Notes: This is Chapter 2 of Common Sense, you can read the first chapter here, or on my AO3. Everything behind the cut for spoilers.
Retta blinked when she saw the code flickering on Rayâs screen.
âYouâŠâ. She shook her head. âRay, but if youâd just told me it was you, I would haveâŠâ  She clapped a hand over her mouth and shook her head.  While it might be true that she had a big enough crush on Ray that if he asked her to go into the mountains to test a game, she would have gone without question, he didnât need to know that she was that far gone for one of the coffee shop patrons.
âNo.â Â He shook his head. âI didnât want you to actually take me up on it. I wanted you to stay safe.â
âBut the things I said to you⊠Ray. I am so sorry. I do want to know you, to meet you, to see you.â
Ray reached his hand across the table, not touching her, but making his hand available if she were interested in taking it. Â Hesitantly, she set her hand next to his, bumping her pinky finger into his thumb.
âI was lying to you, princess. Thereâs no game. Thereâs an appâŠâ
Ray was interrupted by a loud gaggle of businesspeople entering the cafe, and Retta winced.
âI want to talk to you about this, Ray, but I have to get back to work. Can we meet up after I get off work?â
âIâll be here.â He said quietly with a nod.
When noon rolled around, Retta was exhausted. True to his word, Ray hadnât moved from his seat in the last six hours⊠except to order another drink or a pastry. When he saw her hang up her apron and gather his things, he packed up his laptop and met her at the door.
âI know a place we can talkâŠâ He said, and Retta shook her head.
âNo, letâs just go back to mine.â She said, and started walking. âI need out of my work clothes, and you need to prove I can trust you.â
She wasnât worried about whether or not she could take care of herself if Ray turned out to actually be a good actor with bad intentions, thatâs what all those years of Judo were for. Â That said, she wasnât about to let him take her to some secondary location without some rebuilt trust.
ââŠalright.â Ray said quietly, realizing she hadnât just forgiven him completely.
Once they got back to her house and she was changed into more comfortable day clothes, Retta set about making tea for herself and Ray.
âProbably ruins my whole mystique, seeing me outside of my work clothes, hm? Iâm not a 50s princess, Iâm just a normal girl who works in a fun coffeeshop.â
âIf anything,â Ray said quietly, âI think youâre even more radiant like this.â
âLazy?â
âComfortable.â
Retta couldnât help but blush, and set the tea down in front of her guest.
âAlright, Unknown. Â You said there was no game, just an app. Â What were you trying to tell me?â
Ray quietly but determinedly explained the plan to lure her into the mountains to âtest the gameâ being to actually interface with the real RFA and get them to hold a party. Â Then, he detailed the portion of the plan that involved indoctrinating her into the cult, and never allowing her to leave that place ever. Â He explained the details of the cult and just how bad it was.
When he stopped talking, Retta was floored. âThat⊠is a lot. Why me?â
Ray bit his lip and refused to meet her eye. âI researched you. Your only ties are at the coffee shop. Â No family whoâd report you missing.â
Retta sighed. Being a hermit really did make her a prime target for schemes like this, didnât it.
âBut you scared me away instead. Why? If I was so perfect for your plan? And why tell me about it?â
âBecause⊠all the time I spent in the coffee shop⊠I fell for you, Retta. Youâre so happy there⊠I canât take you away from that. From all this. Just to trap you in a room, make you part of the Mint EyeâŠâ
Retta was floored. âSo leave it behind, Ray.  Stop working for those people⊠for that cult.â
âI canât. Sheâll find me. Iâm already going to be cleansed for failing to bring you to the paradise, I canâtâŠâ
âWe can call the police, Ray.  If you tell them what you told meâŠ.â
Ray froze, barely breathing for a few minutes.
Retta gave him time while he was clearly agonizing over the concept, clearing away their empty tea mugs, and returning with glasses of water. Â Eventually, Ray managed to speak again.
âTurn my back on the Savior?â
âSheâs only hurting you, Ray. Â Why else would you want to keep me from going someplace you call paradise?â
âAdmittedly, Iâve been having my doubts these past few months.. since she faked her death and hurt the RFA she cared for so dearly⊠But where would I go?â
Retta had an easy answer for that. âStay with me. At least for now.â  She gestured to the house they were sitting in. âItâs way too much house for just me. Iâm sure we can find you some kind of programming job, youâre clearly smart enough, andâŠâ She blushed. âI like you too, you know?â  She hadnât missed that heâd said he fell for her.
Ray sat and sipped his water for a few agonizing minutes before reaching out his hand to her. This time, she set her hand on top of his without hesitation, and his cheeks flamed pink.
âI never considered that you might like me back, princess.â
Retta laughed softly. That tracked with his delicate personality.
âBut⊠you like Ray.â he said quietly. âI⊠am more than just Ray. The cleansings⊠the Elixir that the Savior uses.. it broke me.  Thereâs more than just Ray inside.â He tapped his head for emphasis.
Retta shrugged. âThen Iâll get to know thoseâŠothers.  I can be friends with them until I get to know them too. Iâm not afraid, Ray.â
âI am.â He admitted quietly. âHeâs⊠a lot.â
Retta squeezed his hand. âSo⊠about staying hereâŠâ
Ray squared his shoulders. âLetâs do it. Letâs tell the police.â
Retta blinked. She hadnât expected him to come to a decision that quickly.
âYouâre sure?â Â She reached for her phone.
âI donât want to be cleansed again.â He said quietly.
Retta didnât need to dial 911 to reach the police. Â She had the desk number of the detective whoâd been looking into her parentsâ crash - it had been a hit and run - and she knew heâd know who to talk to about a cult and the fallout from same.
In the end, they had gone down to the station and Ray had explained to the police everything that heâd explained to Retta, and given that she was unwilling to press charges for his attempted kidnapping of her, they were willing to overlook his actions within the cult as he was the whistleblower.
Retta was surprised when a woman came and brought a folio to the detectives in charge of the case - theyâd already been looking into the missing persons cases and the building up in the mountains, they simply didnât have the information they needed to tie them together. Ray provided all of that information.
Over the course of a week of meetings, Retta and Ray became very close.  Once the detectives were done with their questions, they assigned a security detail to them and went on with handling the cult in an official fashion.  Retta was surprised but not that surprised that the police would believe that Ray would need security, and since she was involved, her having a bodyguard as well seemed like⊠well, something out of a story.
Ray had been using his sudden free time to make an entirely new website for the cafe. Â The owner had been surprised by his offer, but theyâd been wanting to get the page updated to the current style, and were happy to allow him to do the work. Â They even insisted on paying him, which made Ray happy because it meant he could help pay the household bills rather than just living with Retta like a freeloader.
One night after work, Retta was sitting in the living room working on one of her college assignments while Ray was working on the website, the news chattering away in the background more as white noise than anything else. Â
Next news: A group involved in abductions, illegal drug abuses, and other illegal practices was caught red-handed by the police.
Currently, an arrest warrant for the leader of this religious cult has been issued, andâŠ
Retta and Ray shared a look, and he shivered. âThe Savior is definitely coming to find me.â He said quietly. âI⊠I should leave. So she doesnât find you, too.â
âThe only way she could find you is by looking where youâve been. Sheâll find me regardless.â
âThen we both need to run.â Ray said quietly.Â
Retta squared her shoulders. âI wonât run. Â The police are on the lookout for her, theyâve still got officers posted. Itâll be okay.â
âThen thereâs only one other thing we can do.â He sighed. âWe should call my brother.â
Retta reeled. âYou have a brother?!â They'd been talking so much the past few weeks, she thought she'd learned everything there was to know about Ray, but clearly she was mistaken.
Ray nodded. âWeâre twins. Heâs part of the RFA.  The red-haired one.â  He pointed to the roots that were starting to grow in on his hair.  âThe Savior told me that he betrayed me⊠I have hated him for⊠well, forever, basically. But even if he did betray me, heâs still smart enough and connected enough to figure out what we can do.â
Retta nodded. âOkay.â Â Given what sheâd learned about âThe Saviorâ, she doubted that the other twin had truly betrayed Ray.
Ray grabbed his phone and typed in a number. It rang, and rang, with no response. Then it went to voicemail. He tried again. This time, someone answered.
âZero Seven, who am I speaking to?â
âHello, Brother.â
âSaeran?!â
Retta blinked, and it seemed like she wasnât looking at her Ray anymore. Â All of his body language had shifted. He seemed.... angrier.
Notes: This is inspired by a VNM on day 9 of Yoosung's route.
Yoosung sat on the floor, pictures of Rika scattered around him where theyâd fallen.
âIâm sorry, RikaâŠâ Yoosung said quietly. âThat I couldnât protect you.  I didnât know you were sick. If i knew you were having such a hard time⊠I would have been by your side. But still⊠You could have left me a word. I still canât believe that youâre no longer hereâŠ! Youâre⊠really gone, right?â
Just then there was a knock at the door, and Yoosung sprang to his feet, startled. Â Who could be visiting him at this time of night? It was practically 2am! He quickly wiped off the tears from his cheeks and went to see who was there.
He opened the door to see a girl with long, dark hair, and a backpack over her shoulder. She was fidgeting nervously with the cuffs of her oversized cream sweater.
âUh. Hello?â
The girl winced behind her overlong bangs. âHi, Yoosung. It.. itâs me. MC.â
Yoosung would recognize that voice anywhere. âMC?! Â Come inside!!â He threw caution to the wind.
MC stepped inside, looking around before stopping just inside the door. There were pictures scattered all over the floor, as though a photo album had fallen open and scattered.
âI⊠didnât want to be with a bomb anymore⊠can I⊠can I stay with you?â  She was shy. More shy even than sheâd been on the phone or in the messenger.
Yoosung immediately nodded. âI canât believe V, just making that decision without asking anyone what they thought!! You especially!!!â Â He sighed, and looked at MC. âHere, come put your things in my room.â
He led her over to his bedroom, and after sheâd set down her bag, he fidgeted nervously.
âDo you want some tea, or just to go to sleep? I know itâs super late and Iâm used to staying awake for a long time because gaming, butâŠâ
MC laughed softly. âTea would be nice. Iâm tired, but also still⊠scared.â
âThereâs nothing to be scared of now, MC. Youâre with me, and Iâll protect you.â
Yoosung got tea made, and settled down on his couch with MC, blowing on his tea before something occurred to him.
âMC, how did you find me? Â Was my address in Rikaâs apartment somewhere?â
MC shook her head. âNo. I⊠bulled Seven into giving it to me. I wanted to ask you directly, but⊠I was afraid you would say no unless I just appearedâŠâ
âWhy would I say no?! You were stuck staying on top of a bomb!â
âBut you were clearly in the middle of something with all the photos, and itâs after two in the morning, andâŠâ
âOh, that. I was just drowning in my feelings about Rika again.â Yoosung waved it off. âI get like that sometimes, and then I play LOLOL and I feel better. Â But I donât need to play LOLOL now, because youâre here.â
They sat in companionable silence until MC finished her tea, and then leaned her head on his shoulder. âI should sleep. Â Can I use your couch?â
Yoosung scoffed. âNo way, MC. You get the bed. Youâve been through some crazy stuff, you deserve the comfort of a normal bed. I can sleep on the couch no problem.â
MC wanted to argue, but she was simply too tired to fight Yoosung on something he had his mind set on. Â She changed into her pajamas, and then snuggled into his bed, and was asleep in moments.
MC woke to the smell of rice cooking and.. something else⊠eggs, maybe? There was the sound of talking⊠Yoosung must have the TV on or something. She got out of bed and went looking for Yoosung - he was of course in the kitchen, making breakfast for both of them.
âMorning, MC!â Yoosung chirped happily. âTwo days to the party!â
That was when she noticed the third plate⊠and the other person in the room.
âUm.â She looked at the ginger and laughed softly. âMorning Seven.â
âI am Morning Seven! Here with caffeine and to make sure Yoosung was behaving appropriately with such a cute girl in his apartment!â Seven offered her a bottle of PhD Pepper, which MC took happily, and settled in at the table next to him, heedless of the fact that she was still in her pajamas.
âYoosung was a perfect gentleman. He made me tea and let me sleep in his bed.â
âI slept on the couch!â Yoosung said, sliding the first omelette onto the plate.
âAnd he didnât even tease you about your cute pajamas?â Seven said, reaching out and poking the cats on MCâs pajamas.
âI did not!â Yoosung said defensively. âThey are cute, though.â
MC pulled her feet up into the chair and wrapped her arms around them. This was a little much focus on her for the morning, thank you very much.
âSo⊠SevenâŠâ Yoosung said, as he slid the second omelette onto its plate and started the third. âYou told me youâd tell me why you were here when MC woke up. Sheâs awake. Spill.â
MC was glad to have the focus off her, and flashed Yoosung a smile that made him blush.
Seven, seeing the dynamic between the two, just shrugged. âI wanted to make sure MC got here okay.  And to make sure you were being respectful. AaaaandâŠâ
âAnd?â Yoosung prompted, flipping the omelette.
âAnd I wanted to tell you,â He turned to address MC, âThat I agree with your decision to leave the apartment. Â I made it so you and you alone can access the emails from outside the apartment, so you donât need to go back there.â
MC blinked. âYou could have done that at any time?â She didnât have to be living on top of the bomb that entire time?!
Seven sighed. âYes, but V told me not to.  It wasnât until, well, all this, that I realized he was being a problem and stopped listening. Iâll get in trouble. But⊠I think itâs worth it.â
Yoosung nodded. âI think itâs a good choice. MC can work from here and keep me company!â Â He set plates of omurice in front of Seven and MC, before sitting down with his own.
MC thanked Yoosung for the food, and tried not to think about the bomb anymore as she focused on eating.
Seven and Yoosung seemed to have the same idea.
MC sat in the quiet of Yoosungâs apartment, staring at her email inbox waiting for something, anything, to come in.
Sheâd managed to reply to all of the waiting emails, which she considered a success. Â She already had more than 25 people confirmed coming (without counting their plus-ones) and she thought that was pretty good for having a week to manage it, but sheâd really like to get these last few locked in before tomorrow, let alone before the day of the party.
Alas, no new emails. Yet.
Seven had gone back to work, something about âThe life of an agent is never boringâ, but she was sure he was just going back to sit on his computer.
Yoosung had gone to class, promising her he would come straight home. Â That left her with nothing to do, she hadnât gotten her laptop set up with his wifi before he left, and she was too afraid to mess anything up to touch anything here in Yoosungâs apartment. Â
Finally giving in to her boredom, MC found the TV remote and switched it on. That, at least, shouldnât break anythingâŠ
The TV was on local news, howeverâŠ
Eighteen people were injured in Seoul on Monday after a residential explosion caused at least a partial building collapse, rendered three nearby buildings uninhabitable, and sparked a day-long fire, officials said.Â
Two people are in serious condition. Five Seoul City Police were among those taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.Â
Video from the scene showed debris strewn across the sidewalk, streets, and several cars. Windows were blown out of the building, which had extensive damage to the fourteenth floor.Â
âThe cause of the incident is unknown, but there is no reason at this point to believe the cause is related to gas or any of our equipment.â A spokesperson from the gas company said.
MC was reeling.  That wasâŠ. the apartment.  What would have happened if sheâd stayed put like V told her to?Â
She had to get in the chatroom and tell them she was okay.
â Chatroom opened: Jumin Han, Jaehee Kang, ZEN, 707, MC â
ZEN: MC!!!
Jaehee Kang: Oh thank god.
Jumin Han: MC. Youâre.. okay?
MC: I just saw the news and came straightaway.
MC: Iâm fine.Â
Jaehee Kang: So it truly was Rikaâs apartment.
Jumin Han: It had to be a bomb, to explode like that.
707: I told you MC was fine. Sheâs at Yoosungâs.
ZEN: Whereâs Yoosung to tell us this?
MC: Heâs in class.
Jaehee Kang: Youâre sure youâre alright?
MC: Iâm fine. Bored, but fine.
ZEN: You swear? Yoosung hasnât been a beast, has he?
MC: Of course I swear, lol.Â
MC: Yoosung is a proper gentleman, thank you very much.
Jumin Han: I know it will be a surprise to hear this from me
Jumin Han: But we should not trust Vâs word anymore.
Jumin Han: Not unless we talk to him face-to-face.
707: Agreed. Somethingâs off.
Jaehee Kang: Heâd usually be the first to protect someone rather than risk lives.
ZEN: I hate it, but youâre all right.
MC: Iâm just glad I didnât listen to him, and left that place.
Jaehee Kang: Mr. Han⊠should we be going?
Jumin Han: I must return to work.
   â Jumin Han has left the chatroom â
Jaehee Kang: Stay safe, MC.
   â Jaehee Kang has left the chatroom âÂ
ZEN: Yeah, Iâve got rehearsal in a couple minutes, too.
ZEN: Tell Yoosung to restrain himself.
   â ZEN has left the chatroom â
707: Call me if you need anything, MC. I need to do⊠damage control.
MC: Damage control?
707: Theyâll find out the bomb was in Rikaâs apartment soon.
MC: Oh.
707: Yeah.
707: Iâm on it though, so donât worry!
707: Say hi to Yoosung for me!
   â 707 has left the chatroom â
   â Chatroom Closed â
MC looked at the empty chatroom, then at the TV coverage of a bomb that would have killed her if only she werenât such a scaredy cat, and cried.
Summary: MC and Seven settle into an uneasy rhythm.
Notes: Everything's under the cut, to avoid spoilers. If you haven't read Chapter 1 yet, check it out on my AO3, or here: Glitch, Ch. 1
âIâm sorry for barging in on your space.â Seven said into the quiet. âIâll just stay in the corner, so donât mind me.â
âSeven⊠you know itâs not really my space. You know Iâm not⊠I havenât been⊠This isnâtâŠâ MC didnât know how to put words on the fact that she was inside of a video game right now.
âI know.â Seven said tersely. âI feel better this way. Iâll just work here.â
MC sighed. This Seven⊠was different from the game Seven. He was a real person. This wasnât some wicked VR. She was⊠here. For real, whatever that meant. Probably.
Seven settled into the corner of the room with his tech, not even pulling over a chair, just settling on the floor like a gremlin.
âIâll stabilize the security system⊠and figure out how to reverse things and send you home. Once I finish researching about that Magenta that Saeran is at, Iâll head thereâŠâ The last bit was quieter, and MC wasnât sure it was even for her. Which made sense, if she had a twin sheâd probably be worried about them, too.
âI didnât want to be alone with you like this⊠but I guess the intruder left us no choice. I donât dare leave you right now.â
MC sighed. âI think Iâm more comfortable with you here. I know you have cameras, butâŠâ This whole situation was terrifying. But he was going to send her home, so she was going to take the time to get to know the real Seven-Zero-Seven.
âItâs true, but donât feel too safe about me. I donât have a good reputation. It might be more dangerous that Iâm here.â
MC snorted. âI just showed up from another universe, what do you think about my reputation? What if Iâm like⊠Venom or something?â
Seven looked up at her with a feral light in his eye. âAre you a symbiote then? An alien from space that wants to eat humans?â
âYes.â MC said, and then broke down into the giggles. âNo. Iâm just a waitress from some other dimension. I got nothinâ. Youâre scary, I get it, but youâre still⊠my Seven.â
âDonât say that.â Seven said, he looked awkward. âMy agency will track down this place⊠and take me away.â
âVanderwoodâs looking for you, huh?â MC asked quietly. She knew she wasnât supposed to know that Vanderwood was their handler and not their maid, butâŠ
Seven practically growled. âHow do you knowââÂ
âThe game. The.. the app.â MC cut him off before he got scary. âIt showed me little stories⊠little visual novel moments with you and Vanderwood. Well, with everyone⊠I knew the hacker was probably coming before he got here⊠but I didnât believe this was real yetâŠâ
âYou have to take care of yourself first.â Seven said suddenly, playing with his headphone cable. âIâm the only one who knows the address to this place, so itâll take Madam Vanderwood a long time to find me here. My carâs not even here.â
âI canât really do⊠anything.â MC said, laughing for the lack of ability to cry on command. âIâm just kindof here.â
âIf I manage to get you sent back home before I get tracked, I plan to disappear from the face of this earth⊠Unless something happens, youâll be safe.â
âYou could come with me.â MC said quietly. Sheâd known Seven all of a few minutes and already she didnât particularly want to be without him. âIf youâre going to disappear from the face of the earth⊠come somewhere no one can chase you.â
âI canât. Not with Saeran out there⊠like that.â
âTell me about him.â
âIt was a mistake even mentioning him⊠just forget it. Iâm sure you have a lot of questions, but thereâs nothing I can tell you right now. Maybe you should just pretend Iâm not here.â
MC snorted. âFat chance. My bias is in the room with me for real and not just in a game? No way I can just pretend youâre not here.â
Sevenâs keystrokes faltered.
âBias?â
âObviously, Iââ
There was a knock at the door, and before MC could blink Seven was there, inviting a handyman and his assistant in, carrying the largest piece of glass sheâd ever seen⊠oh, of course, the window.
They lapsed into a tense silence as the men cleaned out the old broken shards of glass, MC playing around on her phone - none of her online games worked, but thankfully she had an offline Sudoku that worked fine. Alas, no one was in the RFA chat currentlyâŠ
âI donât know what you threw to break this glass⊠but be careful from now on. Iâve never seen anything like this before. Itâs almost like it was broken from the outside inâŠâ
âOf course.â Seven said, handing the man a stack of bills. âHereâs cash.â
âDo you want a receipt?â
âI donât need it. Take care.â
âThank you. Donât throw things even when you get angry from now on.â
âWe wonât.â MC said, quietly.
âYoung people these daysâŠâ the man was muttering to himself as the door closed behind him.
MC looked over at Seven, but he was engrossed in his computer. âSeven, Iââ
âPlease donât.â
âSevenâŠâ She started, and when he didnât even look up, she tried a different tactic. âHow do you think your brother broke through the glass?â
âI donât know.â Seven said with a sigh. âWouldnât you know better, since you were here?â
âI was asleep on the couch at the timeâŠâ
âI donât want to think about it.â Seven said quietly. âIâm sorry, but please donât mention my brother right now. My brain will explode if I think about that too.â
MC sighed, and kicked her feet. Still no one in the RFA chat.
âAnd one more thing.â Seven said, looking up and spearing MC with his eyes. âCan you really stay that calm? Youâre in an entirely new dimension in a room with someone youâve never met who as far as you were concerned didnât even exist 6 hours ago. Youâre really strange. Arenât you scared you might never go home?â
âIâm not scared at all with you here, Seven.â MC said sincerely. âYeah, the situation is strange, but if there was anyone I could trust to handle it in your world or mine, itâd be you, Seven.â
âItâs nice⊠to see you be positive. But you should always be careful. I didnât come here to see you. I came because you are in serious danger. Itâs good that youâre not anxious, but please be more aware of the situation.â
âDonât get me wrong, Seven. Iâm terrified right now. Anxious is the least of what Iâm feeling right now, but itâs definitely part of it. I just donât see the point of curling up into a little ball about it. Itâs not like itâd help the situation, and itâd probably make your job harder, so here I sit.â
âArenât you supposed to get angry at me? Iâm the one who put you in danger⊠Iâm so angry at myself⊠why arenât you mad at me.â
âArguably, that was your brother.â MC replied, sticking her tongue out at him. âAnd if it werenât for you, I would have been kidnapped just then. Instead, Iâm here with you, and youâre working to fix it.â
âThatâs not important. Your life was at risk as a result. I wish none of this ever happened. The special security system bringing you here, Ugh, I should have just told you to run right away, butâŠâ He sighed.Â
âI wouldnât have listened, Seven. You were a game to me until just a little bit ago."
âDonât ever download weird apps on your phone. Oh⊠Well. Thatâs none of my business⊠Iâm going to do what I can now. So you do what you can too. Just stay still and safe.â
MC just nodded, trying not to pout that he was basically rebuffing her at every turn.
âIâm going to put on my headphones and work now, so donât bother me.â
MC sighed and flopped over on the couch. Great, now heâs ignoring me. I never should have admitted he was my bias.
MC looked down at her phone when it chimed. Oh, a new chatroom. âThe Truth of the Special Security System.â
âŠWait, was Seven going to tell them she was from a different world? Would they believe him?? Would she get to say things that were more than just preprogrammed responses???
     âChatroom Opened: Jumin Han, 707, MCâ
707: JuminâŠ
707: Oh,
707: hello MCâŠ
MC: Seven, how is work going?
MC snarled. She wanted to throw her phone across the room. Seriously, even now she was limited to auto-generated commentary?Â
Seven gave her a look, and she shrugged in a way that she hoped meant âtell you later.â
707: Fine.
Jumin Han: You both are here when you are in the same house?
707: Yes.
707: I came here because I have something to tell you Jumin.
Jumin Han: I hope everythingâs fine at the apartment.
707: For now.
Jumin Han: Then Iâm glad.
707: I read what you said,
707: As much as the hacker is dangerous, itâs too early to involve everyone.
Jumin Han: WellâŠ
Jumin Han: I think we should be involved all the more if heâs dangerous.
707: Please just trust meâŠ
MC: I believe in you, Seven.
707: Iâm not saying that everyone should trust me with everything.
707: But I know best when it comes to whatâs going on with MC.
Jumin Han: If thatâs what you think when youâre there, I wonât say anything.
Jumin Han: Just donât forget that Iâm always ready to help out.
707: Okay
707: Thanks Jumin. That makes me feel safe.
Jumin Han: So, we donât have to worry about the security system?
707: Iâve been working on it⊠Iâll get it back to normal soon, Iâm sure.
Jumin Han: Let me ask you this one thing.
Jumin Han: How does the security system work?
Jumin Han: I have to know how it works to prepare a security team just in case.
707: Oh.
707: Well⊠it contains the intruder.
Jumin Han: Interesting.
Jumin Han: Contains the intruder how?
Jumin Han: Is there a metal cage implanted?
MC: I donât know⊠Can you reveal the secret?
707: It is secretâŠ
707: but since it concerns your safety, I think itâs time for me to talk about it.
Jumin Han: Let me hear it then.
707: The special security system....
707: Is something that takes the user from their home and keeps them contained in the apartment.
707: Itâs a dimension door.
Jumin Han: Youâre joking. Thatâs not a real thing, Luciel.
MC: . . .
707: Rika designed this herself to⊠well⊠protect the information. And V agreed.
Jumin Han: I canât believe you.
707: Thatâs how important our previous guest information was⊠so much so that even we couldnât handle it.
Jumin Han: So instead of just protecting the information, or even getting rid of itâŠ
Jumin Han: We decided to protect it by putting an innocent person in there.
707: Youâre rightâŠ
Jumin Han: Rika made the decision to implant a device that could bring a monster over, or ruin some innocent personâs life? What about MC - was she trapped there with a monster? All this just to protect information?
707: Rika⊠Rika just wanted to use it as a threat. There was a secondary protocol. A bomb, in caseâŠ
Jumin Han: Thatâs not something the Rika I knew would do. Could do.
Jumin Han: I canât believe I didnât hear about this.
707: JuminâŠ
Jumin Han: You know that you and MC are at risk right now.
707: MC⊠came through the door.
Jumin Han: No, MC was there the whole time. You said as much.
707: . . . .Â
MC: âŠI trust Seven will find a way to solve all this.
Jumin Han: Everything is over once the bomb goes off.
Jumin Han: What does trust have anything to do with this?
707: I will never let that bomb go off.
Jumin Han: How can you be so sure?
Jumin Han: My bodyguards will be useless then.
Jumin Han: I canât believe Rika chose to be such an idiot⊠joking about some dimension door aside, a bomb???
707: . . .
707: I understand how shocked you are.
707: But the dimension door is real, and MC is here now.
707: Whatâs important is that everyone knows this now.
707: And that MC will have people to take care of her even if something happens to me later onâŠ
707: I have to go.
     â 707 has left the chatroom â
Jumin Han: I canât believe this.
Jumin Han: A bomb for a security system�
MC: And a dimensional door.
Jumin Han: Besides that joke.
MC: . . .Â
MC wanted to scream at Jumin that it wasnât a joke. That she was here now. But heâd never believe it.
Jumin Han: What the hell was Rika thinking?
   â Chatroom Closed âÂ
Summary: Jumin's having a rough day, and MC helps him out.
Notes: This is based on a call in Day 5 of Deep Story - Jumin's Route.
MC stepped off the train, heading for her favorite tea shop.  She was planning on doing a little bit of shopping and then getting a nice hot tea to go.  Sheâd considered visiting Jaehee and Jumin at work, but⊠Jumin had been having quite a day with that strange woman showing up to his home this morning. Maybe sheâd save that surprise for a better day.
Just before she arrived at the tea shop, her phone rang.
Oh, Jumin! What a surprise. Sheâd just been thinking of him.
âHello, this is MC!â She answered jovially.
âItâs me. Are you busy right now?â Juminâs voice came through the speaker like a warm hug, and MC settled herself on the bench outside of the shop.
âNo, just about to do some shopping, but I have time.â
âI was looking at some of the documents I have to sign, and I just called to take a short break. The coffee doesnât taste good today, and my headache isnât going away.â
MC made a soft sound in commiseration, and started to reconsider surprising the man with a cup of tea.
âSo I came to the logical conclusion that hearing your voice will make me feel better. âŠIs this how you say that I wanted to hear your voice?â
MC chuckled as Jumin talked about finding typos in the reports in front of him.
âUhm⊠Do you think my voice will make you feel better?â MC said, afraid of interrupting, but wanting to see if that was what he meant.
âYes, itâs working now. So please speak in that usual quiet voice. I hope Iâm not bothering you by calling.â
âNo, not at all Jumin. Your calls are always a pleasure.â
âI usually drink a glass of wine when the coffeeâs bad to change up the atmosphere⊠but i think Iâve found a new method.â
MC was sure of it. She was bringing him a cup of tea, to hell with anything else going on. Â If nothing else, she could leave it with Jaehee if he was too busy to meet her.
âThis document concerns a project with my fatherâs name on it⊠Once in a while my  father would suddenly begin a new business.  While most of these projects help in the long run, I wish heâd care more about the company⊠and quit interfering in my personal life.â
MC started to say something to calm him down when a flurry of noise could be heard over the phone.
ââŠ20 minutes early?â She heard Jumin say quietly. âUnfortunately, I have to get back to work. Have a good day, MC.â
MC left the tea shop with her bag of purchases and a carrier with three cups of tea, walking the short distance down the street to the C&R Building.
She asked the woman at the desk for directions to Jumin Hanâs office, but was rebuffed.
With a sigh, MC settled in the lobby, and pulled up her phone. Â She shot a quick message to Jaehee, and it wasnât long before the assistant practically burst into the lobby.
âMC??â Â She called quietly, and MC stood up, and turned to face the woman calling for her.
âHello, Jaehee.â Â She smiled. âI brought tea, is Jumin available?â
âHe will be in about five minutes. Â Come with me.â Â Jaehee grabbed a visitorâs badge and slipped it over MCâs head.
Once they reached Juminâs office, people were filing out of the boardroom next to it. Perfect timing.
MC walked carefully up to Jumin and waited for him to be done speaking with the man next to him before clearing her throat.
âI brought you tea.â She said, in her usual quiet voice.
Juminâs eyes went from her own to the tea and then back to hers. âMC? I thought you were shopping.â
She chuckled softly. âI was. Nearby. For tea. Â I thought you could use something refreshing since the coffee wasnât helping.â
Jumin nodded before taking a sip of the tea and sighing, looking for all the world like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. âThank you, MC. This was exactly what I needed.â
âThe tea?â MC chuckled. âYouâre welcome.â
âI dare say your presence brightened my day more than the tea, but, well.â He smiled softly at her, while behind them Jaehee cleared her throat.
âIâm sorry to interrupt, Mr. Han, but you need to get going if youâre going to be on time for your next meeting.â
MC flinched. âOh dear, I didnât mean to interrupt your busy day. Â Enjoy your tea, Jumin. Call me later and tell me what you thought about it, alright?â Sheâd chosen the blend herself, after all.
âThat, I will do.â Jumin said with a smile, and went off to his next meeting, where the serene look on his face practically terrified the other directors.
Summary: Vampire AU. Seven and his handlers have a mission. Guess who gets stuck in a boiler room for a few days?
Notes: This story precedes an entire Vampire AU that @rogue-knifehead and I have been working on behind the scenes, so if you want to read more of Seven & Mirren's shenanigans... speak up :3
Tumblr hates this fic. Not sure why, but it keeps eating my post. If you'd like to read it, check it out on AO3: Hot Blooded
Summary: Jaehee gets anew job at a coffee shop, calls in MC for wardrobe advice.
âJaehee!â MC held her arms out for her friend that she wished was more, pulling her into a hug. âWhat did you need me for?â
âWell, I got this jobâŠ.â
âThat corporate one you were going for?â
âNo, no. They wanted me to cut my hair and wear fake glasses, I decided to go for the one that sounded more fun -
manager at the local coffee shop⊠but⊠I have no idea what to wear.â
âWell, you wore your suit to the interview, and itâs managerial⊠soâŠâ
âThey told me no need to wear my suit. To just âbe comfortableâ.â
âBut you are comfortable in your suit.â
âRight? I have no idea what to wear.â
âWell, tell me about the place.â
A few minutes of conversation later and MC realized the problem, Jaehee had gotten hired to manage the local Goth coffee shop. After a few minutes laughing together about how her typical black suit and long dark hair fit right into their aesthetic, MC took Jaehee out on a whirlwind shopping trip to find some goth-appropriate clothes that still made Jaehee feel like herself. And a new black eyeliner, of course.
Three weeks later, and thanks to a surprise power outage at work, MC was free during the day to go check out Jaeheeâs new place of employment. Deciding to be a little bit mischievous, she didnât even warn her friend that she was coming in, simply arriving and ordering her usual iced chai despite the otherwise frigid temperatures outdoors.
She chuckled as the barista kvetched quietly about someone ordering an iced chai in this weather, either thinking she couldnât hear them or not caring if she did. Given the coffee shop, it could really be either. She heard Jaeheeâs dulcet laughter from in the small kitchen, before it broke off and she suddenly stepped out.
âMC! You didnât tell me you were coming by!â Jaehee lit up when she saw you.
The barista stopped and gave her a critical once-over. âWait. This is your MC?!â
MC wasnât sure how to take being claimed in such a way â oh, who was she kidding, she loved it.
âOf course Iâm her MC? Who elseâs would I be?â
Jaeheeâs cheeks lit pink, and MC couldnât help but smile. She loved to see Jaehee flustered. It was too bad she was only interested in her actor crush.
âShouldnât you be at work, MC?â Jaehee asked, trying to deflect the attention anywhere but at herself.
âOh, powerâs out in our building so they gave us the rest of the day off.â
âI wish I could get the rest of the day off.â The barista muttered, and handed MC her drink.
Jaehee led MC over to one of the nooks with a few chairs in it, both of them settling with the ease of years of friendship.
âSo, the whole day off, hm?â Jaehee said with a smile.
âYeah, no working until 10 for me tonight.â MC said, glad her perpetual practically-required overtime was off the table for at least one day.
âHow about we get together for dinner? I have the new Zen DVDâŠ..â Jaehee said, excited to watch the new Zen piece but knowing MC wasnât as into it as she was.
MC grinned. She may not be as into Zen as Jaehee was, but dinner and a movie with the woman of her dreams was always on the table⊠even if it wasnât in the way she wished it was.
âName a time, Iâll be there with takeout.â
â6:30.â Jaehee said, and they laughed.
Zenâs newest film was everything Jaehee could have hoped. It showed off not only his peerless acting skills but also his amazing physique, and was interesting enough that MC was actually enjoying herself. MC could really get used to spending more time with Jaehee. Maybe she should consider a job change⊠or at least putting her foot down about her hours.
It wasnât enough, just sitting and watching anything and everything with Jaehee. Being best friends was good, but she wanted more. She wanted to tell Jaehee that she was in love with her⊠but it could never be. MC watched her friendâs overwhelming joy, and shoved her feelings down. Jaehee was interested in Zen and Zen alone. Sheâd never had eyes for anyone else, man or woman.
âYou know, we should go to his next live show.â MC said quietly. Even if Jaehee could only ever be her friend, she was going to be the best possible friend. âMaybe you can see him after the show and tell him how you feel.â
Jaehee blinked at her like an owl suddenly exposed to light. âHow I feel?â
âOf course, youâve got feelings for him, right?â
Jaehee shook her head vehemently. âHeâs just an actor. The one I have feelings for is you!â Then she went bright red, not having intended to blurt that out.
MC froze. she what?!
Jaehee started to shrink back into herself, and MC reached out and grabbed both of her hands. âI like you too, Jaehee.â
Jaehee shook her head. âNo, what?â
MC sighed. âI have for⊠well, since college at least.â
Jaehee just blinked. âWhy didnât you say anything?â
MC looked away awkwardly. âI didnât think youâd be interested, youâre always so into Zen I just figured.. you were probably at least Straight, if not just like, Zen-sexual or something.â
They shared an awkward laugh, and Jaehee reached out for MCâs hand. âSo⊠will you go out with me, MC?â
MC nodded, and pulled Jaehee into a hug, planting a soft kiss on her cheek as they got close enough. âYeah, Jaehee. I think I will.â
Jaehee chuckled, and then said âThe kids at work are going to be so proud of me.â
Summary: Zen's dream about everyone being robots takes an unexpected turn.
â ZEN has entered the chatroom âÂ
MC: Hello~
ZEN: I⊠had a strange dreamâŠ
ZEN: Can I ask you a question?
ZEN: Do you have fun reading our conversations?
MC debated the options before her, before eventually choosing the one that felt right.
MC: I have fun.
ZEN: Okay then, Iâm glad.
ZEN: In the dream I just hadâŠ
ZEN: you were an imaginary person.
ZEN: It was convincing becauseâŠ
ZEN: weâve never seen your face or heard your voice.
ZEN: The thought that you might just be a robot saying programmed things crossed my mind.
ZEN: Maybe Sevenâs just tricking all of us?
ZEN: Maybe heâs trying to confuse us by creating an imaginary person called MCâŠ?
MC paused to consider, uncertain what there was to gain by being completely honest in this situation, and then chose the option that seemed best.
MC: To be honest, Iâm using an app that only lets me say programmed things.
ZEN: What, what do you mean⊠Youâre scaring me lol
ZEN: But what was more flustering was
ZEN: at the end of my dreamâŠ
ZEN: It turned out that except you,
ZEN: all of us were robots saying programmed things.
ZEN: lolololol
MC didnât want all of her new friends to be robots! Sheâd just finally made friends.
MC: Youâre scaring me T_T
ZEN: Sorry for saying weird things.
ZEN: I think Iâm just overreacting
ZEN: I should just shake it off and go to bed.
MC liked that idea about as much as anything. Getting ZEN back to himself would mean more interesting conversations in the future. Sleep often made her new friends behave better, and she liked when they got along and had fun conversations about their daily life.
MC: Talk to you tomorrow ^^
ZEN: Yup. ^^
MC settled back, sighing. Now sheâd have to wait for a new chatroom to open before sheâd be able to talk to her new friends more. Maybe she could get some sleep in the meantime.
In the depths of Magenta, in a room filled with flowers sat a large tank. Â Inside that tank floated an octopus, dozing in front of three buttons, her tank facing a screen with large text on it.
Summary: A short little vignette of Yoosung and Seven watching a scary movie together.
Yoosung took a handful of popcorn, anxious even before the movie started.
âI donât know, Seven. Thatâs a lot of scary for one little me. Are you sure you want to watch this?â
Seven chuckled, and plopped down on the couch next to Yoosung.
âOf course I do. Itâs supposed to be a really good subversion of the genre!â
Yoosung pretended he understood any of that, and took another handful of popcorn.
âEep!â Yoosung squeaked, almost sending the popcorn bowl to the floor.
âYoosung, it was just a bird.â
âJust a bird running into an invisible wall and dying! What could possibly have been there?!â
âThe scary part hasnât even started yet.â Seven said with a chuckle, and Yoosung glared at him.
âI donât like them going off into the woods alone.â Yoosung said, popcorn bowl abandoned on the coffee table. âSomething bad is going to happen.â
Something bad did happen, and Yoosung half-squeaked in terror / half-crowed in pride at his prediction being true. âI told you!â
Seven chuckled, and quietly pulled Yoosung into his side. It was only going to get more dramatic from here.
âNo, no no no! How could that happen! He was the smart one!â
âYou heard them talking - only one gets to survive.â
âButâŠâÂ
Yoosung was shaking, and Seven opened his arms, the blonde practically crawling into his lap for a hug.
The ending of the movie came, and Yoosung laughed softly. âOkay, I see why that was different than the other horror movies weâve watched.âÂ
He realized awkwardly that he was snuggled into Sevenâs lap, and tried to move, only for Seven to hold him tighter.
âDonât go.â
âBut⊠the movieâs overâŠâ
âThe scariest part of a horror movie is being alone when itâs over.â
âIf I promise not to leave, can I sit on the couch like a normal boy who wasnât terrified of a movie seconds ago?â
Seven sighed, but relented, letting Yoosung go, and the blonde settled himself on the couch just as heâd promised.
âYouâre too good to me.â Yoosung said, grabbing the half-empty popcorn bowl now that he wasnât liable to spill it everywhere.
âNo, why am I too good to you?â Seven asked, his voice somewhat strained.
Yoosung looked at him in concern and Seven waved him off.
âWell, you take care of me during horror movies, and well, during any movies⊠almost like⊠weâre dating.â Seven blinked, and Yoosung immediately started to backpedal. âNot that I thinkââ
Seven immediately interrupted him.
âYoosung â I like you.â
Yoosung blinked. âLike a friend, or likeâŠâ
Seven had to will himself not to facepalm at the adorable idiot he was in love with.
âLike a boyfriend.â He clarified. âIâm sweet to you because Iâm sweet on you.â
Seven was vibrating out of his skin while he waited for the rejection he knew was coming from the boy across the couch. Â Why had he said that? He knew better than toâ
âI like you too!â Yoosung said, blushing. âI didnât know I was into boys but.. Iâm⊠into you.â
Seven couldnât believe his ears but he wasnât about to waste this opportunity. Â He practically pounced on top of Yoosung, planting a kiss on his lips and sending the popcorn bowl crashing to the floor.
Summary: Annabelle does not want to go on blind dates with old men... so she finds herself someone to pretend to date, instead.
Annabelle did not want to go to this masquerade ball. Â Her father had heard that there would be a lot of perfect candidates for her there. Chaebol heirs and the like. Â Exactly the kind of life she didnât want but that her father wanted for her. Â Her english name and half-korean looks made her stand out wherever she went, she didnât need the media speculating about her heritage on the regular as well.
But. B-U-T. Â Her father had threatened to start sending her on blind dates with older businessmen if she didnât start settling down and actually looking for a partner. Â She wasnât interested in being pawed at, either. And so, she was going to this Masquerade Ball, but she wasnât going to have fun or anything.
As she spun around the dance floor in yet another set of arms, Annabelle made sure her smile was still in place. Â So far this ball had been one turn around the floor with each man who seemed interested in getting their hands on (and sometimes all over - ew) the tall blonde. Â Masks did nothing to hide her appearance and hair color. Â This was the last of those whoâd asked for a dance, and she was looking forward to getting some punch and sitting down. Â Sheâd noticed a nice quiet corner with an open chair, and was planning on settling in for a chat with the man who hadnât moved once in the entire night.
She spun off the dance floor with a curtsy to her partner and got two glasses of punch, one for her, one as a peace offering to the person whose quiet corner she was about to usurp.
âExcuse me?â she said quietly. âI brought you some punch.â
The man looked up, startled, and Annabelle was struck by his piercing teal eyes. Â He took the punch with a nod, and gestured to the chair next to him.
She sat, happily, quietly sipping her own punch.
After a solid ten minutes of sitting with her own thoughts, the man next to her spoke up. The first words heâd said since she sat down.
âNot going to ask me to dance, or why Iâm simply sitting here?â
Annabelle shook her head. âThatâs your business. I just wanted somewhere quiet, away from the circling sharks.â
He chuckled. âYou, too?â
She hid a laugh behind her hand. âFind a suitor, daughter, or Iâll sell you off to the highest bidder.â
He winced. âRough. I see why youâre hiding. Iâm in the same place, though Iâm a much less suitable catch than you are, Iâll wager.â
âTry me. You can see my hair. Only the media wants one of these men to have a naturally blonde wife.â
His laugh warmed her, and she felt her cheeks pink. âAre you actually looking to settle down?â Â She couldnât see it, but she would swear he raised an eyebrow when he asked.
âNo. Not in the slightest. Iâm not about to get married until I know someone well enough to know weâll stay together. And I donât see any of these men having the time.â
âWell, it seems weâre in the same boat. Want to make a deal?â
Annabelle narrowed her eyes. âWhat kind of deal?â
âI need some time to come to terms with the⊠situation⊠with my ex-fiancee. You need someone your father will approve of you seeing so that you can continue figuring out your life in the manner you choose.â
âYouâre suggesting weâŠâ
âPretend to hit it off, and get our respective fathers off of our backs for a little while.â
âBut how am I to know who you are under that mask? You could be an old man.â
âDo I sound like an old man?â
She sighed. âNo.â
âOne fake date. Go out for coffee with me. Itâll buy us a week or so, and you can decide if Iâm worth being friends with.â
âTheyâll never buy it if we donât dance.â
âMy fatherâs already clocked us talking.â He said quietly. âYours will have as well, for as long as weâve been sitting here.
Annabelle couldnât argue with that, but even so he stood and offered her a hand.
âDance with me, darling?â
The next morning, Annabelle wondered what sheâd gotten herself into. Her father was in good spirits for the first time in a long time, and she couldnât help but feel wary simply because of this fact.
âSee, Annabelle, I told you youâd meet someone at that masquerade who fit your lofty ideals. Â When are you seeing him again?â
She put on her most dutiful smile. âWe havenât worked that out yet, Father. Itâs just been a day. Â But soon, I think. Heâs asked me to coffee.â
Her quiet faux-suitor had turned out to be V, the famous photographer whoâd been in the news for his connection to the woman whoâd been running that cult in the mountains⊠his ex-fiancee.  No wonder he needed time before getting himself back in the dating pool.  It all made sense once sheâd learned his name. Of course, heâd asked her to call him Jihyun, and she could see why. He seemed to want to distance himself from all of that.
Her father wasnât worried about this, of course, he was still heir to the Kim Consortium, and if she could manage to lock him down just based on his âobvious preference for blondesâ, then he was happy.
Jihyun looked up when she approached his table coffee in hand, meeting her hazel eyes with his teal.
âMiss Annabelle.â He greeted her warmly, inviting her to join him.
âJihyun, itâs been awhile.â She winked at him. âIâve missed your voice.â
âMy voice, hm?â Â He chuckled. âNot my looks?â
âWell, it was hard to get a good look at you through the mask, after all.â She admitted.
âWhat do you think?â He winked. âGood enough for a few dates at least?â
âWhere do you get this confidence?â
âI borrowed some from my friend Hyun.â He admitted. âIâm not⊠good at this.â
Annabelle laughed as he wilted slightly. âYouâre doing fine, Jihyun.â
Over time, Annabelle found that she enjoyed chatting with Jihyun, and they settled into a weekly coffee routine that kept both of their fathers off their backs⊠until it didnât. Her father started asking when she was going to bring him home to meet the family. Asking questions about how long until they decided to marry. Annabelle knew she was going to have to break off their fake relationship soon, but⊠she found she didnât want to be without Jihyun. And she knew theyâd never believe it if they were âjust friendsâ either. She was torn, but there was only one thing she knew how to do nowâŠ. she had to talk to Jihyun about it.
It was raining when Jihyun picked her up, and Annabelle fidgeted with the slightly damp sleeves of her sweater.
âSoâŠâ
âDonât.â Jihyun said suddenly.
Annabelle looked at him, and could see that he was on the verge of tears. âWhat?â
âI know what you want to talk about. Â Can you wait until we get where weâre going? I want to focus on driving.â
Annabelle nodded, completely understanding the need to focus on driving. Â What she wasnât expecting was for him to take her back to his own apartment. Â They had their best conversations here, and Annabelle was loathe to taint those memories by having their worst conversation here as well, but at least it would be private.
Settled in the living room with tea, Jihyun broke their silence first.
âMy father wants to meet you. Â Wants me to propose already.â
Annabelle blinked. âOh. Mine⊠the same.  He thinks weâve been dating long enough.â
Jihyun nodded, and reached out a hand for one of hers, and she took it immediately. âSo youâve come to tell me our friendship is over, yes?â Â She nodded, feeling the tears start to bead in her eyes. He shook his head. âI donât think I can handle that, Anna-ya.â
Anna blinked at the familiar honorific he appended onto the half of her name that he tended to use. Already a nickname, and so familiar⊠was he wrong to use it? No. They were close, after all.
âJihyunâŠah.â She said quietly, trying out the more familiar address herself. âWhat does this mean for us, then? My father will never believe us just friends.â
âThen letâs not be friends.â Jihyun said, boldly. âBe mine, Anna-ya.â
She turned to face him, and saw his longing bare on his face. Â She knew hers couldnât be too far below the surface, despite the social mask she always wore, and nodded.
He wrapped her in his arms, a laugh on his lips that she couldnât help but echo.
Summary: MC is playing Mystic Messenger on her breaks. That is, until the Special Security System triggers...
MC smiled and kicked her feet. Â Sheâd been busy working all morning but finally on her lunch break she had time to sit and catch up on her favorite game. Â She sat and stared at the visual novel mode with the hacker, and smiled. She loved getting little hints as to what was going to happen from these moments. Â But what was the Special Security System, and why was the hacker planning on rappelling down off of the roof and breaking in through the window? And he was doing it because Seven was tracking him? Tricky. She especially loved when he seemed to break the fourth wall and stare right out of her phone at her.
âNo, I donât think you will invite me to Magenta.â She said to her phone, and then shivered when he mentioned deleting Seven. Â He wasnât allowed to do that, Seven was her bias. And getting to see the elusive Vanderwood in the next section of the VNM?? Such a treat!
MC knew she was supposedly in that apartment, but she also knew this was a game she was playing on her phone. Â There wasnât an apartment for her to be in, because it was all a game. Too bad, sheâd love more than anything to get a chance to wrap her arms around Seven and give him the biggest hug. He deserved the world.
A chime sounded, and a new chatroom opened. MC looked and saw that it was a chat with Jumin about a New Business Idea. Â It was probably about cats. That man and his love of cats was infamous.
MC yawned and stretched after her shift ended.  She just needed to get on the train, and then she could check her game. Sheâd seen a visual novel mode for her 707 pop up, and she knew she needed to see it.  Given how well things hadnât been going with Sevenâs ability to focus on his hacking, she was sure he was going to get another lecture from Vanderwood⊠but she really hoped that wasnât the case. Poor boy needed a break. And a hug.
When she opened her phone, however, there was no visual novel mode, nor chatrooms at all, simply a button that said âAccept Transfer?â Â Of course, she grinned. Â Whatever this event was, she was all in. She loved this game. Â She reached out and tapped the button, and everything around her went black.
When sight returned, MC looked down at her hands and then around her in a panic.  Where was she? She was definitely somewhere different than she had been just moments beforeâŠ
Wait.
Wait wait wait.
She knew this place.
This was Rikaâs apartment.
No no no. This was impossible. She was supposed to be on the train home.Â
Rikaâs apartment didnât exist.
Her phone chimed its friendly chime with a new chatroom.
"Do Not Move" with 707.
Oh, shit.
   â Chatroom Opened: 707, MC âÂ
707: MC!!!
MC looked at the chat and cursed. She still just had game choices. But she was in Rikaâs apartment. Shouldnât she at least be allowed to write her own responses now? What was this world?! Well, sheâd do the best she could to clear things upâŠ
MC: Yes? Why? Is something wrong?
707: I canât explain in detail
707: But youâre in danger right now
707: From this second
707: Donât ever move from the apartment.
707: Something really bad might happen!!!
MC: What???
Like she could move from the apartment. She didnât even know Korean. It was weird that even with her being here now they were still typing to her in EnglishâŠ
707: Iâll explain when I get there.
707: Iâll go there right now so just stay still!
707: Until I get there.
707: DONâT EVER
707: MOVE!!
707: Thereâs a problem with the apartment security system right now.
707: Iâm gonna go and fix it.
MC couldnât help but feel her fangirl heart spin up. She was going to get to meet her favorite character?! At least there was an option for her to say what she was thinking!
MC: Youâre coming here?
707: Yes.
707: Iâll do whatever it takes to get there
707: So just trust meâŠ
707: GodâŠ
707: I have to leave right now because of VanderwoodâŠ
707: Iâll come back
707: So just trust me and hang in there.
MC: Seven, wait!
707: Sorry
707: I have to go
707: Just hang in there!
MC decided that not moving didnât mean she couldnât sit down. There was no way she could stand in place the whole time. Â And whatever the special security system was, she knew that Seven could handle it. Â
Now, that didnât mean she wasnât nervous, or scared. Â Sheâd just been sucked into her favorite game after all. Â She was probably just asleep on the train and someone would wake her up soon, before she even got to meet her 707. Â No amount of pinching her arms had gotten her to wake up, but she knew that you couldnât go to sleep in a dream, so she had no problems laying down on the couch and getting some rest. Â Sheâd just left work, after all, and she was exhausted.
The sound of breaking glass woke her out of a sound sleep, and she sat up suddenly, confused for a moment about where she was before the memories came flooding back.
Oh no. The hacker. Did he know she was going to be here somehow?
âGosh⊠I didnât plan on making a sound but I suppose I failed on that.â The man said through his mask.  MC just blinked at him blearily from the couch, staring at all of the glass covering the floor. âHey miss, just stay there. Youâll hurt your feet if you step on glass. Iâm climbing over the window.â
MC looked down at where her shoes were on the floor, having kicked them off when she curled up on the couch, and stuck her feet into them out of reflex, glad to find no obvious shards of glass in them.
The hacker walked over to her with smiling eyes - she couldnât see his mouth, but he seemed to be smiling at her.
âHello. You know who I am?â
MC nodded. âSure. Youâre the hacker. ButâŠ. how did you know I would be here?â
âOh, good, youâre smart. You can understand me when I talk. Great.â Â He looked around the apartment. âWow, it feels so strange to see it like this.â
âYouâre telling me?!â MC said, incredulously. âOne minute I was on the train, and the nextâŠ!â
âYou know that Iâm the one who first talked to you about the missing phone, yes?â The hacker said, staring her down. âYou know I left that strange message a couple of days ago, and Iâm the one who sent that email.  I brought you here, and now Iâve come to take you there⊠to Magenta. Our paradise, where everyone is happy.â
MC blinked. âBut what about the party?â Sheâd been so excited to meet Seven, but if the hacker was the one that brought her here, the chances of her ever getting to meet him were just as slim as they had been when sheâd still just been playing a game.
âThe RFA is filled with false hope. Especially those liars V and Luciel. Â I will explain everything once we get to Magenta.â He gestured toward the window.
MC shook her head. âIâm not going out that window.â Â Not with her crippling fear of heights she wasnât.
âSorry, but you donât have a say in that.â he said, and it actually sounded like he was apologetic. âYou entered the RFA because of me. Youâre in this apartment because of me. And thanks to me, youâll be able to get out. Â You may not understand this now, but this is for all of us to live in heaven. You will be happy in the end too.â
MC wasnât interested in this. Seven had said he was coming. What were the odds that he could hear her, or maybe he could hear through the cameras? Â There wasnât really anything to lose, so she sucked in a breath of air, and screamed.
âSeven!! Help me!!â
The hackerâs eyes immediately narrowed in anger.
âI expected you to resist⊠but you yelling out that filthy name is making me go insane. Why are you calling out that name? He will not come. Even if he does, heâs already too late.  I will cleanse you of your false faith and show you true paradise.  Now⊠come to me while Iâm still being rational.â
MC didnât think he was being rational in the slightest. Â She cowered on the couch as he advanced on her, even as an announcement rang out about the Special Security System being deactivated.
There was a beeping sound, and the door slammed open to reveal Seven standing there in a panic. âMC???â
âSeven!!!! Save me!!!!â MC said, terrified of what the hacker might do with that giant open window. Â She couldnât handle being hauled out through it.
âShit!â The hacker exclaimed. âWhy? Why are you here?!â
Seven looked around. âHow did you get inâ whoah! You broke the window. MC, be careful of the glass, youâll get hurt if you step on it.â
MC felt the weirdest bit of deja-vu, hearing from Seven exactly what sheâd heard from the hacker mere minutes ago.
The hacker grabbed her, and MC flailed about, fighting him. âI am not going out that window!â
Seven winced. âFirst, why donât you let go of the lady?â
The hacker hissed. âEven now, all you do is ruin my life.â
Seven looked stunned. âYou know me?â
"Of course I do. Don't you recognize me?" The hacker pulled his mask down, and MC was startled to see the same face twice. Â Sure, the hacker had green eyes to Sevenâs gold, and he was much paler, but they were the same. Â Twins?!
Sevenâs stunned look morphed into shock. âNo wayâŠ. Saeran?!â
âI guess now you do.â The hacker said menacingly.
âSeven.. are you two brothers?â
The hacker - Saeran - flinched, and MC wrenched herself away from him, only to slip on the glass and smack her head on the coffee tableâŠ. and then she saw nothing.
MC woke slowly, groggily. She cracked open her eyes to see one 707 sweeping up the broken glass on the floor.
ââŠSeven?â
Immediately he was at her side. âMC⊠thank god youâre okay.â
âSeven⊠are you okay?â
âI donât know. I donât think any of us are okay⊠God⊠ShitâŠâ
âSo⊠the hacker. How do you know him?â
âThat man⊠is my twin brother.â
MC silently cheered her own deductive reasoning.
Seven sighed. âNot that itâs going to matter to you. Because Iâm sending you back.â
MC blinked. âSo⊠I really am here, then? Itâs not a dream?â
âWould you fall and get a concussion and a wicked cut on your leg in a dream?â
âYes.â MC said candidly. Her dreams were crazy sometimes.
Seven sighed. âI hope you forget all of this completely. Itâs a traumatic experienceâŠâ
MC reached a hand out toward him. âI trust you, Seven.â
Seven nodded. âIâll see this through to the end for sure, so donât worry. Iâll get you home. Iâm so sorry for putting you in danger.  I need to⊠finish rebuilding the special security system and see about reversing it so that we can get you home before too much longer.  I brought my laptop and all the equipmentâŠso Iâll stay here for that and for your protection. I donât know what to say⊠ I have to change the whole algorithm⊠I have to use a completely new method so that Saeran canât hack in again. It will take some timeâŠâ
MC started to stand up, and Seven reached out and stopped her.
âLet me finish getting the glass cleaned up. I called someone to come replace the window⊠itâll cost a lot, but itâll be safe for you to move around again soon, so just stay put for now.â He sighed again. âAnd⊠I hate to ask this, but please keep Saeran a secret. The RFA canât know⊠so that no one else gets hurt. Please.â
MC nodded, and then settled herself back on the couch while she watched Seven clean up the glass. Â
I really want to draw Yoojin from Yes, And... (idk if you put her elsewhere) and Yoosung bonding ,,, so would you perhaps have any references to what she might look like? đ just a description is enough for me lol
Yoojin's a pretty typical little sister type. She looks a lot like Yoosung except she's slightly taller. Dark brown almost black hair with violet eyes. She generally dresses trendy, unless she's at home and not doing a video, at which point you can totally catch her in a tracksuit. She usually wears her hair in pigtails or twin braids.
Summary: Jumin goes on yet another blind date on his birthday... only this one ends entirely unexpectedly.
Jumin sighed. Heâd booked this restaurant for its city-spanning views, figuring that if he must be on yet another infuriating blind date on his birthday of all days, that he may as well at least have a view to content himself with. Â Alas, it was not to be, as the low dark grey clouds obscured the tops of buildings and threw torrents of rain at the streets below.
âExcuse me⊠Mr. Jumin Han?â
He looked up and saw an admittedly beautiful, if nervous, young woman standing next to his table. She definitely matched the glowing description his father had given him.
âAh! Miss Kim.â Â He stood and helped her into her chair. âMy apologies, I was thinking about the rain.â
âIt certainly is something.â Miss Kim said, settling into her seat. âI was excited when you chose this place because of the view, but it really is a bit dismal today, isnât it?â
âOctober weather is fickle like that.â Jumin agreed. âOne moment the skies are the most breathtaking blue youâve ever seen, and the next itâs a gray deluge.â
Miss Kim nodded, fidgeting with the tablecloth on her edge of the table, even as the waitstaff came and took her drink order - a sweet white - and refilled Juminâs dry red. Â He had nothing against her choice in wines, but it was emblematic of the type of women his father chose for him. Sweet, but with little substance.
After her wine was poured, Jumin turned to her and raised his glass in a toast. âTo blind dates.â
She chuckled and toasted with him, but he could tell she was restless.
Before the waitstaff could return, Jumin saw a way out of this infuriating date.
âSo, Miss Kim. You donât seem comfortable here.â
âOh, no. I⊠I do love this restaurant.â
Jumin chuckled. âBut somethingâs amiss, I am sure.â
Miss Kim looked away, but didnât argue with him, and he saw a chance to press her.
âIf you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?â
Miss Kim fidgeted, and sighed. âMy father will be disappointed were I anywhere but here.â
âThatâs not what I asked.â Jumin said with a smirk, raising a single eyebrow.
Miss Kim saw that she was fighting a losing battle, and sighed again.
âThereâs a cat cafe near my apartment that is doing an adoption event tonight. I was looking forward to it, howeverâŠâ
Jumin perked up when she mentioned cats. âHowever you were scheduled to see me, on top of your preferred obligation.â
Miss Kim nodded, and took another sip of her wine.
âWell.â Jumin said when it was clear she wasnât going to say anything else. âHow about we skip dinner and go meet some cats? You can fulfill your obligation to your father, and we can both have some fun. Â How about that, Miss Kim?â
The woman smiled brightly, and Jumin quietly drank the end of his glass of wine, setting the cup down with finality. Â The waiter was instantly there, and Jumin waved off another glass. To the waiter he said âWeâve realized weâre going to be late to our other obligation tonight.â Â The waiter nodded, and went to retrieve their coats.
Jumin stood and held out a hand for his date. âAre you ready, Miss Kim?â
She took his hand with a smile, and said âYou can call me Subin.â
âSubin Kim. Lovely.â Jumin said with a smile, and led her out of the restaurant to where Driver Kim was waiting.
They arrived at the cat cafe just as the rain stopped, and Jumin couldnât help but smile. Â He helped Subin out of the car, and she led him joyfully to the door of the cat cafe.
The girl greeting visitors immediately lit up when she saw who had arrived.
âSubin-ah! I thought you couldnât make it!â Â She bustled over and threw her arms around Subin, making Jumin chuckle.
Her eyes immediately jumped to him, and he raised an eyebrow at her, but said nothing.
Subin accepted the hug, but took a step back from the girl after that.
âSarang, this is my date. He was interested in meeting the cats.â
The girl - Sarang - looked at him with wide eyes, and then grinned. âLooking to adopt?â
âLikely not.â Jumin said honestly. âMy Elizabeth the 3rd would be unlikely to appreciate another cat in the house, but that wonât stop me from visiting with them.â
Subin gave him a look that he couldnât decipher, but she seemed happy.
It didnât take long for Jumin to reconsider his life choices. Heâd gone to sit in the cat area, and within moments had a large orange cat in his lap.Â
Subin had settled next to him, petting the cats that wandered by, but generally only having eyes for his large visitor.
âYou like him.â Jumin said quietly, determined not to spook either his visitor or his date.
âI was thinking about adopting him.â Subin admitted. âBut I worry that I wonât be able to take good enough care of him.â
âWhyâs that?â
âIâm often out of town on business trips, you see. Â How do you handle Miss Elizabeth the 3rd, if I may ask?â
Jumin considered. âUsually my assistant takes care of her when I am on trips, unless theyâre the sort of trip I can bring Miss Elizabeth on. Occasionally Iâll have a friend stay with her. Â Certainly youâve got people who could help you? You shouldnât miss out on the love of a pet simply because of work. Work will wait.â
Subin laughed. This, out of confirmed bachelor Jumin Han of all people? Â âYou care for your cat a lot, donât you Jumin?â
âI do.â Jumin agreed. âSheâs my family.â
They lapsed back into companionable silence.
Finally, it was time to take their leave of the cats, and Jumin held out a hand to Subin. âJoin me? Â Weâve missed dinner, and Iâd be remiss if I let you go home hungry.â
âWhere am I joining you to go, Jumin Han?â Subin asked with a raised eyebrow.
âIf youâre willing, Iâll have you back to my penthouse. I can make us some noodles and you can meet my Elizabeth the 3rd.â
Subin chuckled, but shook her head. âI promised my father I wouldnât let you take me home tonight, Jumin.â
He started to protest, but she held up a hand. âItâs a lovely offer, however.  Would you like to⊠schedule a second date?â
Jumin nodded. Â A fine compromise. âIâd like that, yes.â
Summary: Zen auditions to be a replacement member in a KPop Group.
Notes: The band mentioned in this fic is entirely made up, so any resemblance to a real KPop band is coincidental (but also kindof rad?)
Zen flopped onto the couch in the green room, exhausted. His director had sent him to apply for a once-in-a-lifetime chance. A chance to be a stand-in for a KPop band while one of its members went on mandatory military service.
However, the dance trial really kicked his ass. It wasnât that he wasnât in shape, or that he couldnât keep up with the dance routines, Idols were simply cut from a different cloth.
He sighed, knowing he should stretch before he got sore, and got up to do just that when there was a knock at the door.
âMr. Ryu?â A soft feminine voice called through the door. âAre you decent?â
Zen chuckled - if they were checking in on him already it was either because he impressed them or because he failed, there was no in between here - and swung the door open to reveal a short, round young woman with a clipboard. âIâm just stretching to cool down, please, come in.â
Zen went back to his stretches, and the woman came in and nodded, pleased to see him taking care of himself.
âMr. Ryu, youâve been chosen as one of the finalists for this interview after the dance portion. 5Days would like to hear you sing one of their songs solo, and then specifically Redâs part of another, and a third piece of your choice.â
âYes, I was informed of this in advance, MissâŠâ He prompted for her name.
âOh. Choi.â
Zen stood and took her hand in his. âJust Choi? Canât I know the first name of the woman who holds my fate in the palm of her hands?â Heâd spotted the way the other aides seemed to defer to this one, and thought it was promising that sheâd come herself to speak with him.
She smirked. âJust Choi. Only my boys know my given name.â
Well, it hadnât hurt to try. He knew that the industry only knew the manager as M. Choi. Everyone assumed 5daysâ manager was a man, but now, now he knew better.
Zen couldnât help but move while he sang, even though theyâd told him dance moves werenât necessary during this phase of the auditions. He knew the moves for this song so well it was too hard to stand still, and so his hands and hips would twitch on the beat, and it was everything he could do not to laugh while he was singing. This idol business was hard, but it sure was fun.
He knew heâd nailed the vocals. If there was anything other than his looks that Zen knew he had going for him, it was his singing voice. He hadnât landed the Phantom himself in Phantom of the Opera on looks alone, after all. Hopefully his work in his younger years wouldnât rule him out for something like this. No, no, if it was going to, it would have happened long before he got this far.
When the auditions were over, Zen expected to go home and wait for the summary rejection. It wasnât that his self-esteem was that low. Hardly. Simply the other applicants had been amazing, some of them had been trainees at agencies whoâd been working toward their debut for years, and others had been former members of other groups. They had the talent and experience that he simply didnât.
Instead, he was in for a shock.
M. Choi got up on stage and addressed all the hopefuls. âHello, everyone. Letâs start with some good news. The members of 5days would like you all to perform with them at the Idol Awards.â She gestured to the leader of the group and let him take over her speech.
âWhether or not you become our temporary member, youâre all talented enough to get on the stage with us. We want to perform with all five of you, as well as the rest of our members.â
Zen blinked, and grinned. So, he was a winner either way. He couldnât wait to tell the RFA.
M. Choi took back the mic, and looked hard over her glasses at the lot of them. âThis is serious now. The Idol Awards are in two weeks, and weâll be announcing the temporary new member of 5days after the performance. Youâre going to have to give your all.â
Preparations for the Idol Awards took all of his time, and Zen was grateful that he hadnât booked a new show yet. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldnât need to book a new show after this, because heâd be staying with 5days. All he could do was his absolute best with the choreography and the singing, because at absolute worst he was going to be on international television. No doubt the RFA at least would be watching, so he had to be perfect and look amazing. At least the latter was a given. He looked like a snack even after endless hours of practice.
Throughout all of their rehearsal times, Zen found himself more and more drawn to the manager, and stopped to talk to her any time he had the opportunity to do so without affecting practice. It was nice to have someone to talk to that wasnât just talking about the choreo. Ultimately he knew he wasnât making any friends with the rest of the finalists by chatting up the manager instead of them or the group, but⊠he just couldnât stop himself. She was too fun to chat with.
The performance was a blast. Â Zen stood on the dark stage after the last beat and simply worked to calm his breathing down after all of the exertion.
The leader of 5Days stepped forward then, and addressed the crowd.
âWeâd like to thank all of you for coming! And also, our five new friends for performing with us!â
The crowd was almost unbearably loud, and it made Zen grin to think that at least some of those cheers were for him.
âNow, weâd like to share with you someone special! With Red going off to do his military service, weâve been in need of a fifth!  Let me present to you our temporary memberâŠ.â
He turned and gestured to the rest of the group, and the lights came up to focus onâŠ
âSeongwoo!â Â The young trainee was stunned, but made his way up to stand by the leader and bow to the crowd.
âIâll do my best for everyone, and for Red!â
Zen stiffened his shoulders so that he wouldnât wilt from disappointment.
He knew he wasnât getting the spot, heâd known even before he made the finals, but it was still a blow to his pride.
Later, as he was packing up to head home, M. Choi came over to him.
âYou know they wanted to cut and dye your hair, right?â Â She said quietly, as a greeting.
Zen chuckled. âI know. Iâd have let them.â
âI think you look better this way. Much more manly.â Â She smirked, and he felt himself blushing.
âIâll miss chatting with you most, I think.â Zen admitted, and felt his cheeks heat.
âThen donât.â M. Choi said, handing him a card. âDonât be a stranger.â
Zen looked up at her, and was surprised to see her looking embarrassed. Â M. Choi was the strongest woman heâd ever met. Â Nothing phased her. Â But this?
âDo I get to finally know your name?â He asked, teasingly.
âMaybe.â she said, and then shrugged. âFuck it. Â Itâs Min Hee.â
âMinâŠâ Zen blinked. âOH. Mini. No wonder you donât tell people. Donât worry, your secretâs safe with me, boss.â
Summary: Just a sweet little vignette of 707 and his lovely wife, and their twins.
Notes: This fic is set in the same universe as Embracing "Yes, and...", and while it can be read without having read that fic, you can definitely get more context by doing so!
Once she got the girls settled on their blanket, Mouse settled into the couch, exhausted. Â It had been a long day of little girls who couldnât be anywhere unless mama was there.
Saeyoung walked in from the kitchen and settled next to her, handing her a glass of ice water. âWould that it were wine, howeverâŠâ
Mouse chuckled, setting her hand on her already rather pregnant belly. âBut the boychild would be displeased if I did something like that.â
Saeyoung nodded, leaning over to kiss her cheek. âJumin would literally kill me.â
âHeâd have to beat Jaehee to it.â
They shared a laugh, and looked down at the two little ladies who were busily playing on their tummies, happy for the fact that they could still see and hear mama despite not being held.
âI still canât believe we made babies. Â Look at these two entire little people that we made together!â Saeyoung said, quietly proud.
âTheyâre going to be menaces.â Mouse said sincerely. âI was a menace as a little.â
âI wish we could ask your parents about that.â
âMore likely youâd need to ask my stuffieâŠâ
âIf only I could make inanimate objects tell me their stories!â Saeyoung giggled, and Mouse couldnât help but join in.
Mouse drained the last of her water and stretched. âYou think the girls will let me go get more water?â
âOnly one way to find out.â Saeyoung said, shrugging. âAre you ready for them to scream when they canât see you?â
âYes.â Mouse said. âThey have to get used to having other caretakers. Â The girls love Vanderwood, but they canât be here all the time, especially when theyâre with Jihyun.â Â She stood and went to the kitchen, setting her glass down and just taking a breath that wasnât punctuated by the screaming of little girls.
Mouse turned around in a panic to see what terrifying thing was crawling through the window to get her girls only to see⊠Lily crawling across the floor after her, slowly, but picking up speed, with Rose right on her tail.
âOh. Oh theyâre crawling. Oh no. Oh thatâs too cute.â Â Saeyoung had his phone out and was taking video as Mouse crouched down to accept both girls into her arms.
âHi ladies. Â Letâs get you back over to your blankies, okay?â She shared a look with Saeyoung, and then pulled out her own phone.
      â Chatroom Opened âÂ
Mouse: The girls are crawling.
Yoosungâ : Yay!
ZEN: Already?
Dae: Wow, so soon?
Saeran: Aww, without me?
Jaehee: Oh dear.
Jumin: Well then.
Ryung: They grow up so fast!!
Vanderwood: Weâre so fucked.
Jihyun: Iâll start looking for playpens.
Summary: The twins and MC go house hunting, finally getting out of the bunker and into someplace new, after everything.
MC came over with three coffees in hand like an expert waitress, setting the drinks down in front of their respective owners. âCaramel Monstrosity for Saeyoung, and a Dirty Chai for SaeranâŠ.â She muttered as she set them down. âSeriously, Iâm not sure I could think of more opposite orders for more similar twins, but thereâs proof yet that youâre actually different people.â
Saeran laughed and leaned over to kiss her cheek. âThank you, love.â
âYeah, thanks MC! I still donât know how you plan to survive three house trips on hot apple cider.â Saeyoung grinned, and turned his laptop so they could both see it. âSo, our house showings that weâve got scheduled for today are simple. Weâve got the little blue house, the white house with the picket fence, and the three-bedroom condo.â
They all focused in on the houses, and MC felt warm just thinking about moving out of that underground bunker and into an actual house.
The first showing was the little blue house that MC had chosen. Â It wasnât large, but it was the perfect little house for the three of them to settle into.
As they walked through it, each pointing out things they loved, or things they didnât like, suddenly Saeran looked at MC and shook his head. âItâs good, love. Itâs a nice house but⊠thereâs no room to grow.â
MC nodded, âYeah, itâs a bit cramped.âÂ
Saeyoung understood. Â While there were enough bedrooms for the three of them, there wasnât room for an office for more than one of them, and the kitchen was small.
The second showing was the condo, which Saeyoung already knew was going to be a gardening problem for Saeran. Heâd suggested that they could do standing trough gardens on the balcony, but Saeran wanted to grow flowers and vegetables and herbs andâŠ. Saeyoung could already tell that despite the fact that the three of them loved the space, it would never work without gardening space.
As it was, they walked through the space and loved it, but realized it had a lot of the same problems the first one did, despite the finishes being modern and recently updated, it just wasnât the right space for them.
Saeran had chosen the white house with the picket fence - on the outside it was perfect for the garden he wanted to start, but the inside looked like it might need some work. Actual work, not just cosmetic work. Â There were so many rooms, perfect for everyone to have the space they needed, and it was under budget (not that there was much that was over Saeyoungâs budget, but that was beside the point.) Â
Eventually, it was Saeranâs puppy-dog eyes that did them in, and the three of them decided to put an offer in on the house. Â Other than its need for a top-to-bottom renovation to get it to a move-in ready state, it was in a good neighborhood, and had a big enough garage for Saeyoung to keep two of his babes at the house at any given time.
Their offer was accepted the same day they put it in, and Saeyoung was taking this to be a miracle. Â He immediately got quotes from contractors to do the work, and got things settled. Three months, it would take, from start to finish. They were simply going to have to stay in the bunker longer while the renovations were completed. No sweat.
Something was definitely wrong with MC, Saeyoung decided. Â Maybe it was the basement bunker that was getting to her, but she was sleeping more, and she was definitely more distracted. Â Saeran didnât seem to be worried, so heâd kept his mouth shut about it, but he spent a lot of time worrying about her.
For her part, MC was just going on about her usual days, working on her writing even though sometimes she fell asleep doing it, working on the housework even though sometimes she actually gave in and asked for help. The latter was happening more and more these days. Â Maybe she just didnât want to have to clean this space that wasnât going to be their home for much longer. Â It would still be a space they kept, Just In Case, after all things were still touch-and-go with agency remnants and all, but you never knew with Saeyoung when he was going to be nostalgic about something. And itâs not like it was an above-board residence, either. Â Maybe that was what was getting to MC.
Finally, the day came. Â The house was ready for them to move into. Â MC really didnât think they needed to hire movers, but Saeran kept insisting that she not do any of the lifting or carrying on her own. Â Saeyoung just squinted at them, trying to figure out what was wrong with MC, and why they wouldnât tell him.
The first night in the house was exhausting, just trying to get the beds set up and figuring out where the box with the sheets in it got put, among other things. Â It was so busy, in fact, that Saeyoung had forgotten his determination to figure out what was going on with MC. Â The next morning, when MC was busy bustling around the kitchen making coffee, Saeyoung cornered Saeran back in their bedroom.
âWhatâs wrong with MC?â He asked, unable to keep it to himself any longer.
âNothingâs wrong with her.â Saeran said, though he wouldnât meet his brotherâs eye.
âYouâre lying to me. You never look at me when youâre lying.â Saeyoung said, catching Saeran by the shoulders. âI canât help if you donât tell me whatâs wrong.â
âCome on then, sheâll have to tell you herself.â
Saeran led Saeyoung to the kitchen, where MC was waiting with coffee.
âLove.â Saeran said, carefully. âI think itâs time to tell Saeyoung.â
Saeyoung was practically vibrating. Â What was it? Was it bad? Did she have cancer? What could it be?
MC saw that Saeyoung was starting to panic, and reached out to him.
âSaeyoung, calm down.â She said quietly. âItâs not bad. Iâm just⊠pregnant.â
Saeyoung fumbled his mug, but other than a little bit of spilled coffee, no harm was done.
âYouâreâŠâ
âYeah. Weâre having a baby.â
âThatâs why we needed room to grow.â Saeran said, with his signature quiet smirk.
Summary: Set before Canon, 707 meets a girl overseas in college.
âHey, youâre Seven, right?â
Seven looked up into the warm chocolate brown eyes of the girl standing in front of him and felt himself blush. âYeah, Iâm Seven.â
âHi, Iâm MC! We have Machine Learning and Robotics together this semester. I was wondering if you⊠wanted to study together?â
It was such a simple question, really. Did he, newly minted Agent 707 Extreme, want to spend time with the girl of his dreams under the guise of actually studying? Â Yes. Yes he did.
âIâd love to.â He said with as smooth a smile as he could manage.
In the end, studying together meant with MC and three other people in their class, but Seven didnât mind. Â
Every day turned into one big study session, doing homework at tables pushed together in the student center. Â Over the course of the semester he and MC got closer, sometimes even crowding into the same chair when the student center was especially busy. Â And yeah, people teased them about being so close, but it wasnât like Seven had the guts to do anything about it. Besides, it wasnât just with MC, and that was fine, it just gave him plausible deniability when his handler would call to check in on him. Â He was mostly on his own here, but he got a call every week in addition to surprise calls when he wasnât expecting, and every âHolidayâ included his handler taking him out to some cabin for physical training. He explained them away as his outdoorsy uncle and everyone seemed to eat it up. Especially MC, who kept asking to meet his uncle someday.
If only my life could be so simple. Seven thought quietly. Â Heâd finally met a girl he could see himself with, and it was his last semester at school. Â There was no time for a relationship, no time to follow up on the fact that heâd loved MC since first laying eyes on her. Â He was just going to have to enjoy what time was left for them. Â He sighed, picking up his bag and heading out to the last study session of the semester. Â If he didnât hustle, he was going to be late.
Only⊠there wasnât a study session to be found, just MC crying in the study room.
âMC?â Seven questioned, crouching down in front of her chair. âWhatâs happened?â
âEveryone left. Itâs like high school all over again. Â They all had better things to do than study with a loser like me.â Her words were punctuated with sobs, and Seven felt his heart clenching to hear the girl he liked in so much pain. âI thought youâd gone w-with them.â
âNo, I was just late. I stopped to pick up sodas because I know you get sleepy without some sugarâŠâ  Seven gestured to the bottles of PhD Pepper - her favorite - in his bag.
âSo youâre not here just to tell me youâre leaving?â
âNope!â Seven said, popping the P with as much cheerfulness as he could muster. âIâm here to study for that robotics final.â
MC sniffled, and then laughed softly. âYou need all the help you can get if you want to beat my score, nerd.â
âTakes one to know one!â Seven rebuffed, also laughing. âIâll show you. Iâll get that higher score.â
Together, alone in that study room, they studied for hours before finally calling it a night to get some sleep before their final.
The final was grueling, but nothing that Seven hadnât dealt with before. Â He wasnât the first to finish, but he was confident that heâd done every problem to the best of his ability, and that was all he could ask for. Â Seeing that MC wasnât finished yet, he wandered down to the vending machine and got both of them a bottle of soda and on a whim grabbed a bag of honey buddha chips to snack on while he waited. They were a new flavor, rare enough in the states but vanishingly rare at home so he was trying to get his fill of them before heading back to Korea.
It didnât take long for MC to emerge, and she flashed him that bright smile that heâd come to love over the course of the semester. He handed her a soda, and she hopped up on the wall next to him. âHowâd you do, you think?â She asked, still all smiles.
Seven grinned. âI aced it, obviously. Â Thereâs nothing Seven Zero Seven canât manage.â
â707? Like⊠memory errors?â
Seven chuckled. âYeah.â
âOh my god, youâre such a nerd.â
âThatâs me.â
His phone started ringing, an old 60âs tune, no lyrics.
âYes, uncle?â He answered, while next to him MC was quietly laughing.Â
âHave you finished your last test?â
âYes, Iâve finished my exam.â
âYouâre all packed and ready to go?â
âMhm.â
âYou know you wonât be coming back.â
âI know.â
âSay your goodbyes and meet me out front of your dorm.â
âCan I get fifteen minutes⊠to say goodbye?â
âZero Seven. You know weâre not allowed attachments.â
ââŠButââ
âMake it ten. And hurry.â
âYes, sir!â Seven said, and snapped his phone shut.
He turned and looked at MC, his eyes already slightly teary. âIâve got to go. My uncleâs here to get me.â
âYour uncleâs phone ring is âSecret Agent Manâ by Johnny Rivers?â
Seven looked at her incredulously. âYou know it?â
MC nodded. âOf course, my grandma loves Johnny Rivers.â
Seven giggled. âGods, MC. Youâre perfect.â He sighed. âI am gonna miss you so bad!â
MC shook her head. âWhy miss me, you have my number? Just call me. Anytime.â
Seven looked down at his phone and promised himself he was going to memorize her face.
When he looked back up, her face was inches from his....
And then she kissed him.
He kissed like an idiot, he was sure. This was his first kiss, he didnât have any practice, but she, oh MC kissed like a goddess.
When they parted, she giggled, and before she could say anything, Seven put his finger to her lips.Â
âI love you, MC.â He said, pouring his heart into it, knowing nothing could come of it.
âIâll see you later, Seven.â She said, even as he ran off so as not to be late, face red with embarrassment, grinning like an idiot.
When he got into the car, Vanderwood sighed. âWipe that grin off your face, Zero Seven. You know weâre not allowed attachments. Youâll never see her again.â
âI know.â Seven said, slightly mellowed by the usual lecture, but only slightly. âShe kissed me.â
âMore the fool, she.â Vanderwood said, and drove off toward the airport.
