Flame of Love

⚠️[Please note: THIS STORY IS A SEQUEL TO HEART STOP. GO BACK AND READ IT IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO!]⚠️

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(1 week after the events of Unravel.)

Taemin stood at his window, watching carefully as the raindrops slid smoothly down the side of the glass. The soft sounds of the rain tapping on top of the roof of his base, echoed throughout his office. He drew a breath in through his nose. The somberness of the surrounding aura weighed heavy on his heart as he held a Black envelop in hand with a red ribbon. A dark purple seal with the letter ”B,” was broken as the flap of the envelope dangled open. He stood proudly with a blank face. His platinum blond hair laid askew on top of his head. Completely unkept. As if he had been a wreck for a week. He showed signs of severe lack of self care. The news he was given a week ago had been catastrophic to his mental health. His subordinates even wondered if he was still fit to be the leader of this stronghold. But they were all too scared to say anything in fear of being executed right on the spot. That’s just how Taemin was and how he ran his business.

It may be strict, but necessary to keep the order.

Suddenly, a knock at the door broke his deep concentration on the rain and looking out aimlessly into the void. He took a deep breath and gathered his composure.

“Yes. Come in.” He demanded to whoever it was behind the door. When the door opened, it was revealed that it was Song Hangyeom, Lee Taemin’s right hand man.

“Sir.” The young man announced quietly. He stood with his head down and arms folded in front of him.

“Is it time?” Taemin asked with a gruffness to his voice. Hangyeom walked closer and bowed as Taemin sligntly turned his body to face the younger male.

“Yes, sir. It begins in thirty five minutes.”

Taemin took a breath. He held it for a second and turned back to the window.

“Noted. While I am absent, call in Kai to take over in my stead.”

Hangyeom bowed once more, stamping his fist to his heart. “Yes, sir. Right away sir.”

“And Hangyeom? One more thing.”

The younger male looked up at the blond while slightly tilting his head. “Yes, Mr. Lee?”

A slow, devilish smile curled up and stretched across his face. He looked back at his right hand.

“Do keep the chaos down to a minimum around here. I have heard the whispers of the other men in my command. If any of them happen to step even a toenail out of line, do not engage. Inform me secretly and I shall... Deal with the traitorous rats as soon as I get back. Do you understand me?”

Hangyeom gulped hard. He avoided Taemin’s eyes. When Taemin was like this, it was best not to engage. Stepping out of line while you are in his presence was unforgivable. Especially if he is in a.... murderous mood. “Yes, sir.”

“Inform them that just because I had a minor set back in my health, does not mean I have lost the ability to shoot a bullet into someone’s skull. My feelings and thoughts are not my weakness.” He cracked his neck, strolling right passed Hangyeom with swiftness.

“Y-yes, sir. I w-will tell them.”

Hangyeom remained standing completely still until his leader was out of the room. Once it was only him, he gasped out. The air filled his lungs as he had to force himself to breathe. He immediately pulled out his cell phone to call in the Sub-Leader. He dialed the number and awaited for the call to pick up.

Ring.

Ring..

Ring...

It kept going until someone with a deep voice picked up on the sixth ring.

“Hello?”

The man answered. It had a bit more of a cheerful lining to it. Unlike Taemin’s monotone one. Hangyeom smirked as he confirmed Kai’s voice to be his. It sounded as though the man had just woken up.

“Were you that dead to the world that you don’t even know who’s calling you right now?” He scoffed. He slipped his hand into his pocket as he spoke to the sub Leader. The sounds of shifting fabrics cascaded from the phone’s speaker. He definitely was sleeping. That must be nice.

"Aish... Hangyeom? Ah. What are you calling about?”

“Boss needs you to man the fort.”

“I see. What is it for, this time?”

Hangyeom sighed. He hated having to explain things to this dimwit. Although, he was allowed to be lax. He was the best man Taemin had besides himself.

“The funeral is today.”

“Oh, that. I almost forgot. I’ll be there in ten.”

“Don’t hurry too fast. It’s pouring down out there. At a crucial time like this, we don’t need you driving your motorcycle off the side of a cliff.”

Even though I’d love for him to do so, some days...

Hangyeom could hear Kai scoff on the other side of the call. “Don’t worry, Song. I know what I’m doing.”

The call was cut off before Hangyeom could say anything about Kai’s passive aggressive reply. He merely sighed and stuck his phone back into his pocket.

“I suppose that is settled then.”

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Taemin slid on his black blazer and adorned the cuffs of his undershirt with a pair of shiny red cuff links. After he had finished getting ready, he stared into the mirror and cracked his neck, boring holes at his own reflection in the mirror. He peeled himself away from it and exited the room, leaving the stronghold in his red sports car. About the same time that he left, Kai rode in on his bike.

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Taemin walked along the green path as it lead up to a grassy hill. He held his umbrella in one hand and the invitation in the other. Rain drops pummeled the top of his umbrella. The sky was dark and ominous. A somber scene to match the somber occasion. What was a funeral without a little rain and a bit of depressing ambience? It didn’t bother Taemin much. He was desensitized to dreary situations. Death and funerals never phased him. It was a normal task equal to brushing your teeth. Something to get used to that you squeeze into your daily schedule for. Death and blood were the kind of thing that was forced to be normalized. Being in this line of work had that affect on you.

As Taemin approached the small crowd of people who had gotten there before him, he noticed the members of an ally group standing closest to the coffin. They, of course, were the people who had to bury one of their own. He slowly sauntered up to the back of the crowd. When he grew close, one of them spotted Taemin. A younger male with pink hair and crescent moon eyes when he smiled. He bowed, greeting the older one formally.

“Taemin! It’s nice to see you were able to attend.”

Taemin reciprocated the bow and flashed a weak grin.

“Of course I would, Jimin. I have been meaning to pop in and say hello. I just wish it were under better circumstances. My condolences.”

Jimin took a deep breath and nodded. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you.” Jimin whispered. The ceremony began so he wanted to be quiet. It would be rude to be caught speaking loudly during such a traumatizing moment. Another member of Bangtan noticed Taemin’s presence and greeted him.

“Hello, Taemin.” Namjoon interjected.

Taemin lightly nodded his head at the semi familiar male.

“Hello, RM. I came to pay my respects. I know how hard it is to lose one of your own.”

“That’s very kind of you. I know he wasn’t connected to you, but it is nice to know you would take time away from your position just to visit us pitiful people.”

Taemin hummed, tapping a black shiny shoe against the wet earth.

“No worries. It is no trouble at all. Jimin is my friend, so it would only make sense to attend. But, RM, do excuse me for asking this, but - I don’t see V. Is he not coming to his own friend’s funeral?” He raised a curious brow. RM’s mouth opened to speak, but the words were caught in his throat. When Jimin noticed the bewildered RM, he decided to answer instead. It was the least he could do since Namjoon doesn’t have much of a grasp on it, yet.

“W-well, Taehyung isn’t coming because he doesn’t feel well. So-”

RM sighed, intervening.

“Let’s just tell him the truth, Park. Taehyung refused to attend because he is traumatized by being the one who saw his friend murdered in front of his eyes. Jungkook died in his arms saving the other two youngest in our team. I think it makes sense why he wouldn’t feel like being here.” He shrugged.

Taemin chuckled. He squeezed the umbrella handle tight as he looked forward towards the ceremony unfolding before them all.

“Ah, yes. Understandable. But who is that girl up at the front? The one in the black blouse.” He pointed with his head.

“I don’t believe I recognize her.”

Jimin and RM followed his gesture into the direction that he was referring to. When he saw who he was talking about, they both nod their heads.

“Ah, you mean y/n?” Jimin asked Taemin. The pink haired male turned his face over at him. Taemin nodded in reponse. RM clicked his tongue.

“Y/N is someone who has recently joined us. She’s an unfortunate individual that had been ensnared in our violent affairs. When things got ugly, she had nowhere else to go. So, we took her in.” RM explained. Taemin smirked, mulling over a few things in his head.

“Interesting.”

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[Taemin’s Hideout]

9:15 a.m.

Kai smirked while sitting in Taemin’s black leather chair. He bounced the ink pen he held in his hand against the counter. The sound from the metal tip ricocheted off the walls. His other arm was propped up by his elbow. His chin rested in the middle of his palm. A soft chuckle emitted from his lips as he knew he was alone by himself.

“The tides are slowly turning. One by one as the cogs rotate, the plans are set in motion. If I bite my tongue and bide my time, everything will be put into fruition.” He softly spoke in sing song. A knock at the door was heard. He turned his eyes toward the door and flashed a wicked grin.

“Come in, Hangyeom.”

The secondhand entered the room and bowed before walking over in front of Kai. He kneeled down.

“You called for me, sir?” Kai slowly drew in a breath, closing his eyes for a moment. He continued to play with the ink pen.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“I did, indeed.” He laughed. Hangyeom furrowed his eyebrows, wondering what in the hell has gotten into Kai.

“D-do you have a job for me? I think it is about time for Taemin to be home.”

Kai suddenly whipped his head down, shooting Hangyeom an intense glare.

“You are exactly right, my friend. He will be home soon.”

Hangyeom didn’t understand. He just chalked this up to Kai being quirky, but part of him still felt uneasy. Was it just the weather?

Maybe it was him who was off and not Kai. He decided to go along with it.

“I see. Well, perhaps I should prepare some drinks for our leader.” Hangyeom got up to his feet and smiled.

“I think it would lighten Mr. Lee’s mood. He seems down these days.” The younger male laughed halfheartedly as he slowly turned around to go to the door but he froze when Kai addressed him once more.

“Uh-uh! Wait. I do have a job for you, Hangyeom. A very... important one.”

Hangyeom turned back to face Kai, unknowing of what the sub Leader was going to do next.

“Yes? What is it?”

“Die!” Kai stood up from his seat and pointed a gun at the younger one. Fear lit up in his eyes as he realized Kai’s betrayal. The white’s of his eyes grew as he tried reaching for his weapon. A couple of gunshots sounded, followed by a sickening thud.

[END: PART 1]