A/N: This chapter may be confusing as hell so please read carefully. ( Some parts of the chapter have a non-linear structure, keep that in mind!)

"I'll see you later, hmm?" says Taehyung as he leans down to peck the boy's cheek.

Jungkook nods, smiling. "What time will the meeting finish, sir?"

Taehyung flicks his wrist up to check his watch. "Uh, if all goes well, around 9:00?"

Jungkook nods again, hopping off the desk as he does so. "Okay. I have a meeting for the scheduling program with Joon Hyung. We'll hopefully be done by the time you come back."

Taehyung sighs and leans over to kiss the boy's lips, peppering him with kisses a few times until the younger's giggling and pushing him away.

"Sir," he laughs out. "You're gonna be late."

Taehyung groans, a small smile on his face. "I just can't help it. You look too cute right now."

Jungkook blushes and pushes him away even harder, trying to get him to walk towards the office door. "Go." He squeaks, pointing at the door.

Taehyung reluctantly gives in and starts trotting away. "Don't have too much fun without me!" He exclaims as he saunters out the room with a teasing smile.

Jungkook shakes his head, smiling to himself.

~

Taehyung stretches a little in his seat as the car glides across the roads. The silence inside the vehicle is calming, a soothing emptiness that buzzes against his ears as he watches the starlit sky. Taehyung's eyes cling onto every aspect of the dark twinkling blanket, using the sight as an anchor to keep him grounded.

Having had Jungkook by his side every time for a meeting made Taehyung forget the usual sting of anxiety that would tug at his throat whenever he had to go to one. Sure, Taehyung is used to it, to all those bigoted men and women, used to their stares and snide remarks, but there's something about being there, the odd sock in a bundle of pristine white ones that even longevity and practice doesn't prepare him for. But Taehyung doesn't let it tear him down like it used to. Instead, he tries to find calm in the turmoil that is his mind, searching for the solace that resides in the eye of the hurricane. Searching for warmth, for comfort, for Jungkook. Taehyung's eyes search for the moon in the sky. The moon isn't there.

"We're here, sir," the driver's voice breaks him out of his trance. He looks up and nods at the man through the rear-view mirror.

~

"Kim," one of the men in the room says, the little twitch in his eyebrow displaying his distaste towards Taehyung's arrival. Taehyung looks over and gives him a quick nod in greeting.

"I hope I wasn't too late?" He asks while taking a seat.

"You're just on time."

He turns at the voice, his blood souring instantly upon seeing that familiar smug face. Grey Park. He doesn't acknowledge the man and instead turns back to face the front.

Grey walks towards the head of the table, that arrogant smirk still resting on his features. "Is everyone here?" He leans over, talking to his secretary.

The blond nods. "Yes, sir."

"Great," Grey says while clapping his hands together, his slitted eyes scanning through the room. "Glad to see you could all make it to this very important meeting. Today, I'm going to officially be announcing my newest project which is being released into the media just as we speak."

Taehyung leans back in his chair, uninterested. He doesn't care for whatever stupid project Grey is going to release. He's simply here because he has to be; Some sort of twisted act of respect. Not to Grey, never to him. More to King's Corp, to keep his company name in a positive light.

Grey smiles and starts the powerpoint. "Without futher ado, I'd like to present to you CX Grey-scale 2021..." He pauses, eyes staring into Taehyung's as his malefic smile widens. There's something there, something ominous, something foreboding. Sinister. "...Our newest self driving car."

Taehyung's never liked meetings yet he's learned to bear with them. To keep his composure. To be calm. But as he stares up at the smart board, the smart board that now displays an exact replica of his soon-to-be-released car, he finds every ounce of his composure wearing thin, his heart leaping out of his chest and the blood inside him turning ice cold.

Taehyung doesn't want to believe what he sees, what he hears, doesn't want to feel the comments of approval from the men around him.

"Wow, Grey, this one's going to be a hit. You've outdone yourself."

"Yeah, this is impressive."

"How much would you accept for a partnership?"

"It's self assisting, that's insane."

It's too much. Taehyung can't stand it. He can't stand it. He can't stand that smug look on Grey's face, the look of victory as he stares down at him. He finds his thoughts rushing, a mantra of this can't be happening. This can't be happening. This can't be happening.

Grey continues, presenting the car. His car. The car that Taehyung invested billions into designing, into creating, spent tireless nights working on. The car that he put his heart into, his name into, his dead father's trust into. He doesn't understand. He doesn't understand. It's gone. Slipped through his fingers and somehow, in some deranged sickening form of manifestation, it's fixated itself onto a powerpoint next to his sworn enemy. All that effort now curdling into that twisted smirk of the man he hates.

Grey's words are a blur to him, a radio buzz in his head. As the man gushes over his newly released car, gushes over all its features and designs, Taehyung can't help but tune him out. He can't listen. His voice is smooth yet it's screaming into Taehyung's ear. He won't listen. He won't listen. He can't listen.

"Kim?" One of the men ask when they notice him standing. Taehyung can't tell who, they're all a blur. A smear across his hazy mind.

"Bathroom," he manages to mumble out, voice foreign to his own ears. He ignores the shared looks of confusion. He ignores it. Taehyung can't listen. Can't listen.

He finds himself stumbling into the bathroom, hands shaking, throat restricted that he has to gasp to breath. He needs air, he need air, he needs to breath. His trembling hand reaches out to the faucet and opens it, letting the stream of cool water trickle onto his skin. He brings the water up to his face and splashes himself with it, letting the cool droplets touch his skin, letting the iciness calm the fire he feels. It doesn't calm him. Not on the inside at least.

Taehyung feels a dull buzz in his gut, a sort of nausea. It makes him waver and he reaches out to grip onto the marble countertop. He stares at himself in the mirror, dark eyes penetrating the clone through the glass. The bathroom is grand, elegant, high class. Something Taehyung is accustomed to. This is supposed to be a representation of him, a symbol of his integrity, of his pride, his success.

Taehyung laughs at his reflection, a bitter chuckle that doesn't match his lifeless expression. Integrity? Pride? Success? What a fool he would be to believe all that. Kim Taehyung is a lot of things but never that. Kim Taehyung is weak, is powerless, is unworthy. He's nothing but the kid who's inherited his father's success, nothing but a memory of his father's achievements, nothing but what his father should have been. Kim Taehyung, simply put, is nothing.

The king of the business world? As Taehyung stares into his reflection, eyes glinting with emotions that he can't name, a sudden thought crosses his mind, making him smile brokenly at himself.

All this time he thought he was wearing the crown but as he stares at himself he realises, it was never a crown sitting on his head.

It was a Jester's hat.

And now all he can do is put on a show. But who's he kidding. He's been putting on a show his whole life, a senseless act of composure, he is a fool that would fool those around him. Now he can be a laughing stock, the best act of the circus as people laugh and point as his whole company falls apart.

He pulls away from the sink, breaking eye contact with himself. He feels almost robotic as he walks out the bathroom, his steps forced. If not for the hollow buzzing in his gut, that deep pit of unleashed anxiety stirring within him, he would feel like a robot, un-human. As he walks through the hallways, there's only one sober thought in his mind. He needs to breathe. But he can't breathe. He needs to breathe, he needs to get a grip on himself, on everything. He needs reassurance. He...he needs Jungkook. Bun.

"Regret putting all your eggs in one basket, Kim?" He doesn't flinch at Grey's prideful voice, doesn't react at all. He doesn't care.

The man chuckles behind him as he continues to walk away, to get out of this place. He approaches the elevator, trying to ignore how the man still follows him. He steps in, eyes avoiding those dark slits that stare over at him with that mocking gaze.

"Not going to say bye?"

Taehyung ignores him, pressing the button to close the elevator. He watches the man as the door starts sliding shut, causing his arrogant form to thin behind the metal.

But before the doors can fully shut, before the metal can bound his fate, Grey places his hand in front of it, causing them to slide back open. "Oh and before I forget, how's Jungkook?"

At this, Taehyung stills, completely taken aback by the question. He looks up, hesitant eyes meeting the man's cocky gaze. "What... why do you ask?"

The man chuckles, something darkening in his eyes, a glint of mischief. "Silly question, Kim." He lets go off his hand, the metal door slowly closing again. And when there's just a gap left, when it's just a glimpse of his twisted expression left, he speaks.

"Why wouldn't I ask about my son?"

The words don't hit Taehyung hard, it's not a smack in the face type of revelation. It slow. A sort of tickling grip the works its way up his body, over his chest, his lungs, onto his throat where it grips him, rendering him breathless. And all of a sudden, Taehyung doesn't feeling that anxious buzzing in his gut. As the words play over and over in his head, the feeling is swept away, replacing itself with this hollow sort of numbness, making him feel empty.

Like drowning in deep ocean water. It's silent, the pain is something hot and white yet it's numb. The silence is placating. A form of sickening acceptance to a much darker reality.

~

"Kook? You hear me?" Namjoon calls out, eyebrows furrowed as he notices the boy distracted by something in the room.

Jungkook snaps his gaze back onto the older, blushing a little. "O-Oh, yeah. Sorry hyung. U-Um just got distracted by that." He points towards a small photo frame sitting on the corner of Namjoon's desk. "Is that you guys when you were young?"He asks, staring at the picture of what looks like a younger Namjoon and Taehyung with their hands slung around each other.

Namjoon looks over to the frame and picks it up, smiling down at it. "Yeah," he hums softly. "Gosh, Tae was so scrawny back then."

Jungkook giggles. "Not anymore." He pauses when he realises the implications behind his words and blushes madly.

Namjoon seems to catch on and sends him a teasing smile, "oh yeah? I'm sure you'd know."

Jungkook clears his throat and looks away. Namjoon chuckles and looks back at his computer. "Kook, we've barely got anything done, Taehyung's gonna kill us."

Jungkook looks over at him sheepishly. "Sorry, it's my fault. I keep zoning off today." It's true, ever since he got back from Taehyung's place, he just couldn't focus on his work, feeling rather restless yet simultaneously tired.

Namjoon shakes his head. "S'okay. Tell you what. I'll go make us some mind blowing coffee and you can fill in the data for your report while I'm at it."

Jungkook's eyes light up at the suggestion of coffee. "That sounds great, hyung!" He exclaims while already standing to his feet. He walks over to Namjoon's computer and then pauses in front of his big leather chair, eyeing it hesitantly.

The older rolls his eyes at the boy, "Go ahead," he says while standing up.

Jungkook smiles giddily and plops down onto the chair. It isn't as big as Taehyung but it still drowns his form, making him feel like some big-shot CEO when really, he's just a secretary of some big-shot CEO.

"Caramel macchiato?" Asks Namjoon, already half way out the door.

Jungkook lets his smile widen and nods.

~

"Sorry it took a while, I think I broke the machine." Namjoon says with a sheepish grin.

Jungkook startles at the door opening and looks up at him with big eyes. "O-Oh, Hyung."

The older snorts at the boy and places his coffee next to him. "You done?"

Jungkook looks up at the clock. 9:00 pm.

"Yeah..." he whispers. "Is that all?"

The older nods and takes his seat back when the boy stands up. "Yup."

Jungkook nods. He looks back at the clock. It's nine. "Then if there's nothing more... I'll get going." He stares at the older, smile slightly wavering. It's nine-o-clock.

He walks towards the door.

"Kook."

He grips the door handle and turns around stiffly. It's nine. It's nine-o-clock. "Yes, Hyung?" There's an odd beat in his heart, a lucid feeling that's vibrating through his chest, getting stronger, faster, racing; Like the hands of the clock.

Namjoon smiles, his dimple showing. "You forgot your coffee."

Jungkook walks up to the man. Accepts the coffee. It's nine.

"Thanks..." he whispers, breathless, looking a little dazed, a little out of touch with reality, doesn't even feel the drop of scorching hot coffee dribbling down his skin. It's nine. 9pm. nine-o-clock.

He turns back to leave.

"And Kook."

It's nine-o-clock he needs to leave. It's nine. It's nine. He needs to leave. The thrum in his chest intensifies, consuming his body, drowning him till his heartbeat is screaming in his ears, blood rushing like poison through his veins, he's wavering as he turns back around, hesitant, ever so hesitant. It's nine-o-clock.

"Yes, hyung?"

Namjoon stares at him, noticing his restless hands, his big eyes darting towards the clock. He sighs. "Is there a particular reason you went through my laptop?"

Jungkook spins around, eyes frantic. He blabbers, trying to form a sentence. "W-What?" he feels his breathing accelerate. He stares at the older, trying to think, to formulate words. "What d-do you mean?"

Namjoon doesn't speak. He just stares at him. Jungkook brings a shaky hand to rub at his nape. "I didn't, Hyung."

The older continues to stare at him silently. Jungkook fidgets, heart palpitating, adrenaline rushing, his anxiety clawing at his lungs and piercing the skin till he feels like he can't breath. He looks up, meeting the older's silent stare, his silent question, a provoking gesture.

"Why..." it comes out of his mouth before he can let coherent thoughts drag the words back down. Why, why, why. And they both know it's not a question.

"Why d-did you do that?" He whispers, pointing at the computer as panic laces his words, a rush of words threatening to spill past his mouth.

Namjoon stares at the boy, a bored glance directed towards him. "Do what, Kook?"

Jungkook runs a shaky hand over his hair. "You- you...". He stumbles back, the words stuck in his throat, tasting unpleasant, bitter. He spits them out with a choked cry, " You emailed those companies a-all the information about the n-new project. Unreleased information- Y-You-"

Why? It's not a question, never was a question. It's a scathing accusation.

Namjoon sighs and leans back in his chair, something darkening in his eyes. "I did no such thing."

"N-No." Jungkook tugs at his hair, trying to grip onto the sensation of pain rather than the suffocating turmoil inside of him. T-The email!" Jungkook yells, tears pooling in his eyes, his hands trembling. The email.

~

"Caramel macchiato?" Namjoon asks, half way out the door.

Jungkook lets his smile widen and nods. He stretches out a little on the large leather chair and winces when he looks at the blaring screen of the monitor. He sighs, seeing the long rows of data that he has to fill in.

He starts typing, trying to stay focused despite his mind drifting off elsewhere. Taehyung, Taehyung Taehyung Taehyung.

He groans when he realises he zoned out again, his eyes not even on the rows of data but rather staring at a random corner of the screen. He sighs and attempts to avert his attention back onto the data but something catches his attention once again. But no, this time it's not Taehyung.

It's his father.

Or rahter, his father's names. Displayed on one of the tabs which seems to be for emails. Curiosity rushes through him, wondering why Namjoon is contacting his father when they don't currently have any deals with their company.

Jungkook stares at the tab for a moment and tries to avert his gaze back onto his work but there's an odd sensation in his gut, a telling feeling, a twisted urge to open the tab and look at the email.

But he can't do that, that's an invasion of privacy and he has no right. But. The sensation gnaws at his stomach, making him clench his jaw as he hesitates. He shouldn't. He shouldn't. He shouldn't.

He clicks the tab.

An email opens up, surely enough, addressed to his father, 'Mr Grey'. And as he reads through it, he finds his throat restricting, that feeling in his gut turning into a sea of dreadful, unfiltered panic.

Re: Grey

From: Kim Namjoon.

'No, I've looked into it. He can't press legal charges because the trademarks haven't completed the legal process yet. If you release the car into the media today and have the meeting, there's not much he can do. He's probably just going to cry about it and poor old me will have to comfort him."

Jungkook shakily clicks off the email and looks at Namjoon's past emails, his heart beating faster with each one he reads.

From Kim Namjoon:

Here's the blueprint of the car. I'll get the manufacture guide to you soon as well.

From Kim Namjoon:

He's investing a lot on this new project. Haven't discussed the full details with him yet, seems to be some sort of car though.

Jungkook's whole head is spinning when he clicks off the emails and exits the tab back onto his work. He stares at the screen blankly for a second while his heart hammers against his chest. He tries to grasp onto his thoughts, tries to grasp onto a sense of anything. But he can't.

All that's going through his head is, it's Kim Namjoon. Taehyung's brother. The man he looked up to and called hyung, the person that would always treat him warmly, would always talk to him with a smile on his face. Kim Namjoon. He's the one who's betraying their company? Betraying his own brother?

And Jungkook's head is screaming. Why? A frenzy of questions that make his hands shake, that make his throat dry. He feels lost in his own head, thoughts wandering, fearful and confused. He doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know what to do.

He looks at the time, It's 8:53 pm,Taehyung should be back 'around 9'.