✏ project exo {chapter eleven}
⇢ authors: illegiblesigns and mouthwash
⇢ fandom: exo
⇢ pairings: various
⇢ 6648 words
⇢ pg 13 (language, violence)
p r o j e c t e x o : chapter eleven
The General could feel the eerie smell of death in the air. It was in the way the pale boy, who was kneeling by Prototype One side broke down in Victoria’s arms. It was in the way all of those kids started to cry; some loudly and others just quietly sobbing, leaning on each other shoulders and grieving for their lost friend.
It won’t be the first one, Changmin thought, but he wouldn’t be an ass as to say it out loud. He remembered Prototype One. He was obedient, fast, and bright, but not as much as the others. He wasn’t as smart as Luhan, or as sharp as Kris. Suho was the kind of kid to disappear on the background, not truly memorable, but not incompetent. You died an honorable death. And for Changmin there was no greater glory.
He looked down to Sehun, who tried to hide his tears the moment he felt his gaze. Changmin laid a reassuring hand on the boy’s shoulder. You’re so strong, he wanted to say, don’t let your heart turn into stone by this war.
Don’t be like me.
Instead, he merely observed as Sehun walked away from his grasp, kneeling by Baekhyun’s side. All the Prototypes were now making a circle around Suho, some of them holding hands, some whispering things Changmin could not hear. The General heaved a sigh, turning around, and seeing Yunho march towards the woods, the Resistance members following him.
Changmin approached them with quiet steps and his head held high. All he received were condemning looks.
“What are you doing here?” Kwon Yuri said, and Changmin could trace her whole profile right there. The daughter of a famous billionaire, if Changmin spilled one word about her secret activities, she would lose her entire inheritance.
“You should leave.” Jung Jessica, a distinguished name, marked as number one on the Government's wanted list. “There’s no place for military pigs here.”
Im Yoona stepped up, looking at both of them with anger. "We’d be dead by now if it weren't for that military pig.”
She crossed her arms gracefully and looked back at Changmin, expecting him to say something. The General only assented, making his way towards Yunho, who had his back turned to them all, both hands resting on a tree.
“Yunho-”
“We’d all be dead by now, if it weren't for you,” the Resistance leader echoed Yoona’s words, his voice low.
“Yes, you would.”
“I-I promised these kids I’d protect them,” Yunho continued, his back still turned to Changmin, “I told them not to worry. That we, the Resistance, would protect them.”
“You did what you could do with the time you had.”
“Suho is dead,” he turned around, “dead. I promised them shelter, and now there’s a dead body lying on the ground. Those kids have already suffered enough-”
“Yunho, stop it,” he heard Jessica saying in a feeble voice.
“It was my duty. As a leader, as their leader. And I failed them.” The man’s words rung with a defeated tone, his eyes lost in the lake’s dark waters.
Changmin inhaled deeply. “I didn’t expect the Resistance’s leader to be such a weak man.”
The silence that followed his statement was hostile. Yunho stared at him, a look that screamed of indignation, and Changmin returned the gaze with the same intensity.
“You promised to protect them? So stop whining and do it. Your crying won’t bring the boy back, so suck it up and defend the remaining ones. They fucking need you. They see you as their leader, so you better be deserving of their admiration.”
His voice was calm, calculated, and he could feel Yunho’s posture changing with every word he said. He was now standing tall once more, his head high. They were interrupted by the sounds of wheels against mud, and Changmin looked to the road, seeing at least three cars stopping near them.
“Finally!” Yoona said, sprinting towards the newcomers.
Yunho looked back at him, his mouth opened as if he was about to say something, but got cut off again by a tall man in a suit. Even in the dark Changmin could see the hatred in his eyes.
“Zhou Mi,” Yunho said, “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Where is his body?” the man simply asked, his voice calm and composed.
“We placed Kyuhyun’s body near my old house. We’ll bury Suho’s body here, maybe you’d want Kyuhyun to rest here as well?”
“It’d be best,” the man gulped, “I don’t think he’d want to be buried in that cold cemetery in New Rome. He never belonged to that place.”
They stayed silent as others approached them. Yoona came back together with a group of women and men, all of them whispering their condolences and grieving Kyuhyun’s death. The General could identify each and every face, listing their crimes in his mind. And then the Prototypes came as well, and Changmin noticed that Baekhyun had left two glowing orbs floating around Suho’s body, and someone had set a blanket over him.
“Now,” Yunho started, and Changmin couldn’t help but notice that he sounded like a leader again, “General Changmin. You’ll tell us everything you know.”
“They got Prototype Geller,” he said, and the whole group fell silent.
Sehun watched him with wide eyes. “I can’t believe Luhan did this.”
“Don’t be so quick to judge,” Changmin said harshly, “he was pretty naive for such a clever kid. I don’t know. I'm guessing he thought he was important enough for the Center staff, and they would welcome him with open arms. A stupid mistake.”
“What happened to him?” Prototype Gaia inquired.
“Mr. Park is a clever man. He already had a formula that neutrolizes your powers prepared when you boys escaped. He has been without his powers ever since. They locked him up in Tartarus.”
“Tartarus?” Yunho repeated, his eyes wide. “The military wouldn’t stoop so low. They wouldn't do this to a child.”
“He’s not a child. He’s a weapon. At least to the government’s eyes,” Changmin added when he noticed the judging eyes everyone threw at him, “and you’re being too kind to the Armed Forces, Yunho. They didn’t only throw him to a cell. President BoA herself gave the soldiers the permission to do anything to make Luhan talk.”
At that moment, Yunho let out a heavy sigh, resting his head on his hands. “And he talked,” he stated, tired.
“They were hard on him for the first eight hours or so. I stood outside the room and all I could hear were his screams. I tried to step in, but they don’t trust me like they used to. But Luhan ended up spilling the beans, of course. I don’t even know how he lasted for so long. I’d talk much sooner than he did.”
“I can’t believe he did it,” Sehun said again, his voice infected with animosity. Changmin knew he was deaf to anything he’d say besides the fact Luhan had talked. A broken heart is a dangerous thing. Not letting the brain think clearly, not letting the eyes see things through.
“After everything was settled. General Leeteuk obtained orders to annihilate the Resistance quietly. I tried to warn you as quickly as possible.”
“Woah, you’re really efficient, warning us just a few minutes before they started shooting at us,” Jessica retorted, mockingly. Changmin looked at her with annoyance.
“I became aware of the whole operation just a few hours ago. As I said, they don’t trust me as much anymore. The President doubts my loyalty and my higher ups have been on my back since-,” he stopped, his eyes lingering on Victoria’s face, “since reports of my affection for some of your people were delivered to my Commander.”
He went quiet, letting the whole thing sink in their minds. Changmin didn’t know what the Resistance’s plans were, and part of him kept on screaming for him to get out of there and go back to where he belonged.
“Operation Bastille has a whole new meaning now,” Yunho declared, looking at Changmin, “we can’t allow such vile things to happen right under our noses.”
“Everything is almost ready, Yunho,” Zhou Mi said, nodding at him, “I just need to check on a few things.”
“So do it, and do it quick. Justice can’t wait any longer,” Yunho replied, his voice resounding around them. Changmin felt chills run down his spine.
--
As the sun began to rise--causing the lake to come alive with sparkles reflected in water, the tiny waves kissing the shore--they all gathered, huddled together in a circle around the makeshift grave. Kyungsoo carefully crafted a stone, carving Suho’s name on it. Yunho stuck polaroid pictures of their last visit on it. Suho’s smile so vivid inside the frames.
They were all too numb to speak. Clouds began to overcast the skies, giving the atmosphere grey tones. Sehun remembered how alive and emerald this area was the last time they were there. Now, the colors were muted. Much like they were.
This could still be a nightmare of sorts. Maybe a couple of hours later Sehun would wake up in his bed. This would all be a fabrication of his mind. Arms would embrace him as he opened his eyes. In this alternative reality, Luhan wouldn’t be a traitor and Suho would still be alive.
Lay managed to say a few words. His eyes stared despondently at the named carved in stone.
“This is such a perfect spot for you to rest. You loved it here.” His words were muffled. This moment felt so intimate, but they all listened in. Maybe they would find some kind of comfort in Lay’s words. “So close to the water. Remember how you showed off your powers to everyone? Remember how amazed we all were? I can still remember the way you laughed. You were so happy-”
For the first time, that night Lay cried. Loud sobs erupted from his throat. Victoria came to his side, wrapping an arm around his middle, and crying as well. She wiped away his tears and kissed the top of his head.
“It’s okay,” she assured, holding on tightly to him.
“We have to go,” Yunho said softly as he joined them. Sehun could see the instability all over Yunho’s stance. Never in a million years he imagined that he would see the Resistance leader so shaken. To him, much like General Changmin, Yunho was made of steel. This view broke as soon as Sehun saw him rub away a tear from his cheek.
They got into separate cars and started following the route back to Corinth. Sehun questioned the General if staying at Yunho’s house was safe. The General guaranteed him the army wasn’t aware of its location. Yunho’s hideout was a reliable shelter for now.
As soon as they stepped inside, Lay began making rounds, checking on everyone’s injuries. Sehun saw him give stitches to Kris’ arm without any kind of anesthesia. The boy clenched his jaw and produced a series of agonizing groans as Lay worked. Tao sat by his side, holding his other hand tightly. Sehun noted the Kronian looked much different now. His usual cold manner had vanished, and the face of an alarmed child took its place. He finally looked his age.
Sehun stuck to Changmin’s side like he never had before, holding the General’s arm tightly as they absorbed the quiet tension in the room. He was taken by surprise when Changmin responded, wrapping a protective arm around Sehun’s shoulders, as they watched Yunho lose all composure.
“We need to have a meeting,” he called, tapping his fingers on the coffee table. Kai sat by his side on the couch, the boy looked at him gloomily.
The girls quickly gathered the rest of the members and the Prototypes. They all sat together in a spot on the floor. Suho’s absence was painfully obvious. From seven, they were down to five.
And Suho’s smile would never grace that house again.
Yunho looked around the room, eyes lingering on the Prototypes. He drew in a deep breath. “The death of an innocent is always unsettling. Losing someone-” his voice broke, and Kai rested a hand on his shoulder, urging him to continue. “I have dealt with death many times in my life. I’ve lost a special someone many years ago. But just because that person is gone, doesn’t mean that they have left us forever. He lives within me. Just like Suho will forever live within all of us. Anything you lose comes around in another form.”
Sehun scanned the room with his eyes, hearing the faint sobs around him. He saw Baekhyun with his face buried in Chanyeol’s chest, the lanky boy running his big hands through Baekhyun’s hair, ignoring his own tears.
“The war is at our doorstep now. The pain we feel right now is the same anguish many mothers and fathers have been experiencing since this whole thing started, since the first caskets have come back from combat with Athena’s flag covering them. We can’t stop now. We have to follow through with our plans. This has to stop.”
Changmin cleared his throat. “This is the perfect time for you, Yunho, to go public with this.” All eyes fell on him, baffled faces bore stares into the General, but he didn’t feel intimidated in any way. He pressed on, “I know some of you have the skills to hack into the broadcasting system. It’s time to deliver a strong message to Athena’s people.”
There were several nods across the room and small murmurs of agreement. Yunho remained silent, waiting for the General to finish his train of thought. The look on his face questioned Changmin’s participation in this. They all were to some extent. There was a part of Sehun that wished Changmin would join them, but he knew the man well enough to know that this would never happen.
“If the public knows about the Prototypes you’ll gather a lot of support. They won’t stand for this. They won’t stay quiet if they know their government has been torturing and killing children,” Changmin concluded, turning his gaze to Sehun, who simply grasped his arm tighter.
Yunho sighed. “They will try to justify that somehow. Athenians are hungry to win this war. They’ll believe in anything that comes from Pandora Avenue,” he said, rubbing his temple. Changmin let out a sharp breath in response, clamping his jaw.
“It’s time for all of you to know about Operation Bastile,” he announced, eyes glued to the Prototypes, who stirred in their places. “This is something we’ve been planning for almost a year now. Last week, Zhou Mi,” he motioned over to the tall man standing in the corner of the room, “who has infiltrated Tartarus for the last six months, confirmed that the tunnels have been built. We are going to break out all those incarcerated in that place.”
“What’s Tartatarus?” Kyungsoo asked with a shaky voice.
“It’s an underground prison. Created to contain people who are of interest to the government. People who are too valuable to be killed. But can’t be let out in the public.”
Lay’s eyes grew wide. “Like my parents? And the rest of the Blue Orchid members?”
“Most of the Blue Orchid members are gone. Some killed themselves inside Tartarus, others succumbed to the torture methods,” Changmin answered, and Lay’s gaze fell to the ground. Kris have his arm a gentle squeeze.
“General, please confirm that Luhan is being kept in Tartarus,” Yunho requested.
“Prototype Geller is in Tartarus. I’m the one responsible for his ward,” Changim said mechanically.
Yunho stood up, his eyes decided. “Then we’re going to get him.”
He looked around the room. The boys were all still, until Lay stood up. The same look of resolve in his eyes.
“I want to help,” he announced, fiercely.
“Me too,” Kris said, rising to his feet. “I’ve been trained in strategy. General Changmin can attest to that. I’m more than prepared.”
One by one, the Prototypes began to stand up. Pledging their allegiance to the Operation. Sehun sighed, before leaving Changmin’s side to join them.
“Something has to be done. I want in too,” he said.
Victoria stared at the scene utterly horrified. “Yunho. No,” she cried. “They can’t be in the middle of all this. They have to stay hidden and protected.”
“They are free to chose,” Yunho pointed out, looking at the boys proudly. By his side, Kai grunted, crossing his arm and disappearing with a snap. Kyungsoo’s expression twisted, almost as if he were in pain.
Sehun turned his body around to face General Changmin. “Will you help us?”
The man shook his head. “No, but I’ll turn a blind eye. That’s all I can do.”
Sehun couldn’t hide his disappointment. And then, something else crossed his mind. He didn’t want to rescue Luhan, but he stepped out anyway, on principle alone and for revenge, because even though Yunho says he didn’t believe in vengeance. Retaliation would be the only thing that would quiet his anger.
Blood for blood.
“When’s the Operation?” Kris asked.
Yunho's phone beeped. "Tonight," he declared, after reading the words on the screen.
--
He felt agitation running through his veins, a weird sense of justice on his mind. It’s our chance, he thought, it’s time for payback for what they did to Suho. For what they did to us.
Tao seized his arm, a troubled look on his face. Since the attack he had been acting weird, Kris noticed. Maybe it was the impact of the moment, but all the boy did since that bullet grazed against his flesh, was look frightened and disturbed.
“Are you sure about this?” He muttered when Yunho and the other Resistance members started to leave. “You hurt your arm. You should stay and rest.”
“No,” Kris replied, sighing, “I’m fine, you don’t have to worry. I won’t slow you down.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about-“
“Hey, guys, come here,” Kris interrupted Tao when he saw his friends start to leave the room. Kyungsoo looked at him with an eyebrow raised.
“What’s wrong?”
“Let’s talk about this,” he said, while the others sat on the floor again. “We can’t be a nuisance to them. It’s time for us to use everything we learned with those soldiers against them.”
Kris looked around, seeing all the anxious faces staring at him. They were marching towards their first significant mission, and all of this after losing one of their friends. And then learning that the other was being tortured in prison. Not that Kris pitied Luhan, not that he wasn’t pissed at him for leaving, but he’d never leave one of them in the hands of the enemy.
And he knew Luhan needed them. Suho’s revenge was in their hands. His friends needed him as their bedrock.
“Sehun,” he began, “you’re the best on tactics. You and Lay are best to be put on Yunho’s team. I heard he’ll be the one to go after Luhan, you go with them. Me, Tao, Xiumin and Chanyeol can go with Jessica. I think we suit her fighting style more,” he smirked at Xiumin, who nodded with an amused smile.
“What about us?” Baekhyun asked, pointing to himself and Kyungsoo.
Kris inhaled deeply, trying to sound sympathetic. “You’re not going.”
“What?”
Kyungsoo widened his eyes at him. “I was better than you in practical training session, why do I need to stay?”
“Listen-”
“This is unfair,” Baekhyun pronounced, standing up, “Yunho said we all had the choice to go, why should we listen to you?”
“Look, Kyungsoo can’t go through any kind of pressure without fainting. And you, Baekhyun,” he looked back at the boy, who had anger on his eyes, “don’t look at me like that, you’re well aware you need more training.”
“This is unfair, and you know it,” Baekhyun continued, as if he hadn't even heard a single word Kris said, “we all want to help. We all should be at least given the chance to fight!”
“He is right,” Kyungsoo stood up as well, hitting with his palms on the table, “we’ll talk to Yunho-“
“I won’t lose any of you again,” Kris shouted, standing up too, looking down at Baekhyun and Kyungsoo’s shocked faces. The Prototype breathed deeply, resting his face on his hands. When he talked again, his tone was softer. “You’ll have your chance to fight. This is not our only battle, it’s only the first. This is a war. All I’m asking is for you guys to be prepared.”
They kept staring at him, the other boys not even trying to give an opinion. Baekhyun sat down again, and Kris could see he was upset.
“Fine,” Baekhyun said, reluctantly, and Kyungsoo looked at him as if he didn’t believe what he was saying. “But don’t you think you can boss us around.”
“I know,” Kris agreed, tired. Kyungsoo, though, didn’t seem that easily satisfied. The boy turned on his heels leaving the room without even wishing them good luck.
They went through strategies, remembering things from their training. Baekhyun stayed there until they were done, being indifferent towards Kris the whole time. When they were finally done, Kris said they probably should go to their rooms and get some rest before the whole thing started. At that moment, Chen stood up.
“I wish I could help you all,” he said, sadly, “but I need to go. I’ve got a long journey ahead of me.”
Kris and the other boys nodded at him, saying their goodbyes. He watched as he walked out of the door, Xiumin at his side.
He looked at Tao, who gave him a gentle, reassuring smile.
--
“Stay here until it’s time for you to go,” Baekhyun said while grabbing his coat sleeve. His eyes were still red and swollen, Chanyeol noticed.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” he smiled meekly, and Chanyeol grimaced. He knew Baekhyun was extremely upset. Suho’s death was still a shadow right around the corner, and he knew Baekhyun could feel it even more than him. Chanyeol had just had a few moments alone with Suho, and their conversations were always really shallow, but he still cared for the boy. As time passed, Chanyeol found himself caring for all of them.
And then, on top of that, Kris didn’t allow Baekhyun to assist in Operation Bastille. Chanyeol felt sorry for the Prototype, but a part of him sighed with relief. At least he’d be safe. Still, he wanted to cheer him up, using the few hours he had before following Yunho towards Tartarus.
“I have something for you,” he said, remembering the book which was still in his pocket. He placed it on top of Baekhyun’s lap, watching as the boy slowly picked it up on his hands, holding it like a treasure.
“Pride and Prejudice,” he read, a sad smile on his lips. “It was the movie of this that we watched in the Center. This story started it all.”
Chanyeol sat by his side on the bed, looking at him. Baekhyun traced the book’s title with his bony fingers, his eyes seemed lost somewhere, on memories Chanyeol didn’t know.
“I wonder-,” he started, his voice hesitant, “maybe if we never watched it. Maybe if I never showed this movie to them, then maybe-“
“Don’t say that,” Chanyeol cut him off, placing a hand over Baekhyun’s cold one. “If it weren't for this movie, then all of you would be killed by now.” Baekhyun let out a miserable chuckle, and Chanyeol sighed deeply. “Just tell me something. Would you rather die free or die without ever tasting freedom?”
Baekhyun didn’t answer, his eyes now lost on the book’s yellow pages, scanning through words and sentences, smiling at certain points. Chanyeol looked at his clock, a strange feeling creeping inside his chest. In just a few hours, there would be a knock on his door, and a voice calling for him to leave. It was his first actual mission and he couldn’t hide his uneasiness. Suho’s death hit him hard, showing him a part of the war he was trying not to see. For some reason, Chanyeol thought everything would be okay and good would triumph. His father’s voice calling him a naive kid echoed in his mind.
“I could be dead tomorrow,” he stated out loud, more because of self-realization than anything else.
Baekhyun looked back at him in surprise. “Stop it,” he said in an annoyed tone.
“But it’s true,” Chanyeol insisted, his eyes wide, “we always think death is away from us, but that’s just a fake sense of security. One day the person is there, smiling at your side, and then the next--”
His voice trailed off when he felt Baekhyun holding his hand. The boy’s eyes were fixed on his own, and Chanyeol knew they were seeing much more than he wanted to show. I’m here for you, he was saying without words, while squeezing his fingers and leaning in towards him. Baekhyun brushed their lips together, letting them touch slightly. Chanyeol had to breathe deeply so air could reach his lungs.
He knew that Baekhyun only meant to show all of his concern by that kiss, but Chanyeol wasn’t so easily satisfied. He placed his hand on the back of Baekhyun’s neck, shutting their distance again, tasting the boy’s lips on his own. Baekhyun shivered under his touch, his slender fingers grabbing at Chanyeol’s hair and his teeth seeking the others lips, biting them slightly.
And Chanyeol allowed himself to think that maybe, Baekhyun didn’t want him to go that slow.
Baekhyun started to lean on the bed, and Chanyeol stayed on top of him, their hands intertwined, the Prototype tracing kisses on his jawline, on his collarbones. It was all too much for Chanyeol to handle. He pressed their bodies together. Baekhyun let out a short, low groan, and Chanyeol kissed his chin, feeling the boy’s hands on his stomach. And suddenly all of those clothes were too much.
“Baekhyun,” he whispered, his voice hoarse, “are you sure about this?”
His consent was everything Chanyeol needed to hear to move forward. He knew Baekhyun was sensitive at that moment, and he didn’t want to do anything that would make him feel uncomfortable afterwards. He watched as Baekhyun placed one hand on his cheek, his eyes dark.
“Yes,” he whispered, and Chanyeol leaned on to kiss him again.
And everything just sort of happened, just like their whole story. It was like Chanyeol’s hands moved on their own, exploring Baekhyun’s body, discovering his scars. It was as if they were meant to be like that, skin against skin, lips locked together. It was like a storm of emotions and sensations. Chanyeol had to clutch the sheets in his hands when he heard Baekhyun’s muffled moans near his ear. Their hips moved together as their bodies pressed tight, intertwining and dancing to the same music. Chanyeol saw all of Baekhyun’s walls crumble right before his eyes as he felt him from the inside for the first time. He felt the boy crave his nails on his arms, bite his ear lobe, and Chanyeol moved slowly because he never wanted that moment to end.
Chanyeol let himself collapse onto Baekhyun’s side, holding the boy tightly against his chest, lacing their fingers together. He could hear Baekhyun’s erratic breathing, his chest moving up and down. The stupidest smile appeared on his face. Feeling Baekhyun so close, being one with him, it was much more than anything Chanyeol had ever experienced. At that very moment the boy felt complete, the empty hole inside his heart no longer there.
Baekhyun had filled it with his light.
And Chanyeol understood that now he had a reason to fight in this war, now he had a reason to put his life at stake. He wanted a better world for Baekhyun to live in, and he’d do anything for that to happen.
He turned around to face the Prototype, and Baekhyun looked at him with a soft smile. Chanyeol let his fingers trace the boy’s jaw line, lingering on his lips.
“I can die with no regrets now,” he joked, and Baekhyun punched his ribs.
“Stop that,” he said, playing with Chanyeol’s fringe, his face suddenly serious, “you will come back. Promise me.”
Chanyeol knew he couldn’t make that promise, but still, he lifted up his hand, showing his pinky finger to Baekhyun.
“Pinky promise,” he said, and Baekhyun laughed at him, “don’t you dare mock my pinky promise. I’m a soul devoted to the truth. Not like you, filled with lies and secrets. I still need to know from where you got that lube-”
“I already told you, I don’t even know how that thing got here,” the boy whined. Chanyeol started to tickle him, making Baekhyun laugh and contort himself on the bed. Their moment was cut short by a knock on the door.
It was time for Chanyeol to leave.
--
Kyungsoo had to clasp his hands together in order to keep them from shaking. He let air fill his lungs slowly, repeating the process over and over. Conflicting emotions overwhelmed his mind, images of the last few hours playing in an endless loop. Each time he closed his eyes, he saw Suho’s vacant stare, Lay’s hands covered in his blood, Victoria’s piercing shrieks in the background.
Kris’ decision to leave Kyungsoo and Baekhyun didn’t sit well. Words stuck to Kyungsoo’s throat. Some managed to escape his anxiety’s grasp, hitting Kris’ hard, but he was unmoving in his verdict.
They watched helplessly as the Resistance members packed up the vans with supplies. A map lingered on the coffee table, and Kyungsoo meticulously scanned it with his eyes. Corinth Army Base, he read. The map contained specific routes. One lead to an abandoned diner by the side of the highway. The tunnel exit. He knelt down next to the wooden table, letting his fingers travel through the marked paths, memorizing them carefully. Tartarus was directly underneath the Army Base. There were notes about its only access gate. Heavily guarded day and night. Impossible. Yunho’s handwriting was neat and spaced out. There was another entrance, though. The East tunnel. According to Yunho’s notes it was the first passageway they had built, an experiment of sorts, and it had worked. Its entrance was hidden by an old gas station, just a few miles away from the base’s walls.
Soon, the map owner came back to collect it. Yunho eyed Kyungsoo inquisitively. “Curious, are we?”
Kyungsoo gargled, his brain not able form concrete sentences from the shock. “I-I-I just-”
“Make sure Kai is okay for me?” Yunho asked suddenly, and Kyungsoo nodded in response. The man smiled, looking terribly exhausted, both physically and mentally.
“G-G-Good luck,” Kyungsoo spluttered out, his hands shaking again.
With a wave, the members that remained inside the house followed Yunho out. The sounds of the cars leaving the driveway made Kyungsoo jump.
This is not fair, he thought.
Baekhyun had his forehead glued to the window, watching with a frown as the cars sped off, one by one. He rested his palm on the glass, worry written all over his face.
We can’t just sit here and do nothing.
He waited until Victoria climbed the stairs, following the noises coming from the control room. Kai had locked himself inside, ignoring all their requests to come out. When he was sure the woman wasn’t looking, he grabbed Baekhyun by the shoulder, dragging him into the kitchen. He doubled checked if they were actually alone.
“Baekhyun,” he started, not able to control his trembling hands anymore, or how out of pace his breathing was. “Baekhyun, we have to follow them.”
The other’s eyes grow wide, and his eyebrows climb his forehead. “Kyungsoo, this is insane I don’t think-”
“How could Kris, or anyone, simply decide that we are not worthy to participate? That we aren’t strong enough?” Kyungsoo said. Baekhyun bit his bottom lip, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
“Hey. I’m mad too, but we can’t just go out there running after them,” Baekhyun argued. “Or can we?”
“I think we can. I think we should,” Kyungsoo replied in a fierce whisper. “Yunho’s storage room is right underneath our feet. I can feel it. We could just take a few things and make our own way there. I saw the map. It’s not that far.”
Baekhyun brought his hand closer to his face and bit on his thumbnail. Apprehension all over his tense posture.
And then, his shoulders relaxed, and the corner of his lips twist upwards.
“Oh what the hell,” he said, darting off the kitchen with Kyungsoo right on his tail.
They follow the steps down to the supply room; it was located right under their rooms. Kyungsoo flipped the light switch on, holding his breath as light flooded the vast space with endless shelves. Each of them filled with weapons of all kinds, medical supplies, and other basic survival needs.
“We need to arm ourselves if we’re really going to do this,” Kyungsoo noted. Scanning the area for anything that looked remotely familiar. “Were you there for General’s Changmin training on automatic weapons?”
“No,” Baekhyun answered meekly. “I was in the infirmary with a broken leg that day.”
“Well, I passed out at the mere mention of the word gun,” Kyungsoo admitted. “Mrs. Victoria sat with me the entire training session. All I could do was hear the gunshots.”
This triggered something in Kyungsoo’s mind. The chaotic scene at the jazz club, a force pushing him behind the bar, as he felt his senses start to fail him in panic. There was a voice calling his name repeatedly. Kai, he realized. He had felt an arm wrap around his middle, and then, total darkness. By the time he opened his eyes again, he found himself by the margins of Lake Flora.
“I think we’ll have to rely on our powers alone,” Baekhyun’s soft voice brought him back. The boy walked through the shelves, analyzing the contents. There was no organization or pattern. All the supplies were pushed together in the compartments on the shelves. “Your power, I mean. I can’t do much.”
Kyungsoo shook his head. “We need guns,” he insists, “let’s just get the big ones.”
He pointed to a pair of sniper rifles, picking one of them up with difficulty and looking through the scope. It was heavier than he thought. Carrying this for miles would certainly be undoable.
“I don’t think that’s gonna work,” Baekhyun retorted, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “How about something simple?”
He grabbed a shiny silver handgun, analyzing it carefully. Kyungsoo placed the sniper back in its place. For some reason this felt wrong, holding these weapons, after one of them had just been slain by something akin.
“You’re right,” Kyungsoo said, shaking the thought away. “We just need to find the ammunition and-“
From behind him, he heard the familiar crack. He felt the heat of another body standing too close, warm breath tickling his nape. Kyungsoo spun around ungracefully, finding Kai there, their noses only an inch away from each other.
The boy smirked, and Kyungsoo’s heart lunged. Such a familiar expression, he mused. You always looked like that in my dreams.
“So what’s the brilliant plan?” Kai said, mockingly, removing the pistol from Baekhyun’s hands and unlocking the safety. He pointed the gun to Kyungsoo’s forehead. “You’re going to march towards the prison?”
He lowered the weapon, letting it spin on his index finger, and then resting the end of the barrel on his chin in deep thought. “Or, I don’t know, you could take the skytrain.”
Kyungsoo gulped. “You could help us,” he said, hopeful. Kai let out a bitter chuckle.
“I think it’s wrong that they left you here,” he said, turning over to face Baekhyun, “but this is utterly stupid. You don’t think things through.” He knocked Baekhyun’s head faintly with the barrel of the gun. He brushed him off, annoyed.
Kai placed the gun in the inside pocket of his jacket. “You’re not going anywhere,” he added. His gaze fixed on Kyungsoo, who felt like he would collapse at any moment.
When Kai raised his hand, Kyungsoo’s eyes stayed fixed on it. He always stood that way when he was ready to teleport. Something crossed Kyungsoo’s mind. It was crazy. But it could work.
He remembered the trails marked on Yunho’s map, visualizing them strongly in his mind, before grabbing Baekhyun with a hand and Kai with the other.
They get sucked between time and space, twisting in total darkness. Kyungsoo felt like his entire body was being torn to pieces. When he opened his eyes again, they are inside a dark corridor.
Did it work?
From the vibrations underneath his feet and faint whispers on the walls, Kyungsoo could tell they were inside the East Tunnel. The entrance to Tartarus right before their eyes.
Kai’s eyes are drowning in rage. His fists clenched tightly as he attached his back to the stone wall. His lips are parted, and he breathed heavily. There was a trace of fear to his expression, something he thought Kai was incapable of experiencing.
You are always so brave. Untouchable. Trust me. Just this once. It will work.
“Do you realize,” Kai spoke through his teeth, “what you just did? The kind of risk you took. We could have been separated mid-teleport. Lost forever.” His voice was cold, and Kyungsoo felt his small shoulders get even smaller under Kai’s stare.
“But it worked,” Baekhyun remarked in a hushed tone.
"There's no one nearby," Kyungsoo said, pressing both his palms against the stone. "We're okay."
"Okay," Kai snapped, throwing both his hands up. "Inside these walls, the government tortures people for fun. You know. No big fucking deal."
“I can see the area with my power,” Kyungsoo ignored him, looking at Baekhyun excitedly. “I can guide us through the place. We’ll find the others and help them.”
“You can’t be serious,” Kai snorted. “You can’t do this.” His pointer finger was on Kyungsoo’s forehead. “Look at you.”
There’s a pause. Kai’s eyes trail over Kyungsoo’s small frame. Next to him, he looked like a frail child. All short limbs, tiny shoulder blades, and a paralyzing anxiety disorder.
“You’re like an ant. This place will crush you so fast, you won’t even see the boot. You’ll just feel it smashing your brains,” he finished, grabbing the shorter boy’s collar and pressing his forehead to Kyungsoo’s.
He froze. The proximity, to his surprise, didn’t prompt his nerves. His words, however, made his blood boil.
Baekhyun stared incredulous, trying to think of something to say to stop them.
“Guys,” he finally managed to say. “Guys, please. This is not the time.”
Kyungsoo felt the energy of the earth pounding through his veins, the sparks reaching his fingertips and his feet. The tension inside him built. A ticking time bomb, ready to explode.
He stepped hard on the floor, causing it to shake violently. Kai clasped his arm, holding his balance throughout the mini-quake. He still looked down at Kyungsoo, eyes just as fierce as before.
“I could crush you like a bug. Do you realize how strong I actually am?" Kyungsoo growled, as the earth began to stop moving. Baekhyun fell to the ground, a cloud of dust around him.
Kai straightened his eyes. Kyungsoo stared back, unmoving.
Unexpectedly, he felt footsteps. A group of at least five people running in their direction, coming from inside Tartarus.
“Someone is coming,” Kyungsoo announced, breathlessly.
Kai drew two revolvers each from his jacket’s pockets. He pushed one in Baekhyun’s trembling hands. "I hope you know how to use it.”
⇢ next: chapter twelve
a/n: hello everyone! woah, writing this chapter was so... idk. dealing with suho's death, and then you guys seemed so hopeful that maybe something would happen and he'd comeback to life ;-; sorry for crushing your hopes and dreams. and omg, so many silent readers commented on the last chap, thanks so much for all of you. you guys are the best, really. fernanda and i got so happy that this chapter was ready on thursday i mean WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? THIS NEVER HAPPENED!!1 the plot is developing fast, war is knocking on athena's door and now we're both so excited to write every chapter ;--; ANYWAYS i won't write too much, thanks everyone for all the lovely comments and for reading our fic :) we hope you enjoy this chapter as well. byye, see you next week :D
⇢ fandom: exo
⇢ pairings: various
⇢ 6648 words
⇢ pg 13 (language, violence)
p r o j e c t e x o : chapter eleven
The General could feel the eerie smell of death in the air. It was in the way the pale boy, who was kneeling by Prototype One side broke down in Victoria’s arms. It was in the way all of those kids started to cry; some loudly and others just quietly sobbing, leaning on each other shoulders and grieving for their lost friend.
It won’t be the first one, Changmin thought, but he wouldn’t be an ass as to say it out loud. He remembered Prototype One. He was obedient, fast, and bright, but not as much as the others. He wasn’t as smart as Luhan, or as sharp as Kris. Suho was the kind of kid to disappear on the background, not truly memorable, but not incompetent. You died an honorable death. And for Changmin there was no greater glory.
He looked down to Sehun, who tried to hide his tears the moment he felt his gaze. Changmin laid a reassuring hand on the boy’s shoulder. You’re so strong, he wanted to say, don’t let your heart turn into stone by this war.
Don’t be like me.
Instead, he merely observed as Sehun walked away from his grasp, kneeling by Baekhyun’s side. All the Prototypes were now making a circle around Suho, some of them holding hands, some whispering things Changmin could not hear. The General heaved a sigh, turning around, and seeing Yunho march towards the woods, the Resistance members following him.
Changmin approached them with quiet steps and his head held high. All he received were condemning looks.
“What are you doing here?” Kwon Yuri said, and Changmin could trace her whole profile right there. The daughter of a famous billionaire, if Changmin spilled one word about her secret activities, she would lose her entire inheritance.
“You should leave.” Jung Jessica, a distinguished name, marked as number one on the Government's wanted list. “There’s no place for military pigs here.”
Im Yoona stepped up, looking at both of them with anger. "We’d be dead by now if it weren't for that military pig.”
She crossed her arms gracefully and looked back at Changmin, expecting him to say something. The General only assented, making his way towards Yunho, who had his back turned to them all, both hands resting on a tree.
“Yunho-”
“We’d all be dead by now, if it weren't for you,” the Resistance leader echoed Yoona’s words, his voice low.
“Yes, you would.”
“I-I promised these kids I’d protect them,” Yunho continued, his back still turned to Changmin, “I told them not to worry. That we, the Resistance, would protect them.”
“You did what you could do with the time you had.”
“Suho is dead,” he turned around, “dead. I promised them shelter, and now there’s a dead body lying on the ground. Those kids have already suffered enough-”
“Yunho, stop it,” he heard Jessica saying in a feeble voice.
“It was my duty. As a leader, as their leader. And I failed them.” The man’s words rung with a defeated tone, his eyes lost in the lake’s dark waters.
Changmin inhaled deeply. “I didn’t expect the Resistance’s leader to be such a weak man.”
The silence that followed his statement was hostile. Yunho stared at him, a look that screamed of indignation, and Changmin returned the gaze with the same intensity.
“You promised to protect them? So stop whining and do it. Your crying won’t bring the boy back, so suck it up and defend the remaining ones. They fucking need you. They see you as their leader, so you better be deserving of their admiration.”
His voice was calm, calculated, and he could feel Yunho’s posture changing with every word he said. He was now standing tall once more, his head high. They were interrupted by the sounds of wheels against mud, and Changmin looked to the road, seeing at least three cars stopping near them.
“Finally!” Yoona said, sprinting towards the newcomers.
Yunho looked back at him, his mouth opened as if he was about to say something, but got cut off again by a tall man in a suit. Even in the dark Changmin could see the hatred in his eyes.
“Zhou Mi,” Yunho said, “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Where is his body?” the man simply asked, his voice calm and composed.
“We placed Kyuhyun’s body near my old house. We’ll bury Suho’s body here, maybe you’d want Kyuhyun to rest here as well?”
“It’d be best,” the man gulped, “I don’t think he’d want to be buried in that cold cemetery in New Rome. He never belonged to that place.”
They stayed silent as others approached them. Yoona came back together with a group of women and men, all of them whispering their condolences and grieving Kyuhyun’s death. The General could identify each and every face, listing their crimes in his mind. And then the Prototypes came as well, and Changmin noticed that Baekhyun had left two glowing orbs floating around Suho’s body, and someone had set a blanket over him.
“Now,” Yunho started, and Changmin couldn’t help but notice that he sounded like a leader again, “General Changmin. You’ll tell us everything you know.”
“They got Prototype Geller,” he said, and the whole group fell silent.
Sehun watched him with wide eyes. “I can’t believe Luhan did this.”
“Don’t be so quick to judge,” Changmin said harshly, “he was pretty naive for such a clever kid. I don’t know. I'm guessing he thought he was important enough for the Center staff, and they would welcome him with open arms. A stupid mistake.”
“What happened to him?” Prototype Gaia inquired.
“Mr. Park is a clever man. He already had a formula that neutrolizes your powers prepared when you boys escaped. He has been without his powers ever since. They locked him up in Tartarus.”
“Tartarus?” Yunho repeated, his eyes wide. “The military wouldn’t stoop so low. They wouldn't do this to a child.”
“He’s not a child. He’s a weapon. At least to the government’s eyes,” Changmin added when he noticed the judging eyes everyone threw at him, “and you’re being too kind to the Armed Forces, Yunho. They didn’t only throw him to a cell. President BoA herself gave the soldiers the permission to do anything to make Luhan talk.”
At that moment, Yunho let out a heavy sigh, resting his head on his hands. “And he talked,” he stated, tired.
“They were hard on him for the first eight hours or so. I stood outside the room and all I could hear were his screams. I tried to step in, but they don’t trust me like they used to. But Luhan ended up spilling the beans, of course. I don’t even know how he lasted for so long. I’d talk much sooner than he did.”
“I can’t believe he did it,” Sehun said again, his voice infected with animosity. Changmin knew he was deaf to anything he’d say besides the fact Luhan had talked. A broken heart is a dangerous thing. Not letting the brain think clearly, not letting the eyes see things through.
“After everything was settled. General Leeteuk obtained orders to annihilate the Resistance quietly. I tried to warn you as quickly as possible.”
“Woah, you’re really efficient, warning us just a few minutes before they started shooting at us,” Jessica retorted, mockingly. Changmin looked at her with annoyance.
“I became aware of the whole operation just a few hours ago. As I said, they don’t trust me as much anymore. The President doubts my loyalty and my higher ups have been on my back since-,” he stopped, his eyes lingering on Victoria’s face, “since reports of my affection for some of your people were delivered to my Commander.”
He went quiet, letting the whole thing sink in their minds. Changmin didn’t know what the Resistance’s plans were, and part of him kept on screaming for him to get out of there and go back to where he belonged.
“Operation Bastille has a whole new meaning now,” Yunho declared, looking at Changmin, “we can’t allow such vile things to happen right under our noses.”
“Everything is almost ready, Yunho,” Zhou Mi said, nodding at him, “I just need to check on a few things.”
“So do it, and do it quick. Justice can’t wait any longer,” Yunho replied, his voice resounding around them. Changmin felt chills run down his spine.
--
As the sun began to rise--causing the lake to come alive with sparkles reflected in water, the tiny waves kissing the shore--they all gathered, huddled together in a circle around the makeshift grave. Kyungsoo carefully crafted a stone, carving Suho’s name on it. Yunho stuck polaroid pictures of their last visit on it. Suho’s smile so vivid inside the frames.
They were all too numb to speak. Clouds began to overcast the skies, giving the atmosphere grey tones. Sehun remembered how alive and emerald this area was the last time they were there. Now, the colors were muted. Much like they were.
This could still be a nightmare of sorts. Maybe a couple of hours later Sehun would wake up in his bed. This would all be a fabrication of his mind. Arms would embrace him as he opened his eyes. In this alternative reality, Luhan wouldn’t be a traitor and Suho would still be alive.
Lay managed to say a few words. His eyes stared despondently at the named carved in stone.
“This is such a perfect spot for you to rest. You loved it here.” His words were muffled. This moment felt so intimate, but they all listened in. Maybe they would find some kind of comfort in Lay’s words. “So close to the water. Remember how you showed off your powers to everyone? Remember how amazed we all were? I can still remember the way you laughed. You were so happy-”
For the first time, that night Lay cried. Loud sobs erupted from his throat. Victoria came to his side, wrapping an arm around his middle, and crying as well. She wiped away his tears and kissed the top of his head.
“It’s okay,” she assured, holding on tightly to him.
“We have to go,” Yunho said softly as he joined them. Sehun could see the instability all over Yunho’s stance. Never in a million years he imagined that he would see the Resistance leader so shaken. To him, much like General Changmin, Yunho was made of steel. This view broke as soon as Sehun saw him rub away a tear from his cheek.
They got into separate cars and started following the route back to Corinth. Sehun questioned the General if staying at Yunho’s house was safe. The General guaranteed him the army wasn’t aware of its location. Yunho’s hideout was a reliable shelter for now.
As soon as they stepped inside, Lay began making rounds, checking on everyone’s injuries. Sehun saw him give stitches to Kris’ arm without any kind of anesthesia. The boy clenched his jaw and produced a series of agonizing groans as Lay worked. Tao sat by his side, holding his other hand tightly. Sehun noted the Kronian looked much different now. His usual cold manner had vanished, and the face of an alarmed child took its place. He finally looked his age.
Sehun stuck to Changmin’s side like he never had before, holding the General’s arm tightly as they absorbed the quiet tension in the room. He was taken by surprise when Changmin responded, wrapping a protective arm around Sehun’s shoulders, as they watched Yunho lose all composure.
“We need to have a meeting,” he called, tapping his fingers on the coffee table. Kai sat by his side on the couch, the boy looked at him gloomily.
The girls quickly gathered the rest of the members and the Prototypes. They all sat together in a spot on the floor. Suho’s absence was painfully obvious. From seven, they were down to five.
And Suho’s smile would never grace that house again.
Yunho looked around the room, eyes lingering on the Prototypes. He drew in a deep breath. “The death of an innocent is always unsettling. Losing someone-” his voice broke, and Kai rested a hand on his shoulder, urging him to continue. “I have dealt with death many times in my life. I’ve lost a special someone many years ago. But just because that person is gone, doesn’t mean that they have left us forever. He lives within me. Just like Suho will forever live within all of us. Anything you lose comes around in another form.”
Sehun scanned the room with his eyes, hearing the faint sobs around him. He saw Baekhyun with his face buried in Chanyeol’s chest, the lanky boy running his big hands through Baekhyun’s hair, ignoring his own tears.
“The war is at our doorstep now. The pain we feel right now is the same anguish many mothers and fathers have been experiencing since this whole thing started, since the first caskets have come back from combat with Athena’s flag covering them. We can’t stop now. We have to follow through with our plans. This has to stop.”
Changmin cleared his throat. “This is the perfect time for you, Yunho, to go public with this.” All eyes fell on him, baffled faces bore stares into the General, but he didn’t feel intimidated in any way. He pressed on, “I know some of you have the skills to hack into the broadcasting system. It’s time to deliver a strong message to Athena’s people.”
There were several nods across the room and small murmurs of agreement. Yunho remained silent, waiting for the General to finish his train of thought. The look on his face questioned Changmin’s participation in this. They all were to some extent. There was a part of Sehun that wished Changmin would join them, but he knew the man well enough to know that this would never happen.
“If the public knows about the Prototypes you’ll gather a lot of support. They won’t stand for this. They won’t stay quiet if they know their government has been torturing and killing children,” Changmin concluded, turning his gaze to Sehun, who simply grasped his arm tighter.
Yunho sighed. “They will try to justify that somehow. Athenians are hungry to win this war. They’ll believe in anything that comes from Pandora Avenue,” he said, rubbing his temple. Changmin let out a sharp breath in response, clamping his jaw.
“It’s time for all of you to know about Operation Bastile,” he announced, eyes glued to the Prototypes, who stirred in their places. “This is something we’ve been planning for almost a year now. Last week, Zhou Mi,” he motioned over to the tall man standing in the corner of the room, “who has infiltrated Tartarus for the last six months, confirmed that the tunnels have been built. We are going to break out all those incarcerated in that place.”
“What’s Tartatarus?” Kyungsoo asked with a shaky voice.
“It’s an underground prison. Created to contain people who are of interest to the government. People who are too valuable to be killed. But can’t be let out in the public.”
Lay’s eyes grew wide. “Like my parents? And the rest of the Blue Orchid members?”
“Most of the Blue Orchid members are gone. Some killed themselves inside Tartarus, others succumbed to the torture methods,” Changmin answered, and Lay’s gaze fell to the ground. Kris have his arm a gentle squeeze.
“General, please confirm that Luhan is being kept in Tartarus,” Yunho requested.
“Prototype Geller is in Tartarus. I’m the one responsible for his ward,” Changim said mechanically.
Yunho stood up, his eyes decided. “Then we’re going to get him.”
He looked around the room. The boys were all still, until Lay stood up. The same look of resolve in his eyes.
“I want to help,” he announced, fiercely.
“Me too,” Kris said, rising to his feet. “I’ve been trained in strategy. General Changmin can attest to that. I’m more than prepared.”
One by one, the Prototypes began to stand up. Pledging their allegiance to the Operation. Sehun sighed, before leaving Changmin’s side to join them.
“Something has to be done. I want in too,” he said.
Victoria stared at the scene utterly horrified. “Yunho. No,” she cried. “They can’t be in the middle of all this. They have to stay hidden and protected.”
“They are free to chose,” Yunho pointed out, looking at the boys proudly. By his side, Kai grunted, crossing his arm and disappearing with a snap. Kyungsoo’s expression twisted, almost as if he were in pain.
Sehun turned his body around to face General Changmin. “Will you help us?”
The man shook his head. “No, but I’ll turn a blind eye. That’s all I can do.”
Sehun couldn’t hide his disappointment. And then, something else crossed his mind. He didn’t want to rescue Luhan, but he stepped out anyway, on principle alone and for revenge, because even though Yunho says he didn’t believe in vengeance. Retaliation would be the only thing that would quiet his anger.
Blood for blood.
“When’s the Operation?” Kris asked.
Yunho's phone beeped. "Tonight," he declared, after reading the words on the screen.
--
He felt agitation running through his veins, a weird sense of justice on his mind. It’s our chance, he thought, it’s time for payback for what they did to Suho. For what they did to us.
Tao seized his arm, a troubled look on his face. Since the attack he had been acting weird, Kris noticed. Maybe it was the impact of the moment, but all the boy did since that bullet grazed against his flesh, was look frightened and disturbed.
“Are you sure about this?” He muttered when Yunho and the other Resistance members started to leave. “You hurt your arm. You should stay and rest.”
“No,” Kris replied, sighing, “I’m fine, you don’t have to worry. I won’t slow you down.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about-“
“Hey, guys, come here,” Kris interrupted Tao when he saw his friends start to leave the room. Kyungsoo looked at him with an eyebrow raised.
“What’s wrong?”
“Let’s talk about this,” he said, while the others sat on the floor again. “We can’t be a nuisance to them. It’s time for us to use everything we learned with those soldiers against them.”
Kris looked around, seeing all the anxious faces staring at him. They were marching towards their first significant mission, and all of this after losing one of their friends. And then learning that the other was being tortured in prison. Not that Kris pitied Luhan, not that he wasn’t pissed at him for leaving, but he’d never leave one of them in the hands of the enemy.
And he knew Luhan needed them. Suho’s revenge was in their hands. His friends needed him as their bedrock.
“Sehun,” he began, “you’re the best on tactics. You and Lay are best to be put on Yunho’s team. I heard he’ll be the one to go after Luhan, you go with them. Me, Tao, Xiumin and Chanyeol can go with Jessica. I think we suit her fighting style more,” he smirked at Xiumin, who nodded with an amused smile.
“What about us?” Baekhyun asked, pointing to himself and Kyungsoo.
Kris inhaled deeply, trying to sound sympathetic. “You’re not going.”
“What?”
Kyungsoo widened his eyes at him. “I was better than you in practical training session, why do I need to stay?”
“Listen-”
“This is unfair,” Baekhyun pronounced, standing up, “Yunho said we all had the choice to go, why should we listen to you?”
“Look, Kyungsoo can’t go through any kind of pressure without fainting. And you, Baekhyun,” he looked back at the boy, who had anger on his eyes, “don’t look at me like that, you’re well aware you need more training.”
“This is unfair, and you know it,” Baekhyun continued, as if he hadn't even heard a single word Kris said, “we all want to help. We all should be at least given the chance to fight!”
“He is right,” Kyungsoo stood up as well, hitting with his palms on the table, “we’ll talk to Yunho-“
“I won’t lose any of you again,” Kris shouted, standing up too, looking down at Baekhyun and Kyungsoo’s shocked faces. The Prototype breathed deeply, resting his face on his hands. When he talked again, his tone was softer. “You’ll have your chance to fight. This is not our only battle, it’s only the first. This is a war. All I’m asking is for you guys to be prepared.”
They kept staring at him, the other boys not even trying to give an opinion. Baekhyun sat down again, and Kris could see he was upset.
“Fine,” Baekhyun said, reluctantly, and Kyungsoo looked at him as if he didn’t believe what he was saying. “But don’t you think you can boss us around.”
“I know,” Kris agreed, tired. Kyungsoo, though, didn’t seem that easily satisfied. The boy turned on his heels leaving the room without even wishing them good luck.
They went through strategies, remembering things from their training. Baekhyun stayed there until they were done, being indifferent towards Kris the whole time. When they were finally done, Kris said they probably should go to their rooms and get some rest before the whole thing started. At that moment, Chen stood up.
“I wish I could help you all,” he said, sadly, “but I need to go. I’ve got a long journey ahead of me.”
Kris and the other boys nodded at him, saying their goodbyes. He watched as he walked out of the door, Xiumin at his side.
He looked at Tao, who gave him a gentle, reassuring smile.
--
“Stay here until it’s time for you to go,” Baekhyun said while grabbing his coat sleeve. His eyes were still red and swollen, Chanyeol noticed.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” he smiled meekly, and Chanyeol grimaced. He knew Baekhyun was extremely upset. Suho’s death was still a shadow right around the corner, and he knew Baekhyun could feel it even more than him. Chanyeol had just had a few moments alone with Suho, and their conversations were always really shallow, but he still cared for the boy. As time passed, Chanyeol found himself caring for all of them.
And then, on top of that, Kris didn’t allow Baekhyun to assist in Operation Bastille. Chanyeol felt sorry for the Prototype, but a part of him sighed with relief. At least he’d be safe. Still, he wanted to cheer him up, using the few hours he had before following Yunho towards Tartarus.
“I have something for you,” he said, remembering the book which was still in his pocket. He placed it on top of Baekhyun’s lap, watching as the boy slowly picked it up on his hands, holding it like a treasure.
“Pride and Prejudice,” he read, a sad smile on his lips. “It was the movie of this that we watched in the Center. This story started it all.”
Chanyeol sat by his side on the bed, looking at him. Baekhyun traced the book’s title with his bony fingers, his eyes seemed lost somewhere, on memories Chanyeol didn’t know.
“I wonder-,” he started, his voice hesitant, “maybe if we never watched it. Maybe if I never showed this movie to them, then maybe-“
“Don’t say that,” Chanyeol cut him off, placing a hand over Baekhyun’s cold one. “If it weren't for this movie, then all of you would be killed by now.” Baekhyun let out a miserable chuckle, and Chanyeol sighed deeply. “Just tell me something. Would you rather die free or die without ever tasting freedom?”
Baekhyun didn’t answer, his eyes now lost on the book’s yellow pages, scanning through words and sentences, smiling at certain points. Chanyeol looked at his clock, a strange feeling creeping inside his chest. In just a few hours, there would be a knock on his door, and a voice calling for him to leave. It was his first actual mission and he couldn’t hide his uneasiness. Suho’s death hit him hard, showing him a part of the war he was trying not to see. For some reason, Chanyeol thought everything would be okay and good would triumph. His father’s voice calling him a naive kid echoed in his mind.
“I could be dead tomorrow,” he stated out loud, more because of self-realization than anything else.
Baekhyun looked back at him in surprise. “Stop it,” he said in an annoyed tone.
“But it’s true,” Chanyeol insisted, his eyes wide, “we always think death is away from us, but that’s just a fake sense of security. One day the person is there, smiling at your side, and then the next--”
His voice trailed off when he felt Baekhyun holding his hand. The boy’s eyes were fixed on his own, and Chanyeol knew they were seeing much more than he wanted to show. I’m here for you, he was saying without words, while squeezing his fingers and leaning in towards him. Baekhyun brushed their lips together, letting them touch slightly. Chanyeol had to breathe deeply so air could reach his lungs.
He knew that Baekhyun only meant to show all of his concern by that kiss, but Chanyeol wasn’t so easily satisfied. He placed his hand on the back of Baekhyun’s neck, shutting their distance again, tasting the boy’s lips on his own. Baekhyun shivered under his touch, his slender fingers grabbing at Chanyeol’s hair and his teeth seeking the others lips, biting them slightly.
And Chanyeol allowed himself to think that maybe, Baekhyun didn’t want him to go that slow.
Baekhyun started to lean on the bed, and Chanyeol stayed on top of him, their hands intertwined, the Prototype tracing kisses on his jawline, on his collarbones. It was all too much for Chanyeol to handle. He pressed their bodies together. Baekhyun let out a short, low groan, and Chanyeol kissed his chin, feeling the boy’s hands on his stomach. And suddenly all of those clothes were too much.
“Baekhyun,” he whispered, his voice hoarse, “are you sure about this?”
His consent was everything Chanyeol needed to hear to move forward. He knew Baekhyun was sensitive at that moment, and he didn’t want to do anything that would make him feel uncomfortable afterwards. He watched as Baekhyun placed one hand on his cheek, his eyes dark.
“Yes,” he whispered, and Chanyeol leaned on to kiss him again.
And everything just sort of happened, just like their whole story. It was like Chanyeol’s hands moved on their own, exploring Baekhyun’s body, discovering his scars. It was as if they were meant to be like that, skin against skin, lips locked together. It was like a storm of emotions and sensations. Chanyeol had to clutch the sheets in his hands when he heard Baekhyun’s muffled moans near his ear. Their hips moved together as their bodies pressed tight, intertwining and dancing to the same music. Chanyeol saw all of Baekhyun’s walls crumble right before his eyes as he felt him from the inside for the first time. He felt the boy crave his nails on his arms, bite his ear lobe, and Chanyeol moved slowly because he never wanted that moment to end.
Chanyeol let himself collapse onto Baekhyun’s side, holding the boy tightly against his chest, lacing their fingers together. He could hear Baekhyun’s erratic breathing, his chest moving up and down. The stupidest smile appeared on his face. Feeling Baekhyun so close, being one with him, it was much more than anything Chanyeol had ever experienced. At that very moment the boy felt complete, the empty hole inside his heart no longer there.
Baekhyun had filled it with his light.
And Chanyeol understood that now he had a reason to fight in this war, now he had a reason to put his life at stake. He wanted a better world for Baekhyun to live in, and he’d do anything for that to happen.
He turned around to face the Prototype, and Baekhyun looked at him with a soft smile. Chanyeol let his fingers trace the boy’s jaw line, lingering on his lips.
“I can die with no regrets now,” he joked, and Baekhyun punched his ribs.
“Stop that,” he said, playing with Chanyeol’s fringe, his face suddenly serious, “you will come back. Promise me.”
Chanyeol knew he couldn’t make that promise, but still, he lifted up his hand, showing his pinky finger to Baekhyun.
“Pinky promise,” he said, and Baekhyun laughed at him, “don’t you dare mock my pinky promise. I’m a soul devoted to the truth. Not like you, filled with lies and secrets. I still need to know from where you got that lube-”
“I already told you, I don’t even know how that thing got here,” the boy whined. Chanyeol started to tickle him, making Baekhyun laugh and contort himself on the bed. Their moment was cut short by a knock on the door.
It was time for Chanyeol to leave.
--
Kyungsoo had to clasp his hands together in order to keep them from shaking. He let air fill his lungs slowly, repeating the process over and over. Conflicting emotions overwhelmed his mind, images of the last few hours playing in an endless loop. Each time he closed his eyes, he saw Suho’s vacant stare, Lay’s hands covered in his blood, Victoria’s piercing shrieks in the background.
Kris’ decision to leave Kyungsoo and Baekhyun didn’t sit well. Words stuck to Kyungsoo’s throat. Some managed to escape his anxiety’s grasp, hitting Kris’ hard, but he was unmoving in his verdict.
They watched helplessly as the Resistance members packed up the vans with supplies. A map lingered on the coffee table, and Kyungsoo meticulously scanned it with his eyes. Corinth Army Base, he read. The map contained specific routes. One lead to an abandoned diner by the side of the highway. The tunnel exit. He knelt down next to the wooden table, letting his fingers travel through the marked paths, memorizing them carefully. Tartarus was directly underneath the Army Base. There were notes about its only access gate. Heavily guarded day and night. Impossible. Yunho’s handwriting was neat and spaced out. There was another entrance, though. The East tunnel. According to Yunho’s notes it was the first passageway they had built, an experiment of sorts, and it had worked. Its entrance was hidden by an old gas station, just a few miles away from the base’s walls.
Soon, the map owner came back to collect it. Yunho eyed Kyungsoo inquisitively. “Curious, are we?”
Kyungsoo gargled, his brain not able form concrete sentences from the shock. “I-I-I just-”
“Make sure Kai is okay for me?” Yunho asked suddenly, and Kyungsoo nodded in response. The man smiled, looking terribly exhausted, both physically and mentally.
“G-G-Good luck,” Kyungsoo spluttered out, his hands shaking again.
With a wave, the members that remained inside the house followed Yunho out. The sounds of the cars leaving the driveway made Kyungsoo jump.
This is not fair, he thought.
Baekhyun had his forehead glued to the window, watching with a frown as the cars sped off, one by one. He rested his palm on the glass, worry written all over his face.
We can’t just sit here and do nothing.
He waited until Victoria climbed the stairs, following the noises coming from the control room. Kai had locked himself inside, ignoring all their requests to come out. When he was sure the woman wasn’t looking, he grabbed Baekhyun by the shoulder, dragging him into the kitchen. He doubled checked if they were actually alone.
“Baekhyun,” he started, not able to control his trembling hands anymore, or how out of pace his breathing was. “Baekhyun, we have to follow them.”
The other’s eyes grow wide, and his eyebrows climb his forehead. “Kyungsoo, this is insane I don’t think-”
“How could Kris, or anyone, simply decide that we are not worthy to participate? That we aren’t strong enough?” Kyungsoo said. Baekhyun bit his bottom lip, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
“Hey. I’m mad too, but we can’t just go out there running after them,” Baekhyun argued. “Or can we?”
“I think we can. I think we should,” Kyungsoo replied in a fierce whisper. “Yunho’s storage room is right underneath our feet. I can feel it. We could just take a few things and make our own way there. I saw the map. It’s not that far.”
Baekhyun brought his hand closer to his face and bit on his thumbnail. Apprehension all over his tense posture.
And then, his shoulders relaxed, and the corner of his lips twist upwards.
“Oh what the hell,” he said, darting off the kitchen with Kyungsoo right on his tail.
They follow the steps down to the supply room; it was located right under their rooms. Kyungsoo flipped the light switch on, holding his breath as light flooded the vast space with endless shelves. Each of them filled with weapons of all kinds, medical supplies, and other basic survival needs.
“We need to arm ourselves if we’re really going to do this,” Kyungsoo noted. Scanning the area for anything that looked remotely familiar. “Were you there for General’s Changmin training on automatic weapons?”
“No,” Baekhyun answered meekly. “I was in the infirmary with a broken leg that day.”
“Well, I passed out at the mere mention of the word gun,” Kyungsoo admitted. “Mrs. Victoria sat with me the entire training session. All I could do was hear the gunshots.”
This triggered something in Kyungsoo’s mind. The chaotic scene at the jazz club, a force pushing him behind the bar, as he felt his senses start to fail him in panic. There was a voice calling his name repeatedly. Kai, he realized. He had felt an arm wrap around his middle, and then, total darkness. By the time he opened his eyes again, he found himself by the margins of Lake Flora.
“I think we’ll have to rely on our powers alone,” Baekhyun’s soft voice brought him back. The boy walked through the shelves, analyzing the contents. There was no organization or pattern. All the supplies were pushed together in the compartments on the shelves. “Your power, I mean. I can’t do much.”
Kyungsoo shook his head. “We need guns,” he insists, “let’s just get the big ones.”
He pointed to a pair of sniper rifles, picking one of them up with difficulty and looking through the scope. It was heavier than he thought. Carrying this for miles would certainly be undoable.
“I don’t think that’s gonna work,” Baekhyun retorted, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “How about something simple?”
He grabbed a shiny silver handgun, analyzing it carefully. Kyungsoo placed the sniper back in its place. For some reason this felt wrong, holding these weapons, after one of them had just been slain by something akin.
“You’re right,” Kyungsoo said, shaking the thought away. “We just need to find the ammunition and-“
From behind him, he heard the familiar crack. He felt the heat of another body standing too close, warm breath tickling his nape. Kyungsoo spun around ungracefully, finding Kai there, their noses only an inch away from each other.
The boy smirked, and Kyungsoo’s heart lunged. Such a familiar expression, he mused. You always looked like that in my dreams.
“So what’s the brilliant plan?” Kai said, mockingly, removing the pistol from Baekhyun’s hands and unlocking the safety. He pointed the gun to Kyungsoo’s forehead. “You’re going to march towards the prison?”
He lowered the weapon, letting it spin on his index finger, and then resting the end of the barrel on his chin in deep thought. “Or, I don’t know, you could take the skytrain.”
Kyungsoo gulped. “You could help us,” he said, hopeful. Kai let out a bitter chuckle.
“I think it’s wrong that they left you here,” he said, turning over to face Baekhyun, “but this is utterly stupid. You don’t think things through.” He knocked Baekhyun’s head faintly with the barrel of the gun. He brushed him off, annoyed.
Kai placed the gun in the inside pocket of his jacket. “You’re not going anywhere,” he added. His gaze fixed on Kyungsoo, who felt like he would collapse at any moment.
When Kai raised his hand, Kyungsoo’s eyes stayed fixed on it. He always stood that way when he was ready to teleport. Something crossed Kyungsoo’s mind. It was crazy. But it could work.
He remembered the trails marked on Yunho’s map, visualizing them strongly in his mind, before grabbing Baekhyun with a hand and Kai with the other.
They get sucked between time and space, twisting in total darkness. Kyungsoo felt like his entire body was being torn to pieces. When he opened his eyes again, they are inside a dark corridor.
Did it work?
From the vibrations underneath his feet and faint whispers on the walls, Kyungsoo could tell they were inside the East Tunnel. The entrance to Tartarus right before their eyes.
Kai’s eyes are drowning in rage. His fists clenched tightly as he attached his back to the stone wall. His lips are parted, and he breathed heavily. There was a trace of fear to his expression, something he thought Kai was incapable of experiencing.
You are always so brave. Untouchable. Trust me. Just this once. It will work.
“Do you realize,” Kai spoke through his teeth, “what you just did? The kind of risk you took. We could have been separated mid-teleport. Lost forever.” His voice was cold, and Kyungsoo felt his small shoulders get even smaller under Kai’s stare.
“But it worked,” Baekhyun remarked in a hushed tone.
"There's no one nearby," Kyungsoo said, pressing both his palms against the stone. "We're okay."
"Okay," Kai snapped, throwing both his hands up. "Inside these walls, the government tortures people for fun. You know. No big fucking deal."
“I can see the area with my power,” Kyungsoo ignored him, looking at Baekhyun excitedly. “I can guide us through the place. We’ll find the others and help them.”
“You can’t be serious,” Kai snorted. “You can’t do this.” His pointer finger was on Kyungsoo’s forehead. “Look at you.”
There’s a pause. Kai’s eyes trail over Kyungsoo’s small frame. Next to him, he looked like a frail child. All short limbs, tiny shoulder blades, and a paralyzing anxiety disorder.
“You’re like an ant. This place will crush you so fast, you won’t even see the boot. You’ll just feel it smashing your brains,” he finished, grabbing the shorter boy’s collar and pressing his forehead to Kyungsoo’s.
He froze. The proximity, to his surprise, didn’t prompt his nerves. His words, however, made his blood boil.
Baekhyun stared incredulous, trying to think of something to say to stop them.
“Guys,” he finally managed to say. “Guys, please. This is not the time.”
Kyungsoo felt the energy of the earth pounding through his veins, the sparks reaching his fingertips and his feet. The tension inside him built. A ticking time bomb, ready to explode.
He stepped hard on the floor, causing it to shake violently. Kai clasped his arm, holding his balance throughout the mini-quake. He still looked down at Kyungsoo, eyes just as fierce as before.
“I could crush you like a bug. Do you realize how strong I actually am?" Kyungsoo growled, as the earth began to stop moving. Baekhyun fell to the ground, a cloud of dust around him.
Kai straightened his eyes. Kyungsoo stared back, unmoving.
Unexpectedly, he felt footsteps. A group of at least five people running in their direction, coming from inside Tartarus.
“Someone is coming,” Kyungsoo announced, breathlessly.
Kai drew two revolvers each from his jacket’s pockets. He pushed one in Baekhyun’s trembling hands. "I hope you know how to use it.”
⇢ next: chapter twelve
a/n: hello everyone! woah, writing this chapter was so... idk. dealing with suho's death, and then you guys seemed so hopeful that maybe something would happen and he'd comeback to life ;-; sorry for crushing your hopes and dreams. and omg, so many silent readers commented on the last chap, thanks so much for all of you. you guys are the best, really. fernanda and i got so happy that this chapter was ready on thursday i mean WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? THIS NEVER HAPPENED!!1 the plot is developing fast, war is knocking on athena's door and now we're both so excited to write every chapter ;--; ANYWAYS i won't write too much, thanks everyone for all the lovely comments and for reading our fic :) we hope you enjoy this chapter as well. byye, see you next week :D