gnomeo 🥫

woman | '05 | fluff enjoyer

[callmeagardengnome]

^ྀི table for two ^ྀི - server! haechan x hostess! fem!reader (restaurant au)

^ྀི silver and nerds ^ྀི - nerd! mark x stoner! fem! reader (college au) I DO NOT SUPPORT MARK LEE

.

^ྀི bless me masterlist ^ྀི - demon!ateez ot8 x receptionist! fem! reader (ON GOING - no updates for a while sorry)

^ྀི fated masterlist ^ྀི - idol! individual! ateez x fem!reader (COMPLETED) soulmate oneshots

^ྀི mob mentality masterlist ^ྀི - mafia! individual! ateez x fem! reader (ON GOING) mafia oneshots

^ྀི lesson plans ^ྀི - professor! yunho x teaching assistant! fem! reader (college/teacher au)

^ྀི office affairs ^ྀི - mingi x fem! reader (office au)

.

FYI i do not write smut 🙅‍♀️ and that will not change

[callmeagardengnome]

✗ marathon extravaganza ✗ | JEONG YUNHO 

pairings  ✃  mafia! yunho x rival! fem! reader

genre  ✃  mafia au, non-idol au, SLOW BURNN, enemies/rivals to lovers (?), pretty angsty (?) but its hurt/comfort. (im 99% sure it is)

synopsis  ✃  

yunho has been a professional shooter for all of his life. he’s killed lawyers, federal agents and even highly-protected politicians. so why does his shots keep missing you?

in which you and yunho become obsessed in a game of cat and mouse. 

w.c  ✃ 10.1k

c.w  ✃ dark themes, desc of vivid gore and guns, kiss scene but no smut, cursing, reader has a boyfriend and he’s a dick, a hella toxic/verbally abusive r/s, cheating (not done by reader), petnames ('doll' by yunho tho its not used a ton and 'babe/baby' by reader's boyfriend)

not proofread!

masterlist

it’s quite blurry how you ended up like this, but you weren’t thinking about that right now. not when you have your gun held to his chin.

“god-“ yunho groaned as he twisted under your grip. “just fucking kill me at this point.”

you tilted your head, a sharp laugh slipping out from your mouth. “not yet...” you leaned in closer, close enough to feel his ragged breaths against your cheek. “you look so pretty like this...” you mocked. 

DAY 1 OF 30 - PROFILING

you sighed. ‘where is he?’ 

the warehouse reeked of death. blood pooled beneath the bodies scattered around you, soaking into the cracked concrete slowly. 

you sat in the middle of it all, legs stretched out as you scrolled through your phone, swiping through social media posts your friends uploaded.

your boyfriend walked in, his helmet tucked under one arm. his eyes swept across the scene, landing on all the bloodied corpses ahead of you. “you got it done quick,” he said, nodding in approval.

you shrugged, giving him a grin. “what can i say? i’m good, right?”

he didn’t answer, only sighing as he reached into the inner pocket of his jacket. “i have another job for you.”

“seriously?” you scoffed, sitting up straighter. “what about date night?”

“it’s important,” he said, tossing a thin folder onto the dark red ground infront of you.

you rolled your eyes, scooping up the file. you flipped it open, your brow furrowing as you skimmed the page. “...jeong yunho?” you mumbled, the name foreign on your tongue.

your eyes shifted over to the photo attached, along with the series of details:

JEONG YUNHO (26) PART OF A.T.Z. | JOINED IN 2016. PROFESSIONAL SNIPER. HIGHLY SKILLED IN FIREARMS, TACTICS AND CLOSE COMBAT. CURRENT LOCATION: UNKNOWN.

“wait- he’s in A.T.Z.?” you asked, snapping your head up to look at your boyfriend. “i thought we’re on good terms with them.”

“not anymore,” he replied with a shrug.

you blinked, turning back to the file. “so what? you just want me to kill this guy?”

he nodded, adding, “and destroy his phone while you’re at it.”

you raised an eyebrow. “why-?”

“-don’t ask, just do it,” he snapped, his patience gone.

“fine,” you sighed, handing the file back to him.

he snatched the file from your grasp, already turned to the exit. “you have one month.”

DAY 2 OF 30 - BULLETS, CHECK. BODY, CHECK. 

sure, you had around thirty days to kill jeong yunho, but wouldn’t it be better if you got it done now?  

you loaded your revolver, spinning the cylinder before tucking it into its holster. finding someone in a gang was always a challenge, especially one like A.T.Z. but you’ve been around long enough to know where to start. 

you looked through old meeting spots, bars and half-abandoned buildings your boyfriend mentioned in passing. but unfortunately, each location was a dead end.

as the sun began to set, you wandered around aimlessly, feeling slightly frustrated that your day led to nothing. 

but then you saw something: a shooting range.

you always passed by the place, but never had a reason to enter. with nothing else to do, there was no harm checking it out. maybe there were some cool guns to check out, or maybe you could practice your shooting skills before heading home.

the smell of gunpowder hit you the moment you stepped inside. the counter displayed an impressive selection of firearms, some of which you’ve never tried out before. you barely had time to look at most of them when something - more like someone, caught your eye.

a smirk spread across your face.

standing at one of the booths, rifle in hand, was jeong yunho.

what were the chances you actually found him on your first day of looking? you tried to get a clearer view of him, and you did. that was definitely him. he looked identical to the photo you had.

you slipped into a dark corner near the back, watching him as he practiced. 

each bullet he shot landed dead center on the target, rapid and precise. his stance, his timing - he was good in an annoying way. maybe people weren’t exaggerating after all.

by the time he wrapped up, it was late, the range nearly empty. he returned the gun, gathering his things from a locker before leaving.

“shit,” you adjusted your coat, cursing under your breath.

as he walked on the quiet street, you followed. you waited for the right moment - an alleyway just ahead.

the second he passed it, you lunged, grabbing his arm and shoving him into the wall. the impact echoed in the narrow space, but yunho recovered fast, twisting his body. “wha-”

your back hit the ground before you could blink. his hand gripped your wrist, forcing your arm to the concrete as his knee pressed into your side.

his eyes narrowed as they locked onto you, recognition obvious on his face. “what the hell-?” his grip faltered.

big mistake.

you shifted beneath him, flipping him over. now it was your turn to shove him into the ground, your gun against his cheek.

but before you could enjoy your victory, his foot kicked your stomach, sending you stumbling back with a gasp. your pain worsened as his fist collided with your jaw - and by the time you realised what was happening, he was already running.

your finger hovered over the trigger, your jaw throbbing. you raised your gun, aiming at his retreating figure. 

but he was too far away to kill. 

you sighed, lowering the weapon. “whatever,” you rolled your eyes. “i’ll try again next time.”

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

the door to the hideout slammed open. yunho stormed in, rubbing his aching, red knuckles. 

the group, scattered around the room with plates of half-eaten food, paused mid-bite to stare at him. 

“...are you okay?” mingi asked, breaking the silence. 

yunho let out a sigh, tossing his jacket onto a chair. “someone attacked me.” 

a chorus of overlapping voices erupted. 

“what!” “are you hurt?” “how did that happen-?” 

the noise was almost deafening as they crowded around him, checking his arms for bruises. 

yunho’s eyes landed on hongjoong. “remember the boss of M.M?” 

“M.M?” hongjoong raised an eyebrow. “the money laundering operation?” 

yunho nodded slowly, hesitating for a moment. “..his girlfriend attacked me.” 

the shock was instant. 

“what?!” 

mingi nearly dropped his plate and jongho blinked in disbelief. “wait- what? i thought ‘____’ only went for people he hated?” 

“i thought so too,” yunho replied, furrowing his brows. “did i piss him off? i’ve never even spoken to the guy.” 

the group exchanged uneasy glances, all just as confused as him. yeosang spoke up after a while, asking, “did you cross paths with him recently?” 

yunho frowned, trying his best to recall everything he did in the past few weeks. suddenly, his eyes widened. “wait-” he pulled out his phone, swiping rapidly before holding it up to the group. 

“i was at the same event as him,” yunho explained. 

he tapped on a video, playing it for them. the footage showed a lavish dinner party - chandeliers, soft music and a crowd of well-dressed people sipping champagne. 

san squinted at the screen. “when was this?” he asked. 

“about a week ago.” 

wooyoung leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. he reached for yunho’s phone, pulling it closer. “...holy shit-!” 

“-yunho caught him cheating.” 

he zoomed in on the video, pointing at your boyfriend kissing a woman who clearly wasn’t you. his face was unmistakable - and the moment his eyes darted to the camera, his face morphed into panic. 

the group turned their heads towards yunho, who looked utterly baffled. 

“why were you even recording?” wooyoung exclaimed. 

“the place looked nice,” yunho defended, snatching his phone back. “how was i supposed to know he was in the shot?” 

“it doesn’t matter, he probably wants you dead for that,” seonghwa sighed sharply. “i won’t be surprised if he’s going after your phone too.”

hongjoong, who had been silent for the most part, crossed his arms. “..what are you planning to do about it?”

yunho bit the inside of his cheek. “…nothing.”

the group stared at yunho in disbelief. 

“nothing?” mingi repeated.

yunho replied simply. “they’ll give up eventually.”

“you do realise that she attacked you, right? like, physically went after you?” seonghwa furrowed his eyebrows.

“she’ll get tired of it,” yunho brushed it off. “she’s just following orders- when she sees i’m not doing anything, she'll stop wasting her time.”

hongjoong sighed. “you’re not even going to try to deal with this before it gets worse?”

“i doubt it can get worse,” yunho shrugged. 

hongjoong’s eyes narrowed, studying yunho. “you better be right then.”

DAY 4 OF 30 - I WAS JUST TALKING

you left the apartment with your revolver tucked snugly at your side, hidden behind your jacket. 

today wasn’t about bloodshed - well, for the most part. you decided to take a step back, your mind set on a new strategy: learning. killing someone like yunho required knowledge, not impatience.

you went over to the shooting range. at the counter, a man with graying hair arranged a stack of papers, barely glancing at you as you entered. “what d’you looking for?” he grunted, his voice gravelly.

you rested your elbow on the counter. “actually, i was wondering if you know someone named jeong yunho?”

that got his attention.

his eyes snapped up to yours with mild suspicion. “yeah, i know him.. he’s a regular here,” he said slowly. “why d’you wanna know?”

“just curious,” you shrugged. “are you guys close?”

the man’s lip twitched as he let out a short laugh. “close? we’re basically family-”

he paused before continuing. “…why’re you askin’? you a cop?”

you tilted your head. “do i look like a cop?”

“...not really, but you’re askin’ a lot of questions.”

“i have my reasons,” you shrugged. you looked around the range before meeting his eyes again. “can we take this conversation somewhere else?”

the man’s brow furrowed in visible confusion, but he didn’t protest. with a grunt, he took out a cigarette and led the way to an alley, pushing the back door open.

you followed, stepping outside. as he lit his cigarette, you let your eyes drift down the dim alley, your hand resting on the gun beneath your jacket.

“so,” he began, taking a drag and blowing smoke into the air. “why’re you askin’ about yunho? he owe you money or somethin’?”

you chuckled softly, shaking your head. “nothing like that. i just want to know who i’m dealing with.”

“dealing with?” the man raised an eyebrow. “you sure you’re not a cop?”

that was when you pressed the revolver into his side, the cold metal making him freeze.

“come on,” you snorted. “don’t insult me like that..”

his cigarette slipped from his fingers, hitting the ground as his hands shot up. “what the fuc-”

“you know,” you whispered with a smirk.”for someone running a shooting range, you don’t have any guns on you. bit ironic, don’t you think?”

“i-” he stammered, trembling. “w-what do you want? money? you can take the whole safe-”

you lifted your gun up to his neck, digging it into his skin. 

“tell me everything you know about jeong yunho.”

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

yunho walked into the shooting range as per usual - though he stopped almost immediately, frowning.

the counter was empty.

normally, mr lo would be there, ready to make some remark about how often yunho practiced. but today, there was no one. not even a sound.  

yunho stood by the door for a moment. the idea of practice felt a little boring without anyone to talk to, but... he was here. might as well make use of the quiet.

for the next hour, the range echoed with the sound of gunfire as yunho emptied round after round into the paper target infront of him. but he wasn’t as focused as usual. he glanced over his shoulder between shots. it wasn’t like mr lo to just disappear.

by the time he finished his last round, he set his gun down, his eyes on the counter again.

that was when he noticed it.

the door at the back - mr lo’s smoke spot, was slightly opened.

yunho narrowed his eyes, his weapon raised and ready as he moved to the door with cautious steps. 

but the moment he pushed the door open, he froze.

slumped against the grimy alley wall, was mr lo.

“shit-” yunho lowered his gun as he rushed over. but it was too late.

mr lo’s head laid unnaturally to the side, his eyes devoid of life. blood dripped continuously from the wound beneath his chin, leaving a dark and sticky puddle on the ground.

yunho crouched down, his fists clenching. 

this was the man who taught him how to shoot, how to fight, how to survive. mr lo wasn’t a threat to anyone - why would someone kill him?

his eyes fell on something in mr lo’s limp hand. a small card, smeared with what looked like blood.

yunho carefully pried it from the man’s fingers. his heart sinking as he read the words scrawled across it:

love from M.M. xoxo.

yunho’s eyes widened.

M.M.

the handwriting was playful, but the message felt sickening. yunho flipped the card over, his stomach churning.

a kiss mark - stamped in a deep red, was pressed against the back. whether it was lipstick or blood, yunho couldn’t tell. and frankly, he didn’t care.

he knew who it was.

you.

“fucking disgusting,” he spat, shoving the card into his pocket. he stood up, eyes scanning the alley one last time before turning back to the shooting range. 

you were taunting him. whether this was a warning or another step in some twisted plan, it was clear you weren’t going to stop.

yunho left the alley and the body. his mind raced, already planning his next move.

you wanted to kill him? fine.

but now, it was personal.

DAY 5 OF 30 - MINECRAFT MANHUNT

you whipped your head around. 

the seemingly empty store behind you was quiet, with the creak of the old air conditioning adding to the hospital-esque ambience. not a single person was in sight. 

yet you couldn’t shake the feeling there was someone watching.

the cashier cleared his throat. “$98.64.”

you turned back to him, reaching into your pocket for cash. knives weren’t cheap, but you needed them. while guns were your main weapon of choice, it was always good to use different equipment once in a while.

you handed him the bills, just about to leave when- 

-a repulsive squelch echoed in the air. 

your eyes widened as the cashier’s head snapped, a clean bullet hole ripping through the side of his skull. blood splattered the register as his lifeless body hit the ground.

instinctively, you gripped your newly purchased knives. your eyes darted around the store as your pulse quickened, trying to find where that bullet came from.

then you looked up.

in the vent above, you caught the glint of a gun aimed directly at you.

“shit-”

you bolted for the nearest aisle, the crack of a gunshot ringing out as you narrowly dodged the bullet. you crouched behind a shelf, adjusting your grip on the knives.

the next shot whizzed past you, splintering a corner of the shelf. 

taking a deep breath, you leapt upward, using the shelves to gain height. with a sharp turn you vaulted over the top, landing behind the masked shooter.

and you didn’t wait.

charging forward, you tackled the figure, the two of you crashing to the floor in a tangle of limbs. your hand snatched the gun from their grip, tossing it to the opposite side of the store, sending a stack of boxes to the floor.

the masked figure twisted under you with a surprising strength. you held them down as your free hand reached for the edge of their mask.

you ripped it off to reveal their face. “yunho?” 

his lips curled into a smirk - and before you could react, he broke free, throwing you off balance.

you scrambled to your feet, knives raised. yunho’s eyes darted to where the gun landed.

“seriously?” you snarled, lunging at him.

your blade swiped across his neck, grazing him. blood trickled from the cut, but yunho barely flinched. instead, he charged at you.

he was fast, his punches relentless - and though you had an edge with knives, his sheer strength evened the playing field. you managed to land several shallow cuts on his arms, but his punches left your ribs aching.

the fight raged on, the store’s once orderly aisles was currently a battlefield of overturned shelves and scattered items.

after what felt like ages, he cornered you, slamming you into a shelf. your back screamed in protest as he pinned you, your own knife just inches from your face.

you gritted your teeth, straining to keep the knife at bay as it edged closer and closer. “are you really gonna kill a girl?” you sneered.

“i’ve killed women before,” he said. yunho’s grip on the knife tightened as it nicked the top of your mouth, drawing a thin line of blood across your lips. “you’re not special, doll.”

pain flared as the blade dragged down, leaving a scar. 

but in that moment, you found your opening.

with all the strength you could muster, you slammed your foot into his ribs, making him stagger. your elbow followed, hitting his arm hard enough to make him drop the knife.

you were out of energy, your limbs sore and your breaths laboured. but you weren’t going to die here. not in a million years. 

“shit,” you muttered, stumbling for the exit.

yunho’s eyes widened - and he bolted for the gun, long strides covering ground way too fast. you managed to shove the door open, but-

bang!

a bullet whizzed past your ear, lodging into a lamppost.

you turned, just for a second.

yunho was standing there, gun raised and eyes wide.

you grinned, blood staining your teeth. with a two-fingered salute, you ran from the scene as fast as you could.

yunho didn’t lower his gun. he didn’t even move.

“crap,” he hissed. “…how did i miss that?” 

he grabbed his discarded mask, shoving it into his pocket. he looked down at his bruises and cuts, sighing. “hongjoong’s not going to be happy about this.”

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

the door slammed shut behind you as you limped into the apartment, your steps heavy. blood smeared across your lip and your shirt had a tear from the earlier fight.

“what the fuck happened to you?” your boyfriend asked as he stood from the couch.

you rolled your eyes as you dabbed your mouth. “that’s the first time you’ve ever asked that,” you muttered.

he scoffed. “now’s not the time to be a bitch-“ he shoved a tissue into your hand, his eyes looking for further damage. “how’d you get hurt?”

you didn’t answer right away, pressing the tissue against your lip to stop the bleeding. after a moment, you sighed. “yunho.”

his eyes widened. “you attacked him already? it’s been, what- four days?”

“i wanted to get it done fast,” you said flatly before glaring at him. “especially since you’re holding date nights hostage.”

“god- you’re still angry about that?” he groaned, rubbing his temples. “date nights are a distraction. you need to focus.”

you froze, the tissue still pressed to your lip. “date nights are a distraction?” you repeated in disbelief. “is our whole relationship a distraction then?”

“don’t twist my words,” he ordered, his eyes piercing yours. “i gave you a month to kill this man and you decided to rush the job.”

he sighed, exasperated. “this is the problem- you always do this. now he knows we’re going after him.”

you stared at him, your anger bubbling below the surface. “....if you hate the way i do things so much, then you kill him.” 

without waiting for a reply, you stormed towards the bedroom.

“wait-” he called, his hand grabbing your wrist. his grip was painful, almost bruising.

you tried to yank your arm away, but he held on. “don’t be mad, baby. i need you,” he said, his voice irritatingly soft.

you turned to him, your face cold. “do you need me,” you began. “or do you need me to kill your enemies?”

the silence that followed was comical. he didn’t answer. he didn’t even try.

a bitter laugh escaped your lips. you snatched your hand free from his grasp and walked into the bedroom, slamming the door behind you.

“wait baby, i was just caught off guard-” he scrambled after you.

you didn’t respond, the lock clicking into place as you leaned against the door, chest heaving in frustration.

you couldn’t handle this shit today.

DAY 8 OF 30 - GAMEMODE SPECTATOR

god yunho was boring.

ever since your boyfriend gave you a plethora of apologies, you decided to follow yunho, notebook in hand, trying to piece together his routine. but it was just a monotonous loop of murder, meals, target practice and returning to that little hideout of his.

a killer’s life for sure, but not the type you expected from someone your boyfriend seemed so desperate to get rid off.

you leaned back against the park bench, flipping through your notes one last time.

no reckless behaviour, nothing to suggest that yunho was a real threat to you. nothing. ‘tame,’ you thought.

so why did your boyfriend want him dead?

the question stuck to the back of your mind like a parasite. sure, you didn’t need to know all the details, but something about all of this felt.. off.

still, it wasn’t your job to figure out why. it was your job to kill him. and soon.

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

yunho sat at his desk, the card you left at the shooting range bent in his hand. his jaw clenched as he stared at it.

the audacity.

you had no right to intrude in his life. you, your boyfriend and your taunting. none of it mattered. yunho didn’t care about your relationship or your boyfriend’s affair. but you made yourself his problem.

and he had no choice but to deal with you.

he stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. dropping to one knee, he reached under the bed, fingers curling around the familiar handle of a black case.

he hauled it out, his breathing slowing as he opened it - revealing his sniper rifle nestled inside.

the sight of it calmed him down, albeit slightly. he began to assemble the rifle, each piece clicking into place. when it was fully assembled, it rested in his hands like it was an extension of himself.

“just you wait, ‘____’,” he muttered under his breath. “you’re dead.”

DAY 11 OF 30 - SPYPARTY

you cracked your back. the body of the man you just killed sprawled on the ground, stab wounds in his chest. 

he had nothing to do with the yunho-job, but he was going to be an issue soon. might as well save yourself the trouble later.

twirling the bloody knife in your hand, you crouched to clean the blade on the man’s shirt before slipping it back into its sheath. 

but unbeknownst to you, a pair of eyes trained on you from a nearby building.

yunho laid low, his sniper rifle set up on the edge of the rooftop.

he’d been following you for hours, his binoculars helping him trace your path through the city. but now, with the rifle aimed and silencer attached, he had his chance. he lined up the shot, focused on the back of your head.

the trigger pulled with a soft click.

but you moved.

at the last second, you took a step forward, completely oblivious. the bullet embedded itself into a nearby wall.

“tch,” yunho scowled, lowering the rifle slightly. that was the second time he missed.

he didn’t understand. guns were his speciality - they were what made him lethal.

so how the hell were his shots failing?

he packed his rifle quickly, slinging the case over his shoulder before descending the fire escape. his annoyance bubbled beneath as he trailed you from a safe distance.

you wandered into a shop, disappearing inside for a while before emerging with two large bags. yunho frowned, his eyes narrowing. he wasn’t sure of what was in those bags, but he continued to follow you, finding himself a spot in a nearby building.

but then, you stopped at a place that threw him completely off-guard.

yunho froze on the rooftop, his brows furrowing as he stared through his binoculars. you weren’t heading home. 

you were at an animal shelter.

the sight of it made him blink. he adjusted the focus on his binoculars, zeroing in on the bags you carried. through the plastic, he spotted bags of food, colourful toys and what looked like blankets.

he hesitated as he crouched, setting up his rifle once more. 

you chatted with the worker as they locked up, saying goodbye with a small wave as you parted ways. yunho watched as you pulled out your phone, scrolling absentmindedly as you strolled down the empty street.

his finger hovered over the trigger as he took aim. his scope lined up perfectly with your head.

‘this is it,’ he thought, exhaling. 

he fired.

you froze in your tracks, your body stiffening as a bullet skimmed the ground near your feet - a faint black mark dotting the pavement.

the shot missed.

your head snapped up, your eyes quickly scanning the rooftops around you. a twinkle of something shiny caught your attention on a building not too far away.

a smirk spread across your face. you raised a hand, giving a mocking wave in the direction before taking off. there was no way you’d survive standing still - not against a sniper.

“shit!” yunho groaned, slamming his fist against the rooftop ledge.

his shots weren’t supposed to miss. ever. 

‘what is wrong with me?’ he thought bitterly, shoving the rifle into the case.

DAY 14 OF 30 - BLIND SPOTS

you pulled your hood up, blending into the late-night crowd as you navigated the streets.

it’d been three days since yunho last tried to kill you.

the lack of gunfire should’ve been a relief, but instead, it put you on edge. he didn’t seem like the type to stop. if anything, it meant something worse - he was waiting. 

the thought sent a chill down your spine.

you spent the past few days moving constantly. you hated being followed. but the feeling of being watched never left. even now as you walked through the crowded street, the prickling sensation at the back of your neck remained.

“alright,” you sighed, muttering under your breath. “where are you?”

yunho was a careful man. he was always careful. but he didn’t realise one thing - when you’ve been hunted for most of your life, you learned how to feel eyes on you.

and you felt him now.

you made your way to a convenience store, slipping inside. the place was nearly empty, save for the tired cashier. you grabbed a random snack, pretending to browse as you let your eyes flicker to the reflection in the freezer doors.

there.

a tall figure lingered just beyond the store’s entrance. a dark hoodie, pulled low. 

gotcha.

a smirk tugged at your lips as you made your way to the counter. you could end this now - turn, fire, put an end to this. but where was the fun in that?

you paid for your snack, exiting the store without sparing him a glance. you didn’t run. didn’t react. you just walked.

and sure enough, he followed.

you turned to a quiet street, coming to a stop beside an old vending machine. humming to yourself, you tapped your fingers against the metal as you fished out some coins. the moment the can of soda clattered into the dispenser, you sighed.

“are you going to keep following me?”

silence.

then a voice - low, smooth, annoyed. “you knew i was here.”

“of course,” you shrugged. you cracked open the can, taking a slow sip before tilting your head. “you’re getting sloppy.”

yunho finally stepped into the dim light, hands stuffed into his jacket pockets. his face was unreadable, but his eyes were locked onto yours, studying you.

you took another sip, licking a stray drop from your lips. “…why do you keep following me?”

yunho’s jaw twitched. 

you batted your eyelashes mockingly. “come on, yunho. i thought we were friends-?” 

“-shut up.”

he took a step forward, getting closer - too close now, enough that you had to crane your neck slightly to meet his gaze. 

“you killed someone important to me,” he said, pulling out a switchblade. “did you forget?”

“oh.. now i remember,” you took another slow sip of your drink, wiping your thumb across your lip. “so this is revenge,” you let your grin widen. “didn’t know you had it in you.”

yunho clicked his tongue. “you better watch that mouth of yours, doll. it’ll get you killed.”

you laughed. “whatever you say.”

before he could react-

-you hurled the soda can right at his face.

it hit with a solid THUNK, bouncing off his cheekbone with an impact so satisfying you almost wished you had another one to see if it’d leave a matching bruise.

yunho staggered back slightly, more stunned than hurt - and that was all you needed.

“a soda can?” yunho groaned. 

his fingers flexed at his side, like he was seconds away from reaching for his gun. but fortunately, you already bolted for an escape before he could even get a shot at you.

and you didn’t need to turn around to know he was still standing there.

DAY 18 OF 30 - BRAWL

you reloaded your gun, the empty clip clattering to the floor. 

this wasn’t your cleanest job, but it didn’t need to be. the mission was simple: infiltrate, kill the workers and leave.

your boots crunched over debris as you turned the corner. a group of armed men came into view, their weapons already raised. before they could react, you fired a series of quick shots.

in that moment, you heard the unmistakable sound of shattering glass behind you.

your eyes darted toward the broken window, a tall figure dropping through, their face hidden by the shadows.

‘another one?’ you thought. whoever the figure was, they could wait.

as you stepped forward, one of the men lunged at you. you sidestepped him easily, but before you could fire, an arm looped around your neck from behind, attempting to yank you into a headlock.

shit.

you drove your elbow back hard, catching the figure square in the ribs. they stumbled slightly, the grip loosening just enough for you to twist free. without hesitation, you turned and shot another man ahead of you, moving swiftly to avoid being surrounded.

but as you glanced over your shoulder, you finally caught sight of the figure’s face.

your heart sank.

“i- what the hell are you doing here?!” you exclaimed, barely managing to block an incoming attack from one of the remaining men.

“i’m here to kill you,” yunho replied bluntly.

before you could respond, he charged at you. groaning in frustration, you turned back to the men infront of you, gunning down most of the men while dodging yunho’s attacks. 

it didn’t take you long for you to realise this was going to be a problem. yunho was too good.

you dodged his shots while simultaneously avoiding the bullets of the men still trying to kill you. 

the gunfire eventually slowed down as you picked off the last of the men in the room. with a sharp turn, you took out the final target, his body crumpling to the ground.

finally, it was just the two of you.

yunho stood across the room, his chest heaving as he adjusted his grip on his gun. his dark eyes tracked your every move. you raised your weapon, the gun trained on him. for a moment, the two of you were locked in a silent standoff.

“not bad,” he said. “but not good enough.”

“very funny,” you glared. 

yunho fired a shot, and you ducked behind a toppled table for cover. you returned fire, your shots forcing him to hide behind a pillar. the two of  you moved in perfect synchronisation, narrowly avoiding each other’s bullets.

you were fast, faster than he’d expected. but he couldn’t afford to be distracted. 

he had a bigger problem.

in that moment, he felt a bullet slice through the fabric of his pants, leaving a red line.

you managed to graze his calf.

yunho stumbled slightly, his knee buckling. “shit-” he muttered under his breath, taking another shot that whizzed past your ear.

the fight was relentless, there was no time to even catch a breath. the two of you lunged at each other, hoping to finally end the other off.

but then, you heard it.

clink.

the sound was faint, barely audible, but it sent a jolt of panic through you. your eyes snapped to the floor.

a grenade.

your heart stopped.

for a second, neither of you moved. yunho stood frozen, his eyes locked on the small metallic object, his gun lowering in realisation. neither of you expected this. 

“shit-” you hissed.

you shoved him backward with all the strength you could muster, your body slamming into his as you both hit the ground hard. the grenade detonated a moment later, the explosion shaking the walls and sending debris flying in every direction.

the impact wasn’t massive, but it was enough to steal the air from your lungs. a burning pain shot through your arm as a fragment of the bomb tore into your sleeve, the fabric quickly soaking with blood.

the ringing in your ears was deafening as you slowly opened your eyes, coughing against the smoke and dust that filled the room.

you turned to yunho, his wide eyes staring up at you. “you...” he started slowly. “you saved me.”

you blinked, disoriented before you realised the position you were in.

your body had been shielding his, your injured arm protecting him from the bomb.

“...what the hell are you doing?” yunho asked softly.

“i… i don’t know,” you muttered. your own words felt hollow, even to you. you had no idea why you’d done it. you didn’t know what compelled you to save him.

the pain in your arm flared, pulling you back to reality. you pushed off of him quickly, scrambling to your feet.

yunho remained on the ground, his gun still in his hand. though, he made no effort to raise it. he just stared at you.

your heart pounded as you took a step back, the blood from your arm dripping onto the floor. before yunho could say anything, you turned and bolted, fleeing the building.

DAY 20 OF 30 - INHALE, EXHALE

yunho crouched in the shadowed corner of a multi-level car park, the cold floor beneath him grounding him as he adjusted his sniper rifle.

through the scope, he watched you.

you were sitting on a park bench, your arm tightly wrapped in clean white bandages. 

next to you sat your boyfriend, leaning in slightly as the two of you talked in hushed tones. even from this distance, yunho could see the way your faces changed - soft, intimate, almost tender.

it was a strange sight. for all the chaos and violence he’d seen from you for the past weeks, this moment felt… different. quiet.

yunho exhaled slowly, his finger hovering over the trigger. he knew what he had to do.

the two of you were alone in the park. no witnesses. it would be so, so easy to kill two birds with one stone.

he adjusted the scope, the crosshairs on you.

but then, his eyes caught on your bandaged arm once more.

his finger paused.

the memory hit him like a bullet. the heat of the explosion, your body slamming into his, shielding him with your arm as you shoved him to safety.

you saved him.

yunho was confused.

you’ve been trying to kill him, after all. every encounter with you was a game of survival where neither of you seemed willing to back down. and yet…

his grip on the rifle tightened. he didn’t even realise he was holding his breath.

through the scope, he watched as your boyfriend reached out, brushing his fingers lightly against your wrapped arm. you smiled faintly at him, though it didn’t quite reach your eyes. 

he adjusted the scope again, aiming for your head. his mind kept repeating: do it. pull the trigger. end this.

he let out a shaky breath, trying to refocus.

but then he realised something.

the crosshairs weren’t on you anymore.

without noticing it, his aim had shifted, the sniper now pointing at your boyfriend. yunho’s brow furrowed, his jaw clenching as he lowered the rifle slightly, his mind racing.

was this… what he wanted?

it was almost subconscious, a reflex he didn’t know he had. he didn’t care about your boyfriend. he was just a cheating bastard who wanted him dead.

but the thought of killing him instead brought an odd sense of clarity.

the rev of a nearby car engine pulled yunho back to the present. he blinked, realising how long he’d been sitting there, the rifle now heavy in his hands.

he glanced back through the scope one last time. you were laughing softly now, your boyfriend leaning closer to whisper something in your ear.

yunho’s finger brushed over the trigger again, but this time, it wasn’t pointed at either of you. slowly, he moved the sniper away, resting it against the concrete ledge.

DAY 24 OF 30 - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

you sat on the couch, carefully undoing the stained wrappings around your arm. as you began rewrapping the fresh gauze, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. 

your boyfriend walked out, dressed sharply in a pressed suit and polished shoes, the faint scent of expensive cologne trailing after him.

“are you going somewhere?” you asked, not even looking up as you tightened the bandage. 

he froze mid-step, his body stiffening. “uh-” he hesitated, his voice robotic. “i have lunch plans. with a client.”

“lunch plans?” you glanced up at him now. “seriously?”

“what?” he replied defensively, his brow furrowing in exaggerated confusion. he made his shitty ‘what-did-i-do-now’ face that you knew too well.

“you can go for lunch with your clients but not me?” you asked.

he sighed heavily. “come on, you know it’s for my business-”

“-if it’s really for your business,” you interrupted. “then why did your assistant tell me you’re free today?”

the mention of his assistant made him falter. for a split second, you saw panic flicker in his eyes.

“....stupid bitch,” he muttered under his breath.

your eyebrows shot up. “excuse you?”

“she doesn’t know anything, okay?” he snapped, irritation spilling over as he fixed his tie. “i am meeting a client. it’s an important lunch.”

your eyes narrowed as you took in the little tells. how he avoided eye contact, how his jaw tightened ever so slightly when he lied. “...alright,” you said slowly, leaning back into the couch.

he let out a sigh of relief, visibly relaxing.

“-who’s the client?”

he froze, the corner of his mouth twitching before he turned to glare at you. “god- you’re so fucking annoying, babe,” he spat, his voice dripping with venom. “why are you always on my back?”

“because you do the same to me?” you shot back, crossing your arms.

he scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “i took you on a walk the other day- that wasn’t enough for you?”

“a walk?” you snorted. “you think a walk is enough? what am i- a fucking dog?”

“you’re lucky i even had time for that,” he snarled, adjusting his watch strap. “but you know what?”

he leaned closer, his voice dropping into something cold and cutting. “if you really want me to make time for you, how about you actually finish the job and kill yunho?”

your eyes widened.

he smirked at your stunned expression, clearly satisfied with his words. “the sooner you kill him, the sooner we spend time together. sound fair?”

your chest tightened.

“i-i thought you hated when i rushed things,” your voice shook with restrained fury. “are you serious right now?”

“i’m always serious, babe,” he replied dismissively, storming towards the door.

as he reached the door, he paused, his hand gripping the handle tightly. he glanced back at you. “and ‘____’-?”

you met his eyes.

“-don’t fucking follow me.”

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

you followed him. 

you couldn’t resist. you told yourself not to care, not to think about it. but as soon as the front door slammed shut, you already moved to grab your jacket.

and it wasn’t hard to track him.

your boyfriend walked briskly through the city streets, stopping infront of a restaurant with fancy window sills and a golden sign that practically yelled exclusive.

and then she appeared.

a woman, her hair styled to perfection, stepped out of a car and greeted him with a wide smile. they shared a brief hug before heading inside together, his hand resting lightly on her back.

you followed them to a nearby window, careful to stay out of sight. they were seated at a private corner, the ambient lighting soft and romantic. the two of them leaned in close, their voices too low to hear, their body language far too familiar. 

was this just business? or was it something more?

you wanted to stay calm, to wait it out - but after ten minutes of watching them talk and laugh, you felt the anger bubbling over.

maybe you were… overreacting. maybe there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this.

ignoring the feeling in your gut, you turned and walked away from the scene.

“...hm.”

yunho adjusted his binoculars, lowering them slightly as he watched you disappear into the distance.

he didn’t expect to see you here. he didn’t even see your boyfriend entering the restaurant with the woman.

he was simply resting against the wall of a nearby building.

and then you showed up.

for a moment, he thought you were going to confront your boyfriend. but instead of bursting in or causing a scene, you left. pretty abruptly.

yunho sighed, lifting his binoculars again to get a better look inside the restaurant.

through the window, your boyfriend leaned forward, his hand brushing against the woman’s cheek as he pressed his lips to hers.

yunho scoffed softly. “typical,” he muttered under his breath.

the urge to laugh at the absurdity of it all was overshadowed by a strange sense of… confusion. 

why were you still with him? did you not know he was cheating?

yunho shook his head. he had no reason to care. no reason to be here.

as he turned to leave, something made him pause. without thinking, he pulled out his phone, zoomed in on the restaurant window and snapped a photo.

your boyfriend, mid-kiss, with the woman smiling against his lips.

DAY 27 OF 30 - GLASS, GLINT AND GLARE

champagne glasses clinked together, and fake laughter rang through the halls of the hotel. the ballroom were filled with men in crisp suits and women with stiff smilles.

you hated this kind of crowd.

but it was your boyfriend’s fundraiser. it’d be completely strange if he just went without you. so imagine your surprise when you hear-

“you can go home if you want,” your boyfriend whispered. 

you blinked. “what- why?”

he stared at a woman ahead. she wore a deep red dress, all curves and charm - which was when you realised she was the very same woman you saw him eating with a few days ago.

“i’m gonna go talk to her- y’know… my client,” he said before adding, “you can leave now. you’re not really needed after introductions.”

he didn’t even wait for your reply. just kissed your cheek and vanished into the crowd.

you stayed behind, rolling your eyes. you were dressed in a black satin gown, knife tucked underneath the slit. this was the best dress you had, and your boyfriend didn’t even acknowledge the effort you put into yourself.

you walked towards the bar, ignoring any stranger that tried to talk to you. you debated what drink you should get before landing on water. you needed to be present right now, not drunk.

it was about five minutes before you felt a shadow slid beside you.

you froze, your fingers curling around your glass slightly.

“i’m surprised you didn’t kill me on sight, doll,” yunho smirked, resting his elbow on the bar. 

“don’t tempt me,” you said bluntly, not facing him.

he tilted his head. “peace tonight?” 

“mhm, temporary truce,” you corrected, glancing at him from the corner of your eye. 

yunho’s suit was dark and tailored. it was very different from all the times you’ve seen him. he looked good.

“what’re you doing here?” you asked.

he shrugged. “someone owes my boss something. thought i’d collect it.” he paused. “didn’t know you’d be here, though.”

“bullshit,” you snorted, eyes fixed on the crowd ahead. “why wouldn’t i be at the fundraiser?”

“you mean the money laundering party?”

you shot him a look. “please don’t cause a scene. i’m in my best dress.”

a silence settled. you could feel him assessing you, his eyes looking you up and down. 

“you cleaned up nice,” he said finally.

“thanks,” you took a sip of your drink. “you cleaned up nice too.”

yunho raised an eyebrow.

you scoffed. “what? i can’t compliment you?”

“nono you can,” yunho coughed. “i just...wasn’t expecting it.”

you both leaned on the bar at the same time - elbows brushing. it startled you. not just the contact, but just how normal it felt. the two of you eventually fell into a not-so-hostile silence, watching the crowd as they talked and made deals.

“hey uh-“ yunho began softly. “thanks for pushing me away from the grenade.”

“it was nothing,” you said, brushing it off. 

“it wasn’t nothing,” he replied immediately. “i could’ve died, so thank you. and uh- sorry about your arm.”

you glanced down at your bandaged arm, nodding slowly. “…no worries.”

yunho paused for a moment. “where’s your boyfriend?” 

“i- he told me to go home,” you sighed, annoyed.

he raised an eyebrow. “…why?”

“i don’t know, and i’m not questioning it,” you said simply. “if he wants me to go home, i’ll go home… eventually.”

“...but doesn’t it bother you?” yunho’s eyes drifted toward your boyfriend across the room. “that he doesn’t want you here?”

“knock it off-”

“i’m just saying,” yunho continued, eyes now on you. “if you were my girlfriend, i’d show you off.”

for a moment, you just stood there, stunned. “...you don’t know him.”

“i don’t,” he agreed. “but i’ve met people like him.”

“oh yeah?” you raised an eyebrow. 

he nodded. “liars.”

you didn’t respond right away. you turned to the glass in your hand, swirling the water around.

“whatever,” you muttered. “i didn’t come here to talk about him.” 

you stared at the ballroom crowd, at your boyfriend laughing too loudly with the woman in red. you convinced yourself she was just a client- that it was just a meeting. everything was normal.

but the look she was giving him now didn’t feel normal. and neither did the way he touched her back as he guided her away from the crowd.

something in your chest twisted.

“you should be careful,” yunho spoke up beside you. “just… keep an eye on him.”

before you could say anything else, your boyfriend’s voice cut in. 

“babe?”

you turned. he was there, smiling too wide, wiping his hands on his blazer. “i didn’t know you were still here,” he said with a little laugh. “were you uh- watching me?”

you raised an eyebrow. “no- why? was there something to watch?”

he didn’t answer, but he seemed relieved. “i uh- anyway- you should go now. there’s nothing here for you to do.”

yunho let out a breath. not quite a laugh, but something resembling disbelief.

“wait- is that yunho?” your boyfriend looked at the both of you in shock. “w-why are the two of you… next to each other?”

“he kept me company while you were talking to your client,” you replied with distaste.

“oh right…” your boyfriend trailed off. “just uh- get home safe.”

“i’ll be right out,” you replied softly.

your boyfriend left without another word. 

as he left, yunho smirked. “what a prince.”

DAY 29 OF 30 - LAST DANCE

you swallowed the lump in your throat, zipping up your jacket. you stared at the revolver in your hand, brushing your thumb over the metal. ‘calm down, ‘____’. you can do it.'

tonight, you’d end this.

as much as you didn’t want to, he was still a job you needed to finish. you hated how much you’ve gotten friendly with each other over the past month. you needed to get back into the headspace you were in four weeks ago.

you tucked the gun into your holster and slipped out the door.

you’d gotten your hands on his schedule - sloppy of him, honestly. his final job: on the rooftop of some abandoned building.

by the time you got there, the sun was already setting. yunho was finishing the last shot, the body dropping fast. 

you waited patiently until he turned.

then you lunged.

your bodies slammed together like magnets - a scuffle, a mess of limbs. you kicked his leg, he twisted your wrist. you both stumbled back, breathless.

“we’re still doing this?” yunho panted, wiping a cut from his lip. “isn’t your hand still injured?”

“it doesn’t matter,” you spat, forcing the pain down.

he moved, and you moved faster.

more punches were exchanged. neither of you were at your best at this point. he was tired, your bones felt like they were breaking, everything about this felt like a living hell. until suddenly-

your knee crushed into his ribs.

his back hit the rooftop, and you were on top.

this was it.

you didn’t even remember how you ended up in this position. your head was spinning, and you could feel his heartbeat underneath your palm.

the barrel of your revolver hovered inches from his chin, his chest heaving as your knee dug into him. 

“god-“ yunho groaned as he twisted under your grip. “just fucking kill me at this point.”

you tilted your head, a sharp laugh slipping out from your mouth. “not yet...” you leaned in closer, close enough to feel his ragged breaths against your cheek. “you look so pretty like this...” you mocked. 

cars honked below, and the chatter from the street was getting lowder by the second. the golden hour made everything seem dreamy, and for one breathless second, it was pretty intimate if you ignored the gun.

“any last words?” you asked, eyes narrowing.

yunho looked up at you. he didn’t smile, didn’t smirk. he just looked at you.

“...your boyfriend’s cheating on you.”

pause. 

your eyes widened. “what.” 

you shoved the gun harder into his jaw. “explain yourself.”

“you didn’t notice?” 

you snapped, “this isn’t funny.” 

“check my phone,” yunho said tiredly. 

you didn’t want to. you really didn’t want to.

but your hands moved anyway.

you yanked his phone from his jacket, tilting it towards his face. once it was unlocked, you went to his photo gallery. there wasn’t much, so you found a photo pretty quickly.

your boyfriend and the woman in the red dress kissing. on the same day you followed him but thought you were ‘overreacting’.

you couldn’t breathe.

you scrolled past that, finding a video of them kissing on another day as well. “i… this can’t-”

you got up slowly, walking towards the stairwell of the rooftop.

behind you, yunho sat up. “...’____’?”

his voice was almost gentle.

but you didn’t look at him.

you had something else to settle.

DAY 30 OF 30 - MIDNIGHT

you checked your watch - 00:00AM.

you slammed your apartment door open. you didn’t even bother to close it.

your boyfriend was on the couch, legs crossed and drink in hand.

“oh, you’re back,” he said, glancing at you without getting up. “you killed yunho alrea-?”

BANG!

his body fell over before the question left his lips.

you stared at the smoke rising from the barrel of your revolver. the silence now was way louder than the shot.

you slid down against the doorframe, your back hitting the wall with a thud. the revolver clattered to the floor beside you.

now what?

you didn’t know how long you sat there, looking at the blood pooling beside you. he was your boss, your boyfriend - he gave you targets, he gave you a purpose. and now you had nothing.

your throat tightened, your breathing getting more shallow. crying over someone like him seemed stupid, especially since you did put a bullet in him, but there was a part of you that mourns what you once had.

after a while, you heard footsteps.

yunho appeared in the hallway, approaching you slowly. did he follow you here? 

his eyes moved from the body, to the gun, then to you. “...you alright?” he asked softly.

you gave a bitter laugh, wiping your nose. “no.”

he stepped closer, crouching next to you. he was far enough to give you space, but not far enough to make you feel lonely.

you didn’t speak for a long time. and neither did he.

then finally, you mumbled. “i had a feeling… but i didn’t want it to be true.”

yunho nodded quietly. he didn’t offer you any cheesy lines, but his presence was enough to keep you from going insane.

“he gave me everything,” you muttered, fidgeting with the bandages on your arm. “i was nothing before this- and i still am.”

he leaned back against the wall opposite you. “you’re wrong,” yunho said eventually. “you’re free now, that’s not nothing.”

you snorted. “so what- i start from scratch? what does someone like me even do now?”

yunho paused. “...you can join me?”

your eyes widened.

“i’d have to ask hongjoong first, but i’m sure he won’t mind,” he continued. “you’re smart, and you’re deadly.”

you stared for him for a minute, stunned.

then finally, you smiled.

“i think i’d like that.”

DAY 50 OF 30 - DOC MCSTUFFINS

finally, the mission was done.

your knife was thrown out, your boots were off, and your shoulder was throbbing like hell.

you peeled off your jacket with a wince. “...fuck,” you muttered.

a long, angry gash trailed from your shoulder down to your bicep. the fabric had stuck to the blood, ripping when you tugged it off. 

you sat on the edge of your bed in the safehouse, holding tissue against the wound. you could patch it up. soon. right now, you were tired. way too tired to be dealing with this.

a knock came from the door.

“dinner,” yunho called through. 

you straightened up a little. “i’ll be there soon,” you sighed.

there was a pause.

then the door opened.

“you okay-?” he stopped, eyes dropping to your arm. “shit.”’

you looked down. “it’s fine.”

“that is not fine,” he said as he moved across the room.

“it’s just a scratch,” you brushed it off.

yunho scoffed. “scratch-? that thing needs stitches.” he stood infront of you now. “why didn’t you say anything?”

you sighed. “i didn’t want anyone to worry.”

“too late.”

you met his gaze. “i can handle it.”

“i know,” yunho replied, softer this time. he crouched infront of you and held out his hand. “but let me help you.”

you hesitated before nodding.

yunho examined the gash, cleaning it with more experience than you thought. you flinched slightly as the dabbed at it with the edge of a cotton pad.

“sorry,” he muttered.

DAY 72 OF 30 - I KNOW THIS IS A BIG JUMP

the hideout was quiet.

not eerily so, but it was calm. no gunfire at all.

you sat at the kitchen counter, one leg tucked under you as you cleaned the barrel of your revolver. it was more of a habit now than a necessity.

across the room, yunho leaned back into the couch, watching you.

the two of you usually did this - doing your own stuff in silence while being in each other’s company. it was an unspoken routine you both fell into, and you liked it.

he cleared his throat after a while. “do you always clean your guns like that?”

you didn’t look up. “like what?”

“you’re basically giving it a spa day.”

you smirked, eyes on your work. “maybe i am.”

yunho got up and walked into the kitchen, rolling up the sleeves of his black shirt. his hair was still wet from the shower, slightly messy.

he moved towards you, sitting in the chair next to yours. he didn’t say anything at first, but then he spoke up. “... are you uh- doing anything tomorrow night?” he asked, slightly nervous.

your hands paused, glancing up. “hm… i think i have a target, but it’ll be over quick,” you replied, tilting your head. “why?”

“there’s a new restaurant opening nearby… i uh- wanted to check it out with you,” he chuckled awkwardly. 

a long silence passed.

“...are you asking me on a date?”

he shrugged. “it will be if you say yes.”

you grinned, putting your gun down onto the counter. “then i guess i’ll see you for date night.”

series taglist [OPEN] - @hanoishere @scuzmunkie @sinfullygay @arusio @midnightrebel1028 @neemaxx @seungminsrighthand @arilevenatz @ateezswonderland @beabatiny @lemirabitur @sunnyhokyu @frzzenfrxg @cylovesmg @txtsoobean @seonghwasslytherin @sundaybossanova @sweetinsaniiity @cybrnaya @choisanchwego @mrskill2 @devilzliaison @scary-thingz @gaonashi @jonghosbrainrot @mintchocoyum @justconniez @shiningpaint-marbleheart @stercul1a @sophrxsyne @pansexual-and-eating-pancakes @hii-hawaiiu @inkpot-winters @kryscent @hwateezz @xionarauwu @clmstorm @darlingz99 @physicofanatic @yeon103 @ahuiahoe @satsuri3su @queenofdumbfuckery @hopingfortwistedfriends @delulu4-life

spec one-shot taglist [OPEN]:

yunho: @hoe4yunho

author's note: thank you guys for reading this far! this shit took WAY too long and idk why but this fic was especially hard to write. some parts can definitely be improved, but at this point, i just wanna move past it. i am (sorta) back from my hiatus and it's gna take me a whileee before i upload the next one. but tysm to those who've supported me since the start, and just now i love you guys. (btw if you see any mistakes pls tell me but be nice about it LOL)

BONUS SCENE - YES

the building you were in was on the verge of being completely destroyed. windows were shattered, walls were basically rubble - the fight you just had was horrid.

you limped out of the building, crunching over broken glass and debris. your chest heaved as you dropped against a crumbling wall.

the side of your face was sticky with blood. your ribs ached. you weren’t even sure how you were alive right now. all you’re grateful for was that the job was done.

yunho stumbled out of the rubble seconds later. there were bruises all over his arm, and his clothes were tattered. he took one look at you and sat next to you, his thigh pressed against yours.

for a moment, neither of you spoke.

you just sat there, the adrenaline slowly wearing off.

then, he said, “the bullet almost took your head off.”

you gave a tired laugh. “yeah, but did you see how cool i looked dodging it?”

yunho turned his head, smirking. “you’re insane.”

“yeah, yeah whatever,” you leaned back. “…i’m just glad we won that.”

yunho nodded. 

his eyes didn’t leave you, and when you glanced over, you were met with a gaze.

and neither of you looked away.

not even when his knee shifted closer to yours, not even when your shoulder brushed against his.

slowly, so slowly, the gap between you closed. your hand reached for him, and his fingers hovered above your knee.

and then his face was infront of yours, closer than it had ever been.

you weren’t sure who moved first.

but it didn’t matter.

your lips met in a brief, heated kiss. something breathless - like neither of you realised what you’ve been holding for weeks. his hand moved to your waist, and you let your hand curl into the fabric of his shirt, holding him in place. 

the kiss deepened for a second, just barely, before he pulled back, breath catching. it ended way too soon.

you both blinked.

you were the first to speak, a little dazed. “...you kissed me.”

yunho raised a brow. “you kissed me back.”

you paused. 

then, you muttered, “oh yeah… you’re right.”

deleted scenes | other fics

[written-letters-from-izzy]

OUH THE SLOW BURN WAS 🔥🔥🔥 but honestly I loved the pace of it! It was a pace where I felt like was good to build the story and the relationship as well 💗

[callmeagardengnome]

AAAA omg i havent been here on ages… thank you so much for your kind words!! lowk gave me motivation to get back into writing loll 💗💗

[callmeagardengnome]

✗ mob mentality ✗ | ATEEZ (series masterlist)

pairings ✃ individual! mafia! ateez ot8 x fem! reader

genre ✃ mafia au, one-shots, angst + hurt/comfort here and there, romance, potential yandere behaviour, romance

details ✃ a collection of (unique…?) mafia one-shots WITH NO SMUTTTT created by yours truly. (all are standalone)

۶ blood in the clouds ৎ

[mafia leader! hongjoong x flight attendant! fem! reader]

it’s finally your last day as a flight attendant. you wanted nothing more than to laze on your couch and watch netflix - just to find out that one of your passengers blew out the brains of your pilot with a gun.

in which hongjoong hijacks a plane that his rival’s daughter is on.

poll | deleted scenes

۶ sugar and sin ৎ

[mafia! seonghwa x fem! reader]

seonghwa goes above and beyond to eliminate his targets: going undercover in places they go to most. when you happen to spend your time in a secluded bakery, seonghwa decides to bake your treats with doses of poison - yet somehow, you keep surviving.

in which you thought you made a new friend in your local bakery, when in reality - your ‘baker’ keeps mistaking laxatives for poison.

deleted scenes

۶  marathon extravaganza ৎ

[mafia! yunho x rival! fem! reader]

yunho has been a professional shooter for all of his life. he’s killed lawyers, federal agents and even highly-protected politicians. so why does his shots keep missing you?

in which you and yunho become obsessed in a game of cat and mouse.

deleted scenes

۶ under the hood ৎ

[mafia! yeosang x car mechanic! fem! reader]

as a mechanic, you tend to see clients on the daily - some new, some old. but when one of your regulars leave a $100,000 bag of cash on your counter, it seems like you’ve turned from ordinary citizen to wanted criminal. 

in which yeosang accidentally gave you the bag of money he stole instead of a ten dollar tip. 

۶ fries in the bag ৎ

[mafia! san x fast food employee! fem! reader]

san’s most effective method of killing is by using his looks to lure his enemies - making many powerful women (and men) fall for him. but when a regular person seems to be unfazed by his charms, san decides to do anything to make you fall in love with him. 

in which you finally got through your 2am shift, only to find the severed head of your abusive manager at your doorstep. 

۶ voice of crime ৎ

[mafia! mingi x anime VA! fem! reader]

when you entered the voice acting industry, you knew that there would be people that either loved you or hated you. but what you didn’t expect was to get shot at an anime convention by a weeb in cosplay. 

in which mingi accidentally shoots his favourite voice actress instead of her boyfriend that was beside her.

۶ money makers ৎ

[mafia! wooyoung x fem! reader]

day and night, you work in a shitty multi-million dollar corporation that doesn’t care about you. and to make matters worse, you had to find out that the whole company is in debt to a mafia gang by getting kidnapped during office hours. 

in which wooyoung tries to torture information out of you, only to realise that he’s found his kryptonite: a suicidal intern. 

۶ siren’s call ৎ

[mafia! jongho x jazz singer! fem! reader]

as the newest addition to the mafia, jongho got assigned to the boring task of scoping out a random bar in town. annoyed, he decided to leave early. or so he tried. when the singer stepped on stage and sang into the mic, her voice pulled jongho further into the bar than out. 

in which you begin to notice a regular in your gigs, though you can't ignore that your male audience seems to be disappearing one by one. 

hi yall! i initially only wanted to make one hongjoong oneshot until i realised how much i love mafia aus. there will be no smut in these stories and at most, there will be a detailed kissing scene. also do not expect regular updates!

if you want to be added to the taglist, feel free to ask!

series taglist [OPEN] - @hanoishere @scuzmunkie @sinfullygay @arusio @midnightrebel1028 @neemaxx @seungminsrighthand @arilevenatz @ateezswonderland @beabatiny @lemirabitur @sunnyhokyu @frzzenfrxg @cylovesmg @txtsoobean @seonghwasslytherin @sundaybossanova @sweetinsaniiity @cybrnaya @choisanchwego @mrskill2 @devilzliaison @scary-thingz @gaonashi @jonghosbrainrot @mintchocoyum @justconniez @shiningpaint-marbleheart @stercul1a @sophrxsyne @pansexual-and-eating-pancakes @hii-hawaiiu @inkpot-winters @kryscent @hwateezz @xionarauwu @clmstorm @darlingz99 @physicofanatic @yeon103 @ahuiahoe @satsuri3su @queenofdumbfuckery @hopingfortwistedfriends @delulu4-life @lcvejjoong @lunaryoongie @glitter-and-tears @sweatyracoon

spec one-shot taglist [OPEN]:

yunho: @hoe4yunho

other fics

[cherryhwas]

literally in love with this series so far!!

[callmeagardengnome]

EEEEEKKK THANK YOU!!

[callmeagardengnome]

✗ marathon extravaganza ✗ | JEONG YUNHO 

pairings  ✃  mafia! yunho x rival! fem! reader

genre  ✃  mafia au, non-idol au, SLOW BURNN, enemies/rivals to lovers (?), pretty angsty (?) but its hurt/comfort. (im 99% sure it is)

synopsis  ✃  

yunho has been a professional shooter for all of his life. he’s killed lawyers, federal agents and even highly-protected politicians. so why does his shots keep missing you?

in which you and yunho become obsessed in a game of cat and mouse. 

w.c  ✃ 10.1k

c.w  ✃ dark themes, desc of vivid gore and guns, kiss scene but no smut, cursing, reader has a boyfriend and he’s a dick, a hella toxic/verbally abusive r/s, cheating (not done by reader), petnames ('doll' by yunho tho its not used a ton and 'babe/baby' by reader's boyfriend)

not proofread!

masterlist

it’s quite blurry how you ended up like this, but you weren’t thinking about that right now. not when you have your gun held to his chin.

“god-“ yunho groaned as he twisted under your grip. “just fucking kill me at this point.”

you tilted your head, a sharp laugh slipping out from your mouth. “not yet...” you leaned in closer, close enough to feel his ragged breaths against your cheek. “you look so pretty like this...” you mocked. 

DAY 1 OF 30 - PROFILING

you sighed. ‘where is he?’ 

the warehouse reeked of death. blood pooled beneath the bodies scattered around you, soaking into the cracked concrete slowly. 

you sat in the middle of it all, legs stretched out as you scrolled through your phone, swiping through social media posts your friends uploaded.

your boyfriend walked in, his helmet tucked under one arm. his eyes swept across the scene, landing on all the bloodied corpses ahead of you. “you got it done quick,” he said, nodding in approval.

you shrugged, giving him a grin. “what can i say? i’m good, right?”

he didn’t answer, only sighing as he reached into the inner pocket of his jacket. “i have another job for you.”

“seriously?” you scoffed, sitting up straighter. “what about date night?”

“it’s important,” he said, tossing a thin folder onto the dark red ground infront of you.

you rolled your eyes, scooping up the file. you flipped it open, your brow furrowing as you skimmed the page. “...jeong yunho?” you mumbled, the name foreign on your tongue.

your eyes shifted over to the photo attached, along with the series of details:

JEONG YUNHO (26) PART OF A.T.Z. | JOINED IN 2016. PROFESSIONAL SNIPER. HIGHLY SKILLED IN FIREARMS, TACTICS AND CLOSE COMBAT. CURRENT LOCATION: UNKNOWN.

“wait- he’s in A.T.Z.?” you asked, snapping your head up to look at your boyfriend. “i thought we’re on good terms with them.”

“not anymore,” he replied with a shrug.

you blinked, turning back to the file. “so what? you just want me to kill this guy?”

he nodded, adding, “and destroy his phone while you’re at it.”

you raised an eyebrow. “why-?”

“-don’t ask, just do it,” he snapped, his patience gone.

“fine,” you sighed, handing the file back to him.

he snatched the file from your grasp, already turned to the exit. “you have one month.”

DAY 2 OF 30 - BULLETS, CHECK. BODY, CHECK. 

sure, you had around thirty days to kill jeong yunho, but wouldn’t it be better if you got it done now?  

you loaded your revolver, spinning the cylinder before tucking it into its holster. finding someone in a gang was always a challenge, especially one like A.T.Z. but you’ve been around long enough to know where to start. 

you looked through old meeting spots, bars and half-abandoned buildings your boyfriend mentioned in passing. but unfortunately, each location was a dead end.

as the sun began to set, you wandered around aimlessly, feeling slightly frustrated that your day led to nothing. 

but then you saw something: a shooting range.

you always passed by the place, but never had a reason to enter. with nothing else to do, there was no harm checking it out. maybe there were some cool guns to check out, or maybe you could practice your shooting skills before heading home.

the smell of gunpowder hit you the moment you stepped inside. the counter displayed an impressive selection of firearms, some of which you’ve never tried out before. you barely had time to look at most of them when something - more like someone, caught your eye.

a smirk spread across your face.

standing at one of the booths, rifle in hand, was jeong yunho.

what were the chances you actually found him on your first day of looking? you tried to get a clearer view of him, and you did. that was definitely him. he looked identical to the photo you had.

you slipped into a dark corner near the back, watching him as he practiced. 

each bullet he shot landed dead center on the target, rapid and precise. his stance, his timing - he was good in an annoying way. maybe people weren’t exaggerating after all.

by the time he wrapped up, it was late, the range nearly empty. he returned the gun, gathering his things from a locker before leaving.

“shit,” you adjusted your coat, cursing under your breath.

as he walked on the quiet street, you followed. you waited for the right moment - an alleyway just ahead.

the second he passed it, you lunged, grabbing his arm and shoving him into the wall. the impact echoed in the narrow space, but yunho recovered fast, twisting his body. “wha-”

your back hit the ground before you could blink. his hand gripped your wrist, forcing your arm to the concrete as his knee pressed into your side.

his eyes narrowed as they locked onto you, recognition obvious on his face. “what the hell-?” his grip faltered.

big mistake.

you shifted beneath him, flipping him over. now it was your turn to shove him into the ground, your gun against his cheek.

but before you could enjoy your victory, his foot kicked your stomach, sending you stumbling back with a gasp. your pain worsened as his fist collided with your jaw - and by the time you realised what was happening, he was already running.

your finger hovered over the trigger, your jaw throbbing. you raised your gun, aiming at his retreating figure. 

but he was too far away to kill. 

you sighed, lowering the weapon. “whatever,” you rolled your eyes. “i’ll try again next time.”

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

the door to the hideout slammed open. yunho stormed in, rubbing his aching, red knuckles. 

the group, scattered around the room with plates of half-eaten food, paused mid-bite to stare at him. 

“...are you okay?” mingi asked, breaking the silence. 

yunho let out a sigh, tossing his jacket onto a chair. “someone attacked me.” 

a chorus of overlapping voices erupted. 

“what!” “are you hurt?” “how did that happen-?” 

the noise was almost deafening as they crowded around him, checking his arms for bruises. 

yunho’s eyes landed on hongjoong. “remember the boss of M.M?” 

“M.M?” hongjoong raised an eyebrow. “the money laundering operation?” 

yunho nodded slowly, hesitating for a moment. “..his girlfriend attacked me.” 

the shock was instant. 

“what?!” 

mingi nearly dropped his plate and jongho blinked in disbelief. “wait- what? i thought ‘____’ only went for people he hated?” 

“i thought so too,” yunho replied, furrowing his brows. “did i piss him off? i’ve never even spoken to the guy.” 

the group exchanged uneasy glances, all just as confused as him. yeosang spoke up after a while, asking, “did you cross paths with him recently?” 

yunho frowned, trying his best to recall everything he did in the past few weeks. suddenly, his eyes widened. “wait-” he pulled out his phone, swiping rapidly before holding it up to the group. 

“i was at the same event as him,” yunho explained. 

he tapped on a video, playing it for them. the footage showed a lavish dinner party - chandeliers, soft music and a crowd of well-dressed people sipping champagne. 

san squinted at the screen. “when was this?” he asked. 

“about a week ago.” 

wooyoung leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. he reached for yunho’s phone, pulling it closer. “...holy shit-!” 

“-yunho caught him cheating.” 

he zoomed in on the video, pointing at your boyfriend kissing a woman who clearly wasn’t you. his face was unmistakable - and the moment his eyes darted to the camera, his face morphed into panic. 

the group turned their heads towards yunho, who looked utterly baffled. 

“why were you even recording?” wooyoung exclaimed. 

“the place looked nice,” yunho defended, snatching his phone back. “how was i supposed to know he was in the shot?” 

“it doesn’t matter, he probably wants you dead for that,” seonghwa sighed sharply. “i won’t be surprised if he’s going after your phone too.”

hongjoong, who had been silent for the most part, crossed his arms. “..what are you planning to do about it?”

yunho bit the inside of his cheek. “…nothing.”

the group stared at yunho in disbelief. 

“nothing?” mingi repeated.

yunho replied simply. “they’ll give up eventually.”

“you do realise that she attacked you, right? like, physically went after you?” seonghwa furrowed his eyebrows.

“she’ll get tired of it,” yunho brushed it off. “she’s just following orders- when she sees i’m not doing anything, she'll stop wasting her time.”

hongjoong sighed. “you’re not even going to try to deal with this before it gets worse?”

“i doubt it can get worse,” yunho shrugged. 

hongjoong’s eyes narrowed, studying yunho. “you better be right then.”

DAY 4 OF 30 - I WAS JUST TALKING

you left the apartment with your revolver tucked snugly at your side, hidden behind your jacket. 

today wasn’t about bloodshed - well, for the most part. you decided to take a step back, your mind set on a new strategy: learning. killing someone like yunho required knowledge, not impatience.

you went over to the shooting range. at the counter, a man with graying hair arranged a stack of papers, barely glancing at you as you entered. “what d’you looking for?” he grunted, his voice gravelly.

you rested your elbow on the counter. “actually, i was wondering if you know someone named jeong yunho?”

that got his attention.

his eyes snapped up to yours with mild suspicion. “yeah, i know him.. he’s a regular here,” he said slowly. “why d’you wanna know?”

“just curious,” you shrugged. “are you guys close?”

the man’s lip twitched as he let out a short laugh. “close? we’re basically family-”

he paused before continuing. “…why’re you askin’? you a cop?”

you tilted your head. “do i look like a cop?”

“...not really, but you’re askin’ a lot of questions.”

“i have my reasons,” you shrugged. you looked around the range before meeting his eyes again. “can we take this conversation somewhere else?”

the man’s brow furrowed in visible confusion, but he didn’t protest. with a grunt, he took out a cigarette and led the way to an alley, pushing the back door open.

you followed, stepping outside. as he lit his cigarette, you let your eyes drift down the dim alley, your hand resting on the gun beneath your jacket.

“so,” he began, taking a drag and blowing smoke into the air. “why’re you askin’ about yunho? he owe you money or somethin’?”

you chuckled softly, shaking your head. “nothing like that. i just want to know who i’m dealing with.”

“dealing with?” the man raised an eyebrow. “you sure you’re not a cop?”

that was when you pressed the revolver into his side, the cold metal making him freeze.

“come on,” you snorted. “don’t insult me like that..”

his cigarette slipped from his fingers, hitting the ground as his hands shot up. “what the fuc-”

“you know,” you whispered with a smirk.”for someone running a shooting range, you don’t have any guns on you. bit ironic, don’t you think?”

“i-” he stammered, trembling. “w-what do you want? money? you can take the whole safe-”

you lifted your gun up to his neck, digging it into his skin. 

“tell me everything you know about jeong yunho.”

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

yunho walked into the shooting range as per usual - though he stopped almost immediately, frowning.

the counter was empty.

normally, mr lo would be there, ready to make some remark about how often yunho practiced. but today, there was no one. not even a sound.  

yunho stood by the door for a moment. the idea of practice felt a little boring without anyone to talk to, but... he was here. might as well make use of the quiet.

for the next hour, the range echoed with the sound of gunfire as yunho emptied round after round into the paper target infront of him. but he wasn’t as focused as usual. he glanced over his shoulder between shots. it wasn’t like mr lo to just disappear.

by the time he finished his last round, he set his gun down, his eyes on the counter again.

that was when he noticed it.

the door at the back - mr lo’s smoke spot, was slightly opened.

yunho narrowed his eyes, his weapon raised and ready as he moved to the door with cautious steps. 

but the moment he pushed the door open, he froze.

slumped against the grimy alley wall, was mr lo.

“shit-” yunho lowered his gun as he rushed over. but it was too late.

mr lo’s head laid unnaturally to the side, his eyes devoid of life. blood dripped continuously from the wound beneath his chin, leaving a dark and sticky puddle on the ground.

yunho crouched down, his fists clenching. 

this was the man who taught him how to shoot, how to fight, how to survive. mr lo wasn’t a threat to anyone - why would someone kill him?

his eyes fell on something in mr lo’s limp hand. a small card, smeared with what looked like blood.

yunho carefully pried it from the man’s fingers. his heart sinking as he read the words scrawled across it:

love from M.M. xoxo.

yunho’s eyes widened.

M.M.

the handwriting was playful, but the message felt sickening. yunho flipped the card over, his stomach churning.

a kiss mark - stamped in a deep red, was pressed against the back. whether it was lipstick or blood, yunho couldn’t tell. and frankly, he didn’t care.

he knew who it was.

you.

“fucking disgusting,” he spat, shoving the card into his pocket. he stood up, eyes scanning the alley one last time before turning back to the shooting range. 

you were taunting him. whether this was a warning or another step in some twisted plan, it was clear you weren’t going to stop.

yunho left the alley and the body. his mind raced, already planning his next move.

you wanted to kill him? fine.

but now, it was personal.

DAY 5 OF 30 - MINECRAFT MANHUNT

you whipped your head around. 

the seemingly empty store behind you was quiet, with the creak of the old air conditioning adding to the hospital-esque ambience. not a single person was in sight. 

yet you couldn’t shake the feeling there was someone watching.

the cashier cleared his throat. “$98.64.”

you turned back to him, reaching into your pocket for cash. knives weren’t cheap, but you needed them. while guns were your main weapon of choice, it was always good to use different equipment once in a while.

you handed him the bills, just about to leave when- 

-a repulsive squelch echoed in the air. 

your eyes widened as the cashier’s head snapped, a clean bullet hole ripping through the side of his skull. blood splattered the register as his lifeless body hit the ground.

instinctively, you gripped your newly purchased knives. your eyes darted around the store as your pulse quickened, trying to find where that bullet came from.

then you looked up.

in the vent above, you caught the glint of a gun aimed directly at you.

“shit-”

you bolted for the nearest aisle, the crack of a gunshot ringing out as you narrowly dodged the bullet. you crouched behind a shelf, adjusting your grip on the knives.

the next shot whizzed past you, splintering a corner of the shelf. 

taking a deep breath, you leapt upward, using the shelves to gain height. with a sharp turn you vaulted over the top, landing behind the masked shooter.

and you didn’t wait.

charging forward, you tackled the figure, the two of you crashing to the floor in a tangle of limbs. your hand snatched the gun from their grip, tossing it to the opposite side of the store, sending a stack of boxes to the floor.

the masked figure twisted under you with a surprising strength. you held them down as your free hand reached for the edge of their mask.

you ripped it off to reveal their face. “yunho?” 

his lips curled into a smirk - and before you could react, he broke free, throwing you off balance.

you scrambled to your feet, knives raised. yunho’s eyes darted to where the gun landed.

“seriously?” you snarled, lunging at him.

your blade swiped across his neck, grazing him. blood trickled from the cut, but yunho barely flinched. instead, he charged at you.

he was fast, his punches relentless - and though you had an edge with knives, his sheer strength evened the playing field. you managed to land several shallow cuts on his arms, but his punches left your ribs aching.

the fight raged on, the store’s once orderly aisles was currently a battlefield of overturned shelves and scattered items.

after what felt like ages, he cornered you, slamming you into a shelf. your back screamed in protest as he pinned you, your own knife just inches from your face.

you gritted your teeth, straining to keep the knife at bay as it edged closer and closer. “are you really gonna kill a girl?” you sneered.

“i’ve killed women before,” he said. yunho’s grip on the knife tightened as it nicked the top of your mouth, drawing a thin line of blood across your lips. “you’re not special, doll.”

pain flared as the blade dragged down, leaving a scar. 

but in that moment, you found your opening.

with all the strength you could muster, you slammed your foot into his ribs, making him stagger. your elbow followed, hitting his arm hard enough to make him drop the knife.

you were out of energy, your limbs sore and your breaths laboured. but you weren’t going to die here. not in a million years. 

“shit,” you muttered, stumbling for the exit.

yunho’s eyes widened - and he bolted for the gun, long strides covering ground way too fast. you managed to shove the door open, but-

bang!

a bullet whizzed past your ear, lodging into a lamppost.

you turned, just for a second.

yunho was standing there, gun raised and eyes wide.

you grinned, blood staining your teeth. with a two-fingered salute, you ran from the scene as fast as you could.

yunho didn’t lower his gun. he didn’t even move.

“crap,” he hissed. “…how did i miss that?” 

he grabbed his discarded mask, shoving it into his pocket. he looked down at his bruises and cuts, sighing. “hongjoong’s not going to be happy about this.”

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

the door slammed shut behind you as you limped into the apartment, your steps heavy. blood smeared across your lip and your shirt had a tear from the earlier fight.

“what the fuck happened to you?” your boyfriend asked as he stood from the couch.

you rolled your eyes as you dabbed your mouth. “that’s the first time you’ve ever asked that,” you muttered.

he scoffed. “now’s not the time to be a bitch-“ he shoved a tissue into your hand, his eyes looking for further damage. “how’d you get hurt?”

you didn’t answer right away, pressing the tissue against your lip to stop the bleeding. after a moment, you sighed. “yunho.”

his eyes widened. “you attacked him already? it’s been, what- four days?”

“i wanted to get it done fast,” you said flatly before glaring at him. “especially since you’re holding date nights hostage.”

“god- you’re still angry about that?” he groaned, rubbing his temples. “date nights are a distraction. you need to focus.”

you froze, the tissue still pressed to your lip. “date nights are a distraction?” you repeated in disbelief. “is our whole relationship a distraction then?”

“don’t twist my words,” he ordered, his eyes piercing yours. “i gave you a month to kill this man and you decided to rush the job.”

he sighed, exasperated. “this is the problem- you always do this. now he knows we’re going after him.”

you stared at him, your anger bubbling below the surface. “....if you hate the way i do things so much, then you kill him.” 

without waiting for a reply, you stormed towards the bedroom.

“wait-” he called, his hand grabbing your wrist. his grip was painful, almost bruising.

you tried to yank your arm away, but he held on. “don’t be mad, baby. i need you,” he said, his voice irritatingly soft.

you turned to him, your face cold. “do you need me,” you began. “or do you need me to kill your enemies?”

the silence that followed was comical. he didn’t answer. he didn’t even try.

a bitter laugh escaped your lips. you snatched your hand free from his grasp and walked into the bedroom, slamming the door behind you.

“wait baby, i was just caught off guard-” he scrambled after you.

you didn’t respond, the lock clicking into place as you leaned against the door, chest heaving in frustration.

you couldn’t handle this shit today.

DAY 8 OF 30 - GAMEMODE SPECTATOR

god yunho was boring.

ever since your boyfriend gave you a plethora of apologies, you decided to follow yunho, notebook in hand, trying to piece together his routine. but it was just a monotonous loop of murder, meals, target practice and returning to that little hideout of his.

a killer’s life for sure, but not the type you expected from someone your boyfriend seemed so desperate to get rid off.

you leaned back against the park bench, flipping through your notes one last time.

no reckless behaviour, nothing to suggest that yunho was a real threat to you. nothing. ‘tame,’ you thought.

so why did your boyfriend want him dead?

the question stuck to the back of your mind like a parasite. sure, you didn’t need to know all the details, but something about all of this felt.. off.

still, it wasn’t your job to figure out why. it was your job to kill him. and soon.

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

yunho sat at his desk, the card you left at the shooting range bent in his hand. his jaw clenched as he stared at it.

the audacity.

you had no right to intrude in his life. you, your boyfriend and your taunting. none of it mattered. yunho didn’t care about your relationship or your boyfriend’s affair. but you made yourself his problem.

and he had no choice but to deal with you.

he stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. dropping to one knee, he reached under the bed, fingers curling around the familiar handle of a black case.

he hauled it out, his breathing slowing as he opened it - revealing his sniper rifle nestled inside.

the sight of it calmed him down, albeit slightly. he began to assemble the rifle, each piece clicking into place. when it was fully assembled, it rested in his hands like it was an extension of himself.

“just you wait, ‘____’,” he muttered under his breath. “you’re dead.”

DAY 11 OF 30 - SPYPARTY

you cracked your back. the body of the man you just killed sprawled on the ground, stab wounds in his chest. 

he had nothing to do with the yunho-job, but he was going to be an issue soon. might as well save yourself the trouble later.

twirling the bloody knife in your hand, you crouched to clean the blade on the man’s shirt before slipping it back into its sheath. 

but unbeknownst to you, a pair of eyes trained on you from a nearby building.

yunho laid low, his sniper rifle set up on the edge of the rooftop.

he’d been following you for hours, his binoculars helping him trace your path through the city. but now, with the rifle aimed and silencer attached, he had his chance. he lined up the shot, focused on the back of your head.

the trigger pulled with a soft click.

but you moved.

at the last second, you took a step forward, completely oblivious. the bullet embedded itself into a nearby wall.

“tch,” yunho scowled, lowering the rifle slightly. that was the second time he missed.

he didn’t understand. guns were his speciality - they were what made him lethal.

so how the hell were his shots failing?

he packed his rifle quickly, slinging the case over his shoulder before descending the fire escape. his annoyance bubbled beneath as he trailed you from a safe distance.

you wandered into a shop, disappearing inside for a while before emerging with two large bags. yunho frowned, his eyes narrowing. he wasn’t sure of what was in those bags, but he continued to follow you, finding himself a spot in a nearby building.

but then, you stopped at a place that threw him completely off-guard.

yunho froze on the rooftop, his brows furrowing as he stared through his binoculars. you weren’t heading home. 

you were at an animal shelter.

the sight of it made him blink. he adjusted the focus on his binoculars, zeroing in on the bags you carried. through the plastic, he spotted bags of food, colourful toys and what looked like blankets.

he hesitated as he crouched, setting up his rifle once more. 

you chatted with the worker as they locked up, saying goodbye with a small wave as you parted ways. yunho watched as you pulled out your phone, scrolling absentmindedly as you strolled down the empty street.

his finger hovered over the trigger as he took aim. his scope lined up perfectly with your head.

‘this is it,’ he thought, exhaling. 

he fired.

you froze in your tracks, your body stiffening as a bullet skimmed the ground near your feet - a faint black mark dotting the pavement.

the shot missed.

your head snapped up, your eyes quickly scanning the rooftops around you. a twinkle of something shiny caught your attention on a building not too far away.

a smirk spread across your face. you raised a hand, giving a mocking wave in the direction before taking off. there was no way you’d survive standing still - not against a sniper.

“shit!” yunho groaned, slamming his fist against the rooftop ledge.

his shots weren’t supposed to miss. ever. 

‘what is wrong with me?’ he thought bitterly, shoving the rifle into the case.

DAY 14 OF 30 - BLIND SPOTS

you pulled your hood up, blending into the late-night crowd as you navigated the streets.

it’d been three days since yunho last tried to kill you.

the lack of gunfire should’ve been a relief, but instead, it put you on edge. he didn’t seem like the type to stop. if anything, it meant something worse - he was waiting. 

the thought sent a chill down your spine.

you spent the past few days moving constantly. you hated being followed. but the feeling of being watched never left. even now as you walked through the crowded street, the prickling sensation at the back of your neck remained.

“alright,” you sighed, muttering under your breath. “where are you?”

yunho was a careful man. he was always careful. but he didn’t realise one thing - when you’ve been hunted for most of your life, you learned how to feel eyes on you.

and you felt him now.

you made your way to a convenience store, slipping inside. the place was nearly empty, save for the tired cashier. you grabbed a random snack, pretending to browse as you let your eyes flicker to the reflection in the freezer doors.

there.

a tall figure lingered just beyond the store’s entrance. a dark hoodie, pulled low. 

gotcha.

a smirk tugged at your lips as you made your way to the counter. you could end this now - turn, fire, put an end to this. but where was the fun in that?

you paid for your snack, exiting the store without sparing him a glance. you didn’t run. didn’t react. you just walked.

and sure enough, he followed.

you turned to a quiet street, coming to a stop beside an old vending machine. humming to yourself, you tapped your fingers against the metal as you fished out some coins. the moment the can of soda clattered into the dispenser, you sighed.

“are you going to keep following me?”

silence.

then a voice - low, smooth, annoyed. “you knew i was here.”

“of course,” you shrugged. you cracked open the can, taking a slow sip before tilting your head. “you’re getting sloppy.”

yunho finally stepped into the dim light, hands stuffed into his jacket pockets. his face was unreadable, but his eyes were locked onto yours, studying you.

you took another sip, licking a stray drop from your lips. “…why do you keep following me?”

yunho’s jaw twitched. 

you batted your eyelashes mockingly. “come on, yunho. i thought we were friends-?” 

“-shut up.”

he took a step forward, getting closer - too close now, enough that you had to crane your neck slightly to meet his gaze. 

“you killed someone important to me,” he said, pulling out a switchblade. “did you forget?”

“oh.. now i remember,” you took another slow sip of your drink, wiping your thumb across your lip. “so this is revenge,” you let your grin widen. “didn’t know you had it in you.”

yunho clicked his tongue. “you better watch that mouth of yours, doll. it’ll get you killed.”

you laughed. “whatever you say.”

before he could react-

-you hurled the soda can right at his face.

it hit with a solid THUNK, bouncing off his cheekbone with an impact so satisfying you almost wished you had another one to see if it’d leave a matching bruise.

yunho staggered back slightly, more stunned than hurt - and that was all you needed.

“a soda can?” yunho groaned. 

his fingers flexed at his side, like he was seconds away from reaching for his gun. but fortunately, you already bolted for an escape before he could even get a shot at you.

and you didn’t need to turn around to know he was still standing there.

DAY 18 OF 30 - BRAWL

you reloaded your gun, the empty clip clattering to the floor. 

this wasn’t your cleanest job, but it didn’t need to be. the mission was simple: infiltrate, kill the workers and leave.

your boots crunched over debris as you turned the corner. a group of armed men came into view, their weapons already raised. before they could react, you fired a series of quick shots.

in that moment, you heard the unmistakable sound of shattering glass behind you.

your eyes darted toward the broken window, a tall figure dropping through, their face hidden by the shadows.

‘another one?’ you thought. whoever the figure was, they could wait.

as you stepped forward, one of the men lunged at you. you sidestepped him easily, but before you could fire, an arm looped around your neck from behind, attempting to yank you into a headlock.

shit.

you drove your elbow back hard, catching the figure square in the ribs. they stumbled slightly, the grip loosening just enough for you to twist free. without hesitation, you turned and shot another man ahead of you, moving swiftly to avoid being surrounded.

but as you glanced over your shoulder, you finally caught sight of the figure’s face.

your heart sank.

“i- what the hell are you doing here?!” you exclaimed, barely managing to block an incoming attack from one of the remaining men.

“i’m here to kill you,” yunho replied bluntly.

before you could respond, he charged at you. groaning in frustration, you turned back to the men infront of you, gunning down most of the men while dodging yunho’s attacks. 

it didn’t take you long for you to realise this was going to be a problem. yunho was too good.

you dodged his shots while simultaneously avoiding the bullets of the men still trying to kill you. 

the gunfire eventually slowed down as you picked off the last of the men in the room. with a sharp turn, you took out the final target, his body crumpling to the ground.

finally, it was just the two of you.

yunho stood across the room, his chest heaving as he adjusted his grip on his gun. his dark eyes tracked your every move. you raised your weapon, the gun trained on him. for a moment, the two of you were locked in a silent standoff.

“not bad,” he said. “but not good enough.”

“very funny,” you glared. 

yunho fired a shot, and you ducked behind a toppled table for cover. you returned fire, your shots forcing him to hide behind a pillar. the two of  you moved in perfect synchronisation, narrowly avoiding each other’s bullets.

you were fast, faster than he’d expected. but he couldn’t afford to be distracted. 

he had a bigger problem.

in that moment, he felt a bullet slice through the fabric of his pants, leaving a red line.

you managed to graze his calf.

yunho stumbled slightly, his knee buckling. “shit-” he muttered under his breath, taking another shot that whizzed past your ear.

the fight was relentless, there was no time to even catch a breath. the two of you lunged at each other, hoping to finally end the other off.

but then, you heard it.

clink.

the sound was faint, barely audible, but it sent a jolt of panic through you. your eyes snapped to the floor.

a grenade.

your heart stopped.

for a second, neither of you moved. yunho stood frozen, his eyes locked on the small metallic object, his gun lowering in realisation. neither of you expected this. 

“shit-” you hissed.

you shoved him backward with all the strength you could muster, your body slamming into his as you both hit the ground hard. the grenade detonated a moment later, the explosion shaking the walls and sending debris flying in every direction.

the impact wasn’t massive, but it was enough to steal the air from your lungs. a burning pain shot through your arm as a fragment of the bomb tore into your sleeve, the fabric quickly soaking with blood.

the ringing in your ears was deafening as you slowly opened your eyes, coughing against the smoke and dust that filled the room.

you turned to yunho, his wide eyes staring up at you. “you...” he started slowly. “you saved me.”

you blinked, disoriented before you realised the position you were in.

your body had been shielding his, your injured arm protecting him from the bomb.

“...what the hell are you doing?” yunho asked softly.

“i… i don’t know,” you muttered. your own words felt hollow, even to you. you had no idea why you’d done it. you didn’t know what compelled you to save him.

the pain in your arm flared, pulling you back to reality. you pushed off of him quickly, scrambling to your feet.

yunho remained on the ground, his gun still in his hand. though, he made no effort to raise it. he just stared at you.

your heart pounded as you took a step back, the blood from your arm dripping onto the floor. before yunho could say anything, you turned and bolted, fleeing the building.

DAY 20 OF 30 - INHALE, EXHALE

yunho crouched in the shadowed corner of a multi-level car park, the cold floor beneath him grounding him as he adjusted his sniper rifle.

through the scope, he watched you.

you were sitting on a park bench, your arm tightly wrapped in clean white bandages. 

next to you sat your boyfriend, leaning in slightly as the two of you talked in hushed tones. even from this distance, yunho could see the way your faces changed - soft, intimate, almost tender.

it was a strange sight. for all the chaos and violence he’d seen from you for the past weeks, this moment felt… different. quiet.

yunho exhaled slowly, his finger hovering over the trigger. he knew what he had to do.

the two of you were alone in the park. no witnesses. it would be so, so easy to kill two birds with one stone.

he adjusted the scope, the crosshairs on you.

but then, his eyes caught on your bandaged arm once more.

his finger paused.

the memory hit him like a bullet. the heat of the explosion, your body slamming into his, shielding him with your arm as you shoved him to safety.

you saved him.

yunho was confused.

you’ve been trying to kill him, after all. every encounter with you was a game of survival where neither of you seemed willing to back down. and yet…

his grip on the rifle tightened. he didn’t even realise he was holding his breath.

through the scope, he watched as your boyfriend reached out, brushing his fingers lightly against your wrapped arm. you smiled faintly at him, though it didn’t quite reach your eyes. 

he adjusted the scope again, aiming for your head. his mind kept repeating: do it. pull the trigger. end this.

he let out a shaky breath, trying to refocus.

but then he realised something.

the crosshairs weren’t on you anymore.

without noticing it, his aim had shifted, the sniper now pointing at your boyfriend. yunho’s brow furrowed, his jaw clenching as he lowered the rifle slightly, his mind racing.

was this… what he wanted?

it was almost subconscious, a reflex he didn’t know he had. he didn’t care about your boyfriend. he was just a cheating bastard who wanted him dead.

but the thought of killing him instead brought an odd sense of clarity.

the rev of a nearby car engine pulled yunho back to the present. he blinked, realising how long he’d been sitting there, the rifle now heavy in his hands.

he glanced back through the scope one last time. you were laughing softly now, your boyfriend leaning closer to whisper something in your ear.

yunho’s finger brushed over the trigger again, but this time, it wasn’t pointed at either of you. slowly, he moved the sniper away, resting it against the concrete ledge.

DAY 24 OF 30 - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

you sat on the couch, carefully undoing the stained wrappings around your arm. as you began rewrapping the fresh gauze, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. 

your boyfriend walked out, dressed sharply in a pressed suit and polished shoes, the faint scent of expensive cologne trailing after him.

“are you going somewhere?” you asked, not even looking up as you tightened the bandage. 

he froze mid-step, his body stiffening. “uh-” he hesitated, his voice robotic. “i have lunch plans. with a client.”

“lunch plans?” you glanced up at him now. “seriously?”

“what?” he replied defensively, his brow furrowing in exaggerated confusion. he made his shitty ‘what-did-i-do-now’ face that you knew too well.

“you can go for lunch with your clients but not me?” you asked.

he sighed heavily. “come on, you know it’s for my business-”

“-if it’s really for your business,” you interrupted. “then why did your assistant tell me you’re free today?”

the mention of his assistant made him falter. for a split second, you saw panic flicker in his eyes.

“....stupid bitch,” he muttered under his breath.

your eyebrows shot up. “excuse you?”

“she doesn’t know anything, okay?” he snapped, irritation spilling over as he fixed his tie. “i am meeting a client. it’s an important lunch.”

your eyes narrowed as you took in the little tells. how he avoided eye contact, how his jaw tightened ever so slightly when he lied. “...alright,” you said slowly, leaning back into the couch.

he let out a sigh of relief, visibly relaxing.

“-who’s the client?”

he froze, the corner of his mouth twitching before he turned to glare at you. “god- you’re so fucking annoying, babe,” he spat, his voice dripping with venom. “why are you always on my back?”

“because you do the same to me?” you shot back, crossing your arms.

he scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “i took you on a walk the other day- that wasn’t enough for you?”

“a walk?” you snorted. “you think a walk is enough? what am i- a fucking dog?”

“you’re lucky i even had time for that,” he snarled, adjusting his watch strap. “but you know what?”

he leaned closer, his voice dropping into something cold and cutting. “if you really want me to make time for you, how about you actually finish the job and kill yunho?”

your eyes widened.

he smirked at your stunned expression, clearly satisfied with his words. “the sooner you kill him, the sooner we spend time together. sound fair?”

your chest tightened.

“i-i thought you hated when i rushed things,” your voice shook with restrained fury. “are you serious right now?”

“i’m always serious, babe,” he replied dismissively, storming towards the door.

as he reached the door, he paused, his hand gripping the handle tightly. he glanced back at you. “and ‘____’-?”

you met his eyes.

“-don’t fucking follow me.”

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

you followed him. 

you couldn’t resist. you told yourself not to care, not to think about it. but as soon as the front door slammed shut, you already moved to grab your jacket.

and it wasn’t hard to track him.

your boyfriend walked briskly through the city streets, stopping infront of a restaurant with fancy window sills and a golden sign that practically yelled exclusive.

and then she appeared.

a woman, her hair styled to perfection, stepped out of a car and greeted him with a wide smile. they shared a brief hug before heading inside together, his hand resting lightly on her back.

you followed them to a nearby window, careful to stay out of sight. they were seated at a private corner, the ambient lighting soft and romantic. the two of them leaned in close, their voices too low to hear, their body language far too familiar. 

was this just business? or was it something more?

you wanted to stay calm, to wait it out - but after ten minutes of watching them talk and laugh, you felt the anger bubbling over.

maybe you were… overreacting. maybe there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this.

ignoring the feeling in your gut, you turned and walked away from the scene.

“...hm.”

yunho adjusted his binoculars, lowering them slightly as he watched you disappear into the distance.

he didn’t expect to see you here. he didn’t even see your boyfriend entering the restaurant with the woman.

he was simply resting against the wall of a nearby building.

and then you showed up.

for a moment, he thought you were going to confront your boyfriend. but instead of bursting in or causing a scene, you left. pretty abruptly.

yunho sighed, lifting his binoculars again to get a better look inside the restaurant.

through the window, your boyfriend leaned forward, his hand brushing against the woman’s cheek as he pressed his lips to hers.

yunho scoffed softly. “typical,” he muttered under his breath.

the urge to laugh at the absurdity of it all was overshadowed by a strange sense of… confusion. 

why were you still with him? did you not know he was cheating?

yunho shook his head. he had no reason to care. no reason to be here.

as he turned to leave, something made him pause. without thinking, he pulled out his phone, zoomed in on the restaurant window and snapped a photo.

your boyfriend, mid-kiss, with the woman smiling against his lips.

DAY 27 OF 30 - GLASS, GLINT AND GLARE

champagne glasses clinked together, and fake laughter rang through the halls of the hotel. the ballroom were filled with men in crisp suits and women with stiff smilles.

you hated this kind of crowd.

but it was your boyfriend’s fundraiser. it’d be completely strange if he just went without you. so imagine your surprise when you hear-

“you can go home if you want,” your boyfriend whispered. 

you blinked. “what- why?”

he stared at a woman ahead. she wore a deep red dress, all curves and charm - which was when you realised she was the very same woman you saw him eating with a few days ago.

“i’m gonna go talk to her- y’know… my client,” he said before adding, “you can leave now. you’re not really needed after introductions.”

he didn’t even wait for your reply. just kissed your cheek and vanished into the crowd.

you stayed behind, rolling your eyes. you were dressed in a black satin gown, knife tucked underneath the slit. this was the best dress you had, and your boyfriend didn’t even acknowledge the effort you put into yourself.

you walked towards the bar, ignoring any stranger that tried to talk to you. you debated what drink you should get before landing on water. you needed to be present right now, not drunk.

it was about five minutes before you felt a shadow slid beside you.

you froze, your fingers curling around your glass slightly.

“i’m surprised you didn’t kill me on sight, doll,” yunho smirked, resting his elbow on the bar. 

“don’t tempt me,” you said bluntly, not facing him.

he tilted his head. “peace tonight?” 

“mhm, temporary truce,” you corrected, glancing at him from the corner of your eye. 

yunho’s suit was dark and tailored. it was very different from all the times you’ve seen him. he looked good.

“what’re you doing here?” you asked.

he shrugged. “someone owes my boss something. thought i’d collect it.” he paused. “didn’t know you’d be here, though.”

“bullshit,” you snorted, eyes fixed on the crowd ahead. “why wouldn’t i be at the fundraiser?”

“you mean the money laundering party?”

you shot him a look. “please don’t cause a scene. i’m in my best dress.”

a silence settled. you could feel him assessing you, his eyes looking you up and down. 

“you cleaned up nice,” he said finally.

“thanks,” you took a sip of your drink. “you cleaned up nice too.”

yunho raised an eyebrow.

you scoffed. “what? i can’t compliment you?”

“nono you can,” yunho coughed. “i just...wasn’t expecting it.”

you both leaned on the bar at the same time - elbows brushing. it startled you. not just the contact, but just how normal it felt. the two of you eventually fell into a not-so-hostile silence, watching the crowd as they talked and made deals.

“hey uh-“ yunho began softly. “thanks for pushing me away from the grenade.”

“it was nothing,” you said, brushing it off. 

“it wasn’t nothing,” he replied immediately. “i could’ve died, so thank you. and uh- sorry about your arm.”

you glanced down at your bandaged arm, nodding slowly. “…no worries.”

yunho paused for a moment. “where’s your boyfriend?” 

“i- he told me to go home,” you sighed, annoyed.

he raised an eyebrow. “…why?”

“i don’t know, and i’m not questioning it,” you said simply. “if he wants me to go home, i’ll go home… eventually.”

“...but doesn’t it bother you?” yunho’s eyes drifted toward your boyfriend across the room. “that he doesn’t want you here?”

“knock it off-”

“i’m just saying,” yunho continued, eyes now on you. “if you were my girlfriend, i’d show you off.”

for a moment, you just stood there, stunned. “...you don’t know him.”

“i don’t,” he agreed. “but i’ve met people like him.”

“oh yeah?” you raised an eyebrow. 

he nodded. “liars.”

you didn’t respond right away. you turned to the glass in your hand, swirling the water around.

“whatever,” you muttered. “i didn’t come here to talk about him.” 

you stared at the ballroom crowd, at your boyfriend laughing too loudly with the woman in red. you convinced yourself she was just a client- that it was just a meeting. everything was normal.

but the look she was giving him now didn’t feel normal. and neither did the way he touched her back as he guided her away from the crowd.

something in your chest twisted.

“you should be careful,” yunho spoke up beside you. “just… keep an eye on him.”

before you could say anything else, your boyfriend’s voice cut in. 

“babe?”

you turned. he was there, smiling too wide, wiping his hands on his blazer. “i didn’t know you were still here,” he said with a little laugh. “were you uh- watching me?”

you raised an eyebrow. “no- why? was there something to watch?”

he didn’t answer, but he seemed relieved. “i uh- anyway- you should go now. there’s nothing here for you to do.”

yunho let out a breath. not quite a laugh, but something resembling disbelief.

“wait- is that yunho?” your boyfriend looked at the both of you in shock. “w-why are the two of you… next to each other?”

“he kept me company while you were talking to your client,” you replied with distaste.

“oh right…” your boyfriend trailed off. “just uh- get home safe.”

“i’ll be right out,” you replied softly.

your boyfriend left without another word. 

as he left, yunho smirked. “what a prince.”

DAY 29 OF 30 - LAST DANCE

you swallowed the lump in your throat, zipping up your jacket. you stared at the revolver in your hand, brushing your thumb over the metal. ‘calm down, ‘____’. you can do it.'

tonight, you’d end this.

as much as you didn’t want to, he was still a job you needed to finish. you hated how much you’ve gotten friendly with each other over the past month. you needed to get back into the headspace you were in four weeks ago.

you tucked the gun into your holster and slipped out the door.

you’d gotten your hands on his schedule - sloppy of him, honestly. his final job: on the rooftop of some abandoned building.

by the time you got there, the sun was already setting. yunho was finishing the last shot, the body dropping fast. 

you waited patiently until he turned.

then you lunged.

your bodies slammed together like magnets - a scuffle, a mess of limbs. you kicked his leg, he twisted your wrist. you both stumbled back, breathless.

“we’re still doing this?” yunho panted, wiping a cut from his lip. “isn’t your hand still injured?”

“it doesn’t matter,” you spat, forcing the pain down.

he moved, and you moved faster.

more punches were exchanged. neither of you were at your best at this point. he was tired, your bones felt like they were breaking, everything about this felt like a living hell. until suddenly-

your knee crushed into his ribs.

his back hit the rooftop, and you were on top.

this was it.

you didn’t even remember how you ended up in this position. your head was spinning, and you could feel his heartbeat underneath your palm.

the barrel of your revolver hovered inches from his chin, his chest heaving as your knee dug into him. 

“god-“ yunho groaned as he twisted under your grip. “just fucking kill me at this point.”

you tilted your head, a sharp laugh slipping out from your mouth. “not yet...” you leaned in closer, close enough to feel his ragged breaths against your cheek. “you look so pretty like this...” you mocked. 

cars honked below, and the chatter from the street was getting lowder by the second. the golden hour made everything seem dreamy, and for one breathless second, it was pretty intimate if you ignored the gun.

“any last words?” you asked, eyes narrowing.

yunho looked up at you. he didn’t smile, didn’t smirk. he just looked at you.

“...your boyfriend’s cheating on you.”

pause. 

your eyes widened. “what.” 

you shoved the gun harder into his jaw. “explain yourself.”

“you didn’t notice?” 

you snapped, “this isn’t funny.” 

“check my phone,” yunho said tiredly. 

you didn’t want to. you really didn’t want to.

but your hands moved anyway.

you yanked his phone from his jacket, tilting it towards his face. once it was unlocked, you went to his photo gallery. there wasn’t much, so you found a photo pretty quickly.

your boyfriend and the woman in the red dress kissing. on the same day you followed him but thought you were ‘overreacting’.

you couldn’t breathe.

you scrolled past that, finding a video of them kissing on another day as well. “i… this can’t-”

you got up slowly, walking towards the stairwell of the rooftop.

behind you, yunho sat up. “...’____’?”

his voice was almost gentle.

but you didn’t look at him.

you had something else to settle.

DAY 30 OF 30 - MIDNIGHT

you checked your watch - 00:00AM.

you slammed your apartment door open. you didn’t even bother to close it.

your boyfriend was on the couch, legs crossed and drink in hand.

“oh, you’re back,” he said, glancing at you without getting up. “you killed yunho alrea-?”

BANG!

his body fell over before the question left his lips.

you stared at the smoke rising from the barrel of your revolver. the silence now was way louder than the shot.

you slid down against the doorframe, your back hitting the wall with a thud. the revolver clattered to the floor beside you.

now what?

you didn’t know how long you sat there, looking at the blood pooling beside you. he was your boss, your boyfriend - he gave you targets, he gave you a purpose. and now you had nothing.

your throat tightened, your breathing getting more shallow. crying over someone like him seemed stupid, especially since you did put a bullet in him, but there was a part of you that mourns what you once had.

after a while, you heard footsteps.

yunho appeared in the hallway, approaching you slowly. did he follow you here? 

his eyes moved from the body, to the gun, then to you. “...you alright?” he asked softly.

you gave a bitter laugh, wiping your nose. “no.”

he stepped closer, crouching next to you. he was far enough to give you space, but not far enough to make you feel lonely.

you didn’t speak for a long time. and neither did he.

then finally, you mumbled. “i had a feeling… but i didn’t want it to be true.”

yunho nodded quietly. he didn’t offer you any cheesy lines, but his presence was enough to keep you from going insane.

“he gave me everything,” you muttered, fidgeting with the bandages on your arm. “i was nothing before this- and i still am.”

he leaned back against the wall opposite you. “you’re wrong,” yunho said eventually. “you’re free now, that’s not nothing.”

you snorted. “so what- i start from scratch? what does someone like me even do now?”

yunho paused. “...you can join me?”

your eyes widened.

“i’d have to ask hongjoong first, but i’m sure he won’t mind,” he continued. “you’re smart, and you’re deadly.”

you stared for him for a minute, stunned.

then finally, you smiled.

“i think i’d like that.”

DAY 50 OF 30 - DOC MCSTUFFINS

finally, the mission was done.

your knife was thrown out, your boots were off, and your shoulder was throbbing like hell.

you peeled off your jacket with a wince. “...fuck,” you muttered.

a long, angry gash trailed from your shoulder down to your bicep. the fabric had stuck to the blood, ripping when you tugged it off. 

you sat on the edge of your bed in the safehouse, holding tissue against the wound. you could patch it up. soon. right now, you were tired. way too tired to be dealing with this.

a knock came from the door.

“dinner,” yunho called through. 

you straightened up a little. “i’ll be there soon,” you sighed.

there was a pause.

then the door opened.

“you okay-?” he stopped, eyes dropping to your arm. “shit.”’

you looked down. “it’s fine.”

“that is not fine,” he said as he moved across the room.

“it’s just a scratch,” you brushed it off.

yunho scoffed. “scratch-? that thing needs stitches.” he stood infront of you now. “why didn’t you say anything?”

you sighed. “i didn’t want anyone to worry.”

“too late.”

you met his gaze. “i can handle it.”

“i know,” yunho replied, softer this time. he crouched infront of you and held out his hand. “but let me help you.”

you hesitated before nodding.

yunho examined the gash, cleaning it with more experience than you thought. you flinched slightly as the dabbed at it with the edge of a cotton pad.

“sorry,” he muttered.

DAY 72 OF 30 - I KNOW THIS IS A BIG JUMP

the hideout was quiet.

not eerily so, but it was calm. no gunfire at all.

you sat at the kitchen counter, one leg tucked under you as you cleaned the barrel of your revolver. it was more of a habit now than a necessity.

across the room, yunho leaned back into the couch, watching you.

the two of you usually did this - doing your own stuff in silence while being in each other’s company. it was an unspoken routine you both fell into, and you liked it.

he cleared his throat after a while. “do you always clean your guns like that?”

you didn’t look up. “like what?”

“you’re basically giving it a spa day.”

you smirked, eyes on your work. “maybe i am.”

yunho got up and walked into the kitchen, rolling up the sleeves of his black shirt. his hair was still wet from the shower, slightly messy.

he moved towards you, sitting in the chair next to yours. he didn’t say anything at first, but then he spoke up. “... are you uh- doing anything tomorrow night?” he asked, slightly nervous.

your hands paused, glancing up. “hm… i think i have a target, but it’ll be over quick,” you replied, tilting your head. “why?”

“there’s a new restaurant opening nearby… i uh- wanted to check it out with you,” he chuckled awkwardly. 

a long silence passed.

“...are you asking me on a date?”

he shrugged. “it will be if you say yes.”

you grinned, putting your gun down onto the counter. “then i guess i’ll see you for date night.”

series taglist [OPEN] - @hanoishere @scuzmunkie @sinfullygay @arusio @midnightrebel1028 @neemaxx @seungminsrighthand @arilevenatz @ateezswonderland @beabatiny @lemirabitur @sunnyhokyu @frzzenfrxg @cylovesmg @txtsoobean @seonghwasslytherin @sundaybossanova @sweetinsaniiity @cybrnaya @choisanchwego @mrskill2 @devilzliaison @scary-thingz @gaonashi @jonghosbrainrot @mintchocoyum @justconniez @shiningpaint-marbleheart @stercul1a @sophrxsyne @pansexual-and-eating-pancakes @hii-hawaiiu @inkpot-winters @kryscent @hwateezz @xionarauwu @clmstorm @darlingz99 @physicofanatic @yeon103 @ahuiahoe @satsuri3su @queenofdumbfuckery @hopingfortwistedfriends @delulu4-life

spec one-shot taglist [OPEN]:

yunho: @hoe4yunho

author's note: thank you guys for reading this far! this shit took WAY too long and idk why but this fic was especially hard to write. some parts can definitely be improved, but at this point, i just wanna move past it. i am (sorta) back from my hiatus and it's gna take me a whileee before i upload the next one. but tysm to those who've supported me since the start, and just now i love you guys. (btw if you see any mistakes pls tell me but be nice about it LOL)

BONUS SCENE - YES

the building you were in was on the verge of being completely destroyed. windows were shattered, walls were basically rubble - the fight you just had was horrid.

you limped out of the building, crunching over broken glass and debris. your chest heaved as you dropped against a crumbling wall.

the side of your face was sticky with blood. your ribs ached. you weren’t even sure how you were alive right now. all you’re grateful for was that the job was done.

yunho stumbled out of the rubble seconds later. there were bruises all over his arm, and his clothes were tattered. he took one look at you and sat next to you, his thigh pressed against yours.

for a moment, neither of you spoke.

you just sat there, the adrenaline slowly wearing off.

then, he said, “the bullet almost took your head off.”

you gave a tired laugh. “yeah, but did you see how cool i looked dodging it?”

yunho turned his head, smirking. “you’re insane.”

“yeah, yeah whatever,” you leaned back. “…i’m just glad we won that.”

yunho nodded. 

his eyes didn’t leave you, and when you glanced over, you were met with a gaze.

and neither of you looked away.

not even when his knee shifted closer to yours, not even when your shoulder brushed against his.

slowly, so slowly, the gap between you closed. your hand reached for him, and his fingers hovered above your knee.

and then his face was infront of yours, closer than it had ever been.

you weren’t sure who moved first.

but it didn’t matter.

your lips met in a brief, heated kiss. something breathless - like neither of you realised what you’ve been holding for weeks. his hand moved to your waist, and you let your hand curl into the fabric of his shirt, holding him in place. 

the kiss deepened for a second, just barely, before he pulled back, breath catching. it ended way too soon.

you both blinked.

you were the first to speak, a little dazed. “...you kissed me.”

yunho raised a brow. “you kissed me back.”

you paused. 

then, you muttered, “oh yeah… you’re right.”

deleted scenes | other fics

[callmeagardengnome]

☕︎ fated ☕︎ | ATEEZ

pairings ᯓᡣ𐭩 idol! individual! ateez x fem!reader

genre ᯓᡣ𐭩 soulmate au, one-shot, fluff, hints of angst (?) but like idk honestly

synopsis ᯓᡣ𐭩 soulmarks are a thing - some being more clear and direct and some offering very little guidance. everyone is born with one, though they can manifest at any time. with all the different types of soulmarks today, what would you do to find your soulmate?

˚ʚ colour me rainbow ɞ˚ [kim hongjoong x fem! reader]

.

˚ʚ taste of you ɞ˚ [park seonghwa x fem! reader]

.

˚ʚ dreamy believer ɞ˚ [jeong yunho x fem! reader]

.

˚ʚ written in skin ɞ˚ [kang yeosang x fem!reader]

.

˚ʚ sore thumb ɞ˚ [choi san x fem!reader]

.

˚ʚ paint my world ɞ˚ [song mingi x fem!reader]

.

˚ʚ miles across ɞ˚ [jung wooyoung x fem!reader]

.

˚ʚ in my head ɞ˚ [choi jongho x fem!reader]

SERIES TAGLIST [OPEN] - @cara-rey @hwasbabygirl @chngbnwf @passerbyforfun @butterfliesinthenightsky @ismelllikechlorine247 @pansexual-and-eating-pancakes @forever-atiny @arki-sha @la-undercover-latina

author’s note: some titles or stories may change in the future! i also dont write smut so if you’re into that please go somewhere else 😗

other fics

[mustardmilkshake]

THIS WAS SO CUTE I READ AND ADORED EVERY SINGLE ONE AHHHHHHHHHH

[callmeagardengnome]

thank you so much for reading this! it was my very first ‘series’ kinda 😙😙😙 im so glad you loved it!

[callmeagardengnome]

✗ marathon extravaganza ✗ | DELETED SCENES | original fic

DAY 1 OF 30 - PROFILING

cigar smoke and sweat - you barely concealed your grimace as you stepped into your boss’s foul office, the heavy carpet muffling your footsteps.

the walls were lined with taxidermied animal heads, their open mouths, frozen mid-snarl. it seemed almost comical - like they were too, tired of hearing whatever bullshit came out of your boss’s mouth.

and there he was: a bald, sweaty excuse of a man, sinking into the leather chair like a bloated king on a throne. as always, his two guards stood on either side of his chair - silent, unmoving.

”you wanted to see me, sir?” you asked, shutting the door behind you. 

your boss gave a slow nod, dabbing his forehead with a handkerchief. “i have another job for you.”

your brows lifted. another? that was the third one this week. odd.

still, you didn’t question him. you simply watched as he reached into the mess of papers on his desk, pulling out a thin folder. he held it up, giving it a slight wave.

”$150,000.”

your breath hitched.

”…p-pardon?”

”don’t make me repeat myself,” he huffed, tossing the file towards you. it skidded across the polished wood before stopping at the edge of the desk.

you flipped it open, your eyes quickly skimming the page.

JEONG YUNHO (26)

PART OF A.T.Z. | JOINED IN 2016.

PROFESSIONAL SNIPER.

HIGHLY SKILLED IN FIREARMS, TACTICS AND CLOSE COMBAT.

CURRENT LOCATION: UNKNOWN.

your lips parted slightly. A.T.Z. was notorious - one of the most respected groups under ground. taking a contract against them wasn’t just risky; it was borderline suicidal. 

and yet…

a slow smirk curled at the corner of your lips.

you plucked the small photo clipped to the file - a grainy surveillance image of a man, his dark eyes staring somewhere beyond the lens. he looked young. really young.

you met your boss’s gaze. “how long do i have?”

“...a month.”

DAY 2 OF 30 - EXCURSIONS

the photograph was poor, the lighting doing it no favours. but details had a way of revealing themselves if you looked long enough. the blurred outlines of target silhouettes, the dull gleam of bullet casings scattered on the floor.

a shooting range.

you made your way over, settling onto a bench outside. a bag of chips in one hand, your knife tucked discreetly in your jacket - you had a clear view of the people trickling in and out.

soon enough, time passed, the sun beginning to set. you shifted, stretching out your legs and rolling your neck. 

then - someone nearly tripped on your foot, the scrape of a shoe against the pavement. 

“tsk,” a low voice muttered. “watch it.”

you barely had to glance up before irritation spread through you. the man had already turned away, pushing the door open. a cap sat low on his head, casting most of his face in shadow.

but you’ve seen that face before.

the realisation set in as you leaned back, chewing absently on a chip.

yunho.

your fingers brushed against the knife inside your jacket. not yet.

instead, you waited. counting the seconds, the minutes. then, slowly, you rose and slipped inside after him.

the familiar smell of gunpowder hit you as the door opened. your eyes drifted, scanning the lanes until you found him.

yunho stood firm, his stance was perfect - almost like a robot. each shot landed precisely where he aimed, as if the bullets obeyed him without question.

perfectionist, for sure.

“hey lady.”

a gruff voice pulled you from your thoughts.

your eyes shifted towards the counter where an older man with graying hair leaned forward, unimpressed. “you gonna shoot or stand there starin’?”

you shook your head. “just looking around. might come in tomorrow.”

the old man eyed you before nodding. “...alright. just don’t stand by the doorway. yer blockin’ my people.”

you hummed, offering the faintest of smiles as your eyes dropped to the nametag pinned to his shirt.

“...mr mo.”

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

yunho sighed, lowering his weapon. the clock on the far wall blinked 11:48 PM - his session was over, and it was just another late night at the range. 

he left the building, walking through the empty streets, hands in his pockets. he welcomed the silence. no orders barked through an earpiece, no bullets slicing the air. just his own footsteps in the night.

it was one of the few times he actually got to be alone.

yunho’s phone buzzed in his pocket. he was about to take it out when suddenly-

something - or someone, slammed into his back, sending him hurtling forward. his head collided with the concrete, pain thrashing in his skull. 

before he could react, a pair of hands flipped him over, and cold steel pressed against his throat.

he froze.

a pair of eyes, hungry and greedy, looked down at him. the faint glow of the streetlight behind her made it hard to see her face, but the sinister grin stretching across her lips was unmistakable.

“i’ll make this quick.” the blade dipped into his neck, just enough to draw the thinnest line of blood.

yunho scoffed. 

a well-placed kick, fast and brutal, rammed into your stomach. the pressure on his throat lifted as you stumbled back. yunho pushed himself to his feet, eyes darting to find you-

but you were already gone.

no sound of footsteps. no trace of movement. no hint of life. 

yunho coughed, rubbing his throat. in that moment, he glanced down, noticing something.

a small, white card sat neatly on the pavement where he had just been pinned.

slowly, he picked it up.

the front was blank. 

was this just a piece of trash? confused, he flipped it over. but what yunho didn’t expect to see was a-

-kiss stamp in dark red. 

AFTER THE FIRST ENCOUNTER

yunho slowed to a stop, his chest heaving as he leaned against the brick wall of a building, wiping the sweat off of his forehead.

for a moment, he stayed still, staring blankly at the pavement infront of him.

“...where have i seen you before?” he muttered to himself, running a hand through his damp hair.

there was a nagging familiarity to your face he couldn’t quite shake. he furrowed his brow, closing his eyes as he replayed the moment you attacked him.

the answer came to him suddenly, like someone flipped a switch in his brain. he stiffened for just a second, realisation sparkling in his eyes.

ah. you’re his girlfriend.

jeong yunho didn’t forget faces. he’d seen you once or twice, clinging to the arm of the boss of that money laundering operation, M.M.

A.T.Z had been working with them for the past two years, not often, but enough to remain ‘friendly’. the memory was faint, but he was sure it was you.

‘weird,’ he thought, pushing himself off of the wall.

whatever you wanted from him didn’t matter - not now, at least. he had other things to worry about. if you were going to make yourself a problem… he’d deal with you when the time came.

IF YUNHO DIDN’T TELL THEM AT FIRST

the door to the hideout kicked open, hitting the wall. yunho stormed in, the cuts on his arm and neck aching.

the group, scattered around the room with plates of half-eaten food, paused mid-bite to stare at him.

“...are you okay?” mingi asked, breaking the silence.

yunho let out a frustrated sigh, tossing his jacket onto a chair. “she got away.”

confused murmurs broke out among the group as they gathered closer.

“who’s ‘she’?” jongho set his drink down.

“the girlfriend of M.M.’s boss,” yunho clarified, collapsing onto the couch with a groan. “we got into another fight.”

the room fell silent before erupting into chaos.

“another?!” “wait- what?” “why are you guys even fighting?!”

their questions overlapped, but yunho didn’t bother responding. he leaned back, visibly frustrated.

seongwa’s voice cut through the noise. “wait, hold on- what do you mean, another? you didn’t tell us when you fought the first time!”

“i thought it was a one-off thing,” yunho sighed heavily. “but now i’m pretty sure she’s out to get me.”

san’s brows furrowed. “what’d you do to piss her off?”

yunho scoffed. “me? i didn’t do anything.”

“you must’ve done something,” wooyoung rolled his eyes. “did you cross paths with her at some point?”

“no- i’ve never even talked to her before,” yunho frowned, leaning back into the couch. 

everyone exchanged concerned glances, all equally confused as him. yeosang spoke up after a while, asking, “...what about her boyfriend?”

yunho’s eyes widened. “wait-” he pulled out his phone, swiping rapidly before holding it up to the group.

he tapped on a video, playing it for them. the footage showed a lavish dinner party - chandeliers, soft music and a crowd of well-dressed people sipping champagne. 

“i was at the same party as him,” yunho explained.

san squinted at the screen. “when was this?” he asked.

“about a week ago.”

wooyoung leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. he reached for yunho’s phone, pulling it closer. “...holy shit-!”

“-yunho caught him cheating.” 

he zoomed in on the video, pointing at your boss kissing a woman who clearly wasn’t you. his face was unmistakable - and the moment his eyes darted to the camera, his face morphed into panic.

the group turned their heads towards yunho, who looked utterly baffled. “why were you even recording?” wooyoung exclaimed.

“the place looked nice,” yunho defended, snatching his phone back. “how was i supposed to know he was in the shot?”

“it doesn’t matter, he probably wants you dead for that,” seonghwa exhaled sharply. “i bet he’s using his girlfriend to get rid of you and the evidence.”

“great,” yunho muttered under his breath. “just my luck.”

hongjoong, who had been silent up until now, crossed his arms, studying yunho. “what are you planning to do about it?”

“...i’m going to kill her.”

everyone went quiet.

jongho gulped. “..you’re not going after her boyfriend?” he asked, his voice slightly shaky.

“i am, but not yet,” yunho’s knee bounced restlessly. “i’m going to kill her, show the body to that little boyfriend of hers, then kill him.”

“that’s a lot, even for us,” seonghwa sighed, rubbing his temples. “you’re overreacting-”

“-i’m not,” yunho shot him a glare. “his stupid affair got mr mo killed.”

a stunned silence fell over the room, their jaws dropped.

“mr mo is dead…?” mingi whispered.

“they killed him for nothing,” yunho snarled. “and both of them are going to pay for it.”

DAY 11 OF 30 - WE LOVE LEARNING (the skeleton of the scene)

reader spent the past few days stalking yunho, memorizing his patterns, analyzing his kills, and getting an intimate understanding of how he works.

but not without challenge

he was very careful, even seemingly invisible at times.

but you made it work.

as you trailed behind him in a busy street, you followed his tall hooded figure.

you accidentally bumped into someone, and when you refocused yunho wasn’t there anymore. 

confused, you walked a little faster and before you know it, you were pulled into an alleyway.

“what do you want from me?” he said, pressing a gun into your jaw.

you smirked. “your life(?)”

you fought him off, both of you falling to the ground and you managed to put him in a headlock. 

he had a gun pointed to your legs, that were locking his.

“i don’t think you wanna do that,” you whispered, lips brushing his ear. “look at all the people on the street. you don’t want witnesses, do you?”

he scoffed, elbowing you off. you backed off, and before he knew it, you were already running. again.

anger blinding him, he took a shot. but it missed.

he didn’t even have time to process his miss when he heard people screaming at the gunshot. OMG THIS SUCKS NVM I HATE THISSSSSS AINT NOW WAY THIS IS MAKING IT IN IT DOESNT EVEN MAKE SENSE LMAOOOO HE’LL LITERALLY GET ARRESTED IRL

(im on my last straw)

DAY 15 OF 30 - THINK BEFORE YOU SHOOT

the bus rattled softly as it rolled down the quiet street. you sat near the back, your hood pulled low over you face.

a few seats ahead, yunho was slouched against the window, one arm draped across the back of the seat.

it was just the two of you and the driver on the bus.

your fingers ghosted over the gun hidden under your coat. this was the perfect opportunity - no crowds, no distractions. you could end him right here.

but as you gripped the gun, the bus slowed to a stop.

the doors creaked open. a tired-looking woman climbed abroad, her young daughter trailing behind her, clutching a melting ice cream cone.

you froze, your hand pausing beneath your coat as the child scampered down the aisle. she was humming something, her energy high even in the early morning.

then she tripped.

it happened so fast you barely registered it. the girl’s legs gave out, the ice cream cone flying from her hand.

but she didn’t hit the ground.

yunho managed to reach out and grab her by the back of her collar.

“whoa,” he blinked as he lifted her to her feet.

the girl stared at him with wide, teary eyes, her lower lip trembling as she glanced at the mess of her fallen ice cream on the bus floor.

predictably, she began to cry.

the mother rushed forward, her face pale. “i’m so sorry,” she said quickly, her voice hoarse. “she’s been so hyper ever since she found out we’re going to disney- thank you for catching her.”

“it’s okay,” yunho said immediately. he glanced at the puddle of ice cream on the floor, giving the girl a smile. “you can always get another cone, right?”

“but-” the girl sniffed, wiping her nose. “but it was my favourite!”

yunho tilted his head. “well, i’m sure the next one will taste even better. you know why?”

she shook her head, her tears slowing.

“because you’re going to disney soon,” he said, moving to wipe the puddle with a tissue he had on hand. “ice cream tastes way better at disney.”

the girl’s eyes lip up, her tears forgotten as she nodded eagerly. “yeah! mummy, can we get 3 scoops next time?” she turned to her mother.

“of course,” her mother sighed, patting her shoulder. the mother offered him a grateful smile before leading her daughter to a seat at the front of the bus.

you bit the inside of your cheek, your hand still hovering near your weapon as you watched the scene unfold.

the whole thing felt… wrong.

targets weren’t supposed to be like this. targets weren’t supposed to be normal, weren’t supposed to console crying children or make tired mothers smile. they were supposed to be irredeemable.

so how was this the man you were supposed to kill?

other fics | masterlist

[callmeagardengnome]

✗ marathon extravaganza ✗ | JEONG YUNHO 

pairings  ✃  mafia! yunho x rival! fem! reader

genre  ✃  mafia au, non-idol au, SLOW BURNN, enemies/rivals to lovers (?), pretty angsty (?) but its hurt/comfort. (im 99% sure it is)

synopsis  ✃  

yunho has been a professional shooter for all of his life. he’s killed lawyers, federal agents and even highly-protected politicians. so why does his shots keep missing you?

in which you and yunho become obsessed in a game of cat and mouse. 

w.c  ✃ 10.1k

c.w  ✃ dark themes, desc of vivid gore and guns, kiss scene but no smut, cursing, reader has a boyfriend and he’s a dick, a hella toxic/verbally abusive r/s, cheating (not done by reader), petnames ('doll' by yunho tho its not used a ton and 'babe/baby' by reader's boyfriend)

not proofread!

masterlist

it’s quite blurry how you ended up like this, but you weren’t thinking about that right now. not when you have your gun held to his chin.

“god-“ yunho groaned as he twisted under your grip. “just fucking kill me at this point.”

you tilted your head, a sharp laugh slipping out from your mouth. “not yet...” you leaned in closer, close enough to feel his ragged breaths against your cheek. “you look so pretty like this...” you mocked. 

DAY 1 OF 30 - PROFILING

you sighed. ‘where is he?’ 

the warehouse reeked of death. blood pooled beneath the bodies scattered around you, soaking into the cracked concrete slowly. 

you sat in the middle of it all, legs stretched out as you scrolled through your phone, swiping through social media posts your friends uploaded.

your boyfriend walked in, his helmet tucked under one arm. his eyes swept across the scene, landing on all the bloodied corpses ahead of you. “you got it done quick,” he said, nodding in approval.

you shrugged, giving him a grin. “what can i say? i’m good, right?”

he didn’t answer, only sighing as he reached into the inner pocket of his jacket. “i have another job for you.”

“seriously?” you scoffed, sitting up straighter. “what about date night?”

“it’s important,” he said, tossing a thin folder onto the dark red ground infront of you.

you rolled your eyes, scooping up the file. you flipped it open, your brow furrowing as you skimmed the page. “...jeong yunho?” you mumbled, the name foreign on your tongue.

your eyes shifted over to the photo attached, along with the series of details:

JEONG YUNHO (26) PART OF A.T.Z. | JOINED IN 2016. PROFESSIONAL SNIPER. HIGHLY SKILLED IN FIREARMS, TACTICS AND CLOSE COMBAT. CURRENT LOCATION: UNKNOWN.

“wait- he’s in A.T.Z.?” you asked, snapping your head up to look at your boyfriend. “i thought we’re on good terms with them.”

“not anymore,” he replied with a shrug.

you blinked, turning back to the file. “so what? you just want me to kill this guy?”

he nodded, adding, “and destroy his phone while you’re at it.”

you raised an eyebrow. “why-?”

“-don’t ask, just do it,” he snapped, his patience gone.

“fine,” you sighed, handing the file back to him.

he snatched the file from your grasp, already turned to the exit. “you have one month.”

DAY 2 OF 30 - BULLETS, CHECK. BODY, CHECK. 

sure, you had around thirty days to kill jeong yunho, but wouldn’t it be better if you got it done now?  

you loaded your revolver, spinning the cylinder before tucking it into its holster. finding someone in a gang was always a challenge, especially one like A.T.Z. but you’ve been around long enough to know where to start. 

you looked through old meeting spots, bars and half-abandoned buildings your boyfriend mentioned in passing. but unfortunately, each location was a dead end.

as the sun began to set, you wandered around aimlessly, feeling slightly frustrated that your day led to nothing. 

but then you saw something: a shooting range.

you always passed by the place, but never had a reason to enter. with nothing else to do, there was no harm checking it out. maybe there were some cool guns to check out, or maybe you could practice your shooting skills before heading home.

the smell of gunpowder hit you the moment you stepped inside. the counter displayed an impressive selection of firearms, some of which you’ve never tried out before. you barely had time to look at most of them when something - more like someone, caught your eye.

a smirk spread across your face.

standing at one of the booths, rifle in hand, was jeong yunho.

what were the chances you actually found him on your first day of looking? you tried to get a clearer view of him, and you did. that was definitely him. he looked identical to the photo you had.

you slipped into a dark corner near the back, watching him as he practiced. 

each bullet he shot landed dead center on the target, rapid and precise. his stance, his timing - he was good in an annoying way. maybe people weren’t exaggerating after all.

by the time he wrapped up, it was late, the range nearly empty. he returned the gun, gathering his things from a locker before leaving.

“shit,” you adjusted your coat, cursing under your breath.

as he walked on the quiet street, you followed. you waited for the right moment - an alleyway just ahead.

the second he passed it, you lunged, grabbing his arm and shoving him into the wall. the impact echoed in the narrow space, but yunho recovered fast, twisting his body. “wha-”

your back hit the ground before you could blink. his hand gripped your wrist, forcing your arm to the concrete as his knee pressed into your side.

his eyes narrowed as they locked onto you, recognition obvious on his face. “what the hell-?” his grip faltered.

big mistake.

you shifted beneath him, flipping him over. now it was your turn to shove him into the ground, your gun against his cheek.

but before you could enjoy your victory, his foot kicked your stomach, sending you stumbling back with a gasp. your pain worsened as his fist collided with your jaw - and by the time you realised what was happening, he was already running.

your finger hovered over the trigger, your jaw throbbing. you raised your gun, aiming at his retreating figure. 

but he was too far away to kill. 

you sighed, lowering the weapon. “whatever,” you rolled your eyes. “i’ll try again next time.”

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

the door to the hideout slammed open. yunho stormed in, rubbing his aching, red knuckles. 

the group, scattered around the room with plates of half-eaten food, paused mid-bite to stare at him. 

“...are you okay?” mingi asked, breaking the silence. 

yunho let out a sigh, tossing his jacket onto a chair. “someone attacked me.” 

a chorus of overlapping voices erupted. 

“what!” “are you hurt?” “how did that happen-?” 

the noise was almost deafening as they crowded around him, checking his arms for bruises. 

yunho’s eyes landed on hongjoong. “remember the boss of M.M?” 

“M.M?” hongjoong raised an eyebrow. “the money laundering operation?” 

yunho nodded slowly, hesitating for a moment. “..his girlfriend attacked me.” 

the shock was instant. 

“what?!” 

mingi nearly dropped his plate and jongho blinked in disbelief. “wait- what? i thought ‘____’ only went for people he hated?” 

“i thought so too,” yunho replied, furrowing his brows. “did i piss him off? i’ve never even spoken to the guy.” 

the group exchanged uneasy glances, all just as confused as him. yeosang spoke up after a while, asking, “did you cross paths with him recently?” 

yunho frowned, trying his best to recall everything he did in the past few weeks. suddenly, his eyes widened. “wait-” he pulled out his phone, swiping rapidly before holding it up to the group. 

“i was at the same event as him,” yunho explained. 

he tapped on a video, playing it for them. the footage showed a lavish dinner party - chandeliers, soft music and a crowd of well-dressed people sipping champagne. 

san squinted at the screen. “when was this?” he asked. 

“about a week ago.” 

wooyoung leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. he reached for yunho’s phone, pulling it closer. “...holy shit-!” 

“-yunho caught him cheating.” 

he zoomed in on the video, pointing at your boyfriend kissing a woman who clearly wasn’t you. his face was unmistakable - and the moment his eyes darted to the camera, his face morphed into panic. 

the group turned their heads towards yunho, who looked utterly baffled. 

“why were you even recording?” wooyoung exclaimed. 

“the place looked nice,” yunho defended, snatching his phone back. “how was i supposed to know he was in the shot?” 

“it doesn’t matter, he probably wants you dead for that,” seonghwa sighed sharply. “i won’t be surprised if he’s going after your phone too.”

hongjoong, who had been silent for the most part, crossed his arms. “..what are you planning to do about it?”

yunho bit the inside of his cheek. “…nothing.”

the group stared at yunho in disbelief. 

“nothing?” mingi repeated.

yunho replied simply. “they’ll give up eventually.”

“you do realise that she attacked you, right? like, physically went after you?” seonghwa furrowed his eyebrows.

“she’ll get tired of it,” yunho brushed it off. “she’s just following orders- when she sees i’m not doing anything, she'll stop wasting her time.”

hongjoong sighed. “you’re not even going to try to deal with this before it gets worse?”

“i doubt it can get worse,” yunho shrugged. 

hongjoong’s eyes narrowed, studying yunho. “you better be right then.”

DAY 4 OF 30 - I WAS JUST TALKING

you left the apartment with your revolver tucked snugly at your side, hidden behind your jacket. 

today wasn’t about bloodshed - well, for the most part. you decided to take a step back, your mind set on a new strategy: learning. killing someone like yunho required knowledge, not impatience.

you went over to the shooting range. at the counter, a man with graying hair arranged a stack of papers, barely glancing at you as you entered. “what d’you looking for?” he grunted, his voice gravelly.

you rested your elbow on the counter. “actually, i was wondering if you know someone named jeong yunho?”

that got his attention.

his eyes snapped up to yours with mild suspicion. “yeah, i know him.. he’s a regular here,” he said slowly. “why d’you wanna know?”

“just curious,” you shrugged. “are you guys close?”

the man’s lip twitched as he let out a short laugh. “close? we’re basically family-”

he paused before continuing. “…why’re you askin’? you a cop?”

you tilted your head. “do i look like a cop?”

“...not really, but you’re askin’ a lot of questions.”

“i have my reasons,” you shrugged. you looked around the range before meeting his eyes again. “can we take this conversation somewhere else?”

the man’s brow furrowed in visible confusion, but he didn’t protest. with a grunt, he took out a cigarette and led the way to an alley, pushing the back door open.

you followed, stepping outside. as he lit his cigarette, you let your eyes drift down the dim alley, your hand resting on the gun beneath your jacket.

“so,” he began, taking a drag and blowing smoke into the air. “why’re you askin’ about yunho? he owe you money or somethin’?”

you chuckled softly, shaking your head. “nothing like that. i just want to know who i’m dealing with.”

“dealing with?” the man raised an eyebrow. “you sure you’re not a cop?”

that was when you pressed the revolver into his side, the cold metal making him freeze.

“come on,” you snorted. “don’t insult me like that..”

his cigarette slipped from his fingers, hitting the ground as his hands shot up. “what the fuc-”

“you know,” you whispered with a smirk.”for someone running a shooting range, you don’t have any guns on you. bit ironic, don’t you think?”

“i-” he stammered, trembling. “w-what do you want? money? you can take the whole safe-”

you lifted your gun up to his neck, digging it into his skin. 

“tell me everything you know about jeong yunho.”

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

yunho walked into the shooting range as per usual - though he stopped almost immediately, frowning.

the counter was empty.

normally, mr lo would be there, ready to make some remark about how often yunho practiced. but today, there was no one. not even a sound.  

yunho stood by the door for a moment. the idea of practice felt a little boring without anyone to talk to, but... he was here. might as well make use of the quiet.

for the next hour, the range echoed with the sound of gunfire as yunho emptied round after round into the paper target infront of him. but he wasn’t as focused as usual. he glanced over his shoulder between shots. it wasn’t like mr lo to just disappear.

by the time he finished his last round, he set his gun down, his eyes on the counter again.

that was when he noticed it.

the door at the back - mr lo’s smoke spot, was slightly opened.

yunho narrowed his eyes, his weapon raised and ready as he moved to the door with cautious steps. 

but the moment he pushed the door open, he froze.

slumped against the grimy alley wall, was mr lo.

“shit-” yunho lowered his gun as he rushed over. but it was too late.

mr lo’s head laid unnaturally to the side, his eyes devoid of life. blood dripped continuously from the wound beneath his chin, leaving a dark and sticky puddle on the ground.

yunho crouched down, his fists clenching. 

this was the man who taught him how to shoot, how to fight, how to survive. mr lo wasn’t a threat to anyone - why would someone kill him?

his eyes fell on something in mr lo’s limp hand. a small card, smeared with what looked like blood.

yunho carefully pried it from the man’s fingers. his heart sinking as he read the words scrawled across it:

love from M.M. xoxo.

yunho’s eyes widened.

M.M.

the handwriting was playful, but the message felt sickening. yunho flipped the card over, his stomach churning.

a kiss mark - stamped in a deep red, was pressed against the back. whether it was lipstick or blood, yunho couldn’t tell. and frankly, he didn’t care.

he knew who it was.

you.

“fucking disgusting,” he spat, shoving the card into his pocket. he stood up, eyes scanning the alley one last time before turning back to the shooting range. 

you were taunting him. whether this was a warning or another step in some twisted plan, it was clear you weren’t going to stop.

yunho left the alley and the body. his mind raced, already planning his next move.

you wanted to kill him? fine.

but now, it was personal.

DAY 5 OF 30 - MINECRAFT MANHUNT

you whipped your head around. 

the seemingly empty store behind you was quiet, with the creak of the old air conditioning adding to the hospital-esque ambience. not a single person was in sight. 

yet you couldn’t shake the feeling there was someone watching.

the cashier cleared his throat. “$98.64.”

you turned back to him, reaching into your pocket for cash. knives weren’t cheap, but you needed them. while guns were your main weapon of choice, it was always good to use different equipment once in a while.

you handed him the bills, just about to leave when- 

-a repulsive squelch echoed in the air. 

your eyes widened as the cashier’s head snapped, a clean bullet hole ripping through the side of his skull. blood splattered the register as his lifeless body hit the ground.

instinctively, you gripped your newly purchased knives. your eyes darted around the store as your pulse quickened, trying to find where that bullet came from.

then you looked up.

in the vent above, you caught the glint of a gun aimed directly at you.

“shit-”

you bolted for the nearest aisle, the crack of a gunshot ringing out as you narrowly dodged the bullet. you crouched behind a shelf, adjusting your grip on the knives.

the next shot whizzed past you, splintering a corner of the shelf. 

taking a deep breath, you leapt upward, using the shelves to gain height. with a sharp turn you vaulted over the top, landing behind the masked shooter.

and you didn’t wait.

charging forward, you tackled the figure, the two of you crashing to the floor in a tangle of limbs. your hand snatched the gun from their grip, tossing it to the opposite side of the store, sending a stack of boxes to the floor.

the masked figure twisted under you with a surprising strength. you held them down as your free hand reached for the edge of their mask.

you ripped it off to reveal their face. “yunho?” 

his lips curled into a smirk - and before you could react, he broke free, throwing you off balance.

you scrambled to your feet, knives raised. yunho’s eyes darted to where the gun landed.

“seriously?” you snarled, lunging at him.

your blade swiped across his neck, grazing him. blood trickled from the cut, but yunho barely flinched. instead, he charged at you.

he was fast, his punches relentless - and though you had an edge with knives, his sheer strength evened the playing field. you managed to land several shallow cuts on his arms, but his punches left your ribs aching.

the fight raged on, the store’s once orderly aisles was currently a battlefield of overturned shelves and scattered items.

after what felt like ages, he cornered you, slamming you into a shelf. your back screamed in protest as he pinned you, your own knife just inches from your face.

you gritted your teeth, straining to keep the knife at bay as it edged closer and closer. “are you really gonna kill a girl?” you sneered.

“i’ve killed women before,” he said. yunho’s grip on the knife tightened as it nicked the top of your mouth, drawing a thin line of blood across your lips. “you’re not special, doll.”

pain flared as the blade dragged down, leaving a scar. 

but in that moment, you found your opening.

with all the strength you could muster, you slammed your foot into his ribs, making him stagger. your elbow followed, hitting his arm hard enough to make him drop the knife.

you were out of energy, your limbs sore and your breaths laboured. but you weren’t going to die here. not in a million years. 

“shit,” you muttered, stumbling for the exit.

yunho’s eyes widened - and he bolted for the gun, long strides covering ground way too fast. you managed to shove the door open, but-

bang!

a bullet whizzed past your ear, lodging into a lamppost.

you turned, just for a second.

yunho was standing there, gun raised and eyes wide.

you grinned, blood staining your teeth. with a two-fingered salute, you ran from the scene as fast as you could.

yunho didn’t lower his gun. he didn’t even move.

“crap,” he hissed. “…how did i miss that?” 

he grabbed his discarded mask, shoving it into his pocket. he looked down at his bruises and cuts, sighing. “hongjoong’s not going to be happy about this.”

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

the door slammed shut behind you as you limped into the apartment, your steps heavy. blood smeared across your lip and your shirt had a tear from the earlier fight.

“what the fuck happened to you?” your boyfriend asked as he stood from the couch.

you rolled your eyes as you dabbed your mouth. “that’s the first time you’ve ever asked that,” you muttered.

he scoffed. “now’s not the time to be a bitch-“ he shoved a tissue into your hand, his eyes looking for further damage. “how’d you get hurt?”

you didn’t answer right away, pressing the tissue against your lip to stop the bleeding. after a moment, you sighed. “yunho.”

his eyes widened. “you attacked him already? it’s been, what- four days?”

“i wanted to get it done fast,” you said flatly before glaring at him. “especially since you’re holding date nights hostage.”

“god- you’re still angry about that?” he groaned, rubbing his temples. “date nights are a distraction. you need to focus.”

you froze, the tissue still pressed to your lip. “date nights are a distraction?” you repeated in disbelief. “is our whole relationship a distraction then?”

“don’t twist my words,” he ordered, his eyes piercing yours. “i gave you a month to kill this man and you decided to rush the job.”

he sighed, exasperated. “this is the problem- you always do this. now he knows we’re going after him.”

you stared at him, your anger bubbling below the surface. “....if you hate the way i do things so much, then you kill him.” 

without waiting for a reply, you stormed towards the bedroom.

“wait-” he called, his hand grabbing your wrist. his grip was painful, almost bruising.

you tried to yank your arm away, but he held on. “don’t be mad, baby. i need you,” he said, his voice irritatingly soft.

you turned to him, your face cold. “do you need me,” you began. “or do you need me to kill your enemies?”

the silence that followed was comical. he didn’t answer. he didn’t even try.

a bitter laugh escaped your lips. you snatched your hand free from his grasp and walked into the bedroom, slamming the door behind you.

“wait baby, i was just caught off guard-” he scrambled after you.

you didn’t respond, the lock clicking into place as you leaned against the door, chest heaving in frustration.

you couldn’t handle this shit today.

DAY 8 OF 30 - GAMEMODE SPECTATOR

god yunho was boring.

ever since your boyfriend gave you a plethora of apologies, you decided to follow yunho, notebook in hand, trying to piece together his routine. but it was just a monotonous loop of murder, meals, target practice and returning to that little hideout of his.

a killer’s life for sure, but not the type you expected from someone your boyfriend seemed so desperate to get rid off.

you leaned back against the park bench, flipping through your notes one last time.

no reckless behaviour, nothing to suggest that yunho was a real threat to you. nothing. ‘tame,’ you thought.

so why did your boyfriend want him dead?

the question stuck to the back of your mind like a parasite. sure, you didn’t need to know all the details, but something about all of this felt.. off.

still, it wasn’t your job to figure out why. it was your job to kill him. and soon.

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

yunho sat at his desk, the card you left at the shooting range bent in his hand. his jaw clenched as he stared at it.

the audacity.

you had no right to intrude in his life. you, your boyfriend and your taunting. none of it mattered. yunho didn’t care about your relationship or your boyfriend’s affair. but you made yourself his problem.

and he had no choice but to deal with you.

he stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. dropping to one knee, he reached under the bed, fingers curling around the familiar handle of a black case.

he hauled it out, his breathing slowing as he opened it - revealing his sniper rifle nestled inside.

the sight of it calmed him down, albeit slightly. he began to assemble the rifle, each piece clicking into place. when it was fully assembled, it rested in his hands like it was an extension of himself.

“just you wait, ‘____’,” he muttered under his breath. “you’re dead.”

DAY 11 OF 30 - SPYPARTY

you cracked your back. the body of the man you just killed sprawled on the ground, stab wounds in his chest. 

he had nothing to do with the yunho-job, but he was going to be an issue soon. might as well save yourself the trouble later.

twirling the bloody knife in your hand, you crouched to clean the blade on the man’s shirt before slipping it back into its sheath. 

but unbeknownst to you, a pair of eyes trained on you from a nearby building.

yunho laid low, his sniper rifle set up on the edge of the rooftop.

he’d been following you for hours, his binoculars helping him trace your path through the city. but now, with the rifle aimed and silencer attached, he had his chance. he lined up the shot, focused on the back of your head.

the trigger pulled with a soft click.

but you moved.

at the last second, you took a step forward, completely oblivious. the bullet embedded itself into a nearby wall.

“tch,” yunho scowled, lowering the rifle slightly. that was the second time he missed.

he didn’t understand. guns were his speciality - they were what made him lethal.

so how the hell were his shots failing?

he packed his rifle quickly, slinging the case over his shoulder before descending the fire escape. his annoyance bubbled beneath as he trailed you from a safe distance.

you wandered into a shop, disappearing inside for a while before emerging with two large bags. yunho frowned, his eyes narrowing. he wasn’t sure of what was in those bags, but he continued to follow you, finding himself a spot in a nearby building.

but then, you stopped at a place that threw him completely off-guard.

yunho froze on the rooftop, his brows furrowing as he stared through his binoculars. you weren’t heading home. 

you were at an animal shelter.

the sight of it made him blink. he adjusted the focus on his binoculars, zeroing in on the bags you carried. through the plastic, he spotted bags of food, colourful toys and what looked like blankets.

he hesitated as he crouched, setting up his rifle once more. 

you chatted with the worker as they locked up, saying goodbye with a small wave as you parted ways. yunho watched as you pulled out your phone, scrolling absentmindedly as you strolled down the empty street.

his finger hovered over the trigger as he took aim. his scope lined up perfectly with your head.

‘this is it,’ he thought, exhaling. 

he fired.

you froze in your tracks, your body stiffening as a bullet skimmed the ground near your feet - a faint black mark dotting the pavement.

the shot missed.

your head snapped up, your eyes quickly scanning the rooftops around you. a twinkle of something shiny caught your attention on a building not too far away.

a smirk spread across your face. you raised a hand, giving a mocking wave in the direction before taking off. there was no way you’d survive standing still - not against a sniper.

“shit!” yunho groaned, slamming his fist against the rooftop ledge.

his shots weren’t supposed to miss. ever. 

‘what is wrong with me?’ he thought bitterly, shoving the rifle into the case.

DAY 14 OF 30 - BLIND SPOTS

you pulled your hood up, blending into the late-night crowd as you navigated the streets.

it’d been three days since yunho last tried to kill you.

the lack of gunfire should’ve been a relief, but instead, it put you on edge. he didn’t seem like the type to stop. if anything, it meant something worse - he was waiting. 

the thought sent a chill down your spine.

you spent the past few days moving constantly. you hated being followed. but the feeling of being watched never left. even now as you walked through the crowded street, the prickling sensation at the back of your neck remained.

“alright,” you sighed, muttering under your breath. “where are you?”

yunho was a careful man. he was always careful. but he didn’t realise one thing - when you’ve been hunted for most of your life, you learned how to feel eyes on you.

and you felt him now.

you made your way to a convenience store, slipping inside. the place was nearly empty, save for the tired cashier. you grabbed a random snack, pretending to browse as you let your eyes flicker to the reflection in the freezer doors.

there.

a tall figure lingered just beyond the store’s entrance. a dark hoodie, pulled low. 

gotcha.

a smirk tugged at your lips as you made your way to the counter. you could end this now - turn, fire, put an end to this. but where was the fun in that?

you paid for your snack, exiting the store without sparing him a glance. you didn’t run. didn’t react. you just walked.

and sure enough, he followed.

you turned to a quiet street, coming to a stop beside an old vending machine. humming to yourself, you tapped your fingers against the metal as you fished out some coins. the moment the can of soda clattered into the dispenser, you sighed.

“are you going to keep following me?”

silence.

then a voice - low, smooth, annoyed. “you knew i was here.”

“of course,” you shrugged. you cracked open the can, taking a slow sip before tilting your head. “you’re getting sloppy.”

yunho finally stepped into the dim light, hands stuffed into his jacket pockets. his face was unreadable, but his eyes were locked onto yours, studying you.

you took another sip, licking a stray drop from your lips. “…why do you keep following me?”

yunho’s jaw twitched. 

you batted your eyelashes mockingly. “come on, yunho. i thought we were friends-?” 

“-shut up.”

he took a step forward, getting closer - too close now, enough that you had to crane your neck slightly to meet his gaze. 

“you killed someone important to me,” he said, pulling out a switchblade. “did you forget?”

“oh.. now i remember,” you took another slow sip of your drink, wiping your thumb across your lip. “so this is revenge,” you let your grin widen. “didn’t know you had it in you.”

yunho clicked his tongue. “you better watch that mouth of yours, doll. it’ll get you killed.”

you laughed. “whatever you say.”

before he could react-

-you hurled the soda can right at his face.

it hit with a solid THUNK, bouncing off his cheekbone with an impact so satisfying you almost wished you had another one to see if it’d leave a matching bruise.

yunho staggered back slightly, more stunned than hurt - and that was all you needed.

“a soda can?” yunho groaned. 

his fingers flexed at his side, like he was seconds away from reaching for his gun. but fortunately, you already bolted for an escape before he could even get a shot at you.

and you didn’t need to turn around to know he was still standing there.

DAY 18 OF 30 - BRAWL

you reloaded your gun, the empty clip clattering to the floor. 

this wasn’t your cleanest job, but it didn’t need to be. the mission was simple: infiltrate, kill the workers and leave.

your boots crunched over debris as you turned the corner. a group of armed men came into view, their weapons already raised. before they could react, you fired a series of quick shots.

in that moment, you heard the unmistakable sound of shattering glass behind you.

your eyes darted toward the broken window, a tall figure dropping through, their face hidden by the shadows.

‘another one?’ you thought. whoever the figure was, they could wait.

as you stepped forward, one of the men lunged at you. you sidestepped him easily, but before you could fire, an arm looped around your neck from behind, attempting to yank you into a headlock.

shit.

you drove your elbow back hard, catching the figure square in the ribs. they stumbled slightly, the grip loosening just enough for you to twist free. without hesitation, you turned and shot another man ahead of you, moving swiftly to avoid being surrounded.

but as you glanced over your shoulder, you finally caught sight of the figure’s face.

your heart sank.

“i- what the hell are you doing here?!” you exclaimed, barely managing to block an incoming attack from one of the remaining men.

“i’m here to kill you,” yunho replied bluntly.

before you could respond, he charged at you. groaning in frustration, you turned back to the men infront of you, gunning down most of the men while dodging yunho’s attacks. 

it didn’t take you long for you to realise this was going to be a problem. yunho was too good.

you dodged his shots while simultaneously avoiding the bullets of the men still trying to kill you. 

the gunfire eventually slowed down as you picked off the last of the men in the room. with a sharp turn, you took out the final target, his body crumpling to the ground.

finally, it was just the two of you.

yunho stood across the room, his chest heaving as he adjusted his grip on his gun. his dark eyes tracked your every move. you raised your weapon, the gun trained on him. for a moment, the two of you were locked in a silent standoff.

“not bad,” he said. “but not good enough.”

“very funny,” you glared. 

yunho fired a shot, and you ducked behind a toppled table for cover. you returned fire, your shots forcing him to hide behind a pillar. the two of  you moved in perfect synchronisation, narrowly avoiding each other’s bullets.

you were fast, faster than he’d expected. but he couldn’t afford to be distracted. 

he had a bigger problem.

in that moment, he felt a bullet slice through the fabric of his pants, leaving a red line.

you managed to graze his calf.

yunho stumbled slightly, his knee buckling. “shit-” he muttered under his breath, taking another shot that whizzed past your ear.

the fight was relentless, there was no time to even catch a breath. the two of you lunged at each other, hoping to finally end the other off.

but then, you heard it.

clink.

the sound was faint, barely audible, but it sent a jolt of panic through you. your eyes snapped to the floor.

a grenade.

your heart stopped.

for a second, neither of you moved. yunho stood frozen, his eyes locked on the small metallic object, his gun lowering in realisation. neither of you expected this. 

“shit-” you hissed.

you shoved him backward with all the strength you could muster, your body slamming into his as you both hit the ground hard. the grenade detonated a moment later, the explosion shaking the walls and sending debris flying in every direction.

the impact wasn’t massive, but it was enough to steal the air from your lungs. a burning pain shot through your arm as a fragment of the bomb tore into your sleeve, the fabric quickly soaking with blood.

the ringing in your ears was deafening as you slowly opened your eyes, coughing against the smoke and dust that filled the room.

you turned to yunho, his wide eyes staring up at you. “you...” he started slowly. “you saved me.”

you blinked, disoriented before you realised the position you were in.

your body had been shielding his, your injured arm protecting him from the bomb.

“...what the hell are you doing?” yunho asked softly.

“i… i don’t know,” you muttered. your own words felt hollow, even to you. you had no idea why you’d done it. you didn’t know what compelled you to save him.

the pain in your arm flared, pulling you back to reality. you pushed off of him quickly, scrambling to your feet.

yunho remained on the ground, his gun still in his hand. though, he made no effort to raise it. he just stared at you.

your heart pounded as you took a step back, the blood from your arm dripping onto the floor. before yunho could say anything, you turned and bolted, fleeing the building.

DAY 20 OF 30 - INHALE, EXHALE

yunho crouched in the shadowed corner of a multi-level car park, the cold floor beneath him grounding him as he adjusted his sniper rifle.

through the scope, he watched you.

you were sitting on a park bench, your arm tightly wrapped in clean white bandages. 

next to you sat your boyfriend, leaning in slightly as the two of you talked in hushed tones. even from this distance, yunho could see the way your faces changed - soft, intimate, almost tender.

it was a strange sight. for all the chaos and violence he’d seen from you for the past weeks, this moment felt… different. quiet.

yunho exhaled slowly, his finger hovering over the trigger. he knew what he had to do.

the two of you were alone in the park. no witnesses. it would be so, so easy to kill two birds with one stone.

he adjusted the scope, the crosshairs on you.

but then, his eyes caught on your bandaged arm once more.

his finger paused.

the memory hit him like a bullet. the heat of the explosion, your body slamming into his, shielding him with your arm as you shoved him to safety.

you saved him.

yunho was confused.

you’ve been trying to kill him, after all. every encounter with you was a game of survival where neither of you seemed willing to back down. and yet…

his grip on the rifle tightened. he didn’t even realise he was holding his breath.

through the scope, he watched as your boyfriend reached out, brushing his fingers lightly against your wrapped arm. you smiled faintly at him, though it didn’t quite reach your eyes. 

he adjusted the scope again, aiming for your head. his mind kept repeating: do it. pull the trigger. end this.

he let out a shaky breath, trying to refocus.

but then he realised something.

the crosshairs weren’t on you anymore.

without noticing it, his aim had shifted, the sniper now pointing at your boyfriend. yunho’s brow furrowed, his jaw clenching as he lowered the rifle slightly, his mind racing.

was this… what he wanted?

it was almost subconscious, a reflex he didn’t know he had. he didn’t care about your boyfriend. he was just a cheating bastard who wanted him dead.

but the thought of killing him instead brought an odd sense of clarity.

the rev of a nearby car engine pulled yunho back to the present. he blinked, realising how long he’d been sitting there, the rifle now heavy in his hands.

he glanced back through the scope one last time. you were laughing softly now, your boyfriend leaning closer to whisper something in your ear.

yunho’s finger brushed over the trigger again, but this time, it wasn’t pointed at either of you. slowly, he moved the sniper away, resting it against the concrete ledge.

DAY 24 OF 30 - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

you sat on the couch, carefully undoing the stained wrappings around your arm. as you began rewrapping the fresh gauze, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. 

your boyfriend walked out, dressed sharply in a pressed suit and polished shoes, the faint scent of expensive cologne trailing after him.

“are you going somewhere?” you asked, not even looking up as you tightened the bandage. 

he froze mid-step, his body stiffening. “uh-” he hesitated, his voice robotic. “i have lunch plans. with a client.”

“lunch plans?” you glanced up at him now. “seriously?”

“what?” he replied defensively, his brow furrowing in exaggerated confusion. he made his shitty ‘what-did-i-do-now’ face that you knew too well.

“you can go for lunch with your clients but not me?” you asked.

he sighed heavily. “come on, you know it’s for my business-”

“-if it’s really for your business,” you interrupted. “then why did your assistant tell me you’re free today?”

the mention of his assistant made him falter. for a split second, you saw panic flicker in his eyes.

“....stupid bitch,” he muttered under his breath.

your eyebrows shot up. “excuse you?”

“she doesn’t know anything, okay?” he snapped, irritation spilling over as he fixed his tie. “i am meeting a client. it’s an important lunch.”

your eyes narrowed as you took in the little tells. how he avoided eye contact, how his jaw tightened ever so slightly when he lied. “...alright,” you said slowly, leaning back into the couch.

he let out a sigh of relief, visibly relaxing.

“-who’s the client?”

he froze, the corner of his mouth twitching before he turned to glare at you. “god- you’re so fucking annoying, babe,” he spat, his voice dripping with venom. “why are you always on my back?”

“because you do the same to me?” you shot back, crossing your arms.

he scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “i took you on a walk the other day- that wasn’t enough for you?”

“a walk?” you snorted. “you think a walk is enough? what am i- a fucking dog?”

“you’re lucky i even had time for that,” he snarled, adjusting his watch strap. “but you know what?”

he leaned closer, his voice dropping into something cold and cutting. “if you really want me to make time for you, how about you actually finish the job and kill yunho?”

your eyes widened.

he smirked at your stunned expression, clearly satisfied with his words. “the sooner you kill him, the sooner we spend time together. sound fair?”

your chest tightened.

“i-i thought you hated when i rushed things,” your voice shook with restrained fury. “are you serious right now?”

“i’m always serious, babe,” he replied dismissively, storming towards the door.

as he reached the door, he paused, his hand gripping the handle tightly. he glanced back at you. “and ‘____’-?”

you met his eyes.

“-don’t fucking follow me.”

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

you followed him. 

you couldn’t resist. you told yourself not to care, not to think about it. but as soon as the front door slammed shut, you already moved to grab your jacket.

and it wasn’t hard to track him.

your boyfriend walked briskly through the city streets, stopping infront of a restaurant with fancy window sills and a golden sign that practically yelled exclusive.

and then she appeared.

a woman, her hair styled to perfection, stepped out of a car and greeted him with a wide smile. they shared a brief hug before heading inside together, his hand resting lightly on her back.

you followed them to a nearby window, careful to stay out of sight. they were seated at a private corner, the ambient lighting soft and romantic. the two of them leaned in close, their voices too low to hear, their body language far too familiar. 

was this just business? or was it something more?

you wanted to stay calm, to wait it out - but after ten minutes of watching them talk and laugh, you felt the anger bubbling over.

maybe you were… overreacting. maybe there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this.

ignoring the feeling in your gut, you turned and walked away from the scene.

“...hm.”

yunho adjusted his binoculars, lowering them slightly as he watched you disappear into the distance.

he didn’t expect to see you here. he didn’t even see your boyfriend entering the restaurant with the woman.

he was simply resting against the wall of a nearby building.

and then you showed up.

for a moment, he thought you were going to confront your boyfriend. but instead of bursting in or causing a scene, you left. pretty abruptly.

yunho sighed, lifting his binoculars again to get a better look inside the restaurant.

through the window, your boyfriend leaned forward, his hand brushing against the woman’s cheek as he pressed his lips to hers.

yunho scoffed softly. “typical,” he muttered under his breath.

the urge to laugh at the absurdity of it all was overshadowed by a strange sense of… confusion. 

why were you still with him? did you not know he was cheating?

yunho shook his head. he had no reason to care. no reason to be here.

as he turned to leave, something made him pause. without thinking, he pulled out his phone, zoomed in on the restaurant window and snapped a photo.

your boyfriend, mid-kiss, with the woman smiling against his lips.

DAY 27 OF 30 - GLASS, GLINT AND GLARE

champagne glasses clinked together, and fake laughter rang through the halls of the hotel. the ballroom were filled with men in crisp suits and women with stiff smilles.

you hated this kind of crowd.

but it was your boyfriend’s fundraiser. it’d be completely strange if he just went without you. so imagine your surprise when you hear-

“you can go home if you want,” your boyfriend whispered. 

you blinked. “what- why?”

he stared at a woman ahead. she wore a deep red dress, all curves and charm - which was when you realised she was the very same woman you saw him eating with a few days ago.

“i’m gonna go talk to her- y’know… my client,” he said before adding, “you can leave now. you’re not really needed after introductions.”

he didn’t even wait for your reply. just kissed your cheek and vanished into the crowd.

you stayed behind, rolling your eyes. you were dressed in a black satin gown, knife tucked underneath the slit. this was the best dress you had, and your boyfriend didn’t even acknowledge the effort you put into yourself.

you walked towards the bar, ignoring any stranger that tried to talk to you. you debated what drink you should get before landing on water. you needed to be present right now, not drunk.

it was about five minutes before you felt a shadow slid beside you.

you froze, your fingers curling around your glass slightly.

“i’m surprised you didn’t kill me on sight, doll,” yunho smirked, resting his elbow on the bar. 

“don’t tempt me,” you said bluntly, not facing him.

he tilted his head. “peace tonight?” 

“mhm, temporary truce,” you corrected, glancing at him from the corner of your eye. 

yunho’s suit was dark and tailored. it was very different from all the times you’ve seen him. he looked good.

“what’re you doing here?” you asked.

he shrugged. “someone owes my boss something. thought i’d collect it.” he paused. “didn’t know you’d be here, though.”

“bullshit,” you snorted, eyes fixed on the crowd ahead. “why wouldn’t i be at the fundraiser?”

“you mean the money laundering party?”

you shot him a look. “please don’t cause a scene. i’m in my best dress.”

a silence settled. you could feel him assessing you, his eyes looking you up and down. 

“you cleaned up nice,” he said finally.

“thanks,” you took a sip of your drink. “you cleaned up nice too.”

yunho raised an eyebrow.

you scoffed. “what? i can’t compliment you?”

“nono you can,” yunho coughed. “i just...wasn’t expecting it.”

you both leaned on the bar at the same time - elbows brushing. it startled you. not just the contact, but just how normal it felt. the two of you eventually fell into a not-so-hostile silence, watching the crowd as they talked and made deals.

“hey uh-“ yunho began softly. “thanks for pushing me away from the grenade.”

“it was nothing,” you said, brushing it off. 

“it wasn’t nothing,” he replied immediately. “i could’ve died, so thank you. and uh- sorry about your arm.”

you glanced down at your bandaged arm, nodding slowly. “…no worries.”

yunho paused for a moment. “where’s your boyfriend?” 

“i- he told me to go home,” you sighed, annoyed.

he raised an eyebrow. “…why?”

“i don’t know, and i’m not questioning it,” you said simply. “if he wants me to go home, i’ll go home… eventually.”

“...but doesn’t it bother you?” yunho’s eyes drifted toward your boyfriend across the room. “that he doesn’t want you here?”

“knock it off-”

“i’m just saying,” yunho continued, eyes now on you. “if you were my girlfriend, i’d show you off.”

for a moment, you just stood there, stunned. “...you don’t know him.”

“i don’t,” he agreed. “but i’ve met people like him.”

“oh yeah?” you raised an eyebrow. 

he nodded. “liars.”

you didn’t respond right away. you turned to the glass in your hand, swirling the water around.

“whatever,” you muttered. “i didn’t come here to talk about him.” 

you stared at the ballroom crowd, at your boyfriend laughing too loudly with the woman in red. you convinced yourself she was just a client- that it was just a meeting. everything was normal.

but the look she was giving him now didn’t feel normal. and neither did the way he touched her back as he guided her away from the crowd.

something in your chest twisted.

“you should be careful,” yunho spoke up beside you. “just… keep an eye on him.”

before you could say anything else, your boyfriend’s voice cut in. 

“babe?”

you turned. he was there, smiling too wide, wiping his hands on his blazer. “i didn’t know you were still here,” he said with a little laugh. “were you uh- watching me?”

you raised an eyebrow. “no- why? was there something to watch?”

he didn’t answer, but he seemed relieved. “i uh- anyway- you should go now. there’s nothing here for you to do.”

yunho let out a breath. not quite a laugh, but something resembling disbelief.

“wait- is that yunho?” your boyfriend looked at the both of you in shock. “w-why are the two of you… next to each other?”

“he kept me company while you were talking to your client,” you replied with distaste.

“oh right…” your boyfriend trailed off. “just uh- get home safe.”

“i’ll be right out,” you replied softly.

your boyfriend left without another word. 

as he left, yunho smirked. “what a prince.”

DAY 29 OF 30 - LAST DANCE

you swallowed the lump in your throat, zipping up your jacket. you stared at the revolver in your hand, brushing your thumb over the metal. ‘calm down, ‘____’. you can do it.'

tonight, you’d end this.

as much as you didn’t want to, he was still a job you needed to finish. you hated how much you’ve gotten friendly with each other over the past month. you needed to get back into the headspace you were in four weeks ago.

you tucked the gun into your holster and slipped out the door.

you’d gotten your hands on his schedule - sloppy of him, honestly. his final job: on the rooftop of some abandoned building.

by the time you got there, the sun was already setting. yunho was finishing the last shot, the body dropping fast. 

you waited patiently until he turned.

then you lunged.

your bodies slammed together like magnets - a scuffle, a mess of limbs. you kicked his leg, he twisted your wrist. you both stumbled back, breathless.

“we’re still doing this?” yunho panted, wiping a cut from his lip. “isn’t your hand still injured?”

“it doesn’t matter,” you spat, forcing the pain down.

he moved, and you moved faster.

more punches were exchanged. neither of you were at your best at this point. he was tired, your bones felt like they were breaking, everything about this felt like a living hell. until suddenly-

your knee crushed into his ribs.

his back hit the rooftop, and you were on top.

this was it.

you didn’t even remember how you ended up in this position. your head was spinning, and you could feel his heartbeat underneath your palm.

the barrel of your revolver hovered inches from his chin, his chest heaving as your knee dug into him. 

“god-“ yunho groaned as he twisted under your grip. “just fucking kill me at this point.”

you tilted your head, a sharp laugh slipping out from your mouth. “not yet...” you leaned in closer, close enough to feel his ragged breaths against your cheek. “you look so pretty like this...” you mocked. 

cars honked below, and the chatter from the street was getting lowder by the second. the golden hour made everything seem dreamy, and for one breathless second, it was pretty intimate if you ignored the gun.

“any last words?” you asked, eyes narrowing.

yunho looked up at you. he didn’t smile, didn’t smirk. he just looked at you.

“...your boyfriend’s cheating on you.”

pause. 

your eyes widened. “what.” 

you shoved the gun harder into his jaw. “explain yourself.”

“you didn’t notice?” 

you snapped, “this isn’t funny.” 

“check my phone,” yunho said tiredly. 

you didn’t want to. you really didn’t want to.

but your hands moved anyway.

you yanked his phone from his jacket, tilting it towards his face. once it was unlocked, you went to his photo gallery. there wasn’t much, so you found a photo pretty quickly.

your boyfriend and the woman in the red dress kissing. on the same day you followed him but thought you were ‘overreacting’.

you couldn’t breathe.

you scrolled past that, finding a video of them kissing on another day as well. “i… this can’t-”

you got up slowly, walking towards the stairwell of the rooftop.

behind you, yunho sat up. “...’____’?”

his voice was almost gentle.

but you didn’t look at him.

you had something else to settle.

DAY 30 OF 30 - MIDNIGHT

you checked your watch - 00:00AM.

you slammed your apartment door open. you didn’t even bother to close it.

your boyfriend was on the couch, legs crossed and drink in hand.

“oh, you’re back,” he said, glancing at you without getting up. “you killed yunho alrea-?”

BANG!

his body fell over before the question left his lips.

you stared at the smoke rising from the barrel of your revolver. the silence now was way louder than the shot.

you slid down against the doorframe, your back hitting the wall with a thud. the revolver clattered to the floor beside you.

now what?

you didn’t know how long you sat there, looking at the blood pooling beside you. he was your boss, your boyfriend - he gave you targets, he gave you a purpose. and now you had nothing.

your throat tightened, your breathing getting more shallow. crying over someone like him seemed stupid, especially since you did put a bullet in him, but there was a part of you that mourns what you once had.

after a while, you heard footsteps.

yunho appeared in the hallway, approaching you slowly. did he follow you here? 

his eyes moved from the body, to the gun, then to you. “...you alright?” he asked softly.

you gave a bitter laugh, wiping your nose. “no.”

he stepped closer, crouching next to you. he was far enough to give you space, but not far enough to make you feel lonely.

you didn’t speak for a long time. and neither did he.

then finally, you mumbled. “i had a feeling… but i didn’t want it to be true.”

yunho nodded quietly. he didn’t offer you any cheesy lines, but his presence was enough to keep you from going insane.

“he gave me everything,” you muttered, fidgeting with the bandages on your arm. “i was nothing before this- and i still am.”

he leaned back against the wall opposite you. “you’re wrong,” yunho said eventually. “you’re free now, that’s not nothing.”

you snorted. “so what- i start from scratch? what does someone like me even do now?”

yunho paused. “...you can join me?”

your eyes widened.

“i’d have to ask hongjoong first, but i’m sure he won’t mind,” he continued. “you’re smart, and you’re deadly.”

you stared for him for a minute, stunned.

then finally, you smiled.

“i think i’d like that.”

DAY 50 OF 30 - DOC MCSTUFFINS

finally, the mission was done.

your knife was thrown out, your boots were off, and your shoulder was throbbing like hell.

you peeled off your jacket with a wince. “...fuck,” you muttered.

a long, angry gash trailed from your shoulder down to your bicep. the fabric had stuck to the blood, ripping when you tugged it off. 

you sat on the edge of your bed in the safehouse, holding tissue against the wound. you could patch it up. soon. right now, you were tired. way too tired to be dealing with this.

a knock came from the door.

“dinner,” yunho called through. 

you straightened up a little. “i’ll be there soon,” you sighed.

there was a pause.

then the door opened.

“you okay-?” he stopped, eyes dropping to your arm. “shit.”’

you looked down. “it’s fine.”

“that is not fine,” he said as he moved across the room.

“it’s just a scratch,” you brushed it off.

yunho scoffed. “scratch-? that thing needs stitches.” he stood infront of you now. “why didn’t you say anything?”

you sighed. “i didn’t want anyone to worry.”

“too late.”

you met his gaze. “i can handle it.”

“i know,” yunho replied, softer this time. he crouched infront of you and held out his hand. “but let me help you.”

you hesitated before nodding.

yunho examined the gash, cleaning it with more experience than you thought. you flinched slightly as the dabbed at it with the edge of a cotton pad.

“sorry,” he muttered.

DAY 72 OF 30 - I KNOW THIS IS A BIG JUMP

the hideout was quiet.

not eerily so, but it was calm. no gunfire at all.

you sat at the kitchen counter, one leg tucked under you as you cleaned the barrel of your revolver. it was more of a habit now than a necessity.

across the room, yunho leaned back into the couch, watching you.

the two of you usually did this - doing your own stuff in silence while being in each other’s company. it was an unspoken routine you both fell into, and you liked it.

he cleared his throat after a while. “do you always clean your guns like that?”

you didn’t look up. “like what?”

“you’re basically giving it a spa day.”

you smirked, eyes on your work. “maybe i am.”

yunho got up and walked into the kitchen, rolling up the sleeves of his black shirt. his hair was still wet from the shower, slightly messy.

he moved towards you, sitting in the chair next to yours. he didn’t say anything at first, but then he spoke up. “... are you uh- doing anything tomorrow night?” he asked, slightly nervous.

your hands paused, glancing up. “hm… i think i have a target, but it’ll be over quick,” you replied, tilting your head. “why?”

“there’s a new restaurant opening nearby… i uh- wanted to check it out with you,” he chuckled awkwardly. 

a long silence passed.

“...are you asking me on a date?”

he shrugged. “it will be if you say yes.”

you grinned, putting your gun down onto the counter. “then i guess i’ll see you for date night.”

series taglist [OPEN] - @hanoishere @scuzmunkie @sinfullygay @arusio @midnightrebel1028 @neemaxx @seungminsrighthand @arilevenatz @ateezswonderland @beabatiny @lemirabitur @sunnyhokyu @frzzenfrxg @cylovesmg @txtsoobean @seonghwasslytherin @sundaybossanova @sweetinsaniiity @cybrnaya @choisanchwego @mrskill2 @devilzliaison @scary-thingz @gaonashi @jonghosbrainrot @mintchocoyum @justconniez @shiningpaint-marbleheart @stercul1a @sophrxsyne @pansexual-and-eating-pancakes @hii-hawaiiu @inkpot-winters @kryscent @hwateezz @xionarauwu @clmstorm @darlingz99 @physicofanatic @yeon103 @ahuiahoe @satsuri3su @queenofdumbfuckery @hopingfortwistedfriends @delulu4-life

spec one-shot taglist [OPEN]:

yunho: @hoe4yunho

author's note: thank you guys for reading this far! this shit took WAY too long and idk why but this fic was especially hard to write. some parts can definitely be improved, but at this point, i just wanna move past it. i am (sorta) back from my hiatus and it's gna take me a whileee before i upload the next one. but tysm to those who've supported me since the start, and just now i love you guys. (btw if you see any mistakes pls tell me but be nice about it LOL)

BONUS SCENE - YES

the building you were in was on the verge of being completely destroyed. windows were shattered, walls were basically rubble - the fight you just had was horrid.

you limped out of the building, crunching over broken glass and debris. your chest heaved as you dropped against a crumbling wall.

the side of your face was sticky with blood. your ribs ached. you weren’t even sure how you were alive right now. all you’re grateful for was that the job was done.

yunho stumbled out of the rubble seconds later. there were bruises all over his arm, and his clothes were tattered. he took one look at you and sat next to you, his thigh pressed against yours.

for a moment, neither of you spoke.

you just sat there, the adrenaline slowly wearing off.

then, he said, “the bullet almost took your head off.”

you gave a tired laugh. “yeah, but did you see how cool i looked dodging it?”

yunho turned his head, smirking. “you’re insane.”

“yeah, yeah whatever,” you leaned back. “…i’m just glad we won that.”

yunho nodded. 

his eyes didn’t leave you, and when you glanced over, you were met with a gaze.

and neither of you looked away.

not even when his knee shifted closer to yours, not even when your shoulder brushed against his.

slowly, so slowly, the gap between you closed. your hand reached for him, and his fingers hovered above your knee.

and then his face was infront of yours, closer than it had ever been.

you weren’t sure who moved first.

but it didn’t matter.

your lips met in a brief, heated kiss. something breathless - like neither of you realised what you’ve been holding for weeks. his hand moved to your waist, and you let your hand curl into the fabric of his shirt, holding him in place. 

the kiss deepened for a second, just barely, before he pulled back, breath catching. it ended way too soon.

you both blinked.

you were the first to speak, a little dazed. “...you kissed me.”

yunho raised a brow. “you kissed me back.”

you paused. 

then, you muttered, “oh yeah… you’re right.”

deleted scenes | other fics

[callmeagardengnome]

not back from my hiatus but i just had a shower thought: what if i rewrote my bless me series?

[callmeagardengnome]

Hi!!! I'm not sure if you'll see this but I just read bless me and it was so amazing 🤩🤩 The dynamics between the characters are so interesting and I'm so upset that I didn't come across it before 😩

I know that you're taking a break right now (which is obviously well deserved) but if, one day, you decide to pick up the story, I'm sure many many people will be excited!

Anyway, you are such a great writer and I will be going through everything you've written on your blog 😌🫶 Wishing you a lovely break 💕🫶

omg i just saw this and THANK YOU SO MUCHHHH

im soso glad you enjoyed bless me! when i was really in the zone for writing it, i had a lot of fun experimenting with different dynamics and im glad it paid off

idk when i’ll get back to it, but this certainly made my day. i appreciate your sweet comments and i hope that you’re still interested in my blog in the future!

stay healthy beb 💗💗 thank you so much for the support

[callmeagardengnome]

HIATUS (are we even surprised)

if you haven’t noticed, i haven’t been uploading stories for a while and it’s mainly because i’m not enjoying writing as much as i used to.

i definitely bit off more than i could chew with my series and i’ve set a high standard for myself that i can’t achieve just yet 😭

this combined with my school next week is definitely inconvenient. for obvious reasons, i will be prioritising school over writing—which means i will be extra busy and will be unable to write for an uncertain time.

DONT WORRY THO im not going to abandon this blog. even though my passion is dying down and my school is starting, im sure that i’ll revisit this eventually and start writing again. i just wanted to write this post so that yall know what’s going on and that you wont be left hanging.

i love you guys 💗💗 stay healthy!

[xuchiya]

we'll wait, my loves!! please take care 🤍🤍

[callmeagardengnome]

thank you so much for your support 😭🫶🫶

[callmeagardengnome]

HIATUS (are we even surprised)

if you haven’t noticed, i haven’t been uploading stories for a while and it’s mainly because i’m not enjoying writing as much as i used to.

i definitely bit off more than i could chew with my series and i’ve set a high standard for myself that i can’t achieve just yet 😭

this combined with my school next week is definitely inconvenient. for obvious reasons, i will be prioritising school over writing—which means i will be extra busy and will be unable to write for an uncertain time.

DONT WORRY THO im not going to abandon this blog. even though my passion is dying down and my school is starting, im sure that i’ll revisit this eventually and start writing again. i just wanted to write this post so that yall know what’s going on and that you wont be left hanging.

i love you guys 💗💗 stay healthy!

[theindianblonde]

It’s not even funny how relatable this is.

[kysstar]

SWEETHEART | KIM HONG JOONG

pairing: kim hongjoong x fem!reader

synopsis: you’re a skilled pickpocket who unknowingly steals from hongjoong, the ruthless mafia leader. the next thing you know, you’re dragged into the mafia world.

genre: mafia au, cat-and-mouse, reluctant alliance.

warnings: blood-shed, violence, panic attack, kissing, cliche stuff like yk the dress and heels thing (forgive me)

word count: 16.4k

[series masterlist]

—The crowd moves like a river, thick with tourists and businessmen, all too absorbed in their own lives to notice you. Perfect. You slip through the bodies with practiced ease, brushing against a man in a suit just lightly enough to slip your fingers into his coat pocket. Your touch is quick, ghostlike. By the time he takes another step, his wallet is yours.

You don’t stop walking. Rule number one: never stop. Casually, you slip the wallet into your jacket and veer into a side alley. Only then do you let yourself exhale. Flipping it open, you scan the contents—credit cards, an ID, a few hundred in cash. Easy. Routine.

The thrill is always the same, a sharp rush that hums under your skin.

But you’re not done.

You step back onto the main street, eyes scanning for the next mark. That’s when you spot him.

A man stands near a sleek black car, phone pressed to his ear. His suit isn’t just expensive—it’s power wrapped in fabric. The kind of power that turns heads, that makes people step out of the way without thinking. His dark eyes flicker up, sharp and unreadable, before dismissing everything around him. He’s focused on the call.

A passing group provides perfect cover. You slip in close, your shoulder barely brushing his as your fingers work. The weight of the wallet slides into your palm so smoothly it almost feels too easy. Your heart pounds, but your face remains impassive as you keep walking, melting into the sea of people.

It takes fifteen minutes before you check your prize.

You’re perched on the steps of an old building, half-hidden in the shadows, when you pull out the wallet. It’s heavier than most. Your fingers flip it open, expecting cash, cards—maybe something extra.

What you find instead makes your blood run cold.

Black leather. Minimalist. Inside, an ID stares back at you. The name is one you’ve only ever heard in hushed whispers, in stories told between thieves who knew better than to try their luck.

Kim Hongjoong.

You don’t need to read the rest. Your fingers are already shaking. The emblem on the card is enough—a symbol of the underworld, of power beyond money. A name that commands fear.

You just stole from the most dangerous man in the city.

Your pulse is hammering now, cold dread settling in your stomach like a stone. You’re good—one of the best—but even you know there are lines you don’t cross. Kim Hongjoong isn’t just another rich bastard flashing wealth like a target on his back. He’s the kind of man who has people dragged off the streets for less than this.

And you just made yourself his problem.

Your first instinct is to return it. Just slip back through the crowd, drop it at his feet, walk away before he even notices. It wouldn’t undo what you did, but maybe—just maybe—it’d buy you a few extra seconds of life.

Before you could turn around and fix your mistake, you hear footsteps. Not the usual aimless shuffle of the street.

"She must’ve gone this way."

A voice, low and sharp, cutting through the noise of the city.

"Spread out. Don’t let her slip past."

"Hyung said not to make a mess. Just get her."

They’re already looking for you. Your pulse spiked, your body moving before your mind could catch up. Without hesitation, you tossed the wallet onto a rusted barrel near the alley’s entrance and bolted.

Your feet hit the ground hard as you sprinted down the alley, boots skidding slightly against the damp pavement. A pipe jutted out from the wall ahead—low enough to grab. Without breaking stride, you jumped, gripping it tight, muscles straining as you hoisted yourself up. You swung over, landing on a fire escape, the metal groaning under your weight.

A second later, footsteps thundered into the alley you’d just been in.

"Fuck—where did she go?"

"Check the sides. She couldn't have—"

"Up there!"

Shit.

You climbed the fire escape two steps at a time, your breath coming in sharp exhales. The city stretched out before you as you reached the roof, neon lights bleeding into the night sky. No time to admire the view. You took off, your legs burning as you sprinted across the rooftop.

Behind you, the sound of pursuit. Metal rattling. Footsteps heavy against concrete. They were following. You could hear their curses, the way they moved with precision.

You leaped to the next building without hesitation. The drop between them was sharp, an alley yawning below, but you barely felt it. Your hands hit the edge, fingers scraping as you pulled yourself up. The moment your feet touched the rooftop, you ran again, weaving between rusted vents and old signs, each movement instinctual, each decision made in the space of a heartbeat.

Another gap ahead. Wider this time. You forced your legs to push harder, faster. The city blurred, wind cutting against your skin as you jumped.

Your foot barely caught the ledge. You scrambled, fingers digging into the rough surface.

"She's over there!"

Damn it. They were still behind you. But you had distance. You could still make it—

A gunshot rang out.

Your body reacted before your mind did, dropping low just as a bullet sparked against the metal vent beside you. They weren’t aiming to kill. Not yet. A warning shot. A reminder that you were running out of time.

You had to get off the rooftops. Fast.

You spotted a lower building to your left, a stack of crates leading down. Without a second thought, you veered off course, sliding down the side, your boots landing hard against the wood before jumping to the next level. The moment you hit the ground, you took off into the maze of alleyways.

The streets twisted and turned, shadows stretching long under flickering streetlights. You weaved through them, ducking behind dumpsters, slipping between narrow gaps between buildings. The sound of pursuit never faded. Heavy footsteps. Low voices barking orders. They weren’t giving up.

You turned a sharp corner, only to halt. A figure stood in your path.

The dim light barely illuminated him, but you saw the way he stood—calm, patient. Not out of breath like you were. He had been waiting for you.

Dyed red hair, catching the faint glow of the streetlamp. You couldn’t see his face in the shadows, but it didn’t matter. The way he held himself told you everything you needed to know. He worked for him.

Your body reacted before you could think. You spun on your heel, ready to bolt in the other direction—

But then another figure emerged from the darkness.

He was tall, dark hair tousled from the chase, sharp eyes burning with something dangerous. His presence was heavier, more imposing, like a wall of sheer force. The way he carried himself was different—broader shoulders, longer strides. Even standing still, he looked like he was hunting.

Your instincts screamed at you to move, to fight, to do anything but stand there like a deer caught in headlights. You turned sharply, ready to try your luck past the first man, but the second you stepped forward—

Something struck the side of your head, and the world tilted. Your vision blurred, the edges darkening. You barely registered the way your knees buckled, the sensation of the cold pavement meeting your skin. The last thing you heard was the sound of footsteps drawing closer, then darkness.

—The first thing you felt was the ache. A deep, pulsing pain at the side of your head, radiating down your neck. The second thing you felt was cold—metal biting into your wrists, the sharp edge of a chair digging into your back.

You blinked. The world came back in pieces. Dim lighting. A concrete room. A single table in front of you, sleek and empty except for a glass of water placed just within reach. Your hands—chained. Thick metal cuffs locked around your wrists, fastened to the table.

Panic clawed at your chest, but you forced it down.

Then, the door creaks open. Slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the room. You knew who it was before you even looked up.

Kim Hongjoong.

He walked in like he owned the air in the room, like the walls themselves bent to his presence. Sharp suit, rings glinting under the dim light. He didn’t sit right away. Instead, he leaned against the table, tilting his head slightly as he studied you.

"You gave my men a bit of a workout," he said casually.

You didn’t answer. He sighed, almost amused, and finally lowered himself into the chair across from you. He moved slowly—not out of laziness, but control. Like a man who knew he had all the time in the world.

"You know who I am," he continued, tapping his fingers against the table. "That makes this easier. Saves me the trouble of introductions."

He exhaled through his nose, noticing you were quiet, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "Smart. You’re not talking. That’s good. Means you’re thinking."

Your fingers curled slightly against the cuffs, but you didn’t break eye contact. Don’t let him see weakness. Don’t give him anything.

Hongjoong leaned forward. The scent of expensive cologne and something darker—gunpowder, blood, smoke—lingered around him.

"You stole from me," he said. "You ran. You made my men chase you. So tell me—why shouldn’t I put a bullet in your head right now?"

He said it so easily. Like he was asking what was for dinner. Like your life was just another business decision.

When you didn’t answer, he hummed lightly, dragging his fingers across the table. A small, absent-minded movement, as if he were thinking of a hundred different ways to break you.

"You’re not dead yet," he continued, tilting his head slightly. "That means I see value in you."

You forced yourself to hold his gaze. "And if I don’t want to be of value to you?"

A slow smile spread across his lips. "Then you’ll be of value to the bottom of the Han River."

A chill ran down your spine. There was no malice in his voice. No anger. He meant every word.

Hongjoong exhaled, leaning back in his chair. "I’ll give you some advice," he said. "People who sit in that chair? The ones who talk too much usually end up screaming. The ones who talk too little?" He tilted his head. "Well. They usually don’t get a second chance."

His fingers tapped against the metal cuff on your wrist. "But you?" His voice dropped lower, softer.. "You’re different, aren’t you?"

He let the words settle, watching you. Then, he leaned back, exhaling like this was all just mildly inconvenient for him. "So. Let’s get to the point."

"You’re good," he said. "Too good to waste. That little stunt you pulled? Impressive. Cost me time, men, resources." He shook his head slightly, clicking his tongue. "Which means you owe me."

You have two choices," he continued, completely unfazed. "You work for me."

He smirked. "Or I put you in the ground."

The words hung in the air, heavy, suffocating. You barely heard the faint drip of water somewhere in the distance.

"And before you think about the third option," he added, smiling slightly, "let me remind you. No one gets away from me. You run? I’ll find you. You fight? You won’t win."

You swallowed, fingers flexing slightly against the cuffs. His eyes darkened, amusement flickering into something colder.

"I don’t need an answer now," he murmured, standing up. "I’ll let you think about it."

He moved to the door, pausing just long enough to glance back over his shoulder.

"But don’t take too long, sweetheart."

And then he was gone, leaving you alone in the cold, empty room—with the weight of your own inevitable decision.

You stared at the metal cuffs around your wrists, the skin beneath them raw from how tightly they were fastened. The cold from the table seeped into your bones, and despite how still you were sitting, your pulse hadn’t slowed since Hongjoong walked out that door.

There were no cameras you could see, but you weren’t stupid enough to think they’d leave you completely unwatched. They were waiting. Letting you stew in your own thoughts. Letting you understand exactly how trapped you were.

You exhaled slowly, forcing yourself to think, to plan.

Escaping was impossible.

You didn’t know where you were, didn’t know how many people were guarding the place, didn’t even know if you were still in the same part of the city. Even if by some miracle you managed to slip out, Hongjoong made it painfully clear—you wouldn’t get away.

He had an army. Resources. Eyes everywhere.

And you?

You had bruises, a throbbing headache, and a death sentence hanging over your head.

You could try running anyway. Disappear. Change your name. Burn your fingerprints off if you had to. But men like Hongjoong? They didn’t forget. Didn’t forgive. They would hunt you down, and when they find you—because they would—it wouldn’t be pretty.

Which left two options.

Option one. You refused. You died. Simple.

Option two? You worked for him.

Got tangled in the very world you spent your whole life avoiding.

The underworld didn’t let people walk away. The only way out was a body bag. Once you were in, you belonged to them. No freedom. No future. Just the slow, inevitable march toward a violent end.

You didn’t want to die. Not today, at least.

And that meant—

The door opened again.

Hongjoong stepped back into the room, looking exactly the same—untouched, unfazed, as if the last conversation had been nothing more than a casual business deal.

He sighed, stretching slightly as he sat back down across from you. "I was hoping you’d try to run," he mused. "Would’ve been fun to chase you again."

You didn’t rise to the bait. His lips twitched, amused. "Nothing? You’re no fun, sweetheart."

The word was drenched in sarcasm, and yet the way it rolled off his tongue made your skin prickle.

He leaned forward, resting his elbow against the table. "Have you made up your mind, or are we going to sit here all night?"

Your throat felt dry. Your fingers curled against the cuffs, nails pressing into your palms.

You knew what you had to say. You just hated saying it.

You swallowed once, then forced yourself to give a small nod.

He smiled. "Smart girl."

He stood, moving around the table, and you tensed instinctively as he reached for the cuffs. The metal clicked, and just like that, you were free.

Hongjoong stepped back, slipping his hands into his pockets.

"Welcome to the family, darling,"

—The meeting room was too fancy.

Dark oak table, expensive leather chairs, dim lighting that cast long shadows along the walls. It wasn’t what you expected from a place run by men who could kill without blinking. It looked more like a CEO’s office than a mafia hideout.

But the tension? The tension gave it away.

You could feel it the moment you stepped inside. Eight men sat around the table, and the moment they saw you, everything shifted.

Seonghwa leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his sharp eyes flicking over you like he was trying to read something between the lines. San and Wooyoung, sitting side by side, exchanged looks before Wooyoung smirked and muttered something under his breath. Yunho was drumming his fingers against the table absently, but his eyes weren’t relaxed.

Mingi, the one who knocked you out, was watching you with an unreadable look, while Jongho’s gaze was sharp, suspicious. He wasn’t even trying to hide the fact that he didn’t trust you.

And then there was Yeosang. Sitting off to the side, legs crossed, scrolling through an iPad like he couldn’t care less if you lived or died.

Hongjoong strolled past you, heading straight for the head of the table. "Relax, boys," he said casually. "If I thought she was a threat, she’d already be dead."

"She’s still a thief," Jongho muttered, arms crossed. "I don’t trust her."

"Same," San added, though his tone was more amused than serious. "What’s stopping her from running the second we let her out?"

"Us," Hongjoong said simply.

You didn’t miss the way a few of them smirked at that.

Right. Running wasn’t an option.

Hongjoong settled into his chair, fingers tapping against the table. "I want to see what she’s really capable of," he said. "A test, if you will."

"The casino job," he continued, glancing around at the others. "She’ll do it alone."

The reaction was immediate. Wooyoung laughed. "You’re joking."

"You can’t be serious," Jongho muttered, eyes narrowing.

Seonghwa raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Yunho just exhaled, shaking his head slightly.

"She’ll have backup," Hongjoong said smoothly. "We’ll be watching. But I want to see how she handles herself."

Yeosang didn’t even look up from his iPad. "If she screws up, I’m not covering for her."

"I don’t expect you to," Hongjoong replied, unimpressed.

You crossed your arms, trying to ignore the way they were talking about you like you weren’t even there.

"What exactly do you want me to do?" you finally asked.

Hongjoong’s lips curled into a smirk. "Steal something for me."

Of course.

"A casino in the city has something I want. A small USB drive—valuable information on it." He leaned forward slightly. "It’s kept in a private security room, heavily guarded. But I have a feeling you’ll figure something out."

"Try to pull anything," he added, "and you won’t make it out of the casino’s parking lot. Understood, sweetheart?"

You exhaled through your nose. "Crystal clear."

—The inside of the van was dimly lit, the glow from multiple screens casting an eerie blue hue over the space. You sat in one of the chairs, back straight, fingers tapping idly against your thigh as Yeosang secured an earpiece for you.

"Try not to break it," he said handing it to you.

Behind you, Yeosang settled back into his seat, eyes flicking over the monitors like he couldn’t be less interested in what was happening in real life. Meanwhile, Hongjoong stood near the front, buttoning up his suit jacket, adjusting the cuffs like he wasn’t about to send you straight into the lion’s den.

"Listen carefully," he said, his voice smooth but firm. "For you to get inside the security room, you’ll need a passkey." He met your gaze, eyes sharp. "Only the personal bodyguard of the casino’s owner, Seojun, carries one. That means you’ll need to wait for Seojun to arrive—then get close enough to his guard to lift it."

"Once you have it, you’ll head to Seojun’s private office. The drive will be in his safe—somewhere behind the bar shelf. We don’t know the code, but we do know he’s a cocky bastard who keeps it written somewhere in the room."

Hongjoong straightened his tie. "Get the drive. Get out. Simple."

You scoffed. "Not as simple as you make it sound."

He smirked. "No. But I trust you’ll manage, sweetheart."

You exhaled, shifting slightly in your seat. The black dress they’d given you clung to your skin, sleek and elegant—perfect for a casino setting. Terrible for escaping.

"If you expect me to run in this," you muttered, tugging at the fabric slightly, "you should’ve given me a proper dress."

Hongjoong chuckled. "I think you'll manage, darling."

Easy for him to say.

A small beep echoed through the van as Yeosang pressed something on his tablet. "Alright, we’ve got eyes inside," he said lazily. "Seojun isn’t here yet, but the others are already in position."

Hongjoong nodded, then turned to you. "Time to go."

You took one last deep breath before stepping out of the van.

The casino loomed ahead—bright lights, luxury cars pulling up to the entrance, security stationed at every door. You slipped in smoothly, moving with the kind of ease that only came from experience. The moment you crossed the threshold, the noise hit—laughter, the chime of slot machines, the low murmur of expensive deals being made.

Mingi and Yunho near the bar, pretending to be absorbed in their drinks. Wooyoung at a poker table, laughing too loudly at something San had said. Jongho standing near the entrance, arms crossed, watching.

You were in. Now, all you had to do was get the job done.

—You had been winning.

That was the real tragedy here.

The game wasn’t even interesting anymore, but the rush of flipping the right card, the glint of irritation in the dealer’s eyes—it was fun. And you were raking in chips like you were born for this.

Then, just as you were about to go all in, Hongjoong’s voice crackled in your ear.

"Seojun just arrived. You’re up, sweetheart."

You sighed, tapping your fingers against the pile of chips in front of you. "Damn shame. I was on a roll."

The dealer looked at you expectantly, waiting for you to play your turn. You flashed him a lazy smile. No use getting greedy.

With calculated ease, you leaned back in your chair, letting your eyes drift toward the entrance.

Seojun strolled inside like he owned the place—which, technically, he did. A sharp navy-blue suit, rings glinting under the casino lights, an arrogant smirk plastered across his face. But your attention wasn’t on him.

It was on the man walking beside him.

Broad shoulders. Black suit. Cold expression. The personal bodyguard. And more importantly, the passkey clipped discreetly to his belt.

Simple in design, barely noticeable if you weren’t looking for it. But you were.

"Try not to drool," Wooyoung’s voice cut in through the earpiece, amused.

You didn’t miss a beat. "Try not to cry when I outdo you, pretty boy."

Mingi’s low chuckle hummed through the comms. Wooyoung scoffed. "Yeah, yeah, just hurry up and do your thing."

You smirked, but your attention stayed on your target.

Seojun was already moving toward the VIP section, his guard following like a shadow. You pushed back from the table, grabbing your winnings, and made your way toward the bar instead.

The moment Seojun stopped to greet another guest, you moved.

One of the waitresses passed by, carrying a tray of expensive cocktails. You bumped into her—just slightly—just enough to send one of the glasses tipping. She gasped, catching it before it spilled completely, but the motion sent her staggering right into the bodyguard.

A sharp inhale as cold liquid spilled down his sleeve. He turned, annoyed, swiping at his jacket as the waitress flustered out apologies.

You moved then. A step forward. A brush of fingers. The passkey slipped free from his belt and into your sleeve in less than two seconds.

A slow smirk tugged at your lips. "Passkey secured," you murmured under your breath, already making your way toward the back.

"Show-off," Wooyoung muttered.

—The office was too clean. Rich mahogany desk, sleek leather chairs, an expensive globe that definitely had some hidden contraption inside. But your focus wasn’t on any of that. Your focus was on the safe.

It was exactly where Hongjoong said it would be—behind the bar shelf. A high-tech model, sleek steel, keypad glowing in the dim light. You crouched in front of it, exhaling slowly.

"Alright," you muttered to yourself, scanning the room. "If I were an arrogant bastard, where would I hide my secrets?"

You started with the desk—flipping through papers, checking drawers. Then the liquor shelf—bottles arranged in obnoxiously perfect symmetry. Nothing

You clenched your jaw, heart pounding a little faster. You didn’t have time for this.

"Hurry it up," Hongjoong’s voice crackled in your ear.

"Yeah, I totally wasn’t planning on taking my time and sipping some whiskey while I’m at it," you snapped back. You could hear Wooyoung laughing in the background.

Then, just as frustration was starting to creep in, your eyes landed on a small, glass plaque on the desk.

Seojun’s name, etched in gold. You picked it up, flipping it over and there it was. A small, handwritten note, barely noticeable.

7482.

You grinned. Idiot.

Moving quickly, you punched in the numbers, the safe letting out a soft click as it unlocked. You pulled it open, snatching the small USB drive from inside.

Done. Easy.

Then, Footsteps. Right outside the door.

Your stomach dropped. "Shit," you whispered.

"What?" Hongjoong’s voice came sharp through the earpiece.

"You said the guards weren’t supposed to check this floor for another two hours."

A groan. "They weren’t."

"Then tell me why they’re right outside the damn door?"

Then Jongho’s voice, cursing. "Where the hell is Mingi?"

Seonghwa gritted his teeth, "Gambling."

You almost choked. "You have got to be kidding me."

"Are we even surprised?" Wooyoung said, voice dripping with amusement. "I told you not to bring him to the casino. He always gets distracted."

"Shut up and get her out of there," Yunho muttered.

You weren’t listening anymore. The voices outside were getting closer.

Your eyes darted across the room, searching—anything. And then—

A window.

You ran towards it, pushing it open, cold air immediately slamming against your skin. The city lights stretched out below, cars honking, the distant murmur of life continuing completely unaware that you were about to risk breaking your neck.

Clutching the USB drive in one hand, you gripped the edge of the window, stepping onto the thin ledge. The wind was brutal, cutting through the fabric of your dress. Your heels scraped against the ledge as you tried to steady yourself—you stumbled, catching yourself at the last second.

A series of very creative curses spilled from your lips.

Yunho scoffed. "Never heard anyone swear this much before."

San’s voice, slightly amused. "Where are you?"

You took a shaky breath, gripping the pillar beside you as your balance wavered.

"One step away from death."

—The team was already waiting by the van, gathered in a loose semicircle under the dim glow of the streetlights. The tension was thick, but not because they were worried. But because they were arguing.

"I told you—don’t bring Mingi to the casino."

"Okay, but in my defense—"

"There is no defense!" Seonghwa snapped, arms crossed, looking dangerously close to smacking Mingi upside the head. "You were supposed to be watching for security! Not—not placing bets on a damn poker table!"

Mingi shrugged, completely unbothered. "I was winning."

"You—!" Seonghwa inhaled sharply, turning away like he needed a moment to pray for patience.

Wooyoung, meanwhile, was losing it. Laughing so hard he had to lean against Yunho for support. "You were right, hyung. This is why we don’t bring him here."

"Like watching a child," Jongho muttered, shaking his head.

Yeosang, who had been silently scrolling through his iPad the entire time, finally looked up. "Where is she?"

"Maybe she sold us," San suggested, only half-joking.

Jongho scoffed. "Or maybe she got caught."

"Or maybe she died," Wooyoung added, grinning like it was the funniest thing in the world.

Jongho tilted his head, considering. "Honestly, I’d prefer that over the first option."

"Wow, thanks," came a hoarse voice from behind them.

All eight of them turned in perfect sync.

There you were, leaning heavily against a metal pipe, completely disheveled. Hair a mess, dress wrinkled, breathing like you just ran a marathon.

Hongjoong blinked. "What the hell happened to you?"

You glared, lifting your hand. The USB drive dangled between your fingers. "I got the damn drive," you said, voice dry. "And almost died in the process, by the way. In case anyone cares."

"Nope," Jongho said immediately.

"Not really," Wooyoung added, smirking.

You rolled your eyes, shoving the drive into Hongjoong’s hand. "Next time, if you’re gonna send me on a mission, don’t let the walking skyscraper near a poker table."

"Hey," Mingi muttered. "It was a good game."

Hongjoong turned the USB over between his fingers, watching the way the dim light reflected off its smooth surface. He looked too pleased with himself, like he was holding a winning card no one else had seen.

You were still catching your breath when he finally spoke. "You know," he mused, voice casual, "this drive is useless."

Your heartbeat, still erratic from your near-death stunt, stumbled. "What?"

Hongjoong smirked, tapping the USB against his palm. "There’s nothing in it. It was a test."

Your body stiffened, exhaustion momentarily forgotten. A test? Your fingers curled at your sides as you processed.

The impossible ease of this mission. The predictable guard patterns. The fact that Hongjoong never seemed remotely concerned, even when you almost got caught.

"You’re telling me," you said slowly, voice colder than before, "that I just risked my life… for a test?"

Hongjoong gave a small tilt of his head, eyes gleaming with amusement. "The casino belongs to us. Seojun works for me."

You felt stupid. A slow, creeping anger slithered into your chest. How did you not see it? It made sense. Too much sense.

"Don’t look so shocked," Yeosang muttered from behind his iPad, not even bothering to look up. "It was necessary."

"Yeah," Wooyoung chimed in, arms crossed, grinning. "We had to make sure you wouldn’t run or sell us out the second you got the chance."

Jongho let out a short laugh. "Would’ve been funny if she tried, though."

San shook his head, smirking. "Nah. She’s not that dumb."

"You sure?" Yunho teased. "She did almost break her neck back there."

A sharp, burning frustration coiled in your stomach. You wanted to lash out, to snap something reckless—but you bit down on your tongue.

They were still the men who kidnapped you.

But at the same time… you couldn’t exactly blame them. It was smart. If you had been in their position, you might’ve done the same thing.

"You all suck," you muttered, narrowing your eyes.

Wooyoung grinned. "On the bright side, you’re not dead."

You inhaled slowly, forcing yourself to calm down.

"You got anything else planned for me?" you asked, voice clipped.

Hongjoong just smirked, slipping the USB into his pocket. "We’ll see."

With those two words, the conversation was over. The others started piling into the van, still amused by your reaction. You, on the other hand, were doing your best not to show just how embarrassed you were.

Without a word, you headed straight for the first seat—the one nearest to the door but furthest from them.

The van was huge, almost a mini-bus, with rows of seats stretching all the way to the back where the seven men sprawled comfortably. Too comfortably. Meanwhile, you sank into your seat, arms crossed, staring out the window like it personally offended you.

The van started moving.

Streetlights blurred past as you glared outside, jaw clenched. You still couldn’t believe it.

A damn test.

Every risk, every second of near-death, the whole mission—just one elaborate way to see if you’d run. And the worst part? It made sense. You were angry at them, but you were even angrier at yourself for not seeing it sooner.

A small scoff broke your thoughts.

You turned slightly—just enough to see Hongjoong leaning over the seat beside you, arms folded against the backrest, smirking.

"You look pissed," he mused.

"You don’t say," you muttered.

He chuckled, but instead of replying, he reached into his pocket and pulled something out.

Antiseptic cream.

You blinked at it before realizing—your palms. You hadn’t even noticed, but the skin was scraped raw, a painful souvenir from your little stunt on the pipes.

You hesitated, but then snatched the tube from him without a word.

Hongjoong didn’t move. Just stayed there, watching as you carefully applied the cream, the slight sting making you wince.

Finally, he spoke. "You handled yourself well tonight."

You scoffed. "Yeah, because I love almost dying for no reason."

Hongjoong hummed, clearly amused. "Don’t be so dramatic, sweetheart."

You didn’t dignify that with a response.

Instead, you finished applying the cream, shoving the cap back on a little too aggressively before tossing it back to him. He caught it easily, rolling it between his fingers.

Just when you thought he was finally going to leave you alone, you saw him shrug off his suit jacket.

You barely had time to process it before he threw it at you. You blinked, staring down at the expensive black fabric now draped over your lap.

"You’re shivering," he said simply, pushing himself off the seat.

"I’m—" You stopped. Okay, fine. Maybe you were cold. The dress you were given was meant to look nice, not keep you warm.

Still, you rolled your eyes. "What, suddenly feeling generous?"

Hongjoong just smirked. "Don’t get used to it."

And with that, he turned, heading back to the others.

You exhaled, glancing down at the jacket in your hands. It smelled like cologne and gunpowder.

For a second, you considered leaving it there. But then you sighed and pulled it on, letting the warmth sink into your skin.

—The first thing you noticed when you woke up was the silence.

For a split second, you forgot where you were. The bed beneath you was too soft, the air too still, the faint scent of expensive cologne and leather lingering in the sheets. Your eyes blinked open slowly, adjusting to the dim morning light filtering through the heavy curtains. The room was unfamiliar—but not in a way that made you panic.

Right. Hongjoong had given you a room.

Now that you were technically part of the team, you weren’t stuck in a cell anymore. The room wasn’t extravagant, but compared to some of the places you’d slept in before—abandoned buildings, dirty motel rooms, street corners when things got bad—it was more than enough. A clean bed, fresh clothes, a door that locked from the inside. That was already more than you ever had.

But your moment of peace didn’t last long.

A loud knock on the door made your body jolt into high alert, your instincts snapping back into place. Before you could even sit up properly, the door swung open.

"Wake up," a voice said flatly.

You blinked. Yeosang stood in the doorway, looking as unbothered as ever, one hand gripping an iPad, the other resting against the doorframe. His expression was unreadable, sharp eyes scanning you like he was making sure you were still alive.

"Excuse me?" you muttered, voice rough from sleep.

He raised an eyebrow. "Hongjoong says to meet him at the practice arena. I’m just the messenger."

You frowned, trying to push yourself up, still groggy. "The practice what now?"

Yeosang sighed, clearly already over this conversation. "Training grounds, whatever you want to call it. Get up. He’s waiting."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked off, not bothering to make sure you followed..

You groaned, running a hand through your hair before dragging yourself out of bed. If you had any hope of keeping up with these people, you couldn’t afford to waste time.

Fifteen minutes later, you found yourself stepping into what could only be described as a personal fight club.

The underground practice arena was bigger than you expected—high ceilings, concrete walls, various training equipment scattered throughout. A boxing ring sat in the center, but what caught your attention was the man standing near the weights, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted the wraps on his hands.

Hongjoong.

He wasn’t in his usual expensive suits today. Instead, he wore a loose black tank top and sweatpants, his toned arms on full display. He looked relaxed.

His gaze flicked up when he heard you approach, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Took you long enough."

You folded your arms, giving him a look. "I wasn’t exactly expecting an early morning brawl."

He chuckled, motioning for you to step closer. "You’re going to need to learn how to fight properly. Pickpocketing and running won’t always save you."

You huffed but stepped forward anyway. "I do know how to fight."

"Sure," Hongjoong mused, tilting his head. "But I want to see it for myself."

He gestured toward the ring, and you sighed, stepping inside. The second you did, the atmosphere shifted. It was just the two of you now.

"You think you can take me?" he asked, rolling his shoulders.

You smirked. "I think I can surprise you."

"Then try."

Your feet barely made a sound as you closed the distance, aiming straight for his ribs with a sharp jab. But Hongjoong wasn’t just fast—he was anticipating you. He sidestepped smoothly, barely shifting his weight before he was behind you.

"Too slow," he muttered.

You spun around, adjusting your stance. Fine. If speed wouldn’t work, you’d try something else.

This time, you faked a punch, using the momentum to aim a kick at his side instead. It almost landed—but Hongjoong caught your ankle with ease, his grip firm but not crushing.

"Clever," he mused, tilting his head. "But predictable."

He shoved your leg away, throwing you off balance. You barely caught yourself before hitting the mat, breath coming a little faster now. But you weren’t done.

Your fist shot toward his jaw, only for him to duck effortlessly, his body moving like he had all the time in the world. And then—before you could react—his foot hooked behind your ankle, and your world tilted.

A sharp thud echoed as your back hit the mat.

You barely had time to process before Hongjoong was on top of you, pinning you down with one knee pressing against your thigh, hands gripping your wrists. His face hovered dangerously close, eyes glinting with something between amusement and control.

"Not bad," he murmured. "But not good enough."

You swallowed hard, refusing to look away. You wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

He smirked, clearly enjoying this.

"You rely too much on speed," he continued, voice unhurried, as if he wasn’t holding you down effortlessly. "And instinct. It works on amateurs. But against someone trained?" His grip tightened slightly before he let go. "It’ll get you killed."

The second he released you, you rolled onto your feet, muscles aching from the fall. You expected him to gloat, but instead, he simply dusted off his hands, tilting his head slightly.

"You want to learn?"

You hesitated for only a second before giving a small nod.

"Good."

He grabbed your wrist, yanking you forward. You barely had time to react before your chest nearly collided with his, breath hitching at the sudden proximity. His grip was firm, but not crushing. Guiding. Before you could flinch away, he spun you around, pressing your back to his chest, his arms looping over yours in a controlled lock.

"Lesson one," he murmured, his breath ghosting against your ear. "Control."

Your muscles tensed on instinct. His hold wasn’t painful, but you couldn’t move. Every shift of your body pressed you further against him, the heat of his skin impossibly close through the thin fabric of your clothes.

"Getting caught in a hold like this means you’re already losing."

You swallowed hard, fingers twitching at your sides.

"Now," he continued, voice almost amused, "let’s see if you can get out."

You clenched your jaw, shifting your weight, trying to maneuver an escape. But Hongjoong’s grip was calculated—his arms tightening just enough whenever you tried to break free.

"Struggling won’t work," he murmured, his lips close enough that you felt every syllable. "Use their hold against them."

Instead of fighting his grip head-on, you shifted your stance, leaning into him rather than away. It was enough to make his weight shift, just barely—and in that split second, you twisted, slipping out of his grasp.

You stumbled back, chest rising and falling as you turned to face him.

Hongjoong just smirked. "Better."

You barely had time to catch your breath before he moved again.

This time, he came at you directly, his palm pressing against your shoulder to push you off balance. You caught yourself before falling, swiping at his legs in retaliation—but he jumped back smoothly, anticipating you again.

"Too slow," he taunted.

Your frustration flared, and you lunged again—only for him to catch your wrist mid-motion.

Before you knew it, he had twisted your arm behind your back, pressing you forward until your chest nearly touched the mat. His hand rested just above your hip, keeping you trapped in place, while the other held your arm firmly in position.

"You're fast," he murmured, low, almost mocking. "But you let yourself get frustrated. That’s a weakness."

You glared at the floor, lips parting slightly as you exhaled sharply through your nose. He was right. And that irritated you even more.

But before you could retaliate, Hongjoong suddenly let go. The second his grip loosened, you spun around—expecting him to step back.

He didn’t and you were suddenly too close. Your chest almost brushed his as you stopped abruptly, your breath catching in the tight space between you. His dark eyes locked onto yours, sharp and unreadable.

Neither of you moved. Neither of you spoke.

Hongjoong wasn’t smirking. He wasn’t laughing. He was just watching you, his gaze dark and steady, his breathing even. He was close. Too close. The weight of his body was warm, grounding, a sharp contrast to the chill of the gym air against your sweat-damp skin. Every small movement made you aware of just how little space there was between you.

You weren’t sure how long you stood like that—seconds, maybe longer.

"Get some rest," he murmured, stepping back. "We’ll try again tomorrow."

—The night was quiet—too quiet. Missions like these never went as planned, but tonight, something felt off from the start.

You stood with the others in the shadows of an abandoned warehouse, the air thick with gasoline and metal. The plan was simple: retrieve a shipment that belonged to them but had been stolen by a rival gang. Get in, grab it, and get out. No unnecessary bloodshed.

At least, that’s what you thought.

"Keep your comms open," Hongjoong murmured, adjusting the sleeves of his black jacket as he surveyed the surroundings. His voice was calm, but you’d been around him long enough to recognize when he was on edge.

Seonghwa was the first to move, his steps silent as he disappeared into the shadows. Yeosang stood beside you, scrolling through something on his damn iPad, completely unbothered. Jongho checked his gun, casting you a skeptical glance.

"Try not to mess this up, darling," Wooyoung teased through the earpiece, earning himself a smack from San.

You rolled your eyes, adjusting the hidden blade strapped to your thigh. You didn’t need weapons. Your hands were fast enough. But something told you tonight might be different.

Then, just as Yunho signaled that the coast was clear, everything went to hell.

Gunfire. Loud, sharp, and too close.

"Fucking hell," Mingi cursed, diving behind a stack of crates as bullets rained down on you. The rival gang had been waiting. You had walked straight into a trap.

"Get down!" Hongjoong barked, shoving you behind a metal container as more bullets whizzed past. The others were already fighting back—Jongho and Seonghwa taking out enemies one by one with brutal efficiency.

You could handle yourself in a fight. You had to. Years of surviving on the streets made you quick on your feet, a ghost when you needed to be. You weaved through the chaos, using your knife to disable anyone who got too close.

But then you saw him.

A man—one of the rival gang members—cornering Yunho, gun raised. You moved before you thought.

You ran, tackling the man before he could pull the trigger. The impact sent both of you crashing to the ground. Your knife was against his throat in an instant.

The man’s eyes were wide, terrified. His breathing was ragged, a silent plea forming on his lips. Kill him. That’s what Hongjoong would expect. That’s what everyone would expect.

But you couldn’t.

Your grip faltered. The hesitation lasted a second too long.

Pain exploded in your side as the man’s fist collided with your ribs, knocking the air out of your lungs. You stumbled, hand flying to your waist—he had a knife. You barely had time to react before he was on you again, and suddenly, you weren’t the one in control anymore.

A gunshot rang out. You flinched, but the bullet wasn’t meant for you.

The man collapsed, a clean shot to his skull. Hongjoong stood behind him, gun still raised.

Your chest heaved as you stared at the body, your mind racing.

Hongjoong’s jaw was tight as he grabbed your wrist, yanking you to your feet. His grip was bruising, fingers digging into your skin as he dragged you away from the fight.

"Move," he snapped, shoving you toward the exit.

The others were still fighting, but Hongjoong didn’t care. His priority was getting you the hell out of there.

The second you were inside the van, you ripped your wrist from his grip.

"What the fuck was that?" you spat, eyes burning with anger. The rest of the boys filed in behind you, panting, bruised, but alive. Wooyoung took the driver's seat, starting the engine.

Hongjoong turned to you, and for the first time since you met him, he looked furious.

"You hesitated," he said, voice dangerously low.

"I’m not a fucking killer," you snapped back, still breathing hard.

Hongjoong let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "You think this is a joke?"

"I think you knew exactly what I was before you forced me into this mess," you shot back. "I’m a thief. I don’t kill people."

"You almost died," he growled, stepping closer. "Because you hesitated."

"It’s my problem," you hissed.

He was in front of you now, too close, his eyes dark with something unreadable.

"You," he said, voice like a blade against your throat, "are my problem."

"You don’t get to choose which parts of this life you accept," he continued, voice softer now but no less threatening. "If you’re with us, you do what’s necessary. Or you die."

You clenched your jaw. "I won’t cross that line."

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark hair. Then, he chuckled—not amused, but something else.

"Then you better get faster, sweetheart," he murmured, his breath ghosting over your skin. "Because next time, I might not be there to save you."

—The second the van stopped, you shoved the door open and jumped out first, ignoring the weight of their stares burning into your back. You could still feel Hongjoong’s words curling around your throat like a noose. You’re my problem.

No, I’m your damn thief.

Your boots hit the pavement harder than necessary as you stormed inside the building. The hallway was dim, only a few overhead lights buzzing faintly, casting long shadows against the walls. You barely registered the familiar space—just another reminder that you were here now. Trapped.

You reached your room, pushing the door open with too much force, and slammed it shut behind you.

Your breath was still ragged as you sat down on the bed, palms pressing into your thighs. The adrenaline was wearing off now, leaving behind the weight of what had just happened.

You swallowed hard, fingers gripping the sheets as you tried to steady yourself. But no matter how many deep breaths you took, it didn’t erase the fact that you had frozen. That in this world, hesitation got you killed.

Somewhere in the distance, a door slammed shut.

Hongjoong.

Probably in his office, brooding like the dramatic bastard he was. You weren’t surprised. He was pissed, and for once, so were you.

A knock at your door snapped you out of your thoughts.

You didn’t answer. You weren’t in the mood. Didn’t matter. The door creaked open anyway.

Yunho.

Unlike the others, he didn’t lean against the frame with a smirk or crack a joke to lighten the mood. He simply walked in, calm and steady, shutting the door behind him before crossing the room and leaning against the dresser.

"You okay?"

You scoffed. "Do I look okay?"

Yunho didn’t react to the bite in your tone. He just crossed his arms, watching you for a moment before sighing.

"You’re lucky to be alive."

You let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, thanks to Hongjoong’s great aim."

Yunho tilted his head slightly, as if debating what to say next. Then, he pushed off the dresser and sat down beside you on the bed.

"You know he cares about you, right?"

You rolled your eyes. "He cares that he’d lose his best thief."

Yunho huffed a small laugh, shaking his head. "Maybe. But that’s not all."

Silence stretched between you. You refused to look at him, eyes trained on the floor, on your hands—anything but the truth in his words.

Yunho sighed again, running a hand through his hair. "Look. I get it. I know what it’s like, the first time you hesitate." He paused. "The first time you have to make that choice."

You swallowed, fingers tightening around the fabric of your pants.

"I don’t want to make that choice."

Yunho let that sit for a moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter. "You will."

You turned to look at him now, finally meeting his eyes.

"Because if you don’t," he continued, "you won’t survive here."

The words sat heavy in your chest.

"Just… think about it," Yunho murmured, standing up.

He walked to the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. "You’re good at what you do," he said, turning back to you. "But Hongjoong won’t always be there to save you."

Then, without another word, he left.

You sat there for a long time, staring at the closed door, feeling the weight of everything settle on your shoulders.

—The room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the desk lamp casting sharp shadows against the walls. A half-empty glass of whiskey sat beside Hongjoong’s hand, his fingers tapping against the polished wood in a slow, irritated rhythm. His jacket was discarded over the chair, sleeves rolled up to his elbows as he leaned back, jaw clenched.

Seonghwa stood near the door, arms crossed. Unlike the others, he didn’t hesitate before speaking.

"You’re being too hard on her."

Hongjoong exhaled through his nose, not even looking up. "No, I’m being realistic."

"You’re being an ass."

That finally made Hongjoong glance up. His dark eyes glinted under the light, amusement flickering for a second before fading just as fast. "She hesitated, Hwa. Almost got herself killed. Almost got us killed."

Seonghwa sighed, stepping further into the room. "She’s not a soldier, Hongjoong. She’s a thief."

"And thieves who hesitate get caught. Or worse." Hongjoong’s voice was sharp, the words laced with frustration. He picked up his glass, swirling the amber liquid before taking a slow sip. "She needs to learn."

"She is learning." Seonghwa’s voice was firm, unyielding. "But you don’t train someone by throwing them into the deep end and getting mad when they drown."

Hongjoong didn’t respond right away, but the way his fingers gripped the glass just a little tighter didn’t go unnoticed.

"She’s not ready," Seonghwa continued, softer this time. "You and I both know that."

Hongjoong sighed, tilting his head back slightly, eyes closing for a moment before he finally set the glass down with a dull clink. "And what? I go easy on her?" He scoffed. "That’ll get her killed even faster."

"She’s strong."

"She’s stubborn."

Seonghwa gave him a pointed look. "So are you."

Hongjoong let out a dry chuckle, rubbing his temple. "She pisses me off."

Seonghwa smirked slightly. "Because she doesn’t bend to your will?"

Hongjoong opened his mouth, then shut it, glaring at the floor like it personally offended him.

Seonghwa sighed, finally taking a seat across from him. His voice was quieter now. "You saw what happened today. She couldn’t do it. And I don’t think it was just fear. That’s not who she is."

"And that’s exactly why she won’t survive here," Hongjoong muttered.

Seonghwa tilted his head. "Or maybe that’s why she will."

Hongjoong let those words hang between them, the weight of them settling in his chest. He didn’t respond, just reached for his glass again, taking another slow sip.

Seonghwa stood up. "Just… ease up a little." Hongjoong didn’t look at him.

"Why do you care so much?" Seonghwa pressed.

"I care about all of you." His voice was firm, immediate.

Seonghwa scoffed, shaking his head. "That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it." He took a step forward, eyes locking onto Hongjoong’s. "You don’t react like this with any of us. When one of us messes up, you get mad, sure, but not like this."

Hongjoong’s hands clenched at his sides, his shoulders squared, his expression unreadable.

Seonghwa took that as his cue to leave. But just as he reached the door, Hongjoong spoke again, voice quieter this time. "She needs to understand that hesitation is the difference between life and death."

Seonghwa glanced over his shoulder. "She will." A small pause. "But don’t push her to the point she stops trusting us altogether."

Then, without another word, he walked out, leaving Hongjoong alone with his thoughts.

—The knock on your door was sharp, deliberate—the kind that didn’t wait for an invitation. You barely had time to roll over in bed and groan before the door swung open, revealing Hongjoong standing in the doorway, arms crossed. His expression was unreadable, but you could still feel the weight of last night’s argument lingering between you.

"Get up," he said flatly.

You buried your face in your pillow. "Go away."

"You’re not getting a choice in this, sweetheart."

Your muscles tensed. You hated that nickname. It was never sweet—always mocking, always sarcastic. You sat up with a scowl, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. "What do you want?"

Hongjoong leaned against the doorframe, the dim morning light casting shadows across his face. "If you refuse to kill, fine," he said. "But you need to learn how to shoot."

You frowned. "I have a knife."

His brow arched. "And if someone has a gun?"

You clenched your jaw. You hated that he had a point.

"Five minutes," he said before turning on his heel and walking off. Like he already knew you’d follow.

The shooting range was at the edge of the compound, hidden beneath an old warehouse that looked abandoned from the outside but was anything but. The space smelled of gunpowder and metal, the walls lined with various weapons. Hongjoong stood beside the table, checking the ammo in the pistol before sliding the magazine into place with a practiced ease.

You stood stiffly beside him, arms crossed, still annoyed that he’d dragged you here.

He handed you the gun, his fingers brushing against yours briefly. "You ever shot before?"

You snorted. "Do I look like someone who’s shot before?"

His lips twitched. "No. But it’d be nice if you surprised me for once."

You rolled your eyes and took the gun, but the second you raised it, he let out a sharp exhale.

"Wrong," he muttered. Then, before you could react, he was behind you.

You stiffened as his hands settled over yours, guiding your grip. He was warm—too warm. His voice was low near your ear, calm but firm.

"Loosen your shoulders," he said. His fingers ran along your arms, adjusting your stance. "You’re too stiff. You won’t hit shit like that."

Your jaw tightened, but you followed his lead. "Feet apart," he continued, nudging your foot slightly with his. "Bend your knees a little."

You exhaled slowly, adjusting yourself.

Hongjoong hummed in approval, his hands lingering a second too long before he finally stepped back. "Better," he said. "Now aim."

You lifted the gun again, trying to focus on the target ahead, but the weight of his stare was distracting.

"Relax your grip," he murmured. You adjusted your hold.

"Pull the trigger gently. Don’t jerk it."

You inhaled, bracing yourself before squeezing the trigger. The shot rang out, echoing through the range.

You missed. You groaned, lowering the gun.

Hongjoong clicked his tongue, stepping forward again. Too close again. His fingers wrapped around your wrist, adjusting your aim. You could feel his breath against your cheek.

Your eyes flickered to his, only to realize he was already looking at you.

The space between you was barely there, his hand still over yours. The world outside the shooting range felt like it didn’t exist. For a split second, neither of you spoke.

Then, just as quickly as it happened, Hongjoong cleared his throat and stepped back. "Try again," he said, voice carefully neutral.

You swallowed, gripping the gun a little tighter.

The shot rang out. This time, you hit the target.

Hongjoong smirked. "See? You might not be useless after all."

You glared at him. "Careful. I’m armed now."

He chuckled, crossing his arms as he leaned against the table. "You’re still a long way from being dangerous, sweetheart."

You scowled. But when you turned back to the target, your hands weren’t shaking anymore.

—The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. You sat at the far end of the long conference table, arms crossed, staring at the blueprint of a luxurious penthouse sprawled across the surface. Another mission. Another mess you were being dragged into. The rest of the team was already gathered, some leaning against the walls, others sitting lazily in their chairs.

Hongjoong stood at the head of the table, sleeves rolled up, rings glinting under the low lighting. "We need the ledger," he started, tapping his finger against the blueprint. "It’s in Kang Jisoo’s private office. Second floor, past security, locked behind a biometric safe."

You frowned. "That sounds impossible."

"It is," Yeosang muttered, scrolling through his tablet like he couldn’t be bothered to be here. "Which is why you two are going in as his guests."

You blinked. "Who’s ‘you two’?"

Hongjoong didn’t even look up. "You and me."

"Wait, wait, wait," Wooyoung cut in, barely holding back a grin. "You’re telling me she and Hongjoong are going undercover as a couple?"

Your stomach twisted. "No way."

"You don’t have a choice," Hongjoong said smoothly, finally looking up at you. "Kang Jisoo only trusts couples. He has a soft spot for rich, in-love guests with money to burn. Any solo operatives would immediately raise suspicion."

San whistled, leaning back in his chair. "This is gonna be fun."

You ignored him, focusing on Hongjoong. "There has to be another way."

"There isn’t."

You gritted your teeth, heart pounding in frustration. This was the worst idea imaginable. You barely trusted Hongjoong, and now you were supposed to pretend to be some lovestruck couple?

Wooyoung nudged Seonghwa. "Oh, this is gonna be hilarious."

Seonghwa shot him a warning look. "Stay focused."

Ignoring the others, Hongjoong pushed a sleek black envelope across the table toward you. "Inside are the details. Our identities, our backstory, and everything Kang Jisoo needs to believe we’re the real deal."

You hesitated before picking it up. Your new name was printed neatly on the first page. Below it, in elegant cursive—‘Spouse: Kim Hongjoong.’

You wanted to burn it.

"How long do we have before we go in?" you asked tightly.

"Three days," Jongho said, arms crossed as he leaned against the table. "Enough time to get your story straight and make sure neither of you slip up."

You exhaled through your nose. "This is a terrible idea."

Hongjoong smirked. "It’s an effective one."

Across the room, Yunho sighed. "Try not to kill each other before the mission starts, yeah?"

No promises.

—You sat stiffly on the couch, flipping through the file in your hands for what felt like the hundredth time. Across from you, Hongjoong lounged in an armchair, legs crossed, looking completely at ease. Of course he was. He wasn’t the one about to get grilled like a schoolkid cramming for an exam.

The others were scattered around the room, some leaning against the walls, others perched on furniture, all of them way too excited about this.

"Alright, lovebirds," Wooyoung grinned, spinning a pen between his fingers. "Let’s see how believable this marriage is."

You groaned. "This is ridiculous."

"Ridiculous would be getting caught because you don’t know your own husband’s birthday," Yeosang muttered, still scrolling through his tablet.

You scowled at him, then flipped to the section labeled ‘Personal Details’. You were supposed to be married to Hongjoong for three years. Met at a gallery in Paris. He proposed on a yacht. All the details were laid out, but they felt foreign—like wearing someone else’s skin.

"Let’s start easy," Yunho said. "What’s your anniversary?"

You glanced down at the file. "April 14th."

Hongjoong hummed. "Good. Where did we go for our honeymoon?"

"Maldives," you answered smoothly.

Jongho leaned forward. "What’s his favorite drink?"

You paused. Shit. You had skimmed that part, assuming it wouldn’t come up.

Seonghwa sighed. "If you don’t even know that, how are you supposed to convince Kang Jisoo that you’re in love?"

You clenched your jaw, taking a wild guess. "Whiskey?"

"Wrong," Hongjoong said, tilting his head. "Negroni."

You glared at him. "Who even drinks that?"

"I do," he said smugly.

Wooyoung snorted. "This is gonna be a disaster."

"Alright," Seonghwa finally cut in, probably to save you from having a mental breakdown. "We should wrap this up. But you two need to get better at this. You slip up once, and the whole operation goes to hell."

"You memorized everything already, didn’t you?" you asked, narrowing your eyes at Hongjoong.

He merely smirked, tapping his temple. "I don’t like losing."

You swore under your breath. This was going to be a long mission.

—The morning of the mission, you were rudely awakened by a sharp knock on your door. You groaned, turning over in bed, pretending you hadn’t heard it. Maybe if you ignored it long enough, whoever it was would go away.

No such luck.

A second later, the door creaked open, and Seonghwa’s voice cut through the quiet. “Get up.”

You cracked open an eye to glare at him, only to groan again when you saw the bundle in his arms. A neatly folded, expensive-looking gown draped over his forearm.

“Oh, hell no.” You sat up, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. “I am not wearing that.”

Seonghwa raised an unimpressed brow, stepping further into the room. “You’re infiltrating a high-profile event as Hongjoong’s fiancée. What did you expect? Jeans and a hoodie?”

“That would be ideal.”

Seonghwa sighed, tossing the dress onto the bed beside you. “You have twenty minutes to get ready.”

You scowled. “And if I don’t?”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Then I’ll let Wooyoung come in here and dress you himself.”

You visibly shuddered at the thought. Wooyoung was many things—loud, irritating, way too smug for his own good—but above all, he was shameless. The last thing you needed was for him to burst into your room, waving around a curling iron and critiquing your ‘lack of class.’

“Fine,” you muttered, swinging your legs over the edge of the bed. “But if I break an ankle in this thing, I’m haunting all of you.”

Seonghwa just smirked. “I’d like to see you try.”

The dress Seonghwa had given you was beautiful, sure—but it was also ridiculously difficult to put on. The deep emerald silk hugged your body perfectly, the slit high enough to allow movement but still elegant. The problem? The damn zipper.

You had been wrestling with it for the past five minutes, twisting your arms at unnatural angles, but it wouldn’t budge past the middle of your back. And, of course, in a house full of trained mafia members, none of them were exactly the kind of people you’d casually ask for help zipping up a dress.

You let out a sigh, debating if you could maybe just leave it halfway up when the door suddenly swung open without warning.

"You're taking forever," Hongjoong's voice came lazily as he stepped in, fixing his sleeve. "The car's ready, and—"

He stopped mid-sentence. You froze too, your bare back exposed to him as you stood in front of the mirror. Your hands instinctively gripped the front of the dress as if that would help, your breath catching in your throat.

His gaze locked onto yours through the reflection, his movements stilling completely. For a moment, neither of you spoke.

His tie matched your dress. You noticed it then, how the color blended perfectly, how intentional it felt.

Hongjoong’s jaw tightened slightly, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. His hands, usually so confident and sure, were unmoving at his sides.

You exhaled slowly, forcing yourself to keep your voice steady. "Zip me up?"

For the first time, he hesitated. Then, as if snapping himself out of it, he stepped forward. His approach was slow, almost cautious. The heat of his presence behind you made your spine stiffen, every nerve hyperaware of how close he was.

His fingers brushed your shoulder lightly as he reached forward, gathering your hair and sweeping it over one side. His touch was gentle—so unlike the Hongjoong you were used to. No calculated moves, no teasing smirk. Just a quiet, deliberate action.

You shivered, though you weren’t sure if it was from the chill or the sudden proximity.

He caught that. His lips quirked up for just a second before he reached for the zipper.

His knuckles skimmed against your spine as he pulled it up, the touch feather-light but enough to send an unfamiliar heat crawling up your neck. You kept your gaze locked onto the mirror, watching as his eyes followed the path of the zipper, his face unreadable.

When he reached the top, he didn’t step away immediately. His fingers lingered for a second longer than necessary before he finally let go.

"You’re done," he murmured, voice lower than usual.

You released a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding.

Hongjoong met your eyes in the mirror again, something unreadable flickering behind his usual sharp gaze. Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and walked out, leaving you standing there, heart hammering in your chest.

—The van was gone. Instead, a sleek black car sat waiting in the driveway, its polished surface gleaming under the dim streetlights. Hongjoong stood beside it, leaning against the passenger door, one hand tucked into his pocket while the other toyed absentmindedly with his cufflinks.

"You take longer than I expected," he mused as you approached, opening the car door for you.

You didn't respond, still reeling from the moment in the room just minutes ago. Instead, you slid into the passenger seat, smoothing the fabric of your dress as you adjusted yourself. Hongjoong walked around to the driver's side, settling in with a practiced ease before starting the car.

The engine purred to life, and with a smooth motion, he pulled out onto the road.

The silence stretched between you, tense and unspoken. You kept your gaze fixed on the window, watching the city blur past in streaks of neon lights and dark alleys. The entire drive had an eerie stillness to it—something about being in a car alone with Hongjoong made the air feel heavier, charged in a way you couldn’t explain.

After a few minutes, he finally broke the silence. "Nervous?" His voice was casual, but there was an edge to it.

You turned to look at him, expression neutral. "Should I be?"

He let out a quiet chuckle, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel. "You tell me."

You rolled your eyes and went back to staring outside. The drive stretched on, the atmosphere shifting between charged silence and occasional glances from Hongjoong that you pretended not to notice.

At a red light, he leaned back in his seat, tilting his head toward you. "This is your first mission as part of the team. And your first time playing the role of my lover." His lips curled into a smirk. "Try not to look so disgusted by the idea."

You scoffed, crossing your arms. "I’d rather not think about it at all."

His smirk deepened. "You're a terrible liar."

You didn’t have a response to that, mostly because he wasn’t wrong. The idea of pretending to be his lover wasn’t the worst thing in the world, but admitting that was out of the question.

The car slowed as you approached the mansion’s long, winding driveway, the wrought-iron gates parting as if they had been expecting you. You took a deep breath, straightening your posture as the reality of the mission settled in.

"Just follow my lead," Hongjoong murmured, his voice lower now, more serious. "And don’t forget—we’re supposed to be madly in love."

You exhaled sharply, shaking your head. "I’ll try not to die from the excitement."

He just chuckled under his breath, pulling the car up to the grand entrance. "Welcome to the show, sweetheart."

The mansion loomed ahead, bathed in golden light that spilled from the massive chandeliers inside. The grand entrance was framed by towering marble pillars, and beyond the open doors, the warm glow of crystal chandeliers reflected off polished floors.

Couples dressed in the finest attire flowed effortlessly into the event, their laughter and hushed conversations blending into the soft melody of a live orchestra. The scent of expensive perfume and aged whiskey filled the air, wrapping around you like a second skin.

The second the car came to a stop, a valet stepped forward, bowing slightly before Hongjoong flicked the keys in his direction. "Don’t scratch it," he said smoothly, barely sparing the man a glance. The valet nodded, quickly taking the car and pulling away.

As you stepped out, the cool night air hit you, making you shiver slightly. The dress Seonghwa had picked was stunning, but practical? Not in the slightest. The slit ran high, teasing too much with each step, and the fabric clung in all the right ways, but the biting chill didn’t care about aesthetics.

Hongjoong rounded the car and came to stand beside you, adjusting the cuffs of his sleeves before extending his arm. "Shall we?"

You hesitated for half a second before slipping your hand into the crook of his arm, fingers grazing the smooth fabric of his suit jacket. It was meant to be a simple gesture, something natural for a couple walking into an event like this. But the second your hand settled, he pulled you closer—so close you stumbled, your heel catching on the stone pavement.

Before you could react, Hongjoong steadied you with a firm grip, his other hand coming up to press lightly against your waist. Your noses nearly brushed, his breath warm against your skin as he leaned in ever so slightly.

"It has to look real," he whispered, his lips barely moving.

Your breath hitched, and for a second, neither of you moved. His eyes flickered over your face, sharp and unreadable, but something about the way he held you there made the world blur around you. The murmuring voices, the distant clinking of champagne glasses—it all faded.

You forced yourself to exhale, nodding slightly. "Right. Real."

His lips twitched into something that wasn’t quite a smirk, but close. Then, with a final squeeze to your waist, he pulled away just enough to lead you forward.

Hongjoong’s grip on your arm remained steady, guiding you through the sea of people with practiced ease. He belonged here—he moved like someone who knew he was untouchable, every step controlled, every glance carrying weight.

You, on the other hand, were hyper-aware of everything. The way the air buzzed with hidden agendas. The way eyes lingered a second too long. And most importantly, the way Hongjoong's fingers pressed lightly against your waist, keeping you grounded in a room full of sharks.

"You’re doing fine," he murmured near your ear, his voice low enough that no one else could hear. "Just smile, sweetheart. Pretend you like me a little."

You let out a breathy scoff, tilting your head up at him just slightly. "That’s pushing it."

He only chuckled, his lips curving into that infuriating smirk. "Fake it better, then."

Before you could roll your eyes, before you could even think of a sharp response, his arm slid away from yours—only to wrap around your waist, pulling you flush against him. The movement was smooth, natural, as if he had done it a thousand times before. And maybe he had, just not with you.

Your breath hitched for a fraction of a second, and you knew he noticed. Of course, he did. His fingers pressed lightly into the fabric of your dress, the warmth of his palm seeping into your skin. He was claiming you in the most effortless way, a silent announcement to the room that you were his for the night. His date, his partner, his distraction—whatever story they wanted to believe, Hongjoong was letting them.

The shift in attention was immediate. People who had been subtly watching before were now openly glancing in your direction, curious murmurs hidden behind crystal champagne flutes. Some eyes lingered with interest, others with suspicion.

"Relax," Hongjoong murmured, his voice a soft hum against your ear. "You’re supposed to enjoy this."

Enjoy? The sheer audacity of him. But you knew better than to stiffen under the weight of so many watchful eyes. So, you did what you had to. You leaned in, just slightly, tilting your head toward him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"You're having way too much fun with this," you whispered back, your voice light, teasing, the way you imagined a woman in love would sound.

His thumb brushed against your waist, a barely-there touch, but enough to make your skin prickle. "If you’re going to play a role, sweetheart, you might as well play it well."

You smiled, a slow, knowing smile, tilting your chin up to look at him as if he had just whispered something sweet and not borderline condescending. The act was seamless, almost effortless, but it was still just that—an act.

"Lucky for you, I always play my roles well."

The words were meant to be smug, but Hongjoong only grinned, the kind of grin that said, we’ll see about that.

Hongjoong chuckled, amused, before taking a slow sip of his own drink. His eyes scanned the room, and you followed his gaze, recognizing the moment his expression sharpened ever so slightly. A man, mid-fifties, sharply dressed in a navy suit, was making his way toward you both.

Kang Jisoo. The owner of the estate. The man you were here to steal from.

Your fingers instinctively tightened around the delicate glass in your hand, but you kept your expression relaxed, the same way Hongjoong did. His grip around your waist subtly shifted, his fingers pressing slightly firmer against your hip, almost like a silent command to stay still, stay calm.

"Captain," Jisoo greeted, his tone light, casual, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that said he didn’t trust easily. He looked at you next, his gaze dragging over you like he was trying to figure something out.

Hongjoong smiled easily, a practiced smirk that barely reached his eyes. "Jisoo, I was wondering when you’d find me."

Jisoo let out a small chuckle, but his eyes never left yours. "And who’s this?"

"This," Hongjoong said smoothly, "is my darling."

You barely had a second to react before he turned toward you, his arm still securely wrapped around you as he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to your temple. The touch was fleeting, but his breath lingered near your skin, warm, steady. A silent warning. Play along.

You exhaled slowly, schooling your features into something softer, something lovestruck, and turned your gaze to Jisoo. "I’ve heard a lot about you, Kang Jisoo," you said, voice smooth, perfectly polite. "My husband speaks highly of you."

Jisoo hummed, tilting his head slightly. "Is that so?" His tone was mild, but you could see the gears turning in his head. Suspicion.

Your pulse quickened, but you didn’t let it show. Instead, you took a risk. One that might make or break the illusion.

You turned to Hongjoong, resting your hand lightly against his chest, your fingers grazing the fabric of his suit. Then, before you could second-guess it, you leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

It was brief, barely a touch, but when you pulled back, you caught the flicker of surprise in Hongjoong’s usually unreadable eyes.

Jisoo watched closely, eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

Hongjoong, to his credit, recovered fast. His grip on you tightened slightly, his hand sliding up your waist to rest just beneath your ribs. His smirk returned, this time more genuine.

Jisoo studied the two of you for a moment longer before nodding slowly, as if deciding to let it go. "Well, I hope you both enjoy the evening."

Hongjoong gave a short nod. "We will."

Jisoo walked away, but even as he disappeared into the crowd, you could feel the tension in Hongjoong’s posture. You glanced up at him, searching his expression.

"You didn’t have to do that," he murmured, low enough that only you could hear.

You tilted your head slightly, feigning innocence. "Do what?"

His smirk returned, but this time, it was slower, more calculated. "You’ll pay for that later, sweetheart."

—The grand ballroom was alive with the hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the soft melody of a string quartet. But your mind was elsewhere—focused on the second-floor office, hidden past layers of security and surveillance.

Hongjoong’s fingers barely brushed yours as he subtly tugged you toward the far end of the room, away from the main crowd. It was seamless, the way he maneuvered you both, weaving through guests like this was just another stroll at a gala.

As you neared the hallway leading toward the restricted area, his voice was low in your ear. “Cameras shift every ten seconds. We take the blind spot and move when the waiter passes. Act natural.”

You nodded slightly, fingers brushing the stem of your glass. Just two lovers sneaking off for a moment alone. Nothing suspicious.

The moment the waiter moved past, you both stepped into the hallway, slipping behind a curtain leading to the back corridors. The noise of the party dulled instantly, replaced by the soft hum of the security system.

"Left," Hongjoong whispered, leading the way down the hall. The lights here were dimmer, meant only for staff, but it worked in your favor.

The door to Jisoo’s private office was at the end of the hall, a sleek black panel with a biometric scanner. Hongjoong pulled out a small device from his jacket, attaching it to the scanner’s side. A small light flickered red, working its magic to bypass the system.

“You always this prepared?” you murmured, glancing at him.

His lips twitched. “You have no idea, sweetheart.”

A soft beep signaled the override, and the lock clicked open. Hongjoong pushed the door inward, stepping inside first, scanning the room before letting you follow.

The office was pristine—dark wood, leather, and a massive window overlooking the estate. But your focus was on the safe built into the wall behind the desk.

“Time’s ticking,” Hongjoong muttered, already moving toward it.

You kneeled, fingers brushing over the keypad. Biometric lock. You knew this already. That was why Hongjoong had procured a fingerprint mold beforehand. He handed it to you silently, eyes scanning the door as you pressed the gel-like material onto the scanner.

For a second, nothing happened. Then, the lock clicked open.

You exhaled, reaching in for the file, fingers closing around the thick folder. Just as you turned to Hongjoong—

Footsteps.

Your head snapped up. Hongjoong’s gaze darkened, sharp and alert. The hallway outside. Close. Too close.

Hongjoong grabbed your wrist and yanked you toward the corner of the room, where a barely-there gap between the bookshelf and the wall created the smallest possible hiding space. Before you could protest, he pulled you in, pressing both of you into the tight space.

You froze, barely daring to breathe. Hongjoong’s body was flush against yours, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm while your own heart pounded wildly. His arm curled around your waist, anchoring you against him, his fingers pressing firmly into the small of your back.

A flashlight beam swept across the room.

Hongjoong’s other hand moved—slow, deliberate. His fingertips ghosted over your lips, a silent command to stay quiet.

Your breathing hitched, eyes flickering up to meet his. Even in the dim light, you could see the sharp angles of his face, the way his gaze locked onto yours, unwavering. His lips parted slightly, like he was about to say something, but he didn't.

For a moment, neither of you moved. The only sound was the soft hum of the security radio crackling from the guard outside.

Then, the light receded. The door shut again.

You swallowed, suddenly acutely aware of how close you still were. Hongjoong’s fingers hadn’t moved from your waist. His breath was warm against your cheek, his hand still lightly brushing your lips.

Slowly, you reached up, wrapping your fingers around his wrist, gently pulling his hand away.

“We should go,” you whispered.

His eyes lingered on yours for a second longer before he finally stepped back, exhaling softly. “Yeah.”

You turned, pushing down whatever lingering feeling had settled in your chest, and crept toward the door. The hallway was clear now, the guards seemingly moving along with their patrol. You exhaled slowly, trying to steady your nerves.

But as soon as you both stepped out, the sharp click of a safety being turned off made your blood run cold.

“Move, and I shoot.”

A guard stood at the far end of the hall, gun raised, finger hovering over the trigger. His eyes flickered between you and Hongjoong, narrowing with suspicion.

“Hands up,” he ordered.

Hongjoong, always smooth, barely even hesitated before lifting his hands slightly, his expression one of careful indifference. You followed suit, though your mind was already racing.

Hongjoong’s voice was eerily calm when he spoke. “Let’s not do anything rash. You don’t want to shoot. We don’t want to die. Let’s just talk—”

“Shut up.” The guard stepped forward, grip tightening around the gun. “I know who you are.”

Shit.

Hongjoong shifted slightly, positioning himself in front of you just the tiniest bit. The guard noticed. His lips curled.

“She’s important, huh?” he mused, taking another step closer. His gun tilted slightly, no longer pointed at Hongjoong’s chest but at yours. “I bet the boss would love to have a chat with her.”

You stiffened seeing Hongjoong’s jaw clenched. In the second that the guard’s attention was more on you, Hongjoong moved.

A sharp step forward, a twist of his wrist—his hand slammed into the guard’s arm, knocking the gun downward just as the trigger was pulled. A deafening crack echoed through the hallway as the bullet buried itself into the floor.

Then all hell broke loose.

Hongjoong was fast, but the guard was strong. They struggled, limbs tangling as Hongjoong fought for control of the weapon. Another shot fired into the ceiling. The sound was so loud in the enclosed space that your ears rang.

Your mind screamed at you to move, to do something—

But then it happened. The guard got the upper hand, twisting Hongjoong’s arm back with a sickening force. Hongjoong let out a sharp, pained grunt, his knees nearly buckling. The gun was turning, tilting—pointed right at him.

Before you could think, your fingers curled around the knife strapped to your thigh. One step forward. A swift, desperate movement. The blade slid between his ribs with no resistance.

The guard froze. His mouth opened—silent, stunned. Then, with a ragged exhale, he crumpled to the floor.

Dead.

The knife was still clutched in your trembling fingers, warm and slick. Blood coated your hands, thick and dark, staining your skin. It dripped onto the floor, pooling beneath the man who just seconds ago had been alive.

Hongjoong turned to you, rubbing his wrist, wincing slightly. But the moment he saw your expression—saw the way you were shaking, your eyes wide, horrified—he stepped closer.

“Hey—”

“I—I killed him.” Your voice was barely a whisper, strangled.

Hongjoong reached for you, but you stumbled back. Your breaths came in short, shallow gasps. Too fast. The walls felt like they were closing in. The blood—it was everywhere. On your fingers, under your nails. You couldn’t breathe.

“Sweetheart, look at me,” Hongjoong said, his tone gentler now, softer. He grabbed your wrist, firm but careful. “Breathe.”

Your chest rose and fell rapidly, heart slamming against your ribs. You couldn’t stop looking at the body.

“I didn’t—I don’t—I don’t kill people,” you choked out.

“I know.” His voice was steady, unwavering. “You had to. It was him or us.”

You shook your head, still gasping, still shaking. “I—I can’t—”

Hongjoong cursed under his breath, then did the only thing he could think of—he grabbed both sides of your face, forcing you to look at him.

“Breathe,” he ordered. “Focus on me.”

His thumbs brushed over your cheeks, grounding you. His touch was warm, real. Not cold like the body behind you. His gaze was sharp, but not unkind.

“Listen to my voice,” he murmured. “You’re okay. You’re here. With me.”

You tried to match your breathing to his, tried to drown out the sound of your heartbeat pounding in your ears. Slowly, the panic ebbed, just enough for your vision to clear, for your lungs to expand again.

Hongjoong let out a breath of his own, relieved, but his hands didn’t move from your face. “We have to go,” he said. “Now.”

You nodded weakly, still unsteady.

He let go, stepping back only to pull off his jacket. He grabbed one of your hands, rubbing the blood off with the sleeve before slipping the coat over your shoulders, covering the rest of it.

“You’re okay,” he said again, quieter this time.

You didn’t believe it.

But you let him pull you away.

—Hongjoong didn’t waste a second. The moment you were steady enough to move, he grabbed your wrist and led you away from the body, his grip firm but not rough. His pace was quick, urgent, his eyes flickering around the hallway to make sure no one else had heard the gunshots or the fight. The mansion was still alive with music and laughter, but it wouldn’t be long before someone noticed the missing guard.

You barely processed anything as he guided you down the stairs, through the corridors, and out the side entrance. Your mind was still reeling, stuck on the image of the blood on your hands, the weight of the knife, the feeling of it piercing flesh.

Hongjoong’s voice cut through your spiraling thoughts. “We’re almost there.”

The sleek black car sat at the far end of the driveway, out of the main view of the entrance. He didn’t let go of you, only releasing your wrist for a second to yank open the back door and toss the stolen file onto the seat. Then he turned back to you, his eyes flicking down, assessing.

“Get in,” he said, softer than before.

You didn’t argue, slipping into the passenger seat on autopilot. The moment the door shut, Hongjoong rounded the car, climbing in behind the wheel. Without hesitation, he started the engine, maneuvering out of the driveway with practiced ease, keeping his movements smooth, natural—like nothing had happened.

The mansion disappeared into the night behind you, but you barely noticed.

Your hands were still shaking. They rested on your knees, but the tremors wouldn’t stop, even as you tried to clench them into fists.

Hongjoong noticed immediately. His eyes flicked toward you before returning to the road, but then, without a word, his right hand reached over, covering yours. His palm was warm, steady, a grounding contrast to your trembling fingers.

For a while, neither of you spoke. The only sound was the soft hum of the tires against the road, the occasional streetlight casting fleeting glows into the car.

“You did what you had to do,” he finally murmured, thumb absently brushing against your knuckles. “You saved me.”

Your throat felt tight, like something heavy was lodged there, something impossible to swallow. You didn’t respond, just stared at the way his fingers curled over yours, keeping you tethered.

Hongjoong sighed, rubbing his thumb in slow circles, as if coaxing you out of your daze. “You’re gonna be okay.”

You weren’t sure if you believed him. The weight of what you had done sat heavy in your chest, suffocating, pressing down on your ribs like a vice. Your hands were still stained, phantom blood lingering even after Hongjoong had wiped them clean with a cloth he found in the car. The scent of it clung to your skin, metallic and sickly sweet.

You didn’t even realize when the mansion came into view. The headlights cut through the dark, illuminating the grand entrance as the car rolled to a smooth stop.

The moment the engine shut off, you reached for the door, pushing it open with shaking fingers. You just needed to get inside—to your room. To scrub your hands raw, to tear off the dress that now felt suffocating against your skin, to forget the feeling of the knife plunging into flesh.

As the mansion doors swung open, you barely registered the group waiting inside. The others were all there—standing in the living room, their faces unreadable. Some looked concerned, others wary. Their postures stiffened when they saw you, their eyes flicking between you and Hongjoong, as if trying to gauge the situation.

Seonghwa was the first to rise fully from his seat, brows furrowing as he stepped forward. "What happened—"

You stormed past them, heels clicking sharply against the marble floors, the weight of Hongjoong’s jacket slipping off one shoulder. The room felt too bright, too open. You needed to get out of there.

Hongjoong didn’t stop you. But you could feel his eyes on your back as you disappeared down the hall.

—The door slammed shut behind you, rattling in its frame. You barely noticed. Your fingers trembled as you reached behind you, dragging the zipper of the dress down with jerky, uneven movements. It slipped off your shoulders, pooling at your feet in a heap of expensive fabric. You stepped out of it, barely feeling the cold air against your skin, barely feeling anything at all.

The bathroom was silent except for your shallow breathing as you turned the shower knob, watching as water cascaded down, steam curling into the air. You stepped under it without hesitation, letting the scorching heat sting your skin, letting it scald away the remnants of tonight.

Blood.

It wasn’t there anymore—you had scrubbed it off in the car, had wiped it away—but you could still see it, feel it, seeping into your skin, under your nails, staining you in a way you weren’t sure would ever fade. Your chest felt tight, the memory flashing behind your eyes like a cruel replay. The blade sinking in, the way his body jerked, the sound—God, the sound.

You pressed your forehead against the tiled wall, eyes squeezing shut. You weren’t supposed to do that. That wasn’t who you were. You were a thief, not a murderer. But when you saw him coming for Hongjoong, when you saw the gun raised, the look in his eyes, you hadn’t thought. You had just… moved.

You saved him.

It hit you all at once, the truth settling in like a weight pressing on your chest. If you hadn’t acted, Hongjoong would have been the one on the floor. Not breathing. Not alive.

You inhaled shakily, letting the realization crash over you.

You killed someone.

But you saved him.

The water poured over you, washing away everything but the one thing you couldn’t shake.

The fact that, if you had to, you would do it again.

—Hongjoong had been thinking about your reaction the whole drive back. He had seen fear before—lived in it, caused it—but the way it had taken over your face tonight, the way your hands had shaken, the way your breath had come out in sharp, broken gasps, was different. It wasn’t fear of dying. It wasn’t fear of pain. It was fear of what you had done. Of yourself.

You didn’t belong in his world.

The thought sat heavy in his chest, unwanted, undeniable. He had always known it—always known you were different, that you weren’t built for this life the way he and the others were. But seeing it tonight, seeing the horror in your eyes as you looked down at your own hands, had made something twist inside him.

He didn’t like it.

You looked better when you were scowling at him, rolling your eyes, throwing some sarcastic remark his way. You looked better when you were annoyed, when you were pushing back, when you weren’t afraid of him or anything else. But tonight, you had looked small. Shaken. Quiet.

And Hongjoong hated that.

With a sigh, he found himself outside your door, hesitating for only a second before knocking.

No response. He knocked again, a little firmer this time. When there was still no answer, he opened the door, stepping inside carefully.

You were sitting on the bed, your legs pulled up slightly, hair damp and clinging to your skin. Your face was still flushed from the heat of the shower, but your eyes… your eyes looked hollow. Distant.

Hongjoong exhaled softly, leaning against the doorframe.

He really, really didn’t like seeing you like this.

For the first time in weeks, Hongjoong felt something close to regret settle in his chest. He had done this to you. He had taken you from whatever life you had, dragged you into this world, forced you to play a game you never signed up for. And for weeks, he had justified it—told himself you’d be fine, that you were strong, that you were smart. That you’d adapt.

But tonight had proved what he had been denying since the day he forced you into this life.

You weren’t meant to be here.

You weren’t a killer.

You weren’t like him.

Hongjoong had seen you fight, had seen you steal, had seen you navigate situations with quick thinking and sharp words. But he had never seen you with blood on your hands. He had never seen your face shatter the way it did tonight, never seen you look so lost, so utterly destroyed by what you had done. And he had been the one to put you in that position.

He forced a breath out, running a hand through his hair. “You should go.”

Your head snapped up, eyes wide, brows furrowing. “What?”

“You should leave,” he repeated, his voice quieter this time. “Go back to your life. Before all of this.”

You stared at him like he had lost his mind. “Are you serious?”

Hongjoong’s jaw clenched. “Dead serious.”

You exhaled sharply, standing up so fast the bed creaked beneath you. “So that’s it? You just decide I don’t belong here, and suddenly I have to go?”

His expression hardened. “You don’t belong here.”

“Oh, really?” You scoffed, crossing your arms. “That’s funny, considering you didn’t seem to give a shit about that when you kidnapped me.”

His stomach twisted. He didn’t have a defense for that.

You took a step closer, your voice rising. “You forced me into this. You made me a part of this world. And now that I actually did something that saved your life, you decide it’s too much for me?”

His eyes snapped to yours. “You shouldn’t have had to do that.”

“But I did,” you shot back. “And I would do it again.”

Something in his chest cracked. Hongjoong shook his head, looking away. “This isn’t you. You’re not like us. You—”

“Stop telling me what I am and what I’m not,” you interrupted, stepping even closer. “I don’t care if I’m not like you. I don’t care if I don’t belong here. You don’t get to make this choice for me.”

Hongjoong let out a humorless laugh. “You think this is a choice? You think you can just keep pretending this won’t change you?” His voice rose, frustration bleeding through. “You killed someone tonight.”

“I know what I did,” you snapped, your voice breaking slightly.

He ran a hand down his face, exhaling sharply. “And I don’t want you to have to do it again.”

And then you whispered, “Why do you care so much?” He froze. You stared at him, searching his face. “Why does it matter so much to you?”

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, something desperate flashing in his eyes. He looked away, breathing heavily.

“Hongjoong,” you said quietly.

His entire body tensed. It was the first time you had ever said his name. No sarcasm, no mocking tone. Just his name. And it undid him completely.

His head snapped up, eyes locking onto yours. He swallowed hard, chest rising and falling rapidly, like he was trying to hold something back.

But then you asked again, softer this time. “Why do you care so much?”

“Because I fucking love you!”

The words ripped out of him, raw and unfiltered, as if they had been clawing at his throat for weeks, waiting to escape.

Your breath hitched, your eyes widening. Hongjoong’s own expression was wild—like he couldn’t believe he had said it either. But he didn’t take it back. He just stared at you, breathing hard, waiting for you to say something, to do anything.

You reached for him, hands trembling slightly as they cupped his face. He stiffened at first, but then melted into your touch, his lips parting slightly.

“You’re an idiot,” you whispered, voice breaking. “But I would do it again. For you.”

His hands came up, covering yours, his eyes dark and unreadable. “You shouldn’t have to.”

“But I would.”

Hongjoong exhaled shakily, his forehead pressing against yours. And then, in the silence, in the lingering tension of everything that had been said, you kissed him.

Hongjoong groaned softly against your lips, his hands sliding down to your waist, pulling you flush against him. Your fingers tangled in his hair, gripping tight, anchoring yourself to the moment.

When you finally pulled away, breathless, he pressed one last lingering kiss against your lips before murmuring,

“You’re gonna be the death of me, sweetheart.”

taglist : : @callmeagardengnome @serinebsblog @vtyb23 @choisanchwego @monsta-x-jagi @kyunlov @lcvejjoong @blueginz @lunaryoongie @yeon103 @spenceatiny18 @darlingz99 @matchahintonagar @ateezswonderland

© enhateez

[callmeagardengnome]

yall need to read this RIGHT NEOWWWW!!

this has everything i want in a fic (not exaggerating) like the slow burn, hurt/comfort time of thing oh my lord it’s so good-

please go support this writer!!

[humteez]

Halazia

[callmeagardengnome]

guys i’ve been tweaking over the yunho one shot in my mob mentality series so i changed the plot 😭😭 oops

[write-on-world]

[callmeagardengnome]

I AM ABOUT TO CRASH OUT

[kysstar]

UNDER THE BLACK MOON | ATEEZ

pairing : : mafia!ateez x fem!reader (individual)

genre : : fluff, angst, hurt-comfort, no smut! romance, stockholm syndrome (?) idk lmao

warnings : : graphic depiction of violence, blood-shed, torture, yk the usual mafia stuff

author's note : : a collection of ateez mafia au fanfics I will be writing :) inspired by mob mentality by @callmeagardengnome

KIM HONG JOONG !

trouble ! [ mafia!hongjoong x pickpocket!reader ]

synopsis: you’re a skilled pickpocket who unknowingly steals from hongjoong, the ruthless mafia boss. the next thing you know, you’re dragged into a black car, his men surrounding you.

PARK SEONG HWA !

doctor & the devil ! [ mafia!seonghwa x doctor!reader ]

synopsis: you’re a surgeon with a clean record and a simple life—until seonghwa, the mafia’s most feared assassin, shows up in your hospital, injured. but the more he comes back, the more you realize that there’s more to him than just a killer.

JEONG YUN HO !

the last song ! [mafia!yunho x pianist!reader ]

you’re a struggling pianist, playing in an underground lounge owned by the mafia. one night, the club’s true owner, yunho, finally appears—a man whispered about in the darkest corners of the city. Your music becomes the only thing that calms him.

KANG YEO SANG !

signal lost ! [mafia!yeosang x hacker!reader ]

you and yeosang have always been anonymous hacker partners—until a job goes wrong, and you send a distress signal. when he finally shows up, you realize the truth—yeosang isn’t a stranger. He’s your biggest rival.

CHOI SAN !

fake it ! [mafia!san x neighbour!reader ]

when san needs a date for a high-stakes mafia gala, he turns to the most unlikely choice—his completely ordinary, law-abiding neighbor. what starts as a simple favor quickly turns into a night of whispered secrets, stolen glances, and the realization that pretending to belong in his world might be easier than expected.

SONG MIN GI !

all in ! [mafia!mingi x casino dealer!reader ]

you're a casino dealer, and mingi—the mafia’s most charming but dangerous underboss—loves playing at your table. one night, he leans in and places a bet. if i win, you’re mine for the night. the problem? He never loses.

JUNG WOO YOUNG !

dance of lies ! [mafia!wooyoung x thief!reader ]

you’ve been hired to steal something valuable during a high-society gala, but wooyoung—always one step ahead—catches you just as you reach for it. instead of turning you in, he smirks and offers his hand. If you want to escape, you’ll have to dance your way out of this.

CHOI JONG HO !

babysitting ! [mafia!jongho x kim!reader ]

jongho is feared by everyone—except you, hongjoong's little sister who keeps sneaking into trouble. when he’s assigned to watch over you, he treats it like a punishment. but as you drag him into your adventures, he starts realizing he’s in more danger from your smile than any bullet.

© enhateez

[callmeagardengnome]

OMG these fics sound so interesting!! def gna check this out and follow along 💗💗 i cant wait!

(also i never thought anyone would ever be inspired by my fic series so thank you so much!)