Hooked | JJK | Twenty Four

 Pair: UndergroundFighter!Jungkook x f!reader 

Summary: Walking away from your brother was never what you intended, you just wanted to run from the ghosts of your past. But now you’re back home and ready to pick things up from where you left off. If only things could be that easy, right? 

There’s a new guy living in your house, your brother’s best friend, someone you can’t help but grow close to. And the more you find out about him, the more you learn about yourself. An underground fight club, a newspaper competition, an overprotective brother and secrets you can’t seem to escape from. Did you make the right decision by coming back? Or did you just put yourself and those you love in danger? 

Genre: Series, fluff, smut, angst. All the aus: non-idol, underground fighter, brother’s best friend, roommates, rap-scene, chaebol. 

Chapter warning: Angstttttt! Finale next week!!! Wohoooooo 

WC: 4.3k

JULY 27TH | 10:23

Jeongguk had been a little quiet this morning, and you couldn’t blame him. Not when you were the reason he got fired from his most profitable job, the one thing that actually allowed him to rent this place and to keep up with your friend circle without feeling like an outsider. 

He assured you that everything was okay, that maybe this was the push he needed to focus on his music career or kickstart that drawing commission job he’d been thinking about. 

It didn’t mean that you felt any less guilty, even your boyfriend was kind enough not to be mad at you and not to throw it in your face that you were the one to get the two of you into this mess. 

You'd make it up to him. You'd make sure of it.

And that started with breakfast. 

Out of the two of you, Guk was the one who used to cook the most. But it didn’t mean you didn’t have your specials; like the gyeran-mari with a side of rice and bacon you put together this morning while Jeongguk watched an anime episode. 

“Here you go, baby.” you approached him softly, sitting next to him on the couch as you brought the last plate to the center table. “Do you want anything else? I can make noodles–”

“This is more than enough, dove.” the man smiled cutely, always reminding you of a bunny when he looked at the spread. “Thank you for cooking.” 

“No need to thank me, I like feeding you, too.” you beamed as he dug right in, using chopsticks to shove a piece of rolled omelet into his mouth. He looked angry enough that you knew it must be delicious. “I was thinking maybe we could go visit Bam at Tae’s? Take him out to the park.” 

“We can.” Jeongguk nodded through a mouthful that endeared you more than disgusted you. 

But then he grew quiet again and the Naruto episode wasn’t that interesting for him to be watching it so intently. Still, you didn’t push him. You only ate the breakfast alongside him, happy that whenever he wasn’t reaching for the food or his water bottle, Jeongguk’s hands were on you. 

You stopped eating a little before he did, letting him finish up the breakfast until there was nothing left to tell the story. Your hand was rubbing gentle circles on his back as he swallowed the last bite, stilling when he said: 

“Maybe Hatter is right.” 

Your eyes moved from the TV to him. “You can’t be serious.” 

It seemed that Jeongguk was finally ready to talk, and you’d listen to him. Even if you already didn’t agree with what he was saying.

“This is getting too dangerous, the dead doves on your car... That's not only a warning of what will happen if you keep poking where you shouldn’t.” he turned around to face you, voice leveled and calm. Guk thought this through. “It’s a threat. And we both know he's not afraid of seeing it through.” 

“Baby, I don't have a death wish. I get it, I really do.” you tried to reason, folding your legs on your side on top of the couch. Your hand dropped to his thigh with his movement, but neither of you did anything to remove it. “But what about Jae? Hyejin? Are we just going to let Wonho get away with what he did to them? Let our friends be in danger?” 

“I don't mean we should forget about it, dove, but maybe we take Hatter’s advice and lay low for a while.” the lines on his forehead gave him a more mature look that contrasted the sparkle in his eyes. “Use that time to plan a better attack.”

“Yeah, maybe.” 

Jeongguk took your hand in his, holding it between both. “What is it that you wanna do?”

“About Wonho?” you asked and he nodded. You thought about it and there was a lot you wanted to do. But any plan you could come up with had loose ends, if Hatter and the rest of your Circle friends didn’t agree to them. “I don't know.” 

You wouldn't say this out loud because it would hurt Guk, but if it was only your ass on the line, you wouldn't be half as scared as you were. But Wonho might as well target Jeongguk, just to mess with you. Who knows what else he knew about you, who knows what Hyejin told him back in the day. If Wonho messed with your family, with Namjoon, you would never forgive yourself for poking the bear with a short stick.

So, in a way, you agreed with Guk. You had to be smart about this, you couldn’t just act out of impulse.   

“I want to warn the others.” of this you were sure. “The girls. The fighters. I think they deserve to know who they are dealing with, they should have the choice to stay or to leave.” 

“Way ahead of you, I asked everyone to meet us at Mingyu’s  later.” Jeongguk said, surprising you. 

It made you smile before saying:  “That's why I love you, you’re always thinking ahead.” 

“Are we saying that all the time now?” he laughed, letting go of your hand to run his palm over your thigh.  

“I like the way it sounds.” you shrugged, liking how saying I love you sounded when spoken between you.  

“I like it too.” despite his genuine smile, Jeongguk sighed. “But dove, you know you’ll have to tell them the whole story, right? About the article, about Hyejin.”

“I do, and that's okay.” you nodded, lacking the heaviness that usually followed this subject. “I’ve kept it in for too long.”

  JULY 27TH | 16:06

Being back in Mingyu’s home definitely felt different this time around. 

You were a lot closer to everyone now, you knew all of Jeongguk’s friends by name and nickname. You didn’t hold any prejudice towards the fighters or the group of girls that you were now very much a part of. The lack of loud music and strobe lights, drugs and smoke being passed around, also made the house a lot different in the daylight. 

Mingyu was tidy, you noticed, with lots of black and white in his decor, the occasional movie poster and action figure. He kinda reminded you of Jeongguk in more ways than one and it wasn’t surprising that the two of them were so close. You could see them living together, had life moved on a little differently. 

“I think everyone is here, dove.” Jeongguk was in the kitchen with you, standing in front of you and caging you in between his body and the sink counter. His hands were rubbing your arms reassuringly. “Are you ready?” 

“No.” you sighed with a small laugh, resting your forehead against his chest. “But I don’t think I will ever be ready for this.” 

“I know.” he hugged you into his chest, kissing the top of your head. “I’m with you, okay? We’ll tel them together.”

“Thank you, Guk.” you would never be able to express just how thankful you were for him. “I just hope they won’t hate me.” 

This made him chuckle. “They could never!” 

You just wanted to protect your friends, which is why you were going to tell them the whole truth. About your family, about you, about The Circle. But hell was full of good intentions and you had no way of knowing how your friends would react after hearing all you had to say. If they would even believe you when your friendship started with a lie. 

But even if you were about to lose some of the people you grew close with, you would learn to live with it as long as they were safe.

You let Jeongguk peel you from his chest, even if this is where you felt safe and hidden. His hand slotted into yours and he led you out of the kitchen and into the living room where all of your friends were waiting for you. Everyone was spread out on the floor, couch and chairs, from the girls who worked with you and the fighters and staff. 

With the exception of Hatter, Hwasa, Moonbyul and Solar. If the three girls worked on the same level as Hatter, you could guess that they either knew as much as him, or something close to it. So anything you were about to tell everyone else wouldn’t be news to them in the first place. 

As soon as you and Guk stepped in, the chit-chats stopped and you felt all eyes move to you. You weren’t used to this undivided level of attention, always hated to be put on the spot like this. Jeongguk let go of your hand, but gave your back a supportive rub. True to his words, he stayed close to you, sitting on the arm of the chair occupied by Mingyu. 

Jeongguk wanted to give you space to gather your thoughts, you both knew this was something you had to do. But he was still close enough to back you up and intervene if needed. 

“You’re all probably wondering why we called you here.” you started, feeling the same anxiety you felt when you had to do a presentation in front of the whole class. “I have something important to tell all of you.” 

Jeongguk added: “We have.” 

“Oh my god, you’re pregnant!” Chaeyoung threw it out there, complete with a dramatic gasp. 

The buzzing of comments and voices started again, drawing out your denials and requests for people to let you talk. Things were already getting out of hand, making Jeongguk bring his fingers to his mouth for a whistle that was high pitched enough that it hurt your ears. 

At least people shut up after that. 

“Wow, wow, she’s not–” Jeongguk started, raising his hands and looking at you for confirmation. You shook your head with a roll of your eyes and he continued: “She’s not pregnant.” 

Before Lisa could say anything, and she was about to, you rushed: “We’re not getting married either!” 

“Not yet, no.” Jeongguk shook his head and you ignored the little skip in your heart as he said yet.  

“The reason for this meeting is a lot more serious than any of that.” at least their chaos made you lose some of the public-speaking anxiety and focus on what you had to say. “It’s something we’ve been keeping from you for a while, that I have been keeping. And it’s about time all of you know the whole truth.” 

“You’re starting to sound scary, dove.” Mingyu looked nervous and you hated your own dramatic pauses. “What’s up?” 

“Nowhere better to start like the beginning.” you took a deep breath, wiping your palms on your pants. “My name is Kim Yn. I’m the youngest daughter of Kim Beom and Ahn Mun-hee. I’m one of the heirs of TK Energy.” 

“The energy company?” DK almost choked, eyes wide. “The one that is powering up this whole city?” 

“Can you get me a discount on my energy bill?” Woozi laughed, but you didn’t. 

“Not now.” Seung-cheol chastised his friend, who complained: 

“No harm in asking!” 

“Wait so, if you’re loaded, why did you need the job with us?” Mingyu was frowning and you knew the question was coming.  

“I didn’t.” you couldn’t look at the man.

“She offered to work there when Sooya left, she didn’t need the job, but she wanted to help us out.” Lisa defended you, looking at you for confirmation. “Right, dove?” 

“I wish I could say my intentions were that innocent.” you groaned quietly, looking from Lisa to Guk to Mingyu. “You’re right, I didn’t need the money, I didn’t need the job. But I needed an insider look at the Circle.” 

“You sound like a spy.” one of the other fighters, San, mentioned it nervously. 

“I kinda was one, yeah.” you admitted, following up with: “Before I got to know all of you, before I knew everything and how the fights work… I thought you guys were getting exploited. I thought the fights were meant to hurt you and use you for the entertainment of the rich. So I wanted to write an article about it.” 

“Dove wants to be a journalist.” Jeongguk told them and you could feel the pride behind his words. 

“Who do you work for?” Lisa asked, a little hard around the edges.  

“I don’t work for anyone, I’m not from any newspaper.” you made sure to tell them, heart picking up as you knew what that might sound like. “And before you ask, I didn’t write about the Circle in the way you’re thinking. I’ve been in contact with a news outlet, yes, but I never agreed to publishing it. Not after I joined the family.” 

You were nervous to do so, but looking around you could see a mix of emotions. Worry, curiosity, confusion. But none of them were judging you, no one looked mad, angry or even disappointed. Concerned, yes, but that was about it. 

“Why not?” Chaeyoung asked in a small voice. Almost as if she wouldn’t blame you if you had.  

“Because I didn’t want any of you to lose your jobs.” you answered honestly. “I didn’t want my article to hurt any of you.” 

“Why are you telling us all of this now?” Seung-cheol followed up. “If you have no intention of publishing your article, why even bring it up to us?” 

“Yeah, you don’t have to always be honest about certain things, we would never find out any of this.” Mingyu pointed out and you didn’t know who to answer first. And then he said: “There’s more to it, isn’t there?” 

You nodded, looking at Guk for a little encouragement. You found nothing but light in his eyes and that was enough for you. “While working at the Circle, asking around, I found out things I would never have guessed.” 

“You found out about Jae.” Mingyu guessed correctly, as he’d been the one to give you more information about the fighter when you were snooping. 

“That is some of it, yes. I know who killed him.” you nodded. “It’s the same person who killed my sister.” 

The hums and murmurs arose again, but slightly quieter this time. It broke in the form of whispers and worried looks. It took one brake person to speak up.

“Was it one of us?” Lisa finally looked scared, looking at everyone in the room as if trying to guess who was the murderer amongst you.  

But she didn’t need to worry about these people. “It was Wonho.” 

This time, the room fell silent. No one doubted you, no one had anything nice to say about the man. 

“That’s why I needed to tell you all this, because this guy–” you were getting worked up, your own feelings of anger towards Wonho coming up to the surface. “His father owns the Circle. That’s why he’s been there from the start, why he can get away with everything.” 

“Shit.” you missed whoever cursed, but it was a sentiment shared by everyone.  

“The Circle has been his personal playground and if people cross him, or if he gets tired of them, then he’ll find a way to get rid of them.” you explained, holding yourself as you looked around. “I couldn’t just leave without telling you all of that, without asking all of you to be careful.” 

“Wait, what do you mean you’re leaving?” Woozi had dropped all of the jokes as soon as he understood the seriousness of what you were telling them. 

“We were both fired yesterday.” something you were still very sorry about. Jeongguk picked this time to get up from his chair to stand next to you. “Hatter knows all of this, he’s always known about Wonho… He’s doing all he can to protect all of you from him, all of us. But I don’t think that’s enough at this point.” 

“This is crazy.” Mingyu was shocked.  

“This feels like a movie.” Lisa had moved closer to Chaeyoung, linking their arms together. “I just work there because it’s fun and exciting, I had no idea we were at risk–”

“Calm down, guys, I’m sure there’s no need for panic…” Mingi tried to help.  

“I’m not quite sure.” there was no point to turn back now. “Wonho threatened me, personally, which is why Hatter doesn’t want me to come back anymore. Wonho had his eyes on me and Guk for a while now, he tried to stab Guk and now he knows I’m onto him. The rest of you haven’t messed with him, so I don’t know–”

“If he’s messing with you, he’s messing with us.” Mingyu interrupted you, fixing his posture as if ready to fight if he needed to. “We’re family.” 

“Yeah, and if what you’re saying is true, and he’s using the Circle to do whatever the fuck he wants, then I don’t want to work for him.” DK agreed.  

“I agree.” Woozi was joining them.  

“I knew Jae. Personally.” Chan, a quiet guy who didn’t have many words to say most days, started to talk and everyone turned to him to listen. “He was a cool guy who didn’t deserve what he got, that could have happened to any of us.” 

“It still could.” Jeongguk had an arm around you, protective. “It still can.” 

“Are we all just going to quit, then?” Chaeyoung looked more like a small child than a woman, almost hiding behind Lisa. “I don’t want to go back there either.” 

“We need to put a stop to this, we need to send him to jail if any of us is ever going to be safe.” Woozi sounded resolute, pulling a choir of agreements.  

“Do you still have the article you wrote?” Mingyu asked.  

“Dove has more than that.” Jeongguk answered his friend. 

“How much more?” DK wanted to know.  

“Pictures, documents, transcripts of conversations, a list of clients…” the list went on, but you’d take too long telling them everything in detail. “I have enough proof to link Wonho and his dad to all of this.” 

Likely to already know the answer, Lisa asked: “Who is his dad?” 

“The mayor.” 

After hearing the heaviest piece of the news, people started freaking out again, which was to be expected. You looked at Jeongguk with heaviness in your heart. But all in all, considering everything you just dumped on all of your friends, this could have gone a lot worse. 

“Guys, settle! Let them talk!” Mingyu was standing up and demanding for people to shush.  

“This is why he’s so powerful, why Hatter is so scared of them.” you added, but it felt useless.  

“Shouldn’t he be?” DK stood up too, starting to pace towards the door but stopping short when he had more to say. “Shouldn’t all of us? I mean, I get that you’re loaded, but most of us are not. If the big guys are that big, then maybe we shouldn’t mess with them.” 

“I would never let any of you get blamed for this.” you assured DK and everyone else in the room. “This is my mess and I started this. I will spend my last penny on lawyers if I have to. If we do this–” 

You were interrupted as several phones inside the living room started buzzing and pinging with notifications at the same time. People started pulling out their phones, which included Jeongguk. Your phone was inside your bag by the door, so you had no way of knowing if you received the chain texts as well. 

“What’s going on?” you asked your boyfriend as he pulled up the Circle group chat on Kakao.  

“Fuck, that’s Hwasa.” Lisa was the one to answer. “She’s asking where everyone is right now.” 

And then Jeongguk’s words were causing a fearsome chill to run up your spine. “The Circle is on fire.”

 JULY 27TH | 21:14

Jeongguk liked to ride his bike fast, never scared of cutting through traffic, of all that you already knew. But tonight he was a mad man. To the point that you were a little scared when he sped through red lights and stop signs. 

After the group chat blew up, everyone rushed out of Mingyu’s house and got inside each others’ cars to drive to the Circle. You, and everyone else, most likely, didn’t have any doubts of what was actually going on. 

This could only be Wonho’s doing. He knew you were onto him, he knew you were snooping. This had to be an attempt to burn down any evidence that could link him and his father to the illegal betting fights, the deaths and whatever else he had to hide that you didn’t find out about yet. 

You were a block away when you heard the sirens and honks of cars, streets being closed off to stop anyone from coming any closer. But Jeongguk knew that it would take a while for the firefighters to realize that there was more to that store than a laundry place, it went a lot deeper than that. Your boyfriend ignored the yells of the police officers that told him off for speeding down the sidewalk, driving opposite to the traffic. 

The man hit the break so hard and fast that you had to squeeze his middle in hopes of not being flung out of the motorbike when he “““parked””” the vehicle on the back street. 

That’s where you found Hwasa and Solar and whoever made it there before you.

Jeongguk helped you out of the motorcycle and you both pulled the helmets from your heads, dropping them to the floor and near the bike in your haste. You rushed to the ever growing group of people, trying to make sense of what was going on. 

“The building is not burning down on this side, which is good.” you heard Hwasa explaining, despite her panicked state. “But who knows what we’re going to find in there–”

“Okay, you two!” Solar was pointing in your direction, hope in her hand. “Who else was with you?!” 

You stammered, mind blanking as if the woman asked you a hard math equation and not the names of everyone you could account for. Solar had a list on her phone, typing out your and Guk’s names, making sure that everyone else was safe. 

Right now, no one cared about the workplace or the material damage that would likely come from this disaster, if anything was left standing at all once all of the flames were put out. 

Thankfully, when your words failed you, Jeongguk pulled through and started naming everyone that was with you tonight. You could barely think at this point, only nodding along and trying to think of anyone else, but your brain was too slow and the heat coming from the walls a few meters away from you was starting to get to you. 

But then–

“Hatter.” you whispered, grabbing Jeongguk’s arm with wide eyes. “Hatter would still be in there, he wouldn’t– he was the target–”

You weren’t making much sense, especially not to Solar, but Jeongguk knew what you meant and immediately started to panic too. Then he just looked… Sorry. And started running. 

You tried to hold him back, but Jeongguk was faster and stronger, going straight to the backstage door and kicking it open with so much fury that it swung open at once. The commotion called the attention of Mingyu, who blindly followed your boyfriend without asking questions 

“Hatter is still in there!” Solar was the one to warn other people, making Woozi and DK join the first two in their quest. 

“Shit, I’m going to get the firefighters!” Lisa and Mingi started running on the opposite direction to call for help. 

Blindly, you tried following the boys, you tried pushing past Hwasa to do help, to do something, but the woman was stronger than she looked. 

“They’ll be fine, the fire can’t be spreading much on this side.” she desperately tried to placate you, but you didn’t know if she was making shit up to stop you. “They know the Circle better than anyone, you would just get lost in there.” 

“But this is my fault!” you cried out, trying to make it around her and being stopped short regardless. 

“Hatter’s fire machines must’ve malfunctioned, that’s all.” Hwasa rushed to tell you, eyes hiding that she knew more. As if she knew she was feeding you a lie, one you were supposed to go along with. 

“Fuck that, you know that’s not what happened.” you shook your head. 

“Yn, you need to be smart–” 

Hwasa’s excuses were cut short when you heard the commotion at the door. 

Coughs and yells for ‘help’ the four boys emerged from the back entrance and you freaked out as you saw Mingyu and DK stepping out first, all dirtied with remnants of smoke and ashes stuck to their clothes and hair. 

And when you saw Jeongguk right behind them.

You used Hwasa’s distraction to run to your boyfriend, making sure he was okay and breathing, only then noticing the almost passed out man slung over his shoulder. 

“Give him space, let him breathe.” Woozi urged, guiding Jeongguk and Hatter to the bus stop only a couple meters away. You followed after them in a rush. “He’s going to be fine, but he needs an ambulance.” 

“I’m on it!” Solar was already calling for help on her phone and more sirens were heard from the end of the street, coming rapidly in your direction, led by Lisa and Mingi. 

“Dove!” Jeongguk yelled for you, making you pay attention to him when your brain was overworked and you felt overwhelmed. 

Rather, pay attention to Hatter. As the man had one choked and breathless request for you:

“Take them down.”