Haha y'all think your slick, I see my smut passed 1K reads 😏 y'all be rereading?

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ☁️

My phone rings once again from underneath my pillow. I cringe and frown over the constant ringing vibration, hoping the person will just call back later.

Eventually I squint at my lock screen the check the time before answering the call.

"What?" I yawn, too tired to speak formally.

"Open the door."

"Huh?"

The call ends rather abruptly, leaving me with a series of hoarse beeps. Tired and confused, I follow the orders and make my way downstairs. When I open the front door, Taehyung looks up at me with his phone to his ear, about to call again because I came down so slowly.

I stare at him in silence for a couple of seconds, my eyes scrolling down his white shirt and black tie as I evaluate his outfit with one eye.

"Yes?"

"Do you have plans?"

"No—"

"Good. Hurry and get dressed."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see, And wear something black and white."

"Okay..."

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ☁️

"So... Margo died?" Taehyung starts pulling over into a reserved parking spot, right in front of the skyscraper that is KimTech.

I sigh and sink my head back, "Yeah, from a heart attack. I'm just sad that he's gone, it happened so quickly."

"...I'm sorry to hear that. Li liked him a lot." He unbuckles his seatbelt once the car stops. "You ready to go inside?"

"Depends. Are you going to tell me why I'm here? You know I don't like guns."

"Later," He exits the car. I follow his lead, nervously brushing my hands down my clothes.

Most of the employees in the lobby don't break focus from what they're doing, however I catch a few eyes hawking on me. Hardly surprisingly, since I'm walking alongside their CEO. The receptionist at the desk jumps up and bows at our presence, "Mr. Kim, you're meeting is about to start."

He looks over his shoulder and tilts his head, signally me to follow. Why do I have to come to a meeting? Meetings are boring.

I tag along through the tall, white modern corridor until Taehyung turns into a room. When we enter, a group of seven men sit around a long table.

"Gentlemen," He announces, "This is Lilo Hanson, a new private operations manager."

"Oper—?"

"Shh."

They all take a brief moment to stand and bow. Taehyung claims a seat at the end of the table, leaving me to take the empty space on his side. While squatting into our chairs, he presents his hand out to a man on his right who stands longer than the others. He's quite attractive and looks about the same age as Taehyung.

"Lilo, this is Park Bogum. He handles the manufacturing and examinations of weaponry development. He's been my right hand for years."

The word "weaponry" tells me this isn't just a regular meeting anymore, but one that refers to the corporation that runs more underground. I suddenly feel a little uneasy, knowing the pressure this situation holds.

"It's nice to meet you," I nod.

He gets right down to business by presenting Taehyung with a field of papers,

"So like you said, it seems the Lim's are moving to a different storage unit. Carmine's smuggling drugs at a 20% increase from last week, 65% of his shipments going to other gang lords and mafias to influence business deals, the scraps being left to homeless people. Word is this new drug that they've imported is called Desomorphine, AKA "Krokodil."

"Krokodil?"

"It's a hallucinogenic originated from Russia, though it holds no medical use, only abuse purposes."

"How dangerous is it?"

"...It's better I show you. We dug up video footage of a 2003 test subject. I warn you it's... Pretty disturbing."

Bogum presents Taehyung with a laptop screen, not daring to share it with the rest of the table. I find myself leaning in to steal a view of the clip.

Within seconds my nose wrinkles and cringes with disgust, the video is anything beyond horrific and traumatic. The man on the screen screams in Russian whilst carving his fingernails down his eyes, clawing them out until they're nothing but broken eggs of blood. His skin turns scaly and moulds to inhumanly colors, his gums instantly rot before he chokes on his own blood and teeth. I practically battle my brain to resist throwing up over the table, pressing a hand over my gagging mouth. The loud shrieks fill the room like foxes in the night.

Somehow, Taehyung just watches the screen blankly. Like he's seen worse.

Bogum finally closes the disturbing video, "Krokodil puts the mind in a temporary state of Euphoria, although its consequences include; blood poisoning, memory loss, gangrene, crocodile-like skin, skin ulcerations, death etc. There's more information on the drug, but I've already sent you a document and printed you this copy." He hands Taehyung a collection of sheets, to which he flicks through with furrowed eyebrows.

"Lighter fluid, gasoline, paint thinner... Iodine, hydrochloric acid...? These are all inside that stuff? Do you know when their last known shipment was?"

"Four hours ago, 20,000lbs sir." Another man states from across the table.

"Suspicious trash collectors were spotted in this location. We think they've taken their stashes of Krokodil up north, somewhere in this area."

"And the three red pins?" Taehyung points.

"These are the three possible locations of the Lim's explosives, stashes and stolen weapons within the area." The map on the laptop projects onto a board, to which Bogum stands and drags his finger around.

"North-Robinwood. It acts as the barrier between the city and country, a lot of farmers occupy here. There's also an ocean peer ten miles away. We suspect their hiding either, A) In a bunker beneath the pier. B) In an abandoned warehouse, one of which is built in a highly explosive chemical plant, or C) Distributed between multiple farmhouses."

"How long have they been there?"

"Our guess is 4-6 weeks, but there are enough weapons there to take an army. That's all the updates on the Lim's sir. In news of KimTech, the TX5 is almost done processing."

"Show me, I want to see it."

"Yes sir."

"Good work. The rest of you are excused."

Everyone rises from the table in unison, making me awkwardly stand after them. When we all exit the room, I tail behind the other workers until Taehyung pulls my wrist the opposite direction with him and Bogum into the elevator. Just like last time, Bogum hits the lowest button. I already know where we're going.

The huge gun chamber lights up at our arrival.

"I'll go get it," Bogum proceeds down the long room.

I slowly begin to stroll around. My arms clench together with every step I take from the coldness and unease. I was seriously hoping I'd never have to be in this room again. The rack of hard metal shelved along the walls seems to never end, varying in size and vintage. Smoke fogs around them like a dreamy cloud.

"Here she is. The Echo TX5-47." Bogum returns, making Taehyung and I draw nearer. "It's the only one of its kind, constructed with 1852 aluminium. It's highly danger—"

Taehyung's eyes don't shift from the glossy weapon. Despite Bogum's words, he takes it and slaps it in his hand.

"S-sir be careful, I remind you that is highly—"

"I want to test it."

My eyebrows raise somewhat before turning to Bogum.

"R-right this way." He leads us to the door. The sound of buckling metal bouncing in Taehyung's arms as we walk makes me stare at the weapon with the paranoia that just a touch to my arm will blow me to pieces.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ☁️

"Training simulation level 13 : ON."

Taehyung puts on a thick pair of headphones and tinted glasses. A ring of dummies appear at the end of the aisle before Bogum taps me on the shoulder and passes me a pair of headphones to protect my ears.

Taehyung raises the gun to his shoulder and squints one eye shut. I watch as his vision narrows onto the dummies that circle around each other at confusingly quick paces.

"Now Mr. Kim be careful, it's still a little—"

The bullets powerfully slice through the air, penetrating each target one by one. My mouth is agape. His aim is so perfect, yet he's not even flinching. Each pull of the trigger by his slender fingers is so smooth and effortless, the impact causing his bangs to brush and bounce over his eyes every time he fires.

He breathes out and lowers the firearm once each dummy has an even amount of bullet holes in their head.

"Impact is high. Good handling. 50 rounds and 3,000 feet per second. Make sure Carmine doesn't find out about this one, he'll try to blackmail us for it like he did my father."

"Yes sir."

Taehyung examines the gun, then looks up at me. His eyes freeze my body to ice in a second. He then gives the gun back for Bogum to return, taking out a regular pistol instead and presenting it to me.

It takes me a moment to process what he's trying to offer. I instantly take a step back with waving hands.

"N-no, there's no way I'm touching that thing."

"Try it." He pushes the gun closer.

"You want me to use a gun? Seriously?"

A short exhale leaves his mouth, his body not sparing mine space.

"Lilo, do you know how to use a gun?"

"Well... No—"

"Do you know martial arts? How to dodge a melee? Is there security at your house? No. You need some source of defense. I don't want you holding a gun, but you never know when you'll have to use one." He pushes the pistol to my stomach again.

I stare into his palm and swallow thickly. Agitation wears strongly on my face. Slowly, I retrieve the pistol, its harsh cold shell sends shivers through my body.

Taehyung removes the shades from his nose bridge and fits them behind my ears before heading to the control settings and changing the simulation. Instead of a nest of moving dummies, there is just one stock-still. I stand in the position and nervously raise the gun.

The singular figure in front of me begins to blur through my left eye, my right remaining sealed. It's hard to stay still and get a good lock with my nerves escalating like a parade of drums. My aim keeps tilting from side to side with the tempo of my pounding heart...

Don't mess this up...

I snake my finger around the trigger and slowly pull back...

"—Ah!"

The second I'm about to shoot, a pair of arms elongated in front of me and their hands clutch around mine. I gasp and turn my head only an inch where Taehyung's chin rests on my shoulder.

"No, point there. You'll get better aim." He says almost at a whisper and taps my elbow. "Extend your arms more, you wanna make sure the gap of light between the sides and rear notch are equal."

I don't even know what that means.

The close proximity of his face causes my focus to keep bouncing to the side and my throat to narrow. The fruity conditioner in his hair takes me away to an exotic island. I stretch out my arms and loosen my shoulders. Taehyung's finger closes in on mine until we pull the trigger together.

Three perfect shots penetrate the dummies head, forcing a wide, surprised smile to take over my features. That's when I feel a pair lips plant a peck on my neck and my arms become released, "Good job."

Blood flushes through my cheeks before he takes me by the hand and pulls me out of the room.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ☁️

Taehyung presses the highest button on the elevator panel. When we reach the level I'm taken through the large hallway, my hand still in Taehyung's grasp.

The floor seems more modern, expensive and private than the rest of the building. Instead of just icy-white, the walls here are also black and gold, while vibrant green plants illuminate the passage. It's dead silent. Not a businessman in sight. I'm finally released after Taehyung takes me into a room at turns on the lights.

"Make yourself at home." He runs a hand through his hair while walking to his desk. I absorb the space around me, strolling around the large room.

"Is this your office?"

He leans against the desk and loosens his tie, "Yeah," He breathes out.

Dragging my feet towards the long glass wall in front of me, I look down at the breathtaking view of the city. We're so high up, it's like I'm seeing the world in a teacup. The clouds above me feel within arms reach.

"This view is surreal. You can see everything from up here." I smile and turn around, "Why did you bring me here anyway? You could have warned me I'd be using a gun today."

"That wasn't in the plan." He chuckles lightly. His tie snakes from his now unbuttoned collar and falls loosely like a ribbon. "You're always worrying about me, hopefully now you know I have things under control. I just want you to be safe, but aware."

Tilting my head around his figure, I point to a picture frame that stands on his desk. It's of him and Bogum outside KimTech. They look happy.

"You and Bogum seem like good friends."

Taehyung looks over his shoulder and sighs. "His family are loyal. Bogum's father worked for mine for years, but the job ended up costing him his life. Bogum vowed to take his place."

"He died because of Carmine? Why don't you just use your weapons and attack back? You have the money, why not hire a bunch of thugs like them?"

"Because I watched my dad make that mistake. Back when he was losing it. He stooped down to Carmine's level, turned his workers into hitmen and sent them to kill Lim's people. Now that I've taken over we have no 'goons'. My workers did not sign up to die. I won't risk Bogum or anyone else's lives."

"But... Don't you ever get scared?"

"Of?"

"Fixing your dads errors. Of losing your company. Dying. You'd be saving yourself so much danger and stress if you just left it in someone else's hands. Someone older."

"Li, I've been doing this since very young. It was my father's company, that makes it my responsibility."

He's so brave, almost too brave. I'm worried that he doesn't know where his boundaries lie.

I stand between his legs with a defeated exhale, "No wonder why you can't sleep."

He grins and positions my arms around his neck before holding my waist and eyeing me up and down.

"I like your outfit."

"I thought you said turtlenecks aren't sexy?"

He rolls his eyes.

"They're not sexy in bed, Li."

"Whatever." I roll my eyes and giggle. "Oh— here." He digs into his drawer and hands me a keychain consisting of one key. I hold it up and furrow my eyebrows.

"They're keys. To my place. My home is yours, I told you I'd give them to you."

I show him a soft smile and place the keys in my pocket. I still haven't decided if I want to move in with him or not. His lips press into a weak grin, gently pulling me forward more and resting the peak of his head against my chest, his eyes locking onto my shoes before he licks his lips.

"I had a nightmare last night..."

His tone... It's so low all of a sudden.

"...What about?"

"You. Us. We were someplace dark. I was lying on the floor and you had your hands on my shoulders, screaming over me. You were crying... we were both covered in so much blood... The atmosphere around us was hot and—"

"I don't want to know anymore." I shake my head, "It was just a nightmare. You said so yourself, you can't let something as little as a nightmare get to you. They're not real."

His face doesn't lift from the floor until I say those final words. I stumble deep into his rich chocolaty orbs.

"You know I wouldn't kill again, right?"

His hand twists and plays with mine, spooning it with his size. So much fog and stigma in his eyes. It's not often you see Taehyung in a fragile state.

"Right?" He repeats. "I wouldn't."

A tight-lipped smile finds its way to my feature as I play around with his hair some more.

"You don't have to assure me. Of course I know that."

Taehyung smiles back lightly, cupping the back of my neck and kissing me. His head is tilted and thumb presses my cheek. My arms curl around his torso while I kiss back, nothing else flowing through my mind but this very moment with him.

—AUTHOR'S POV—

"Another shipment sir."

"Put it over there." Jaebum points, watching the process proudly. His arm's folded over the rusty railing and legs crossed. Everything was running smoothly.

"Son!" Carmine enters the warehouse heavy footed from behind. Jaebum climbs down from the ladder and removes his gloves, littering them and placing his hands on his hips.

"Father."

"This is a nice warehouse you've snagged here. Spacious, private... It would be perfect if we weren't standing on a fricking LANDMINE!"

Jaebum's face bobbles to the side while having to listen to the old man's complaining, "What were you thinking? Why would you store explosives surrounded by explosives, huh?!"

"Okay look, I know. I should have checked out the place before moving in all this stuff. It's no big deal, we can just move again."

"You're becoming too reckless. We've already come this far, moving will take too much time and money. I'll figure something out."

"You!"

The father and son turn around. A fairly short man approaches them furiously.

"You double-crossed me! You said you'd only be using 8,000 square feet, not my entire warehouse! And you did not inform me that THIS is what you'd be storing!"

The Lim's look at each other, Jaebum releases a small sigh and rolls his eyes before walking forward and fiddling with the back of his pants.

"I'll get into a lot of trouble when the feds find out I'm associated with—!"

Jaebum cuts the man's sentence by pulling out a pistol and shooting him in the forehead.

The loud blast causes the workers moving around the room to freeze and stare at him. Jaebum stares back at them and shrugs dramatically,

"What? Did I tell you to stop?"

Everyone shakes it off and resumes moving around.

"Hey." A female voice sounds behind him, paired with the sounds of heels clacking. Jaebum rotates to witness the slender woman with long straight raven hair and bangs. She tosses him a phone.

"You know Mulan called you the other day, right?"

"What did she say?"

"She said she'd wait until she spoke to you. She thinks this is your number after all."

Jaebum props a hand into his pocket, using the other to scroll through the assistant's phone. A smirk spreads on his face.

"Thanks. I'll contact her later. I want to sort this mess out first, then have my fun."