Heartfelt Chronicles: Echoes Of Affection
"Hearts Across Eras"— 19
Back at the tower, Hyunjin and the team had started over, combing through everything with this new perspective that they had been given. They still got nothing on the handkerchief, and the team knew that there was only one person who could help them figure it out.
Seokjin
Hyunjin, seriously. We’re not mentally equipped for this stuff! *Seokjin argued*
Lee Minho
Think about it! Jungkook could probably crack this case in a few minutes. We need his help. *Minho pleaded with Hyunjin*
Hyunjin
I said no! I’m not dragging him into this.
Hyunjin replied. The team had been arguing about this for a while now, trying to get help.
Lisa
We’re not getting anywhere! We’ve been going through this case for a month, and the only reason we can even be at this point is because Jungkook gave us a lead in the first place. One that we would never have found, might I add!
Lisa said, and Hyunjin put a hand to his face, seemingly thinking about her words.
Lee Minho
I just want him to look at this handkerchief and maybe something else, but that’s it!
Minho promised, and Hyunjin crossed his arms, looking at the faces of his desperate team, the sleep clearly lost from their eyes.
Hyunjin
Fine. But that’s all. *he finally gave in*
Seokjin
I’ll get Taehyung to bring him here tomorrow.
Seokjin left the room to call Taehyung.
Lisa
I think this will be a good move.
Lisa tried to reassure Hyunjin. He gave her a look of annoyance.
Hyunjin
It better be. If this puts him at risk, I’m blaming you.
Then, there was a knock on the door.
“Mr. Jeon. A letter came in for Mr. Jungkook, but he’s not here, so I thought I’d pass it on to you.”
It was his assistant. He snatched it from her hand in his anger, finding that it was penned by hand. He opened the envelope, pulling the letter out and unfolding it to look at it.
'One day, you will write me poetry while you’re chained to a chair in a basement where no one can hear you. But what will it take for you to hear me?'
Jungkook had stopped drinking from the bottle of whiskey and had moved to sit in between Taehyung's legs. Taehyung let his chin rest atop Jungkook's head with his arms wrapped around him while the two of them watched TV.
Jungkook felt so safe and so comfortable, and it was the first time he had ever felt like it was okay to let his guard down. He was feeling cozy and relaxed, not wanting to move from his spot in Taehyung's arms as he sighed contentedly, leaning into him a bit more.
Taehyung asked as he looked down at Jungkook.
Jungkook
I’m great. I’m just comfy.
Jungkook said, bringing the blanket that had covered the two of them up to his neck. Taehyung smiled slightly, seeing Jungkook's back settle deeper into his strong chest. He placed a kiss atop Jungkook's head and continued to hold him. It wasn’t super late, only being around 7 pm.
Taehyung
Do you want dinner?
Taehyung asked, and Jungkook squinted his eyes, trying to think about whether or not he was hungry.
Jungkook
Yeah, I can make something.
Jungkook was ready to get up and head to the kitchen.
Taehyung
Or we can get takeout.
Taehyung offered, and Jungkook looked at him over his shoulder.
Jungkook
That’s not a bad idea, actually. *he hummed*
Taehyung
Alright. I’ll be back in a bit.
Taehyung got up and put some shoes on, shrugging on his leather jacket.
Jungkook
What, you’re gonna leave me here?
Jungkook asked, and Taehyung gave him a look.
Taehyung
The safe house is called that for a reason; it’s safe. *he stated, and Jungkook looked at him*
Jungkook
But like… They could be watching this place to make sure I’m alone.
Jungkook said, not exactly being serious. Taehyung tilted his head to the side.
Taehyung
No. I’ve made sure of that. We’ve been doing a fck ton of counter-surveillance and besides. *he paused, picking up his phone and tucking it into his back pocket*
Taehyung
The windows are bulletproof, the front door is fortified, and they can’t get up or down the elevator without using this keycard. Which, need I remind you, is one of your dad’s inventions. There’s only one like it in the world and it’s here.
Taehyung reassured, and Jungkook groaned, muttering some cuss words under his breath.
Taehyung
What was that? *he asked, and Jungkook pouted again*
Jungkook
I wanna spend more time with you, obviously!
Jungkook stood up, the blanket falling off him. Taehyung froze, feeling a light blush come up to his cheeks. He covered his face with the back of his hand and scoffed.
Taehyung
You could’ve just said that, yeobo. *he turned away from Jungkook to grab the car keys*
Jungkook
I thought you’d pick up the hints I was giving you. *Jungkook shrugged*
Taehyung
I don’t speak in code.
Taehyung deadpanned, approaching Jungkook with his wallet and keys in his hands.
Jungkook
It’s not that hard.
Taehyung
Listen, my dove, let’s get one thing straight,
Taehyung leaned his elbows on the top of the sofa, and Jungkook sat down onto the couch cushions with his knees tucked under him so that he could listen to what Taehyung had to say up close.
Taehyung
I’m not the ladies man I used to be. I can’t tell when there’s something you want. You gotta tell me.
Taehyung softly spoke, using his hand to gently tuck a strand of hair away from Jungkook's face.
Jungkook
You used to be a ladies man?
Jungkook asked, and Taehyung stopped dead in his tracks.
Taehyung cussed, and Jungkook giggled.
Jungkook
You can tell me about it on the way there.
Jungkook got up, going to his room to quickly put some shoes on. Taehyung looked at the ceiling, shutting his eyes for a moment.
Taehyung
You talk too much.
Taehyung told himself as he waited for Jungkook to get ready to leave. Once Jungkook emerged from the bedroom, with his purse in hand and shoes on, he gave Taehyung a look.
Jungkook
So, about the ladies man thing.
Jungkook started, and Taehyung groaned.
Taehyung
We will not be talking about that. Ever.
Taehyung stopped him, and Jungkook laughed.
Jungkook
Okay, fine, fine. I won’t ask. But that’s not the case anymore, right?
Jungkook looked at him as the two of them walked out of the apartment and stepped into the elevator, pressing the button.
Taehyung
Are you fcking kidding me? You think I have time to date around?
Taehyung raised his brows.
Jungkook
Look, I just gotta make sure I’m not just another one.
Jungkook explained, and Taehyung’s brows furrowed. The doors to the elevator closed, and he put his hand on Jungkook's shoulder, pushing him back against the elevator wall while it descended.
Taehyung
Woah, woah. Another one? *he asked, blinking at Jungkook*
Jungkook
Yeah, I mean you’re super attractive, I had never seen someone with good looking features as you. You are...world’s most handsome man, I would say, Taehyung.
Jungkook explained, and he leaned down, his back remaining pressed against the elevator wall.
Taehyung
Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I’d want to be with them. As far as I’m concerned, there aren’t any other ones. There’s just you.
Taehyung assured, and Jungkook smiled.
Jungkook replied and pressed a quick kiss to Taehyung's lips, catching him off guard for a second before he realized Jungkook had already walked out of the elevator. Taehyung followed him, and the two of them climbed into the car.
Jungkook spoke with him while he drove, the two of them briefly chatting while Taehyung made sure to take alternate routes to the restaurant. Jungkook called ahead while they were in the car so that they didn’t dawdle at the place for long. That’s when Taehyung's phone rang, and he saw that it was from Seokjin.
Taehyung
📲 Yeah, *he answered it* Tomorrow? Yeah. I can bring him, *he said, and Jungkook looked at his profile* Sure.
Taehyung said and hung up.
Jungkook
What was that about?
Jungkook asked, and Taehyung replied,
Taehyung
Hyunjin needs you at the tower tomorrow.
Jungkook
Did he say what for? *he wondered, and Taehyung shook his head*
Taehyung
Nothing in particular.
Taehyung said, and Jungkook commented,
Jungkook
Well, that can’t be good.
Then, all of a sudden, a gunshot rang out, and the sedan was suddenly skidding down the road, one of the tires having been blown out. Jungkook could see Taehyung's grip on the wheel tighten as the two of them were pushed forward from the sudden hit.
The car zigzagged on the road, swaying from one side to the other, and Jungkook could hear the metal from the hubcap screeching against the asphalt of the street.
Jungkook called, and Taehyung tried to maneuver the car to stop its erratic movements.
Taehyung called and turned the wheel harshly to the right, managing to somehow drift the car, slowing it to a stop.
Taehyung
Don’t get out of the car. Lock the doors.
Taehyung ordered and reached for the glovebox, opening it to remove a glock and secure the magazine.
Jungkook tried to call, and Taehyung gave him a look.
Taehyung
Shut up and let me protect you.
Taehyung demanded and reached into his leather jacket, pulling a second identical gun and removing the safety. Jungkook heard his arm whirr and click like metal as he gripped the gun, opening his door, quickly stepping out of the car, and shutting it.
Jungkook immediately locked the doors, staying in his seat as his mind raced through what was going on.
Jungkook
It’s gonna be okay, it’s gonna be okay.
Jungkook whispered to himself until he heard gunshots again, one of which hit the back window. He put his hands on his ears, trying to block out the noise. He looked out the back window to see a group of men shooting at the car and at Taehyung.
They were dressed in black from head to toe, their eyes and faces covered. Taehyung was using a large metal plate to block all their shots as they all reached for him ready to attack.
One of the men tried to swing, and Taehyung ducked under, kicking the man’s legs out from underneath him while simultaneously using the plate to ricochet a bullet from another man’s gun.
A third man tried to punch Taehyung, and he caught his fist, gutting him in the stomach and moving over so that a fourth person could miss him and punch his hand into his associate's face.
The men were incredibly skilled fighters, and the fourth man started shooting at Taehyung who suddenly pointed the palm of his hand to block the bullets, quickly approaching him to grab his head and slam it onto the ground.
Jungkook quickly took note of their positions and counted them. There were five. That was when he heard another gunshot, and he screamed, turning to see that it had hit his window. He saw another man dressed in black trying to pry open his car door and shoot out the windows. Six.
Jungkook hurriedly mumbled to himself, trying to find something in the car to use for self-defense. He knew the sixth person couldn’t see him through the tinted windows, so he quickly checked the glovebox where Taehyung hid his gun, finding a dagger.
Jungkook
Goddamnit! He really left me with a knife in a gunfight!
Jungkook hissed, and then snapped his head to his car door. The man was trying to pry the door off using a crowbar and was clearly getting nowhere, so he shot at the window again, and Jungkook yelped as the noise reached his ears.
He looked out the back and tried to see Taehyung, but he couldn’t. He covered his ears, trying to screw his eyes shut and block out the sounds. There was some silence after a while, and the seconds stretched like minutes, the minutes like hours, and he was unsure how much time had passed.
Then, all of a sudden, there was a knock on the car window. Jungkook removed his hands quickly and gasped, looking through the window to see Taehyung. He quickly unlocked the car door, and Taehyung yanked it open, pulling Jungkook into his arms.
Taehyung said, and Jungkook looked over his shoulder, seeing five men completely knocked out.
Jungkook whispered, and Taehyung pulled away, seeing the fear in Jungkook's eyes.
Jungkook
There were six men and there are only five bodies. One of them got away.
Jungkook explained, and Taehyung turned to look at the police examining the crime scene.
Taehyung
Never mind that. We have to get out of here. I’m going to change out the tire and we’ll head back.
Taehyung said, and Jungkook reluctantly nodded, watching as Taehyung let go of him to open up the trunk. He only got a few steps from Jungkook before he grabbed his sleeve, tugging on it.
Taehyung
Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. I’m here.
Taehyung reassured and pulled Jungkook to him again, Jungkook's arms caged in between their bodies and fingers gripping his shirt in earnest. Jungkook was effectively terrified and hoped that whatever they tried to do was unsuccessful.
Little did Jungkook know that it wasn’t. Just then, sirens reached their ears, and Jungkook spotted more cop cars arriving on the scene, no doubt responding to the gunshots.
Taehyung
Do you want to sit in the car?
Taehyung wondered, and Jungkook shook his head.
Jungkook
Can I wait out here with you?
Jungkook asked, and Taehyung nodded.
Taehyung
The police will probably want a statement, anyway.
Taehyung replied and popped the trunk, pulling out the jack and the spare tire, as well as a few lug wrenches. Taehyung lifted the car on the jack and started changing the tire while they gave the police a statement.
Once the tire was all good, and they both spoke with the police officers, they were free to go. Jungkook got into the passenger side of the car, Taehyung getting into the driver’s seat, and Jungkook froze.
His eyes fell onto the windshield, and his breath hitched in his throat, a cold sweat running down his spine. Taehyung noticed the way Jungkook suddenly tensed up.
Taehyung asked, following Jungkook's line of sight to the windshield. There, underneath the wipers on Jungkook's side of the car was an envelope, Jungkook's name penned on the back.
Jungkook
The sixth person put it here.
Jungkook concluded and gave Taehyung a look, slowly exiting the car, reaching for the letter, and bringing it back. He closed the door, and Taehyung watched as Jungkook shakily examined the letter.
Taehyung tried to warn, and Jungkook looked at him.
Jungkook
Let me at least look at it. Maybe we can learn something.
Jungkook told him, and Taehyung sighed, reluctantly nodding. Jungkook inhaled through his nose and shook his head, trying to shake his feelings away, becoming a virtual blank slate and detaching himself from the emotions. He quickly flicked on the light in the car and put the letter up to it.
Jungkook
The stationary is a more high quality than the ones that we’ve seen so far. Linen textures. They’re made to look and feel a lot like fancy linen tablecloths, and elegant writing materials from the past.
Jungkook explained his reasoning as he went through it, lending Taehyung insight into what he could see.
Jungkook
I can identify from the handwriting that the person is male. You can tell from the bold strokes, and the way the handwriting slopes slightly. The handwriting is made to be neat, but it’s also asymmetrical.
Jungkook continued to explain as he flipped the envelope over.
Taehyung
Could you identify the pen?
Taehyung asked, and Jungkook nodded.
Jungkook
Yes. It’s probably an antique fountain pen from Montblanc. The nib that was used is narrow, which is unique to their classic designs. But that won’t help us in identifying him. It was a popular pen, there are plenty of them. And besides, he won’t use the same identifier…
Jungkook trailed off as he realized something, his own words sparking theories in his brain as he thought back to all the letters they’d received so far. His brows furrowed as the hands holding the letter slowly lowered, and he looked out the front window.
Jungkook finished, his voice quiet.
Taehyung started to get worried.
Jungkook breathed, sinking into his seat with his fingers pressed to his temple.
Taehyung started to get worried.
Jungkook
He’s testing me, taunting me. Throwing me pieces of evidence to watch me squirm,
Jungkook mumbled, and Taehyung's brows furrowed.
Jungkook
He’s playing games with me, Taehyung. These letters... They’ve all been clues on purpose, he wants me to identify him. The original letters… He’d have known I could have been able to figure out what typewriter he used to make them,
Jungkook swallowed hard as he explained.
Jungkook
This is all part of a plan. In each set of letters, he’s given me a clue; something that will help me figure out how to get to him. This… is all a game. I’m the player and each clue is a level, getting increasingly difficult.
As Jungkook realized this, his mouth went dry. He wasted no more time and straightened his back again, gently tearing the top off the letter to pull out the high-quality paper. He opened up the sheet, which was neatly folded over itself and read it aloud.
Jungkook
What will it take for you to stop ignoring me? If I need to get louder, I will get louder, but I will make sure you hear me.
Taehyung saw Jungkook reading over the letter with his eyes and he took it from his hands.
Taehyung said and tucked it somewhere Jungkook couldn’t reach.
Taehyung
We’ll bring it to the tower tomorrow. And there’s only one thing to do in this situation.
Taehyung said, and Jungkook looked at him, worry covering his features.
Taehyung
We learn the rules of the game, and we play it better.
Comments
Katsumi.Orbiting_. かつみ
understandable for a man who had to adjust to so much changes.
2024-06-20
0
Katsumi.Orbiting_. かつみ
Go back to the dungeons of hell you monster!
2024-06-20
0
Venizia
oh myyyy I'm on edge all my sense reading nd attentive 😳😳 okey I'm gonna take a little break cause I know it's almost over nd as childish as it sound I REALLY REALLY don't want to end so I'll come back to it tomorrow to cherish the end.....what a masterpiece 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
2024-03-31
0