-Jay teases you as she and Ava sip at their drinks and watch you amusedly.

”I’m appreciating the commitment to visual excess.” You tell her primly and Ava barks out a laugh at your words while Jay-Jay rolls her eyes fondly at you.

”You’re impossible.” Jay-Jay says and you shrug your shoulders at her comment while grinning before your eyes flit upward toward the second level balconies.

The club is stunning, mirrored ceilings are installed above you, hanging lantern installations that add to the ambiance around the dance floor but don’t take away from the flashing strobe lights, and you notice traditional patterns woven subtly into modern design that piques your interest immediately. You can see the blend of modern and traditional in every corner of this room and it makes you eager to explore everything about this place. You can see the modern chaos wrapped around older bones that seems to define this are of the city.

Your eyes drift up again along the balconies before landing directly on the well dressed man again. You, Ava, and Jay-Jay had noticed him when he walked into the club earlier tonight both Ava and Jay-Jay already gushing about how handsome and mysterious he came across while you were intrigued by him. There was something about him that caught your attention but it wasn’t his looks it was more how he carried himself, there was something he was holding back or hiding behind. It unsettled you a little bit but you had figured he was just someone you’d pass by in the club and never see again. 

Taking a sip of your drink you let yourself survey him quietly uninterrupted, he’s leaning against the balcony railing with a mousy looking man on his right and a burly muscular man on his left. The mysterious man wore a black silk shirt with the top few buttons undone, no doubt to catch any woman’s eye. Silver jewelry graced his neck and his knuckles in what looked like expensive pieces. He had a dangerous kind of confidence stretched carelessly across his posture that let you know he was young, cocky, and reckless.

But just as you’re coming to a conclusion about him you notice the mousy man on his right bow his head quickly to him and you raise an eyebrow at that. It was like when he arrived too, everyone seemed to revolve around him. Staff deferred to him automatically, people moved aside instinctively, and security watched him before watching anyone else. It was almost as if he was a celebrity or something in this area, you logged that information away to research later when you got back to your hotel.

”Oooh! It’s that guy from earlier!” Ava calls out as she leans into your side and looks up at the VIP balcony. You look away from him and towards Ava and Jay-Jay as they both look up and spot him as well. “Look at Trails picking out the young hottie!” Ava crows excitedly and you roll your eyes at her while smiling softly.

”Ava!” You try to admonish her but she quickly shakes her head at you.

”Nope! He’s young, hot and all that with a side of chips. And you’re such a bad ass that he’d be stupid to not even try with you.” She tells you adamantly as she stares into your eyes. You blush slightly at her words before you laugh softly.

”Alright, alright.” You tell her and she nods her head with a determined look on her face.

”We’re definitely going to get you a boyfriend on this trip.” She says firmly causing Jay-Jay to burst out in happy laughter while you stare at her with wide eyes.

”Ava!” You cry out and she huffs at you determinedly.

Jeongin descends the stairs slowly, in a form of intimidation for those in the club that could possibly cause an issue and to be a bit dramatic for you. He’s more aware of himself as he tries to make himself look good in front of you hoping to pique your interest. A thought flashes through his mind as he continues down the stairs, normally he wouldn’t ever be like this. Women usually came easy, they practically threw themselves at him whenever he was around them. And having attention to himself was even easier to him but the fact that you could be watching him from the bar made him a little more self aware. 

But the way you had calmly observed the club had made him feel as if he was seventeen again instead of twenty-three. Almost like he was walking into a test he hadn’t studied for. By the time he made his way to the bar you had already turned away from him and were laughing with your friends, which irritated him instantly.

”You don’t look like you’re having fun.” He says just loud enough to catch your attention and you turn your head to look at him calmly. He silently noticed that you looked at him differently then anyone else in this club had looked at him so far tonight, you didn’t look impressed like the security guards at the front door, you didn’t look nervous like the club manager when he spoke to Jeongin about the numbers, and you didn’t look at him with lust swirling in your eyes like the women who had wanted his attention. You just looked at him with an awareness on your face that surprised him.

”I am, just not in the same way you are.” You tell him with a shrug of your shoulders before taking a sip of your drink, your friends who stood behind you watched him with wide eyes. Jeongin blinked once in shock, that answer alone knocked him slightly off-balance and he didn’t know what to do with it. Most people flirted back or froze when he spoke to them but you did neither. Instead you sipped your drink while studying him openly, like you were the dangerous one in this situation.

”We’re gonna go dance!” One of your friends called out to you and frowned softly at her before turning to look at her. You opened your mouth to respond to her but she just grinned at you widely before winking exaggeratedly which made you huff at her. “Have fun with your emotionally devastating stranger!” She called out before grabbing the hand of your other friend and dragged her away from the bar and you.

”Coward.” You muttered softly and Jeongin laughed softly before sliding into the newly empty space beside you so that he had his back to the wall and could survey the club while giving you his full attention.

”Your friends don’t seem very loyal.” He says teasingly as he nods his head towards where your friends are dancing while still watching you surreptitiously.

”Neither are men who interrupt conversations.” You tell him and he smirks softly at your little dig feeling excitement start to bubble up even more within him.

”Fair.” He acknowledges with a tilt of his head as his eyes trail along you slowly before he leans against the bar casually and moves more into your space. “You staring because I’m handsome?” He asks you with a flirty tone to his voice as he grins at you teasingly.

”No.” you deadpan and Jeongin blinks at you in shock for a quiet beat.”

”Damn.” He says softly and you burst out in a small brief laugh that sounds so real that it makes Jeongin feel oddly victorious to be able to pull that sound from you.

The bartender appears behind the bar almost as if summoned with a nervous energy that makes Jeongin frown a little and you blink at him in awe of how quietly he moved around the bar.

”Boss, your usual?” He asks Jeongin and you lift an eyebrow at the question as your eyes dart over to Jeongin, Boss? Jeongin’s eyes dart over to you and you can tell that he’s already picked up on how you’ve paid attention to how the bartender addressed him.

”You know who owns this place?” Jeongin asks loud enough to be heard over the music as he leans into your space again and you eye him silently before turning to look around the club slowly. You eye the chandeliers above the bar, the imported liquor, the expensive shelves the bottles sit on, and the dramatic lighting setup. After you survey it all you dart your eyes back to him and smirk softly in a teasing manner.

”Someone with too much disposable income and a lighting addiction?” You ask teasingly and the muscular man you had seen on the balcony earlier nearly choked on air as he materialized behind the young flirt in front of you. You eyed the man quietly before darting your eyes back to the young man in front of you, he stared at you for half a second before snorting unexpectedly.

”I walked into that one.” He acquiesced and you grinned widely at him.

”You really did.” You agreed with him and the muscular man choked again as he tried to hide his laughter by ducking his head into his shoulder.

”You like being mean huh?” Asked the young man and you smirked wickedly at him as your eyes sparkled delightedly.

”Only to those who deserve it.” You told him primly and he blinked before grinning wide causing his eyes to squint closed like a fox.

”And I deserve it?” He asked curiously as he leaned closer into your space as his eyes heated with eager desire for you.

”You tell me.” You suggested to him and he pulled back a little to rake his eyes down your frame.

”If it’s you being mean I think I’d enjoy it.” He said honestly and you let out a soft laugh as you shook your head and rolled your eyes at him.

”Does that work normally?” You asked him curiously and the muscular man barked out a laugh again which drew your attention from the man in front of you. You knew you were being a little mean to the man but there was just something about his cockiness and confidence that made you want to challenge it. You felt as if there was something just under the surface that he was hiding or holding back, something that you could just barely touch and wanted to drag out of him. He intrigued you and that was different for you, normally you’d be more interested in the place around you then the people but he seemed like he belonged here just as much as the architecture around him like he was just as much part of this place as the buildings which piqued your interest in him all the more.

The bass shifted heavier as another song rolled through the club and colored lights began to flash sporadically around the club and across the face of the woman in front of him. Jeongin stood there fully leaning against the bar studying her more openly now as they continued to talk and tease each other. He hadn’t learned her name yet but he had learned a few things about her just from watching her, she carried herself differently than everyone else here. She was grounded and self-assured. Even while being surrounded by noise and attention she somehow remained entirely herself and that fascinated him.

”You’re not from Seoul.” He stated and she smiled softly at him before nodding her head once.

”Observant.” She said teasingly and a warmth began to heat in his lower stomach. She liked to tease and deflect like it was a game to her and Jeongin was avidly and eagerly playing with her.

”You always answer questions like it’s a knife fight?” He asked jokingly and watched as her eyes sparkled with challenge before her mouth opened to respond to him.

”Only when strangers ask them badly.” She quipped easily and Jeongin grinned slowly at her words. He watched as her eyes darted down to his mouth for a second watching his grin spread across his face, he knew he was attractive and when he watched her clock it herself he felt his chest puff with pride. It was the first time she was outwardly showing that she was interested in him and it made Jeongin crave that reaction more from her.

”I think you enjoy being difficult.” He tells her and she bursts out in pretty delighted laughter at his observation. Jeongin feels pride at being able to pull another laugh from her but he’s soon sucking in a harsh breath as she leans in closer to him with a wicked smirk on her face.

”I think you enjoy chasing things instead of being handed them.” She says and her words land hard against his psyche, because ultimately she was right. It was surprising to him that she could read him so well already just from watching and talking to him but he didn’t want to back down from the challenge that she presented.

”Maybe I just like interesting people.” He said and she tilted her head to the side regarding him quietly before taking a sip from her drink. Jeongin watches her before signaling to the bartender to bring her a fresh drink since she was finishing the one she held.

”Maybe you’re bored.” She threw out there between them as she accepted her new drink. And while it seemed as if her words were just a mere observation for her, the honesty in them startled him because once again she was right. “You carry authority badly.” She says softly and Jeongin presses a hand to his heart looking personally wounded by her words. Dong-Geon even tenses behind him but Jeongin raises his hand dismissively which also catches her attention.

”That’s the meanest thing anyone’s ever said to me.” He tells her in a soft lament which makes her scoff at him as she rolls her eyes.

”And yet somehow you survived.” She says sardonically and Jeongin grins at her.

”Barely.” He retorts and she smiles into her drink and Jeongin realizes that he’s been trying to pull laugh after laugh from her and each smile he earns drives him wild. He realizes that he could stand here all night leaning against the bar talking to her if he’s able to continue making her laugh and smile at his attempts to flirt with her.

But just as he’s settling in one of the women from earlier approaches suddenly and drapes herself against Jeongin’s shoulder possessively as she puts into his ear sultrily. Jeongin stiffens under her and he watches as your expression flattens instantly. But oddly enough it’s not shifting due to jealousy but something far worse that he never wants to see on your face, disinterest.

”There you are Innie.” Purs the woman into his ear and Jeongin flinches away from her with a slight sneer on his face.

”Not now.” He tells her and she pouts at him.

”You’re no fun anymore.” She whines softly to him as her hand glides across his chest and he scowls softly at her.

”That’s devastating. Go dance.” He tells her dismissively, causing her to roll her eyes dramatically at him before disappearing back into the crowd. Jeongin turns back to you hoping that you wouldn’t disappear on him just from that woman’s actions.

”Popular.” You murmur as you eye him quietly and he breathes a tiny sigh of relief.

”Occupational hazard.” He says with a shrug.

”What exactly is your occupation?” You ask him curiously with a hint of skepticism as your eyes turn shrewd with curiosity. He can tell that you’re fishing for information as you observe him over the rim of your glass and he smirks slightly knowing that he’s caught your attention.

”Business.” He says softly and you scoff at him before turning to him with a knowing look on your face.

”Vague answers like that usually means crime.” You say flippantly and Dong-Geon makes a strangled sound somewhere behind Jeongin and your eyes immediately dart over to him curiously while Jeongin barks out a laugh.

”You always this blunt?” He asks curiously and amused.

”You always this suspicious?” You counter and Jeongin can’t stop the wicked grin from spreading on his face.

”Only around women who profile me in under ten minutes.” He teases, causing you to shrug your shoulders as you gesture to Dong-Geon behind him.

”You’ve got bodyguards.” You say as you raise your index finger before continuing. “Everyone in here watches you before they watch the exits.” You say before raising your middle finger as you count off the observations you’ve had of him. “And the staff reacts like you own the oxygen in the building.” You say and shrug your shoulders once more before taking a sip of your drink. “Not exactly subtle.” You murmur as he stares at you in silent awe.

”You’re interesting.” He says and you roll your eyes at him as you smile softly.

”You say that like it’s a compliment.” You tease him from behind your glass.

”It is.” Jeongin counters honestly which makes you blink at him quietly.

Wanting to change the conversation you gesture toward the club around you before turning back to him with a curiosity.

”So tell me about this place.” You request of him and he blinks at you surprised, you have to bite your lip to stop that laugh that’s bubbling up within you. The man probably hasn’t been overlooked a day in his life especially for an area that he seems to belong in.

”What would you like to know?” He asks honestly as he watches you quietly, you can already tell he doesn’t know what to do with you and you smile to yourself softly. Most people don’t know what to do with you when they meet you.

”Well you own this place, don’t you?” You ask him knowingly and he smirks softly at the question.

”You figured that out fast.” He says delightedly and you roll your eyes at him before shaking your head a little.

”You walk through rooms like people owe you taxes.” You tell him and both he and muscular man behind him bark out a laugh unexpectedly at your observation.

”That’s brutal.” He says pouting slightly and you stare at him for a moment before flicking your eyes away and taking a sip of your drink.

”Accurate though.” You quip and the muscular man chuckles softly from behind him causing your eyes to dart over to him for a brief moment before turning back to the young man in front of you. “This area is interesting. It’s excessive but intentional.” You tell him and he tilts his head to side slightly as he regards you.

”Intentional how?” He questions and you light up with the opening to talk to him about the area. 

“The modern stuff distracts people.” You tell him with baited breath and he’s instantly straightening in his lean against the bar as he watches you curiously.

”From what?” He questions as his eyes dart around your now animated face and you grin widely and excitedly at him as if you’re going to divulge a secret you’ve learned. You wave toward the entrance of the club and his head turns slightly to stare out of the open double doors.

”The older parts.” You begin to explain to him. “The history that’s embedded in this area. It’s like this area is protecting something.” You gush out eagerly not realizing that both the young man in front of you and the muscular man have both gone still for a half second. Because once again you were right and you had figured it out in less than a day.

”You always analyze place this much?” The young man asked carefully as he turned back to gaze at you shrewdly now. You don’t catch onto the danger that’s now brewing right in front of you as you shrug your shoulders.

Occupational hazard.” You throw back at him and he scoffs softly at you before questioning further.

”Meaning?” He asks as he regards you quieter now more attentive to the way you look around yourself. You pulled out your cellphone and unlocked it before showing him your writing app and all the notes and photos you had already taken of the area.

”I write travel guides.” You explain to him as you both peer over the phone and he blinks at you silently before his shoulders drop a little bit and his posture loosens.

”You travel alone?” He asks you and you tilt your head from side to side before answering him.

”Usually it’s with friends, sometimes I go solo. I grew up in a military family so I’m used to moving constantly. Always got boxes prepped and ready for whenever I have to leave on short notice.” You explain and you notice the man’s expression softens a little bit at your words as he gazes at you.

”That’s why you notice everything.” He says softly as he’s coming to a conclusion about you himself. You look up at him curiously as you lock your cellphone and slip it back into your purse.

”What do you mean?” You ask him and he shrugs one shoulder as his eyes connect with yours for a brief moment.

”People who stay in one place stop seeing it eventually.” He explains and you nod your head in agreement. “You look at things like they matter.” He says softly and you blink at him because the honesty in his voice surprised not just you but himself as well.

”Well they do matter.” You tell him and gesture to the club once again before turning back to him. “Take this place for example. It has a heartbeat.” You tell him and he leans against the bar a little closer to you which makes you more aware of him and his expensive cologne that he’s wearing. You know he wants to flirt again but you want him to be serious for a moment as you explain to him.

”Heartbeat, huh?” He questions teasingly as he grins. “Most people just call it noise.” His words make you smile and you nod your head at him before murmuring softly just for him to hear.

”Depends who’s listening.” Your words have a profound effect on him and you watch it happen in real time. It’s in the way he stills and his eyes go a little wide before swinging to stare at you in awe silence.

For a brief second the noise around them blurred, it wasn’t completely gone just felt like it was further away from the little bubble that they had made together at the bar. Jeongin realized suddenly that he wanted her to keep talking. Didn’t matter what she talked about, it could be anything or everything. He just wanted her to keep sharing her thoughts and feelings with him. Because for once he had someone who actually listened to him, actually listened, instead of just placating him and trying to brush him off. And he had a feeling that she listened to him because she actually cared as opposed to how others only wanted something from him or feared him. Not her.

”What about you?” She asked him suddenly and Jeongin focuses on her completely.

”What about me?” He questions her and she huffs softly at him which make him grin widely at her reaction.

”You talk like this area belongs to you.” She states and Jeongin smirks lazily at her.

“Most people in this faction know better than to ignore me.” He says cryptically but watches as her eyes sharpen on him after his words.

”That sounds exhausting for them.” She says flippantly and Jeongin stares at her for a second before grinning slowly, God. She was impossible and he loved it. 

“You always this mean?” He asked her teasingly and she smirked at him.

”Only when people deserve enrichment.” She tells him teasingly and he grins at her.

”Enrichment?” He questioned lightly knowing that she would tease him again.

”I’m broadening your emotional horizons.” She tells him teasingly and flippantly causing him to laugh softly at her words.

”Well then let me broaden your horizons. I can suggest some places to visit while you’re here.” He tells her and watches as her face lights up happily with that notion.

”Of course, let me get my phone out.” She said and he watched softly as she pulled out her phone and opened the notes app before looking up at him. And that’s when he began talking, he recommended places for her to visit whether they be actual tourist spots or small hidden places that he holds dear to his heart. He didn’t suggest any clubs or flashy landmarks, but he suggested real places that he thought she would find enjoyable and places that she could include in her travel guide.

”There’s a tea shop farther west of this faction. Chaip runs it.” He suggests and explains to her.

”Chaip? Doesn’t that mean tea leaves in Korean?” She asks and Jeongin smiles softly as he nods his head, not surprised that she knows some Korean.

”She’s a foreign owner, got a smart mouth on her and Minho practically lives there. He’s her boyfriend and my brother.” Jeongin explains as she nods her head as she types in the name of the shop into her phone. Jeongin felt absurdly pleased with himself as he watched her type in the name of the shop, so he kept going. He told her about hidden shrines near the bamboo forest, morning markets, restaurants the people in his faction owned, and lantern alleys tourists usually missed completely. 

Every time she added another place into her notes app, something warm flickered low in his chest and he started feeling like he was useful. He didn’t feel spoiled like when his hyungs made sure everything was taken care of for him. He didn’t feel underestimated like when new and rival gangs came into his faction and tried to challenge him without actually knowing him. And he didn’t feel like the youngest when he spoke with you like this, he just felt heard.

After talking about everything with each other for a bit Jeongin leaned forward on the bartop needing to get closer to this mystery woman who was driving him wild in everything she did.

”At least tell me your name.” He said softly in a quiet plea and watches as her eyes dart around his face before she smiles softly.

”No.” she tells him and Jeongin feels the desire for the chase heighten within him and he leans even closer.

”Seriously?” He asks and she nods her head.

”Mhm, not like you’ve given me your name.” She teases him and he smirks at her.

”Jeongin.” He supplies quickly and easily but when she didn’t reciprocate he smirks wickedly at her. “Alright, mystery woman. I can play this game.” He intones to her softly and watches as her eyes heat with challenge within them.

Just then one of your friends suddenly reappears at your side looking a little flushed and sweaty from dancing. Jeongin knows immediately that she’s about to try and put you away from him but he’s hoping that you’ll stay with him.

”Oh my gosh are you still flirting?” Your friend asks delightedly with happy sparkling eyes. You groan softly and drop your head which makes Jeongin chuckle softly in response.

”Please leave.” You tell your friend who quickly shakes her head as her hands land on your arm.

”C’mon Trails, we want you to come dance with us!” She calls out and begins to tug you towards the dance floor. Jeongin perks up at what sounds like a nickname from your friend as he looks between the two of you.

”Trails?” He questions curiously and watches as your face drop as your friend turns to him with a wide grin.

”Yeah it’s a nickname for her because of all the traveling and hiking trails she hits whenever she travels.” Your friend tells him and Jeongin grins widely as his eyes sparkle at you with delight from learning your nickname.

”Traitor.” You hiss at your friend who only grins proudly.

”You’re welcome!” She calls out happily before tugging you off your stool. “Now c’mon! We’re going dancing!” She calls out before pulling you away from the bar and through the crowd disappearing.

”Trails.” He says softly as if he’s testing how the name felt in his mouth before smiling slowly and foxlike with a dangerous charm to it. “Yeah, that suits you.” He says as his eyes follow you through the crowd with your friend until you make it to the dance floor. The crowd blurred around him and the music softened, he couldn’t remember the last time someone spoke to him without trying to impress him, fear him or use him. You had simply seen him and somehow that felt more dangerous than anything he had ever experienced so far in his life.

After a moment of staring after you Jeongin realizes that you had left him and disbelief fills him. It was the first time in years that someone had walked away from him. And after a moment amusement began to fill and he wanted nothing more than to follow you onto the dance floor. And as he continued to watch you he saw you look over your shoulder at him and he smirked softly. It was a brief look, just long enough to catch Jeongin already watching her still and when your eyes connect he sees the recognition flash in your eyes before you smirk slow and sultry knowing that you still have his attention before turning away and going back to your friends.

”Well.” Dong-Geon says lowly as he steps up behind Jeongin closer. “I like that one. She keeps you guessing and on your toes.” The older man says approvingly and Jeongin nods his head in agreement.

”Yeah, she’s something else isn’t she?” Jeongin asks distractedly as he continues to watch you dance with your friends. An attraction begins to build up within him and Jeongin finds himself anticipating the next time he’ll see you and hoping that he won’t have to wait long for it to happen.

You’re out on the dance floor dancing with Ava and Jay-Jay as the neon strobe lights dance across your sweaty glistening skin just enjoying the throb of the music through your bones as you move. That’s when the shift happens and it feels like a snapped wire. One second, the club was still breathing in rhythm, bass rolling through the floor, laughter tangled with music, lights strobing across glass and skin. And within the next second glass shattered, a bottle exploded against the bar hard enough to silence half the room.

”YOU THINK THIS IS YOUR TERRITORY?!” Shouts a man as he stumbled onto the main floor from the entrance, shouting over the music with a face twisted with rage. Security reacted instantly, almost too instantly you thought quietly. Your eyes immediately dart over to Jeongin who was still standing at the bar and you watched as he didn’t even turn his head at first. His shoulders just dropped and he seemed to sigh with resignation as if this was just inconvenient timing.

You stilled as your eyes darted around the room, Jay-Jay pressed into your back as her hand came up to your shoulder and your hand darted out to grab Ava by the wrist. The music didn’t stop but you did and soon the music faded from your ears as your eyes darted around the club for exits. Your training from your military career minded parents began to kick in and you quickly gathered your friends close as you began looking for every option to get out.

Men dressed in dark clothing began moving through the club and one brushed against your side causing you to fall back away from him. Your eyes caught onto the muscular man who had been hovering around Jeongin step up to block any path to Jeongin which made you take notice immediately. 

But soon your attention is pulled away from him when more men start spilling into the club. The men started to push deeper into the club now knocking over chairs and shouting demands to everyone in their path. Jeongin didn’t rush as he moved around the muscular man from the bar. And with a simple hand wave the men who seemed to work for him moved like an unmovable force with Jeongin at the middle of it all. 

The intruder barely had time to swing before he was pulled into a controlled takedown that didn’t look like a fight but more so a correction. They were all efficient, clean and final. You watched while still standing on the dance floor with strobe lights still flashing around the club, your breath caught somewhere between fear and disbelief. 

This was Jeongin, this was him. The man who had been flirting with you and asking you questions about why you were here in Seoul just minutes ago. Now he was something else entirely, the two versions of him weren’t separated, just layered. The shift between the two versions was immediate, the easy smirk disappeared, the playful tilt in his voice vanished. And in its place was this dangerous man who held himself differently, like something inside him clicked into place and locked. The young man from the bar was gone and what stepped out onto the floor was something colder, sharper, commanding, and dangerous in a way that didn’t need volume. Jeongin stepped forward into the chaos like it belonged to him and you were starting to realize that it did belong to him.

As Jeongin stepped up to the new group of men he didn’t even pause as he threw the first punch landing it solely on the man’s nose. You’re thrown by the violence a little bit but soon security began ushering guests towards the exits quickly. Ava and Jay-Jay grab onto you and you quickly began ushering them out with you following.

”We need to go.” You tell them as you cover their backs as you all move to the side exit. You didn’t bother looking back at Jeongin as you knew that he would be able to handle himself. You were more worried about getting you, Ava and Jay-Jay out of the club safely. Three of you quickly exit out of the side exit into a dark dingy alleyway, you look up as you exit and spot a small red sparrow painted on the wall. It looks almost carelessly painted on the wall, the lines are uneven and the shape looks slightly twisted like something that had been copied too many times. You stare at it for a quiet moment as a bad vibe begins to form in the pit of your stomach. You pull your phone out and take a quick snapshot of it before ushering your friends out towards the entrance of the alleyway and back to your hotel. Both Ava and Jay-Jay excitedly talked about the evening already as your mind turned back to Jeongin who was no doubt still back in the club dealing with those men. You wondered quietly if you would ever see him again while you were still on vacation.

Just as quickly as the interruption to the night had started it ended. Jeongin moved through the group of the rival gang who stormed into the club with fast fists and soon his men were dragging the intruders out through the back entrance. A few of them were more battered and bruised then they had shown up but that was no concern to Jeongin as he stood in the center of the dance floor breathing heavily as blood dripped from his knuckles. He wipes blood from his knuckles with a white cloth that one of his men handed to him. 

He stood there wiping his knuckles clean before his head lifted and his eyes scanned the room once, twice, three times. His sharp eyes moved through the smoke and flickering lights as the music still played through the speakers at a lower volume. He was searching for someone and when he didn’t find you he frowned softly before grabbing the attention of one of his men.

”Where’s the woman who was here earlier?” He asked flatly and Dong-Geon stepped up to him quietly.

”She left, with her friends.” Dong-Geon mentioned and Jeongin frowned even more as he had hoped he would’ve been able to have a little bit more time with you. But he was ultimately happy that you had managed to get out without getting involved in the fight. He exhaled a short laugh that was more disbelief wrapped in irritation than it was amusement.

”Figures.” He says softly with a soft huff as he looked down at the ground briefly as he shook his head. “I finally meet someone interesting and she disappears on me.” 

“She might come back.” Dong-Geon says trying to give Jeongin some reassurance. And Jeongin didn’t answer immediately as he looks around the club now as the house lights turned on.

”She might if she liked the place enough.” Jeongin said softly and wondered if he would see you again.

Jeongin moves towards the side exit of the club with Dong-Geon trailing him silently and once they step outside the air hit differently at this time of the early morning. It was cooler, cleaner, and the street still buzzed with nightlife continuing uninterrupted, like nothing inside the club had happened at all. Towards the entrance of the alleyway Jeongin could see tourists laughing as they walked passed and couples argued softly under a lantern sign. Jeongin huffs out a tired breath before turning his head and spots the red painted sparrow on the wall. He frowns as his eyes glide over it noticing how the sparrow looked broken.

”That’s been popping up lately.” Dong-Geon says and Jeongin looks back at him before turning back to the sparrow. He stares at it for a moment longer than necessary trying to piece together why there’s been graffiti popping up so much in his faction lately. And each piece of graffiti that was found never sat right with him, there was something wrong about it.

”Clean it up.” Jeongin demands as he exhales through his nose.

”Boss?” Dong-Geon asked softly as he looked at the sparrow before turning back to Jeongin.

”Before someone thinks it belongs here.” He said as he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a hand rolled cigarette and lit it before taking a long drag from it.

The city stretched out in front of him in the darkened night sky, neon bleeds into the pavement, rain starts to gather in thin streaks and the nightlife sounds swell again as clubs doors are opened to the street. And somewhere out there where he wasn’t she was gone. Walking through streets he could no longer see, unaware of how quickly she had unsettled everything he thought was predictable. Jeongin tilted his head slightly, exhaling smoke upward as light rain fell from the sky.

”You can’t just disappear on me,” he says before pausing as an amused grin slips onto his face. “Trails.”

Behind him, his men began cleaning the graffiti and behind them, the club resumed its pulse like nothing had ever broken it. Jeongin stayed still for a moment longer then turned away from the door she had left through and followed the city instead. He wouldn’t follow her, not yet. But there would be a time that he would follow her and not just the feeling she left behind.

[kangsyeosang]

[hyunchans]

[260610] BANG CHAN BUBBLE UPDATE

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JONGHO - GOLDEN HOUR: Part.5, Concept Trailer