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The eerie silence of the house brought nothing but frustration to the group of officers. Yet another failed lead. That man they have been trying to catch was always two steps ahead but even now when they had caught that psychopath, they somehow ended up with a dead end. Kim Hyukmin, the serial murderer and rapist, kidnapping girls and boys from their homes was the cause of fear in this area of Seoul. For the last eight months police had not been able to get a hold of him, until he recently slipped up two weeks ago while kidnapping one of his victims. They had tracked him four days ago but he ended his life in the interrogation room before they could find his victim.
Now they were stuck on writing paper works, fighting legal battles while also trying to find the young girl. The scariest part of it all was that it had been four days since she probably had any access to food and water, if she was even alive. So the police force followed every tip, every lead even if it led to a dead end.
However, today they got a very strong pointer from one of the men who helped Hyukmin in his crimes. Kim’s ex-girlfriend’s home, which sat at the outskirts of Seoul. His ex-girlfriend now lived in Europe with her family and it was one of the most safe places for Kim to carry out his psychotic crimes and stay hidden.
Jimin had never had any of his cases drag this long. This man had made a joke out of him and the entire police force. And still after death, he was causing the rage to boil up in Jimin. He had never seen such a heartless and gruesome case in twelve years of his detective life.
The house was a mess- papers scattered, furniture overturned, and silence that sent a chill down his spine. They searched every room, every closet, but there was no sign of the girl. Where could he have hidden the girl? Jimin knocked on the ground, the walls, everywhere to find any hidden places but it was all in vain.
“Fuck!” He hit the wall in anger. “It’s been four fucking days.” He grabbed his phone to debrief his chief when a loud commotion from outside caught their attention. Sprinting along with the other officers, he reached the backyard.
“Jimin! Look!” Taemin, his junior detective, pointed towards a shed well hidden among the shrubs and bushes.
Without a second thought, Jimin pulled his gun out and sprinted across the space towards the shed, which was held together by a large lock. Oh, not today . Jimin thought. Taking a step back, he kicked down the door.
“Jimi-, Holy fuck,” He heard a voice behind him as he took the sight in front of him. A small girl sat curled up with her hands and feet bound. She let out a small frightened whimper as she eyed the gun in front of her face. The thing that sent ice through Jimin’s veins was, however, the explosive vest strapped tightly to her chest.
Putting his gun down, he immediately softened his voice despite a stone lodged in his throat. “Hey, sweetheart. It’s okay, don’t be scared. We are here to save her and bring you to mommy and daddy.” The girl looked at him with hesitance and tear filled eyes. “We promise, you’re safe now.”
He faintly heard his friend and leader of swat team, Taehyung, call out to someone to get the bomb disposal to the location immediately.
“Let’s free your arms and legs, yeah?” Jimin softly asked the frightened girl, who gave him a small nod. Sweat ran down his back. As he got done with removing the ropes on her feet, he held his hand out to get her out of the shed but she stayed put and shook her head.
“What? It's okay, love. Nothing is gonna happen. We are gonna wait out for some people to help you get out of this jacket and then we can go home,” He softly petted her head.
She shook her head again and then softly said, “The bad man said if I move, I’ll die.” Jimin’s heart broke at the scared tone. Oh, if that fucker was alive, Jimin would’ve gutted him and made him eat his intestines.
“Yes, but now the bad man is gone so far, I won’t let him hurt you,” He felt someone behind him. Looking back, he found Taehyung standing who gave him a nod. “See, even Taehyung is here. He is very strong. He will also protect you.”
She looked between the two and shook her head, “But what about the wires?”
Jimin and Taehyung look towards each other confused. “What wires?” Taehyung said gently while kneeling beside Jimin. A horrifying foreboding sense took over Jimin’s entire body.
“The bad man said there were wires here that would explode if I moved even a little,” Tears filled her eyes as she tried to stay as still as possible. Jimin swallowed. Slowly looking around his eyes found nothing but dirt and a few wood logs. He turned his flashlight on, flashing it everywhere but he found no wires until he was just about to turn back to the girl and his eyes caught a small light reflecting back just adjacent to the jacket. That was the wire. He followed it with his light and reached the end of the shed. He snapped his head towards his friend, only to meet horrified wide eyes. He flashed light on the other side and there it was again, the jacket attached to the landmines. The explosive jacket was attached on both to the landmines that would be triggered if the girl moved even a slightest bit.
Jungkook hated the meetings and paper work more than anything. He was a detective, why did he have to do this boring stuff when he should be in the field. He groaned as he closed his laptop.
“You really can’t sit still?,” His chief and also one of his best friend’s said as he typed on his own computer.
“I have been sitting still for the last two hours,” Jungkook narrowed his eyes at the giant man in front of him. He rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, very still with getting a break every ten to fifteen minutes,” Namjoon said, shaking his head. Jungkook just shrugged.
“I got the work done,” He sassed back.
A knock interrupted them as Namjoon opened his mouth to reply back. A junior officer entered, pale and panicked. Jungkook straightened up in his seat waiting for some sort of bad news.
“They found the girl,” The young man said, swallowing. Jungkook’s shoulder fell and he breathed a sigh of relief.
“That’s good, Yeonjun. Why do you look worried?” Namjoon said as he folded his arms on the table. Jungkook nodded back at the still pale boy.
“She has explosives attached to her,” he said, making both senior officers exchange a hurried look. “The bomb disposal is on the way but um…” he hesitated looking towards Jungkook for a moment.
“But what?,” Jungkook prodded.
“It’s… um,” Yeonjun looked from Jungkook to Namjoon. His hands wringing together. He really didn’t want to be the one to deliver this news.
“Yeonjun-ah, you can tell us. You know, Jungkook is part of this case,” Namjoon looked as confused as Jungkook.
“Yeah, um, the explosive jacket is attached to two landmines,” he said. Jungkook’s eyes snapped towards the junior officer. What the hell? “Moving the jacket would trigger the mines. The plan is to remove the girl and one of the officers takes her place until some solution is found. It's a residential area.”
Jungkook felt his heart drop in his stomach. He can feel in his bones which officer might be planning to take the girl’s place. Yet he asked.
“Which officer?” Namjoon’s eyes widened with realisation while looking at blank faced Jungkook.
“Yeonjun, get the car,” Namjoon said as he got up. Yeonjun nodded, turning back to walk out.
“Officer Yeonjun, which officer?” Jungkook’s stern voice made the junior officer stop in his tracks, eyes flitting between his seniors.
“Hyung,” he hesitated but Jungkook kept his hardened gaze on him. “Detective Jimin.”
The sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder as the black car screeched to a stop outside the old house. Jungkook was out before the car fully stopped. His boots pounded against the pavement as he sprinted towards the shed. His heart slammed against his ribs, lungs burning, but he didn’t care. The only thing he could think of was Jimin.
Namjoon was right behind him, barking orders into his radio as they crossed the uneven ground. Officers scrambled to make way, their tense faces confirming Jungkook’s worst fears.
Jungkook pushed past them and halted at the entrance of the shed. His breath caught in his throat. No, no, no, no.
Jimin sat there, frozen, his hands gripping the straps of the explosive vest now secured to his own chest. The little girl, now free, clung to Taehyung’s leg a few feet away, eyes red and puffy from crying. Taehyung’s face held deep sorrow as he tried to console the girl and be brave for his friend.
“Jimin,” Jungkook’s voice came out barely above a whisper. He didn’t meet Jungkook’s eyes. He couldn’t. Instead, he kept staring at the ground, his fingers white from how tightly he was holding onto the vest.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Jimin said, his voice steady but hollow. “Go back, Jungkook.”
“Not a fucking chance,” Jungkook snapped, stepping closer. Namjoon grabbed his arm, stopping him. “Don’t,” Namjoon warned. “We don’t know how sensitive the mechanism is.”
Jungkook clenched his jaw, his eyes never leaving Jimin’s. “How the fuck did this happen?” His voice wavered slightly despite his best efforts.
Namjoon directed one of the officers to take the little girls back to safety and her parents.
Jin, a senior swat officer, exhaled, a slow, measured breath. “She couldn’t move. The mines would’ve detonated. Jimin took her place.”
Jungkook squeezed his eyes shut for a second, willing himself to stay calm. His hands curled into fists at his sides. “And now what?”
Jimin’s lips pressed together. “Bomb squad is on their way.”
Jungkook’s eyes flickered to the explosives. The wires ran in delicate, intricate patterns over Jimin’s chest, connecting to something hidden beneath the vest. One wrong move, and–
No. Jungkook refused to think like that.
He turned to Namjoon, jaw clenched. “Tell me they have a way out of this.”
Namjoon didn’t answer immediately, and that silence made Jungkook’s stomach twist painfully. “They’re assessing the situation,” Namjoon finally said, voice low. “But it’s complicated.”
Jungkook felt the rage bubbling beneath his skin. “Fuck complicated,” he seethed, stepping closer. “We’re getting him out of this.”
Jimin finally looked at him then, his expression unreadable. Jungkook saw the flicker of fear in his eyes, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
“I’ll be fine,” Jimin said softly.
Jungkook shook his head. “Don’t you fucking lie to me right now.”
“Baby,” Jimin's eyes softened at the tremor in his husband’s voice. Jungkook took a shaky breath and forced himself to keep it together.
“Why, hyung?” Jungkook pleaded, a tear falling down his cheek.
“You know why, love,” Jungkook knew he was being selfish. He knew he might have done the same if he was in Jimin’s shoes but why Jimin. He couldn’t lose him. He couldn’t.
Both of them kept looking at each other with eyes full of fear, love and so much pain. Jungkook just knew if something happened here, he was going with Jimin, no arguments.
He sat on the ground a few feet from Jimin as the rest of the officers moved to give them privacy and wait for the bomb disposal team.
“I’m sorry, baby,” Jimin said as he gazed at Jungkook’s grief stricken eyes. He knew he would do this again if the situation ever came but his hurt was crushed seeing his lover in so much agony.
“No,” Jungkook shook his head. “You’ll be fine. Don’t be sorry. It’ll be okay.”
Jimin wanted to hold his husband in his arms and kiss him all over to take away the sadness but alas.
“You know, anything can happen, Kookie,” Jimin bit his lips.
“I can’t live without you, Hyung. I won’t,” Jungkook’s voice broke as tears fell down his cheeks.
“I love you, baby, so much,” Jimin said, which made his husband's cries turn into soft sobs. “Don’t cry, my Kookie, hyung hates to see you cry.”
“Then don’t make me cry!” Jungkook snapped as he hid his face in his hands. “Just come back, I promise I’ll always do laundry on time and always wake up when you ask. Please. Please.” Looking at his big strong husband curled up so tiny in front of him, Jimin was reminded of the small boy he first met many years ago in highschool, so shy and small.
Jimin swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in his throat. He had to be strong. For Jungkook. For himself. For the terrified girl they had rescued.
“Baby, look at me,” Jimin said softly.
Jungkook didn’t move at first, fingers digging into his hair, his shoulders shaking. But after a moment, he slowly lifted his head, his red-rimmed eyes locking onto Jimin’s.
Jimin smiled- small, sad, but full of love. “You remember what you told me before my first undercover op?”
Jungkook sniffed, frowning. “That you better come back to me.”
Jimin nodded. “And I did.”
“This isn’t the same, hyung,” Jungkook’s voice cracked, the pain evident. His shoulders shook trying to keep the cries contained.
Jimin exhaled shakily. “I know. But you have to believe I’ll make it through this, just like I did then.”
Jungkook clenched his fists, his whole body trembling. “I don’t want to believe. I just want you out of that fucking vest.”
Before Jimin could respond, Namjoon returned, face grim. “The bomb squad is almost here. But there’s a problem.”
Jungkook’s heart stopped. “What problem?”
Namjoon hesitated. “The trigger is more complicated than they thought. The landmines are pressure-sensitive, and the vest is wired directly to them. If Jimin moves before they neutralize the system–”
“It’ll explode.” Jimin finished for him, his tone eerily calm.
Jungkook shot to his feet. “No. No fucking way. There has to be another way.”
“They’re working on it, but it’s delicate. They deduced everything with the pictures Taehyung sent them and now they’re here so it’ll be more helpful,” Namjoon said, voice tight. “But one wrong move, and-”
Jungkook didn’t let him finish. “Stop saying that.” His voice was raw, like he had already screamed a thousand times. He turned back to Jimin, breathing harshly. “You’re not dying here, you hear me?”
Jimin gave him a small smile, one that made Jungkook’s stomach twist into knots. “I hear you, bun.”
Jungkook dropped to his knees again, reaching out but stopping himself before his fingers could graze Jimin’s arm. He wanted to touch him so badly, to hold him, to feel the warmth of his skin, but the explosives wrapped around him like a cruel cage.
Jimin noticed the hesitation and let out a soft chuckle. “This is the first time you’ve ever been scared to touch me.”
“Don’t joke about this,” Jungkook whispered, another tear slipping down his cheek.
“I have to,” Jimin admitted, voice barely above a breath. “If I don’t, I’ll fall apart.”
Jungkook felt his chest tighten. He reached up and wiped his face roughly, trying to breathe past the suffocating panic.
The officers around them kept their distance, murmuring into radios, waiting for the bomb squad to arrive, but to Jungkook, the world had shrunk down to just him and Jimin.
“You’re gonna be fine,” Jungkook said again, his voice firm, like if he said it enough times, it would become reality.
Jimin nodded. “I trust you.”
Jungkook clenched his jaw. “You should. Because I’m not letting you go.”
A sudden voice crackled through the radio, making everyone snap to attention.
“We’re here.”
Jungkook turned his head, watching as the bomb squad moved in, dressed in heavy protective gear, their hands steady as they examined the explosives strapped to Jimin’s body.
One of them looked up, meeting Jungkook’s gaze. “Detective, we need you to step back.”
Jungkook didn’t move. “No.”
“Jungkook,” Namjoon warned.
Jungkook shot him a glare. “No. I’m staying.” His eyes flickered back to Jimin. “I’m not leaving him.”
“Jungkookie,” Jimin added a bit sternly but only got a head shake in return. Jimin sighed, something fond and exasperated flickering across his face. “You’re so stubborn.”
Jungkook shrugged.
One of the bomb techs cleared his throat. “Okay, you can stay but please step a bit out of our field. It’s for everyone’s safety that we have more area to work.”
Jungkook nodded, taking a step back. He watched, every muscle in Jimin’s body coiled so tightly he thought he might snap. He could see the sweat beading on Jimin’s forehead, the way his chest barely moved as he tried to keep himself still as the squad worked.
Namjoon placed a hand on Jungkook’s shoulder, grounding him. “He’s in good hands.”
Jungkook swallowed hard, forcing himself to believe it.
Because losing Jimin wasn’t an option. He was gonna take him back with him.
Eighteen minutes, twenty seven seconds.
It had barely been a few minutes but there was no progress. The residences adjacent had already been cleared just in case. Jungkook could feel his heart sinking with every second. The exchange of looks between the bomb squad was like feet stomping on his soul. Jimin was still as a rock but Jungkook could see hope slowly leave his eyes but his husband still smiled whenever they made eye contact.
Jungkook wanted to die.
He saw the moment Hoseok, one of the bomb disposal officers, sigh in defeat and looked at his fellow officer, Yoongi and shook his head. His entire being shattered. No. No. No. Yet he held onto false hope.
Yoongi looked between Jimin and the rest of the officers, “This can’t be detonated,” Jimin took a staggered breath. “But, we can delay it a few seconds. So the most we have is that, the second it stops. We run.”
Jungkook felt the world tilt beneath him. His ears rang, drowning out everything except the words looping in his mind. The most we have is a few seconds. The second it stops, we run.
Run?!
What kind of solution was that?
His chest tightened as he stared at Jimin, who was still too calm, too accepting. That was what broke Jungkook the most.
“No,” Jungkook said, shaking his head violently. “No, that’s not…there has to be another way.”
Yoongi didn’t meet his eyes. “We’ve assessed every possibility. The mechanism is too sensitive. If we try to disarm it completely, it’ll trigger.”
Jungkook clenched his fists. “Then don’t trigger it.”
Namjoon exhaled sharply beside him, rubbing a hand down his face. “Jungkook, listen-”
“No!” Jungkook snapped, turning to face him. “No, I’m not listening! You want me to just stand here while you tell my husband he has seconds to live?”
A pained silence filled the space. The officers averted their eyes, the weight of the moment pressing down on all of them.
Jimin finally broke it.
“Kookie,” he whispered.
Jungkook looked at him, eyes burning with unshed tears.
Jimin smiled,small, sad, but still Jimin. “You have to be strong for me, okay?”
Jungkook’s breath stuttered. “Don’t talk like that.”
“Baby-”
“No!” Jungkook shouted, voice cracking. “You promised, hyung! You promised you’d always stay with me!”
Jimin’s eyes softened. “And I’m still here.”
Jungkook squeezed his eyes shut as a sob escaped him. “Not for long.”
Another pause. Then-
“Yes, I will be.”
Jungkook’s head snapped up, ready to argue, but the look in Jimin’s eyes stopped him.
Determination.
Pure, unwavering determination.
“I am,” Jimin said firmly. “And I am going to make it. I promised you, Jungkook.”
Jungkook wanted to believe him.
He needed to believe him.
“Okay, officers, clear the area. Hoseok and I will run with Jimin. And-”
“Hold on, you and Hoseok? No, I am too,” Jungkook said, taking a step towards Jimin only to be stopped by a firm grip on his arm.
“No, Jungkook, you’re coming with me. This is just delaying the process and putting Jimin in more danger,” Namjoon said as he looked towards Jimin. Jimin nodded back.
“I love you, Jungkookie,” Jimin added one last time as Namjoon and two more officers pulled the struggling Jungkook back.
Jungkook thrashed against Namjoon’s grip, his muscles straining as he tried to break free. “No, no, let me go! Let me go! ” His voice cracked, raw and desperate.
Namjoon held on tighter. “Jungkook, stop! ”
“ No! ” Jungkook screamed, his entire body fighting against the arms restraining him. “Jiminie hyung, please!” His vision blurred with tears, but through it, he saw Jimin smiling.
Soft. Reassuring. Terrifying.
“I’ll see you soon, baby” Jimin whispered, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
“ No! ” Jungkook sobbed. “ Hyung, don’t— ”
Yoongi and Hoseok made sure that the group of officers were far enough, they turned towards Jimin. He had tears softly running down his cheeks. Softly patting him on shoulders, they moved towards each of the mines. “You have been strong. Let’s hold on for a few moments, yeah?”
Jimin nodded, taking a deep breath.
“You drop the jacket and run as soon as we signal.”
“Got it,” Jimin held his breath.
“3.” Yoongi started.
“2.” Hoseok added.
“1, now!” Both of them shouted.
Jimin didn’t think.
He moved.
The second the jacket left his arms, he turned on his heel and ran . His legs burned, his chest ached, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop.
Yoongi and Hoseok bolted alongside him, their steps synchronized, breathless but determined.
And then,
A deafening boom .
Jungkook barely registered Namjoon’s grip loosening on his arms. The moment it did, he tore himself free and sprinted forward, his heart slamming against his ribs.
The impact sent a shockwave through the air, knocking Jungkook back. His ears rang, his vision tilted, but all he could think was; Jimin.
“Hyung!” He scrambled to his feet, stumbling, his hands digging into the gravel. Smoke clouded his vision, thick and suffocating. Officers were shouting, but their voices were muffled, distant.
Then, through the haze, he saw a figure on the ground.
Jungkook ran.
His knees hit the ground next to Jimin’s body.
“Hyung,” his voice broke as he reached out, shaking him gently. “Hyung, No. No. No, Wake up, Jiminie. I am here. You are free. Wake up ! ”
But no matter what Jungkook said, Jimin wasn’t moving.
The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound in the sterile hospital room. It had been hours. Too many hours.
Jungkook sat in the stiff plastic chair beside Jimin’s bed, his elbows on his knees, fingers tangled in his own hair. He hadn’t moved much, barely even blinked, afraid that if he did he would miss Jimin waking up.
His husband looked so small under the hospital blankets, his face paler than Jungkook had ever seen it. The bandages wrapped around his arms and torso. Bruises had bloomed along his cheekbone, dark and angry against his fair skin.
Jungkook reached out, tracing the back of Jimin’s hand with trembling fingers. How many times had he held this same hand? How many times had it squeezed his back, wiped his tears, pulled him in close?
And yet, now, it just lay there, unmoving.
Jungkook swallowed hard, blinking against the burn in his eyes. “Hyung,” he whispered, voice raw. “Please wake up.”
The silence stretched on.
Jungkook sighed shakily and ran his thumb over Jimin’s knuckles. “You know, you’re really mean for making me wait this long,” he tried to joke, but it came out choked. “I haven’t even eaten, hyung. Namjoon threatened to knock me out just to make me rest. You hate it when I skip meals.”
Nothing.
Jungkook’s breath hitched. He lowered his head, pressing his lips against Jimin’s fingers. “I was so scared,” he confessed. “I thought I lost you.”
The monitors beeped steadily, the air thick with the scent of antiseptic and something too clean, too artificial.
“I promised.”
Jungkook froze. His eyes snapped to Jimin’s face. He saw it, his fingers moved, the slightest shift, but it was there .
Then, eyelashes fluttered.
Jungkook’s breath caught in his throat. “Hyung?” His grip on Jimin’s hand tightened, desperate, hopeful.
Jimin’s brows furrowed slightly, his head shifting just a little against the pillow. His lips parted, and Jungkook could hear the faintest, raspy inhale.
And then… those eyes.
Heavy-lidded, unfocused at first, but open .
Jungkook let out a broken, relieved laugh. His free hand cupped Jimin’s cheek instantly, thumb brushing gently over his bruised skin. “Hey,” he whispered, voice trembling. “Jagi, you’re awake.”
Jimin blinked slowly, dazed, his gaze struggling to focus on Jungkook’s face. Then, the smallest, softest smile curved his lips.
“Hi, Kookie,” he croaked, his voice barely above a breath.
Jungkook choked on a sob, laughing through his tears as he leaned down, pressing a kiss to Jimin’s forehead, his hands shaking.
“I hate you,” Jungkook murmured, voice thick with emotion. “I hate you so much.”
Jimin hummed weakly, eyes fluttering. “No, you don’t.”
Jungkook laughed wetly, pressing another kiss to Jimin’s temple, lingering there. “No,” he admitted. “I don’t.”
Jimin’s fingers weakly curled around Jungkook’s, his grip weak but there . His face turned to softly place a kiss on Jungkook’s temple.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Jungkook finally let himself breathe.
He will be going back home with his Jimin.