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"AND… TEAM… GO!" A strong voice pierced through earpieces, signalling the agents to take their assigned positions.
Today's mission is of utmost importance to their career, and Euijoo cannot afford to make a slip-up whatsoever. Suffice it to say there is absolutely no pressure on him!
Okay, well, there may be a bit of pressure… but he trusts his team well enough that they will pull through. Besides, he has gone over their primary strategy and backup plans about 100 times, give or take.
Euijoo double-checks the security cameras over Harua's shoulders and ensures he can see all the field agents. He then signals to the others in the van to open up their private comms with their respective partners.
"Euijoo-yah," a smooth voice trickles into Euijoo's ears causing him to temporarily relax – he hums in response. "Take it easy, okay? It's going to be alright! After all, your hero is at your service."
He rolls his eyes and chuckles, "Famous last words Fuma-hyung."
"Heyyy, at least it made you laugh, leader!" Euijoo settles in his seat, ready to guide his sub-leader. "Mhmm, whatever you say, hyung," he placates the older and then gets straight to business. "Head towards the left side of the main building. You can use a fire escape to get into the second floor."
"Never one to beat around the bush, are you, Euijoo?" Fuma counters as he heads towards the fire escape. "You know me too well, hyung," Euijoo quips back, not realising the growing smile on his face.
Euijoo notices Yuma smirking at him from the corner of his eyes, and he looks back at him questioningly.
The sly boy simply shrugs his shoulders. "Nothing much, just that for someone so tense about this life-altering mission, you sure have a lot to smile about," Yuma teases, causing Euijoo to blush instantaneously.
Clearing his throat in embarrassment, Euijoo glares at the snickering kids, who merely giggle louder at his weak attempt.
Fuma's voice cuts through Euijoo's predicament, "I'm on the second floor." He dismisses the menaces and focuses on the real task at hand. It's always been easy for him to zone out from the rest of the world (ask Fuma – he'd know best).
Just as Euijoo was about to give further instructions, there was an interference with their systems. Static was the only thing Euijoo could see, and suddenly, he blanked out. This could not be happening, not today.
"Hyung, the system is down," Jo exclaims as he rushes to check on the main panel next to Harua. The two of them furiously worked together to check on the firewall systems while Yuma and Taki kept in touch with the others on the field.
Through the team channel, Nicholas' voice breaks Euijoo out of his panicked state, "Guys, the alarm is going off in the building. The exits around us are all blocked. Maki and I are trying to get out of here, but we're stuck."
Euijoo had not considered this possibility among their many plans, fuck.
He immediately gets to work, pulling out a physical blueprint and noting where he last saw everyone. "K-hyung, I need you to see if you can burst through the door at the end of the corridor. It leads to the staircase where Fuma-hyung is currently located."
"Negative, like Nicholas said, all the exits have been blocked for me too, and yet it's odd how there is no security guard–"
"That's because they're coming up here," Fuma abruptly cuts off K. "I can hear them running up the stairs."
Harua managed to crack through the security breach, "The systems are back online." Euijoo nods, "Close off all the doors to the second floor, we need to make sure Fuma-hyung is safe." Fuma's voice crackles through the comm, "It's too late, Euijoo. They're already by the fire escape."
Euijoo cannot panic – not right now – not when he is most needed. "Okay, Fuma-hyung, listen to me. There is a garbage chute at the opposite end of where you are, I need you to get into that and get out of there asap."
At that moment, henchmen also appear from the main staircase, surrounding Fuma from both ends. Euijoo gasps as he sees it all through the CCTV. "Hyung, hyung, please, get out of there," he pleads as he realises that Fuma is deliberating his options.
"Euijoo, I need you to listen to me," Fuma whispers, "I'm severely outnumbered, so I'm just gonna let them take me–"
"Hyung, no, that's not gonna happen. K-hyung is going to get to you, and the two of you will make it out of there." "Euijoo-yah, listen, nothing will happen to me... after all, I am your hero," Fuma explained before signing a series of gestures with his right hand at the camera as if to reassure Euijoo, but it only further confused the panicked leader.
The henchmen were closing in on Fuma, and all Euijoo could do was desperately cry out for him to do something. His cries halt abruptly when he discerns that Fuma is plucking out his earpiece. Sending one last glance to the camera, Fuma stomps on the earpiece before getting tackled to the ground.
The security cameras black out right after, and Euijoo's mind numbs entirely.
A gut-wrenching scream is heard through his earpiece.
He doesn't realise it was his own scream until Yuma holds onto him.
The touch pulls him out of the impending sense of doom and reminds him of his responsibilities. Euijoo realises that he is still their leader and that he simply needs a new game plan.
Nobody – not a single soul – was going to touch his teammates, let alone his Fuma-hyung. Even if the other was a self-sacrificing idiotic hero.
He pats Yuma in gratitude, signalling for the other to let go. Yuma reluctantly lets him go after Euijoo gives him a tight-lipped smile. "Taki, help Harua get the security cameras back on. Yuma will contact the others and check their status, and Jo, you will come with me."
The two of them head towards the blueprint Euijoo had pulled out earlier, "They will not be leaving the building anytime now as there are no viable means to escape. The only way out would be by coming back down, which they wouldn't risk as we have them surrounded."
There's a pause as Euijoo realises the enemies' motives, "They focused on isolating us to prevent helping whoever was closest to the safe." Jo solemnly nods, "A divide and conquer tactic."
"Exactly, but what they don't know is that we have some cards up our sleeves." Jo looks at Euijoo puzzled. "You and I are going to surprise them with a grand entrance."
A sharp inhale breaks the discussion, "Euijoo, are you sure?" Nicholas asks worriedly through the comms, Euijoo had forgotten for a moment that he still had those on. K intercepts before Euijoo can get a word out, "Nicho is right… Euijoo, you swore never to step onto the field again."
He did make such a promise, especially after losing his old partner. Euijoo used to be one of the best field agents before the formation of &TEAM, however, the loss was too tragic for him to ever return.
But that did not mean he was ready to lose yet another person dear to him. He would do whatever needed to be done, no matter what. He told the others so, and they begrudgingly accepted it, especially since they knew there was no changing his mind.
"K-hyung, Nichol, Maki, I need the three of you to be vigilant on the bottom floors. Henchmen will likely show up to take you guys down to escape with Fuma-hyung."
Euijoo marches over to the weaponry and grabs a grappling hook, a couple of guns and bulletproof vests, "Jo and I are going to attack from the roof – that way, they will be trapped."
"We've cracked through the security," Taki says, "And it looks like they're holding Fuma-kun on the top-most floor." Euijoo nods and takes a look at the CCTV footage.
His heart aches as he notes how Fuma is harshly tied up and thrown to the ground, already getting beaten by some thugs, "Well… we better hurry up and save our hero."
... ...♡... ...
Today is not the best day for Fuma, to say the very least. He cannot believe he has just jeopardised their biggest mission! Him getting captured was not a part of their plans whatsoever… but at least it's him and not the others.
Getting beaten up truly provides a lot of reflection time for Fuma. He ignores the kicks to his gut and focuses on what could have happened differently. In Fuma's head, the mission would go as smoothly as possible. They would break into the building, get to the safe, and retrieve the million-dollar chip containing all the government's plans.
But noooo, things just had to go south real quick. At that moment, Fuma thought it best to stay put in the hallway instead of running towards the garbage chute like a certain leader had told him to.
Realistically speaking, there was a slight chance he could have made it, but he did not want to risk it in case they caught him mid-leap. If the enemy was smart enough, they probably would have used his earpiece to track down his team, and there was no way he was going to let that happen, hence him smashing it to pieces before they could get to him.
Fuma winces – not because of the heavy blows aimed at his side – but at the thought of facing the wrath of Euijoo… for first and foremost messing up their biggest mission yet, secondly disobeying and thereby undermining his orders, and lastly destroying team property.
He sends a silent apology to Euijoo, this was not how things were supposed to go. Fuma mentally sighs, they were supposed to finish things off with no hitch in their plans and celebrate their tremendous success!
Following their success, Fuma hoped to finally take Euijoo out and confess his feelings. The two of them had been dancing around one another for the longest time, and they were not subtle in any way, not when the members would often groan about how obliviously in love they were.
With Valentine's around the corner, he was planning to finally ask Euijoo out, much to the absolute delight of his confidant, K. Fuma had thought that he would be at the receiving end of the shovel talk, but to his surprise, K had simply said, "It's about damn time."
Mentally, he groans as he recalls the flower bouquet hidden in his closet, ready to shrivel and die, as it is unlikely to ever see the light after this mishap. Fuma had grand plans for a special romantic adventure for them, doubling as a reward for a successful mission, but alas!
Fuma's lamenting is interrupted by a loud crash – a figure jumps through the window and rolls onto the floor to stabilise their landing – a loud grunt breaks through the commotion as Fuma registers who it is, his very own Byun Euijoo.
He faintly hears someone else land into the room as well, but he's too mesmerised by how Euijoo instantly gets combat-ready. A bunch of henchmen immediately jump to catch him, and he easily slips out of their way, kneeing them in the groin, elbowing their stomachs, and taking them down one by one.
Rumours had been going around about how good Euijoo was at physical combat, despite his lanky build, when Fuma had just joined the team… and now he has the absolute honour of witnessing it live.
God, Euijoo's so hot, Fuma thinks, before he gets manhandled into standing up. He's instantly pulled out of his fantasies the minute he feels the gun barrel on the side of his forehead.
"One move, and he gets shot," a gruff voice commands Euijoo's attention, causing everyone in the room to halt their movement. In his periphery, Fuma finally spots Jo, who had managed to slip under everyone's radar, hiding away in a corner, waiting for a signal from their leader.
The burly thug, whom Fuma presumes to be the right-hand man of their target, tightens his grip around Fuma's neck. "Hands up where I can see them," Euijoo raises his hand slowly so as not to give away his hidden guns, but the thug notices them.
"Weapons on the floor," he snarls, pressing the gun harder against Fuma's temple. Fuma regards how calmly Euijoo puts all his guns down as if he still had complete control of the situation. He probably does, Fuma mused, after all, Euijoo always had a backup plan.
Just as Euijoo places his last gun on the floor, the door is kicked open, revealing their ever-so-reliable teammates. "Hey guys, did we miss the party?" K grins as chaos erupts at their entrance, an equally menacing duo of Nicholas and Maki joining him in fighting off the remaining henchmen.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Euijoo picks up his gun and aims it at the right-hand man. "Let him go," he raises his voice at a volume Fuma has never heard. "Let him go, or else you will get a bullet through your head," Euijoo practically growls, and Fuma doesn't know if it's weird that he finds that so damn attractive.
"Sorry, Princess, I'm afraid I will not be setting your Prince Charming free," the thug mocks and backs away into a corner with a struggling Fuma in tow. Much to his chagrin, he feels something against him and turns around to find Jo with a gun aimed at his lower back. Fuma smirks at the turn of events. "He said to let him go," Jo commands, further digging his gun at the man's back.
The right-hand man unwillingly lets go of Fuma, defeated by how the tables have turned on him. Jo doesn't let go of his gun, and neither does Euijoo. The latter steps forward, gun in hand, and stands next to a recovering Fuma as they collectively stare down the man.
"Do you want to take the lead, hyung?" Euijoo asks, keeping his eyes trained on the right-hand man. Fuma shrugs as he massages his sore neck, "Go ahead, leader-nim. He's all yours."
Euijoo throws a grin his way, pockets his gun and socks the cowering man – square in his face – "No one messes with my Fuma hyung." Damn, Fuma is so in love with him.
... ...♡... ...
Upon & TEAM's return from their hellish mission, everyone headed straight for their rooms, exhausted to the bone. Well, everyone except the leaders. Fuma simply observed Euijoo as he made his way towards the medical bay instead.
The younger was quite silent throughout their ride back, and initially, Fuma had chalked it up to the adrenaline rush dying down, but now he feels that there's more to it. Determined to ensure his leader was okay, Fuma followed Euijoo's path.
He pauses for a moment as he passes by his room, contemplating whether he should bring out the bouquet, but decides that perhaps it wasn't the most appropriate timing.
With a gentle knock, he opens the med bay door to find Euijoo fussing about the medical supplies. Euijoo looks up as he enters, offers a strained smile for a quick second, and then gets back to the task at hand. Huh, I guess the situation is more serious than I thought, Fuma ponders as he settles himself on one of the patient beds.
Euijoo drifts about the room as if he cannot feel Fuma's persistent stare as he follows his every move. Having collected everything he needed, Euijoo approached the bed, taking a seat next to Fuma, leaving enough space between them for the medical supplies.
Gentle fingers hold onto his chin as Euijoo guides his face around to lightly dab disinfectant on his wounds. Despite holding onto Fuma's face, Euijoo desperately avoids eye contact, turmoil brewing behind his eyes. And yet, Fuma cannot help but think that Euijoo is the prettiest boy he's ever laid his eyes on.
As much as Fuma loves peace and quiet as the next guy, he knows he must break the silence. "Euijoo-yah," he whispers, careful not to ruin the tranquil atmosphere, "I'm sorry…"
"Sorry for what?" Euijoo softly but curtly asks, causing Fuma to be still. In reality, Fuma isn't really sure what he's sorry for. He really was thinking only about the safety of the team at that moment. But... in doing so, he overlooked his leader's orders – shit, that must've been it.
Fuma tries to look into Euijoo's eyes and fails as the other adamantly refuses to do so. He sighs sadly, "Hyung's sorry because he shouldn't have questioned your leadership." Euijoo's flow gets disrupted by the apology, "My leadership?" He makes a noise of protest and goes back to tending to Fuma's wounds, "It's not about my fucking leadership, hyung."
The silence stretches between the two as Fuma tries to figure out what the fuck could have upset Euijoo while the latter hurries to finish patching up any remaining wounds. Too caught up in his head, Fuma fails to notice that Euijoo is packing the supplies. Fuma was brought back to the real world when he felt the younger get up from the bed – he urgently held onto his wrist – desperate to fix his fuck up.
Euijoo halts in his spot but makes no move to turn towards Fuma. He takes this as a sign to speak now or forever hold his peace, "I'm sorry I let myself get caught." Fuma hears Euijoo's breath hitch, but his apology continues to flow out of his mouth, "I had to... it was the only way I knew I could keep you guys safe. You know how dangerous those people were, I was doing it to protect you guys!"
"And who will protect you, hyung?" Euijoo whispers softly, the words floating around the room with such gentleness that Fuma is afraid to hold onto them. Fuma's grip on Euijoo's wrist loosens as he registers what was said. Euijoo turns around to look at him with unshed tears and repeats louder, "And who will protect you, hyung?"
Fuma throws all caution to the wind and embraces the other. He feels Euijoo's hands curled up in a fist as they rest on his chest.
"Why did you have to let yourself get caught?" A weak punch is thrown at him.
"What would have happened if they seriously injured you?" Another punch. "What if they killed you before we got you?"
The intensity of the punch increases. "Why do you always have to be the hero?"
A final punch is thrown at Fuma as he feels lingering wetness on his shoulder, "What if I lost you?"
Euijoo clutches onto Fuma's shirt as he hopelessly cries into his neck, "I cannot… I really cannot go through that again, hyung, you—" he hiccups as Fuma gently pats his back. You mean too much to me.
"I cannot lose another loved one under my watch," Euijoo whispers ever so softly. So soft that Fuma might've missed it – had he not given Euijoo his full attention already. He tried to lift Euijoo's face from his neck but was met with resistance from the younger out of sheer embarrassment for letting his heart bleed a bit too much.
"Euijoo-yah," Fuma called out as if talking to an injured animal, "Please don't hide from hyung." Euijoo pushes his face further into Fuma's neck, leading the older to exhale shakily. "Come on, Euijoo, hyung just wants to look at your pretty face."
Slowly but surely, Euijoo lifts his head from its hiding spot, only to be met with absolute adoration oozing out of Fuma's eyes. He can't look away, too captivated by how much love he is on the receiving end of.
Fuma delicately cradles Euijoo's face in his hands, and Euijoo cannot help but lean into his warm palms. "Euijoo-yah," "Hmmm," "Do you know what I had signed to you before getting captured by those henchmen?" Euijoo faces sours at the memory and tries to recall what sign Fuma was talking about. He shakes his head dejectedly like a sad puppy, leading Fuma to giggle at his reaction.
He moves his right hand away from Euijoo's face to repeat said series of hand gestures, he raises his pinky finger, "I…" before switching to his index and thumb, "love…" turning a deaf ear to Euijoo's faltered breath, Fuma replaces his index with his pinky finger, "you…" combining them all together in the end, he earnestly looks into Euijoo's eyes, "I love you."
It's as if the world had stopped for the both of them – nothing existed outside their little bubble. They gravitated towards each other as if they were two opposing magnetic poles.
Euijoo glanced down Fuma's lips as he felt the other's breath hover over his own. Fuma tucks away a stray hair behind Euijoo's ear and lovingly gazes into his eyes, only to find the same longing reflecting back at him. "Hyung, please," never one to deny Euijoo's wishes, Fuma surges forward to capture his lips.
As cheesy as it sounds, it felt like two puzzle pieces finally slotting together and finding a home in one another. Fuma gently threaded his fingers into Euijoo's hair, playing with his nape as Euijoo's hands settled on Fuma's waist. It was an exhilarating feeling – the amount of love they had for each other – conveyed through the simple act of kissing.
Caught up in one another, Euijoo's grip on Fuma's waist tightened as Fuma tugged Euijoo by his hair, bringing them as close as humanly possible. Lost in the passion of it all, Euijoo backed Fuma into the bed, causing the latter to lose balance and fall back. The momentum had him pull Euijoo on top of him, forcing their lips apart – albeit temporarily.
They met in the middle once again – this time in a slow, lingering manner. They kissed as if they had all the time in the world, with Fuma gently tracing Euijoo's jawline and Euijoo rubbing circles into Fuma's sides. They continued to kiss languidly before hesitantly separating to inhale the ever-so-vital oxygen.
Their breaths mingle as they giggle at the events that just transpired. Euijoo falls onto Fuma's side, now facing and taking in each other. They can sense that their bodies are finally shutting down as a result of their long day.
Euijoo timidly reaches out to lay his hand on top of Fuma's, shy despite having literally made out mere seconds earlier, "I love you, hyung." Fuma smiles at him and turns his hand to intertwine their fingers together, pulling it towards him to land a soft kiss, "I love you too, and I'm sorry for being a stupid hero."
He squeezes their joined hands, "I promise you that next time, I will try to be careful for you." Euijoo jokingly punches Fuma's shoulder with his free hand, "You better, or else I'll be the one going after to kill you," he vaguely threatens.
"I mean, I wouldn't mind that," Fuma counterargues, causing Euijoo to choke on air, "It was really hot how you socked that guy in the face for me." Euijoo whines at Fuma's teasing grin and hides his face in the pillow. Fuma lets out a boisterous laugh, it really was so damn easy to tease his Euijoo.
Fuma tugs Euijoo's face from the pillow and is met with a fiery red blush spreading across his face like wildfire. "Oh my love, aren't you the cutest?" Fuma coos as Euijoo tries to fight him before giving up. He allows Fuma to rearrange themselves to fit perfectly on the small medical bed.
One would think it would be uncomfortable for someone as tall as Euijoo to rest his head on Fuma's chest and curl around the older man, but Euijoo would like to argue and say that it's actually the safest he has felt in a while. "This way, we both protect one another and keep each other safe even as we sleep," Fuma says as if reading Euijoo's mind.
Euijoo tilts his head to look at Fuma properly, "I love it, hyung." He leans up to kiss Fuma gently, "I love you." "And I love you, Euijoo-yah," Fuma replies with a kiss on his forehead. As if on cue, the med bay lights automatically shut down, enveloping them in darkness.
The moonlight dances across their intertwined bodies as Fuma and Euijoo find themselves at peace – not caring in the slightest about what the future holds for them – for they know that among one another, they've found their safe place.