Operation Crossfire - Chapter [4/?]
Chansung jerked up when the door slammed open, a ruffled looking Junho walking in. His stance told of a successful mission and an easy smile told of no complications, but Chansung couldn’t stop from raking his figure from top to toe with his eyes, ensuring he was fine.
“Easy,” Junho grinned, patting his pocket. “The idiot even had pictures, the pervert. I got everything on the flash drive.”
Jun. K had turned off the TV and now held out a hand. Junho dug out the USB, tossing it to Jun. K.
“Covered your tracks on the computer?”
“Yep. Glitched the camera, don’t worry I didn’t forget anything.” Junho reassured. “Got the dosage of the drug right too, before you ask. He won’t remember anything but a blur tomorrow.”
“Good.” Jun. K nodded, satisfied. He pulled out his laptop, obviously intending to check Junho’s evidence.
'Interrogation' over, Junho finally kicked off his shoes and began peeling off his jacket. As the collar was removed, something caught Chansung’s eye.
“Junho! Is that a hickey?” Chansung was by Junho’s side in an instant. Jun. K looked up with interest.
Junho winced, rubbing at the bruise sheepishly. “Yeah, the drug didn’t work as fast as I was expecting so…I figured a hickey was better than actually making out with the old pervert.”
Chansung looked furious, but before he could say anything Jun. K interrupted.
“You know, I think I’m gonna go to my room to finish this…” he stood, sending Chansung a meaningful look as he walked away. Chansung immediately stiffened, remembering what he had promised to do.
Junho was only confused. “Ookay?” He shrugged, stepping past Chansung. “I’m gonna go take a shower then, I definitely need it.”
“Wait.” Chansung snagged the sleeve of Junho’s arm. “I…I need to talk to you.”
Junho raised an eyebrow. “Can it wait until after I shower?”
As much as Chansung wanted Junho to wash away all traces of that old pervert as soon as possible, he knew he’d probably lose his nerve if he waited or had time to brood.
“No.”
Junho sighed. “Okay fine what is it.”
Chansung let go of Junho’s sleeve, backing up slightly.
“Well, uh, I was talking to Minjun today and…”
“And?” Junho prompted, clearly impatient to get to his shower.
“Well, he helped me sort things out, and …” Chansung trailed off again, one hand running through his hair nervously.
“And…?”
Chansung breathed deeply.
“Ilikeyou,” he spat out in one breath.
“What? Did you just say-”
“I. Like. You.” Chansung interrupted, over-enunciating every word so there could be no mistake.
Junho blinked.
And then blinked again.
“Um. I like you too?”
Chansung let out an exasperated sigh.
“No, you idiot. Not like that.”
“What do you mean…?” Junho looked dazed, clearly not comprehending the situation.
“That means what it means!” Chansung’s voice rose, getting frustrated. Junho was still looking confused, and Chansung didn’t think he couldn’t stand the suspense much longer.
To hell with talking then, might as well take Jun. K’s advice.
The next thing Junho knew he’d been shoved backwards, head hitting the wall painfully as something foreign crashed against his lips.
Something soft.
Junho gasped, mouth opening slightly but Chansung had no intention of taking advantage of it, instead only pressing closer as he melded their bodies together.
After what seemed like too long yet also too quick, Chansung stepped back, swallowing nervously as he gauged Junho’s reaction.
If anything he seemed even more dazed than before, eyes glazed as a flush spread up his neck to his ears and finally his cheeks.
“Oh.”
Chansung licked his lips. “So?”
With that one word, Junho finally snapped out of it, eyes wide as something akin to panic flashed across his eyes.
“I, um, I’m going to take a shower,” he stammered as he fled down the hall.
Chansung could only stare after him, fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms.
He flinched when the bathroom door slammed shut.
“Give him some time. He’s just surprised, he’ll come around.”
Chansung turned to look at Jun. K’s head poking out from his bedroom. He had an uncharacteristically sympathetic look on his face, and Chansung could only nod stiffly in response.
He sure hoped so.
~~
Junho was having a panic attack.
Okay, not a real one, but pretty damn close.
He scrubbed at his face as the water cascaded down around him, eyes squeezed shut as he tried to calm his pounding heart.
Chansung had kissed him. Chansung said he liked him.
And what did he do? He ran away like a little kid. Junho groaned out loud as he recalled his reaction, guilt already beginning to grow as he thought about how Chansung was feeling at the moment.
To say he’d been caught off guard was an understatement. Chansung had just opened the floodgate to a barrage of feelings that Junho had locked away very, very deep inside of him. So deep he’d nearly forgotten all about them.
Or so he told himself.
But now, faced with an actual opportunity, Junho didn’t even know how to react.
And cue the mind-consuming what ifs.
What if Chansung was only infatuated with him? What if he was joking? What if it was only for a dare with Jun. K? What if they don’t work out? What if things become awkward? What if he loses Chansung? What if things will never be the same?
What if what if what it?
Junho let out a shaky exhale as he turned off the shower.
What if it works out?
~~
Chansung tensed when he heard the door to his shared bedroom with Junho open, familiar steps approaching cautiously. He knew Junho knew he was awake; the question was what he would do next.
Chansung’s heart jumped up into his throat when he felt his mattress sink with Junho’s weight.
“Chansungie? Can we talk?”
Junho’s voice was soft and nervous, and Chansung braced himself as he turned around to face Junho, pulling the covers off himself as he sat up.
“Yeah?”
Junho’s eyes were downcast and his fingers were fiddling with his shirt. He was silent for a couple of agonizing moments before finally lifting his eyes to stare at Chansung, gaze surprisingly resolute.
“I like you too. In that way.”
~+~
“I want them.”
“But sir, are you sure? Their composite score is only in sixth place. Granted, they’re still in the top tier group but still.”
“I’m sure.”
“I highly recommend you reconsider, sir, if you look at their previous scores as well-”
“I am sure.” Nichkhun said firmly, slamming his hands down on the desk in front of him. “They have the qualities I need. Tell them to report to the mission control center by tomorrow at nine.” His tone was final and left no room for discussion.
“Yes, sir.”
Nichkhun let out a sigh of relief as Sergeant Oh finally left the room. He was more than glad that he’d insisted on attending the assessment himself; if left to those stubborn, inflexible sergeants, their mission would have been doomed.
It was true. Team number 271 didn’t have the highest composite score, nor the highest individual scores.
But just because Nichkhun didn’t do combat himself, didn’t mean he was inexperienced, blind, and stupid.
They were the only team in the top ten that didn’t play dirty, that didn’t try to cheat the game. Nichkhun needed people he could trust, and he would have chosen them based on that factor alone. They were also the only team that didn’t pressure each other when one member began falling behind; they encouraged, even doubling back at one point in order to help. Nichkhun knew how the SOC taught their recruits; use whatever means possible in order to achieve the objective. Leave those that fall behind; the mission must go on.
Nichkhun loathed that philosophy.
A small smile crept onto his face as he stared down at the score sheets; it seemed he’s found three other companions that shared his opinion. And despite not placing in the top five, their demonstrated abilities had stil been stellar.
Welcome to the team, Taecyeon, Jia, and Fei.
~+~
“See, I told you it’d work out,” Jun. K teased as he walked into the living room to the view of his dongsaengs cozied up on the couch, promptly earning a cushion to the face.
“Shut up,” Junho growled but it was without malice, too busy snuggling against Chansung’s shoulder to be genuinely annoyed.
“Yahhh, that’s not very nice,” Jun. K complained, picking up the cushion as he rubbed his cheek. “Chansungiee, aren’t you going to thank me? See, I told you shoving him up against the wall would UMPHH-”
Junho snickered as Chansung lobbed another cushion at Jun. K’s face.
“YAH YOU UNGRATEFUL BASTARDS!” Jun. K immediately began launching his own counterattack, resulting in an all-out cushion war.
“OKAY OKAY I GIVE I GIVE YOU PUNKS IS THIS HOW YOU TREAT YOU ELDERS?”
The battle finally ended with the three of them all sprawled out on the floor, Chansung and Junho laughing in breathy huffs while Jun. K wheezed from his defeat.
Slowly, the laughter died down, leaving a comfortable, content silence. The happiness emanating from the two youngest was almost tangible.
Finally, Jun. K broke the silence.
“By the way, I got the rest of the money wired into our account.”
Chansung let out a whoop.
“Aaaand we got another request.”
Junho groaned.
“Gosh can’t we take a break hyung? We just made 10,000,000 won for god’s sake. I say we deserve a break. Actually,” Junho added after some thought, “I deserve a break. You guys can take this job if you want.”
Chansung smacked Junho’s cheek lightly in response.
“Yahhhhh.”
“Children, children, let’s not fight shall we?” Jun. K intervened with a patronizing tone, earning matching withering looks from the couple. He laughed.
“Like it or not, I’ve set up a meeting time for tonight at ten. We can decide if it’s worth the trouble or not tonight.”
“Ugh. Fine.” Junho relented. “In the meantime…” he stood, tugging on Chansung’s arm to get him up as well.
“I went to bed so late last night, or really early this this morning to be accurate, but you still woke me up early you butt. Come take a nap with me.”
“Ooooohhh are you sure it’s just gonna be a nap?” Jun. K waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Junho just snorted, rolling his eyes as he pulled Chansung past him.
“Nahh, hyung, Nuneo just wants to cuddle,” Chansung whispered loudly to Jun. K.
“YAHH!” Junho protested, ears turning red as he suddenly became defensive.
“WHAT’S WRONG WITH CUDDLING?!”
~~
Junho forced his gaping mouth to close; pretty soon saliva was going to start dripping if he didn’t.
He glanced at Jun. K who was busy inspecting the money. He swallowed when Jun. K gave a sharp nod.
It was real.
“Like I said, this is only a fraction of what you would be getting, this is only to prove I’m not bluffing and we are fully committed to living up to our promises. I know what we’re asking of you is also a lot.”
Chansung stared at the beautiful woman in front of them, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“What I don’t understand is why you need to know our real identities. And this whole ‘once you’re in there’s no out’ deal…I don’t like it.”
“I understand that. But remember, you will be set for the rest of your lives after this mission. As for revealing yourselves…this mission is collaborative. Trust will be essential to success.”
Jun. K drummed his fingers on the table, considering. Both Junho and Chansung’s eyes were on him, each conveying a different message.
“We need to think about it,” Jun. K said finally. “I’m afraid I don’t trust you…I’m sure you know we’ve accumulated many enemies and this seems ridiculously risky for us. Money alone isn’t going to buy our trust.”
The woman in front of them shook her head.
“I’m afraid I don’t have that time. Are you sure?”
Jun. K only hesitated for heartbeat.
“I’m sorry, but no.”
“Very well.” The woman packed up the two briefcases as Junho stared longingly at the money.
“Good luck.”
A collective sigh was released after her footsteps faded away, and Junho collapsed onto a chair.
“Maaan, we would’ve been set for life!” he lamented.
“Or, we would’ve been dead,” Chansung retorted. “That seemed much too like a trap.”
“I agree,” Jun. K nodded, eyes troubled.
Junho sighed. “Yeah, no, I think so too. Definitely too good to be true.”
“Guys, split up going home tonight,” Jun. K’s brow was furrowed. “I don’t like how she gave up so easily. You know the drill, make it confusing. I think we might have to move, too.”
Chansung’s eyes widened. “You think it’s that serious?”
Jun. K shrugged. “I don’t know. I hope not. But better safe than sorry.”
He glanced down at his watch.
“Let’s give it another half hour, then we’ll leave in 10 minute intervals. Junho you go first, then Channie, I’ll be last.”
Junho nodded, rolling his shoulders.
“Man, this is gonna be annoying.”
~~
Suzy was grinning as she trailed Junho. Nichkhun had made a good choice.
Junho was good. They were good.
Suzy wasn’t expecting the trio to be so cautious, and especially not for them take precautions after rejecting her as well.
They were smart, perceptive, and not so easily swayed by money. While that made Suzy’s job harder, it was a challenge she welcomed.
She almost lost Junho a couple of times, and she’d panicked when she lost him for a full minute.
He’d hopped taxies without her knowing and switched outfits, his new hat throwing her off.
And that was all after he’d already ditched his bike and jumped on a subway at the last minute, Suzy just barely managing to squeeze on the same train.
But she could also tell Junho was starting to get a bit careless, being the least cautious of the three to begin with.
And if he was giving her this much trouble…
Suzy laughed. They were going to have a great team.
She let out a breath of relief as Junho finally slowed, circling the same area for a good ten minutes before finally leading Suzy straight to their home.
Bingo.
~+~
Jun. K froze, an icy terror taking a hold of his heart as he read the note taped to their door.
I’ve got Junho. Come to xxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxx to get him. Don’t worry, he’s unharmed, and you won’t be either.
I apologize for resorting to such methods, but we really do need your services.
~Suzy
A/N: Sorry /not sorry/ for the over load of Chanho this chapter....(they've been giving me a lot of feels recently ok ;___;) And sorry the "assessment" was kinda a fail...I started writing it out but it just got too messy and confusing xD. Next chapter....THEY FINALLY ALL MEET DUN DUN DUN
So COMMENT please if you enjoyed...it means faster updates! (not because I'm blackmailing, I'm just needy and need confirmation and chaptered fics are hard to stay motivated to write for T_T)