Beneath the Mask
Kim Taehyung (Tae)
Street gangster.
Tough, sarcastic, fearless.
Leads a gang of outcast youth in the backstreets of Seoul.
Never bows to anyone. Fights with knives, fists, and fire.
But... sometimes, in moments of extreme emotional trigger or exhaustion, he slips into little space—a mental regression state from a traumatic past. He hides this fiercely.
Deep down, he craves safety… but would rather die than admit it.
Jeon Jungkook (Kook)
Young mafia boss of the Jeon Syndicate.
Cold, ruthless, feared by everyone.
Doesn't care about relationships—until he sees Tae.
Something about Tae’s chaotic fire and vulnerable eyes sparks a dangerous obsession.
Overprotective, possessive, calculating—he’ll burn cities if anyone touches Tae.
Kim Namjoon (RM) – Jungkook’s right-hand man. Calm, intelligent, and logical. Handles the syndicate’s strategies. Tries to keep Jungkook from doing irrational things over Taehyung.
Min Yoongi (Suga) – Mafia’s underground sniper and info-broker. Quiet and cold. He secretly finds Tae amusing.
Park Jimin - Weapons expert and explosives guy. Friendly but dangerous. Bonds with Tae over shared sarcasm.
Jung Hoseok - Tae’s childhood friend from the streets. The only one who knows about Tae’s regression. Protective over Tae. Hates Jungkook initially.
Kim Seokjin (Jin) – Doctor for the mafia. He's the one who later discovers Tae’s condition and keeps it secret. Sass master.
Kim Taehyung
(Taehyung jolted awake.)
The room was still. Too still. No street noise, no creaking pipes, no shouting from the neighboring buildings.
Instead, silence pressed in like cotton—luxurious, suffocating.
He sat up quickly, then winced as pain rippled through his side. The bandages were neat. Too neat. The kind of care that made him feel seen in all the wrong ways.
Kim Taehyung
Damn it, Jeon Jungkook.
( he muttered under his breath.)
He swung his legs over the side of the bed, bare feet brushing against the thick, fur-like carpet. A flash of irritation lit through him—why did everything here feel like a trap made of silk?
The door was unlocked.
That alone pissed him off more than if it had been locked.
Kim Taehyung
*He thinks I won’t leave.*
(Taehyung stormed out.)
The hallway was quiet, dimly lit, lined with expensive art and security cameras he caught immediately.
Kim Taehyung
*Cute. He’s watching.*
Kim Taehyung
Enjoy the show, bastard.
( he muttered, lifting middle finger to one camera.)
He moved through the place silently—like a shadow, just as Hoseok had trained him. Even without weapons, Taehyung was dangerous.
Kim Taehyung
(But as he turned the corner, a voice greeted him:)
You’re up.
(Taehyung stiffened.)
Jungkook stood in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, a mug in hand. He looked too domestic, too calm, like he wasn’t the most dangerous man in the city.
Kim Taehyung
I’m leaving.
( Taehyung said bluntly.)
Jeon Jungkook
(Jungkook took a slow sip, watching him over the rim of the cup.)
You could. Or you could sit down, eat something, and tell me why your hand was shaking in your sleep.
Kim Taehyung
(Taehyung’s jaw clenched.)
Excuse me?
Jeon Jungkook
I watched the footage. You curled up like a kid. Thumb near your mouth. You were crying, Tae.
Kim Taehyung
Don’t call me that.
( Taehyung’s voice cracked like a whip.)
Jeon Jungkook
(But Jungkook didn’t flinch.)
You think you’ve got everyone fooled, but I see it. You don’t just wear armor, Taehyung—you are armor. And underneath that…
Kim Taehyung
Don’t pretend you care.
Jeon Jungkook
I don’t pretend.
( Jungkook said.)
I obsess.
Kim Taehyung
(Taehyung’s fingers twitched.)
You sound insane.
Jungkook stepped closer, his presence magnetic and suffocating all at once.
Jeon Jungkook
I probably am.
(he murmured.)
But you make me that way.
He reached out and gently tucked a lock of damp hair behind Taehyung’s ear.
Taehyung slapped his hand away.
Kim Taehyung
You don't own me. Jungkook.
Elsewhere – BTS Mafia Base
Seokjin
Is he still alive?
(Jin asked, tossing a dagger in the air.)
Yoongi(Suga)
(Yoongi nodded.)
Barely. Jungkook put two bullets in him. Minjae’s men are getting bolder.
Namjoon
We should move first.
( Namjoon said, sliding a folder onto the table.)
They’re tracking Taehyung. They think he’s Jungkook’s weakness.
Jimin
He kind of is.
(Jimin said.)
He doesn’t even look at anyone else anymore.
Seokjin
(Jin leaned back.)
If Minjae gets to Tae first, Jungkook’s going to burn half the city.
Jimin
(Jimin smirked.)
Let him. I’ve been bored lately.
After an intense staring match, Taehyung finally accepted a bowl of rice Jungkook pushed toward him.
He didn’t thank him. But he ate. Slowly.
And Jungkook watched every bite like he was memorizing it.
Kim Taehyung
I don’t like people touching me.
(Taehyung muttered after a long silence.)
Kim Taehyung
I have triggers. Sometimes I go somewhere else—mentally.
Jeon Jungkook
(Jungkook’s gaze sharpened.)
Because of your past?
Taehyung’s spoon paused mid-air. He didn’t answer.
But that was an answer enough.
Jeon Jungkook
I want to know what happened.
(Jungkook said softly.)
Kim Taehyung
Why? So you can use it against me?
Jeon Jungkook
So I can kill the ones who caused it.
Taehyung blinked.
That was… not what he expected.
He set the spoon down, appetite suddenly gone.
Kim Taehyung
You don’t even know me.
Jeon Jungkook
I know how you fight.
( Jungkook said, his voice low.)
How you flinch when people raise their voices. How you check every corner when you enter a room. I know you only sleep when the door’s locked… or when someone stronger is guarding it.
Taehyung went very still.
Jungkook didn’t move closer. He didn’t touch him. Just watched.
Jeon Jungkook
I want to be that person, Tae. I want to be the one you can trust.
Silence stretched between them.
Then Taehyung stood abruptly.
Kim Taehyung
I need fresh air.
( he said tightly.)
Or I’m going to start punching things.
Jeon Jungkook
(Jungkook nodded.)
Rooftop’s open.
Taehyung left without another word.
On the rooftop.
The night wind was sharp, cool against his skin. The city lights blinked below like a galaxy gone mad.
Taehyung leaned on the railing and exhaled deeply.
He hated this.
Not being in control. Not understanding why Jungkook made his heart race. Not knowing why—when Jungkook said "I want to protect you"—it didn’t sound like a threat.
The door creaked.
Kim Taehyung
I told you not to follow me.
( he said.)
Jeon Jungkook
I told you I’d obsess.
(Jungkook replied.)
Taehyung turned. Jungkook stood with a jacket in hand.
Kim Taehyung
I’m not cold.
( Taehyung said.)
Jungkook draped the jacket over his shoulders gently.
Taehyung didn’t protest.
For once, they stood in silence. The wind brushed their hair. The city raged on below, but here—between them—there was only tension.
Kim Taehyung
Why me?
( Taehyung whispered.)
Why not someone easier?
Jeon Jungkook
Because you make me work for it.
(Jungkook said.)
And because no one’s ever looked me in the eye and told me to go to hell.
Kim Taehyung
(Taehyung gave a faint laugh.)
That bad boy charm’s going to kill you one day.
( he said.)
Jeon Jungkook
(Jungkook smiled.)
I’d die if it meant keeping you safe.
Taehyung stared at him.
And for a flicker of a second—just a flicker—his tough mask slipped.
In that moment, his eyes were wide, uncertain… almost childlike.
Then it was gone.
Kim Taehyung
(He turned away.)
Don’t get used to me being soft.
Jeon Jungkook
I already am.
(Jungkook said.)
Somewhere in the city.
Minjae stood before a row of monitors.
One showed Taehyung on the rooftop, Jungkook beside him.
Another showed a blinking red dot—hidden under a plush seat in Jungkook’s car.
Kim Minjae
Let him think he’s winning.
( Minjae said with a grin.)
Let him fall deeper.
Kim Minjae
(He lit a cigar.)
Because when we take Taehyung…
( he exhaled smoke.)
he’ll tear his whole empire apart—just to get him back.
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