A/N: a lot of Jae, Helic, Tajh, and Vee. They're needed to finish off this chapter and the next. Hopefully you enjoy both chapters since they were a little hard to write for me. I'm open for any feedback you'd provide though aha, thanks to everyone reading. Care for ya loads. :)

-

Jae moved his index finger slowly towards his bottom lip. Feeling it slightly cut open near the side of his mouth, he tried not to wince at the new injury as he glanced around the crowd of well-dressed individuals that were populating the large hall.

Hearing familiar voices of his workers spread across the place, Jae could hear them murmuring about business in the speaker hidden in his ear. Sighing, the man spoke, knowing they all heard him.

"I know we're here for business," Jae said lowly, glancing around for two people. The two people who weren't at the party yet. "...but you can still try to enjoy yourself before the plans are initiated."

There were a few murmurs but many agreed as they went about to relax a little, mingling around with the oblivious crowd. Jae was in his own world as he kept watch over all his workers, his jaw clenched a little when hearing someone speak to him through the speaker suddenly. "What's up with the lip sir?" a voice asked, blunt and curious.

"I was punched in the face by my boss," Jae replied, just as blunt as he shrugged it off and had his eyes on the door.

Jae was waiting for Vee and Tajh to show up. What's taking them so long?

The voice on the other end was shocked. "Punched? W-Why, what you do?"

"Brought up...touchy subjects," Jae mumbled out, "Am I upset I brought them up? No, not one bit."

"Where is boss-man now?"

"Arriving soon I guess," Jae mumbled out, gaze fixed on nothing but the entrance.

"...I don't get it, what could possibly get him this mad, I—"

Jae cut the man's off in his ear, no longer listening as his daze grew over at the entrance of the hall. His eyes went wide, stomach sinking instantly when seeing two figures walk through. But it wasn't his sister along with Vee.

You trailed closely beside the woman as well.

"Y/N?" Jae breathily let out, body in full shock.

-

"Yes?" you answered back, noticing the man call your name.

You were panicking a slight bit when meeting eyes with the security in front. One by one, they guided people in, first they called for Vee, and surprisingly, you were the next to be called. It was insane to you how great of a mind-player Vee could be. With one smile, she could have all lists go under her name...heck, you still remembered the time she got both Jimin and Taehyung to swoon over her.

"Have a nice time," the man said, bored as he glanced over at his list again and started to call out for others.

You glanced around, trying not to throw up and drool all in one when staring over at all the hall had to offer. It was bigger than what your life's savings could ever afford, ceiling barely spotted from where your ant-self stood at by the entrance. Everything was a gold and white, to beige and dull...it was too big and too invested in a manner your naive eyes could comprehend.

This place was a big deal.

You swallowed, about to respond to the security but the sudden tug of your arm caused you to fling away from the front. Slightly tripping in the annoyingly high heels you had on, you internally cursed at Vee for getting you ready and dressed. It took you a moment to collect the blue cloth that tangled at your feet, but it took you longer to realize who had pulled you to the side in the first place.

"What're you doing here?!" Jae softly yelled.

You glanced over at Vee who budged in before you could answer Jae. You were here for "answers about your brother" ...that's what Vee named this night as any way. What that particularly meant, you had no idea. All you knew was that you were ready to absorb whatever was in store for you today.

"She's here because she deserves to be here," Vee lowly whispered out so only Jae could hear. She had enough of the lies and hideaways, if Helic wanted to hide, he shouldn't have come out in the open to begin with.

"He will kill us!" Jae softly yelled back, side-glancing over at you who was trying so hard to overhear the conversation.

"Then he'll have to kill us in front of his fucking sister, because I am no way going to pretend that this is fair in any means," Vee snapped back, nostrils flaring. Even with the beauty that was enhanced by the makeup on the woman's face, she was still able to look terrifying if she so pleased to.

"This business isn't about being fair!"

"But family is," Vee softly retorted, glancing over at your awkward self that was trying to pick up your dress from falling too much onto the ground.

"Last time I checked," Jae said gently, nose scrunched in anger himself, "His family was never fair to him...I learned this fact a few days ago, and now understand why he pulled the steps he did. So, I may sound biased, but maybe let the 'dead guy' be?"

"She's his sister...Y/N's been fair to him, yet he didn't show such fairness back by having her suffer through mourning all these years."

"Is there food here?" you popped in, voice high when trying to break through in the whisper battle an angry Jae and Vee seemed to be having. Sure, you couldn't hear what they were arguing about but you could put two in two together by the clear reaction Jae had had. He's clearly upset I'm here...don't worry Jae I'm not here to ruin your little money jacking plan.

"No," Jae snapped, while at the same time, Vee chimed in with a, "Yes."

Your brows furrowed at them irritably glare at each other.

"Am I late to the party?"

Everyone turned their head over towards the sweet voice that cracked behind them. Jae seemed to panic internally a bit when spotting who it was, Vee on the other hand was glad.

Tajh was finally here.

Your brows furrowed at the voice of the woman that moved obliviously towards them. Seeing as her eyes and mouth area was the only thing available for your eyes to view, you couldn't understand the slight twist in your gut when seeing the way her collarbones rested in their place or the way her bare neck sucked in.

What through her off completely was the slight deep scaring near the side of the woman's lips. Eyes like a hawk, you stared down the newly introduced woman. What intrigued you the most was her reaction to seeing you. She froze in her spot.

You couldn't help but grin a slight bit, moving over to her with a brow cocked.

"Don't stop there," you cooed out, "The closer you come the better it is for my sight to check you out."

Vee rolled her eyes at you clearing checking the masked woman out. About to grab at your arm when feeling Jae lightly pinch at her upper arm. Vee flinched away from the man before mumbling a "If something happens and she does see him, I'll take the blame for all of it," and with that, she began taking grips on you.

Tajh didn't say anything, still shocked over the fact that you were in front of her. Here the woman stood in no hood to hide her face, in nothing but a short, heart-neck lined peach dress, Tajh was more exposed than ever for a woman that was supposed to be dead to you. Thankfully, she decided to stay on the safe side and wear a cute masquerade mask.

Grin falling from your face when your arm was roughly grabbed again. You mumbled out an "ow" as you were dragged away.

"Asking me to walk would be just as effective!" you yelled softly, voice amused as you flinched away from Vee when she took you towards the food in the far corner.

"Trust me it wouldn't," Vee sighed out, glancing around to spot so many of Jae and Helic's men and women already on scene. "You'd simply try spitting pick-up lines if I didn't stop you there and then."

"I love how you know me," you sang out, grinning when spotting cake and fondue already out for consumption.

Vee watched as you no longer needed a push in the right direction.

You ran for the food without any hesitation.

-

Tajh watched in awe as you ran and almost tripped into the melted chocolate displayed. Seeing you already picking up a plate to eat from, her shocked beautiful eyes moved towards Jae who was incredibly tense.

"Does Helic know?" Tajh asked, breathless and now suddenly scared.

Jae opened at his mouth to speak, but before he could, there was a deep voice that echoed behind them.

"Do I know what?"

Both glanced over at the man in the navy-blue suit. Seeing as his face was also distracted away from sight by a mask that covered at most of his face, Helic was too involved in nudging his head over for his partners to move causally into the crowding areas of the huge hall.

"That you've got a harsh right swing," Jae mumbled as a cover up, referring to the punch that was given to the side of his face after the tormented conversation both Helic and him had had earlier.

Helic's eyes moved over to Jae, before the man could react in any way, Jae was already moving away in boredom. He left leaving Tajh with even bigger eyes, her head whipping over to face a tense Helic.

"That's what's going on with his mouth?" she breathed out, sudden anger pooling into her veins.

Helic cleared his throat awkwardly, glancing over at Jae's back before staring back at Tajh, he found himself grow distracted from the woman before him. No longer thinking about the heart wrenching moment he had with Jae earlier, Helic found his brow to cock as he moved over towards Tajh's beautiful form.

"Hold up a second before yelling at me," your brother cooed out, grin present at his face, "Let me come closer so I can check ya out clearer."

Tajh didn't smile, nor did she shy away. Her eyes were harsh. "You know I'm just as protective of my brother as you are of your sister," she snapped, about to move away, "Know your boundaries...sir."

Helic rolled his eyes when the woman angrily emphasized the last bit. Sighing when watching her angrily move away from him. He casually strode over before lightly grabbing at her arm. It was easy to get her away from the sight of a crowd when taking her towards the larger gold poles that circled around the hall.

"I'm sorry I punched your bro," Helic sighed out, staring over at the woman that flinched away her arm so she could cross them over her chest. "If it helps, I apologized to him right after I did it."

"What happened anyway?"

"He told me what Y/N borrowed money for," Helic said softly, jaw clenching as he tried not to remind himself of any of it, "I guess I got caught in emotions and couldn't handle him being amused over my misery in that moment."

Tajh's brows furrowed a little at that. "...What did she borrow money for?" Tajh asked curious. Sure, she was practically there for most of Jae's robberies, but one thing that she was always clueless over was the clients and their businesses. Plus, at the time, Jae barely opened up to any of his business matters with her. The fear of losing her as a sister again came slowly to the man, but it was just as protective as her stand for him.

Helic glanced away for a moment.

"It doesn't matter."

"If you punched Jae, it clearly matters," Tajh said softly, knowing just how lovely they used to be with one another. She still remembered the days Jae and Helic would go out for hang outs and no return for hours. They were friends long ago, friends that trusted one another with each other's sisters...

Helic smiled a little at that, trying to pull out a smirk but it didn't work. He was in front of Tajh for fucks sake, nothing intimidating was going to pour out of him. Not around her.

...especially since he was trying to hold back tears for the longest time now. He hid the urge well however, knowing he wouldn't break anytime soon.

"Y/N..." Helic trailed off for a moment, jaw clenching when he felt the burning at his eyes, "She um, she borrowed money from Jae 'cause she didn't want to give up on searching for me—well, us."

"What you mean?" Tajh asked, forehead crinkling in.

Helic was trying his hardest not to break down, smiling bitterly before he continued softly.

"Remember when we hid out, away from everyone and everything?" Helic asked, eyes narrowing, "I recall us keeping up with the stories of our accident playing on local papers and television...everyone was waiting for our bodies to show up. The whole city was watching, listening and waiting."

Tajh nodded, remembering. It was a hectic shift in both Helic and her life, things were never the same after that accident.

"Everyone waited and waited. Cops and authorities searched but nothing," Helic continued, "the whole world gave up but Y/N didn't. She borrowed money...little by little...to higher experts, theorists, detectives and geniuses to possibly dissect what happened that day. Hell, apparently, she almost hired professional hitmen to move away from their expertise and become 'Blues Clues' motherfuckers instead. But Jae cut her off from all the borrowing of money at that point."

"What?" Tajh asked, eyes softening as the sudden urge to have her own eyes water came through.

Helic nodded, pursing at his lips as he tried to shake away from the information.

"She put herself in debt because she wanted to find her older brother's body," Helic painfully let out, eyes hard and cold however.

"Helic..." Tajh softly empathized, heart aching when seeing how hard the man was trying to hold in the persona that he was fine. Because he wasn't, Helic wasn't fine.

"The most fucked part is that she technically borrowed from me, the one she was trying to find, only to suffer and slowly return all the money back to me...She was looking for me with my own money, while I was just upping interest in her debt, not knowing it was her."

Tajh's heart broke when seeing the man's eyes water. She hadn't seen him like this for years. Slowly allowing her hands to move over to lightly hold that side of his neck lovingly, she let her forehead rest against his.

The man sighed, eyes shutting behind his mask as he allowed himself to be touched by the woman he clearly still loved with all his heart. Nose nuzzling hers for a moment, he found his body to relax as she reassuringly spoke to him.

But then,

But then she said something that made his body tense up again, his eyes wide instantly.

"...Whatever you choose, Jae and I are by your side," Tajh said lowly, "But you should know that Y/N is here today. She's here today in this very crowd—what you do with that information is up to you now."

-

"Up to me? Fine," you mumbled, irritated as your mouth was still filled with pastry puffs, "I choose to stay here whether your annoyed ass likes it or not."

"I didn't give you a choice to stay princess," Jae mumbled out, arms crossed over his chest. He ignored every death glare Vee sent his way as he pulled out restrictions. "I said it's up to you whether you want to leave peacefully or with force."

"Can't touch this bitch," you scoffed out, tossing in another huge delicious puff into your mouth. "I'll bring out my moves if you lay your hands on me."

Jae watched you bored as you mimicked lame chopping moves with your hands. Seeing you give up with the movements mid way as you grabbed for more food instead, he sighed, glancing down at his watch. "With force or no?" he asked again, tired of all these distractions that formed away from the mission at hand.

You were a clear distraction, and to play out anything, things had to be out in the clear. You had to be taken out and away before people got emotionally involved in decisions today...

Seeing as you were going to fill your plate up again, Jae barely even flinched as he instantly grabbed the food away from you and tossed the plate back onto the table. Seeing as you glared over at him, he didn't smile at all as he mumbled out a "I see you choose force then" before taking hold of your arm and dragging you away from a frustrated Vee.

Barely struggling in trying to break free of Jae, you simply moved along with him. Seeing as the sudden erupt of speakers made you hush away from Vee silently yelling as she followed the two of you, everyone froze as an MC popped from the large staircase of the hall.

Talk about a dramatic entrance, you thought internally, clearly impressed as you found everyone to stop and remain alert when staring over at the party starters beginning the pretentious ceremony, all remained still.

You watched in awe of how everyone carried themselves while moving down the stairs to the rest of the crowd. It took a moment for everyone to be introduced to the one that was hosting the party itself. Squinting over at the man that was about to speak into the microphone and greet the one's attending the occasion, your eyes almost popped out of your skull.

"Didn't we used to go to pre-school with him? He was so close to you Jae, h-how," you pouted a little, staring over at the tense man that was next to you, "How could you steal from him if he whole-heartedly invited you."

"Simple answer to that," Jae said, shrugging as he moved to instantly start dragging you away again, "He grew up and got real rich. I run for the money if I gotta survive in this business...so yeah, friend or not, he fucked up by inviting me without doing some research on my ass."

You rolled your eyes at that answer. It was heartless and might be misconstrued by most people listening to him, but you were always used to his way of talking. As if you translated what he said through the "Jae filter" you had within you, you didn't bring up any words on how hard you were against this mission you clearly knew nothing about.

No longer fighting as he was about to drag you away from the hall entirely, there were sudden shouts around when the familiar face from pre-school called for music to begin. Head turning to spot how everyone seemed to move to the music in a structured dance, your eyes grew in awe, smile on your face.

It was the first time seeing such an act of courting when spotting the way men and women moved with one another. From the synchronization to the dance itself, everything was practiced and perfect. It was a clear show and you wanted to stay for the finale.

Giggling when Vee caught up to you and instantly flinched you away from Jae's grasp the both of you rushed away. Jae froze, swearing before turning to see the both of you disappear into the rows of people swaying and moving about.

Moving his eyes casually around the large groups of people for his sister, Jae had his gaze fall on Helic instead. Seeing as the man was staring directly at your form running with Vee into the dancing individuals, Jae swallowed hard, taken aback over the man aware of your presence.

"Dance with me?" Vee asked, wiggling at her brows as she playfully tried to distract you from the mess while dragging you towards the strangers circling around you with such steps.

You laughed, nodding before closely moving with the woman. Both remaining amused as you tried to copy what the people around you seemed to know by heart, it was fun when there were rotations taking place every few minutes in the beat-filled dance.

Laughing, you moved away from Vee, hopping in the transitions before moving on to dance with complete strangers. The strangers would have mixed emotions back. Some would smile at your excitement, while others would be physically disgusted over you not knowing much of any of the steps. Not caring at all however, you allowed yourself to be let loose as you experienced something new and fun for a change. Moving and prancing around, you giggled with each transition of partner.

From men to women, there were even a few younger children that were moving around as well.

Seeing Vee with random faces occasionally, you laughed when seeing her trying to distract Jae from getting too close to you on the dance floor. Seeing at the two were dancing with each other, Jae tried to escape each time but Vee had him trapped near the left side of the dance floor.

This in entirety gave you the freedom to dance around all parts of the right side with new people.

Smiling hugely when you danced with the beautiful woman with the mask at one point, your smile fell a little, gazing at how familiar the frame of her small face seemed to be.

"Hi, who ar—"

"Thank you, Y/N," the voice of the female said, cutting you off before you could even address her.

Your brows furrowed deeply at that, highly confused, before you could understand how this mysterious woman knew your name, you were held off when the next transition happened.

Staring after her, you went in the arms of another man, followed by another woman, and then two more men. During each one, your neck grew strained when trying to see the masked woman again.

No longer smiling as you were in your own thoughts, you lamely completed the next shift in transition. Breath hitching loudly when bumping straight into the next switch of partner, you heard his soft voice distract you away from searching for the masked woman. Instead, now your confused form was faced with a man in a mask.

"Looking for someone?" his soft voice asked, his eyes staring directly over at you.

Your whole stomach turned when glancing into the man's eyes. Frozen, you stared at each part of the man's structured face...well, the little bits you could visibly see from the mask that covered his face.

There was a soft smile on his face that made your heart sink. Feeling your min wandering to impossible thoughts, you collected yourself before shaking your head in response and trying to grab the man in a way to continue this dancing.

"No hat today?" he asked softly, seeing as you glanced away from him.

Your head whipped in his direction at that. Eyes wide for a moment, seeing him up close reminded you of more than just a random man, but you buried those thoughts the moment you realized who this man was.

"You!" you softly yelled, eyes slightly wide when viewing and studying the man up close. You remembered him from the time by Jae's home, but what was worse was now when looking at him up close, you had the inability to be annoyed at all.

There was something about his eyes...she saw someone in them, someone she was close to.

The man chuckled a little, moving to grab you and start dancing about again. The time of the next transition took place but he didn't let go of you, having your confused form weirdly allow him to continue dancing with you.

"What're you doing here?" you asked lowly, trying not to look at his eyes since it made you uncomfortable.

"You've always been slow in figuring obvious things out," the masked man said, grinning a small side-smirk, "But damn Y/N, you could at least put two and two together to see that I'm here with Jae."

Your brows jumped for two reasons. One, the fact that he was working alongside Jae? And Two, he knows my name?

"H-How do you know my na—"

"Shh," he smugly hushed you, moving to spin your puzzled form before continuing to keep you throughout one more transition during the dance.

You swallowed hard, eyes meeting the man's again. You felt off, feeling the sudden urge to cry when seeing such hurtful familiarity in them. You snapped out of any thoughts quickly however, not wanting to bum out of all the fun you were having just because two masked strangers were making you question your very existence.

"You have questions and I have answers," the man sighed out, blinking tiredly to himself as he unknowingly tried to hug you while dancing without making it obvious. "I'm ready to finally give answers..."

You found your eyes narrowing at that. Did Vee put him up to this? You thought, considering that this might be what Vee meant by figuring things about your brother here. But how would this stranger know any—

You stopped your thoughts when hearing the man whisper at your ear.

"Follow me," he said before lightly letting you go.

It was hard for the man, heart hurting him for having you so close to him in the first place.

Eyes narrowing at that, you stared at his hand lightly tugging your form away from the dance floor and over to the sidelines.

"Okay look, I can see that you're hot from the little bits I've spotted, alright?" you piped, suddenly nervous as he dragged you away towards a more deserted area behind the large staircases. There were door opening now to different rooms. To you, this wasn't such a bright idea. "But I'm not interested," you finished, staring at the back of the man's black hair.

The masked man, your older brother Helic, had his face scrunch up in disgust at that. "That is so wrong on so many levels, but I'll let it slide," he chimed out, slightly amused that you still couldn't recognize him.

Seeing as he moved to open at a certain room, your brows furrowed when spotting the room filled with many bags. It was as if people had been crowded in this room earlier only to have left it now for this man before you. Seeing as the door lamely closed behind you, you debated on whether you should run away before the masked man turned back to face you.

Instead, you stood frozen, intrigued when seeing his tall form move far from you and over to the duffel bags that sat in the wall across from the entrance of the room. You watched as his back tensed, his fingers moving to slowly slip away the mask that hid away his face.

He didn't turn around for the longest time, his hand nervously playing through his hair as his back was to your waiting form.

"I hear you're here for questions regarding your brother," Helic said gently, palms sweating as he scrunched the mask harshly into his clammy palm.

"...and you can give me answers?" you questioned, tilting your head.

You tried almost every genius detective out there and they came up with nothing...how was Vee sure that this random man had everything in store for her?

"Yes."

"How so?" you asked, crossing your arms skeptically over your chest as you waited, your brow cocked.

Helic smiled a little at that. Finding the courage within himself to turn his feet and body with his mind, he took a bit to fully face you, his head moving up from glancing at the ground when staring you straight in your face.

No masks, no secrets.

Bare.

"This is how," Helic said gently, smile growing when seeing your face fall, eyes alert and in sudden awe while your arms fell instantly to your sides.

You were frozen.

Helic swallowed, chuckling nervously before cutely shooting out a smile he'd normally give you when trying to reassure you as kids. "Surprise," he weakly let out, face scrunching as he waited for you to react.

You shut your eyes, holding and squinting the lids repeatedly when checking to see if he was a hallucination. When seeing nothing but him awkwardly waiting, you found all your body to shut down.

You didn't move at all. But the moment his arms stretched out and he moved a little closer towards you from where he stood, you lost it. Knees almost giving out as you practically fell forward, you felt instant tears at your eyes. Balling, you whimpered before running over to slam your body into his welcoming arms.

Clutching onto your brother, when realization fully hit, you were a complete mess, crying and practically suffocating yourself in the smell of his suit.

"Helic?" you cried out, struggling to hold onto his body that was trying to balance from your grips.

Seeing as he wobbled when trying to move away from you, you shook your head, whining and whimpering before throwing your legs up and having his body stumble back.

There was a painful thud for the both of you but you didn't care. You didn't separate form the man that painfully laughed underneath you on the ground, his arms tightly moving to fully embrace you back.

"Ahhhh," Helic chimed out, feeling the tears starting to fall from his eyes as he recited what he had last said to you years back, "An older brother always comes back for his baby sis, remember?"