Chapter Text
The night was hot and humid, just as the summer nights in Seoul are. Someone could end up covered in sweat only by keeping still and breathing, so it wasn't a surprise that Taehyung, who just had run a kilometer, was drenched. The only reprieve could be found indoors, with the air conditioning at full capacity. Sadly, his work couldn't be done behind a desk.
It wasn't even really a job, more like a legacy. A vocation, in these conditions. One assumed by his brother, mother, father, grandfathers, and grandfathers' fathers. An uninterrupted chain that went back to the beginning of their lineage.
Sometimes, Taehyung wondered what his life would be like if he weren't a Shadow Hunter. If some parts of angel Raziel's blood weren't running through his veins. He was sure he wouldn’t be capable of being an accountant or a sales clerk. It wasn’t his thing. But many other mundane professions required him to be indoor and not dash between buildings or jump from roof to roof as he was currently doing.
His targets were at street level, mingling with the partygoers massed around the numerous bars and nightclubs. This area, like the ones surrounding it, was known for its nightlife. And as in every place where humans gathered and let down their guard, Downworlders were quick to appear.
From his vantage point, Taehyung could discern a pair of vampires and some members of the Seong's wolfpack. The old Seong Minwoo and the Institute had a dozens of years’ truce. As long as the werewolves did not attack humans, they could go about their lives without becoming targets.
The same rules applied to all Downworlders, but vampires usually didn't follow them. They were self-centered creatures that didn't care about many things except their immediate needs and sires. Without surprise, Taehyung decided to keep his eyes on the two bloodsuckers.
His parabatai seemed to follow his reasoning as he walked nimbly through the crowd towards the two predators. Jimin's outfit allowed him to mingle easily with the clubbers. His pants, made of supple black leather, hugged his lithe but muscular legs, and his mesh top - sleeveless to let him be free to move - displayed his impressive collection of runes and the Nevermind tattoo splayed on his ribs.
His clothing and delicate features caught a fair share of stares from humans, women and men altogether, and even some whistles or catcalls. Yet, he never lost his goal. The two Shadow Hunters weren't here to mingle or find someone to spend the night with, not this evening anyway.
Jimin's progress was smooth and prudent, eased by his lack of weapon, but about thirty meters from the vampires, they sensed him. They immediately left the group of humans they had charmed earlier in the evening. First, the pair of Downworlders strolled leisurely, hoping to move away without making noise, but they started running the moment they realized they were being chased.
Taehyung shared a look with his parabatai. They had played this game before, enough times to know what to do. Jimin nodded once and disappeared into a side alley. With a sigh, Taehyung headed for the opposite side of the roof he was standing on. Drawing from his Nyx and hearing runes, he searched for his marks. Vampires were quick and almost silent, but not enough to escape.
More importantly, those two were probably your everyday humans before their transitions. They ignored how to hunt, how to use their environment to their advantage, how to corner their victims without realizing they were falling into a trap. They likely didn't bother learning since their rebirth in the vampire nation. All newborns thought that the strength and capacities bestowed by their nature were sufficient to lure humans and provide easy sustenance.
Too bad those two didn't make the effort. The hunt would have been all the more exciting, even if Taehyung was more than happy to keep his physical activity to a minimum. Running was hard enough with the current temperature and humidity level.
He landed on the fifth roof when he heard a fight going down. Positive that Jimin could handle two newbies by himself, Taehyung still picked up the pace. He wasn't in the mood to be called slow or lazy. The fact that it was true had never lessened Taehyung's offense each time his parabatai bitched at him.
Skidding to a halt on the north side of a five-story building, he glanced downwards. Several meters below, his best friend was fighting the vampires. As suspected, the bloodsuckers hadn't received the slightest training in close combat. They didn't have a chance. Not when Jimin was a specialized martial artist.
His movements were fluid and powerful, each blow landing on its attended place, each subsequent dodge followed by a counter-attack. It was almost like watching ballet, a deadly and beautiful dance.
Taehyung was still immobile when Jimin threw him an exasperated look. These vampires weren't a deadly menace, but they were fast, persistent, and hard to kill barehanded. Beheading them without a blade was always messy and more energy-consuming than the bloodsuckers deserved. It looked like it was time for Taehyung to get into the game.
With a shrug, he released the bow strapped on his back. Its weight fell effortlessly in his hand. The wood, sleek and smooth under his fingertips, was covered with angelic runes. The beautiful work of art was a gift from Namjoon, his brother, specially ordered from one of the best craftsmen in Alicante for Taehyung's sixteenth birthday.
Hours of training had made its use as familiar as Taehyung’s own limbs, and the first silver arrowhead struck its target without too much thought from him. Two others followed before the vampire could even perceive the pain.
An inhuman screech resonated in the alley while the downworlder dropped to the ground. Exhaling mournfully, Taehyung meted out the same fate to the second creature. "Yeah, I know, it hurts. But your kind never learns."
Silver was poisonous for many night creatures, but vampires were the most affected by it. The arrows embedded into their flesh were slowly killing them, inhibiting their natural regeneration capabilities. They couldn't even remove the hurtful metal as Taehyung took care of sectioning their arm strings.
His job done, Taehyung put his bow on his back. Jumping on air conditioning units, he started his descent toward the ground. Once on the asphalt, he trotted to Jimin, who's guarding the two growling vampires.
"As usual, you took your sweet time,” Jimin said.
"Stop whining. I was searching for a better angle. I didn't want to turn you into a porcupine."
"Don't lie to me, Kim Taehyung. You could hit a moving target with your eyes closed and a hand tied to your back."
"You need both of your arms to use a bow, you know," Taehyung grumbled.
"Stop being smart. You know what I mean." Jimin replied with an annoyed frown. "You made me do all the hard work. Again."
Hearing his parabatai's habitual complaint, Taehyung rolled his eyes. "Are you done? We have more urgent matters to attend to. In case you didn't notice, we have to decide what to do with our new friends."
"What's there to decide? We dispatch them. End of the story."
For the first time since the beginning of the night, Taehyung refused to look at Jimin's eyes.
"Oh no! Not again! We don't have time for your little heart-to-heart. I'm tired and sweaty. I want a shower, a nice cold drink, and a couple of hours of sleep in my bed. In that order."
"But what if they accept?" Taehyung asked, hopeful.
"Taetae, they never accept. It's their nature to prey on mundanes."
"But what if one of them decides to fight his instinct? Seong Minwoo's pack cohabits peacefully with their neighbors."
"How many more times do we need to have this conversation? Werewolves live for their families. They will do anything to keep their relatives safe, including locking themselves in a reinforced vault each full moon. Vampires are the exact opposite."
Jimin was right and Taehyung knew it. But he refused to kill anything or anyone without granting them an opportunity to change. It wasn't fair to condemn someone just because of what they were. It wasn't a popular notion among the Shadow Hunters, but the lack of support never deterred Taehyung.
Turning toward the two incapacitated vampires, he crouched next to the bigger one. "I've got a question for you."
"Go fuck yourself!" the bloodsucker snarled.
"You don't have to be rude. I was merely trying to avoid having to kill you."
"I don't care. I wanna slay you, suck your blood, and after that, I will start again with your friend. You -"
Without a word, Taehyung drew one of his short double-edged swords. He sliced it through the neck of the still talking vampire. No one had the right to menace Jimin and expect to live long enough to carry out his threats.
The corpse disintegrated into a cloud of dust even before its head ended its arch in the air. It was quick, but some droplets of blood still landed on Taehyung's cheek. The second downworlder opened his mouth, displaying his razor-sharp fangs. Refusing to listen to new insults or baseless intimidation attempts, Taehyung beheaded him as quickly as his sidekick.
A puff of ashes later, he was alone with Jimin.
Frowning at his blade, Taehyung took out a rag from his leather armguard. He wiped the residual blood off the metal, put it back in the sheath fastened on his quiver, and went to retrieve his arrows on the floor.
Hoping to save some more time to regain his composure, he straightened slowly. He was wary of facing his parabatai, though he wasn't really surprised when Jimin, instead of telling him I told you so, squeezed his shoulder. "Maybe next time, Taetae," he said.
"Yeah," Taehyung murmured, defeated. He despised killing, wished for a world where he didn't have to protect the mundanes from the creatures preying on them.
"Come on. We're done here, and it's too hot to stay outside. I was serious when I said I wanted a beer. Your treat."
"Why me?"
"Because I did almost everything. You just showed yourself at the end, threw some arrows, and swung your blade twice. Not enough to wear you out."
"I could say the same about you. You played with them. Why didn't you end their lives with your killer move? It's impressive how you manage to sever their spinal cords with just your leg's strength and the right twist."
"Because getting blood off leather is the worst. And I'm particularly attached to this top."
"Don't blame me, then. I'm the one covered by the blood of these idiots."
"Covered?" huffed Jimin. "You're not covered. You just have three drops on your cheek."
"It's still more than what you have."
They continued bickering while they walked up to the alley together. Taehyung halted before reaching it. "Wait. It's too hot."
"No kidding. Why do you think I insist on returning to the Institute?"
"I've got a better idea," Taehyung commented, pulling his stele from the strap around his tight. With his other hand, he lifted one side of his tunic. Faded runes littered his skin, but he found a small patch free of silver scars just below his ribs. He immediately started drawing.
The familiar cold-hot sensation prickled his skin. As soon as he finished tracing the shelter rune, a delightful coolness surrounded him.
"It isn't a good idea," Jimin chided. "Shelter uses a lot of energy, and you already drew several runes tonight."
"Stop worrying. This heat is driving me crazy. I'm going to die before any Downworlder could attack us." Taehyung started walking again.
"You should have listened to your friend." A cold voice resonated behind them. "You Shadow Hunters always think that you're on the top of the food chain. It's such a delightful pleasure to bring you down a notch or two."
The man hadn't even finished speaking when Taehyung and Jimin turned around and took fighting positions. They held their stance, watching the stranger warily and waiting for it to move or speak again.
It was a shapeshifter, an Eidolon demon for what Taehyung was able to grasp. Activating his voyance rune, he had a small glimpse of the monster's proper form, hidden under the image of a middle-aged businessman. Ninety percent of his body was covered by grey pockmarks, its slimy and whitish skin giving the impression of facing an albino slug. Slender yet strong limbs, sharp claws, and large fangs revealed the nature of a warrior.
Its face, with a flat and long nose, emaciated cheeks, and wide black eyes, was downright ugly. Not that demons were usually models of beauty. As white as its skin, the tongue was thin and flexible enough to pass through the natural lacerations streaking both sides of its mouth. The appendage left a black goo on whatever it attained. Pointed ears with fins on the upper part of the shell completed his unworldly appearance.
Why were demons always so hideous? With a shudder, Taehyung let the human form take over his perceptions. Better to see the smug expression on the man's face than this horror show. The dark aura around him was enough not to forget what it was.
For a tense moment, nobody moved, assessing the adverse party. With all his senses strained on his surroundings, Taehyung attempted to detect other foes. This demon had come from nowhere. He and Jimin had been bickering, but they hadn’t let their guard down completely. The fact that this monster took them by surprise proved that it was powerful. Or that a warlock helped it.
The two alternatives could be disastrous. A demon strong enough to hide its presence from them was not going to be easy to beat or exile. And if the problem came from external help, who could tell how many of its friends were lurking in the shadows, waiting for this lone emissary to summon them? Whatever their number, two tired Shadow Hunters wouldn't suffice to fight them.
"I see that you just realized that you were in trouble," the demon said, with a syrupy voice. "Good. It's going to help for our... What's the word again? Ha, yes! Negotiation. Not that you have a choice, really. But I learned a long time ago that everything is easier when everyone is aware of the different possible outcomes."
"Woah. You're a chatty one,” Jimin said. “But for your information, there is only one issue: we'll kill you and go home. End of the story." Despite his bravado, his body was poised to react to the demon's slightest movements. Taehyung felt the familiar pull on his own strength, indicating that his parabatai was drawing it from their bond. He let it flow, as Jimin needed it more than him.
A laugh devoid of any warmth or joy bounced off the surrounding walls. "I like you, little Shadow Hunter. Too bad I don't have the time to play with you. My presence here is temporary. Unfortunate. I'll give you that. But you know how warlocks are? Everything is about money or favors, and I'm not willing to have more debt than I already have, so I'll keep it short: I want both of your blood."
"Yep. And I want to see Michael Jackson in concert." Taehyung's outburst elicited a new laugh from the demon.
"Oh no, my boy. I want your blood, and I'm going to have it. You're delusional if you think that I organized this delightful reunion to come back empty-handed. Now, I'm not unreasonable. I don't want to kill you. I almost don't want to hurt you, but if you continue being stubborn, I'm going to eviscerate one adorable little Shadow Hunter and use his intestines to strangle the other."
The way the beast stated its warning, with a saccharine tone and hands clasped on the front of its pristine costume, irked Taehyung. Sentient demons were true assholes. He'd rather face a pack of Dahaks than one of their kind, a billion times over.
But even without his own opinion about douchebag hellspawn, Taehyung's internal alarm still set off, not by the menace of his impending death but by a minor detail dropped during the demon's monologue.
"The vampires were a decoy?" he asked, half incredulous, half outraged.
"Of course. And look! They completed their task perfectly. Thanks to them, we can have this wonderful exchange."
"You sacrificed them." Taehyung was livid. No matter that the vampires had tried to suck dry mundanes, they were killed because this bastard had wanted to trick him and Jimin. Without the demon's interference, the others might still be alive. Taehyung wouldn't have their blood - or rather their ashes - on his hands.
"They weren't important," the demon dismissed.
"For you, maybe. But they probably had friends. A clan," Taehyung seethed.
"Oh no. Believe me. Their sire was more than happy to rid herself of them. She lent the two idiots to me, knowing my project perfectly. Nobody's going to miss them."
Jimin shifted by his side. "It's pointless, Tae. You can't fight if your anger blinds you. Keep calm." His friend's palm landed on his shoulder. To mollify or restrain him, Taehyung wasn't sure, but it had the desired effect. Taking a deep breath, he faced the businessman again, his bow in his hand and ready to attack.
The expression on the man's face froze. "I see you choose to be unreasonable. So, it will be the hard way. Don't say I didn't give you a chance to get out of this place alive."
The next instant, the affable persona vanished, giving way to a dark aura. The glamour flicked wildly, and Taehyung was struck again by the ugliness of the monster hidden behind. The demon launched the first strike with baring fangs and a growl in his throat.
Jimin intercepted it with his right forearm, sending a blow of his own a millisecond later. He followed up with a kick and a barrage of punches to give Taehyung some room to maneuver.
Taehyung could bring out his angelic swords, but he was so much more skilled with his bow that he always preferred to use it. It was one of the reasons he and Jimin worked so well together, apart from their parabatai's bond. His best friend always joined the fray while Taehyung stayed in the vicinity of the fight, plucking opponents from afar. All of their moves were perfectly choreographed. Jimin's assaults were not slowing an iota, but were so precise that Taehyung never failed to find openings for his projectiles.
Kneeling on the damp and rancid-smelling floor of the alley, he notched two arrows and drew the string. He waited for the perfect moment, blocked his breathing, and released his finger's grip. The two projectiles flew. The first was stopped by a broad swing of the demon's arm, but the second entered its flank with an audible thud.
"I loved this suit, you little punk!" The demon growled, pulling the arrow out of its flesh. It threw it to the ground after snapping it in two. "I'm tired of both of you. No more games."
With a sickening crunch, its bones started shifting, the muscles rolling and rippling under its skin.
"Shit. It's transforming," Jimin warned. "I'm going to intercept him. You know what to do." He was already running towards the creature. Sliding between its bent legs, he strengthened in a show of power and agility and jumped on the back of the demon.
He swiftly wrapped his tights around the abdomen of his enemy, who was well on its way to its original form. Already fifty centimeters taller, the Eidolon tried to dislodge his annoying luggage by throwing back a long arm. Jimin used the attempt to slide his own arm under him. Then, he brought his hand up and slipped it behind the demon's neck, immobilizing half of his upper body.
Taehyung would not have much time to react. He readied his first arrow, one with Enkeli rune - one of the more powerful angelic marks. A harsh pull on his strength told him that Jimin was already struggling to contain the beast. His parabatai still managed to lift one leg and his free arm, offering Taehyung a large opening to the demon's torso.
Without hesitation, Taehyung let his bow sing. Four arrows followed each other at short intervals. An inhuman roar reverberated on the dark alley's walls. Black goo oozed from the wounds, and an awful stench invaded the air.
Staggering, the demon tore the projectiles from its body. It howled again and started charging Taehyung, breaking free from Jimin's hold in its fury.
"Tae! Move!"
But it was already too late.
The monster had managed to catch Jimin, and he threw him with all his force toward Taehyung. Falling in a mess of limbs, Taehyung only had time to raise his bow to intercept the deadly jaw aimed at his throat.
The string snapped right away, cleanly cut by the sharp and powerful teeth. The wood held up, saving Taehyung's life. The marks covering the riser reacted to the demon's ichor and began to glow. So close, the smell of the creature was unbearable, and Taehyung's eyes watered. All of his strength and concentration were necessary to hold the beast a few centimeters from his face, but his endurance was rapidly dwindling. Using Shelter hadn't been a good idea after all.
We are going to die here, Taehyung thought. At least, he would not have to bear the pain of losing his parabatai, as they were going to perish together. But Namjoon, his mother, and his father would be devastated. They would all miss Jimin too. He was part of their family, even if they were not related by blood.
"I'm sorry, Jiminie," Taehyung whispered.
Jimin, still sprawled over Taehyung because of the demon weighing on his back, raised his head to look at him. There was no resignation in his eyes, just an intense desire to live, which reignited the same passion in Taehyung. Clenching his jaw, he just nodded once. If they were to die, they would do it fighting and kicking.
A smile appeared on his friend's lips, and Taehyung knew that Jimin had an idea. Prepared for any eventuality, he locked his articulations. Just as his arm was about to give up, Jimin turned sharply with one of Taehyung's swords in his hand. The demon was so busy trying to rip Taehyung to shreds that he reacted a second too late. The blade was already embedded in its stomach before it even understood what had just happened.
"Run, Tae!" Jimin yelled, scrambling to his feet.
It wasn't in the Shadow Hunters' nature to flee, but Taehyung obeyed anyway. This demon wasn't a foe they could defeat in their current state. Taehyung took a moment to reclaim his double-edged sword from the monster and used it to cut the tendon at the back of its knee. The wound wasn't going to kill it, but seraph blades had the power to hurt all inhabitants from hell. By the time the Eidolon recovered, Jimin and Taehyung would be safe at the Institute.
Using their heightened speed and stamina marks, they arrived at the Myeong-dong Cathedral a few minutes later, panting and drenched in sweat. Not sure if they were being followed, or that the ward naturally present in any consecrated buildings was sufficient to block the demon they had crossed, Taehyung quickly led Jimin towards the end of the choir.
Together they passed through the invisible door leading to the Institute, where Taehyung promptly collapsed on the cold floor. Scowling, he lifted his tunic and looked at the faint trace of the Shelter rune on his ribs.
"If you say 'I was right', I'm going to throttle you," he said, threatening Jimin, who was leaning forward, both hands on his knees.
"Not going to," wheezed his parabatai. "Even without it, there was no way we could have beaten him. It wasn't your regular demon."
"Yeah. Do you think we need to wake up my father or Joonie?"
"Nah. If this monster were powerful enough to enter the Institute, we would have been unable to escape it. Our report can wait for a few hours. I need a shower and my bed more than ever. It was really strong, my biceps and deltoids are screaming now."
Taehyung stood up with a wince. "You're hurt?" He didn't feel anything in their bond, but he preferred to be prudent.
"Nah. But I'm going to be sore as hell tomorrow."
"You sure? I could draw an Iratze on you," Taehyung asked, a little ashamed of not having protected his parabatai. It was primarily his role to ensure that Jimin didn't get hurt.
Runes were always more efficient when drawn by someone's parabatai, and Taehyung was relieved when Jimin agreed. "If you want. But after the shower. I can still smell the Eidolon's putrefaction on me. It's disgusting."
"Yeah, same." Taehyung chuckled, appeased by his friend's acceptance.
Slowly, they walked towards the communal showers near the training rooms instead of their private bathroom. Ichor stains were a horror to remove, and none of them wanted to bring a demon's stench into their bedrooms.
Twenty minutes later, a newly clean Jimin was standing in front of Taehyung. He had put on his grey sweatpants, but his shirt was still in his hand. Placing his stele on his parabatai's skin, Taehyung started tracing the familiar pattern. As soon as he finished the last curve, Jimin released a shaky breath.
"Better?" Taehyung asked.
"Undeniably. Thanks."
"Don't thank me. It was my fault. If I ..."
"Don't start with your if." Jimin cut him off. "It wasn't your fault, and I'm not even injured. This demon was waiting for us. There was nothing we could have done to prevent it. No need to fret."
"But..."
"No but," Jimin said with a stern tone. "Really, Taetae. I'm tired. I love you, but I think I prefer the company of my bed to yours at the moment."
After this last rebuttal, Taehyung kept quiet and trailed after his friend to their adjacent bedroom suits. With nothing more to do, he swiftly went to bed and fell asleep the moment his head met his pillow.
ooOoo
Three hours of sleep after a night spent patrolling a twenty-two hectares area would never be enough. But it was infinitely worse when the aforementioned patrol had finished by a full-scale ass-kicking. Besides, Taehyung had to admit that his and Jimin's impending report to his father did not help his spirits and energy.
Walking towards the headmaster's office, Taehyung listed in his mind the myriad of reasons why he loved his father. Because he loved him, and there was no doubt that his father felt the same about him, but their relationship had become strained in recent years. Taehyung's - at the time, newly found - reluctance to kill Downworlders at sight had created a rift between them.
As the headmaster of Seoul institute, Kim Cheolsoo had many expectations to meet. It was the same for both of his sons. Perfect behavior and outstanding results were required from their entire family. Suffice to say, Taehyung was asked to keep his so-called whim a secret. He still suspected that the only reason he was allowed to follow it was because his father didn't need him. He already had the perfect heir.
Since his childhood, Taehyung had always known that he couldn't compare himself to his older brother. He had never even tried, happy to stand back and watch from afar. Namjoon was kind, intelligent, hard-working, and level-headed. In Taehyung's opinion, Joonie was flawless and deserved all the praises he received from their parents and the other Shadow Hunters.
But sometimes, it was hard for him. Hard to never be enough, hard to see the disappointment in his father's eyes, hard to watch concern appear in Namjoon's expression.
Dejected, Taehyung shuffled slowly toward his destination. Jimin had promised to meet him soon, but for the moment, Taehyung was alone with his dark thoughts. He stopped at the front of the impressive double doors leading to the headmaster's office. It was time to explain how much he had screwed up last night.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed the handle and entered the maze of rooms serving as the director's office. The first one was occupied by Taehyung's mother. As the headmaster's secretary, she was responsible for his schedule and stopped anyone trying to see him without an appointment.
Some people joked that she was scarier than her husband, and Taehyung, Namjoon and Jimin were the only ones knowing to what degree it was true. But for the moment, she looked pleased to see her youngest son. The second Taehyung had closed the door, she was up and walking in his direction.
"Tae, my dear. I'm so happy to see you." She kissed his cheek loudly. "You should be ashamed to ditch your old mother like that."
"We saw each other yesterday for dinner. Hardly an abandonment." Taehyung felt the need to point out.
"Listen to you, being all teenagy and sassing your mother."
"Mum, I'm not a child anymore. Could you stop treating me like one?" Taehyung whined, happy that the office was empty, save for the both of them.
"You're going to be twenty-one in less than three months! And you know how mothers are. The youngest children remain their babies for the rest of their life. You'll understand when you become a parent."
"It's not going to happen." Taehyung regretted his words as soon as he saw his mother wince. When he had said he was a disappointment, he wasn't kidding.
With a nervous chuckle, she put a hand on his shoulder. "Wait until you meet the right girl."
Taehyung was searching for a way to explain again that finding the right girl had never been the problem when the door behind him opened. Jimin passed the threshold and stopped, looking at them. "Good morning, Mihee. Hi, Tae." He greeted them with a wave of his hand.
The smile dropped from his mother's face, and she became suddenly dead-serious. "There was a problem last night." It wasn't even a question.
"Yes, but we took care of it. Almost, anyway." Taehyung was quick to reassure her. "And we aren't harmed, so don't worry. It's just that the encounter with this demon was disturbing enough to warrant a report. Are Father and Namjoon here?"
"You know they start their day around six, seven days a week. Those two workaholics had locked themselves in this room for months now. It's harder and harder to get them out in time to have dinner with us."
"Yes. I know," Taehyung mumbled. He was perfectly aware of this matter. His brother used to go on patrol with him and Jimin, but he had stopped accompanying them since spring. Cheolsoo was training Namjoon to become his assistant, and he was particularly demanding. It wasn't a secret for the Kims that he hoped to make him the next director.
Whatever the reasons, the consequences were the same: the siblings barely had time to cross paths, let alone train together. The family dinner was the only time they saw each other, and it was often a brief affair, without many opportunities to have a private conversation.
Taehyung wasn't alone, though. He was friendly enough to have good relationships with most of the Institute's residents. And his parabatai was always by his side. But it was different. Jimin was his soulmate, an essential part of him, and Taehyung couldn't live without him, but he missed his brother anyway. He missed their conversations, the long nights patrolling together, their visits to Yoongi's.
Refusing to add to his current anxiety, Taehyung stepped towards the door leading to the next room. "Can we get in?"
"Yes. But announce yourself. They may be discussing some confidential dossiers. They activated the secrecy rune."
"Okay. See you later, mum." He kissed her goodbye and stood beside Jimin in front of the door. They exchanged a look before knocking. They had decided during their breakfast to share everything about their encounter. This demon was too powerful to keep some details - like Taehyung's use of Shelter - a secret.
"Yes?"
With that answer, Taehyung pushed the handle. He entered, followed by Jimin. As usual, he was immediately overwhelmed by the grandiosity of the place. With his high ceiling and white parquet floor, the room was huge. Huge enough to contain a monstrous desk made of dark wood, a multitude of bookcases and cabinets, and a humongous sculpture of Shadow Hunters fighting downworlders.
The artifacts displayed behind the various vitrines were all inestimable, as were the weapons hooked on the east wall. Taehyung had always been afraid of breaking something. Or starting the apocalypse by accident.
He preferred to stay at the smaller desk near the entrance. It was Namjoon's, but it was unoccupied for the moment. Taehyung's brother was standing next to their father, studying a map of Seoul pinned on the wall. Several dots of light, some blue, others green or yellow, littered the paper.
"Taehyung. Jimin. What are you doing here?" Namjoon asked, joining them in long strides.
"What? Do we need a reason to come see you?" joked Taehyung, hugging the larger frame of his brother.
"No. Of course not. But it's unusual for you to come here to do so," Namjoon explained.
"Maybe if you didn't stay cooped here with Father, we wouldn't have to."
Namjoon's grimace was unmistakable. "Hmmm … I know I haven't been around lately. We could go out one night next week? Or visit Yoongi's? I could accompany Jimin and you for a patrol. I'll need to discuss it with Father, but I'm sure I could arrange something."
"Don't bother, Joonie. I was out of line. You have more important things to do than babysitting your little brother," Taehyung explained, utterly ashamed of his behavior and criticism. Namjoon had never hidden that he wasn't thrilled with his current circumstances. But he had accepted his fate and tried to do his best. The least Taehyung could do is not make the situation even more complicated and stop acting like a spoiled child.
But Namjoon refused to drop the subject and insisted. "It isn't babysitting. I love spending time with you."
Taehyung knew that his brother was trying to comfort him, but all he achieved was to worsen Taehyung's shame. "Me too. But this is not a reason to make your life difficult. Could you pretend I didn't say anything, please?"
"Of course, Taetae. If that's what you want." His brother quickly agreed.
For a few moments, they kept quiet. Searching for something to add, they looked awkwardly at each other.
Their father was the one to break the silence. "Taehyung, Jimin, I'm always happy to see you, but we have a meeting in one hour, and I need to explain some details to Namjoon."
"Sorry to disturb you, Father, but it's important. We ran into a demon last night. A powerful one, and if we are to believe its words, in league with a warlock and some vampires." Taehyung's explanation caught the attention of everyone in the room.
His father left his place in front of the map and went to his desk. He beckoned them to come closer. "Are both of you okay?" he asked, watching closely for any trace of injury on the two Shadow Hunters.
Knowing it was pointless to lie, Jimin shrugged. "I'm a little sore, but we're unharmed."
"Good. Minhee will kill me if any of you don't come back."
"Dad, it's the same for all Shadow Hunters. We are soldiers. We die."
"Yes, but other parents don't send their children on missions. She'll only remember that I gave the order that killed one of her children."
Taehyung bit his lips. Hard. He knew his father wasn’t implying that he personally didn't care if Jimin or Taehyung never made it back. He loved them. It was just that, sometimes, his sense of priorities was a little askew. Or that he didn't always measure the impact his words had on his family.
"All of us will be devastated, not only mum," Namjoon added hastily.
"Of course," Cheolsoo said. He looked at the two young men in front of his desk. "I love you, boys. You know that."
"Yes, dad," Taehyung answered, a little misty-eyed. It had been months since he had heard these words from his father. He hadn't realized how much he needed them.
But before he could say anything else, his father returned to the original topic. "How could a demon appear like that in the middle of Seoul? What was its species? You said he received help. What kind of help? A downworlder? Did it give you a name?"
Cheolsoo babbled and looked almost distressed. It wasn't usual for him to lose his cool like that. Their headmaster was mostly level-headed, and an encounter with a demon - one without casualty moreover - never had caused such a string of questions.
A little alarmed, Taehyung watched his father. "Dad? Is everything alright?" When his father didn't answer immediately, Taehyung turned towards Namjoon. "Joonie?"
"We received some news from the US. Jeon Sanghoon is on the move, and we don't know what his objectives are. But it isn't your problem. Why don't we sit down, and you can tell us everything from the beginning?"
Jeon Sanghoon had been the headmaster of the Seoul Institute before their father. He had left ten years ago for the US, where he was now part of the Institute located in New York. Nobody knew why he had abandoned his position, why he had continued to work in the shadows against the new director, but he had been at the center of a lot of conversation for a long time. No wonder Taehyung's father was on edge.
Taehyung remembered Sanghoon had a son, younger than him and Jimin. As all Shadow Hunters, he had started his training at six years old and had been good enough to serve as an example according to their teachers and instructors, even if he had been two classes below them. Taehyung had never spoken to him, but they had crossed paths many times. The boy had always looked stuck-up and arrogant.
"What did he do?" Taehyung asked.
"Nothing for you to worry about. We'll probably have more information after our meeting. For the moment, I need your report. Jimin, you start," his father instructed, back in his steady headmaster's role.
Ten minutes later, it was Taehyung’s turn. When he finished, Namjoon and their father looked deep in thought.
After a lengthy pause, his brother sighed. "To summarize: you were approached by an Eidolon demon who claimed to have received help from a warlock and a vampire sire. He had organized this trap with two vampires as bait. They did not say anything that would allow us to believe they knew about their roles. The demon asked first somewhat politely for your blood, but its behavior changed when you refused. You fought, and when you realized you couldn't beat it, you ran away."
"I reckon our performance was far from stellar when you put it that way," Jimin mumbled.
"You're alive. That's the most important thing," told Cheolsoo. "It was obviously a very well-prepared ambush. I don't know why this demon was so adamant about collecting some of your blood, but it can't be for decent reasons. Blood magic is extremely powerful, maybe as potent as the one used by a seraph. Did you check yourself for any sign of a wound or scratch?"
"We did after showering last night," Jimin revealed.
"And?" Namjoon prompted.
"Not a scrap. As much on Tae as on me."
"Good. I also ignore why the Eidolon wanted your blood, but I'm reassured that it didn't manage to get it. I'm proud of you. You stayed calm in the face of an unknown threat and came back unscathed. We'll pass the word to the other Shadow Hunters in case they find themselves in the same situation. And for you, keep your eyes open next time you leave the Institute. We still don't know if it needs the blood of one of you especially, or if any Hunter's would do," Namjoon concluded.
A little surprised by his father's lack of reproach or criticism, Taehyung felt even more nervous to explain to his brother that he had ruined his gift. "Joonie... There's something we didn't talk about," he said, eyes fixed on the floor.
The bow was Taehyung's more precious possession. Not only because it was a present from his brother, but also because it was made by the best craftsman of Alicante. Namjoon had always refused to divulge how he had managed to place his order or how much money he had paid.
"Something related to our case?" his brother asked.
"Indirectly. I broke my bow during yesterday's fight," Taehyung confessed. "I'm sorry, Joonie."
"What kind of damage?"
Refusing to meet Namjoon's probably furious glare, Taehyung scrutinized a stack of papers on his father's desk. "The demon snapped the string with its fangs. There are indentations on the wood too, and some runes are half-erased."
The repairs would require hours of work, if its maker agreed to fix it after the way Taehyung neglected his creation.
"It isn't too bad. I'll contact Amedial to explain what happened and ask him when he'll be able to fix it."
"You think he'd agree?"
"Of course. His weapons are created to fight. Blades dull or break, and runes fade. You may need another bow for a few days, but you'll get yours back soon. I promise."
The sense of relief was strong enough for Taehyung to offer to pay for the repairs.
"Wait for the bill." Namjoon laughed. "With your bad habit of spending your money as fast as you earn it, you may spend a couple of weeks locked up in the Institute. "
"Not a problem. I've got a brother and a parabatai to treat me for a beer or two," said Taehyung with a shit-eating smile. Now that the discussion about their fight and his bow was behind them, he felt in a much better mood.
Jimin pushed him not so gently. "In your dreams. What did I tell you the last time you roped me into paying for your drinks? Never again! I refuse to let you empty my wallet just because you have a compulsive shopping disorder."
Judging that his parabatai's comment didn't deserve an answer, Taehyung turned toward Namjoon. "Joonie?"
"Nice try, but it isn't going to happen. You really need to learn how to save money."
"Can't I learn it next month?" he asked with a pout he knew his brother could not resist.
As usual, Namjoon's resolve faltered. "Okay. But just this time. It will be an opportunity to spend a night together. Jimin, you'll come too?"
"If you want me to."
"Stop being such a spoilsport. Of course, we want you with us. Right, Joonie?" Taehyung said with an arm around Jimin's shoulder.
"'True. And I'll probably need you to contain this idiot's craziness."
"You're sure of that?" Taehyung joked. "Jimin's my parabatai. My craziness is our craziness. We may gang up against you."
"Don't forget who'll pay for your alcohol," Namjoon countered.
Taehyung opened his mouth, unsure of his answer when his mother entered the office. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but your meeting starts in five minutes," she said to Cheolsoo and Namjoon.
Taehyung's father stood up. "Thank you, Minhee. I didn't check the time. Boys, I'm sorry to stop your conversation, but we have work to do. Do me a favor and stay at the Institute for the time being. I may need you later."
"Understood," Taehyung said, leaving the room after his mother.
Once in the corridor leading to the headmaster's office, Jimin and Taehyung exchanged a relieved look. Their report had gone much better than expected. No one commented on his use of Shelter for something as petty as comfort.
"What happened there?" Jimin asked.
"I don't know, but I'm not going to complain."
"Me neither. What do you want to do now that we're free?"
"I don't know. My father asked us to stay around. We could train together if you're up to it? We'll have to get even stronger if we want to beat this demon the next time we see it."
"I'm good," Jimin answered, stretching his limbs.
They started walking towards the gym. Arriving at the locker room, Jimin broke the silence. "Why do you think Cheolsoo needs us?"
"I don't know. Probably an errand of some kind."
He discovered two hours later that said errand consisted of helping a certain Jeon Jungkook settle back at the Institute.