among thieves ✨ || bts • pjm [COMPLETED]

1.6

Yoongi scrunched his nose at his narration. "Sounds like you were their puppet."
He sighed, burrowing his face in his palms. "Pretty much."
"And explains why you attacked us," he pointed out, "But you seem fine now. Are you fine?"
Jimin shrugged. "Guess so.. I got memory flashbacks in the cell pops locked me into. And eventually it all came back."
"About that.." Taehyung paused his game and sat up, giving him an awkward look, "Sorry I set him on you. It seemed the only save solution back then. You were out of your mind after all and I didn't know what to do."

Jimin waved him off quickly, though, shaking his head. "Don't worry, I get it. And I had missed pops anyway," he chuckled then, "Poor guy looked so offended when I couldn't remember him anymore."

Who knew, perhaps that was the reason he'd given him those ten minutes to escape. He'd looked quite happy when seeing Jimin had gained back his memory and remembered who he was.
They might be rivals, like cat and mouse, but they did have a mutual respect and sympathy for each other. And he was the only lawenforcement member Jimin genuinely trusted.

"Alright, anyway," he exclaimed suddenly, clapping his hands enthusiastically. "New plan then! First we get Bella back, then we'll proceed with the original plan."
"The original plan?" Yoongi repeated astonished, "You mean-"
"Yep. Following the hint from your idea and hopefully finding the treasure."
Yoongi's gaze immediately wandered to Taehyung who remained silent, looking at his hands laying flat on his lap. Jimin frowned, following Yoongi's gaze. He noticed the troubled expression on his face and soon understood.
"Oh, look, Tae, if you prefer staying here with Cas, it's totally fine. I'd understand."

Even if it'd only been for merely two weeks, it almost felt like back in the good old days. He always knew, however, that sooner or later he'd have to bid goodbye to her again and he'd been mentally preparing himself for that moment to come from the beginning. It was looming in the horizon, it was lingering in the air, ever since he'd allowed himself to relent and enter her life again.
He was just glad it came later than expected. But still too soon.

"No, it's okay," he shook his head eventually and glanced at his friends. First at Jimin, then at Yoongi who was giving him a quiet glance of empathy. He'd been there after all, he'd seen him and Cassandra together and how happy they were.
Swallowing, Taehyung looked down at his hands again. "T-that's the life I've chosen after all. The only thing I'm good at," he said, the smile not reaching his eyes. It was a sad one, they could tell. Sitting up straight then he forced his lips to grow wider. "And besides, I can't let you guys hanging, you'd be stranded without me. Well, at least you, Jimin. I know Yoongi can handle himself just fine."

Yoongi couldn't help but let out a small laugh at this as Jimin rolled his eyes.
"Fine. But don't use me as an excuse," Jimin said.
"I'm.. I'm not."
They grew quiet before Yoongi cleared his throat, changing topics. "So when are we leaving?"
Jimin mused for a moment. "I'm gonna leave tomorrow to get Bella. You guys can follow later, in two to three days. Except if you already got other plans for these days.." He glanced at Taehyung who shook his head quickly.

He stood up then and headed to the door. "I'm.. I'm gonna let her know then."
"Take your time," Jimin said with a soft smile, "See you then."
Taehyung gave them a nod and left, Jimin facing Yoongi then with a grin. "Alright, how about we grab some food?"

"Sorry, already got plans right now"

His eyes widened. "What plans?"

Yoongi motioned with his chin to the television, making the younger man roll his eyes and slumb back in his seat,. And Jimin knew he didn't even need to try. He wouldn't get Yoongi to leave before the game was over. Not if he didn't want to.

"Hmph, fine. I'm gonna look for food on my own then."

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Taehyung stood in front of Cassandra's door with a heavy heart. His hand kept rising and falling tohis side. He couldn't bring himself to go through with it, unsure of how to explain to her that he was leaving her once again. Just like one and a half years ago.

He rubbed his face out of frustration.

Her reaction wasn't something that scared him, after all he knew how understanding she was. He knew how she respected his life. No, her possible reaction wasn't scaring him, it was rather tearing him apart. Because even if she was more understanding than he ever deserved, she'd never been good in hiding her feelings. Her pain. Her big brown eyes would always give her away, as much as she tried hiding it.

So when he finally founnd the courage to ring the doorbell and Cassandra opened the door, seeing him standing there slouching and filled with anguish, her sweet smile instantly dropped. And before his lips could even part to explain himself, she cut him off with a sigh. "You've got to leave, right?" she asked with a sad smile.
And he simply nodded, unable to utter a word.
"When?"
"In three days."

She inhaled sharply. A stern expression spreading on her soft features then as she straighted herself. "Don't you dare disappear on me again. Got it?"
Taehyung's lips fell agape and he blinked, taken aback by her unexpected words. "Cas, you know it's better wh-"
"- when you just dip and disappear like I've never mattered to you?"
His lips pressed together in a straight line, an equally severe look in his eyes as he held her glare. "You know I don't wanna drag you again into the mass that's my life."
"No, don't start all that again." Her voice broke at the end although she tried her best remaining firm and not let her emotions take over, "You know I never minded your life or only seeing you every other month." She stepped out then despite being barefoot, placing her hand on his cheek. Caressing his warm skin with her thumb as a small mirk tucked on her lips. "You know how cool I find my super hot master thief boyfriend," she giggled then.

He couldn't help but laugh at this, placing her hand on hers. Even now she managed making him laugh. Their hands lowered and they intertwined their fingers, squeazing them together.

"Jimin's the master thief, I'm just the gunman," he corrected her with fake-offence

"That's even hotter."

He shook his head bashfully, chuckling at her nonsense. Even if she'd explained it to him years ago, he still couldn't wrap his head around how someone as cool as her would ever fall for him.

He honestly didn't believe he deserved Cassandra. He never did. She was too good of a person for a jackass like him. She deserved better. And yet, there she was, always sticking with him throughout the years. Despite him hurting her over and over again in the attempt of protecting her.

"I almost lost you the first time," he whispered then, pain washing over his soft edges when recalling the end of their relationship, "I promised to myself to never endanger you like this again."
She shook her head, holding his gaze. "That wasn't your fault, you know that."
"It was because of me, though."
Cassandra's eyes fell, searching for any more arguments. She was set on changing his mind and she would. "Alright, then see it like that," she said then and Taehyung saw a suspiciously grin on her lips, full of mischief, "It already happened once, so it's less likely to happen again any time soon."

He huffed, dumbfounded. "You really stick to your guns, huh?"
"You're not the only one with one."

She was persistent, he gave her that. And perhaps she did have a point, but no, he had to stay persistent himself. It was about her safety.

"So?" Cassandra arched a brow at him, tucking at his hand like an impatient child. "Promise you'll come back after the job's finished. Otherwise I'll hunt you down myself. I might not have all you guys' skills but I will track you down on my own if you dare vanishing into thin air again. You hear me, cool guy?"

Her determined expression evoked a chuckle from him. He knew Cassandra was stubborn and if she set her mind on something, it was one of the many reasons he loved her and perhaps she'd indeed manage hunting him down if he tried breaking up with her again.
But quite frankly, he felt tired of trying conving them both that breaking up was the best when in reality he also couldn't bring himself to do it again.
The first time had torn his heart apart, the past one and half year without her being the worst in his life and he never wanted to go through that experience ever again.

The ghost of a smile was on his heart-shaped lips when he finally nodded. Squeazing her hand, he pulled her into his arms and embraced her tightly.
"You make it hard for me to protect you, angel, but yes, I promise."

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