Chapter Text
“If I am going to sacrifice myself then it should at least be worth it mother. The only way Taehyung is going to forget about Jungkook is if I marry him.” Jimin stood up and paced around the room. He wrung his hands and looked out into the courtyard. This was it. The life he thought he would have was gone. There were no shreds of that life left Taehyung had taken it all.
Could it be that just 9 months ago he was happily engaged to Choi Minho?
**
Jimin had grown up thinking about Minho.
He was told as a child he was going to marry him. Minho was his betrothed. His mother and aunt filled his mind with stories of Minho’s qualities and character. His aunt would bring him pictures and tell him funny anecdotes. Jimin had waited patiently for Minho since he was away studying and then finishing his military service. A few times Jimin asked why Minho never wrote to him, but both his mother and aunt had assured him that everything was alright Minho was just busy studying and becoming a proper gentleman.
But Jimin knew something was wrong, perhaps if he had listened to his his heart he wouldn’t have ended up in this situation: discarded and humiliated.
Because Jimin had such an amazing marriage prospect and his family name while illustrious lacked the funds to provide an education for him and his brother Taehyung, it was Tae that had been sent away to study. Jimin had stayed home to care for his mother and wait for Minho to return. Nine months ago, Taehyung had finally returned from the capital after completing his studies. But the Taehyung that returned was not the little brother Jimin remembered.
Taehyung was vain.
Taehyung was frivolous.
But above all, Taehyung lied.
Taehyung snuck out of the house and hid things. Jimin had heard rumors in the village about Taehyung. He’s a harlot they said. He walks to the dock late in the evening and isn’t seen until dawn. He’s the Demon’s man. Jimin had tried to ignore the rumors, but when he went into Taehyung’s room and caught the Demon Pirate Jungkook in brother’s room he’d known it was all true.
“Where is Tae?”
The scream that was in Jimin’s throat never got a chance to leave his body as a hand covered his mouth. “Shhhhh... no screaming or I won’t let you go.”
Jimin nodded doing his best to remember what his tutor had taught him before he had stopped his lessons and prayed that no maid or Yoongi walked in.
When his attacker loosened his grip around his mouth and head, Jimin wrapped his arms over his attacker’s and pushed back against the wall. When the hands around him loosened Jimin made his way toward the door of his brother’s room and could just imagine the door nob in his hands when he fell to the ground. Jimin kicked with all his might, but couldn’t get away. Within a few minutes Jimin was trapped with no way out.
“I guess I should have said no attacking me back either huh,” Jimin stopped struggling for a bit and looked up complete surprised to see the Demon Pirate Jungkook.
“Ahhhh,” Jungkook said as he looked down at Jimin while making sure he had a good grip on him, “I see you recognize me now. Now as nice as this has been,” Jungkook pushed his hips into Jimin, that would teach the little virgin a lesson, “this has been lovely but I have to go. Now,” Jungkook ran a finger down Jimin’s thin straight brows, “tell your brother I am looking for him will you.”
Jimin nodded so afraid he wasn’t sure what else to do.
“Now be a good boy and no screaming alright?”
Jimin laid on the floor frozen until the man left out the window and laid there for a few minutes more before he had the nerve to stand up and go find his mother.
“Mother I saw him!”
“Jimin that is enough! Taehyung wouldn’t do that.”
“Mother please why won’t you believe me. I saw that, that man in Taehyung’s room. He even had the audacity to ask me where he was.”
Jimin watched his mother as she paced the room. “Taehyung is mischievous and flirty yes, but I don’t think he’d go so far.”
“Mother they say he’s…. people in the village say that Tae belongs to that man.”
“Jimin enough. I won’t hear any more of this. I refuse to believe Taehyung would lower himself so much.”
When their mother had confronted Taehyung, he had denied it all.
Taehyung had claimed Jimin was jealous of him and had made up the story. When Jimin had pulled up his sleeves and showed the bruises on his wrist and knees from the fight, Taehyung had claimed he had no idea what the man had wanted from him and demanded security be increased in the house. He had cried beautifully and said how he couldn’t believe that his own family didn’t trust him. “I know I am a free spirit mother. I know this,” Taehyung dropped to his knees in front of his mother. “I’ve done what I can do curb my actions and not give people the wrong impression. Perhaps I ran into this man in the market and smiled at him, and it was he who got the wrong impression. But mother I don’t know this man nor would I lose my honor. My honor and our name is all I have.”
Jimin’s mother had believed Taehyung, but Tae lied.
As the days went by the gossip in town only got worse, but Jimin did his best to carry himself with dignity. Jimin wanted to believe Taehyung, but in his heart he knew his brother lied. Tae might not have lost his honor yet, but he was on his way to committing an indiscretion. So Jimin became his brother’s keeper and followed Tae everywhere he went. Jimin wouldn’t let Taehyung and the family fall into complete disgrace. How would Minho marry him if his brother was the town harlot? But the Demon Pirate and his brother losing his honor was the least of Jimin’s problems.
Minho returned to town three months after Taehyung and Jimin had almost burst with happiness when he heard the news. He fully expected Minho to come see him and set a date for their wedding, but the days went by and Minho didn’t come. When his mother called him into her office, Jimin walked in shaking with excitement it was finally happening he was going to marry Minho and be happy.
“My love please come sit down.”
“What is it mother?” Jimin sat down alarmed. What had happened? His mother was pale and ashen. “Is my aunt not feeling well? Is Minho sick? Is that why he hasn’t come to see me? Oh mother please give me permission to go take care of him I am sure I can help-”
“Oh Jimin….,” his mother burst into tears, “what am I going to do?”
“Mother what is it,” Jimin held his mother’s hands in his and patted. “Whatever it is please tell me, it will all be alright we will figure something out.”
Whatever concern Jimin had felt disappeared as his mother told him what had happened and was replaced with rage.
“So he doesn’t want to marry me anymore?”
“It’s not that my dear,” Mina patted Jimin’s hand. “It’s just that he didn’t remember the engagement. Your aunt and I saw the engagement as a done deal. We never thought that he would forget about it.”
“And now he doesn’t want to honor it,” Jimin’s hands went numb. He couldn’t feel anything. “Maybe if he got to know me… maybe if we had some time together,” Jimin’s brain scrambled to rationalize what was happening even as his heart knew it was too late.
“It’s not that he doesn’t want to marry you, my love, but it’s complicated,” Jimin’s mom ran a hand through his hair as she stood up.
“There’s something else isn’t there mother?”
“Well,” his mother moved around the room. “He met someone at the capital. He’s asked your aunt to go ask for their hand in marriage.”
“But he needs to get rid of me first.”
“Oh Jimin, your aunt and I feel horrible about this. We had no idea.”
“You filled my mind with ideas about him mother. You made me care for him. You told me not to worry. What am I supposed to do now?”
“Oh Jimin, I am so sorry,” his mother walked towards him and sat next to him again. “There isn’t anything we can do. Your aunt already tried to speak with him and he has his mind set on this other marriage.”
“I’ll be the talk of the town. I guess you don’t have to worry about the rumors surrounding Taehyung anymore,” Jimin stood up and looked out the windows into the courtyard. “I am sure the rumors about me and the pitting looks people will give me will be better fodder for the villagers. I’ll never be able to leave the house again.”
“That won’t happen Jimin, everyone knows you’re a perfect gentleman. I am sure any unpleasantness will not linger around you.”
Jimin watched as Taehyung walked into the courtyard in rich blue ridding gear. He had a bouncy step that vibrated with excitement. He waved at the gardener Bo Gum and he bushed to the root of his hair. Taehyung had that effect on people. He could charm them on sight as easily as he could replace them. In Taehyung’s world, it was just him and his fun.
“Who is it mother?”
“Who is who dear?”
“Who is Minho marrying instead of me, mother?” Jimin watched as Bo Gum cut a rose and handed it to Taehyung.
Taehyung took the rose and brought it to his nose. He smiled and then turned to walk away. Taehyung was near the gate less than fifteen feet away when he threw the rose to the ground without looking back.
“It’s Taehyung isn’t it?” Jimin waited until his brother disappeared from view to turn and face his mother. Tears stung his eyes, but he’d die before he shed any in front of his mother. He could see the answer in her eyes even before she said anything.
“Yes, Minho met him in the Capital few months ago before Taehyung returned home.”
Jimin walked out of the office and for the first time in his life he ignored his mother as she called for him.
That night Jimin waited for his brother to come talk to him, because of course Taehyung would come to him. He was finally the main star of this drama and the single most important person in the family. Everything depended on him.
“Are you awake?”
“Yes,” Jimin said without turning to face Taehyung as he pulled the covers back from his bed and prepared for bed.
“Mother said she told you about the engagement…”
“Yes,” Jimin fluffed a pillow.
“I just wanted to say I didn’t know anything… I mean, I met Minho in the capital for coffee a time or two but it was never anything serious. He’s actually quite annoying I met with him for you since we were going to all be family soon. There was no indication that he was interested in me or I swear-“
“Please don’t lie,” Jimin turned to face his brother. He had changed out of the royal blue riding outfit and into a creamy silk blouse with pink trim. Taehyung looked beautiful as always.
“I am not…. How can you say that to me?” Jimin knew Taehyung’s shock was real. The sadness in his beautifully expressive eyes, the look of complete confusion and the slight color to his cheeks was all real. It was real because Taehyung never expected to get caught.
“That might work on mother Taehyung, but it will no work on me. You knew who he was. You knew Minho was my betrothed. I am not done,” Jimin raised his voice before Taehyung could say anything. “I can’t prove that you didn’t encourage Minho, but I don’t believe your lies Taehyung. You listen to me now and you listen well. I am still your older brother. If I find out that you’re still seeing that man, I will tell Minho about Jungkook myself. I wont care that we’ll be ruined. You will not destroy his honor with your selfishness.”
Taehyung’s eyes changed in a second from hurt and shook to defensive. “You’re just jealous that he picked me over you. It’s not Minho’s fault Jimin. You really should let it go and not be so bitter. He didn’t know-“
“Taehyung, I don’t care,” Jimin walked up to his brother until they were toe to toe. “If you are still seeing that good for nothing man, I will tell Minho. You want Minho you have him, but he’s a good man. I will not let you make a fool of him.” Jimin prayed to god that Taehyung wouldn’t do something stupid and ruin them all, but Tae did not have that kind of self-control and it was just a few weeks before something happened.
Jimin rushed home and ran into the house leaving the door swinging open. He ran past the main living room and into his mother’s office.
“Mother, Taehyung has promised to run away with that man. They say he returns tonight we have to stop him. The whole town is talking about it. What will we do?”
Jimin’s mother said nothing as she walked around the salon. Her lips were in a thin and firm line. “No Taehyung won’t do anything.”
“Mother, I don’t know why you believe a word that comes out of Taehyung’s mouth. He’s proven time and time that his word is false and worth nothing-“
“It’s not Taehyung I believe, but that man isn’t coming back.”
“What do you mean?”
“The man got arrested for smuggling contraband,” Jimin’s mother poured herself some water, “I hear he got 20 years in prison. The report is on my desk read it.”
Jimin walked over and picked up a sheet of paper. “Oh, well then that’s great. We don’t have to worry about Minho finding out.”
“We have to move up the wedding Jimin,” Mina’s voice was cold and hard. “You were right. Your brother lost his honor to this man. We have to make him marry Minho as soon as possible before any wind of this breaks out or we will all be ruined.”
“Mother we can’t do that. I won’t lie to Minho,” Jimin walked towards his mother,” He deserves-“
“I don’t care what Minho deserves,” Jimin’s mother threw the glass of water across the room. “You should be more concerned about this family than Minho. Don’t you realize what will happen if those rumors get to Minho? Don’t you know we’ll be ruined! You will never find a husband and marry. You’ll be alienated, ignored, and cast out from society. Everything will be lost. We don’t have money Jimin. All we have is our honor and name. I forbid you to intervene and tell Minho. You will do as you are told and help me protect this family and your brother!”
So Jimin had stood by as his brother Taehyung had married the man Jimin had been engaged to since infancy.
The wedding was beautiful and extravagant. Between Jimin’s mother and his aunt, they had managed the impossible in about a month and all because his beautiful, charming, and elegant brother, Taehyung, had been having an affair with Jungkook the Demon pirate and the whole town knew it.
Taehyung had given away his honor and virginity for nothing to a no one.
The only thing that had soothed Jimin’s broken heart was knowing Minho would never find out about the deception. Jimin prayed that everything would be alright, but the seeds of sin always give fruit.
Two days after the wedding, the Demon pirate returned.
Apparently news of his capture and arrest had been false, and it was Jimin who spotted him walking up the lawn of Minho’s family estate.
Jimin did the only thing he could think of and intercepted Jungkook by grabbing him by the arm and pulling him towards the side of the house.
“Please leave, you can’t be here,” Jimin grabbed the man by the sleeve of his coat. “Please for the love of God, you can’t be here.”
“Well I am get the hell away from me,” the man pulled away but Jimin pulled him back refusing to let the man go.
“Please think of the lives that you’ll be destroying if you go in there. If you ever cared about Taehyung you must leave.”
“You know he promised to wait for me right,” Jimin was pinned to the ground under those intense chocolate brown eyes. “I know you look all innocent but surely you knew what your sweet proper brother was up to?” Jimin said nothing and it seemed to enrage the man even more. “He gave himself to me. He promised he’d wait for me.”
Jimin didn’t flinch or turn away from the man despite the harsh words that dripped with hate. There was hurt in his eyes and betrayal. Taehyung had done that to him. Jimin knew that feeling well. His brother had stolen from Jimin as well. Jimin always assumed that Taehyung had just destroyed his life, but he had been wrong. Taehyung had destroyed this man’s life as well and it had been for his own enjoyment.
“Yes, yes I knew,” Jimin said softly and gentled his grip on the man’s arm. “I tried to warn my mother, but… look what is done is done. He’s married now it’s too late. Please don’t make a scene,” Jimin stood in front of the man blocking his path. The man was taller than him larger in every way. He could easily overpower him but didn’t. Jimin prayed and took this as a good sign. “He’s married it’s done. Besides exposing him what more could come from this?”
“I am going to take him. He’s going to fulfill the promise he made me.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“I would,” Jungkook smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. Jimin still saw hurt in them.
“Mr. Sejin says you’re a good man,” Jimin tried again to reason with the man even as panic filled his heart. He needed to prevent all hell from breaking lose. “I don’t believe you’ll do something like that. Please, please try to understand, there is nothing for you here. He’s married it’s over. What good will come of you exposing him? Will you genuinely be happy with someone who has lied to you?”
“He made a fool of me. I am going to destroy his life as well so we can be miserable together,” the man smiled and Jimin understood why he was called the Demon. He was incredibly handsome, but the smile he gave him chilled his blood. It was cold, cruel and calculating. This was not a men to mess with and Taehyung had less sense than Jimin had giving him credit for.
“Please,” Jimin pulled the man into a small alcove along the wall. “Minho doesn’t deserve this. You’ll be ruining innocent lives don’t you care? Don’t you have a heart? Minho will have to challenge you to a duel. His honor will demand it. Please, please don’t do this.”
“You think I care? Did anyone care about my heart when all of this unfolded?” Jimin could feel the warm breath of the man’s words fan his face. “If I kill him then there is no one to stop me from taking your brother. If he kills me then the problem is gone anyway right?”
“Please,” Jimin gripped the man’s forearms and switched their positions. “Please, I beg of you. Just leave and forget about my brother, Taehyung isn’t worth your life or Minho’s. Is your life worth so little you’ll give it up for him?”
“Jimin! Jimin where are you?”
Jimin pushed the man back into the wall and pressed his body with his to keep them out of the view of the main house.
“Where did this child go to? Ahyoung, have you seen Jimin? I am looking everywhere for him.”
Jimin put his hand over the man’s mouth, “it’s my mother,” he whispered. Jimin waited until he heard footsteps leave and pulled back just enough to look into the man’s eyes. “You seem like a good man Mr. Jungkook. I am sorry my brother did this to you, but please understand. No one should have to pay or be hurt because of what he did. It’s too late to do or change anything. Just leave, you still have a future ahead of you. Go and be happy because if you expose this, no one will get what they want.” Jimin turned to leave but a hand reached out and grabbed him pulling him back.
“What about you? What do you get? Because you don’t do this for your brother do you?” Jimin pulled at his hand but the grip was too strong. “You’re not trying to urge me to leave for his sake is it? You do this for Minho,” Jungkook hissed, “How can you defend a man who exchanged you for your brother? How can you defend someone who discarded you so easily?”
Jimin stiffened under the question and pulled free. He stood there and willed the tears that wanted to spill of shame and anger back. “I never had a future,” Jimin answered honestly. “My future was simply an arrangement no one bothered to remember but me.” Jimin squared his shoulders and looked back at the man. He might have nothing left but he still had a shred of dignity, “go Jungkook. Leave my brother behind and be happy.”
Jimin had walked away feeling more miserable than he had in the months that followed Taehyung’s return. Here he was discarded by everyone and two men were so in love with his brother they were willing to put their lives on the line. Jimin prayed that the man would come to his senses and leave. Taehyung shouldn’t get the satisfaction of witnessing the destruction he’d caused.
But the man hadn’t left and Jimin knew Taehyung didn’t have the sense to stay away from Jungkook. Jimin knew nothing had happened between them since Taehyung’s marriage, but he wouldn’t stand idly by as tragedy hit his family and ruined Minho’s life. Jimin would make it so the Demon pirate couldn’t meet with his brother anymore.
Jimin was going to marry Jungkook himself.