‣ nightless city

@☼┊wen hyunjin ᵒ jungkook rolled his eyes at the male’s comment, clearly unimpressed, as he rose from his seat. his fingers flipped through the files with a sense of purpose, though the case seemed laughably trivial at first glance. a simple thief. yet, something gnawed at him - a gut feeling that this was more than it appeared.

' we’re going now, ' jungkook said curtly, bowing his head slightly to his father out of habit, before turning to wait for his brother. ' for the sake of this investigation, ' the alpha muttered, trailing behind, ' i’ll be civil. ' his tone was begrudging, but he followed nonetheless. as they walked, he skimmed the details in the file, reading aloud with mild disbelief.

' wen taewen was caught stealing… ice cream. really?' he rubbed his chin, stopping hyunjin in his tracks. ' doesn’t it feel a little too shallow for us to be handling this? ice cream theft?'
jungkook glanced sideways, clearly considering the same thought but unwilling to dismiss it outright. ' keep reading, ' he said, his tone sharper now.

' the ice cream was stacked in a warehouse near the old orphanage, ' jungkook continued, his brow furrowing. ' you remember - the abandoned one? ' that detail snapped them both out of their casual dismissal. jungkook’s fingers stopped fiddling with the files, his expression darkening as his mind worked over the implications.

' why there, of all places? ' he mused aloud, the edge in his voice sharpening. ' and second of all -' his eyes met hyunjin’s, the unspoken tension shared between them, ' -who the hell owns that place now?' the question hung in the air like a challenge, turning what seemed like a shallow case into something far more ominous.

@☼┊wen jungkook ᵃ He only huffs in response to his father's signal to cut it out, head turning away with a small frown tugging at his mouth. Leave it to Jungkook to drain the fun out of his own teasing right back. Focusing in on the report soon after but not before a quick glare to his brother.

Hyunjin almost rolled his eyes at the mention of his brother's violent nature. As if the cause wasn't right in front of them. But his father's next words cause him to raise an eyebrow. "If it's beneath you, it's beneath /me/ too." Another warning to be cautious from Ruohan and the youngest starts grumbling under his breath. Probably a hint of childishness in it. Leaning over to his brother's side, he plucks up some of the documents from him to glance over them, eyes narrowing. "...Fine. We'll go handle your "dirty work", father. Should be quick in any case."

Another sigh and Hyunjin's rising up from his seat, elbow to Jungkook's side. "I hope you're not going to sit there all day. We have better things to do the sooner we get this done."

This... situation really was nothing. Low level theft. Especially with the need for the two of them to be on it. But it isn't as if they could really deny the clan leader. Though on the bright side, if it could be called that, is the okay to keep an eye on the other.

@☼┊wen taeyeon ᵃ as jungkook felt the weight of his father’s gaze on his back, an involuntary shiver ran through him. the tension in the air was palpable, and the hairs on his nape and arms stood on edge. he released his hold on taeyeon, stepping back abruptly, his demeanor shifting into something guarded and cold. he didn’t need to turn fully to know that ruohan was displeased; his father’s presence alone was enough to instill dread and an almost instinctual sense of submission.

ruohan’s sharp gaze swept across the destruction - the shattered pillars, the scorch marks, the disheveled state of the two young heirs. his expression betrayed little, but his slow shake of the head as he walked past them spoke volumes. both jungkook and taeyeon dropped to their knees, bowing low to show their respect, though the silence that stretched was heavy with unspoken reprimands.

jungkook sneaked a glance at taeyeon from the corner of his eye, catching the slight change in her demeanor as she performed her obeisance. his brows knitted in irritation; he could tell she was playing her part well, feigning a perfect image of contrition. to their father, it might seem sincere, but jungkook knew better.

ruohan, however, wasn’t fooled entirely. his sharp eyes lingered on jungkook’s charred clothing, the telltale scorch marks that clearly weren’t self-inflicted. his low, commanding voice filled the hall, each word laced with quiet authority.

' I expected more from you both, ' ruohan said, his tone even but cold. ' must you always reduce yourselves to petty infighting? you’re heirs to this legacy, yet you squander your strength on each other. ' he paused, letting his words hang like a storm cloud. ' if we are to become the best, you must work together. chaos within breeds weakness.'

to an outsider, it might sound like fatherly advice - a stern but encouraging reprimand. but jungkook knew better. every word was laced with veiled warning, the weight of expectation pressing down like an iron chain.

straightening, jungkook rose to his feet, adjusting his posture as his father moved to sit on his throne. his face was a carefully crafted mask of calm, but his mind was already spinning. he refused to let taeyeon have the upper hand, not in front of their father.

' she called me here, father,' he began, his voice steady but with an edge of cool detachment. ' I suspect it may have something to do with my academic performance. if that is the case, I take full responsibility for any shortcomings. my apologies. '

he allowed a slight smirk to tug at his lips as his eyes flicked to taeyeon, a glint of mischief in his gaze. ' I’ve been preoccupied with the task you assigned hyunjin and me to resolve. perhaps she could enlighten us further about why she wished to see me? ' the subtle jab was clear. in this silent battle of wits and posturing, both knew their father would see through their games - yet neither would dare yield.

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@☼┊wen jungkook ᵃ Taeyeon growled when the other had caught her by the neck and slammed on the ground, she smirked as she didn't thrash on his grip when the door swung open and the formidable figure came: Wen Ruohan. Their father, the leader of their pack.

It was a perfect timing for Taeyeon, their father did made her younger brother as his heir but he never expected the other to be this unwelcoming. When Jungkook's grip loosened around her neck, she pried it away and she quickly knelt properly towards their father as a sign of respect, "Father." She greeted with courtesy in her tone.

@☼┊wen taeyeon ᵃ jungkook wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, his crimson-streaked knuckles glinting under the dim light. taeyeon's gurgling words reached his ears, but they were just noise. words meant to wound him emotionally held no weight anymore; he’d heard it all before, and it slid off him like rain on stone.

he didn’t notice the subtle shift in her stance as she darted between the towering pillars, her movements a blur. blue flame daggers sliced through the air, embedding themselves in his jacket. the searing sting was sharp but fleeting, and jungkook swallowed the pain without a flinch. her swift kick connected with his shin, sending him to one knee, his focus locked on her. she was faster, more agile, but not as strong. never as strong.

her punch landed across his jaw, forcing his head to turn, but it was as though he’d been waiting for her to get close enough. his hand shot up, grabbing her wrist mid-strike. a wicked grin crept across his face as he tightened his grip, the sound of bones cracking under his hold echoing through the hall. he seized her by the neck with his other hand, lifting her with ease before slamming her into the ground. the impact sent shockwaves through the floor.

jungkook leaned over her, his eyes dark and predatory, ready to deliver a scathing remark - until a voice cut through the tension like a blade.

' what has been going on here? '


the voice was cold and authoritative, stopping him in his tracks. his grip on taeyeon's neck loosened slightly, his crimson gaze snapping toward the source. he recognized it instantly, and for the first time in this brutal dance, he hesitated.

@☼┊wen jungkook ᵃ The attack on her stomach made her coughed a few drops of blood and she almost knelt on the ground but she stood her ground, she hides the pain with a smirk on her face. "Without darkness you wouldn't shine, when you are just a star that needs darkness, you're useless when darkness isn't there." Her cadium red orbs glowed just as the other does, she chuckled and moments later, her laugh echoed through the chamber they're in.

"You never fail to make your old sister laugh, do you?" She said with a coldness and sarcasm in her tone, "I do not fear your presence here, brother. You may be the heir but how long?"

In an instant, her glowing eyes trailed in a matter of seconds. He underestimated how fast Taeyeon with her feet, she was only warming up moments ago.

She leaped through the pillars like a ricocheted bullet, when she finds an opening, she takes it. Taeyeon made a razor shaped blue flames on her hand and cuts him with it before every leap she punches Jungkook where his blind spots are. Then she tripped his ankles to make him fall down to his knees and her last punch she made her fist burned blue and hits his cheek hard.

@☼┊wen taeyeon ᵃ when her coat came flying at him, jungkook yanked it off with swift precision, tossing it aside as she lunged at him again. her blue flames erupted with ferocity, but he brushed them off with a casual swipe of his hand, his skin impervious to their burn. as she launched a flurry of punches, each strike sharp and relentless, he blocked most with his arms, though a few managed to land, leaving the faint bloom of bruises.

growing weary of her relentless assault, jungkook moved with sudden force, driving his foot into her stomach in a powerful kick that sent her stumbling back. his smirk was smug as he taunted her, his voice dripping with arrogance. ' oh, please,' he scoffed. ' now you’re in my shadow, and that terrifies you, doesn’t it? for once, you’re not the star - you’re second place.'

wiping the last traces of blood from his nose, he stood tall, his long hair falling over one eye, obscuring the glowing crimson orb that burned like a warning through the locks.

' you came back, yet father still keeps me as the heir. he could’ve chosen you, but he didn’t. what does that say about how ‘great’ you think you are? ' his tone was cutting, and his pride radiated from every word. straightening his posture, he let his aura fill the space, menacing yet composed. ' thorns are dangerous, sister,' he continued, his lips curling into a chilling smile. ' and I like being terrifying. it's the very essence of the wen pack, isn’t it? and I am everything it stands for. '

@☼┊wen jungkook ᵃ She didn't have time to react when the other had hit her gut with a hard punch. She endured the pain the other had given to her. Taeyeon quickly threw her coat towards him, blocking his vision, dodging his next attack, because of her small stature she can dodge anything. Once she finds an opening, she balled her two fists and made one uppercut to his jaw and puts blue flames on the other before punching his side once again.

"Says the one who has been in the shadows." She responded with a hard-to-swallow truth, "You basically show terror than glory, you never had been the favorite. You are just a thorn in between of beautiful roses." Referring that he is the only half-blood among the siblings.

@☼┊wen taeyeon ᵃ jungkook’s head snapped back slightly as her head collided with his face, the sharp crack echoing in the air. a thin streak of blood trickled from his nose, his fingers instinctively brushing against it. with an almost eerie calmness, he set his nose back into place, the wound sealing with unnatural speed.

' thankfully,' he sneered, his tone dripping with venom, ' father never wasted time teaching us to respect women.' his dark eyes glinted with malice as he clenched his fist, driving it into her stomach with deliberate force.

he tilted his head mockingly, a cruel smirk stretching across his lips. ' you? special?' he scoffed, his words laced with derision. ' in what way, exactly? you're just another forgettable wen alpha, nothing more than a shadow pretending to stand out.' a low, dark laugh rumbled from his chest, cutting through the tension like a blade. the cruel edge in his voice left no room for doubt - he enjoyed breaking down the illusions others built about themselves.

@☼┊wen jungkook ᵃ When her flames had been deflected and grappled by his grasp, and her kick deemed unsuccessful. She knew the little boy she used to care about no longer there, for those years she's been gone, he was changed. "Believe me, I tried to outgrow you but Fenrir made me special in any way." Taeyeon looked at him without showing any emotion, "Now that you're closer."

All of a sudden, Taeyeon used her head to head Jungkook's face, letting her wrist go before she made a small distance from him. She dusted off her coat and looked at him with a stoic expression, "Taunting your enemy doesn't make you stronger, little boy." She said and she waited for the other to attack this time.

@☼┊wen hyunjin ᵒ jungkook’s eyes flicked to his father with an air of indifference, leaning back in his chair as though the whole scene bored him. his voice was flat as he drawled, ' why? did you not wish to see me?'

ruohan’s growl cut through the air, sharp and low, a warning to his youngest. he ignored the provocation and instead gestured toward the papers spread across his desk. ' you both are here because I need you to deal with something, ' he began, his tone steely. his gaze flicked between the two brothers, lingering on jungkook.
' jungkook needs to fulfill his duties, ' ruohan continued, his voice heavy with finality, ' and hyunjin can keep an eye on him. we all know how... impulsive your brother can be. so violent.' he sighed as if the thought alone was exhausting, then slid a stack of documents across the desk toward them.

' there’s a small gang causing trouble in nightless city,' he said. ' rebels. they’ve been stealing from locals, stirring unrest. normally, I’d overlook such petty crimes, but this? this is beneath me. perfect for you two.' his lips curled into a faint smirk. ' it’s dirty work, nothing more. should be simple enough, no?'

jungkook’s expression darkened at the implication, his sharp eyes scanning the papers. ruohan leaned back, his authority filling the room. ' handle it quickly. I expect results. '

@☼┊wen taeyeon ᵃ taeyeon’s blue flames roared toward him, a blistering heat that could reduce anything in its path to ashes. she hadn’t anticipated his quick reflexes, but at the last moment, he extinguished them with a swift motion, though the side of his jacket smoldered and charred. their powers mirrored each other, as they both had blue flame manipulation. yes, she was stronger - pureblood lineage and rigorous training made her a force to be reckoned with, but he wasn’t one to be underestimated.

when she delivered a sharp kick to his side, he barely flinched. instead, a low laugh escaped him, soft yet charged with a dangerous undertone. ' do that again, ' he sneered, his eyes dark with mockery. ' didn’t feel a thing.' the laugh wasn’t taunting, but it carried the weight of his confidence, a venomous edge that seemed to cut deeper than her strikes.

' you forgot who you’re dealing with,' he hissed, his hand shooting out to seize her wrist in an iron grip. with a sudden motion, he yanked her arm upward, forcing her to meet his eyes as he leaned in close, the space between them crackling with tension.

' how pathetic,' he said, his voice dripping with disdain. ' starting a fight like this. I thought you were the bigger person between the two of us. guess I was wrong.' his words were sharp and calculated, each one a dagger meant to rattle her, his grip tightening just enough to assert control.

() pls once we talk it out, you can do a tiny bit godmodding

@☼┊wen jungkook ᵃ Taeyeon frowned at the other's nonchalance, either way she burned the paper to the ground and turned it into ashes. "You really know what I'm about to do." Her hands flared with blue flames before she charges towards him, before she lands a hot punch on him and then kicked his side. Knowing her brother won't move an inch if she doesn't make a first move.

(I'm making it short to avoid godmodding (～￣▽￣)～ )

@☼┊wen jungkook ᵃ The invitation, well, more like order, to come back home was a surprise. And to just him and Jungkook? That came as an even bigger mystery. But Hyunjin puts it out of his mind. It must be for something important anyways. There wouldn't be call just to have a friendly meeting with the two brothers. Which, as soon as he steps into the room, he could already feel the stifling mood of his father and brother.

It wasn't often that this kind of situation would happen. He was more inclined on actually putting on appearances. No matter how many times the other was so close to breaking them with his actions whenever they were in the same space.

He knew the taunting was only done to grate on his nerves. It's as if Jungkook lived to just be a bother in his life. The wild child. But he ignores him for a moment to regard their father in greeting first. Hyunjin's first reaction is to cringe though he holds it back. The next is to send his older brother a sickeningly sweet smile. Time for a performance. After settling down next to him "Brother. If you hadn't made it before me, I would have thought we wouldn't be graced with your presence today."

@☼┊wen hyunjin ᵒ jungkook sat back in his chair, arms crossed, his expression a mixture of indifference and impatience. he didn’t know why his father had called them back, but it definitely wasn’t for anything good, at least, nothing that would require both him and hyunjin. as he waited, his fingers drummed lightly on the armrest, the quiet atmosphere of the room doing little to calm his growing irritation.

when he saw hyunjin finally enter the hall, a smirk tugged at the corner of jungkook’s lips. his half-sibling was as annoyingly perfect as always. the sight of him only served to stir the familiar resentment that bubbled under the surface.

' what's up, failure?' jungkook’s voice was dripping with mockery, his words cutting through the stillness like a blade. he lifted his hand in a playful wave, the gesture deliberately sarcastic, just to rile him up.
their father’s glare snapped toward him, but jungkook didn’t care. he was used to it. there was a strange satisfaction in pushing his sibling’s buttons, even if it meant enduring a few angry glares in the process.

@☼┊wen taeyeon ᵃ jungkook stood in the grand hall, his presence almost as imposing as the red and black pillars surrounding him. his expression was calm, bordering on boredom, as his sister rose from her seat, neatly setting aside her book and waving off a lingering servant. her composed demeanor only made him scoff.

with his hands tucked into the pockets of his worn leather jacket, jungkook’s sharp gaze fell on the papers she held - his grades, no doubt. his lips curled into a smirk as he tilted his head, voice dripping with mockery.

'what’s your problem? so what? he’s going to beat me up, burn me with fire, and then what? you think that’s going to change me?' he shifted his weight onto one foot, leaning lazily against a pillar. ' he respects my strength. the rest - grades, marks, all that crap - I can fix.'

as if to punctuate his indifference, jungkook let out an exaggerated yawn, covering his mouth with his scarred and tattooed hand. his inked arm, mostly hidden beneath the jacket, hinted at stories he didn’t care to share. the gesture was deliberate, calculated to annoy her further.

his dark eyes gleamed with a mix of defiance and amusement. ' do you really care about my grades, or is this just part of your little act? playing the perfect, caring older sister for dad's benefit. ready to throw me under the bus the second it earns you a shred of his approval. '

he laughed, low and humorless, the sound echoing in the vast, empty hall. 'let’s drop the act, shall we?'

@☼┊wen jungkook ᵃ Within the walls of their palace place a lavish and vibrant red pillars and walls that represents their sigil and power, Taeyeon had been born from within these walls for many years and yet it never changed despite two of Wen Ruohan's children had changed due to many hardships in life, either from him or from their battles they have won. Through the hallways, Taeyeon wears the usual outfit that her loyal servants had made for her while reading a book about strategies and possibilities her heels clacked every steps on the dark marbled floor, echoing its sounds with tremendous presence.

Hearing the vehicle that her 'oh-so-perfect' brother came, she closed the book with a hard clap and gave it to her servant before she prompt them to get out of the chamber as meeting with her brother is also a welcome fight. Taeyeon stepped in the middle of the large chamber with only the floor and pillars are present.

She smirked as she sees his faint figure from afar, as his footsteps getting louder and louder, she greeted. "You're early." As soon as she said those words, all the large doors on each corners slowly closed, leaving the two of them inside the large chamber, "I forgot to tell you that father hasn't arrived yet." Then she draws out some of the papers that has a mark of failing grades. "Before I could give our father a good word on you, would you mind telling me why you're failing your subjects?" She shows it to him.

@☼┊wen taeyeon ᵃ her words were meant to sting, but jungkook merely scoffed, her venom falling on deaf ears. his armor wasn’t just physical; it was emotional, honed from years of battles far more brutal than her barbs. there was only one thing that mattered now—his father.

he straddled his sleek, black motorcycle, the machine roaring to life like a beast answering its master’s call. sliding his helmet on, he revved the engine and sped off, leaving behind the cold, suffocating tension she had tried to wrap around him. the air grew sharper, the wind colder, but he barely noticed as the nightless city unfurled before him like a ceaseless river of light and chaos.

the transition was abrupt yet familiar as he approached qishan. the snowy forest mountains gave way to a landscape of fiery defiance: molten lava streaking across jagged cliffs, endless deserts swallowing the horizon, and volcanoes that seemed to mirror the inferno in his blood. this was home—a land as merciless and unyielding as the man who ruled it.

jungkook stormed past the gates of the main palace, his presence a silent command that needed no announcement. the guards parted like shadows before him, their heads bowed in deference. he didn’t stop to acknowledge them, his focus razor-sharp.

behind him, his phone buzzed incessantly. taeyeon’s name flashed on the screen again and again, her persistence almost admirable. he ignored it, stuffing the device deeper into his pocket, his steps echoing down the grand hallways of his father’s domain. whatever she had to say could wait.