Watching My Back - Hangeng+Sungmin
100 THEMES CHALLENGE
Theme: 11 - Rooftops [Hangeng/Sungmin]
Title: Watching My Back (Continued from DARK)
Subpairings: Sungmin/Leeteuk, Henry/Amber
Words: 3,128
Completed: December 15th, 2011
Genre: AU, friendship
Rating: PG
Warnings: Murder mentions
Summary: Sungmin doesn't have the time to mope over Leeteuk's absence; he has a job to do.
The wind whipped around him, sending his shirt, tie and hair flapping angrily. His cheeks stung where his locks flicked at them, making them flush. His hands had set up camp amidst the lint and loose coins in his pocket and his shoes scuffed the raw concrete too close to the edge.
Sixty-eight storeys. He peered over the edge, unable to see the pavement below without bending over too far.
There was a creak and a crash of a door behind him but he didn't turn.
"Don't do it, Sungmin," a deadly-serious voice said behind him, soft footsteps marking his approach. "You have so much to live for."
"Shut up," Sungmin muttered, turning to see his colleague's faint smile. "What if I actually would? Your teasing might just… tip me over the brink."
"Please, Sungmin," Hangeng scoffed, standing casually, thumbs in his belt loops and fingers in his pockets. "You wouldn't. You're not that weak."
"Leeteuk found my gun."
The slight widening of Hangeng's eyes and his brief pause were the only signs of surprise. His tone and stance remained steady. "Regardless." He stepped closer so he was beside his friend. "You're not that sort of person."
"Or so you think."
"I know you, Sungmin."
"Wouldn't Leeteuk have said he knew me a week ago?"
Hangeng had no reply to that. He remained quiet for a long while before asking, "How's he doing?"
"I don't know." Sungmin shrugged heavily. "He… he left, Geng. I haven't seen him for three days." He still couldn't believe it, returning home at almost midnight on Monday and finding almost all of Leeteuk's stuff gone. He had no idea where he could have gone or even if he should look for him anyway.
"Do you think he'll tell anyone?"
"No…"
"Give him time," Hangeng suggested, peering at Sungmin's lowered face. "He'll come back once he's calmed down. For an explanation, if nothing else."
Sungmin nodded. It was true. Leeteuk could never be satisfied drawing his own conclusion. He'd need the truth, and he'd need it from Sungmin.
"Come on." Hangeng laid his large hand flat against the back of Sungmin's head, turning him around and pulling him back towards the building. "Let's go get lunch."
Sungmin allowed himself to be dragged inside, down the building, out of the building and down the road. He allowed his hyung to order him food when he claimed he wasn't hungry. He also allowed him to pay, not that the older man minded treating his dongsaeng every now and then.
Hangeng didn't want to seem insensitive but he was, first and foremost, a professional, so he had to ask. "Are you sure he won't tell anyone, Sungmin-ah? If just one detail got to the wrong person, it could jeopardise everything."
"I'm sure," Sungmin replied. "Like you said: he'll want an explanation and he won't slander me until he's got one. I'd bet my life on it."
"You are betting your life on it, Sungmin."
"So I am," Sungmin murmured into his noodles.
"Are you alright?" The question was asked in a much gentler tone.
Sungmin shrugged.
"Just a few more days now," Hangeng whispered encouragingly.
Sungmin nodded. "Just a few more days…"
"And I'll be with you. It'll be over before you know it."
* * *
Sungmin headed to the shooting range after lunch. He put on the safety goggles and almost too carefully inserted the earplugs. He drew his weapon and weighed it in his hands, remembering Leeteuk's face as he saw it and imagined its purpose. Whatever he was thinking, Sungmin was pretty sure was not far off the mark. He remembered Leeteuk bolting as he stepped forwards with the knife. Did he honestly think Sungmin would hurt him? He remembered picking up the gun while the door's slam echoed in his mind.
The target buzzed towards him and he inspected the holes, every one right where he'd intended it to go.
"Nice job," Hangeng commented and Sungmin jumped. He hadn't noticed the Chinese man come in. So much for professional.
"Thanks," he replied shortly, half-heartedly. He didn't want this mission, never had. But his skill had gone beyond his training. His hand-eye co-ordination is amazing, they'd said, his aim is perfect, he's like nothing I've ever seen.
And all that had been fine, until his first shoot-to-kill mission. He could still remember sobbing into his oblivious lover, as an excuse babbling out some story about his younger brother which probably didn't even make sense, but had satisfied the man nonetheless. He couldn't remember how many days he'd scrubbed himself raw, as if he could somehow wash away what he'd done.
"Sungmin," Hangeng said, drawing up beside him, "He's a murderer. A murderer and a thief and a liar. He sells drugs to children, Sungmin, children. At least, his men do. He is dangerous and we need him off the streets."
"But killing him?" Sungmin whispered.
"He is more than capable of running everything from behind bars, Sungmin. You must never, ever underestimate that man. Trust me. It's necessary."
"When is bloodshed ever necessary?"
"When it's preventing more bloodshed," Hangeng said firmly.
Sungmin holstered his gun and turned to him. "How long did it take you to convince yourself that, Geng?"
Hangeng stared unflinchingly back at him. "It's the truth," he replied softly.
"But he was your friend," Sungmin insisted.
Hangeng picked up his own goggles and ear plugs. "There are reasons we are not friends anymore," he said calmly as he loaded his weapon and aimed it at the target. "And those reasons are why Kim Kibum needs to die."
* * *
He should be exhausted. He should just collapse into bed and fall asleep instantly. But the fourth night without Leeteuk was just as hard as the previous ones. He wrapped his limbs around the pillows like a teenager, pathetic, lost, sleepless. He closed his eyes and buried his face in the sheets, trying to relax and let sleep overcome him.
"I want my Teukie," he whimpered to himself; he was alone, in his own bedroom. No-one was going to judge him anyway. "I want him back."
Of course Leeteuk was bound to leave him someday, he could barely offer him anything. He couldn't be honest, he couldn't be always there, and if any of the wrong people found out that Sungmin had a lover, a male lover at that, Leeteuk would be in terrible danger.
It was good he had gone. It was good he now had nothing to do with Sungmin and couldn't be connected to him. Particularly with the mission on Saturday. Once they'd killed Kibum it would take months, if not years, for things to calm down. It was good Leeteuk would be safe from all that.
"Fuck that," Sungmin snarled, kicking one of the pillows across the room and sitting up, bending his knees and dropping his face onto them. "Fuck that, I want him back."
* * *
"You look terrible, honey."
"Gee, you sure know how to flatter a girl, Hangeng," Sungmin snapped back sarcastically and collapsed into his chair. "Ugh, I did not sleep at all," he groaned. He rubbed his face, peeping through his fingers when Hangeng didn't respond, and saw him by the coffee machine. He returned with a paper cup and placed it next to Sungmin's elbow.
"Thank you."
Hangeng slid back into his own chair. "Don't forget our meeting in half an hour," he said softly.
"Oh… yeah…" Sungmin sighed. "Do we have to go? Can't we kill him next month instead?"
Hangeng said nothing. If Sungmin was being so flippant that he could make jokes about the mission, he must really be out of it. Sungmin detested the thought of taking a life, even that of a person like Kibum. He himself had pleaded to get on this case, he knew Kibum best, they had been close, he would be invaluable, and yes, he could kill him, of course, he had no feelings for the man anymore.
And he was positive he could. When he thought of Kibum, dead, he felt nothing. No regret, no fear. No joy either, but for that he was glad. He wasn't sure if he could cope with being happy over killing a man. Even that man.
"Geng, tell me it's stupid to want him back."
"It's stupid to want him back," Hangeng repeated obediently. "He's not safe with you, he's sure to be much safer wherever he is, particularly with all this shit about to go down. To ask him to come back would be incredibly selfish, Sungmin."
Sungmin glared at him. "You could at least try to say it a bit more convincingly."
Hangeng sighed. "I'm not going to tell you how to feel, Min-ah. Humans are selfish. And you love him."
"If I love him so much, why do I want him with me and not wherever he is, where he's safe?"
"Because you know that you have no idea where he is, and he is conceivably not safe," Hangeng said calmly.
Sungmin glared again and sat up straight. "I need to find him."
Hangeng rolled his eyes to himself so Sungmin couldn't see. "So go find him, Sungmin. For goodness' sake, think of what we do! Finding people should be our specialty."
"It is our specialty. Well, not ours, but the department's."
"If it's going to distract from this, you need to find him, Sungmin."
Sungmin turned to look at him. "Is that all you care about?" he snapped.
"Right now? Yes. One of us has to. That's not a criticism," he added as Sungmin opened his mouth to retort, "But I don't have anyone to worry about, and you do. If we get this done neatly, the mess will take less time to clean up, and everyone will be safer quicker. I have to be on the ball if you're not okay."
Sungmin's frown deepened even further at Hangeng's words. As much as he hated what he had to do, not contributing to the mission, even so far as holding it back, was not something he wanted.
"I'm fine," he said petulantly.
"You were more convincing when you tried to tell me you didn't like cute things," Hangeng said flatly. "Don't think you can lie to me,, Sungmin-ah."
Sungmin raised an eyebrow. "Oh, maybe I should just forget about Leeteuk and sleep with you instead?"
"Hmm? Forget Leeteuk for me?" Hangeng lifted Sungmin's chin with a finger. "Such a naughty boy."
Sungmin slapped his hand away. "You are so creepy."
Hangeng smiled. "It's what I do second-best," he said with a wink that had Sungmin groaning and fake-gagging into his coffee cup.
* * *
Sungmin had read the procedure, re-read it, consulted with Hangeng and their boss, had it drummed into him, read it some more, until he was even going through it in his dreams. Leeteuk was gone but he was so tired from all the reading and training he'd done during the day that he was now sleeping, albeit not all that well.
"Geng?" he murmured, head resting on his desk.
"Hmm?" Hangeng replied.
"Who's our backup?"
"Boss is giving us Squad 7. Twelve men."
They didn't dare take more. Sungmin nodded. "Okay."
"Sungmin?"
"Yes, Geng?"
"Have you found Leeteuk?"
Sungmin swallowed and opened his eyes, gaze falling on his fingers resting at the base of his pen pot. "No," he replied softly. "I'll… I'll find him on Sunday."
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"Alright."
Hangeng leant back in his chair, twirling a pen between his fingers.
"Geng?"
"Hmm?" Hangeng repeated.
"Who's in Squad 7?"
"Twelve men." Hangeng turned to Sungmin with a slightly worried frown.
Sungmin shook his head. "I mean, who are they?"
"I don't know."
Sungmin stood up abruptly and Hangeng stared at him in surprise. "Let's go."
"Where are we going?" Hangeng started to stand as well.
"To meet Squad 7," Sungmin stated. "I want to know the guys keeping me from getting shot in the back."
* * *
"Hello?"
There was a surprised sound and suddenly a man was right up in front of him, saluting. "Good afternoon, Sir!"
"Um… at ease," Sungmin murmured. "I'm Lee Sungmin."
"Han Geng," Hangeng added behind him.
The man dropped his hand and his eyes said 'I know'. "Nice to meet you, Sir," his lips replied. "Kim Youngwoon, head of Squad 7."
Sungmin smiled. "Nice to meet you too. Where's the rest of your squad?"
"Ah… Seven to Twelve are at training, but the rest of us are resting at the moment," Youngwoon said.
"Here?"
"Yes, sir."
"Can we speak to them?"
Youngwoon looked surprised. "Oh, sure. I mean, yes, sir, of course. This way."
He lead Sungmin and Hangeng down to the end of the hall, to the common room. It was quiet, a lazy Friday afternoon, and Youngwoon only had to arrive to get everyone's attention. The room was occupied by about fifteen people, all of whom stood at the sight of their superiors.
"No, no, as you were," Hangeng said hastily, not having spent much time among those of lesser rank and not used to being treated like this. The soldiers slowly sat down and returned to their conversations, except for a group of five people in the corner who kept their gazes fixed on Hangeng, Sungmin and their leader.
"This is half of Squad 7," Youngwoon said as they arrived at the corner. "Jung Yunho, my second; Lee Donghae, Shim Changmin, Lau Henry, and Liu Amber."
Each of the men and woman bowed from the shoulders as their names were called.
"I'm Han Geng," He said again.
"I'm Lee Sungmin," Sungmin added.
We know, all their eyes read. They all simultaneously bowed again.
"Can we sit?"
"Of course," Youngwoon said quickly, shoving Changmin aside so there was room for the agents on the couch.
"You guys are our backup tomorrow, huh?" Sungmin said softly when he'd sat down.
"Yes, sir," the six of them said in unison. Sungmin looked around dejectedly at their young faces. Even Youngwoon, whom he'd found out was older than him, had chubby cheeks and innocent eyes. And god, that girl and the boy next to her…
"Are you nervous?" Sungmin asked.
Youngwoon spoke for everyone again. "No, sir. We're honoured to be chosen to assist you for this mission."
Sungmin bit his lip, wondering how he could word his request without being disrespectful to the squad head.
"Tomorrow…" he began slowly, making it up as he went, "We're going to be trying to take down the one of the most dangerous men underground." The squad watched him, clearly not knowing where he was going with this. "Hangeng-ssi and I, along with many, many people, have been planning this operation for months. The police and the agency have been trying to convict Kibum for years." He spoke slowly, trying to think out the words before they left his mouth. "I mean, obviously you know this. Hangeng-ssi and I were chosen because we are the best. Ah, for this situation," he quickly amended. "And you were chosen, though you're a young squad, because you're elite. But… you're really not nervous?" he finished, eyebrows mashing together.
There was silence for a moment.
"Well…" the boy started, but fell silent at a vicious glare from his leader.
"Sorry, sirs," he said, and the boy looked down at his feet. "Henry is from Canada, he's still learning his place."
"Can we forget rank and seniority for a day?" Sungmin asked.
Everyone stared at him.
"What?" Hangeng raised an eyebrow.
Sungmin shifted. "To tell you the truth," he said, quietly in case the other ten or so soldiers in the room were eavesdropping, "I never wanted this mission."
Hangeng glared at him. Sungmin continued anyway.
"Honestly, I'm pretty scared," he sighed, leaning back on the couch. "I'm glad I have Geng-hyung as my partner," he dropped the Han and the ssi. "A friend, someone I know, someone I trust."
"You can trust us, Sir," Yunho spoke up for the first time while Youngwoon shifted uncomfortably from all this deep talk from the agent. "It's our job to watch and fight for you."
Sungmin sighed again. "There's a difference between trusting someone as a friend, and trusting someone to do their duty," he explained. "That's, um, why I, we, came down today."
"Permission to speak candidly, sir?" Henry asked hopefully.
"Sure," Sungmin nodded.
Donghae put a hand on Henry's arm to make him wait. "Me too, sir?"
"Of course."
"You want us all to become friends before tomorrow night?"
"Ah… that is… well…" Sungmin scratched the back of his head. "Maybe, just you know. More than us, the agents, and you, the heavies." He looked around the half-squad; Yunho, Donghae, Henry and Amber looked back with varying degrees of openness. Changmin's arms were loosely folded, his eyes dark and unreadable, and he could easily see the judgement in Youngwoon's. How did this sap ever get through to be an agent? He could imagine him thinking. He knew, it was because he could shoot like no other, not that he had any intention of sharing that until someone dared ask.
"Tell us about you, and the rest of your squad," Hangeng suggested, "Anyone," he added as the younger four turned to Youngwoon and Yunho.
Donghae was the first to offer something, nervously telling the agents the names of the squad's other six members.
Henry spoke next, talked about their rigorous, accelerated training. Amber added her two cents' worth, even Yunho commented a couple of times. Youngwoon and Changmin sat in stony and indifferent silence throughout, but they were listening, and even their lack of input told Sungmin a little about them.
* * *
Sungmin woke late on Saturday morning, lying in bed and sighing as he tried to convince himself to get out of it. He didn't have anything to do until after lunch, when he would meet Hangeng and Squad 7.
"I can do this," he whispered out loud, and rolled off the mattress. He showered, scrubbing every inch of his skin, towelled his hair until there were no two clumps sticking in the same direction, and considered his drawers.
How did you decide what to wear to a kill?
* * *
He was just finishing breakfast - brunch - when there was a knock on the door. He closed his eyes, groaning inwardly, standing up slowly and ambling unhurriedly across the room. "Who is it?" he pronounced and opened the door.
"Hey, Minnie."
Sungmin blinked, then leant against the doorframe and closed his eyes. No, not today, fuck it. He couldn't deal with this today. Why today?
He opened his eyes again, unable to bring himself to smile, however sadly. "Hi, Leeteukie."
Theme: 11 - Rooftops [Hangeng/Sungmin]
Title: Watching My Back (Continued from DARK)
Subpairings: Sungmin/Leeteuk, Henry/Amber
Words: 3,128
Completed: December 15th, 2011
Genre: AU, friendship
Rating: PG
Warnings: Murder mentions
Summary: Sungmin doesn't have the time to mope over Leeteuk's absence; he has a job to do.
The wind whipped around him, sending his shirt, tie and hair flapping angrily. His cheeks stung where his locks flicked at them, making them flush. His hands had set up camp amidst the lint and loose coins in his pocket and his shoes scuffed the raw concrete too close to the edge.
Sixty-eight storeys. He peered over the edge, unable to see the pavement below without bending over too far.
There was a creak and a crash of a door behind him but he didn't turn.
"Don't do it, Sungmin," a deadly-serious voice said behind him, soft footsteps marking his approach. "You have so much to live for."
"Shut up," Sungmin muttered, turning to see his colleague's faint smile. "What if I actually would? Your teasing might just… tip me over the brink."
"Please, Sungmin," Hangeng scoffed, standing casually, thumbs in his belt loops and fingers in his pockets. "You wouldn't. You're not that weak."
"Leeteuk found my gun."
The slight widening of Hangeng's eyes and his brief pause were the only signs of surprise. His tone and stance remained steady. "Regardless." He stepped closer so he was beside his friend. "You're not that sort of person."
"Or so you think."
"I know you, Sungmin."
"Wouldn't Leeteuk have said he knew me a week ago?"
Hangeng had no reply to that. He remained quiet for a long while before asking, "How's he doing?"
"I don't know." Sungmin shrugged heavily. "He… he left, Geng. I haven't seen him for three days." He still couldn't believe it, returning home at almost midnight on Monday and finding almost all of Leeteuk's stuff gone. He had no idea where he could have gone or even if he should look for him anyway.
"Do you think he'll tell anyone?"
"No…"
"Give him time," Hangeng suggested, peering at Sungmin's lowered face. "He'll come back once he's calmed down. For an explanation, if nothing else."
Sungmin nodded. It was true. Leeteuk could never be satisfied drawing his own conclusion. He'd need the truth, and he'd need it from Sungmin.
"Come on." Hangeng laid his large hand flat against the back of Sungmin's head, turning him around and pulling him back towards the building. "Let's go get lunch."
Sungmin allowed himself to be dragged inside, down the building, out of the building and down the road. He allowed his hyung to order him food when he claimed he wasn't hungry. He also allowed him to pay, not that the older man minded treating his dongsaeng every now and then.
Hangeng didn't want to seem insensitive but he was, first and foremost, a professional, so he had to ask. "Are you sure he won't tell anyone, Sungmin-ah? If just one detail got to the wrong person, it could jeopardise everything."
"I'm sure," Sungmin replied. "Like you said: he'll want an explanation and he won't slander me until he's got one. I'd bet my life on it."
"You are betting your life on it, Sungmin."
"So I am," Sungmin murmured into his noodles.
"Are you alright?" The question was asked in a much gentler tone.
Sungmin shrugged.
"Just a few more days now," Hangeng whispered encouragingly.
Sungmin nodded. "Just a few more days…"
"And I'll be with you. It'll be over before you know it."
* * *
Sungmin headed to the shooting range after lunch. He put on the safety goggles and almost too carefully inserted the earplugs. He drew his weapon and weighed it in his hands, remembering Leeteuk's face as he saw it and imagined its purpose. Whatever he was thinking, Sungmin was pretty sure was not far off the mark. He remembered Leeteuk bolting as he stepped forwards with the knife. Did he honestly think Sungmin would hurt him? He remembered picking up the gun while the door's slam echoed in his mind.
The target buzzed towards him and he inspected the holes, every one right where he'd intended it to go.
"Nice job," Hangeng commented and Sungmin jumped. He hadn't noticed the Chinese man come in. So much for professional.
"Thanks," he replied shortly, half-heartedly. He didn't want this mission, never had. But his skill had gone beyond his training. His hand-eye co-ordination is amazing, they'd said, his aim is perfect, he's like nothing I've ever seen.
And all that had been fine, until his first shoot-to-kill mission. He could still remember sobbing into his oblivious lover, as an excuse babbling out some story about his younger brother which probably didn't even make sense, but had satisfied the man nonetheless. He couldn't remember how many days he'd scrubbed himself raw, as if he could somehow wash away what he'd done.
"Sungmin," Hangeng said, drawing up beside him, "He's a murderer. A murderer and a thief and a liar. He sells drugs to children, Sungmin, children. At least, his men do. He is dangerous and we need him off the streets."
"But killing him?" Sungmin whispered.
"He is more than capable of running everything from behind bars, Sungmin. You must never, ever underestimate that man. Trust me. It's necessary."
"When is bloodshed ever necessary?"
"When it's preventing more bloodshed," Hangeng said firmly.
Sungmin holstered his gun and turned to him. "How long did it take you to convince yourself that, Geng?"
Hangeng stared unflinchingly back at him. "It's the truth," he replied softly.
"But he was your friend," Sungmin insisted.
Hangeng picked up his own goggles and ear plugs. "There are reasons we are not friends anymore," he said calmly as he loaded his weapon and aimed it at the target. "And those reasons are why Kim Kibum needs to die."
* * *
He should be exhausted. He should just collapse into bed and fall asleep instantly. But the fourth night without Leeteuk was just as hard as the previous ones. He wrapped his limbs around the pillows like a teenager, pathetic, lost, sleepless. He closed his eyes and buried his face in the sheets, trying to relax and let sleep overcome him.
"I want my Teukie," he whimpered to himself; he was alone, in his own bedroom. No-one was going to judge him anyway. "I want him back."
Of course Leeteuk was bound to leave him someday, he could barely offer him anything. He couldn't be honest, he couldn't be always there, and if any of the wrong people found out that Sungmin had a lover, a male lover at that, Leeteuk would be in terrible danger.
It was good he had gone. It was good he now had nothing to do with Sungmin and couldn't be connected to him. Particularly with the mission on Saturday. Once they'd killed Kibum it would take months, if not years, for things to calm down. It was good Leeteuk would be safe from all that.
"Fuck that," Sungmin snarled, kicking one of the pillows across the room and sitting up, bending his knees and dropping his face onto them. "Fuck that, I want him back."
* * *
"You look terrible, honey."
"Gee, you sure know how to flatter a girl, Hangeng," Sungmin snapped back sarcastically and collapsed into his chair. "Ugh, I did not sleep at all," he groaned. He rubbed his face, peeping through his fingers when Hangeng didn't respond, and saw him by the coffee machine. He returned with a paper cup and placed it next to Sungmin's elbow.
"Thank you."
Hangeng slid back into his own chair. "Don't forget our meeting in half an hour," he said softly.
"Oh… yeah…" Sungmin sighed. "Do we have to go? Can't we kill him next month instead?"
Hangeng said nothing. If Sungmin was being so flippant that he could make jokes about the mission, he must really be out of it. Sungmin detested the thought of taking a life, even that of a person like Kibum. He himself had pleaded to get on this case, he knew Kibum best, they had been close, he would be invaluable, and yes, he could kill him, of course, he had no feelings for the man anymore.
And he was positive he could. When he thought of Kibum, dead, he felt nothing. No regret, no fear. No joy either, but for that he was glad. He wasn't sure if he could cope with being happy over killing a man. Even that man.
"Geng, tell me it's stupid to want him back."
"It's stupid to want him back," Hangeng repeated obediently. "He's not safe with you, he's sure to be much safer wherever he is, particularly with all this shit about to go down. To ask him to come back would be incredibly selfish, Sungmin."
Sungmin glared at him. "You could at least try to say it a bit more convincingly."
Hangeng sighed. "I'm not going to tell you how to feel, Min-ah. Humans are selfish. And you love him."
"If I love him so much, why do I want him with me and not wherever he is, where he's safe?"
"Because you know that you have no idea where he is, and he is conceivably not safe," Hangeng said calmly.
Sungmin glared again and sat up straight. "I need to find him."
Hangeng rolled his eyes to himself so Sungmin couldn't see. "So go find him, Sungmin. For goodness' sake, think of what we do! Finding people should be our specialty."
"It is our specialty. Well, not ours, but the department's."
"If it's going to distract from this, you need to find him, Sungmin."
Sungmin turned to look at him. "Is that all you care about?" he snapped.
"Right now? Yes. One of us has to. That's not a criticism," he added as Sungmin opened his mouth to retort, "But I don't have anyone to worry about, and you do. If we get this done neatly, the mess will take less time to clean up, and everyone will be safer quicker. I have to be on the ball if you're not okay."
Sungmin's frown deepened even further at Hangeng's words. As much as he hated what he had to do, not contributing to the mission, even so far as holding it back, was not something he wanted.
"I'm fine," he said petulantly.
"You were more convincing when you tried to tell me you didn't like cute things," Hangeng said flatly. "Don't think you can lie to me,, Sungmin-ah."
Sungmin raised an eyebrow. "Oh, maybe I should just forget about Leeteuk and sleep with you instead?"
"Hmm? Forget Leeteuk for me?" Hangeng lifted Sungmin's chin with a finger. "Such a naughty boy."
Sungmin slapped his hand away. "You are so creepy."
Hangeng smiled. "It's what I do second-best," he said with a wink that had Sungmin groaning and fake-gagging into his coffee cup.
* * *
Sungmin had read the procedure, re-read it, consulted with Hangeng and their boss, had it drummed into him, read it some more, until he was even going through it in his dreams. Leeteuk was gone but he was so tired from all the reading and training he'd done during the day that he was now sleeping, albeit not all that well.
"Geng?" he murmured, head resting on his desk.
"Hmm?" Hangeng replied.
"Who's our backup?"
"Boss is giving us Squad 7. Twelve men."
They didn't dare take more. Sungmin nodded. "Okay."
"Sungmin?"
"Yes, Geng?"
"Have you found Leeteuk?"
Sungmin swallowed and opened his eyes, gaze falling on his fingers resting at the base of his pen pot. "No," he replied softly. "I'll… I'll find him on Sunday."
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"Alright."
Hangeng leant back in his chair, twirling a pen between his fingers.
"Geng?"
"Hmm?" Hangeng repeated.
"Who's in Squad 7?"
"Twelve men." Hangeng turned to Sungmin with a slightly worried frown.
Sungmin shook his head. "I mean, who are they?"
"I don't know."
Sungmin stood up abruptly and Hangeng stared at him in surprise. "Let's go."
"Where are we going?" Hangeng started to stand as well.
"To meet Squad 7," Sungmin stated. "I want to know the guys keeping me from getting shot in the back."
* * *
"Hello?"
There was a surprised sound and suddenly a man was right up in front of him, saluting. "Good afternoon, Sir!"
"Um… at ease," Sungmin murmured. "I'm Lee Sungmin."
"Han Geng," Hangeng added behind him.
The man dropped his hand and his eyes said 'I know'. "Nice to meet you, Sir," his lips replied. "Kim Youngwoon, head of Squad 7."
Sungmin smiled. "Nice to meet you too. Where's the rest of your squad?"
"Ah… Seven to Twelve are at training, but the rest of us are resting at the moment," Youngwoon said.
"Here?"
"Yes, sir."
"Can we speak to them?"
Youngwoon looked surprised. "Oh, sure. I mean, yes, sir, of course. This way."
He lead Sungmin and Hangeng down to the end of the hall, to the common room. It was quiet, a lazy Friday afternoon, and Youngwoon only had to arrive to get everyone's attention. The room was occupied by about fifteen people, all of whom stood at the sight of their superiors.
"No, no, as you were," Hangeng said hastily, not having spent much time among those of lesser rank and not used to being treated like this. The soldiers slowly sat down and returned to their conversations, except for a group of five people in the corner who kept their gazes fixed on Hangeng, Sungmin and their leader.
"This is half of Squad 7," Youngwoon said as they arrived at the corner. "Jung Yunho, my second; Lee Donghae, Shim Changmin, Lau Henry, and Liu Amber."
Each of the men and woman bowed from the shoulders as their names were called.
"I'm Han Geng," He said again.
"I'm Lee Sungmin," Sungmin added.
We know, all their eyes read. They all simultaneously bowed again.
"Can we sit?"
"Of course," Youngwoon said quickly, shoving Changmin aside so there was room for the agents on the couch.
"You guys are our backup tomorrow, huh?" Sungmin said softly when he'd sat down.
"Yes, sir," the six of them said in unison. Sungmin looked around dejectedly at their young faces. Even Youngwoon, whom he'd found out was older than him, had chubby cheeks and innocent eyes. And god, that girl and the boy next to her…
"Are you nervous?" Sungmin asked.
Youngwoon spoke for everyone again. "No, sir. We're honoured to be chosen to assist you for this mission."
Sungmin bit his lip, wondering how he could word his request without being disrespectful to the squad head.
"Tomorrow…" he began slowly, making it up as he went, "We're going to be trying to take down the one of the most dangerous men underground." The squad watched him, clearly not knowing where he was going with this. "Hangeng-ssi and I, along with many, many people, have been planning this operation for months. The police and the agency have been trying to convict Kibum for years." He spoke slowly, trying to think out the words before they left his mouth. "I mean, obviously you know this. Hangeng-ssi and I were chosen because we are the best. Ah, for this situation," he quickly amended. "And you were chosen, though you're a young squad, because you're elite. But… you're really not nervous?" he finished, eyebrows mashing together.
There was silence for a moment.
"Well…" the boy started, but fell silent at a vicious glare from his leader.
"Sorry, sirs," he said, and the boy looked down at his feet. "Henry is from Canada, he's still learning his place."
"Can we forget rank and seniority for a day?" Sungmin asked.
Everyone stared at him.
"What?" Hangeng raised an eyebrow.
Sungmin shifted. "To tell you the truth," he said, quietly in case the other ten or so soldiers in the room were eavesdropping, "I never wanted this mission."
Hangeng glared at him. Sungmin continued anyway.
"Honestly, I'm pretty scared," he sighed, leaning back on the couch. "I'm glad I have Geng-hyung as my partner," he dropped the Han and the ssi. "A friend, someone I know, someone I trust."
"You can trust us, Sir," Yunho spoke up for the first time while Youngwoon shifted uncomfortably from all this deep talk from the agent. "It's our job to watch and fight for you."
Sungmin sighed again. "There's a difference between trusting someone as a friend, and trusting someone to do their duty," he explained. "That's, um, why I, we, came down today."
"Permission to speak candidly, sir?" Henry asked hopefully.
"Sure," Sungmin nodded.
Donghae put a hand on Henry's arm to make him wait. "Me too, sir?"
"Of course."
"You want us all to become friends before tomorrow night?"
"Ah… that is… well…" Sungmin scratched the back of his head. "Maybe, just you know. More than us, the agents, and you, the heavies." He looked around the half-squad; Yunho, Donghae, Henry and Amber looked back with varying degrees of openness. Changmin's arms were loosely folded, his eyes dark and unreadable, and he could easily see the judgement in Youngwoon's. How did this sap ever get through to be an agent? He could imagine him thinking. He knew, it was because he could shoot like no other, not that he had any intention of sharing that until someone dared ask.
"Tell us about you, and the rest of your squad," Hangeng suggested, "Anyone," he added as the younger four turned to Youngwoon and Yunho.
Donghae was the first to offer something, nervously telling the agents the names of the squad's other six members.
Henry spoke next, talked about their rigorous, accelerated training. Amber added her two cents' worth, even Yunho commented a couple of times. Youngwoon and Changmin sat in stony and indifferent silence throughout, but they were listening, and even their lack of input told Sungmin a little about them.
* * *
Sungmin woke late on Saturday morning, lying in bed and sighing as he tried to convince himself to get out of it. He didn't have anything to do until after lunch, when he would meet Hangeng and Squad 7.
"I can do this," he whispered out loud, and rolled off the mattress. He showered, scrubbing every inch of his skin, towelled his hair until there were no two clumps sticking in the same direction, and considered his drawers.
How did you decide what to wear to a kill?
* * *
He was just finishing breakfast - brunch - when there was a knock on the door. He closed his eyes, groaning inwardly, standing up slowly and ambling unhurriedly across the room. "Who is it?" he pronounced and opened the door.
"Hey, Minnie."
Sungmin blinked, then leant against the doorframe and closed his eyes. No, not today, fuck it. He couldn't deal with this today. Why today?
He opened his eyes again, unable to bring himself to smile, however sadly. "Hi, Leeteukie."