Jumin’s Route: Prologue
Here we go! I don’t know if I’ll be updating more than once a week, but be sure to follow over on AO3 or here so you don’t miss when I do!
Deep Route Prologue from Jumin’s POV. First run will do the first 4 days and then through Jumin’s route to the Good End. I’m planning to do each day as a separate update, but I may need to break them down as some of the longer days come on.
Hope you like it!
Jumin traced his fingers through Elizabeth the 3rd’s hair and sighed at the RFA chat. Once again, Yoosung had failed his finals. “That young man needs someone to be an example, Elizabeth. He needs someone to give him some motivation and remind him where he’s going in life.”
Elizabeth looked up with sleepy, blue eyes and chirped softly at her owner.
“Yes, perhaps it will have to be me,” he responded. Tapping rapidly on his phone, he reminded Yoosung that he needed to mind his GPA if he wanted that internship.
Almost immediately, Jumin regretted his decision to make such a comment in the open chat instead of privately. Zen jumped right in to try to take a swing at him. “Do you see this arrogance, Elizabeth? He just accused me of nepotism!”
Suddenly, Jumin froze in the middle of typing a message to explain the difference between recruiting and nepotism. Seven had just announced that someone entered the chat! Scrolling back, he looked to the telltale notification of someone entering, but saw nothing. He looked at the listing of people and saw a new name, one he did not know.
“MC…?” he asked in the chat.
The others became frantic when Seven announced the intruder to be a hacker, but the new person remained silent.
“Alright then, a direct approach. Please excuse me, Elizabeth. I must handle this situation immediately.” He gave the white cat beside him a regretful look before turning his attention back to his phone.
“Who are you? Reveal yourself. Hey, Assistant Kang.” he typed. Hopefully his assistant hadn’t gone to bed yet. Ah, good, she was still there.
“Why is there a stranger in our chatroom?” he asked. The instant he sent the question he wondered why he was asking her. She wouldn’t likely know.
To his complete surprise, the new person finally spoke. One simple word. “Hello.”
As the others continued their panic, he and Assistant Kang tried to understand how a stranger got into the secured app. There wasn’t time to make much progress before Seven dropped the news that stopped Jumin’s world.
The newcomer was in Rika’s apartment. The secure, top secret location from which the charismatic leader of the RFA had worked. The hidden home of his dear friend, and this stranger was there. Ignoring the sudden chill that passed over his heart like a shadow crossing the moon, he clenched his jaw and typed again.
“Quit shitting around. MC… Who are you? Reveal yourself, stranger. If you do not reveal yourself you will pay.”
He couldn’t believe his hands were trembling as he typed. Someone was in the apartment belonging to his friend, his dead friend. Her apartment, though he didn’t know its location, was like a shrine in his heart. His anger at this violation simmered even as he struggled to maintain his control and think his way through this startling moment.
The others instantly became distracted, discussing whether Zen were famous or not. The actor had some measure of popularity. Why anyone needed to discuss such an abundantly clear fact was beyond Jumin’s comprehension. That they seemed to feel the need to do it right now irritated Jumin.
“Hey. Don’t get distracted.” he reminded the younger men. He followed it with the simplest question he could for their abrupt visitor. “Who are you? Reveal yourself right now.”
“I am MC. Who are you all and what is this place?”
Jumin blinked as the innocent seeming question appeared before him. He didn’t trust whoever was typing it, but it was so simple that his anger stumbled in its course.
Despite Jumin warning everyone not to, Zen began introducing himself. Considering how strongly he responded to MC’s question, it only made sense that Zen would react almost instantly. He watched as the conversation continued. Seven and then Yoosung introduced themselves.
“Gah! Elizabeth, that Seven just revealed my identity, without consent!” Jumin reprimanded Seven in the chat as he muttered his discontent to his companion. “And now he’s telling… oh, this is not acceptable! That idiot has just shared a picture of you and I! He has no concept or appreciation for privacy, my dear. I apologize. I should have protected you better.”
Thankfully, Jaehee pulled the room back on track again, suggesting that the stranger among them be handled before continuing other discussions. It was good that Jaehee was logged in tonight. She was one of the few people who could be depended on for sensible action in a crisis.
“Well, that clears up one thing, Elizabeth the 3rd. This strange person seems to have been chatting online with a stranger who directed them to the apartment.” Jumin clicked his tongue in disapproval as he typed in, “How naive.”
The conversation continued and MC revealed that this “Unknown” character had given the password to unlock the door. “Elizabeth, this is disturbing news. I think this person, MC, has been dragged into contact with us.” His had fell back to the comfort of stroking the long hair. “If that is the case…” his words trailed off as he considered the ramifications.
Jaehee spoke his thoughts for him, suggesting that someone call V. He needed to be informed of this event. By the time Jumin was able to offer to call, Seven was already doing it.
While they waited, MC asked what the chat room was for. Jumin quickly advised everyone against sharing information until having spoken to V first. It was still too odd that this person was in Rika’s old apartment. To his knowledge, only V and possibly Seven knew its location. So how had MC, or rather the “Unknown” person, located it? And for what possible purpose was MC sent there?
Finally, V arrived in the chat. Jumin felt less tense instantly. Surely V would have a solution.
A few moments later, Jumin choked on his wine. V had just invited MC to join the RFA! What could his friend be thinking? This would not do. He voiced his objection, only to be over-ridden. V was being unusually stubborn tonight. Jumin wondered what he was up to, but ultimately decided to trust V and follow his lead. Clearly the mint-haired man had a plan in mind.
The role of coordinator was offered, and it did not go unnoticed by Jumin that MC asked about the good causes the RFA served instead of asking about the parties. Once V left, Jumin asked MC directly, “MC, will you join RFA?”
A slight smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as she answered rapidly in the affirmative. He was not displeased by people who could be decisive. Still, his parting words were, “We’ll see how you do.”
As Jumin left his glass in the kitchen and made his way to bed, he couldn’t understand why he’d said something so distant, and once more wondered, was she, MC, in danger? If she were, could he do anything about it?
