Hi! Iām Prince-Taehyung, welcome to my blogās main masterlist. It is very short as of right now but my main focus is bts fanfic. Im very committed so stay tuned! I hope you enjoy my stories :)
Disclaimer and General Warnings: I do not own BTS or any of their members. Some of the characterās backgrounds are based on the BU not owned by me either. My stories contain mature themes that are specified in each work. Minors should NOT interact. MDNI. Please let me know if anything is left out. My storeis do not use A.I and this author is completely against itās use. All banners in my works are made using pictures from pinterest and editing them with Canva. All rights reserved.
Masterlist created in may 2026. Last updated July 13th 2026.
Kim Taehyung
Fanfics
Soul Design (ongoing) - Mafia!Taehyung x fem!reader
An interior designer with a seemingly normal life gets dragged into the world of Bangtan, the most infamous mafia around. Seven members stand above it all, the āmaskedā, who are notorliously dangerous and so discreet that not even their faces are known. One of these masked men, Taehyung, shows up one night to strike a deal with Y/n that will change her world forever.
Will she be able to survive what bangtan has in store for her?
Blurbs (soon)
Strangers in the night - Taehyung x fem!reader (soon)
This is the space for all kinds of short stories for Taehyung, including anon requests!
Jeon Jungkook (soon)
Fanfics
Mafia!Jungkook x female character
Same universe as Soul Design
Blurbs
This is the space for all kinds of short stories for Jungkook, including anon requests!
Kim Namjoon (soon)
Fanfics
Mafia!Namjoon x female character
Same universe as Soul Design
Blurbs
This is the space for all kinds of short stories for Namjoon, including anon requests!
Moodboards and Pictures
General posts that I made thinking of pictures of them, feelings, music, that sort of thing to create a specific mood. Maybe someone else enjoys it as much as I do!
Followup post to Slight Change of plans, where I explain the intricacies of tying together three different BTS x reader stories without using OCās.
If you havent read my fanfic Soul Design yet and you like Taehyung, check it out! Otherwise this post wont make much sense.
If you are one of the wonderful people reading my story, hereās a full guide on how itās going to work:
Since I want to write every story from Y/nās P.O.V, it could become confusing when Taehyung and Y/n become secondary characters in, for example, Jungkook x Y/nās story.
To avoid having them refer to the same people, I have decided that each female protagonist gets another name when becoming a secondary character.
Which means, Jane and Lila would become Y/n in their own stories, while Cora will be the name given to the female character in Taehyungās story.
That way the three stories can have three separate stories in the same universe without mixing up points of view, keeping the āx Readerā going and all in the same universe.
Let me know what you think, whether it is confusing or not, if you think itās a good idea or there could be better ones!
āYou could say that. Do you still want to know more about me?ā
āYesā
Soul Design, by prince-taehyung
Masterlist
Series Masterlist
Pairing: Mafia!Taehyung x female!reader
Chapter Warnings: Mentions of murder, mentions of parental death, mentions of an explosive. Not much else, let me know if I missed any!
Wordcount: 7.2k
Genre: Mafia Romance, Yearning, Fanfiction.
A/n: BOOM! Two chapters in one day, how you like that? I had been on a bit of a pause, revisiting every chapter and thinking of how to fix the problem with the point of view, but that is going to get fixed as shown here: SDU, explained. So check that out and let me know if you have any questions. I LOOOOVE this chapter and I hope you do too! Lots of love! <3
As agreed, here are the sketch modifications you asked for. Now the color scheme of the living room should be to your taste. I also added some footnotes on where I think the library should go, but this e-mailās main objective is to give you the freedom to send back whatever modifications you need.
Let me know what you think,
Best regards,
Y/n.
PS: Shall I confirm with Lila the site visit for this monday?
Attached files (12)
Y/n loved to sketch things.
She even loved more receiving good feedback for her drawings. The first time they met about the house, Taehyung had seemed happy and impressed about her skills. He did ask, however, for a few modifications. Understandable.
Y/n took that and any critic as a challenge to improve herself and had since been drawing nonstop to offer her client the best and most perfect designs. They were still in the early stages of the whole process. Envisioning, commenting, sketching. Nothing definitive, of course, but definitely leaning towards the final idea.
As far as she could tell, he had no clear definite view of the house except for the fact that he wanted it to feel, in his words: ālike home, lopeacefulā.
According to Taehyung, his current house lacked any of those things. Y/n suspected his life also lacked any peace and a sense of home, but she tried not to pry any further than her professional, self installed, boundary demanded.
Her phone started ringing, bringing her out of her thoughts and back into her office. She picked up without looking at the caller.
āY/n Design, how can I help you?ā
āHelloā Taehyungās deep voice seeped into her bones immediately.
āTaehyungā She pretended not to be surprised. āTo what do I owe the pleasure? Did you read my e-mail?ā
āI did, thatās why Iām callingā He explained, softly as always. āIām not good at that sort of thing. I prefer calling and hearing your voiceā
Did he just say your voice? Y/n shook away the thought and cleared her throat. āSure, tell me, what did you think?ā
āI loved themā For some reason his voice was as guttural and melodic as ever. She had always admired what a special voice he had, and with a phone call it really was all she could focus on. The compliment didnāt even register correctly in her mind until he continued talking. āI especially loved the way you thought about the layout of the living room, the bookshelf looks perfect like that.ā
āIām glad you like themā She managed. āAre we still on for a site visit on Monday?" Did she sound too eager? She was, but did she sound like it?
She probably did, because he clearly smiled as he said, āYes, I will meet you there on monday so you guys can measure or photograph anything you needā
āGreat, I canāt waitā
āSee you monday then?ā Taehyung asked, as if he didnāt already know the answer.
āSee you mondayā
āItās right hereā Lila announced as their car took a right into a narrow road, surrounded by trees. The two of them rode in a car with two interns, another vehicle with four more members of the studio followed them. The entrance to the house was majestic, with a black wide gate and stone walls, wilderness, trees and ivy decorated the scene in perfect harmony. The car advanced through the tree archway until it reached a roundabout with a fountain. A beautiful, abandoned fountain that needed much love.
As soon as she stepped out of the car Y/n understood she was in love. As much as she had contemplated time and time again the pictures of the house, nothing compared to actually standing before it. It was grandiose and elegant in the most perfect balance, with details that made Y/n want to stop everything to draw them or take a picture. She walked over to the front porch, walking up the stars while caressing the banister like she had entered a sacred space.
The old magnificent doors that greeted her up the stairs was marvelous. The house in general needed a bit of care. Cobwebs here and there, a few old pieces that needed replacement, but overall stood strong and demonstrated a personality few houses managed to maintain for so long.
Before Y/n could analyze further the details of the weathered oak door, it opened up. Grant greeted her with his version of a smile, which was a curt nod.
āMiss Y/n, glad to have you hereā He looked back at the crew that followed her, unloading equipment from the cars and nodded in their general direction.
One thing that had always caught her attention about Grant was the way he dressed. Anyone would have expected a man who behaves like a butler to dress accordingly, but he had managed to switch it up to wear elegant and discreet clothes - always black - that unless someone pointed it out, could be that of a bodyguard or assistant merged into one. Taking into account that Grant could very well be her father, Y/n liked to admire his style and behavior with much respect.
āGlad to be here, Grant. This is Lilaā Y/n introduced her assistant, who shook her hand with him. āLila this is Grantā No further explanation was needed, Y/n believed.
A shadow creeped its way towards the door from inside the house, imposing, until it materialized before Grant in the shape of Taehyung.
If the ocean cured people like her friend Jane believed it did, then the ocean had brewed a miracle that stood before her. Taehyung looked a few years younger in a blue shirt and light colored jeans.
The complete opposite of the dark and gloomy outfits she had always seen him wear. His hair, usually immaculate, had come loose, strands falling across his forehead. It felt like a sea breeze had found its way around his personality and swept away any worries and tension.
He was like a brand new person.
The soft smile that he greeted everyone with only prompted forward Y/nās surprise, but she bottled it away and into oblivion in the hopes that he would stay happy and calm forever.
Remembering she had a job to do, Y/n started her way towards any room in the house and set up camp. Surprisingly enough, Taehyungās brief house tour wasnāt as necessary as anyone might have thought. Y/n had already mentally drawn up a map of the entire layout that allowed her to move through the space with complete confidence.
As always, she walked through each room and pinned up against the wall small sketches and different color palettes. She needed to envision each space, find mistakes, possible problems or any reason to adapt.
Each room she walked into had at least one person taking measures with lasers and making annotations in notebooks. Each note mattered, all data was vital to make decisions in the future. Whatever grand idea about a specific couch or bed they could have imagined could change completely if it couldnāt fit into the room they desired.
She also noticed, but didnāt comment on, the way Taehyung observed from a distance. Far but not hidden. It seemed like he wanted to watch her work without disturbing her, but not worried at all about being seen. It was, after all, his house they were working on. Y/n managed to convince herself that he was supervising them in order to keep her nerves at bay.
For small projects a few hours would have sufficed, but a full house renovation required a different level of concentration and attention to detail. It seemed Taehyung and Grant were aware of this, as they offered water bottles and chairs all around for people to take it easy. Y/n ignored both requests, fully immersed in making sure the contractor understood the floorboards in the downstairs hallway were creaking.
āCanāt you hear it, Robert?ā She jumped up softly for further evidence. āItās clear as day, cāmonā
Robert, who had worked with her for years, seemed skeptical of the length of the structural emergency. āBoss, have you heard the living room though? This aināt nothing in comparisonā
āIāve heard the living room creaking, the neighbors heard it, thatās obviously on the listā She pointed towards her long list of structural issues so far to make her point. āThat doesnāt mean this doesnāt need attention."
When Y/n looked down at her hand, she realized she was pointing at her notebook with a water bottle. She frowned. When did she-
Her face turned instantly in the direction of Taehyung, who walked away quietly with another water bottle. He had managed to hand it to her without her noticing.
She really would have rejected it again had he offered.
He was walking away like nothing had happened.
āEarth to bossā Robert swung his pencil in front of her distracted eyes. āDonāt worry Iām checking this floor out too. I just hope we donāt run the budget out in floorboardsā
āWe wonāt, we wonātā She shook her head, falling back into the conversation.
The next time Y/n saw Taehyung he was leaning against the balcony of the grandiose terrace right outside the living room. The view was as privileged as it gets, surrounded by trees but falling into a sandy beach with majestic waves crashing into it. Completely private and natural.
Grant and Lila had taken a car to go grab some food, so Y/n had given everyone a short while to relax while they waited. She decided that might be the perfect time to comment on a few things with the owner of the house.
āHeyā She introduced, stepping into the breezy space. She quickly noted on her notebook that it could get too windy perhaps, important thing to take into account when one chooses the furniture for a terraceā¦
āDid you just say āheyā then completely get absorbed by your notes?ā He had craned his neck back to look at her, his elbows still leaning on the railing, only to find her with furrow eyebrows and a writing passion.
Heat crept up to her cheeks as she approached the railing beside him and leaned her back on it. āSorry, I do that.ā
Something similar to a chuckle vibrated from his chest to his mouth and into her ears. āThatās fine, I admire the dedicationā
She smiled in response and for a moment they stood like that, he looked at the ocean and she looked at the house, side by side.
āI wanted to check a few things with you, thoughā She pointed out, lifting her notebook.
Taehyung gazed down at the notebook without barely moving his neck in its direction. āHow many pages have you written down?ā
Though slightly taken aback, Y/n counted the pages and replied. āEightā
āFront and back?ā
āOf course, what a waste of space otherwiseā
The last time he laughed she doubted it had been real. This time a deep chuckle, short and sweet, left him with complete certainty. Contagious, because she smiled too.
āFire awayā He prompted, waiting to hear whatever observations she needed to make.
āSo,ā she began, eager āthere are a few structural issues we need to check on, like a few floorboards that need checking and a few humidity situations. Nothing major, things expected from a house near the sea, to be honest. It does mean some of the budget goes in that direction, but we will make sure to relocate carefully.ā
āI told you not to worry about the budget, didnāt I?ā He commented softly, switching from gazing at the sea to looking directly at her.
āRight, we talked about it, but that doesnāt mean Iām going to waste your money for wastingās sakeā
āI know that, but donāt limit your creativity based on an economic barrier that doesnāt exist. If we need to adjust the budget, that can be arrangedā
Never before had a client given Y/n such trust with their own money. To be fair, she had never done a project on such a scale. Nevertheless, it was a big amount of money that she would want someone to be mindful of, not go on a crazy spending spree just because they could.
āNotedā She decided, not wanting to discuss the budget just yet. āAlso, I know we talked about the couch right thereā¦ā She stepped forward a few steps and pointed inside the house, through the glass doors that separated them from the living room. āBut now that I see where the sun is moving throughout the day, I believe it would be better to move it hereā Her finger traced the distance until it reached a different position on the empty floor. She looked back at him in search of approval.
Instead of following the direction of her finger, Taehyung had turned around, leaning back on the railing and looking at her. āI agreeā
She wasnāt completely sure he had understood, but she ignored it. āWe still have to do real layouts and 3D renderings of everything, but I think our initial sketching is pretty solid.ā
āI agreeā It seemed it was all he was capable of saying. She didnāt expect him to fight back or anything, but usually clients had much more complaints or comments. It was a nice change of pace the way he seemed to trust her instincts blindly.
After a much needed lunch break the team inspected the second floor. A door, a window, a few of the wooden boards on the floor needed fixing in a pretty similar fashion to those downstairs. No surprises. They had entered the house fully aware that after a few years of no one living inside and the ocean humidity, there was bound to be a few things that needed fixing.
The interns were the first Y/n told to go home. They had measured things to the point of exhaustion and she knew it was time for them to go. The other junior designers decided to call it a day when the sun had started to set, followed shortly by the contractors.
At a certain point, when only Y/n and Lila were left, Grant approached them.
āCan I help you with anything else, Miss?ā
āGrant, please kick us outā Lila joked from the chair she sat on, exhausted, looking at her laptop like it was about to burst into flames.
Grant frowned like that was an atrocity.
āSheās kidding Grant. We are almost done and will be out of your hair in no timeā Y/n smiled softly at the man, who looked at Lila with newfound understanding.
āThatās completely fine, Mr Kim and I will be downstairs getting some work done as well if you need anythingā And with that he promptly left the room, leaving the two women alone.
Lila observed the way Y/n didnāt get tired, looking at the ceiling, the windows, the floor, placing sketches on the walls and scribbling away on her notebook.
āThere cannot be anything left to do here today, Y/nā her assistant insisted. āLetās go home, relax, sleep, if you even know the meaning of the word.ā
Y/n couldnāt help but roll her eyes and smile as she looked back at her friend. āYes I know the meaning of the word. Iām just so excited I canāt stop looking for things to do.ā
āThatās great, but letās call it a day, I have practice tomorrowā
Lila had a passion, and it wasnāt interior design, she was a dancer. Y/n knew this from the very first moment they met, but Lila needed the job, the money, and organized schedules and took notes like no one Y/n had met before, so she hired her. It had been a great choice, her friend proved time and time again what a valuable asset she could be despite not being in the design industry on an organizational level. It broke Y/nās heart knowing one day her dancing career would take off and she would have to let her go, but it would be for the best.
Meanwhile she depended entirely on Lila to remind her where to stop and let go of the pencil. When too much work was too much even for her.
āYou are right, I might have gotten carried away. You pick up the things downstairs, I pick up the ones upstairs and Iāll meet you in the carā
Lila could not have been any more excited to close her laptop and jump up towards the door, making Y/n giggle again.
After a few minutes of closing bags and picking up measuring tape scattered across the floor, someone knocked on the door of the empty bedroom Y/n was in. Her head turned towards the noise to find Taehyung, bathed in golden sunlight of the sunset, looking at her.
āI saw Lila picking up stuff, do you need a hand?ā He stepped closer to where she kneeled on the ground, grabbing the cables from the laser machine they used to measure.
āItās fine, thank you. I was going to say goodbye downstairs nowā She quickly dismissed him and kept tugging at cables and putting them inside the corresponding bag.
He ignored her dismissal entirely and began picking up scattered papers, two pencils and a sketch that had fallen to the ground. He looked at it for a moment before placing it back on the wall it had fallen from. She was entranced with the way he cleaned up like he knew she could handle it by herself but decided it didnāt matter.
Bare minimum, sure, but it moved her in very specific ways whenever he did things like that like it was second nature.
When the room was clean again and the car was loaded up, Lila waited behind the wheel while Y/n had a few last words with Grant and Taehyung at the front door.
āI think it was a very fruitful first day, wouldnāt you agree?ā She asked, partially because she felt it and also looking for the possible critiques she so hoped no one had.
āVery much so, good work todayā Taehyung fulfilled her hidden desire for praise and she smiled.
āYou work very hard, Miss Y/nā Grant observed. āYou should let us help out more next time.ā
Y/n waved them away as she got inside the car, feeling bittersweet about leaving behind the place she wanted to spend time in the most, but knowing she would be back soon.
Every single year without fail at the end of the summer, Jane hosted the annual charity gala of their neighborhood. A very special occasion in the life of both women for different reasons. Jane had been handed the reins from her late father, who had carried the whole ordeal on his back for as long as Y/n could remember before dying unexpectedly a few years prior. For Y/n, on the other hand, it represented a chance to give back to the community that raised her, and the many other children that had grown up in her situation.
Though she had helped Jane out on many occasions before, Y/n often forgot just how neurotic and controlling her best friend could get about that night. It was more than an elegant night of greeting people and thanking them for their donations, as part of the organization party, Jane had plenty of duties to fulfill: seating guests, handing out auction booklets, making sure everything was in order, etcā¦ all while handling the strained relationship she held to the other head members of the event.
For years Y/n had heard her closest friend complain about the old men that often took charge and made all the wrong decisions. Men who chose donors based on friendship, to get a good picture and then take a cut of the profit. Men who did not give a ratās ass about the children in the school most money went to. Men who ignored every proposal Jane had made over the years.
Men who Jane hated with a passion.
To her fortune and chagrin, old men had the tendency to die. Usually Jane would be relieved of having to deal with one less dictator if it didnāt mean he would just be replaced by another.
Two years earlier, one of the big fish had been replaced by a young man, around Janeās age, and he happened to be an alumni. Y/n was happy to hear that, hoping that some of the load would be taken of her friendās shoulders. Things, however, took a turn for the worse when Jane met the young man and found that she was capable of hating someone even more.
Namjoon was his name and Jane used him as the prime example for the definition of the word āarchnemesisā.
Y/n found the situation extremely amusing. It seemed, from what she had heard about him, that he was the complete opposite to Jane. Wherever he liked something one way she liked it the other, constantly they found themselves clashing over the smallest things: budget issues, decorations or guests.
In fact, one day Jane confessed to having started to miss the old guys.
Whatever the situation could be between them, for two years they had met whenever the gala was concerned, ignored each other the entire night of the event and gone on with their lives. Still Y/n had yet to meet this terrible man.
āI just know he is going to be rude again and cost us a few thousand in donations like last yearā Jane complained, looking at the empty wine glass in the table before her, like it needed an adjustment.
āDidnāt he show up and leave last year?ā Asked Y/n while she placed a few pamphlets on different tables. The glamorous room was empty of guests but full of light and decor. Y/nās biggest job and pleasure was preparing the ambiance, choosing the tables and chairs and lighting. Her expertise came in handy every time.
āExactlyā She finally picked up the empty glass and handed it to a waiter. āThatās dirty, please change itā
āSo what if he leaves. He did his part, itās best if he doesnāt even show up so you can have a good timeā Y/n suggested, turning around to look at her friend.
āWhatever, I cannot be bothered to talk about him anymoreā It seemed like quite the opposite from Y/nās point of view, but she smiled and nodded nonetheless. Jane quickly changed the subject. āHowās the big house project coming along? Howās that crush of yours?ā
Y/n managed not to choke on the water she had been drinking when she heard that question. Quickly turning to her friend with a cough and looking around for possible spectators. None, since the doors wouldnāt open until a while later.
āWould you keep your voice down?ā She begged. āNothing is happening, the project is going great, heās there Iām here, nothing to seeā
Jane laughed for the first time that night and Y/n was ever so grateful for it, even if it was directed at her fake situation. āIām so happy you are doing that, you look much happier, you know?ā
āI do knowā She knew very well, in fact, just how much happier she was whenever she was working on a project she enjoyed. This one in particular allowed her to forget certain events and focus on the present.
When the guests entered the women busied themselves greeting people, taking a few pictures and making sure everything was in order. Amongst the crowd of equally elegant people appeared Lila. When the dinner began the three of them sat together other guests in big tables and chatted along. It was of great importance to keep the guests happy because it was, after all, their money that they needed.
As far as Y/n could tell the ābig bad monsterā Namjoon was nowhere in sight, surprisingly not relaxing Jane any more or less. Y/n was pretty convinced that unless he disappeared from the face of the earth before her eyes, Jane would never not be anxious about his presence.
The dream-like possibility that he wouldnāt show up broke like glass when the speeches began. Quietly and without making a noise three men had found their seats at their table just in time to hear one of the board members thank everyone profusely with a microphone and a beautiful stage. It was when everyone stood up and grabbed champagne for the cocktail that Jane realized he had entered the building.
āHeās here, girls. Do you feel the chill in the room?ā Jane muttered before taking a big swig of the flute glass.
āYou are exaggerating. Letās go get you a whiskey insteadā Lila suggested, tugging at her friend from the elbow in the direction of the closest bar counter.
Y/n laughed and giggled at their bickering as they approached the bartender and asked for their respective drinks. The room was filled with rich people, pretentiousness, a sense of morality and a few good intended souls. But as long as the money reached the school, Y/n truly did not care about having to stand there in a full glam and a fake smile. In fact, she really liked the way the dress hugged her body, the make-up was exactly the way she wanted it to be and she even felt like having a few conversations with people she didnāt know.
For a while the three women managed to steer clear of anyone else, laughing and talking together near the balcony of the second floor, looking down at the crowd below.
They do say all good things must come to an end, though.
Their good time was cut short when someone cleared their throat behind them, taking their attention from the people below and turning around to see who dared interrupt them.
āNamjoonā Jane greeted with ice in her voice. āGlad you made itā
āIām sure you are, Jane ā He replied with the same lack of warmth.
āYou brought friendsā Jane pointed out. Which brings us to the reason why Y/nās jaw had hit the ground. āWait, arenāt you guysā¦?ā
Namjoon stood proud in a cream colored tuxedo, tall and regal. He wasnāt the evil man Y/n had pictured all along, in fact, he looked like a fine man with possibly very reasonable ideas. The thing that shocked Y/n most, however, was that at each side behind him stood two men, Y/n had gotten to know very well: Jungkook and Taehyung.
āā¦the ones from the club? Taehyung and Jungkook, right?ā Any and all bitterness had fallen away from Janeās voice as she extended her hand towards the two gentlemen. āHow do you know Mr. Stiff over here?ā
Y/n wasnāt aware of the way Namjoon took a deep sigh at Janeās comment because she was too busy staring deeply into Taehyungās surprised gaze.
āTaehyung, I didnāt know youād be hereā She commented.
āLikewise, what brings you here, Y/n?ā He seemed just as stunned as her when he asked, but he hid it better. Jungkook, on the other side, seemed completely relaxed and kind of bored as he looked around the room for some sort of distraction.
āJane here is part of the organizing committee" Her hands extended towards her best friend, proudly.
Taehyung nodded at Jane with a smile before shifting his eyes between Namjoon and her briefly, he seemed to be aware of the tension between them and found it just as amusing as Y/n, apparently. āWhat a wonderful coincidence, Namjoon here is a colleague of hers, it seems.ā
āColleage might be a stretchā Jane added, lips curved in a mischievous smile that was clearly intended for Namjoonās patience or lack thereof.
āDid you all go to the same school?ā Lila wondered, knowing being an alumni is what brought Namjoon there. It was reasonable to think they might have grown up together if such an event called to them. It was, after all, the reason Y/n was there, support of a childhood friend.
āWe did, yes.ā Taehyung nodded, looking briefly at both men by his side, as if the mention of growing up with them was tugging at memories.
āWell this is all such a coincidenceā Jane celebrated, eyes wide as if begging for a way out, she nodded once again at everyone present and stepped away from the circle. āPleasure, gentlemen, do enjoy your night. Iām going to grab something to eat, if you donāt mind.ā
Before anyone could respond Jane was on her merry way towards the desserts. Lila looked worriedly at her friend and excused herself as well, not without glancing back at the group as if she had also wanted to leave with urgency.
Y/n was slightly stunned at her friends reactions. She was much more stunned by the way Jungkook left without uttering a word, the way Namjoon avoided everyoneās gaze with something like boredom and how Taehyung seemed as out of place as her.
āDo you guys always come together? Iāve heard of Namjoon coming before, of courseā¦ā She didnāt know whether that comment might have struck Namjoon as a familiar way of describing his relationship to Jane or not, but she clearly didnāt mind. If he felt offended he should perhaps revisit the way he behaved around her. Not that Y/n was sure he had actually done anything to deserve Janeās cold shoulder.
āNo, I hadnāt come in a few years, actually. Neither had Jungkook. Namjoon asked us to be here tonight and we couldnāt resist checking it out, for old timeās sakeā
āY/n, was it? Wonderful job this year, as always. Jane always spoke highly of you.ā Namjoon suddenly intercepted. āIf you donāt mind, I have to excuse myself.ā He nodded at both of them first at Y/n and then at his friend, very respectfully, then walked away and got lost in the crowd.
Slowly, Y/n and Taehyungās faces turned back to one another with confusion, then a sudden burst of giggles on her part and an unstoppable smile on his.
āWhat is happening with these people? I know they hate each other, but that was so violentā
āI must confess I knew Jane was the one he seemed to hate so much when we met that night at the club, I just didnāt know the extent of the hatred, nor did I think it possible to hate someone like thatā He explained, leaning against the railing that focused on the full ballroom the three women had been looking at earlier.
A soft breeze caught Y/nās attention to her right, the windows to the balcony were wide open and the night air seemed so enticing. She pointed towards it. āWould you like some fresh air? I would love it if you donāt mind.ā
Instead of answering with words, Taehyung nodded once and gestured for her to walk first so he could follow swiftly behind her. Y/n led the way outside, inserting herself between groups of people scattered all around until they reached the windswept balcony. As summer ended nights became a haven of warmth and windy quiet, not hot in the slightest, like during the day, but perfectly comfortable and fresh.
The terrace was wide and almost empty, a few scattered people hanged out for a smoke or a quiet conversation, away from the noise and empty promises of the wealthy people inside.
āSoā¦ā She began as they leaned over the stone balcony that overlooked the garden but also granted a fair and privileged view of the starlight sky and the city skyline. āā¦you went to Seven Oaksā
āI didā Taehyung replied, taking out a cigarette from inside his jacket and placing it on his lips.
It was ridiculous to think about it as an adult, but growing up in her neighborhood and being an orphan, Y/n hadnāt been the lowest of the low. In fact, that title was more often granted to those who lived near and went to Seven Oaks. The poorest part of town, the poorest school around. It seemed difficult to believe the men Taehyung, Namjoon and Jungkook had grown up to be, so rich and elegant. Then again Taehyung was in the mafia.
That brief thought process made Y/n think back to the possibility that Jungkook might also be one, or even Namjoon now that she had met him. Out of the three she would have bet good money on Jungook, but Namjoon didnāt seem the kind of ruthless man that would go around selling drugs and killing people.
Killing people. Why her mind had drifted so far away from reality and into such a dark corner made her realize she was probably not any less anxious about the mafia that orbited her life as she had convinced herself to be.
āI know what you are thinkingā The smoke left his lips in a cinematic way, like everything he did, like the cigarette was a paint brush and the cloud of smoke watercolor.
āDo you?ā She poked, unsure whether he truly could read her expression of worry.
He nodded once, looking at the city skyline and taking another drag. āYou are spiraling, you have a tendency to do thatā
She scoffed and lifted her gaze in his direction, his eyes fell down on hers as well, challenging her to lie. āNo Iām not. Why would I?ā
āBecause you have good pattern recognition, and you see through the charade. We all grew up together in the most problematic school around, itās only logical youāve come to this conclusion. Chances of any other outcome were slimā
Y/n frowned now. Was he openly revealing yet two more members of the secret seven at Bangtan? Is this man insane? Does he want her dead?
āAre you..? Serious?ā
āAlwaysā He replied, looking at her with the conviction of a man who doesnāt lie but knows there are other sins lurking behind.
āWhy would you tell me that?ā She whispered, like any and all secrets between them were a death sentence, because they were.
āSo you stop worrying about it all night and you realize that if Iām not a threat, neither are theyā
Reasonable enough, again. He had the tendency to say the most outrageously dangerous things and then bring the heat down by explaining the situation in logical steps. She trusted him, that was inevitable. She hated trusting him but she couldnāt fight it. If he told her to jump into the cold dark lake inside that garden she would probably ask him for a good reason and end up doing it.
Funny how the most distrusting people on earth could fall right by each other and form a bond many others would struggle to form.
āAlrightā She decided, falling into the comfortable silence of the warm summer night. āYou might know me a little bit too well, Taehyungā
He remained silent.
āItās only fair if you tell me a bit more about yourself, donāt you think?ā She insisted, nudging him softly against the elbow with her own, both leaning comfortably on the railing.
A sort of smile appeared on his face. āIf you think so, what would you like to know?ā
The opportunity of a lifetime, she believed. Her question had to be relevant, not Bangtan related and helpful to understand the type of man he was. After all, and despite having been close, he remained a mystery to her.
āWhatās so important about that beach house? I can tell itās more than an expensive home renovation for youā She asked, nervous. It could be entirely possible that he had agreed with other sorts of questions in mind, like his favorite food or color, not such a deep cut. But Y/n could just tell that house meant so much to him, how he transformed entirely when he talked about it or entered itās space. She was dying to know.
Y/n was surprised to see Taehyungās throat bob with a soft gulp. The sudden concern that sheād hit a nerve and surpassed the limits of professionalism sheād fought so hard for hit her like a ton of bricks.
āForgive me, I shouldnāt have asked-ā Her face was warm with heat and her hand landed on his forearm, concerned.
He interrupted her anxiety with his hand covering her own and a soft smile. āItās fine, I want to tell you, Y/nā
With a quiet āOhā her hands returned to their original position, leaning her chin on her palm and looking at the way his cigarette lit up in the dark of the night any time he took a drag from it.
āI made a promise, long ago, that Iād build that house and find happiness there, for me and my familyā
Family? She wondered. It was difficult to imagine such a man with a mother, father, even siblings when he seemed so alone all the time.
āBut you are making a one master bedroom with a guest roomā She pointed out. Perks of being the one in charge of choosing the bedsheets for said rooms.
He chuckled quietly, deep and rich. āAstute. I keep forgetting you are my designerā
The warmth on her face only intensified and she tried to hide it by turning away, clearing her throat and looking back at him with a frown. āI forget sometimes too.ā
He took a moment to forcefully not acknowledge her last comment and go back to the topic at hand. āFirst of all you are imagining the wrong kind of family. Iām an orphanā
She was so startled and empathetic that she couldnāt help but say, perhaps a little too excitedly: āMe tooā
A somber but sweet expression clouded his vision when he looked at her. āI knowā
Had she mentioned it before?
āHow do you-?ā She was at a loss for words. He saved her from the embarrassment of searching for them any longer.
āI keep forgetting you are my designer and you keep forgetting who I am and what I doā
Her throat, for some reason, felt slightly drier.
Y/n knew by now Taehyung had most likely killed a man for her that night at the club. She had come to terms not only with that but also with the fact that she didnāt mind it one bit. It was moments like this, however, that reminded her just how sick and twisted their relationship was. He was a killer and she was more than happy to stand besides him. How did that make her any sort of a better person?
āSo you do know me very well thenā She nodded at nothing in specific, acknowledging that he probably had done more than a thorough background check on her before ever meeting her.
āYou could say that. Do you still want to know more about me?ā Like he understood the - already blurry - lines between their relationship were blending further, and she might want out.
āYesā Y/n stood her ground, staring at him without backing down. Might have been crazy, everything that was unfolding between them without actually wording it, but she enjoyed it.
Taehyungās angelic features stared back at her, blinking slowly and taking a moment to process the revelations that had unfolded. Feeling everything tenfold and still swimming towards whatever end it would lead to.
āFirst of all, as I was saying, not that kind of familyā He doubled down, getting back on track. āI mean my brothers, you know the onesā
Assenting once again, she felt a sort of warmth in her chest at the recognition that he wasnāt entirely alone in this world, that he considered Bangtan his family. That they had grown up together and stood together to this day.
āSecondly,ā he continued āI mean find happiness for us all in a safe haven from the noise, not in the sense that they should all move in with me. Thatād be unbearableā He seemed to smile at the thought of having a full house of noisy siblings. For a second Y/n imagined a rowdy and noisy scene of seven men having the time of their lives after what had probably been a tough time.
It all seemed so incredibly private and personal that Y/n couldnāt really grasp how they had reached that point of intimacy in their conversation, but she was glad to be a part of it.
āThatās a lovely plan, Taehyungā She muttered, unsure whether her vocal participation was an intrusion or not. āIām glad I can help bring part of it to lifeā
Taehyung had finished his cigarette and was putting it off on the stone before throwing it out into the night. Out of all the terrible things he had probably done, Y/n didnāt know why that irked her the most, but she decided to swallow it down.
āDo you think Namjoon and Jane have assassinated each other in there?ā His turn in both conversation and direction as he leaned on is back and looked through the glass doors at the room inside.
She went along with him immediately, not turning around but letting the conversation take a drift in another direction. āIām sure they get along better than that, right?ā
For a moment Y/n looked down at her hands and Taehyung kept analyzing the scene inside where a different world seemed to be going on.
āItās not like they havenāt survived two years already, Iām sure theyāll be fine, right?ā She continued mindlessly talking, not looking at the way Taehyung tensed up, how his eyebrows furrowed and his hand landed on her shoulder softly.
āY/n, get to the groundā
āWha-ā Her body had started to turn in the direction he was looking at with confusion when he decided she was being too slow, taking both her shoulders, turning them around and crouching to the ground while shielding her.
The most deafening, all consuming and sudden sound reached her ears. In the midst of it all and through the haze of not understanding what was happening, she could hear glass crashing all over the place. Y/n only managed to cover her ears as Taehyung engulfed her in a protective hug whilst crouching on the ground.
Shook and confused, she turned to look at the building behind her with glossy eyes and ringing ears.
A bomb had just gone off.
And now hang tight for a week while waiting because thats how a cliffhanger works, love you lots for reading up until this point! <3
The second time they met in her office was, strangely enough, weirder than the first.
Soul Design, by prince-taehyung
Masterlist
Series Masterlist
Pairing: Mafia!Taehyung x female!reader
Chapter Warnings: Not too much, general mafia talk, some mention of cheating, pretty lowkey. Let me know if I missed anything.
Wordcount: 5.3k
Genre: Mafia Romance, Yearning, Fanfiction.
A/n: We are back! Act II has begun. It starts slow but hold onto the peace cause it will be short lived. Have much fun and comment what you think! <3
Donāt ever ask Y/n what insanity took over her when she decided to work with Taehyung, she doesnāt know and itās still a sensitive topic.
Could be gratitude, could be the need to finally listen to her emotions or it could also be the fact that she was daydreaming about designing that house. Perhaps a combination of all three.
Any and all concerns that had ever strayed her away from accepting seemed to fly out the window when she woke up without Taehyung in her house. His absence sparked a debate inside her mind about just how deep this manās presence had affected her day to day life. Did she miss him or did she miss the concept of someone who took care of her without having to ask for it?
Then again Jane had always taken care of her, Lila always had her back and Mrs Hannigan loved her like a grandmother. Y/n might not like depending on others, but she damn well knows the difference between someone who cares for her and someone who doesnāt give two shits. Lately Taehyung was showing her that even strangers can become essential support at your lowest, and she didnāt like that one bit. Everything she had always believed that she had to fight for everything by herself and depend on no one, - except the aforementioned three guardian angels - was starting to become a confusing blur of doubt. Even Grant had taken time out of his days to worry about her. Her.
It made no sense to her that anyone would go to such lengths for a woman such as herself, who offered nothing but dead weight in Taehyungās world. She was a witness and a loose strand in the perfectly compact cage that was his world and she couldn't, for the life of her, understand how she hadnāt been buried six feet under by now.
Instead, she found herself wanting to know more about him. Too many contradictions represented his image. Wearing a mask but taking it off the second they meet, having this secret life but walking around to her house like he was an old friend and being a mafia boss who wants to decorate his beach house like any other man with a retirement plan.
After all, Y/n wondered, what was the beach house about? Hoping to one day get the opportunity to dig further into what four empty walls could really represent to a man to go to such lengths to keep her around, she scheduled a meeting with him for later that week.
The second time they met in her office was, strangely enough, weirder than the first. For reasons unknown to her, Taehyung was presenting a less charming and approachable version of himself when he walked into her office behind Lila on Friday. As the girl closed the door Y/n curteously suggested he take a seat wherever he wanted. Taehyung looked around briefly, as if he didnāt know where anything was, before landing on the chairs before her desk and sitting down.
Y/n tried her best to treat the moment like any other casual first meeting with a new client, although it was a difficult task. That man had nursed her back to health a few days prior, which made suggesting curtains in the living room a bit unusual. She persisted, though.
Although out of the ordinary, she wouldnāt have described her relationship to him as a cold and distant one. They couldnāt swear they were friends, though there was a certain level of appreciation and respect - perhaps unilateral. So she was thrown back slightly by the strange way in which he wouldnāt meet her eye as intensely as before. He was acting as if they were strangers who had crossed paths exactly twice on the street and not with the closeness that represented them. Still, she never backed down and kept introducing ideas.
The goal of that first encounter was to grab the general feeling of the aesthetic the client wanted for their home. Y/n could have an opinion of her own about what colors suited best a beach house and how to match the general taste of the place, but no matter what she thought, the clientās needs and artistic vision was the most relevant part. Her job was to bring to life something that he enjoyed, not to play house with her own personal choices.
āMy current house isnāt decorated at all, it feels very dull and dark. I never bothered. Iād like that to change with this one.ā He explained to her after five minutes of discussing color schemes for the house. Y/n felt like light and blue tones might be perfect and he seemed to agree with her.
Something like curiosity - a highly unprofessional kind of curiosity - sparked in her chest at this. Did he live in a dark place without soul like any other mobster she could imagine? Why the sudden change of heart towards such a breezy, warm and soft house so far away from the crowded and noisy streets of the city? Every pore of her body urged to ask him about it, to know exactly what was going on inside his mind, but she pushed it aside.
Although it felt natural to her to talk about the most creative and pleasing aspects of designing this project, she knew another kind of conversation was pending between them. Judging by the fact that he hadnāt once smiled since he stepped inside and that his responses were short and to the point, she suspected he wasnāt in any mood to joke around, so she went straight to the point.
āIām sure you were surprised when we agreed to the project, I think I should explain myselfā She began, looking down at her laptop, closing it and setting it aside. A physical indication that the conversation was taking a turn into an unrelated topic.
āIām listeningā He answered, calm as ever, which only deepened her feeling that something was off.
āI know thereās a history between usā¦ā Well that was a weird way to start. She struggled for a bit, trying to redirect the conversation away from something awkward and into what she truly wanted to express. āā¦I mean, with everything that happened, I struggled to find a good reason to accept. I felt unsafeā
He moved in his seat a bit at her words, clearly uncomfortable by what he was hearing, but never wavered in the way his gaze was fixated on her, fully attentive.
āI donāt think I would have accepted if I didnāt know that youād agree to some boundariesā Finally the words emerged from her mouth, easing her the tiniest bit when he nodded.
āI wouldnāt have wanted you to accept without setting any boundaries as wellā He responded and for the first time he seemed slightly warmer than before, but not too much.
āGood. I have conditions, and they are pretty reasonable to me, but if they donāt seem reasonable to you we might as well part ways right now.ā
Despite having been on an emotional rollercoaster where she felt in danger, safe, worried again and trusting him the next, she thought it logical to be wary of his world. It was a weird thing to experience first hand, knowing full well the man sitting before her was a death sentence waiting to happen but knowing deep down that heād never purposefully harm her. Purposefully was the key word here.
āI know you are not a threat to me, that has become clearā He cleared his throat at her words. āBut your world most definitely isā
Taehyung merely nodded again, knowing she was far from over but agreeing with everything she had said so far, urging her to continue.
āI need to know, moving forward, that I will be completely separate fromā¦Bangtanā She whispered the name, as if invoking some sort of evil when saying it out loud. He flinched ever so slightly as she said it. āI know some things are out of my control, but I want no part in it if we can help it. I want to design this house, I really do, I wouldnāt have accepted otherwise, but I need to know thatās all there is to it.ā
He cleared his throat again, an entirely uncharacteristic thing for him to do twice in a row. Unsettling to watch such a composed man seemingly lose his composure.
āI could not agree more if I wanted, Y/n.ā He began after having found his voice again. āIf my word means that much to you, know that I will do everything in my power to never mix your world with mine again. I will only be Taehyung to you, always. Man who wants to move to the coast, nothing else.ā
A small smile cracked its way into her face at his words. Why she trusted him completely for saying that she didnāt know, after all men do lie - she knew that firsthand. She had a gut feeling, however, that Taehyung was being completely transparent and truthful with her.
āOkay, Iām glad we agree. I truly am very excited for this project and cannot wait to get startedā
For the first time since they had shaken hands at the door, Taehyungās lips curved ever so slightly. Even for just a moment Y/nās heart warmed at the sight. She had said what needed to be said and now the future was golden, new project, no doucheās, no William and for once she was getting what she wanted without feeling guilt.
āIn the interest of burying any unresolved issuesā¦ā He proposed, quickly bringing her back from dreamland and back to reality. His eyes remarkably soft after a long while of staying icy and focused āā¦there are some things Iād like to update you on before we close the book on Bangtan.ā
Right. Reasonable enough, she thought, nodding.
āWilliamā Strong start. āHe is working for a rival organization. We are still tying up some loose ends, not sure what his contact is because they keep their secrets under lock and key, understandably. What we do know is that they have offered him protection and supply if he brings them our names.ā
āYour namesā She registered, aloud. Given that she knew his identity so well by now, and fully suspecting that his friend Jungkook might be another member, Y/n struggled with the concept of the masks. If he had revealed himself so quickly to her, how could it be so difficult for organized criminals to find out who they were? It only made the whole situation much more interesting and curious to her, but she restrained from asking any further. āThat would be problematic, Iām sureā
He didnāt laugh at the clumsy way in which she had simplified his situation, merely nodded. āItās nothing new, everyone in the underworld is always trying to find out who we are. The issue is William thinks you might help him out and thatās why he kept reaching out.ā
āI would never help William find outā She tried to make that come out as a defense of her own innocence, but inevitably she sounded offended by the thought of helping out that scumbag in any sort of capacity.
āI know that very wellā His voice was smooth in a way that always managed to bring her away from rage and into a more calm point of view. With a newfound relief that Taehyung thought her incapable of such betrayal, she couldnāt help but frown.
āAlso, what do you mean ākept reaching outā? He only came to my apartment onceā Boy did she remember vividly how anxiety-inducing and violent it had all been. It was, after all, her first suspicion that Taehyung wasnāt the man he presented himself to be, while simultaneously confirming that William wasnāt the man she had once loved.
Taehyung seemed to think about speaking before responding, clearly not happy with having to say anything but committed to keeping things transparent. āHe tried to talk to you a few more times, actually, but we took care of itā
She gulped. Not so much worried about William breaking in again, because clearly that wasnāt an issue, but completely surprised that Taehyung had been so true to his word about keeping him at bay that he had a whole structure in place to keep her safe, and she hadnāt even noticed. Y/n tried to ignore the way her beating heart raced in her chest and cleared her throat.
āThatāsā¦ wowā Was the only thing she managed to murmur.
āThere really is no need to dwell on this as long as you understand that he is no longer someone you should be concerned aboutā He was clearly trying to take weight out of the situation and she was glad to allow him, feeling increasingly warm and grateful to him in ways he probably wouldnāt appreciate her expressing.
Because truthfully, and madly enough, Y/n wanted to jump out of her seat and hug the man to the ground.
āAnywaysā¦ā Taehyung continued. āWilliam will never bother you again, thatās for sure. Bangtan will never bother you again either. But I do have a requestā
Frowning, Y/n nodded. āWhat is it?ā Whatever could he want in return? Cutting ties with his mafia was the only possible outcome that benefited them both. She would no longer be a burden to him and he could no longer endanger her.
āGrant staysā
Oh. She must have looked quite taken aback, because he continued.
āThat doesnāt mean we will be watching you or bothering you, itās really just a safety measure until we are done with the projectā
āIf William isnāt an issue and I donāt owe Bangtan anything, how would there be a safety issue?ā Her question was, in her opinion, the most important one.
āIām the problem here, Y/n.ā He began, sighing and lowering his gaze to his hands, leaning forward and landing his elbows on his legs, never looking small or worried but anxious and serious. This was an entire new side of him, a bit more raw and unprecedented. He leaned back into his chair again and looked at her, piercing. āAs long as we work together, there will always be a risk and the only way to prevent that is to keep you shielded. No harm will come to you because we will not allow it, but for that to happen I need to bother you with Grant a bit longerā
When Y/n came back home from the helipad she knew her life would never be the same. In that moment, listening to Taehyung explain why Grant needed to stay, she felt like this was the new normal she had been wondering about all along.
Not entirely pleased but knowing it was for the best, she agreed. āFine. As soon as our work here is done, Grant can get on with his life.ā
āGreatā
She doesnāt want anything to do with Bangtan, he wants to keep her safe and this seemed like the rational middle ground.
How does one go on with a meeting about interior design with a client after discussing such themes?
Awkwardly, thatās how.
āDid I show you the pinterest board I saved for this project? Might give you a clear vision of what I had thought for the living roomā Was her original way of swaying the topic back to what mattered most.
With the promise to meet again in a few days to see the house in person and take the necessary pictures and measurements with her team, Taehyung and Y/n parted ways. In many ways she felt better. She had told him what she wanted out of their working relationship and he had agreed while offering protection. Sure, it meant she wasnāt as Bangtan-proof as she might have wanted, but trying to deny the existence of a threat wasnāt going to stop it from hurting her, she felt safer this way.
The quickest way she knew how to unwind was to visit the corner coffee shop near her apartment, something she hadnāt been able to do in a month full of mafias, sickness and emotional turmoil.
Ollieās was the shopās name, in honor of the ownerās dog. A lovely old lady that reminded Y/n of Mrs Hannigan in many of her mannerisms and care for her.
Jane and Lila would have probably scolded Y/n for āunwindingā like she did: with her laptop and a coffee, scrolling through emails and designs and putting everything in order. Could that be considered overtime? Sure, but as the boss she felt like no amount of work was ever enough. Besides, she loved her job beyond words, so it genuinely felt like a good way to spend her time, without a time limit and expectating looks around her, she could insert herself in the cushiony seat by the window and relax,.
Much to her dismay, late August in the city this year was a suffocating time. Her sigh of pleasure when she entered the air conditioned coffee shop was evident to Cynthia, the owner, as she walked inside.
āLong time no see, Y/nā Cynthia smiled from behind the countertop she was wiping clean.
āToo long, right?ā She smiled as she approached her.
āThe usual?ā The shop owner turned to start pressing buttons and moving ingredients like it was second nature.
āPleaseā Joy filled Y/nās chest as she watched the steam emerge from the machine and the smell of coffee invaded her senses.
For about an hour she scrolled through her laptop in peace, sipping her sweet beverage and forgetting about the world as a whole. On a few occasions she received texts from her best friend asking for advice on a dress for an event they would both attend soon. Jane always liked to dress her best on these occasions and loved asking for advice even if she ended up ignoring it. Y/n found it quite amusing.
As the sun started to set and the sunrays no longer reached her face through the shop window, hiding behind the buildings of her neighbourhood, she thought perhaps the time to go had arrived. Packing up her things and setting for the door she turned around once to wave goodbye to Cynthia. Once she turned back to the door she was surprised by a woman crashing right into her. Cold liquid seeped into her skin and she was thrown back to the ground. With an audible gasp the other woman stood up and hurried to help Y/n up.
The shock was the biggest part of the fall, and Y/nās shock only increased exponentially when she saw the face of the woman who kept apologising as they both stood up again: Rose.
The same Rose that had been laying on the ground of the helipad, unconscious. The same Rose that William had cheated on her on.
Y/n must have been too surprised about seeing her, because Rose frowned and asked āAre you okay? Iām so sorry Iām such a damn clutzā
Waking up from her statue-like-haze, and shaking her head quickly Y/n responded. āIām okay, you are fine, donāt worry.ā
Now that they stood face to face, Y/n could analyze her facial features further. Rose had a small scar, almost healed, on her temple, and she wondered if it had occurred on the night they were both taken. For some reason the girl in front of her had a red nose and signs of runny mascara. She had been crying, recently. The part inside her brain that urged her to despise her and everything she represented was fighting hard against the pity she started to feel at the sight. Womanhood means seeing another woman cry and running to offer a tissue.
She wanted more than anything to run out of the shop and forget that interaction had ever happened. Did Rose know who she was? That she knew her name? That she had despised her for an entire month without ever meeting her?
āPlease, let me pay for the drycleanerās, that stain is going to be tough to take outā The woman seemed truly perturbed by the fact that she had poured what seemed to be tea into Y/nās white shirt. Now that she looked down at her chest Y/n cursed mentally, knowing it would, in fact, be hard to remove.
āThatās fine, donāt worry about itā She tried to dismiss her and walk away, perhaps rudely, but she was now quite sure that Rose didnāt know her and would like to keep it that way.
āPlease, I insist.ā Rose pleaded with gleaming puppy eyes that would have been impossible to resist had Y/n not known who she was.
For a brief moment, the briefest, Y/n wondered how anyone could hate the person standing before her. She was beautiful, even after what seemed to have been a good cry, with short pixie hair and big eyes. Her entire presence was soft and delicate and she exuded nothing but a gentle behavior with good intentions. She was momentarily reminded of the fact that the true villain was William, and that Rose may not have even known she was āthe other womanā.
With a deep sigh, Y/n nodded. āFine, thank youā
Rose finally smiled apologetically, sniffled and reached into her bag, extracting a few seconds later a sleek black phone with no case. Perhaps it was odd to notice such things about people, but Y/n had a pretty cute and decorated phonecase that made the thought of having a naked phone seem bizarre.
āGive me your number and I will send you the money right awayā
A chill went up her spine at the thought of giving a stranger, specially this one, her phone. As quickly as she had accepted the help, Y/n was rejecting it again. āSeriously, donāt worry about itā
Rose was momentarily taken aback. It looked for a second like she was about to cry again and Y/n wanted to scream and run away. āIām so sorry, that was so rude, we donāt know each otherā
No words came out of Y/nās mouth after this, dumbfounded. Yes, it was all very weird, specially to her, but that was something she would not be explaining to Rose anytime soon.
After reaching into her bag a second time, Rose extended her hand towards Y/n with a twenty dollar bill.
āThat should cover the price of the drycleaners, please accept itā With the most annoyingly pleading eyes, Rose tried it one last time.
Y/n reached out towards her hand, and pushed it back against her chest softly. āKeep the money, it is seriously fine. Donāt worry about it, okay?ā
As gently and respectfully as she could, Y/n smiled and walked away, finally.
The dissipating warmth that started to welcome the nighttime hit her like a ton of bricks and for more than one reason she bolted in the direction of her apartment, never looking back.
The next week of work goes by like it always used to. She understood life differently now, watched over her shoulder perhaps slightly more than the average person - for good reason - but overall had started to feel the normalcy of her old life flooding through the cracks.
She could not, however, stop thinking about Rose.
The more she thought back to their brief but impactful meeting at Ollieās, the more she realized just how bent out of shape the woman had been. It hadnāt been just the few wounds she could spot or the tears that had seemingly been streaming down her face earlier. She had also looked tired and overall sad.
Could it be, maybe, that Rose was just another victim in Williiamās grandiose scheme? Had she been just as afected by his actions as Y/n had been? Perhaps more?
Y/n truly had no idea.
If she ever thought Rose would just be another mystery in her life, an unanswered question of a person she would never meet again, she was hugely mistaken. Not two days after their first fortuitous encounter, Y/n walked into Ollieās only to catch a glimpse of Roseās pixie haircut on her spot by the window.
Cynthia didnāt exactly save the spot for her, but in a way she did. It would be unfair to tell clients they couldnāt sit there if they wanted to, but before anyone suggested, around the afternoons when Y/n usually visited, Cynthia liked to offer other nice spots around her shop. Thatās why Y/n was surprised to find that it had been taken. Taken by Rose.
With an awkward glance around, Y/n realized the only space left was the table next to hers.
Damn.
Was she really about to leave one of her favorite places on earth for a person who didnāt even know her? A person who probably had no idea of what she represented or who she had hurt?
With a deep sigh and the conviction that Rose shouldnāt pay for the wrongs of men, Y/n walked over to the free spot and sat down.
Rose, who up until that moment had been completely immersed in a book, glanced up when she felt movement besides her. It took her exactly one second to glance down at her book and then back up at Y/n when she realized who she was. An uneasy smile was plastered on Y/nās face as her back leaned against her chair, greeting Rose, who put her book away like it burned her and fully handed her attention to Y/n with a big smile.
āItās you!ā The smiling woman exclaimed. āDid the stain get out okay?ā
Y/n nodded, not wanting to turn the conversation into a big moment. āYes, thank you again for helping out.ā
āHelping out? Iām the one to blame!ā Y/n tried not to dwell on the double meaning of that statement, repeating like a mantra: She doesnāt know, she doesnāt know.
Smiling once again and dismissing her comment with her hand, Y/n turned to her computer and looked for her headphones inside her bag with urgency. Maybe as soon as she put them on she would be able to silence everything else around her.
āListenā¦ I never caught your nameā
Of course she would.
The physical pull to close her eyes and sigh was too strong, but Y/n managed to smile instead and turn towards Rose once again. If saying her name didnāt completely reveal who she is to her, then nothing else would. It was worth a shot.
āMy name is Y/nā
Absolutely no sign of recognition went through Roseās expression whatsoever. Instead, her smile widened and she extended her hand in Y/nās direction.
āIām Rose. Itās very nice to meet you, Y/nā
With decreasing awkwardness and a big relief that her name didnāt spark any suspicion, Y/n shook her hand back.
āNice to meet you too, Roseā It felt slightly bitter in her mouth to say her name outloud, but she managed to hide it well.
āDo you usually work here?ā Rose pointed to her open laptop, without glancing at the screen.
āSometimesā Y/n responded. The conversation had started, unavoidable, and it seemed she could not escape it. Perhaps she wasnāt the evil woman she had pictured, but Rose was every introvertās nightmare. āCynthia and I go way back, I love this placeā
āThatās niceā Rose nodded like the story was passionate and interesting, when in reality there was nothing out of the ordinary about it. It seemed life was exciting and positive all around in Roseās big bright eyes. āI love reading here, it helps me focusā
Y/n couldnāt help it, she glanced at the closed book on her table: Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen. Y/n considered herself a big fan of Austenās work, specially Pride and Prejudice, so she couldnāt help following the conversation with ease.
āI love that bookā She blurted out.
āIām loving it so far too,ā Rose added. āI had never read Jane Austen beforeā
The shock on Y/nās face was unstoppable. It was her truest belief that everyone should read Jane Austen always, for any reason.
āBetter late than neverā Was her response. āI think you should read Emma, itās light and funny and one of her best works.ā
āI heard about it, I canāt wait to pick it upā Rose now looked at her copy of Northanger Abbey as she talked, then back up at Y/n. āI just love the way she analyzes peopleā
Y/n wanted to clap and stand up. It was probably the poorest compliment anyone had ever given to Jane Austen, but so true at the same time. What she adored most about her writing style was the way she managed to capture everyoneās personality without much effort or long boring descriptions. The way her heroines navigated through a world where they found out with the reader just how curiously people can behave in different social settings. Not to mention the romance, friendships and hardships they go through.
Without fully delving into the many, many reasons why one should love her books, Y/n simply replied, āI love that about her tooā
Not having intended it, Y/n found herself leaning forward and into the conversation. Time started to fly by as they jumped from topic to topic, books, movies, coffeeā¦ an endless loop of wonderful chit chat and nothing relevant.
For some reason, somehow, they managed to end up talking about relationships. Y/n, who had previously been relaxed and content, suddenly felt nervous hearing Rose confess that she had broken up with her boyfriend a month prior.
āI found out he was cheating on meā The young woman said, making Y/n gulp like it was her fault. She understood several thing simultaneously, things she had already believed to be true: Rose didnāt know who she was, she had been a victim of Williamās game and she was just as sad and haunted as her.
āIām very sorry to hear thatā Y/n said and she truly felt it. Any and all doubts she might have had about the type of person Rose was, melted away. āIā¦ I have been cheated on myselfā
The implications of telling that girl that she had been in the same situation were perilous at the slightest, because she had quite literally been in the same situation.
āMen fucking suckā Rose announced, fully correct.
āThey sure doā Y/n agreed.
Rose suddenly looked at her phone, she had received a text message.
āOh shootā She stood up and hurriedly began picking up her stuff. āI forgot, I gotta go. We really got caught up and I didnāt look at the time.
Y/n glanced at the screen of her phone āOh shitā It had been almost two hours of conversation. She had done absolutely no work.
āRightā Roseās soft laugh echoed in the almost empty coffee shop as she hung her bag over her shoulder. āHereās my phone number, Y/n. I loved hanging out, we should do it again.ā
Y/n grabbed the piece of paper like it was fleeting. It was the first time in her short existence that she had made a friend, if she could even consider her that, out of the blue in a public setting. The last time she had become friends with someone it had been Lila. Or Taehyung if one could even consider him that.
It felt very special to her keeping her phone number and saving it in her phone.
āIād love to hang out again, Roseā
It felt surreal but it was true, Y/n had found friendship in the one person her ex had cheated on her with.
Followup post to Slight Change of plans, where I explain the intricacies of tying together three different BTS x reader stories without using OCās.
If you havent read my fanfic Soul Design yet and you like Taehyung, check it out! Otherwise this post wont make much sense.
If you are one of the wonderful people reading my story, hereās a full guide on how itās going to work:
Since I want to write every story from Y/nās P.O.V, it could become confusing when Taehyung and Y/n become secondary characters in, for example, Jungkook x Y/nās story.
To avoid having them refer to the same people, I have decided that each female protagonist gets another name when becoming a secondary character.
Which means, Jane and Lila would become Y/n in their own stories, while Cora will be the name given to the female character in Taehyungās story.
That way the three stories can have three separate stories in the same universe without mixing up points of view, keeping the āx Readerā going and all in the same universe.
Let me know what you think, whether it is confusing or not, if you think itās a good idea or there could be better ones!
āYou could say that. Do you still want to know more about me?ā
āYesā
Soul Design, by prince-taehyung
Masterlist
Series Masterlist
Pairing: Mafia!Taehyung x female!reader
Chapter Warnings: Mentions of murder, mentions of parental death, mentions of an explosive. Not much else, let me know if I missed any!
Wordcount: 7.2k
Genre: Mafia Romance, Yearning, Fanfiction.
A/n: BOOM! Two chapters in one day, how you like that? I had been on a bit of a pause, revisiting every chapter and thinking of how to fix the problem with the point of view, but that is going to get fixed as shown here: SDU, explained. So check that out and let me know if you have any questions. I LOOOOVE this chapter and I hope you do too! Lots of love! <3
As agreed, here are the sketch modifications you asked for. Now the color scheme of the living room should be to your taste. I also added some footnotes on where I think the library should go, but this e-mailās main objective is to give you the freedom to send back whatever modifications you need.
Let me know what you think,
Best regards,
Y/n.
PS: Shall I confirm with Lila the site visit for this monday?
Attached files (12)
Y/n loved to sketch things.
She even loved more receiving good feedback for her drawings. The first time they met about the house, Taehyung had seemed happy and impressed about her skills. He did ask, however, for a few modifications. Understandable.
Y/n took that and any critic as a challenge to improve herself and had since been drawing nonstop to offer her client the best and most perfect designs. They were still in the early stages of the whole process. Envisioning, commenting, sketching. Nothing definitive, of course, but definitely leaning towards the final idea.
As far as she could tell, he had no clear definite view of the house except for the fact that he wanted it to feel, in his words: ālike home, lopeacefulā.
According to Taehyung, his current house lacked any of those things. Y/n suspected his life also lacked any peace and a sense of home, but she tried not to pry any further than her professional, self installed, boundary demanded.
Her phone started ringing, bringing her out of her thoughts and back into her office. She picked up without looking at the caller.
āY/n Design, how can I help you?ā
āHelloā Taehyungās deep voice seeped into her bones immediately.
āTaehyungā She pretended not to be surprised. āTo what do I owe the pleasure? Did you read my e-mail?ā
āI did, thatās why Iām callingā He explained, softly as always. āIām not good at that sort of thing. I prefer calling and hearing your voiceā
Did he just say your voice? Y/n shook away the thought and cleared her throat. āSure, tell me, what did you think?ā
āI loved themā For some reason his voice was as guttural and melodic as ever. She had always admired what a special voice he had, and with a phone call it really was all she could focus on. The compliment didnāt even register correctly in her mind until he continued talking. āI especially loved the way you thought about the layout of the living room, the bookshelf looks perfect like that.ā
āIām glad you like themā She managed. āAre we still on for a site visit on Monday?" Did she sound too eager? She was, but did she sound like it?
She probably did, because he clearly smiled as he said, āYes, I will meet you there on monday so you guys can measure or photograph anything you needā
āGreat, I canāt waitā
āSee you monday then?ā Taehyung asked, as if he didnāt already know the answer.
āSee you mondayā
āItās right hereā Lila announced as their car took a right into a narrow road, surrounded by trees. The two of them rode in a car with two interns, another vehicle with four more members of the studio followed them. The entrance to the house was majestic, with a black wide gate and stone walls, wilderness, trees and ivy decorated the scene in perfect harmony. The car advanced through the tree archway until it reached a roundabout with a fountain. A beautiful, abandoned fountain that needed much love.
As soon as she stepped out of the car Y/n understood she was in love. As much as she had contemplated time and time again the pictures of the house, nothing compared to actually standing before it. It was grandiose and elegant in the most perfect balance, with details that made Y/n want to stop everything to draw them or take a picture. She walked over to the front porch, walking up the stars while caressing the banister like she had entered a sacred space.
The old magnificent doors that greeted her up the stairs was marvelous. The house in general needed a bit of care. Cobwebs here and there, a few old pieces that needed replacement, but overall stood strong and demonstrated a personality few houses managed to maintain for so long.
Before Y/n could analyze further the details of the weathered oak door, it opened up. Grant greeted her with his version of a smile, which was a curt nod.
āMiss Y/n, glad to have you hereā He looked back at the crew that followed her, unloading equipment from the cars and nodded in their general direction.
One thing that had always caught her attention about Grant was the way he dressed. Anyone would have expected a man who behaves like a butler to dress accordingly, but he had managed to switch it up to wear elegant and discreet clothes - always black - that unless someone pointed it out, could be that of a bodyguard or assistant merged into one. Taking into account that Grant could very well be her father, Y/n liked to admire his style and behavior with much respect.
āGlad to be here, Grant. This is Lilaā Y/n introduced her assistant, who shook her hand with him. āLila this is Grantā No further explanation was needed, Y/n believed.
A shadow creeped its way towards the door from inside the house, imposing, until it materialized before Grant in the shape of Taehyung.
If the ocean cured people like her friend Jane believed it did, then the ocean had brewed a miracle that stood before her. Taehyung looked a few years younger in a blue shirt and light colored jeans.
The complete opposite of the dark and gloomy outfits she had always seen him wear. His hair, usually immaculate, had come loose, strands falling across his forehead. It felt like a sea breeze had found its way around his personality and swept away any worries and tension.
He was like a brand new person.
The soft smile that he greeted everyone with only prompted forward Y/nās surprise, but she bottled it away and into oblivion in the hopes that he would stay happy and calm forever.
Remembering she had a job to do, Y/n started her way towards any room in the house and set up camp. Surprisingly enough, Taehyungās brief house tour wasnāt as necessary as anyone might have thought. Y/n had already mentally drawn up a map of the entire layout that allowed her to move through the space with complete confidence.
As always, she walked through each room and pinned up against the wall small sketches and different color palettes. She needed to envision each space, find mistakes, possible problems or any reason to adapt.
Each room she walked into had at least one person taking measures with lasers and making annotations in notebooks. Each note mattered, all data was vital to make decisions in the future. Whatever grand idea about a specific couch or bed they could have imagined could change completely if it couldnāt fit into the room they desired.
She also noticed, but didnāt comment on, the way Taehyung observed from a distance. Far but not hidden. It seemed like he wanted to watch her work without disturbing her, but not worried at all about being seen. It was, after all, his house they were working on. Y/n managed to convince herself that he was supervising them in order to keep her nerves at bay.
For small projects a few hours would have sufficed, but a full house renovation required a different level of concentration and attention to detail. It seemed Taehyung and Grant were aware of this, as they offered water bottles and chairs all around for people to take it easy. Y/n ignored both requests, fully immersed in making sure the contractor understood the floorboards in the downstairs hallway were creaking.
āCanāt you hear it, Robert?ā She jumped up softly for further evidence. āItās clear as day, cāmonā
Robert, who had worked with her for years, seemed skeptical of the length of the structural emergency. āBoss, have you heard the living room though? This aināt nothing in comparisonā
āIāve heard the living room creaking, the neighbors heard it, thatās obviously on the listā She pointed towards her long list of structural issues so far to make her point. āThat doesnāt mean this doesnāt need attention."
When Y/n looked down at her hand, she realized she was pointing at her notebook with a water bottle. She frowned. When did she-
Her face turned instantly in the direction of Taehyung, who walked away quietly with another water bottle. He had managed to hand it to her without her noticing.
She really would have rejected it again had he offered.
He was walking away like nothing had happened.
āEarth to bossā Robert swung his pencil in front of her distracted eyes. āDonāt worry Iām checking this floor out too. I just hope we donāt run the budget out in floorboardsā
āWe wonāt, we wonātā She shook her head, falling back into the conversation.
The next time Y/n saw Taehyung he was leaning against the balcony of the grandiose terrace right outside the living room. The view was as privileged as it gets, surrounded by trees but falling into a sandy beach with majestic waves crashing into it. Completely private and natural.
Grant and Lila had taken a car to go grab some food, so Y/n had given everyone a short while to relax while they waited. She decided that might be the perfect time to comment on a few things with the owner of the house.
āHeyā She introduced, stepping into the breezy space. She quickly noted on her notebook that it could get too windy perhaps, important thing to take into account when one chooses the furniture for a terraceā¦
āDid you just say āheyā then completely get absorbed by your notes?ā He had craned his neck back to look at her, his elbows still leaning on the railing, only to find her with furrow eyebrows and a writing passion.
Heat crept up to her cheeks as she approached the railing beside him and leaned her back on it. āSorry, I do that.ā
Something similar to a chuckle vibrated from his chest to his mouth and into her ears. āThatās fine, I admire the dedicationā
She smiled in response and for a moment they stood like that, he looked at the ocean and she looked at the house, side by side.
āI wanted to check a few things with you, thoughā She pointed out, lifting her notebook.
Taehyung gazed down at the notebook without barely moving his neck in its direction. āHow many pages have you written down?ā
Though slightly taken aback, Y/n counted the pages and replied. āEightā
āFront and back?ā
āOf course, what a waste of space otherwiseā
The last time he laughed she doubted it had been real. This time a deep chuckle, short and sweet, left him with complete certainty. Contagious, because she smiled too.
āFire awayā He prompted, waiting to hear whatever observations she needed to make.
āSo,ā she began, eager āthere are a few structural issues we need to check on, like a few floorboards that need checking and a few humidity situations. Nothing major, things expected from a house near the sea, to be honest. It does mean some of the budget goes in that direction, but we will make sure to relocate carefully.ā
āI told you not to worry about the budget, didnāt I?ā He commented softly, switching from gazing at the sea to looking directly at her.
āRight, we talked about it, but that doesnāt mean Iām going to waste your money for wastingās sakeā
āI know that, but donāt limit your creativity based on an economic barrier that doesnāt exist. If we need to adjust the budget, that can be arrangedā
Never before had a client given Y/n such trust with their own money. To be fair, she had never done a project on such a scale. Nevertheless, it was a big amount of money that she would want someone to be mindful of, not go on a crazy spending spree just because they could.
āNotedā She decided, not wanting to discuss the budget just yet. āAlso, I know we talked about the couch right thereā¦ā She stepped forward a few steps and pointed inside the house, through the glass doors that separated them from the living room. āBut now that I see where the sun is moving throughout the day, I believe it would be better to move it hereā Her finger traced the distance until it reached a different position on the empty floor. She looked back at him in search of approval.
Instead of following the direction of her finger, Taehyung had turned around, leaning back on the railing and looking at her. āI agreeā
She wasnāt completely sure he had understood, but she ignored it. āWe still have to do real layouts and 3D renderings of everything, but I think our initial sketching is pretty solid.ā
āI agreeā It seemed it was all he was capable of saying. She didnāt expect him to fight back or anything, but usually clients had much more complaints or comments. It was a nice change of pace the way he seemed to trust her instincts blindly.
After a much needed lunch break the team inspected the second floor. A door, a window, a few of the wooden boards on the floor needed fixing in a pretty similar fashion to those downstairs. No surprises. They had entered the house fully aware that after a few years of no one living inside and the ocean humidity, there was bound to be a few things that needed fixing.
The interns were the first Y/n told to go home. They had measured things to the point of exhaustion and she knew it was time for them to go. The other junior designers decided to call it a day when the sun had started to set, followed shortly by the contractors.
At a certain point, when only Y/n and Lila were left, Grant approached them.
āCan I help you with anything else, Miss?ā
āGrant, please kick us outā Lila joked from the chair she sat on, exhausted, looking at her laptop like it was about to burst into flames.
Grant frowned like that was an atrocity.
āSheās kidding Grant. We are almost done and will be out of your hair in no timeā Y/n smiled softly at the man, who looked at Lila with newfound understanding.
āThatās completely fine, Mr Kim and I will be downstairs getting some work done as well if you need anythingā And with that he promptly left the room, leaving the two women alone.
Lila observed the way Y/n didnāt get tired, looking at the ceiling, the windows, the floor, placing sketches on the walls and scribbling away on her notebook.
āThere cannot be anything left to do here today, Y/nā her assistant insisted. āLetās go home, relax, sleep, if you even know the meaning of the word.ā
Y/n couldnāt help but roll her eyes and smile as she looked back at her friend. āYes I know the meaning of the word. Iām just so excited I canāt stop looking for things to do.ā
āThatās great, but letās call it a day, I have practice tomorrowā
Lila had a passion, and it wasnāt interior design, she was a dancer. Y/n knew this from the very first moment they met, but Lila needed the job, the money, and organized schedules and took notes like no one Y/n had met before, so she hired her. It had been a great choice, her friend proved time and time again what a valuable asset she could be despite not being in the design industry on an organizational level. It broke Y/nās heart knowing one day her dancing career would take off and she would have to let her go, but it would be for the best.
Meanwhile she depended entirely on Lila to remind her where to stop and let go of the pencil. When too much work was too much even for her.
āYou are right, I might have gotten carried away. You pick up the things downstairs, I pick up the ones upstairs and Iāll meet you in the carā
Lila could not have been any more excited to close her laptop and jump up towards the door, making Y/n giggle again.
After a few minutes of closing bags and picking up measuring tape scattered across the floor, someone knocked on the door of the empty bedroom Y/n was in. Her head turned towards the noise to find Taehyung, bathed in golden sunlight of the sunset, looking at her.
āI saw Lila picking up stuff, do you need a hand?ā He stepped closer to where she kneeled on the ground, grabbing the cables from the laser machine they used to measure.
āItās fine, thank you. I was going to say goodbye downstairs nowā She quickly dismissed him and kept tugging at cables and putting them inside the corresponding bag.
He ignored her dismissal entirely and began picking up scattered papers, two pencils and a sketch that had fallen to the ground. He looked at it for a moment before placing it back on the wall it had fallen from. She was entranced with the way he cleaned up like he knew she could handle it by herself but decided it didnāt matter.
Bare minimum, sure, but it moved her in very specific ways whenever he did things like that like it was second nature.
When the room was clean again and the car was loaded up, Lila waited behind the wheel while Y/n had a few last words with Grant and Taehyung at the front door.
āI think it was a very fruitful first day, wouldnāt you agree?ā She asked, partially because she felt it and also looking for the possible critiques she so hoped no one had.
āVery much so, good work todayā Taehyung fulfilled her hidden desire for praise and she smiled.
āYou work very hard, Miss Y/nā Grant observed. āYou should let us help out more next time.ā
Y/n waved them away as she got inside the car, feeling bittersweet about leaving behind the place she wanted to spend time in the most, but knowing she would be back soon.
Every single year without fail at the end of the summer, Jane hosted the annual charity gala of their neighborhood. A very special occasion in the life of both women for different reasons. Jane had been handed the reins from her late father, who had carried the whole ordeal on his back for as long as Y/n could remember before dying unexpectedly a few years prior. For Y/n, on the other hand, it represented a chance to give back to the community that raised her, and the many other children that had grown up in her situation.
Though she had helped Jane out on many occasions before, Y/n often forgot just how neurotic and controlling her best friend could get about that night. It was more than an elegant night of greeting people and thanking them for their donations, as part of the organization party, Jane had plenty of duties to fulfill: seating guests, handing out auction booklets, making sure everything was in order, etcā¦ all while handling the strained relationship she held to the other head members of the event.
For years Y/n had heard her closest friend complain about the old men that often took charge and made all the wrong decisions. Men who chose donors based on friendship, to get a good picture and then take a cut of the profit. Men who did not give a ratās ass about the children in the school most money went to. Men who ignored every proposal Jane had made over the years.
Men who Jane hated with a passion.
To her fortune and chagrin, old men had the tendency to die. Usually Jane would be relieved of having to deal with one less dictator if it didnāt mean he would just be replaced by another.
Two years earlier, one of the big fish had been replaced by a young man, around Janeās age, and he happened to be an alumni. Y/n was happy to hear that, hoping that some of the load would be taken of her friendās shoulders. Things, however, took a turn for the worse when Jane met the young man and found that she was capable of hating someone even more.
Namjoon was his name and Jane used him as the prime example for the definition of the word āarchnemesisā.
Y/n found the situation extremely amusing. It seemed, from what she had heard about him, that he was the complete opposite to Jane. Wherever he liked something one way she liked it the other, constantly they found themselves clashing over the smallest things: budget issues, decorations or guests.
In fact, one day Jane confessed to having started to miss the old guys.
Whatever the situation could be between them, for two years they had met whenever the gala was concerned, ignored each other the entire night of the event and gone on with their lives. Still Y/n had yet to meet this terrible man.
āI just know he is going to be rude again and cost us a few thousand in donations like last yearā Jane complained, looking at the empty wine glass in the table before her, like it needed an adjustment.
āDidnāt he show up and leave last year?ā Asked Y/n while she placed a few pamphlets on different tables. The glamorous room was empty of guests but full of light and decor. Y/nās biggest job and pleasure was preparing the ambiance, choosing the tables and chairs and lighting. Her expertise came in handy every time.
āExactlyā She finally picked up the empty glass and handed it to a waiter. āThatās dirty, please change itā
āSo what if he leaves. He did his part, itās best if he doesnāt even show up so you can have a good timeā Y/n suggested, turning around to look at her friend.
āWhatever, I cannot be bothered to talk about him anymoreā It seemed like quite the opposite from Y/nās point of view, but she smiled and nodded nonetheless. Jane quickly changed the subject. āHowās the big house project coming along? Howās that crush of yours?ā
Y/n managed not to choke on the water she had been drinking when she heard that question. Quickly turning to her friend with a cough and looking around for possible spectators. None, since the doors wouldnāt open until a while later.
āWould you keep your voice down?ā She begged. āNothing is happening, the project is going great, heās there Iām here, nothing to seeā
Jane laughed for the first time that night and Y/n was ever so grateful for it, even if it was directed at her fake situation. āIām so happy you are doing that, you look much happier, you know?ā
āI do knowā She knew very well, in fact, just how much happier she was whenever she was working on a project she enjoyed. This one in particular allowed her to forget certain events and focus on the present.
When the guests entered the women busied themselves greeting people, taking a few pictures and making sure everything was in order. Amongst the crowd of equally elegant people appeared Lila. When the dinner began the three of them sat together other guests in big tables and chatted along. It was of great importance to keep the guests happy because it was, after all, their money that they needed.
As far as Y/n could tell the ābig bad monsterā Namjoon was nowhere in sight, surprisingly not relaxing Jane any more or less. Y/n was pretty convinced that unless he disappeared from the face of the earth before her eyes, Jane would never not be anxious about his presence.
The dream-like possibility that he wouldnāt show up broke like glass when the speeches began. Quietly and without making a noise three men had found their seats at their table just in time to hear one of the board members thank everyone profusely with a microphone and a beautiful stage. It was when everyone stood up and grabbed champagne for the cocktail that Jane realized he had entered the building.
āHeās here, girls. Do you feel the chill in the room?ā Jane muttered before taking a big swig of the flute glass.
āYou are exaggerating. Letās go get you a whiskey insteadā Lila suggested, tugging at her friend from the elbow in the direction of the closest bar counter.
Y/n laughed and giggled at their bickering as they approached the bartender and asked for their respective drinks. The room was filled with rich people, pretentiousness, a sense of morality and a few good intended souls. But as long as the money reached the school, Y/n truly did not care about having to stand there in a full glam and a fake smile. In fact, she really liked the way the dress hugged her body, the make-up was exactly the way she wanted it to be and she even felt like having a few conversations with people she didnāt know.
For a while the three women managed to steer clear of anyone else, laughing and talking together near the balcony of the second floor, looking down at the crowd below.
They do say all good things must come to an end, though.
Their good time was cut short when someone cleared their throat behind them, taking their attention from the people below and turning around to see who dared interrupt them.
āNamjoonā Jane greeted with ice in her voice. āGlad you made itā
āIām sure you are, Jane ā He replied with the same lack of warmth.
āYou brought friendsā Jane pointed out. Which brings us to the reason why Y/nās jaw had hit the ground. āWait, arenāt you guysā¦?ā
Namjoon stood proud in a cream colored tuxedo, tall and regal. He wasnāt the evil man Y/n had pictured all along, in fact, he looked like a fine man with possibly very reasonable ideas. The thing that shocked Y/n most, however, was that at each side behind him stood two men, Y/n had gotten to know very well: Jungkook and Taehyung.
āā¦the ones from the club? Taehyung and Jungkook, right?ā Any and all bitterness had fallen away from Janeās voice as she extended her hand towards the two gentlemen. āHow do you know Mr. Stiff over here?ā
Y/n wasnāt aware of the way Namjoon took a deep sigh at Janeās comment because she was too busy staring deeply into Taehyungās surprised gaze.
āTaehyung, I didnāt know youād be hereā She commented.
āLikewise, what brings you here, Y/n?ā He seemed just as stunned as her when he asked, but he hid it better. Jungkook, on the other side, seemed completely relaxed and kind of bored as he looked around the room for some sort of distraction.
āJane here is part of the organizing committee" Her hands extended towards her best friend, proudly.
Taehyung nodded at Jane with a smile before shifting his eyes between Namjoon and her briefly, he seemed to be aware of the tension between them and found it just as amusing as Y/n, apparently. āWhat a wonderful coincidence, Namjoon here is a colleague of hers, it seems.ā
āColleage might be a stretchā Jane added, lips curved in a mischievous smile that was clearly intended for Namjoonās patience or lack thereof.
āDid you all go to the same school?ā Lila wondered, knowing being an alumni is what brought Namjoon there. It was reasonable to think they might have grown up together if such an event called to them. It was, after all, the reason Y/n was there, support of a childhood friend.
āWe did, yes.ā Taehyung nodded, looking briefly at both men by his side, as if the mention of growing up with them was tugging at memories.
āWell this is all such a coincidenceā Jane celebrated, eyes wide as if begging for a way out, she nodded once again at everyone present and stepped away from the circle. āPleasure, gentlemen, do enjoy your night. Iām going to grab something to eat, if you donāt mind.ā
Before anyone could respond Jane was on her merry way towards the desserts. Lila looked worriedly at her friend and excused herself as well, not without glancing back at the group as if she had also wanted to leave with urgency.
Y/n was slightly stunned at her friends reactions. She was much more stunned by the way Jungkook left without uttering a word, the way Namjoon avoided everyoneās gaze with something like boredom and how Taehyung seemed as out of place as her.
āDo you guys always come together? Iāve heard of Namjoon coming before, of courseā¦ā She didnāt know whether that comment might have struck Namjoon as a familiar way of describing his relationship to Jane or not, but she clearly didnāt mind. If he felt offended he should perhaps revisit the way he behaved around her. Not that Y/n was sure he had actually done anything to deserve Janeās cold shoulder.
āNo, I hadnāt come in a few years, actually. Neither had Jungkook. Namjoon asked us to be here tonight and we couldnāt resist checking it out, for old timeās sakeā
āY/n, was it? Wonderful job this year, as always. Jane always spoke highly of you.ā Namjoon suddenly intercepted. āIf you donāt mind, I have to excuse myself.ā He nodded at both of them first at Y/n and then at his friend, very respectfully, then walked away and got lost in the crowd.
Slowly, Y/n and Taehyungās faces turned back to one another with confusion, then a sudden burst of giggles on her part and an unstoppable smile on his.
āWhat is happening with these people? I know they hate each other, but that was so violentā
āI must confess I knew Jane was the one he seemed to hate so much when we met that night at the club, I just didnāt know the extent of the hatred, nor did I think it possible to hate someone like thatā He explained, leaning against the railing that focused on the full ballroom the three women had been looking at earlier.
A soft breeze caught Y/nās attention to her right, the windows to the balcony were wide open and the night air seemed so enticing. She pointed towards it. āWould you like some fresh air? I would love it if you donāt mind.ā
Instead of answering with words, Taehyung nodded once and gestured for her to walk first so he could follow swiftly behind her. Y/n led the way outside, inserting herself between groups of people scattered all around until they reached the windswept balcony. As summer ended nights became a haven of warmth and windy quiet, not hot in the slightest, like during the day, but perfectly comfortable and fresh.
The terrace was wide and almost empty, a few scattered people hanged out for a smoke or a quiet conversation, away from the noise and empty promises of the wealthy people inside.
āSoā¦ā She began as they leaned over the stone balcony that overlooked the garden but also granted a fair and privileged view of the starlight sky and the city skyline. āā¦you went to Seven Oaksā
āI didā Taehyung replied, taking out a cigarette from inside his jacket and placing it on his lips.
It was ridiculous to think about it as an adult, but growing up in her neighborhood and being an orphan, Y/n hadnāt been the lowest of the low. In fact, that title was more often granted to those who lived near and went to Seven Oaks. The poorest part of town, the poorest school around. It seemed difficult to believe the men Taehyung, Namjoon and Jungkook had grown up to be, so rich and elegant. Then again Taehyung was in the mafia.
That brief thought process made Y/n think back to the possibility that Jungkook might also be one, or even Namjoon now that she had met him. Out of the three she would have bet good money on Jungook, but Namjoon didnāt seem the kind of ruthless man that would go around selling drugs and killing people.
Killing people. Why her mind had drifted so far away from reality and into such a dark corner made her realize she was probably not any less anxious about the mafia that orbited her life as she had convinced herself to be.
āI know what you are thinkingā The smoke left his lips in a cinematic way, like everything he did, like the cigarette was a paint brush and the cloud of smoke watercolor.
āDo you?ā She poked, unsure whether he truly could read her expression of worry.
He nodded once, looking at the city skyline and taking another drag. āYou are spiraling, you have a tendency to do thatā
She scoffed and lifted her gaze in his direction, his eyes fell down on hers as well, challenging her to lie. āNo Iām not. Why would I?ā
āBecause you have good pattern recognition, and you see through the charade. We all grew up together in the most problematic school around, itās only logical youāve come to this conclusion. Chances of any other outcome were slimā
Y/n frowned now. Was he openly revealing yet two more members of the secret seven at Bangtan? Is this man insane? Does he want her dead?
āAre you..? Serious?ā
āAlwaysā He replied, looking at her with the conviction of a man who doesnāt lie but knows there are other sins lurking behind.
āWhy would you tell me that?ā She whispered, like any and all secrets between them were a death sentence, because they were.
āSo you stop worrying about it all night and you realize that if Iām not a threat, neither are theyā
Reasonable enough, again. He had the tendency to say the most outrageously dangerous things and then bring the heat down by explaining the situation in logical steps. She trusted him, that was inevitable. She hated trusting him but she couldnāt fight it. If he told her to jump into the cold dark lake inside that garden she would probably ask him for a good reason and end up doing it.
Funny how the most distrusting people on earth could fall right by each other and form a bond many others would struggle to form.
āAlrightā She decided, falling into the comfortable silence of the warm summer night. āYou might know me a little bit too well, Taehyungā
He remained silent.
āItās only fair if you tell me a bit more about yourself, donāt you think?ā She insisted, nudging him softly against the elbow with her own, both leaning comfortably on the railing.
A sort of smile appeared on his face. āIf you think so, what would you like to know?ā
The opportunity of a lifetime, she believed. Her question had to be relevant, not Bangtan related and helpful to understand the type of man he was. After all, and despite having been close, he remained a mystery to her.
āWhatās so important about that beach house? I can tell itās more than an expensive home renovation for youā She asked, nervous. It could be entirely possible that he had agreed with other sorts of questions in mind, like his favorite food or color, not such a deep cut. But Y/n could just tell that house meant so much to him, how he transformed entirely when he talked about it or entered itās space. She was dying to know.
Y/n was surprised to see Taehyungās throat bob with a soft gulp. The sudden concern that sheād hit a nerve and surpassed the limits of professionalism sheād fought so hard for hit her like a ton of bricks.
āForgive me, I shouldnāt have asked-ā Her face was warm with heat and her hand landed on his forearm, concerned.
He interrupted her anxiety with his hand covering her own and a soft smile. āItās fine, I want to tell you, Y/nā
With a quiet āOhā her hands returned to their original position, leaning her chin on her palm and looking at the way his cigarette lit up in the dark of the night any time he took a drag from it.
āI made a promise, long ago, that Iād build that house and find happiness there, for me and my familyā
Family? She wondered. It was difficult to imagine such a man with a mother, father, even siblings when he seemed so alone all the time.
āBut you are making a one master bedroom with a guest roomā She pointed out. Perks of being the one in charge of choosing the bedsheets for said rooms.
He chuckled quietly, deep and rich. āAstute. I keep forgetting you are my designerā
The warmth on her face only intensified and she tried to hide it by turning away, clearing her throat and looking back at him with a frown. āI forget sometimes too.ā
He took a moment to forcefully not acknowledge her last comment and go back to the topic at hand. āFirst of all you are imagining the wrong kind of family. Iām an orphanā
She was so startled and empathetic that she couldnāt help but say, perhaps a little too excitedly: āMe tooā
A somber but sweet expression clouded his vision when he looked at her. āI knowā
Had she mentioned it before?
āHow do you-?ā She was at a loss for words. He saved her from the embarrassment of searching for them any longer.
āI keep forgetting you are my designer and you keep forgetting who I am and what I doā
Her throat, for some reason, felt slightly drier.
Y/n knew by now Taehyung had most likely killed a man for her that night at the club. She had come to terms not only with that but also with the fact that she didnāt mind it one bit. It was moments like this, however, that reminded her just how sick and twisted their relationship was. He was a killer and she was more than happy to stand besides him. How did that make her any sort of a better person?
āSo you do know me very well thenā She nodded at nothing in specific, acknowledging that he probably had done more than a thorough background check on her before ever meeting her.
āYou could say that. Do you still want to know more about me?ā Like he understood the - already blurry - lines between their relationship were blending further, and she might want out.
āYesā Y/n stood her ground, staring at him without backing down. Might have been crazy, everything that was unfolding between them without actually wording it, but she enjoyed it.
Taehyungās angelic features stared back at her, blinking slowly and taking a moment to process the revelations that had unfolded. Feeling everything tenfold and still swimming towards whatever end it would lead to.
āFirst of all, as I was saying, not that kind of familyā He doubled down, getting back on track. āI mean my brothers, you know the onesā
Assenting once again, she felt a sort of warmth in her chest at the recognition that he wasnāt entirely alone in this world, that he considered Bangtan his family. That they had grown up together and stood together to this day.
āSecondly,ā he continued āI mean find happiness for us all in a safe haven from the noise, not in the sense that they should all move in with me. Thatād be unbearableā He seemed to smile at the thought of having a full house of noisy siblings. For a second Y/n imagined a rowdy and noisy scene of seven men having the time of their lives after what had probably been a tough time.
It all seemed so incredibly private and personal that Y/n couldnāt really grasp how they had reached that point of intimacy in their conversation, but she was glad to be a part of it.
āThatās a lovely plan, Taehyungā She muttered, unsure whether her vocal participation was an intrusion or not. āIām glad I can help bring part of it to lifeā
Taehyung had finished his cigarette and was putting it off on the stone before throwing it out into the night. Out of all the terrible things he had probably done, Y/n didnāt know why that irked her the most, but she decided to swallow it down.
āDo you think Namjoon and Jane have assassinated each other in there?ā His turn in both conversation and direction as he leaned on is back and looked through the glass doors at the room inside.
She went along with him immediately, not turning around but letting the conversation take a drift in another direction. āIām sure they get along better than that, right?ā
For a moment Y/n looked down at her hands and Taehyung kept analyzing the scene inside where a different world seemed to be going on.
āItās not like they havenāt survived two years already, Iām sure theyāll be fine, right?ā She continued mindlessly talking, not looking at the way Taehyung tensed up, how his eyebrows furrowed and his hand landed on her shoulder softly.
āY/n, get to the groundā
āWha-ā Her body had started to turn in the direction he was looking at with confusion when he decided she was being too slow, taking both her shoulders, turning them around and crouching to the ground while shielding her.
The most deafening, all consuming and sudden sound reached her ears. In the midst of it all and through the haze of not understanding what was happening, she could hear glass crashing all over the place. Y/n only managed to cover her ears as Taehyung engulfed her in a protective hug whilst crouching on the ground.
Shook and confused, she turned to look at the building behind her with glossy eyes and ringing ears.
A bomb had just gone off.
And now hang tight for a week while waiting because thats how a cliffhanger works, love you lots for reading up until this point! <3
The second time they met in her office was, strangely enough, weirder than the first.
Soul Design, by prince-taehyung
Masterlist
Series Masterlist
Pairing: Mafia!Taehyung x female!reader
Chapter Warnings: Not too much, general mafia talk, some mention of cheating, pretty lowkey. Let me know if I missed anything.
Wordcount: 5.3k
Genre: Mafia Romance, Yearning, Fanfiction.
A/n: We are back! Act II has begun. It starts slow but hold onto the peace cause it will be short lived. Have much fun and comment what you think! <3
Donāt ever ask Y/n what insanity took over her when she decided to work with Taehyung, she doesnāt know and itās still a sensitive topic.
Could be gratitude, could be the need to finally listen to her emotions or it could also be the fact that she was daydreaming about designing that house. Perhaps a combination of all three.
Any and all concerns that had ever strayed her away from accepting seemed to fly out the window when she woke up without Taehyung in her house. His absence sparked a debate inside her mind about just how deep this manās presence had affected her day to day life. Did she miss him or did she miss the concept of someone who took care of her without having to ask for it?
Then again Jane had always taken care of her, Lila always had her back and Mrs Hannigan loved her like a grandmother. Y/n might not like depending on others, but she damn well knows the difference between someone who cares for her and someone who doesnāt give two shits. Lately Taehyung was showing her that even strangers can become essential support at your lowest, and she didnāt like that one bit. Everything she had always believed that she had to fight for everything by herself and depend on no one, - except the aforementioned three guardian angels - was starting to become a confusing blur of doubt. Even Grant had taken time out of his days to worry about her. Her.
It made no sense to her that anyone would go to such lengths for a woman such as herself, who offered nothing but dead weight in Taehyungās world. She was a witness and a loose strand in the perfectly compact cage that was his world and she couldn't, for the life of her, understand how she hadnāt been buried six feet under by now.
Instead, she found herself wanting to know more about him. Too many contradictions represented his image. Wearing a mask but taking it off the second they meet, having this secret life but walking around to her house like he was an old friend and being a mafia boss who wants to decorate his beach house like any other man with a retirement plan.
After all, Y/n wondered, what was the beach house about? Hoping to one day get the opportunity to dig further into what four empty walls could really represent to a man to go to such lengths to keep her around, she scheduled a meeting with him for later that week.
The second time they met in her office was, strangely enough, weirder than the first. For reasons unknown to her, Taehyung was presenting a less charming and approachable version of himself when he walked into her office behind Lila on Friday. As the girl closed the door Y/n curteously suggested he take a seat wherever he wanted. Taehyung looked around briefly, as if he didnāt know where anything was, before landing on the chairs before her desk and sitting down.
Y/n tried her best to treat the moment like any other casual first meeting with a new client, although it was a difficult task. That man had nursed her back to health a few days prior, which made suggesting curtains in the living room a bit unusual. She persisted, though.
Although out of the ordinary, she wouldnāt have described her relationship to him as a cold and distant one. They couldnāt swear they were friends, though there was a certain level of appreciation and respect - perhaps unilateral. So she was thrown back slightly by the strange way in which he wouldnāt meet her eye as intensely as before. He was acting as if they were strangers who had crossed paths exactly twice on the street and not with the closeness that represented them. Still, she never backed down and kept introducing ideas.
The goal of that first encounter was to grab the general feeling of the aesthetic the client wanted for their home. Y/n could have an opinion of her own about what colors suited best a beach house and how to match the general taste of the place, but no matter what she thought, the clientās needs and artistic vision was the most relevant part. Her job was to bring to life something that he enjoyed, not to play house with her own personal choices.
āMy current house isnāt decorated at all, it feels very dull and dark. I never bothered. Iād like that to change with this one.ā He explained to her after five minutes of discussing color schemes for the house. Y/n felt like light and blue tones might be perfect and he seemed to agree with her.
Something like curiosity - a highly unprofessional kind of curiosity - sparked in her chest at this. Did he live in a dark place without soul like any other mobster she could imagine? Why the sudden change of heart towards such a breezy, warm and soft house so far away from the crowded and noisy streets of the city? Every pore of her body urged to ask him about it, to know exactly what was going on inside his mind, but she pushed it aside.
Although it felt natural to her to talk about the most creative and pleasing aspects of designing this project, she knew another kind of conversation was pending between them. Judging by the fact that he hadnāt once smiled since he stepped inside and that his responses were short and to the point, she suspected he wasnāt in any mood to joke around, so she went straight to the point.
āIām sure you were surprised when we agreed to the project, I think I should explain myselfā She began, looking down at her laptop, closing it and setting it aside. A physical indication that the conversation was taking a turn into an unrelated topic.
āIām listeningā He answered, calm as ever, which only deepened her feeling that something was off.
āI know thereās a history between usā¦ā Well that was a weird way to start. She struggled for a bit, trying to redirect the conversation away from something awkward and into what she truly wanted to express. āā¦I mean, with everything that happened, I struggled to find a good reason to accept. I felt unsafeā
He moved in his seat a bit at her words, clearly uncomfortable by what he was hearing, but never wavered in the way his gaze was fixated on her, fully attentive.
āI donāt think I would have accepted if I didnāt know that youād agree to some boundariesā Finally the words emerged from her mouth, easing her the tiniest bit when he nodded.
āI wouldnāt have wanted you to accept without setting any boundaries as wellā He responded and for the first time he seemed slightly warmer than before, but not too much.
āGood. I have conditions, and they are pretty reasonable to me, but if they donāt seem reasonable to you we might as well part ways right now.ā
Despite having been on an emotional rollercoaster where she felt in danger, safe, worried again and trusting him the next, she thought it logical to be wary of his world. It was a weird thing to experience first hand, knowing full well the man sitting before her was a death sentence waiting to happen but knowing deep down that heād never purposefully harm her. Purposefully was the key word here.
āI know you are not a threat to me, that has become clearā He cleared his throat at her words. āBut your world most definitely isā
Taehyung merely nodded again, knowing she was far from over but agreeing with everything she had said so far, urging her to continue.
āI need to know, moving forward, that I will be completely separate fromā¦Bangtanā She whispered the name, as if invoking some sort of evil when saying it out loud. He flinched ever so slightly as she said it. āI know some things are out of my control, but I want no part in it if we can help it. I want to design this house, I really do, I wouldnāt have accepted otherwise, but I need to know thatās all there is to it.ā
He cleared his throat again, an entirely uncharacteristic thing for him to do twice in a row. Unsettling to watch such a composed man seemingly lose his composure.
āI could not agree more if I wanted, Y/n.ā He began after having found his voice again. āIf my word means that much to you, know that I will do everything in my power to never mix your world with mine again. I will only be Taehyung to you, always. Man who wants to move to the coast, nothing else.ā
A small smile cracked its way into her face at his words. Why she trusted him completely for saying that she didnāt know, after all men do lie - she knew that firsthand. She had a gut feeling, however, that Taehyung was being completely transparent and truthful with her.
āOkay, Iām glad we agree. I truly am very excited for this project and cannot wait to get startedā
For the first time since they had shaken hands at the door, Taehyungās lips curved ever so slightly. Even for just a moment Y/nās heart warmed at the sight. She had said what needed to be said and now the future was golden, new project, no doucheās, no William and for once she was getting what she wanted without feeling guilt.
āIn the interest of burying any unresolved issuesā¦ā He proposed, quickly bringing her back from dreamland and back to reality. His eyes remarkably soft after a long while of staying icy and focused āā¦there are some things Iād like to update you on before we close the book on Bangtan.ā
Right. Reasonable enough, she thought, nodding.
āWilliamā Strong start. āHe is working for a rival organization. We are still tying up some loose ends, not sure what his contact is because they keep their secrets under lock and key, understandably. What we do know is that they have offered him protection and supply if he brings them our names.ā
āYour namesā She registered, aloud. Given that she knew his identity so well by now, and fully suspecting that his friend Jungkook might be another member, Y/n struggled with the concept of the masks. If he had revealed himself so quickly to her, how could it be so difficult for organized criminals to find out who they were? It only made the whole situation much more interesting and curious to her, but she restrained from asking any further. āThat would be problematic, Iām sureā
He didnāt laugh at the clumsy way in which she had simplified his situation, merely nodded. āItās nothing new, everyone in the underworld is always trying to find out who we are. The issue is William thinks you might help him out and thatās why he kept reaching out.ā
āI would never help William find outā She tried to make that come out as a defense of her own innocence, but inevitably she sounded offended by the thought of helping out that scumbag in any sort of capacity.
āI know that very wellā His voice was smooth in a way that always managed to bring her away from rage and into a more calm point of view. With a newfound relief that Taehyung thought her incapable of such betrayal, she couldnāt help but frown.
āAlso, what do you mean ākept reaching outā? He only came to my apartment onceā Boy did she remember vividly how anxiety-inducing and violent it had all been. It was, after all, her first suspicion that Taehyung wasnāt the man he presented himself to be, while simultaneously confirming that William wasnāt the man she had once loved.
Taehyung seemed to think about speaking before responding, clearly not happy with having to say anything but committed to keeping things transparent. āHe tried to talk to you a few more times, actually, but we took care of itā
She gulped. Not so much worried about William breaking in again, because clearly that wasnāt an issue, but completely surprised that Taehyung had been so true to his word about keeping him at bay that he had a whole structure in place to keep her safe, and she hadnāt even noticed. Y/n tried to ignore the way her beating heart raced in her chest and cleared her throat.
āThatāsā¦ wowā Was the only thing she managed to murmur.
āThere really is no need to dwell on this as long as you understand that he is no longer someone you should be concerned aboutā He was clearly trying to take weight out of the situation and she was glad to allow him, feeling increasingly warm and grateful to him in ways he probably wouldnāt appreciate her expressing.
Because truthfully, and madly enough, Y/n wanted to jump out of her seat and hug the man to the ground.
āAnywaysā¦ā Taehyung continued. āWilliam will never bother you again, thatās for sure. Bangtan will never bother you again either. But I do have a requestā
Frowning, Y/n nodded. āWhat is it?ā Whatever could he want in return? Cutting ties with his mafia was the only possible outcome that benefited them both. She would no longer be a burden to him and he could no longer endanger her.
āGrant staysā
Oh. She must have looked quite taken aback, because he continued.
āThat doesnāt mean we will be watching you or bothering you, itās really just a safety measure until we are done with the projectā
āIf William isnāt an issue and I donāt owe Bangtan anything, how would there be a safety issue?ā Her question was, in her opinion, the most important one.
āIām the problem here, Y/n.ā He began, sighing and lowering his gaze to his hands, leaning forward and landing his elbows on his legs, never looking small or worried but anxious and serious. This was an entire new side of him, a bit more raw and unprecedented. He leaned back into his chair again and looked at her, piercing. āAs long as we work together, there will always be a risk and the only way to prevent that is to keep you shielded. No harm will come to you because we will not allow it, but for that to happen I need to bother you with Grant a bit longerā
When Y/n came back home from the helipad she knew her life would never be the same. In that moment, listening to Taehyung explain why Grant needed to stay, she felt like this was the new normal she had been wondering about all along.
Not entirely pleased but knowing it was for the best, she agreed. āFine. As soon as our work here is done, Grant can get on with his life.ā
āGreatā
She doesnāt want anything to do with Bangtan, he wants to keep her safe and this seemed like the rational middle ground.
How does one go on with a meeting about interior design with a client after discussing such themes?
Awkwardly, thatās how.
āDid I show you the pinterest board I saved for this project? Might give you a clear vision of what I had thought for the living roomā Was her original way of swaying the topic back to what mattered most.
With the promise to meet again in a few days to see the house in person and take the necessary pictures and measurements with her team, Taehyung and Y/n parted ways. In many ways she felt better. She had told him what she wanted out of their working relationship and he had agreed while offering protection. Sure, it meant she wasnāt as Bangtan-proof as she might have wanted, but trying to deny the existence of a threat wasnāt going to stop it from hurting her, she felt safer this way.
The quickest way she knew how to unwind was to visit the corner coffee shop near her apartment, something she hadnāt been able to do in a month full of mafias, sickness and emotional turmoil.
Ollieās was the shopās name, in honor of the ownerās dog. A lovely old lady that reminded Y/n of Mrs Hannigan in many of her mannerisms and care for her.
Jane and Lila would have probably scolded Y/n for āunwindingā like she did: with her laptop and a coffee, scrolling through emails and designs and putting everything in order. Could that be considered overtime? Sure, but as the boss she felt like no amount of work was ever enough. Besides, she loved her job beyond words, so it genuinely felt like a good way to spend her time, without a time limit and expectating looks around her, she could insert herself in the cushiony seat by the window and relax,.
Much to her dismay, late August in the city this year was a suffocating time. Her sigh of pleasure when she entered the air conditioned coffee shop was evident to Cynthia, the owner, as she walked inside.
āLong time no see, Y/nā Cynthia smiled from behind the countertop she was wiping clean.
āToo long, right?ā She smiled as she approached her.
āThe usual?ā The shop owner turned to start pressing buttons and moving ingredients like it was second nature.
āPleaseā Joy filled Y/nās chest as she watched the steam emerge from the machine and the smell of coffee invaded her senses.
For about an hour she scrolled through her laptop in peace, sipping her sweet beverage and forgetting about the world as a whole. On a few occasions she received texts from her best friend asking for advice on a dress for an event they would both attend soon. Jane always liked to dress her best on these occasions and loved asking for advice even if she ended up ignoring it. Y/n found it quite amusing.
As the sun started to set and the sunrays no longer reached her face through the shop window, hiding behind the buildings of her neighbourhood, she thought perhaps the time to go had arrived. Packing up her things and setting for the door she turned around once to wave goodbye to Cynthia. Once she turned back to the door she was surprised by a woman crashing right into her. Cold liquid seeped into her skin and she was thrown back to the ground. With an audible gasp the other woman stood up and hurried to help Y/n up.
The shock was the biggest part of the fall, and Y/nās shock only increased exponentially when she saw the face of the woman who kept apologising as they both stood up again: Rose.
The same Rose that had been laying on the ground of the helipad, unconscious. The same Rose that William had cheated on her on.
Y/n must have been too surprised about seeing her, because Rose frowned and asked āAre you okay? Iām so sorry Iām such a damn clutzā
Waking up from her statue-like-haze, and shaking her head quickly Y/n responded. āIām okay, you are fine, donāt worry.ā
Now that they stood face to face, Y/n could analyze her facial features further. Rose had a small scar, almost healed, on her temple, and she wondered if it had occurred on the night they were both taken. For some reason the girl in front of her had a red nose and signs of runny mascara. She had been crying, recently. The part inside her brain that urged her to despise her and everything she represented was fighting hard against the pity she started to feel at the sight. Womanhood means seeing another woman cry and running to offer a tissue.
She wanted more than anything to run out of the shop and forget that interaction had ever happened. Did Rose know who she was? That she knew her name? That she had despised her for an entire month without ever meeting her?
āPlease, let me pay for the drycleanerās, that stain is going to be tough to take outā The woman seemed truly perturbed by the fact that she had poured what seemed to be tea into Y/nās white shirt. Now that she looked down at her chest Y/n cursed mentally, knowing it would, in fact, be hard to remove.
āThatās fine, donāt worry about itā She tried to dismiss her and walk away, perhaps rudely, but she was now quite sure that Rose didnāt know her and would like to keep it that way.
āPlease, I insist.ā Rose pleaded with gleaming puppy eyes that would have been impossible to resist had Y/n not known who she was.
For a brief moment, the briefest, Y/n wondered how anyone could hate the person standing before her. She was beautiful, even after what seemed to have been a good cry, with short pixie hair and big eyes. Her entire presence was soft and delicate and she exuded nothing but a gentle behavior with good intentions. She was momentarily reminded of the fact that the true villain was William, and that Rose may not have even known she was āthe other womanā.
With a deep sigh, Y/n nodded. āFine, thank youā
Rose finally smiled apologetically, sniffled and reached into her bag, extracting a few seconds later a sleek black phone with no case. Perhaps it was odd to notice such things about people, but Y/n had a pretty cute and decorated phonecase that made the thought of having a naked phone seem bizarre.
āGive me your number and I will send you the money right awayā
A chill went up her spine at the thought of giving a stranger, specially this one, her phone. As quickly as she had accepted the help, Y/n was rejecting it again. āSeriously, donāt worry about itā
Rose was momentarily taken aback. It looked for a second like she was about to cry again and Y/n wanted to scream and run away. āIām so sorry, that was so rude, we donāt know each otherā
No words came out of Y/nās mouth after this, dumbfounded. Yes, it was all very weird, specially to her, but that was something she would not be explaining to Rose anytime soon.
After reaching into her bag a second time, Rose extended her hand towards Y/n with a twenty dollar bill.
āThat should cover the price of the drycleaners, please accept itā With the most annoyingly pleading eyes, Rose tried it one last time.
Y/n reached out towards her hand, and pushed it back against her chest softly. āKeep the money, it is seriously fine. Donāt worry about it, okay?ā
As gently and respectfully as she could, Y/n smiled and walked away, finally.
The dissipating warmth that started to welcome the nighttime hit her like a ton of bricks and for more than one reason she bolted in the direction of her apartment, never looking back.
The next week of work goes by like it always used to. She understood life differently now, watched over her shoulder perhaps slightly more than the average person - for good reason - but overall had started to feel the normalcy of her old life flooding through the cracks.
She could not, however, stop thinking about Rose.
The more she thought back to their brief but impactful meeting at Ollieās, the more she realized just how bent out of shape the woman had been. It hadnāt been just the few wounds she could spot or the tears that had seemingly been streaming down her face earlier. She had also looked tired and overall sad.
Could it be, maybe, that Rose was just another victim in Williiamās grandiose scheme? Had she been just as afected by his actions as Y/n had been? Perhaps more?
Y/n truly had no idea.
If she ever thought Rose would just be another mystery in her life, an unanswered question of a person she would never meet again, she was hugely mistaken. Not two days after their first fortuitous encounter, Y/n walked into Ollieās only to catch a glimpse of Roseās pixie haircut on her spot by the window.
Cynthia didnāt exactly save the spot for her, but in a way she did. It would be unfair to tell clients they couldnāt sit there if they wanted to, but before anyone suggested, around the afternoons when Y/n usually visited, Cynthia liked to offer other nice spots around her shop. Thatās why Y/n was surprised to find that it had been taken. Taken by Rose.
With an awkward glance around, Y/n realized the only space left was the table next to hers.
Damn.
Was she really about to leave one of her favorite places on earth for a person who didnāt even know her? A person who probably had no idea of what she represented or who she had hurt?
With a deep sigh and the conviction that Rose shouldnāt pay for the wrongs of men, Y/n walked over to the free spot and sat down.
Rose, who up until that moment had been completely immersed in a book, glanced up when she felt movement besides her. It took her exactly one second to glance down at her book and then back up at Y/n when she realized who she was. An uneasy smile was plastered on Y/nās face as her back leaned against her chair, greeting Rose, who put her book away like it burned her and fully handed her attention to Y/n with a big smile.
āItās you!ā The smiling woman exclaimed. āDid the stain get out okay?ā
Y/n nodded, not wanting to turn the conversation into a big moment. āYes, thank you again for helping out.ā
āHelping out? Iām the one to blame!ā Y/n tried not to dwell on the double meaning of that statement, repeating like a mantra: She doesnāt know, she doesnāt know.
Smiling once again and dismissing her comment with her hand, Y/n turned to her computer and looked for her headphones inside her bag with urgency. Maybe as soon as she put them on she would be able to silence everything else around her.
āListenā¦ I never caught your nameā
Of course she would.
The physical pull to close her eyes and sigh was too strong, but Y/n managed to smile instead and turn towards Rose once again. If saying her name didnāt completely reveal who she is to her, then nothing else would. It was worth a shot.
āMy name is Y/nā
Absolutely no sign of recognition went through Roseās expression whatsoever. Instead, her smile widened and she extended her hand in Y/nās direction.
āIām Rose. Itās very nice to meet you, Y/nā
With decreasing awkwardness and a big relief that her name didnāt spark any suspicion, Y/n shook her hand back.
āNice to meet you too, Roseā It felt slightly bitter in her mouth to say her name outloud, but she managed to hide it well.
āDo you usually work here?ā Rose pointed to her open laptop, without glancing at the screen.
āSometimesā Y/n responded. The conversation had started, unavoidable, and it seemed she could not escape it. Perhaps she wasnāt the evil woman she had pictured, but Rose was every introvertās nightmare. āCynthia and I go way back, I love this placeā
āThatās niceā Rose nodded like the story was passionate and interesting, when in reality there was nothing out of the ordinary about it. It seemed life was exciting and positive all around in Roseās big bright eyes. āI love reading here, it helps me focusā
Y/n couldnāt help it, she glanced at the closed book on her table: Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen. Y/n considered herself a big fan of Austenās work, specially Pride and Prejudice, so she couldnāt help following the conversation with ease.
āI love that bookā She blurted out.
āIām loving it so far too,ā Rose added. āI had never read Jane Austen beforeā
The shock on Y/nās face was unstoppable. It was her truest belief that everyone should read Jane Austen always, for any reason.
āBetter late than neverā Was her response. āI think you should read Emma, itās light and funny and one of her best works.ā
āI heard about it, I canāt wait to pick it upā Rose now looked at her copy of Northanger Abbey as she talked, then back up at Y/n. āI just love the way she analyzes peopleā
Y/n wanted to clap and stand up. It was probably the poorest compliment anyone had ever given to Jane Austen, but so true at the same time. What she adored most about her writing style was the way she managed to capture everyoneās personality without much effort or long boring descriptions. The way her heroines navigated through a world where they found out with the reader just how curiously people can behave in different social settings. Not to mention the romance, friendships and hardships they go through.
Without fully delving into the many, many reasons why one should love her books, Y/n simply replied, āI love that about her tooā
Not having intended it, Y/n found herself leaning forward and into the conversation. Time started to fly by as they jumped from topic to topic, books, movies, coffeeā¦ an endless loop of wonderful chit chat and nothing relevant.
For some reason, somehow, they managed to end up talking about relationships. Y/n, who had previously been relaxed and content, suddenly felt nervous hearing Rose confess that she had broken up with her boyfriend a month prior.
āI found out he was cheating on meā The young woman said, making Y/n gulp like it was her fault. She understood several thing simultaneously, things she had already believed to be true: Rose didnāt know who she was, she had been a victim of Williamās game and she was just as sad and haunted as her.
āIām very sorry to hear thatā Y/n said and she truly felt it. Any and all doubts she might have had about the type of person Rose was, melted away. āIā¦ I have been cheated on myselfā
The implications of telling that girl that she had been in the same situation were perilous at the slightest, because she had quite literally been in the same situation.
āMen fucking suckā Rose announced, fully correct.
āThey sure doā Y/n agreed.
Rose suddenly looked at her phone, she had received a text message.
āOh shootā She stood up and hurriedly began picking up her stuff. āI forgot, I gotta go. We really got caught up and I didnāt look at the time.
Y/n glanced at the screen of her phone āOh shitā It had been almost two hours of conversation. She had done absolutely no work.
āRightā Roseās soft laugh echoed in the almost empty coffee shop as she hung her bag over her shoulder. āHereās my phone number, Y/n. I loved hanging out, we should do it again.ā
Y/n grabbed the piece of paper like it was fleeting. It was the first time in her short existence that she had made a friend, if she could even consider her that, out of the blue in a public setting. The last time she had become friends with someone it had been Lila. Or Taehyung if one could even consider him that.
It felt very special to her keeping her phone number and saving it in her phone.
āIād love to hang out again, Roseā
It felt surreal but it was true, Y/n had found friendship in the one person her ex had cheated on her with.
āA man capable of taking so much life, suddenly brought to his knees at the thought of hearing her sniffle too loudlyā
Soul Design, by prince-taehyung
Masterlist
Series Masterlist
Pairing: Mafia!Taehyung x female!reader
Chapter Warnings: Stalking, murder, violence, obsessive behavior, mafia behavior, gun mentions, heās cray cray in this one folks. Let me know if I missed anything.
Wordcount: 5.1k
Genre: Mafia Romance, Yearning, Fanfiction.
A/n: So so so excited for this one! I personally loved seeing Taehyungās thoughts and feelings come to life with his own perspective. Enjoyed writing this like no other and I hope it shows. Also, Act I finishes with this one, which means nothing in terms of update schedule, but does signify important changes in the story are coming, enjoy! Lots of love <3!!
A few weeks earlier
Taehyung had done this enough times to know where to hide. Interestingly enough this time he chose to stand under the one functioning streetlight, leaning his back on the tall lamppost with a cigarette between his lips, mist and night enveloping everything that didnāt touch the gloomy light. After two or three days of doing this he knew it didnāt matter whether he hid in plain sight, Y/n was too engrossed in her own work to ever notice anything else happening around her. The street was empty after dark and that part of the city had a curious tendency to fall silent at those hours. Nightlife and neon lights happened somewhere else. During the day, the area that surrounded Y/nās studio was peaceful, filled with lively parks and a few coffee shops, but at night it became an entirely different scene - dark, foggy and solitary.
He lifted his heavy gaze towards the one window that mattered, the only light left on inside the building: her office. As far as Taehyung knew she did this often - work until late hours - but then again he had only been stalking her for a few days, so what did he know?
Namjoon would kill him if he knew what he was doing. Sure, he had been somewhat instructed to follow her, but this was a far stretch and he knew it. As part of Bangtan, Namjoon trusted him with what he knew how to do best: gain information. William Carson had managed to owe them too much, dealing with the low level, unprepared and impulsive crooks too often and promising too much in return. They had failed to see that business with William was bound to failure, and now the higher ups had to clean the mess.
William Carson had a lesson to learn, and while Taehyung usually enjoyed the part of his job where he delved into the deepest secrets of people, getting to know him was both too easy and a pain in the ass. The man was boring and idiotic, it would have been too easy to simply rope him into a meeting and beat his ass to submission. Nothing about him would have ever caught his attention in any other circumstance: finance bro, nepotism and inferiority complex, same old same old. But Taehyungās specialty was finding out what made people bow to others, and despise hating his personality and knowing William had nothing of interest to offer them, he did his job to perfection. The question he always asked himself with every new pray: What is most precious to them? Could be money, love or even power. Money was off the table because the idiot didnāt have much to start with - not enough to pay them, anyways - and power was something William Carson clearly craved, but it was handed to him or would be as soon as his daddy handed him the company.
As a smart man he also understood his feelings in this particular situation werenāt ordinary. Plenty of beautiful women had approached him in his lifetime and he had seen great women go to impossible lengths for men who didnāt deserve it. Up until that moment it had seemed like something out of his control, beyond his reach and not of his incumbence.
The first time he followed her was a night such as this, starting off like any other investigation would, knowing her name, place of work and address and deciding to pay her a visit for research purposes. He had done this a hundred times. He had followed debtors home many times before, killed, threatened and stalked people like it was second nature. So the way his heart started beating, clawing out of his chest when he caught a glimpse of her bathed in moonlight walking to her car scared the living hell out of him. He soon found himself reading about her online, her professional accolades, her likes and dislikes on any social media platform he could find and her art. Her art and creative mind was such a labyrinth of emotions for Taehyung that he had to close his laptop with a loud bang against his home desk and go for a walk to clear his mind. In just twenty four hours she had gone from mere target to his own target, unrelated to Bangtan business and completely personal and precious.
It always did feel different whenever he followed an innocent person, one he knew might get caught in the crossfire of whatever bad luck fate had in store for them, because Taehyung knew - or was fully convinced - that his shadow created such bad luck for anyone who dared approach. If you were on his list, chances were your grave was being dug up, no loose ends and such trivial matters. Bangtan tried its best to keep blameless souls out of harm's way, but it wasnāt guaranteed. Fucking William Carson was to blame for the shadow that was Kim Taehyung following Y/n home.
The mere thought made him hold onto the cigarette between his slender fingers a bit too tightly, breaking it in half. He quickly chucked it away and continued glancing at the soft light emanating from the office. Such a woman, she was. Smart, talented and gorgeous. Whatever jokes William must have told her to convince her to marry him, he was dying to know. With a ātskā of his tongue and knowing he had lingered on for long enough - his sanity hanging by a thread - he turned back into the dark and disappeared.
Whatever drug Y/nās eyes had been injected with that he couldnāt erase them from his brain, he had to know. Never in his life had he become so enchanted with something, frustrating and confounding him to no end. In just one night, after watching her for the first time, she had him in a tight grasp he hadnāt been able to shake. Guilt and strange emotions rattled against his ribcage whenever his name popped into his mind - which was much more often than heād like to admit - because he knew he no longer watched her out of necessity but desire.
So the plan was in motion, pretty standard: kidnap the woman he loves, threaten him with her life, voila, hereās your money back. The only doubt was, who would be enough? Rose or Y/n. See, William had been cheating on Y/n with Rose for a few months now. Incredibly so and completely the wrong choice in Taehyungās mind because Y/n was a million times the woman Rose ever could be. In his mind, whether William preferred Rose or not, there was no way a rational man wouldnāt crumble to his feet at the mere thought of a hair on Y/nās head being touched. Then again, William was most clearly not a rational man.
So it began, pushing his own low opinions of William out of his mind, Taehyung carried out his mission like he always had: flawlessly. Except for one small, unimportant aspect: he revealed his identity to her.
Going into her office with the mask on was like a fantasy come to life. He had visited it once before on a sleepless night when no one was left inside the building. The Bangtan Phantom could, after all, cross into any space without being detected. It was a powerful place to find himself in, but personal to her in the way she was written over every corner. She clearly owned it but wasnāt ostentatious about it. Her most recent project was splattered all over the room in the shape of sketches, floor plans and color palettes. It was like seeing her brain in pictures and moodboards and it invited him in like a moth to a flame.
āWho invited you into my office?ā Thatās the first thing she ever said to him. He loved it and disliked it in equal parts. Loved how confident she pretended to be and hated that she so naturally put herself in further danger. Any other psychopath - because he was a very specific brand of psychopath - would have gotten angry at her attempt at authority and shut her up really fast. Taehyung merely contained a smile.
He knew he was wrong for showing her his face. That part was completely unnecessary. He was in for an earful when Namjoon found out, because he would find out, as the leader of Bangtan always does. But he didnāt care, he selfishly needed to see her as Taehyung, not another masked man, not as the phantom he was at night but the man that had become obsessed with her existence. The - many - other times he had kidnapped people, innocent or not, he didnāt give reasons, he didnāt introduce himself, he obviously did not take his mask off and he certainly didnāt worry for their wellbeing throughout. What the hell was wrong with him?
Only after the events of the helipad did he consider his actions with regret. Only after realising how scared she was of her shadow, how paranoid she had become that someone must be watching her - smart as always - did he really start to feel the guilt. In fact, when he got the call that William was trying to break into her house, Taehyung almost ran over several people trying to get there as fast as possible. Any other text message he would have ignored, but anyone else would not have had his number, so she was not to blame once again. The way she had broken down in anxiety and asked him to stay shattered his already fragmented heart. What had he done? If he hadnāt roped her in, William wouldnāt be trying to talk to her, drugged out of his mind and pretty obviously wanting to know what she knew about Bangtan and even - possibly, try to get a fruitless revenge on them.
He had then and there taken a personal vow to do everything in his power to protect that woman, always, whatever the cost.
It was the only thing that eased his mind a bit, knowing Grant would be around and that Taehyung would drop anything and everything at her command if she needed it. Mad, right?
Jungkook must have noticed his friendās mood shifting the night he invited him out for drinks at one of his clubs. Could he blame him? William was a loose cannon, Y/n was scared and he was to blame for all of it. Taehyung did not like to go out as much as before, so it had been a while since he last found the motivation. Maybe a night out and a few whiskeys would do the trick, maybe help him find his focus again, away from the perfect woman whose life he had ruined and back to being a ghost.
But fate had funny ways of working.
Of course she would be at his club. Of course she would be dancing with her friends, the neon lights shifting in colors that bathed her in an ethereal glow he could not stop looking at. He didnāt even listen to half of the stuff Jungkook was telling him about his new girlfriend when his eyes met her dancing figure. All the worries he had seen plastered on her face over the last few weeks had washed away with the rhythm of the music. The fearful expressions and concerns had been replaced with a sweet smile and closed eyes as her hips swayed from side to side like a movie made specifically for him. His throat went dry and he couldnāt take his eyes of her as he took a big swig from his glass.
For a moment he felt comfort in watching Y/n again after so long. He had grown used to waiting for her to leave her office and go home, watching her every move and learning the small quirks she exposed during that time, like the way she would tie her hair back when the project was specially stressful, or how she drank coffee every morning with too much sugar and took it to work with her. It had become a bit of a routine to wait, just wait, and observe from afar. It was a nice change of pace to not be looking for her in the crowd and find her. This new sight of her, so free, warmed his icy heart like nothing had in a long time.
Which probably explained why he saw red when that manās hand landed on her, unwanted.
Killing him had been the second best thing that happened to him that week, Y/n gracing him with his presence being the first, of course. In fact, he didnāt even regret it after getting her text. If he had known that the douche knew her name and Williamās, well sure, he could have gotten some information out of him before putting a bullet between his eyebrows, but whatās done is done. Taehyung didnāt need someone to be alive to find out all their secrets, thatās how good he was at his job.
He quickly found the doucheās name, Mark, his address, work and blood type with a quick visit to his apartment with Jungkook as soon as the girls got in the car and drove away. Jungkook was much more impulsive and hot headed than him, so he didnāt quite understand why they were studying this manās life with such patience. If it were up to Jungkook, in fact - and as he described to Taehyung while they roamed Markās living room - the douche would have been bloody, beaten and forgotten in a dumpster by now. But Taehyung liked to take his time when getting to know his next target. He also liked things clean and quick, a bullet did the trick if he didnāt have anything to extract from his victim.
In a twisted way he also liked to justify his kills, often making sure the victim knew why their time had come. So after learning why he was about to die, Mark apologized profusely for disrespecting women repeatedly - because it sure as hell had not been the first time - but Taehyung felt like it was too little too late.
He didnāt sleep that night either.
Not that he did often, his insomnia was a shadow that had followed him closely throughout his teenage years and into the present adulthood. One might think it weird for a man so used to such horrors as murder to be burdened with sleepless nights and guilt, but lately Taehyung was growing tired of the life he had led. Lately he imagined what a certain woman might truly think of him if she ever understood just how fucked up he truly was and the fear paralyzed him.
Nothing, however, paralyzed him more than learning that she was sick. He had abandoned the meeting he was in, Jimin stopped talking when he saw Taehyung simply stand up and walk out of the room without explanation. With worry and haste he got into his car and sped through the city like the sun was about to turn off and he was the one who could reach the light switch in time.
Grant had texted him the day before saying she was acting weird, that she might have a slight cold. Taehyung decided that a fully grown and responsible adult such as herself could take care of a cold, right? Wrong. According to Grant the situation was dire and she wasnāt accepting any help. Scattered thoughts of what kind of hell a person has to go through to behave like that went through his mind, but no rational answer came to him. What could have happened to her as a child, teen or young adult to not be able to accept help? Taehyung knew enough, he knew she was an orphan and knew how few people she kept around, which was a clear indicative that she placed trust on people very rarely and with much caution.
If she wouldnāt listen to Grant and if she wouldnāt ask her friends for help, he would make sure she didnāt act so stupidly any further. Accumulated frustration at the situation and worry for not knowing the extent of her condition made him knock on the door with more force than was perhaps necessary.
āGrant, I said-ā Her weak, tired voice reached him as soon as she opened the door, expression mixing exhaustion and surprise when she realized who was knocking on her door. āWhat are you doing here?ā
The way every muscle in his body tensed at her mere presence, how his hand involuntarily landed on her forehead to check just how bad the fever might be was completely unexpected to both him and her.
He felt like punching the wall, but contained effortlessly, because she looked like a very small and weak version of herself that he hadnāt seen before. However empathetic he felt for her current situation, he couldnāt help the frustration running through his veins at her stubbornness. Had she simply admitted to being sick and needing help, Grant would have been able to make her feel better. On the other hand, Taehyung took great pleasure in lifting her from the ground and placing her on her bed like a punishment she couldnāt refuse, it was evident that she wouldnāt listen to reason so he had to take matters into his own hands and make her comply. He didnāt love cooking and he didnāt hate it either, but he stepped into her kitchen like it was second nature and spent two whole hours making the most nutritious and uplifting soup he could muster with the few ingredients he could find, knowing full well anything at all in her stomach would be enough.
While she slept, because she fell into a very, very deep sleep as soon as the medicine took effect, Taehyung started cleaning her house. In a brief moment of clarity he caught himself in a mirror, holding three pink mugs, a trashbag with tissues and one of her ruffled fluffy blankets hung over his shoulder to fold later. He stopped in his tracks at the unrecognizable image and blinked slowly, then shook his head and kept walking. If any of his mates could see him now, they would think him a stranger. He didnāt recognize the man looking back at him either, and it made the palpitations in his chest vibrate all over his ribcage in all sorts of weird ways. A man capable of taking so much life, suddenly brought to his knees at the thought of hearing her sniffle too loudly.
He tried to convince himself that he owed this to her - which he did, honestly - and that it was all that was happening. That no one else would have been able to convince her to just take care of herself, which might have just been true given that Grant was unsuccessful and Jane - the person she trusted most in the world - was nowhere to be seen. It made him think that she despised opening up to anyone, being vulnerable, which just propelled his curiosity forward.
Throughout the night, and because sleep avoided him like the plague, he checked on her constantly. In fact, he alternated between looking at her books and sneaking into her room to check her temperature. In those odd moments where he found himself caressing the skin of her face looking for any signs of fever, he also took the moment to analyze the possible reasons for not wanting to stop. It didnāt make much sense to him that anyone could keep his mind so occupied with their image for hours on end. He had never experienced grabbing a book - from her library - and suddenly picturing the female lead as her. Unprecedented levels of obsession that frightened him and excited him in equal measure.
It became pretty clear to him what books she enjoyed more than others. Plenty of them had bookmarks around the middle, as if she hadnāt finished them. Others had creased corners and marks that indicated a thorough and enjoyed read, even with notes and post its on them. Taehyung hated when people creased books and wrote on them. Whenever he borrowed a book from Namjoon and found comments on corners or pages bent in awkward angles in the absence of a book mark, it made his skin crawl. Examining Y/nās books, however, he suddenly found the image of used and reused books charming, like the happiness or fulfillment they must have brought her were palpable.
While sitting on her armchair, holding the most used and annotated book he could find - ergo her favorite - he pondered long and hard about his current situation. The series of events in his existence that had led him to a life of crime were clear. The series of events that had led to holding a womanās life so close to his chest were also clear: Y/n was unfortunate enough to have met William and William had been stupid enough to get into business with Bangtan. The reasoning, however, for caring so deeply about this womanās wellbeing is what eluded him completely, feeling completely protective and concerned for her at all times. Fine, she was beautiful, smart and creative, all wonderful characteristics that should not matter in his line of work. Bangtan didnāt take in any more stray dogs than the original seven, because they had to admit at one point thatās all they ever were, so taking pity on her was out of line and not an option. Had he merely taken pity on her, sending a low level member to check on her every now and then would have been enough, but Taehyung had appointed Grant - the man that had served him loyally for his whole criminal life - to be whatever she needed from him. As if that didnāt suffice, on multiple occasions Taehyung had dropped everything to run in her direction, surprising not only himself, but the members as well.
His hand traveled lazily from his forehead to his chin, exasperated, and with a sigh he stood up to pace around the living room. His face twisted suddenly in the direction of her door, slightly ajar, and he wondered for a moment if it was too soon to check on her again. He discarded the idea with a shake of his head and looked out the window instead. Y/nās apartment had a wonderful view of the city skyline, which distracted him, if only for a brief moment, about the torment of emotions that rattled in his mind.
He was on page 324 by the time Y/n woke up in the middle of the night. With a beating heart and a tense jaw he waited for her footsteps to end by the couch and her soft voice to speak as she said: āWhy are you awake at-ā Her eyes studied the clock on the wall behind him quickly ā-4 a.mā
Although he knew she was bound to wake up eventually, and having fallen asleep before dark it would be at an odd hour, he clearly wasnāt ready to see her yet. Admitting to her that everyone of his thoughts was being consumed by her existence and not even Jane Austenās wonderful style could distract him from it wasnāt an option. Explaining that he would not have been able to fall asleep even if a car dropped on his head seemed like a similarly bad idea, so he chose to simply close the book and say: āReading.ā
āThank you for coming todayā She had softly spoken.
āAre you feeling better?ā Was the only thing he mustered out without losing his voice.
After receiving a quick nod and a soft āyesā Taehyung decided his job there had concluded. While standing up he pointed to the medicine and quickly instructed her to take it, no room for argument. While turning around and fully aware that he had to carefully consider his behavior over the past few weeks as soon as he got home, he decided to let an impulse win and say what was on his mind.
āY/nā Her name felt illegal in his mouth, but he continued anyway. āYou need to take care of yourself.ā I was worried sick, he wanted to say. āGrant was worried sickā
She laughed it off quietly and suggested apologising to him with doughnuts, which Taehyung didnāt really understand, so he skipped right past it and continued his journey to the door, grabbing his jacket in the process.
āYou are leaving.ā It wasnāt a question.
Taehyung cursed his life a few more times as he turned around and asked, with the straightest face he could muster. āDo you need me to stay?ā It would have been a bold faced lie if he said part of him didnāt hope she said āyesā.
āItās 4 a.mā She reminded him, as if he wasnāt fully aware that it had been more than twenty four hours since he last slept.
āIām aware, but Iāve overstepped into your life enoughā He meant every word. āYou look much better and you have learnt your lesson, I hopeā He still doesnāt know why he said that, but there you go. āI shouldnāt intrude any furtherā
His hand turned on the doorknob, almost free from the torment of her sight. So, so close to being outside and starting to build the walls he was so used to.
āWait, I- I donāt think Iāve thanked you enough, forā¦ well, everythingā
Fucking hell.
Not only was she an endearing sight of hope and wonder when he turned around, but she was clearly desperate for some sort of interaction between them. Was this woman so used to handling things by herself that she thought of him as a savior? Was that admiration he saw in her eyes? The concept of him saving anyone was ridiculous, not to mention the only thing he had caused her time and time again was harm.
āYou donāt need to thank me for anythingā And he meant it.
Then she proceeded to list the things any human being with a brain would have done for her if she asked: āYou save me from my ex, you save me from the weirdo at the club and now you save me from myself. I think thatās plenty to be grateful for.ā
The blood inside his veins was starting to boil to the point where it might just evaporate. It was frustrating enough to learn that she didnāt understand that he was the root of her issues, but what made his skin crawl was how quickly she could attach to anyone who cared even a little. He had to run away, he had to establish limits, he had to move to another country and save her from himself.
āIām no savior, Y/n, youād do well to remember that. I did this because Grant asked, because there was no one else stupid enough to come heer and try to talk some sense into you. Because you wouldnāt have listened to Grant, or Jane, or Lila.ā
He could have probably been softer, but the urge to redirect her away from him was so strong he couldnāt help it. āI certainly donāt deserve anyoneās gratitude, especially yours, so save it. Please take your medicines and let Grant know if you need anything.ā
Finally opening the door and stepping out he uttered a last: āGoodnight, Y/n.ā With the conviction that he should never bother this woman again in her life.
Three nights later, with a glass of whiskey in his hand and leaning against the window of his apartment Taehyung reflected on his life choices. Not too much, because he might as well end up shooting himself in the foot. The penthouse was lifeless and dark, since he never got around to decorate it to his taste, and with the lights off the view of the city at night was enchanting in a way that only sort of eased his mind.
His final decision was to never interfere with her life again. After learning that she was no longer sick he only doubled down on his choices. It was for the best, after all. Grant would take care of anything else she needed and eventually Bangtan would be gone from her life, just as soon as William was six feet under and no one else dared bother her. Taehyung would take care of that.
The high pitched ringing of his phone startled him and removed any sort of peace he might have found since he decided never to see Y/n again.
Placing the now empty glass back down on the table he glanced at the number, he didnāt quite recognize it, but he picked it up anyways. Since it was his personal phone it could be anyone from a distributor to any of his clubs to any other business issues outside of Bangtan.
āYes?ā He answered curtly.
āMr Kim?ā A gentle feminine voice he didnāt recognize greeted him. A mere acknowledging grunt on his part urged her to continue, not in the mood to talk at all. āIām Lila, from-ā
He didnāt need her to continue, because as soon as she said her name he knew it was your studio. Without interrupting her, though, his eyes widened slightly and he almost dropped the phone. He knew exactly how that phone call was going to go and he hadnāt thought about it at all in so long that he had almost forgotten.
ā-but Iām sure you remember. I was calling in regards to the project you wanted to take on with us?ā She had continued to softly explain on the phone as he gathered his courage and thoughts.
āYes?ā He knew her next words. He despised her next words. How had he forgotten about this?
āIām happy to tell you we have accepted your proposal. Y/n would love to take on the beach house.ā
To be continuedā¦
A/n: Just when he decides to step back, she ropes him back in! Hope you liked it! Comment what you think and remember Taglist is Open!
Check out my masterlist and the Soul Design masterlist!
This story will remain a Taehyung x reader all the way through. In fact, all future stories in this universe will be x reader, no OCās. I will explain how it will work in the future, for now sit back and enjoy!
Two chapters coming in hot this week, hang tight! Might drop a teaser soonā¦ <3
hi hi! thought Iād stop by and give my opinion! first of all loooooove your story<3 I personally donāt really like stories with OCās, I guess I like to feel immersed in the story and thatās why I love when writers use y/n!
I just canāt get through reading somebodyās elseās names, it truly feels like reading someone elseās story and I guess I love fanfiction because it gives me a chance to daydream
I have to be honest, when reading soul design and having the suspicion that āLilaā was gonna be the OC in another storyline I got kinda sad cause I knew I was probably not gonna enjoy reading it, or maybe not even try because of that same situation, even though the plot is SO GOOD
It just adds a weight to the character that wasnāt before, like the name just straight up gives it like a personality despite any traits, and somehow makes it feel weirdly impersonal
With that being said, I know it would be like really weird and confusing to have your 3 stories connected and using Y/N in the three of them (even though, personally I wouldnāt truly mind, I think Iād be able to get behind it cause Iām loving the plots)
Sooo just an idea! I donāt truly know how it could work, but, maybe to have all the storylines be sort of like x reader, but without fully being that way, give the character (reader) a nickname? a cute callsign maybe, never really mention her name for different reasons (sheās always loved her childhood nickname, it feels more personal, she feels more loved, feels like it suits her personality, whatever) and just personally, thinking about it feels closer to the feeling of Y/N than an OC
Could be angel, doll, love, sunshine, star? Somehow for me if gives the idea that it could still be me whoās in that story, and I donāt know if for you as a writer it could help separate the stories with different ācharactersā
ugh I felt that it was too much text, sorryyyyyy, hope it helped in any way, and if not feel free to ignore my thoughts lollllll, lots of love<33
Hi love! Thank you for giving your opinion I absolutely love it!
I adore adore adore these ideas! I am now fully brainstorming a way to avoid turning these stories into OCās. Mainly because your opinions tell me so, but also because I personally prefer reading a x Y/n story. What kind of aspiring fanfic writer would I be if I went against my own beliefs?
So thank you everyone for telling me, these comments are exactly what I wanted to hear, thank you!
I will let you know soon what solution Iāve come up with!
Hi again! Just a wanted to make sure I was not confused. When the story is about for example Namjoon and the reader, will it be Y/N? And if there is any interaction with Tae or Jk will the reader have a name. Idk if that makes sense. Thank you once again for answering. š¬
The idea was that I change all 3 stories to an OC so it doesnāt become confusing, but since Iāve seen many comments that donāt like OCās, Iām now brainstorming solutions to avoid using them.
Love you guys for asking and stay tuned because I might have a solution that avoids turning each story into x OC!
Hi doll, hope you are doing well. I love your mafia and Tae. And I am glad you are able to expand. I just wanted to give my opinion. Please I hope you donāt get offended. I personally do not read an OC character. But you are the author and you have the right to write as you please. I am so glad to have run into this Tae. I am fairly new to the fandom and I have been really enjoying it. Please take care of yourself and donāt stress about it.
Hi!! Love this and thank you for giving your opinion! Not offended in the slightest, in fact, Iām not usually a fan of OCās myself.
I just know that the story would not make sense in the other two POVās (JK and RM) if they know a girl named Y/n, you know?
This is a big decision and itās exactly why I love to know what people think.
Love you anon I hope I donāt disappoint in the future and please continue reaching out with your opinions, they mean a lot to me!
If you are following my Soul Design Fanfic, this post is for you.
Iām thinking about a Major change in the story, so hear me out.
When I first started writing Soul Design I did it with two more stories in mind, one for Jungkook and one for Namjoon. They happen in the same universe and in a similar timeline.
The original plan was to post Taehyung x reader first and then the other two in order.
But I have such a big itch to just start publishing for the other stories too because I want to share them so bad. It would be crazy work to post three works at the same time but Iām sooooooo excited to do it.
The only problem is, Y/nās name is Y/n. If I publish the other ones, the logical thing would be to change her name to an ocās name, like Lila and Jane.
Thatās what this post is about.
How would you feel about turning Y/n into an OC named Cora? (Itās the one I wrote for the other fics but a quick search by name can fix that)
Would you like other names? If so, please let me know.
I would love to hear everyoneās opinions, anonymous or otherwise, text me in private or under this post, anything goes. I just want to know what you think.
As soon as I get the replies Iād get to work and begin publishing the other stories little by little. If you want, I can get you a sneak peak of the vibe of each story!
Thanks for reading until the end, lots of love!! <3
Iām slightly drunk at a house party and probably shouldnāt be writing this but Iām getting so much love for Soul Design and I love you all and thanks for giving it a shot!
Wish I was in bed reading fics and canāt wait to keep publishing more! <3
