Keep Your Enemies Closer

[jojo_kim]

Pairing: ZiBang
Rated: M
Length: 11.3K



There was once a time when Bang Yongguk had total control over everything. He ran his gang so that they followed his every order, respected him, and most of all, he respected himself.

He's not sure when that changed, but if he were a betting man he would guess it was around the time he met Woo Zico.

The exact time and place of their initial meeting is a bit hazy in his brain. To be perfectly honest he was probably drugged out of his mind, so it really wasn't his fault he can't remember anything. But it was probably about three years ago, when he was just the second in command and Zico was a nobody that his group had picked up off the streets one day.

The kid was cute, what with his small eyes and puffy lips. He wasn't much shorter than Yongguk himself, but whereas Yongguk stood tall with pride knowing who he was and where he stood, Zico was shy and meek, something that had to be changed if he wanted to stay alive.

He took it upon himself to take the kid under his wing and lead him onto the same path he was on. To the top.

Zico took to the gang life like a fish to water, he learned to be intimidating with his words and the way he presented himself, he knew who to befriend and he knew who to stay away from. But Yongguk also taught him the most important thing: never trust anyone.

It all started to change when their current leader was hurt with a gunshot wound while out working one day. Yongguk, of course, was promoted to top position (temporarily, but permanent if need be), and Zico naturally went to Yongguk's old spot of number two.

Things worked out perfectly for the first few weeks as their boss slowly healed in the hospital. Yongguk was happy to take over the day to day operations of overseeing the drug distribution. He made sure that he had his hand in every corner of the business, not leaving one stone unturned.

But Yongguk had already made the biggest mistake of his life.

He trusted Zico.

When the boy told him that he could handle some of the jobs by himself, Yongguk saw no problem with that.

When he informed Yongguk that some of the members were getting jittery and he was worried for the gang’s safety, Yongguk gave him the task of shutting them up.

When he smiled that big sweet grin that secretly made Yongguk's chest clench, well it was a lost cause. That kid got away with anything he wanted.

That was a mistake on Yongguk's part.

Because Zico was also keeping a secret from Yongguk.

When he was supposed to be out meeting their dealers and trading the drugs for cash, Zico was planning. And Zico may have been quiet but he was deadly smart. He knew there could be more money made from their jobs. He knew there was other ventures they could be getting into, like ammo and other black market items their gang had no part in. While out on jobs he had been slowly racking up an underground network of suppliers and was building up a stockpile of goods, miles away from Yongguk's main headquarters.

When he told Yongguk some of the members needed taken out, it wasn't a complete lie. They were taken out. Taken out of the gang and moved to Zico's hideout. There was only a select few, but Zico knew they were the best of the best.

And through it all, even though he knew he was stabbing the only person who cared about him in the back, Zico continued to put a bright smile on his face every day for his leader. He wasn't stupid, he knew Yongguk looked at him in a different way than he viewed the other members. The way his eyes would light up when Zico was near, the smile that he only let him see, and most of all it was the soft caresses Yongguk would use on him. A stroke through the hair while Yongguk talked on the phone, Zico always by his side. Thumbing his cheek and saying he had something on it, even when Zico knew for a fact his face was clean. The hand pressed down firmly on Zico's thigh while they ate supper together every night.

But Yongguk never crossed the line with him. Zico wasn't sure why. He had been expecting it for a while. Before the former leader found him living on the streets, there was really no such thing as a line. People did what they wanted to him and he either took it or he got beat even harder.

Zico thought about pushing Yongguk, just to see how far he could take him until he broke, but he never did. Something always got in the way, usually his conscience. He was already stealing the mans business, skimming his money, taking some of his members. Zico just couldn't bring himself to take his pride, too.

He knew that even when you had nothing, you could at least have that.

Everything came to a head, Yongguk remembers this day pretty fucking clearly thank you, when Zico was late to return home one night.

They had gotten the call earlier that afternoon that their boss had passed away overnight from sudden complications with his wound, leaving Yongguk permanently in charge of the gang. Zico had left that morning for a few deals, Yongguk figured he would just wait and tell him when he got home that night.

But the usual arrival time came and went with no Zico. Yongguk had gone on enough deals to know the exact amount of time one needed, but he figured he'd give the boy a little leeway just in case something came up.

When he was still missing after a few hours, Yongguk started to worry. He tried calling his phone, but the recording said it had been turned off.

He tried calling U-Kwon, the boy who had gone with him on the job, but his phone was also not working.

That was when Yongguk stopping being scared and started to get suspicious.

He rounded up the remaining boys (there really was only a handful since Zico had told him the others needed removed) and had them prepare themselves. They weren't in the gun dealing business, but Yongguk always had a good supply around just in case of emergencies.

And he was unfortunately correct in knowing today was going to be one of those days.

They laid in wait outside of their warehouse, Yongguk not wanting his group to be locked inside if something happened.

He had Himchan guard the boys while he snuck around to check the perimeter.

The front side of the building was clear so he headed around to the back, wanting to make sure all of the doors were locked from the inside and none of the windows were broken.

He was fiddling with a loose doorknob when he heard a stick snap behind him.

His gun automatically came out as he scanned the area.

"Hello hyung." A soft voice came from out of the shadows, the dark-haired boy he had been looking for soon following. "What are you doing out here alone?"

Yongguk refused to lower his weapon, Zico not even flinching at the pistol pointed right at his head.

"Where have you been?" Yongguk asked roughly.

Zico cocked his head to the side. "I've been out on a job. You should know, you sent me on it."

"You were supposed to be back over three hours ago."

Shrugging, the smiling boy continued walking towards him. "I had a few other things I needed to take care of." He moved until he was just an arm’s length away from him, the gun pressed firmly against his forehead.

"What are you doing Yongguk-hyung?" Zico asked, having the audacity to not even look afraid.

"What are you doing Zico?" Yongguk's voice was almost as shaky as the finger on the trigger.

Zico bravely reached up and pulled the barrel away from his skin, grabbing the gun out of Yongguk's hands and pushing it into the waistband of his jeans.

"I think you know exactly what I'm doing." He whispered.

Yongguk felt his chest clench. Not the happy warm feeling it usually made when Zico was so close to him, but a dark soul-shaking clenching.

"Don't do this." He begged, bringing his hands up and tightly palming the others cheeks. "Don't do this to us. To me."

Zico tilted his head to the side and gently pressed his lips into Yongguk's hand. "It's already done. It’s too late."

His words were cryptic as he pulled himself away from the teary-eyed man. "Goodbye Yongguk." Yongguk wasn't gone enough yet to notice he had disrespectfully dropped the suffix from his name. "We'll meet again soon." He promised, melting back into the shadows.

Before Yongguk could ask him what he meant, what he was doing, why the hell had he kissed him, a loud gunshot rang out from the other side.

The side where his boys were.

Yongguk broke out in a frantic run, sliding around the corner and running to their hiding spot only to see his members in hysterics.

And a body on the ground.

"Oh no." His mouth felt dry and his hands shook.

"Yongguk!" Himchan spotted him and ran to his side, tear tracks already staining his cheeks. "They shot him, Yongguk! Oh god, they just fucking shot him!" He grabbed Yongguk's arm and pulled the frozen man over the other boys who were crowded around the body on the grass, dark red already soaked through his shirt over his abdomen.

"H-Hyung?" The boy asked, voice garbled with blood. "I-I'm so s-sorry, hyung." His unneeded apology snapping Yongguk back to attention.

"Don't apologize, Zelo." He murmured, falling down beside him and lifting the head of blonde curls into his lap. "You've done nothing wrong."

"I got... I got hurt." He whimpered.

His tall body wouldn't stop shaking as Yongguk pulled him up to rest against his chest. His hand stroked gently through his hair. "You're a good boy, Zelo." He tried to sound strong, but couldn't help the waver in his voice as he said goodbye to his youngest member. He was barely sixteen, still just a baby yet. "I'm very proud of you."

"D-Did Zico-hyung d-do this?" He gasped, barely able to breathe through the blood filling his lungs.

Yongguk could only nod against his head, not trusting his voice at the moment.

"What will y-you do to him?" Zelo's grip on Yongguk's shoulder started to go slack and Yongguk knew he only had a few more moments with him.

"We'll kill him." Himchan swore, voice deadly calm. "We will find him and we'll kill him, Zelo."

Zelo's eyes looked up into his own and Yongguk could swear he saw a small smirk on his lips. "N-No you won't." He whispered, his arm finally dropping back onto his lap.

Yongguk opened his mouth to confirm Himchan's promise, but before he could say anything Zelo's body finally stilled, glassy eyes staring straight into his for eternity.

"Z-Zelo?" Yongguk shook the limp body. "Zelo? Wake up! Wake up Zelo!" He screamed, barely feeling the hands pulling him back away from the body. A pair of arms tightly secured themselves around his waist as the tears he had been holding back finally burst through.

"Shhh." Himchan rubbed his back as he cried not only for the innocent kid who did nothing to deserve this, but also for the back-stabbing boy who he had made the mistake in trusting. Yongguk knew you couldn't put your faith in anyone in this business, but he had with Zico.

And this was the price he had paid for his mistake.

---

“Do you really think you’re ready, kid?” Yongguk asked nervously.

“Of course I’m ready!” Zico grinned with excitement. “You’ve been training me for months, hyung. I’m just as good as the other boys.”

“But what if-“

Zico shook his head, interrupting him. “If something goes wrong, I get out immediately. I know this. You taught me everything, Yongguk-hyung.”

He was still nervous though. This was the first deal that Zico was going to be making on his own. Yongguk couldn’t help but feel anxious. The streets didn’t care that he was sixteen years old. They didn’t care that the boy was only an innocent kid who still slept with a Hello Kitty doll. But Yongguk did and he was bothered by it.

“Do you have your gun?” He asked for the seventeenth time.

Zico lifted his shirt up to flash it at him. “And my cell and my knife.” He affirmed, not losing patience with him. He knew the only reason Yongguk was so worried was because he was his protégé. All of the new boys got paired up with someone experienced and he was Yongguk’s first one. They had immediately bonded because of it and now Yongguk acted like a scared mother hen every time Zico left the building.

He pulled his sleeve back to glance at his watch. “I have to go. I’m meeting them in fifteen minutes.” He gave Yongguk the bright smile that was reserved only for him and squeezed his arm. “I’ll see you when I get home, okay hyung? You’ll be seeing me again soon.”

---

The next few days consisted of busy work for Yongguk. They had to find a new headquarters, since Zico knew theirs inside and out. Everything had to be moved in secret so as not to alert the authorities. They had to weed out all of their dealers, making sure none of them had sided with the other gang.

And they had to let go of Zelo.

Even though Zelo had been a part of their group for a year now, the members all knew he had a family somewhere. He had told them that he had ran away because his step-father was abusive, but they all saw him stuff every spare won he earned into an envelope to send back to his mother and brother.

Yongguk and Himchan decided a few weeks later that they would be the ones to deliver Zelo's urn to his mother and pay their respects.

Yongguk, because he was the leader and it was his responsibility. Himchan, because he wanted to be the one to swear to his mother's face that her son would be avenged.

She took it a lot better than the two had expected. Her face showed grief and her eyes watered, but she stood tall for Zelo's brother. He was the one that broke down when hearing the news. He was the one who cradled the urn to his chest and wept uncontrollably until Yongguk and Himchan awkwardly said their goodbyes.

On their way out, the brother asked if they knew what had happened and who did it. When they nodded, he told them to make their revenge hurt ten times as bad as Zelo's death had been.

Himchan promised, not noticing Yongguk's silence.

"What are we going to do?" Himchan asked on the ride home.

"About what?"

He rolled his eyes. "About Zico, you idiot. What should we do?"

Yongguk shrugged. "I have no idea. We don't even know for a fact that it was his gang that did it."

Silence surrounded the two. "Are... Are you fucking kidding me right now, Youngguk?" Himchan's eyes were wide with astonishment. "Why the hell would you not think it was Zico?"

"We just... We don't know yet, Himchan. We have to find out for sure before doing anything."

Himchan scoffed. "Are we going to completely forget the fact that he betrayed us? That he stole our money, stole supplies, stole some of our members?"

Yongguk felt his jaw tic. "Just shut up for right now, Himchan."

"But you don't even-"

"Just shut the fuck up!" Yongguk roared, making the other boy jerk.

"Guk-"

Yongguk motioned for the driver to pull over. He threw the door open, completely ignoring Himchan's requests for him to sit down and stop and talk about this.

"I'll be back later." He mumbled. "I just need to think."

He didn't wait for an answer as he stormed out of the car, immersing himself into the busy street.

Without realizing what he was doing, he found himself at a dirty, run down bar. He hadn't really had any alcohol since taking over the head position, a foggy mind wasn't smart, but he knew he needed it today.

He was well into his fifth shot and his third beer when the seat next to him became occupied. Without even having to look Yongguk knew automatically who it belonged to. The smell of his favorite cologne, the arm resting carefully on the bar top, the pressed black slacks that Yongguk made him wear because it looked more dignified.

"I told you we'd be seeing each other again soon, hyung." Zico smiled when Yongguk lifted his face up. "Have you missed me?"

He knew he should rip the gun out of his waistband and shoot him. Right between the eyes. And then stomp on his dying body.

Zelo, sweet little dimpled Zelo, deserved it.

But all Yongguk could do was stare, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.

"You look surprised to see me." Zico let his bottom lip stick out as he pouted. "Have you replaced me already?" His eyes narrowed in anger. "It's Kim Himchan, isn't it?"

"Z-Zico?" Yongguk finally found his voice. "What are you doing here? How did you know I'd be here?"

Zico smirked as he ran a finger up Yongguk's hand, over his arm, all the way to his neck. "Did you really think I wouldn't have someone watching you Yongguk?" He let his fingers play with the collar of Yongguk's shirt as he kept eye contact with him. "I always know where you are."

"Hyung." Yongguk said, causing Zico to lift an eyebrow. "I'm your hyung."

Shrugging, the younger boy shifted so that he was practically leaning over his lap. "I think you and I are now at the same level, wouldn't you? We don't need labels anymore."

Yongguk looked around, wondering how he could escape without causing a scene.

"Don't even try it." Zico saw the trapped look in his eyes and quickly put an end to that thought process. "I haven't even got to talk privately with you yet." Yongguk noticed that on the word private, Zico let his eyes drop down to Yongguk's lips, causing the older boy to flinch.

"What do you want, Zico?" He finally resigned himself to the fact that Zico wouldn't leave until he got whatever it was he wanted, and they both knew that Yongguk would give it to him.

Zico stood and held out a hand to Yongguk. "Come." He ordered, not the least bit ashamed of pulling out a half-drunk man from the bar by his hand. "I have a car outside."

Yongguk let himself be led to the black car outside, tinted windows and a closed barrier to the front seat keeping their conversation private.

"How's the business?" Zico asked conversationally as he loosened his tie. He ran his fingers through his newly blonde hair, smiling at the silent boy beside him.

"You killed Zelo." Yongguk spoke up, voice betraying his emotions. "He was just a fucking kid and you had him murdered right in my fucking face."

The smile slipped off of Zico's face. "He wasn't supposed to get hurt, Yongguk. They were just supposed to be warning shots." He laid a hand on Yongguk's thigh, squeezing it when he tried to pull away. "Someone fucked up and no one will admit to whom. I would never try to hurt Zelo, you know that. He was my friend, too."

Yongguk shook his head rapidly, the confusion and anger mixing in with the alcohol was affecting his reasoning. He knew he shouldn't be in a car with his enemy. He knew that 'enemy' was the correct definition for their relationship now, but he couldn't stop feeling like that wasn't right. It wasn't natural for him to hate Zico. From the moment he had showed up Yongguk had been by his side.

The hand on his thigh slipped down towards the inside of his legs. Yongguk's body stiffened at the boy’s gentle touch.

"Yongguk?" Zico's hot breath was too close to his ear. "You never answered if you've missed me." Lips brushed against his skin, causing Yongguk's eyes to flutter. "I missed you, you know." He continued, thumb rubbing soft circles into the others inner thigh.

"Zico please..." Yongguk groaned, trying to shift himself away from the newly courageous boy.

"I think you've missed me a lot." Teeth nipped harshly at his lobe. "I bet you think of me every night, don't you Yongguk. When you're all by yourself. When you're lonely?" Yongguk threw his head back when he felt a tongue lap against the soft spot under his ear. "But then again, you've always thought of me like that, haven't you Yongguk? I could see it even if you wouldn’t admit it."

The elder tried to weakly push the other away, but the alcohol was still racing through his bloodstream and all he could do was grip onto Zico's button-up shirt.

A low chuckle tickled his ear. "What would you say if I told you I thought of you, too? When I was lonely?"

Yongguk's mind cleared up slightly at the confession from the younger. He turned to him in surprise, eyes widening at how shockingly close the others face was to his.

"What are you talking about?" He finally asked nervously.

Zico’s eyes lowered to his lips, lips that Yongguk tends to lick when nervous.

“I’m saying I think that you and I could reach a mutual understanding here.” Zico explained patiently. “A compromise that works for both of us.”

“I don’t… I don’t understand.” He managed to pull himself away from the other, the smell of his skin making him more intoxicated than any alcohol ever could.

“Yes you do.” Zico smiled, but it wasn’t the sweet smile he had always reserved for his leader. It was a sly one. One that promised there was more to come.

A thump on the partition had him pulling away reluctantly. “We’re here.” He announced, pulling Yongguk out behind him.

“Where’s here?” Yongguk asked, looking around the unfamiliar area.

“Home.” Zico replied proudly. “I’ve been working on it for a few months now.”

“You’ve been planning this… For months?” Yongguk froze. “B-But…”

Zico shook his head. “Questions later.”

He led the two inside the abandoned looking warehouse, nodding at the man guarding a computer station inside the door. The inside of the building was a lot better looking than the outside. Yongguk had sobered up enough to notice the details if he was needed to recall them later. Half the building was devoted to their supplies, stacked up in orderly rows (an organization system that Yongguk belatedly remembered as being Taeil’s specialty). Yongguk could see different logos from a lot of his own suppliers. So while he knew there was a large assortment of drugs, he also noticed an incredible amount of guns and ammunition around.

The other half, the half Zico led him into was a confusing cobweb of hallways and dead-ends. Zico would lead him into a doorway only to step out into another identical hallway.

He noticed his confusion and laughed. “The maze makes it harder for someone to infiltrate.” He explained. “Another one of Taeil’s master plans.”

Yongguk wanted to ask why Taeil was here when he specifically ordered Zico to take him out weeks ago, but Zico had finally stopped in front of an ordinary door, exactly the same as the other ones. Yongguk figured this must be where he had been leading them to.

Zico pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door, grabbing Yongguk’s hand and yanking him inside.

Yongguk felt his throat close at the realization of where they were.

A large bed pushed against the wall made it pretty fucking obvious this was Zico’s bedroom.

“What are you-“

“I’m going to be pretty fucking truthful with you, Yongguk.” Zico interrupted, pulling his jacket and tie off, leaving him clad in only his white button up shirt and dark slacks. “I brought you here for one reason and one reason only.”

Yongguk took a step backwards for every one Zico took forwards, but unfortunately he reached the closed and locked door, leaving him with nowhere else to go.

“Do you know what that reason is?” Zico was just toying with him now. He had reached the trembling boy, pressing their bodies flush together.

Shaking his head, Yongguk opened his mouth and tried to speak. “Z-Zico, I don’t… I don’t-“

Soft hands over his hips had him clenching his jaw and trying his hardest to push himself back even farther.

“I told you,” Zico ignored his stuttering outburst as he let his hands drift under the shirt hem and up the goose bumped flesh of the boy in front of him. “That we could reach a mutual understanding.”

Slow fingers danced across his sensitive skin, causing Yongguk to squeeze his eyes shut. He started silently praying that he would wake up at home, that this was just a dream.

The feel of hot breath against his lips had him opening his eyes, immediately wishing he hadn’t. Zico’s face was so close to his own that all Yongguk could see was his eyes.

"Bang Yongguk." Zico whispered, lips brushing against his with every syllable. "This has been a long time coming, I think."

Yongguk shook his head, not realizing it would force their lips together again. He stiffened as the arms around his waist tightened painfully. “Woo Zico I suggest you back the fuck up!” He ordered. He wanted the boy, god knows he had been wanting him for so long now. But not like this. Not as enemies. Not when Zico had caused one of his members, one of his friends, to be killed.

His body weakened when he felt plump lips press firmly against his own. Zico held them still for a few moments, letting Yongguk get used to it. But the anticipation of what his mouth would taste like had him slanting his mouth, asking Yongguk for silent permission to follow along.

Yongguk stayed still, too surprised to move. But then he realized what he was doing was stupid. He was in Zico’s bedroom. He had Zico’s lips on his. Zico’s arms were wrapped around his back. This was something he had been dreaming about for years now. And he was Bang fucking Yongguk, the head of the biggest drug ring in Seoul. What the hell did he have to be so scared of?

Even though Zico was shocked when Yongguk tilted his head and deepened the kiss, he didn’t show it, only smiling slightly and moving his head with the elder.

Yongguk reached his hands up and gripped tightly into Zico’s hair, yanking it back so hard that the other boy flinched in pain. He didn’t seem like he cared as he sucked a path down Zico’s pale neck, nibbling roughly on the skin.

“Don’t leave marks dammit.” Zico ordered, trying to pull himself back, but Yongguk wasn’t having any of it as he tightened his grip in the blonde locks.

“Don’t start something you can’t finish.” Yongguk told him, letting his authoritative leader voice out.

“Oh don’t worry.” Zico grinned, gripping the slim hips tightly as he rolled his hips forward. “This is happening. Now.”

Zico kept contact with him, but started to maneuver them towards the other side of the room.

Towards the bed.

Yongguk felt his fear creep back up slightly at the thought of sleeping with the bossy boy. It’s not like he was a virgin anymore. He was 22 years old for god’s sake. But it had been a long time since he had slept with someone he had feelings for.

He felt Zico’s hands push on his jacket, slipping it down his arms and falling to the floor. “I knew you would change your mind about wanting this.” Zico said smugly into his mouth as he gripped onto his shirt, ripping it off.

Yongguk growled at the attack, grabbing him and biting down hard on the plush lower lip against his.

“Is that how you want to play?” Zico hissed, holding his hand up to his bleeding lip. “That’s completely fine with me.” He grabbed Yongguk’s arms and threw him backwards onto the bed before straddling his hips. “You’re going to regret that.” His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Why are you doing this?” Yongguk asked angrily. “After all this time. Why now?’

Zico cocked his head to the side as he started to unbutton his shirt. “Why not?” He slipped the shirt off his shoulders causing Yongguk’s mouth to open as he stared unabashedly at the sight in front of him. He had seen Zico’s skin countless times, they lived together after all, but never in a situation like this. With Zico’s eyes staring intensely into his. “I told you this was a compromise, Yongguk.” He explained, leaning over to lick a trail across the others neck. “You get what you want and I get something I want.”

“What… What do you want?” Yongguk breathed, resting his hands on the soft flesh of his hips.

“Peace.” Zico said simply. “I don’t want anyone from your group to come after anyone from mine. It’s as simple as that.”

Yongguk knew he should be hurt that Zico was only doing this to gain immunity from him, but the soft rubbing of his skin against his chest and the warm, wet tongue that was currently gliding over long ignored flesh was more than he could handle at the moment.

“Do we have a deal?” Zico asked, voice muffled against his belly. Fingers twisted the button on his pants, waiting for that one needed word to continue.

Yongguk hated himself in this moment. Despised everything about him.

“Yes.” He finally replied, missing the lips curling up against his heated skin at the affirmation.

“Good.” Zico popped the button and pulled down the zipper before tugging them off. “Because I probably would have fucked you anyway.”

Everything after that was a blur for the elder, lips trailing against skin, tongues fighting a losing war in their mouths, hands touching areas that they had been desperate to touch for so long.

Zico would never admit to wanting the other boy as much as he did. It wouldn’t have looked good. And he needed his gang to respect him as a new leader.

But he would be lying if he said he never thought about this. Never wondered what Yongguk would taste like. Never wanted those long fingers entangled in his hair as he slowly lowered his kisses.

“Zico, Zico, Zico…” Yongguk chanted, as his boxers were torn away, a rough grip squeezing his aching erection. “More!”

Zico removed his hand right after Yongguk started to jerk his hips up with every twist of his wrist.

“Bend over.”

Yongguk’s eyes widened. He nodded before shakily turning his body over, resting his weight on his elbows.

A pair of fingers appeared in front of his mouth.

“Open.” Zico ordered.

When Yongguk complied, the fingers were shoved into his mouth making him gag. He knew this was all the preparation he was going to get so he made sure and covered them liberally with his saliva.

“So ready.” Zico murmured, running his fingertip lazily down the others spine. He pulled his fingers out with a pop before grabbing the boy’s slim hips and yanking him towards him. “This is going to hurt.” He warned, sliding the wet digits down his cheeks, just barely dipping them in towards the middle.

“Just shut up and do it.” Yongguk gritted his teeth, preparing himself for the pain he knew was coming.

Zico chuckled and spread him apart. “Alright.”

The first finger went in okay. It hurt, but Zico was blessed with slim fingers so it could have been a lot worse. The second finger was a different story. Zico was impatient and thrusted it inside before Yongguk was ready, causing him to whimper in pain.

“Sorry, sorry.” The younger tried to sooth him with soft kisses to his shoulder blades while slowing down his movements. “Better?”

Yongguk grunted, starting to jerk his bottom into the probing fingers. Zico knew he was his completely when he brushed his fingertip against a spot inside him that had Yongguk arching his back and whining pitifully.

“Just do it.” He begged, his voice filled with gravel.

Zico yanked his fingers out and quickly lined himself up with Yongguk’s entrance. “You ready?” He asked, rubbing the tip over him before barely entering.

Yongguk grabbed the sheets in his fists and nodded, deep voice moaning lower than Zico had ever heard it as he slowly entered him.

He had to stop when he was only halfway in. Yongguk was so fucking tight that he needed to take a deep breath and stop himself from slamming all the way in and fucking him until he screamed.

Below him, Yongguk’s body was stiff as a board, muscles rippling with tension.

“Are y-you ok?” Zico asked nervously. He wanted to fuck him senseless, not torture him.

When the older boy didn’t, or couldn’t answer, Zico removed one hand and reached around to wrap it gently around his dick. He rubbed his thumb across the tip, earning a slight jerk. Tightening his grip, he pumped every time he maneuvered a little bit more inside.

“Just move!” Yongguk hissed again, dropping his head down.

Even though Zico didn’t want to hurt him, he figured Yongguk really had kinda asked for it. Removing his hand, and ignoring the mumbled protest, he encircled his hands back around the pale hips. Zico closed his eyes and quickly snapped his hips forward, burying himself to the hilt.

A long, husky moan sounded from underneath him as Yongguk felt the sensation of Zico filling him completely for the first time.

Zico knew in the back of his mind that he should go slow and let the other adjust to the feeling, but his natural instincts took over and he started viciously slamming in and out of him at high speeds.

“Z-Zico!” Yongguk’s head felt too heavy to hold up so he dropped it onto his arm, pushing his ass farther towards the other boy.

Yongguk was aware the sounds he was making were embarrassing, but he couldn’t bring himself to care at the moment. He felt his thighs start to tremble at all the sensations he was feeling from the younger boy.

“Are you alright?” Zico gasped out again over the sounds of flesh slapping sharply together.

Yongguk shook his head, the sounds coming out considerably higher as Zico brushed against the same spot he had hit with his fingers.

Zico sprawled his body over Yongguk’s back, reaching his hand forward and grasping his hand tightly as he slowed down his movements.

“Go faster asshole.” Yongguk mumbled, trying to speed him back up.

Chuckling, Zico’s speed stopped completely as he started to rut himself against Yongguk’s ass, twisting his hips in a circle motion inside him.

“Oh fuck!” Yongguk yelled as Zico’s dick lodged itself inside of him, pressing fully onto the spot that drove him crazy. “Please move! Please Zico, please, please, ple… too much… I can’t…” His garbles started to trail off as Zico grabbed his dick, throbbing and leaking, and slowly rubbed it.

“Are you wanting me to speed up?” Zico smiled, burying his face into the others neck, sucking a piece of skin upwards into his mouth and nibbling gently on it.

“Yes, yes!”

Zico squeezed his hand before pulling back and placing his hands back on his hips. He sped his movements back up, slamming into Yongguk so hard that his body bounced on the bed below him.

“I’m g-going to cum.” Yongguk mumbled into his arm, feeling his stomach tense up from the sensations.

Zico closed his eyes and willed his orgasm away for a few more seconds.

“Wait for me.” He begged, biting his lip so hard he tasted the blood from the already split lip.

The thrusts started to get choppy, coming fast then slow, before Yongguk’s breath started to come out in fast pants. Zico knew he was close when he started to moan broken parts of his name.

“Cum with me.” Zico whispered into his ear, barely in time for Yongguk as his body began to shake as his orgasm ripped through him. Listening to the nonsensical words coming out of his mouth and feeling his walls clench tightly around him was the tipping point for Zico as he followed him seconds later, release not as loud as Yongguk’s, but just as amazing.

Yongguk collapsed on the bed, not even caring that he was now covered in his own fluids. Zico had the sense of mind to at least roll off of him before collapsing by his side.

“Wow.” He grinned. “That was… Wow.”

Yongguk scoffed and turned his face the other direction. “I fucking hate you Woo Zico.”

Zico laughed and wrapped the other boy up in his arms. “That’s not nice Yongguk.” He murmured, rubbing his lips over the bruised spot he had put on him. “Not when I just had you screaming my name.”

Yongguk threw the slightly sweaty arm off of him and pulled himself out of the bed, grimacing at the pain in his back. “Don’t touch me.” He growled, grabbing his clothes off the floor and trying to put them on quickly as possible without tripping.

“Yongguk?” Zico tried grabbing his hand, but the pissed off boy shook him off, feeling disgusted by his touch. “Yah! Bang Yongguk! Stop it and get back in the goddam bed!”

His patience snapping, Yongguk spun around with hatred in his features. “You had no right Zico! No fucking right!" He roared the words, not sure if he believed them or not. “You killed Zelo.” His voice shook as he continued. “You might not have pulled the trigger, but you were still in charge. I just can’t get over that…” He angrily rubbed the tears pricking at his eyes.

Zico’s shoulders slumped. “And you think I’ve gotten over it? Zelo was my friend, too! I told them not to hurt anyone, Yongguk. I swear I did.” He cautiously stepped toward him. “It was an accident. Those things happen in our line of work all the time. You know that.”

Cocking his fist back, Yongguk lost it as he punched Zico straight in the face. “But he was a baby!” He screamed, not even caring that the boy he had just made love with, because it wasn’t fucking, not to Yongguk, was slumped over in pain.

Finally lifting his head, Zico eyes flashed with hurt. “He was sixteen, Yongguk. The same age I was when they found me and brought me in. The same age I was when you first met me.” The corner of his lips tilted up in a sad smile. “Did you think I was a baby?”

Yongguk knew where he was heading with this. The alcohol in his system had long worn off by this time so he had full control of his mind.

“Of course not.” He finally answered, not pushing away the arm that encircled his waist.

“Why?” Zico asked, rubbing his nose down the curve of the taller boys jaw. “What made my age different from Zelo’s?”

A shudder went through Yongguk’s body as lips attached themselves to his Adam’s apple. “You were different.”

“How?”

Yongguk really didn’t want to have this conversation. Not when Zico’s hands were trailing up his bare back, his tongue lazily lapping at his skin, soft blonde hair brushing against his sore lips.

“You… You were special.” He admitted. “To me.”

He felt Zico’s lips on his neck curl up into a grin. “You’re very special to me, too.”

Yongguk snorted. “Don’t be disgusting.”

“Ah but I think you like disgusting, Yongguk. I think you want cheesy confessions, hearts and flowers, all that romantic shit. Am I right? You try to act all tough and gangster, but we both know it’s all an act.” Yongguk shoved him away, heart clenching at the loud laugh from the boy. He hadn’t heard that sound in weeks and he missed it.

“I can’t give you romance.” Zico informed him, buttoning his shirt back up. “But I can give you this.” He waved his arm around his room, wincing as he held his palm to his swelling eye. “Whenever you want it.”

Yongguk furrowed his eyebrows. He knew the other’s proposition was a good one for him. He got to touch Zico in all the ways he had been dreaming about and Zico got the assurance that his boys would stay safe from Yongguk’s.

And Zico was right with what he said about Zelo. Accidents like that did happen all the time in their business. Right and wrong were permanently blurred for them. If you joined a gang then you automatically knew your life had a 50/50 chance of being cut short at any moment. Zelo knew that when he arrived.

It didn’t make it right though.

But Yongguk didn’t make it to the position he was in today by being sentimental. He had the innate ability to push the dark thoughts to the back of his brain and lock them up tight. And if he needed to lock Zelo back there with them, then he would do that.

For Zico.

---

“Where have you been?” Himchan hissed when he walked into the door later than night. “You’ve been gone for hours! I had every contact out there searching for you!”

Yongguk shrugged. “I went to a bar.” He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, downing it all in one gulp as he replenished his spent body. Zico had made sure he was good and exhausted by the time he allowed him to leave.

“For eight hours?” Himchan shrieked before his head tilted to the side. “Is that… Are those hickeys on your neck?” He grabbed his shirt and pulled it away, peering down inside. “They’re everywhere!” His murderous eyes met Yongguk’s terrified ones. If there was one thing in this world that scared Bang Yongguk, it was a pissed off Kim Himchan. “You lying little fuck.”

Yongguk shot his hands in the air, surrendering to him. “So I fucked someone? Is that a crime now?”

“It is when you’re the leader and no one can find you!” The dark-haired boy’s voice was quickly gaining volume, calling the attention of the other members.

“Hyung?” Daehyun asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he tripped into the room. “You’re home late.”

“He’s been fucking some whore!” Himchan screamed, waving his arms around.

Youngjae raised an eyebrow. “Was she at least good?” A wide grin was his answer. Youngjae smirked. “Then I don’t see the problem.”

He immediately shrunk back when the narrowed eyes turned his direction.

“Stop it Himchan.” Yongguk finally ordered. “That’s enough. It’s none of your business who I fuck.”

“But… But-“

“No.” His voice was final. “You don’t see any of us calling you out when you sneak into Jongup’s bedroom every night thinking no one can see you.”

Himchan’s eyes widened comically as he sputtered and mumbled out denials. Jongup couldn’t care less about being found out as he scratched his ass and yawned.

“I’m going to bed.” Yongguk said, leaving his members behind to deal with the bitch by themselves. He was covered in dried cum and saliva and desperately needed a shower.

---

Yongguk and Zico met frequently the next few months. Zico had given him a burner phone to match his own. One that only the two of them knew the numbers to. Anytime Yongguk needed him he just had to call and Zico would send a car to the designated meeting place.

All he asked for in return was a heads up if someone from Yongguk’s group was planning something.

The information had come in handy on more than one occasion. Once Daehyun had found out where U-Kwon was going to be distributing supplies that night. He had come home and formulated a plan with Himchan to sneak in and destroy one of Zelo’s killers.

But Yongguk had caught wind of it and hurriedly called Zico to let him know.

He knew it was wrong. He knew Zico was using him to keep his members safe and that was all.

But he didn’t care.

It was obvious to him that Zico cared about him as more than just a casual fuck. The late night phone calls that had nothing to do with sex, the bright smile that none of the other boys were ever privy to, even the way he would gently kiss him goodbye showed Yongguk that this new Zico was still his Zico.

“I love you.” Yongguk murmured one night, as Zico panted heavily over top of him, still trying to catch his breath from their activities.

Zico lowered his head and stayed silent for a moment.

“You shouldn’t.” He finally spoke, rolling off of him and throwing an arm over his eyes. “You really shouldn’t. That’s a really big fucking mistake, Yongguk.”

“I already made a mistake the day I trusted you.” Yongguk replied, not expecting the other boy to respond in kind, but still feeling hurt over the reaction.

Sighing, Zico wrapped his arm around Yongguk’s shoulders and pulled him in tight to his chest. “The last thing I want is for you to get hurt.” He muttered, pressing his lips into Yongguk’s red hair. “The two of us… It could never work.”

“I know.” The elder boy agreed, nuzzling his face into Zico’s sweaty neck. “But I still love you.”

---

“We’re not making any progress.” Himchan’s voice was flat. He folded his arms across his chest. “Why is it so hard to find one single fucking member of Zico’s gang?”

Yongguk’s shoulders tensed as his second-in-command realized what Yongguk thought he had been doing a good job of hiding.

“It’s like every single time we hear word of something they change their plans!”

“Maybe your sources are all incorrect.” Yongguk shrugged, doing a pretty decent job of keeping the panic out of his eyes. Seven years in this line of work had taught him a thing or two about keeping emotions hidden.

“They’re not.” Himchan snapped. “I’ve been working with some of them for years. They wouldn’t lie to me.” His eyes narrowed as he pondered their conversation. “It’s like they know what we’re planning. But the only way that could be…” His mouth dropped open in shock. “We have a mole, Yongguk!”

Inside his chest, Yongguk’s heart started to beat overtime. “That’s impossible, Himchan. You’re just overthinking this.”

“No.” Himchan shook his head. “There’s definitely something going on. And I’ll get to the bottom of it, don’t worry.”

He stormed off before Yongguk could stop him.

“Shit!” Yongguk swore, running his hand though his hair. He fumbled around in his pocket before grabbing his phone and texting Zico.

We need to talk. ASAP.

---

“So does he think it’s you?” Zico asked worriedly from his desk as Yongguk paced around the office.

“No. Maybe. I don’t know. Himchan’s smart. He’s really fucking clever when it comes to stuff like this. I didn’t move him up for nothing.”

Zico gritted his teeth. “I knew you would replace me with him.” He muttered.

Yongguk dropped his hands and turned to him in disbelief. “Are you fucking kidding me? I’m betraying my team and am about to be found out, and you’re acting jealous?” He scoffed. “It could have been you, you fucking bastard! You would have been by my side if you hadn’t of fucked all of this up.”

“But that’s the problem.” Zico stood up, pulling his gun out of his waistband and laying it on the shelf behind him. “I don’t want to be by anyone’s side. I want to be in charge.” He stepped around the desk and pulled Yongguk towards him. “Don’t worry so much. I’m sure everything will be fine.” Their lips met in a bruising kiss, all teeth and tongue and groans.

“Get up on the desk.” Zico murmured into his mouth.

Quickly complying, because there was really only one reason Zico would want him sitting down, and it had to do with his mouth, and Zico was goddamn amazing with his mouth. Yongguk jumped up onto it and pulled Zico’s face back down to his.

Zico undid the button and zipper on his jeans as Yongguk arched his body so he could pull them off. “Do you want me to make everything better?” He asked, tonguing him through the cotton boxers the elder was wearing. Yongguk hummed in reply, clasping his hands into the blonde locks. “No one else makes you feel as good as I do, do they? Not even Himchan?”

“N-No, just you.” Yongguk bit his lip as the slim fingers curled over the elastic, sliding his underwear slowly down his legs.

“Take off your shirt.”

His body jerked mid-strip as he felt a warm, wet stripe being licked down the base of his cock, thumbs rubbing soothingly over his hipbones.

Zico knew how to tease him, something Yongguk had quickly learned was great fun to the other boy. He would wait until he had Yongguk begging and crying under his hands to move further.

But this time he went straight to it, mouth engulfing him instantly causing Yongguk to throw his head back in surprise.

Yongguk loved blowjobs almost as much as Himchan loved bitching, so this was a genius way to take his mind off of things.

Zico wrapped a fist around the bottom and squeezed roughly with every suck of his mouth.

Yongguk gripped tighter into his hair, guiding him to how fast he needed it. Zico was luckily born with a highly tolerant gag reflex, not even flinching when the thrusts into his mouth got faster and deeper.

Yongguk couldn’t help but to look down at the blonde boy between his legs, body heating up even more at the site of his puffy lips stretched around Yongguk’s length, rapidly sliding up and down as he forced him to the brink of explosion.

As if he knew he was being watched, Zico lifted his head to stare straight into his eyes. He grinned cheekily around his dick, shooting him a wink.

Yongguk’s eyes fluttered shut as the suction around his dick grew tighter and tighter. When Zico let out a soft moan, causing vibrations to shoot up Yongguk’s body, it was the end for him.

“Fuck!” He moaned, shooting himself into Zico’s welcoming throat.

Zico pulled away, swiping his thumb across his lower lip and smirked. “Feel better?”

Yongguk nodded, not trusting himself to stand up yet.

“Good.” Zico pressed himself against Yongguk, not even caring about the pained whine Yongguk let out at the feel of the trousers against his sensitive cock. “But now I have something that needs taken care of, too.” He reached behind them and swiped the papers off of the table, pushing Yongguk down before climbing over top of him. “There’s nothing to worry about.” He reassured him, licking a path across his chest, paying extra attention to the hard nubs that he knew for a fact Yongguk was extra sensitive at. “We’re okay. Himchan won’t suspect you of anything.”

Yongguk appreciated the support, but right now he really just wanted Zico to shut up and do something.

“Too many clothes.” He sat up and pulled at Zico’s shirt, trying to pull it over his head. “Take them off.”

Zico chuckled and stood up, backing away from the needy boy. He slowly took his clothes off, never breaking eye contact with him.

“Come here.” Yongguk beckoned when he was completely naked in front of him. He pulled Zico in between his legs and kissed him, softly and gently.

“Just be careful, okay?” Zico murmured into his lips. “What would you do if something happened to me?”

“Probably start fucking Himchan.” Yongguk teased, knowing the dark-haired boy was the one Zico was always the most jealous of.

His plan worked as Zico growled angrily into his mouth and shoved him back onto the desk. “You think so, huh?” He reached into the side drawer of his desk and pulled out a bottle of lotion, slathering some of it onto his fingers. “I’m going to make you cum so hard you see stars.” He hissed, ramming a finger into Yongguk without warning. He waited a few seconds, not enough time for anyone to be prepared, before shoving the second one in.

Yongguk groaned in pain as the digits immediately started scissoring inside of him. “Stop it, it fucking hurts!”

“Did I ask what you thought?” Zico asked, his other hand finding Yongguk’s cock and scratching his nails down the side.

“Christ!” He roared, body almost coming off the table. “Are you trying to kill me Woo Zico?”

Zico shrugged, slowing his exploring down. “Only if you’re into that.” His eyes turned shrewd. “Why? Are you into that?”

Rolling his eyes, Yongguk tried to ignore the pain in his ass and concentrate on Zico’s dark eyes and swollen lips instead. “Just fuck me already.” He knew the younger liked it when he begged, but he honestly needed him so badly that he didn’t want to waste time.

Completely removing his fingers, Zico poured more lotion onto himself, smoothing it around so that it would be easier to slide in. They may have been arguing, but they both knew it was all for show, and he didn’t want to seriously hurt him.

He aligned himself at Yongguk’s entrance, silently asking for permission. When the other boy closed his eyes and exhaled deeply, he started to push himself in, inch by slow inch.

When he had completely impaled himself inside he forced himself to stop and wait for Yongguk’s body to un-tense. The fact that he could barely move, Yongguk was so hot and so tight, wasn’t something he wanted to admit to.

“Relax.” Zico breathed, rubbing his hands across the shaky thighs.

After a few moments, Yongguk raised his hands up to Zico’s shoulders and dug his nails in. “Move.” He spat.

Zico pulled back until he was almost removed completely before slamming back in, causing Yongguk’s body to move so far back that his head hung off the side of the desk.

“What did you tell Himchan?” Zico forced out, not slowing down his thrusts.

“What?” Yongguk was breathless, not even able to lift his head up. “W-Why are you asking that now?”

Zico lifted his legs up onto his shoulders before continuing. “Just wanted to see if the thought of Himchan got you off more than I did.”

Yongguk growled, and squeezed his legs tight around Zico’s neck. “Shut the fuck up about him or I swear to god my dick’ll go soft.”

Chuckling, Zico agreed, never doubting that he was the only one his hyung wanted. He just enjoyed teasing him. It brought out the deep voice and angry eyes that he liked.

He leaned forward to entangle his hand with the one Yongguk had clenched against the table. Even though Yongguk claimed to want to be fucked, Zico knew that he really wanted a mixture of hard and soft. Yongguk may have been a gangster who had lost count of all the people he had hurt over the years, but he was a softie at heart.

“Touch me.” Yongguk clenched his eyes shut as he felt his orgasm near. Zico could always tell he was close by the way his abdomen muscles started to scrunch up as he tried to hold it at bay.

He let go of the sweaty palm and slowly ran his fingers down the shaking chest, tickling over hipbones, passing through his happy trail, before landing right where Yongguk needed it. He wrapped his hand around it, smearing the pre-cum over the top with his thumb.

Yongguk felt his back come up off the desk with the combined sensations he was experiencing. “Harder, harder.” He begged, gritting his teeth as he was so close, so close, so close.

Zico sped up his movements, keeping his pumping at the same speed as his thrusts. He dropped his head forward, soft moans coming from his mouth.

“I love you.” Yongguk murmured, knowing the other could hear but not expecting him to say it back.

Before Zico could process the older boys words, Yongguk let out a long, deep groan as hot cum spurted all over his chest, walls tightening even more against Zico. It was all he could do to manage one more push before he also lost control.

He dropped Yongguk’s legs ungracefully over the desk before collapsing over top of him, panting heavily.

“I need to go.” Yongguk muttered a few minutes later, pushing him off. “If they’re suspicious then I don’t need to be gone for long periods of time anymore.”

Zico grumbled but complied, both of them dressing themselves in silence.

Before Yongguk could walk out, Zico’s next words stopped him.

“I’m sorry, Yongguk.” His voice was pained. “For Zelo, for your gang’s suspiciousness, for this, for everything. I’m sorry.”

He meant his words, too. And Yongguk knew that.

Yongguk nodded once before leaving without turning back.

Both of them not realizing that this would be their last time together.

---

“I have an idea.” Himchan came to him the next night, face set in concentration.

“On what?” Yongguk was distracted as he went through the logs for the last week.

“On how to smoke out our mole.”

The logs quickly forgotten, Yongguk dropped them down onto the desk. “What are you talking about?”

Himchan cracked his neck. “We both know there’s a snitch somewhere in the ranks. I have an idea on how to find out who.”

Yongguk tried to make his face impassive. “And what is it?” If he knows Himchan’s tricks, then there’s no way he’ll be caught, he figured.

Shrugging, Himchan toyed with the edges of Yongguk’s desk. “I’m keeping it to myself.” He told him. “I know I’m not the mole so I’m really the only person here that’s trustworthy enough to know the plan.” His sharp eyes lifted to meet Yongguk’s. “You taught me that. Isn’t that the number one rule, Yongguk? Don’t ever trust anyone but yourself?”

He felt his throat close at the younger’s words. Himchan was damn clever. It was obvious he suspected something. Yongguk just had to make him believe he had nothing to hide and everything would be okay.

“Of course I did.” He nodded, putting on a large smile. “That’s the number one rule of the streets.”

Himchan’s eyes narrowed as he pursed his lips. “Yes. Yes, it is.”

---

“What are we doing here?” Yongguk asked, looking around the nearly abandoned warehouse. It had been a week since Himchan had last mentioned his plan, so Yongguk thought that maybe he had given up on it.

Mistake.

He and Zico haven’t had time to see each other since he had given him a sympathy blowjob over his desk, only finding time for sporadic phone calls late at night.

“I heard some intel that Zico’s gang was doing business here later.” Himchan informed him nonchalantly as he loaded his gun behind some storage boxes.

Yongguk froze, eyes widening in terror. “What do you mean, Himchan? Why wasn’t I informed of this?”

Himchan’s eyes met his and Yongguk was shocked at the amount of hatred in them.

“I told you that I had a plan.” He replied calmly. “To draw out our mole.”

Yongguk looked around as the other members emerged from their own hiding places. “W-What is everyone doing here?” His voice shook as he started to back away.

“It took me awhile to figure it out.” Himchan nodded at Jongup who placed himself behind their leader so that he couldn’t go anywhere. “But then I realized just how stupid I was being. Out of all of us, who would be the most likely to rat us out to save Woo Zico?” His voice slowly gained volume as his anger grew. “And once I thought about it, it was obvious. Wasn’t it Yongguk?”

The eldest boy shook his head, not knowing what to say.

“Because it was you, wasn’t it? You’re the one who was closest to Zico. You’re the one who trained him, took care of him, let him sleep in his fucking bed every night. I didn’t think of it earlier because how could I possibly suspect that our own leader would betray us like that? Would betray his members, would betray Zelo’s memory.” Himchan’s nostrils flared as he stared him down as if he was nothing but an insect that needed squashed.

“Himchan, you’re not ser-“

“Shut up!” He screamed, grabbing his gun and aiming it at Yongguk. “Don’t treat us like we’re stupid!! Don’t do that! I saw it in your eyes when I questioned you! You lied right to my face!” His hand shook as he took the safety off of the pistol. “Move Jongup.” He ordered, not wanting him near the gun.

Jongup quickly darted out of the way right before a loud gunshot went off.

“I’m sorry Yongguk.” Himchan had tears in his eyes as he watched his longtime friend and his leader, fall to his knees in shock, hand reaching down to grab at his rapidly reddening shirt. “But that was for Zelo.” He swallowed thickly. “This whole time we’ve been blaming Zico for Zelo’s death. But it was really your fault, wasn’t it? You killed him. Now you’ll die like him.” His voice wavered as Jongup grabbed his wrist, pulling him out of the building.

Yongguk grabbed the cell phone out of his pocket, slick fingers sliding over the keys.

“Hello?”

“Zi-Zico?” His tongue felt numb in his mouth as he mouthed his name. “I need... I need help.”

“Yongguk?” Zico sounded furious as he heard the pain in his voice. “What happened? Where are you?”

His eyes felt heavy and it took all of his strength to hold the phone against his ear. “H-Himchan… Gun…”

Silence met him on the other end and he was worried Zico had hung up.

“I have a tracer on your phone.” He finally spoke, his tone cracking on the words. “I’ll be there in just a few minutes.” He paused again. “Just… Just hang on, okay?”

He could feel his breaths getting shorter as he laid there. It could have been minutes, it could have been hours. Time didn’t really seem to matter so much anymore. He closed his eyes and let the blackness creep over his body. First his legs went numb, then the wound on his stomach didn’t even seem to hurt anymore. Right when he felt his arm start to tingle he heard a loud voice calling for him.

“Yongguk!” Zico burst into the building, gun drawn as he searched. When he caught sight of Yongguk’s unmoving body on the ground, his gun cracked on the concrete, forgotten. He collapsed beside him, hands covered in blood as he lifted the motionless head onto his leap. “Yongguk? H-Hyung?” Tears dripped from his eyes as he thought he was too late.

A barely cracked eye peered at him through the haze. “Hey.” Yongguk coughed, the blood in his lungs making the sound wet. The boy above him was a mess, but there was relief in his eyes that Yongguk’s heart was still beating, even if only slightly.

“Don’t worry, Yongguk.” He said, running his fingers through his hair. “Jihoon is on the way with a car. We’re going to get you to a hospital, okay? I’m going to stay with you the whole time.”

Yongguk managed to shake his head. “Not enough… Time.”

Zico shakily reached his hand down to grab Yongguk’s fingers. “Don’t-Don’t say that, hyung. Everything’s going to be okay. We’ll get you better and you’ll come home with me, okay? We’ll finally get to be together!” His voice showed hope even though his eyes knew better.

A weak hand reached up to fist at his shirt. “I love you.” Yongguk murmured, feeling his eyes close for the last time.

Zico froze as the body in his arms stopped shaking and finally stilled. His breathing sped up until he was screaming at the elder boy, shaking him violently, begging him to wake up.

“Y-Yongguk don’t leave me. Please, please don’t leave me!” He sobbed brokenly over the silent body. “Please wake up!” When no response came, he finally realized the man he had admired and looked up to for years was finally gone.

He gently laid Yongguk’s head onto the ground before pressing one last kiss against his still warm lips.

“I love you, Yongguk.”

---

*eight months later*

A bloody, mangled body limped its way inside the messy room, only a single light bulb lighting it. It collapsed onto the bed for a second, trying to collect itself.

“Fuck.” The hoarse voice swore, rubbing a hand against the large bump on the back of his head. He was pretty sure he had a concussion, a few broken fingers and possibly a cracked rib. But knowing he was going to be able draw an X across another picture made it all worth it.

He dragged himself to the far wall, where he had a large board over it, covered with scattered pictures and notes.

Shakily picking up the marker, he dragged it across the second to last picture, the kill he had been dreading the most. Not only was he the strongest in the group, but he was also the one protecting the leader. There was nothing quite as hard as fighting someone who was trying to save someone they loved. The tiny boy had ordered his leader away before turning that deadly smirk towards him.

“Three down.” He muttered, circling the last picture. “One left.”

Zico grinned at the tall, raven-haired boy in the picture. “And I’ve saved the best for last.”