Chapter Text
That night Hongjoong knew he fucked up big time. Thinking that the date would help ease the news, did the complete opposite. Even as he tried to talk to Seonghwa, trying his best to get the other’s attention but nothing worked. Nothing Hongjoong did or said seemed to not satisfy his husband. Not nearly enough to forgive him. He really was pissed off at him, giving him the cold shoulder and ignoring him when he tried to have his attention on him for more than two seconds. It was driving Hongjoong up the wall, borderline insane. He couldn’t take it whenever Seonghwa ignored him, especially if he was the cause of it. Which is something he’ll never forgive himself for. Always wanting to make the older happy, his top priority. Just to have the love of his life happy. He couldn’t be asking for much right? Maybe he was with the way Seonghwa still wasn’t acknowledging his presence, like the leader didn’t even exist in his world. Didn’t sleep in the same bed that night. Getting the door slammed in his face as tried to follow Seonghwa to their shared bedroom. He was only hoping to get the chance to talk with the older, seeing if he can just speak with him for a few minutes. It was all he was trying to do but of course like always nothing worked. Pushing a certain button in him that shouldn’t have even happened in the first place. Something that could have been prevented, something that was unnecessary for them to have this outcome.
They have never had such an argument as this one. More like a screaming match, throwing such nasty words at each other. After Seonghwa had stormed off during their date, Hongjoong tried to go after him. But instead got stopped with another door slammed in his face. A door slam wasn’t going to stop Hongjoong from fixing this. Making it back inside the mansion, that ended with them yelling at each other. Of course everyone else could hear them too. Being so damn loud how could anyone not hear the yelling between the married couple.
It was sadly getting out of hand with the way they were acting towards each other. Everyone could see just how desperate Hongjoong had been getting and it hasn’t even been a full day yet. Keeping everyone up in the middle of the night. No one got enough sleep, especially Hongjoong who had to sleep in the extra guest room.
Now, the next morning was just as bad as the night before. They still haven’t changed one bit even after sleeping. Nothing had or would improve their relationship, no matter how much Hongjoong wanted that. He had given Seonghwa what he wanted and that was space. Something that was new to him since they have always been glued to each other. And sadly they had no time to even attempt to talk even though Seonghwa clearly didn’t want to. Not wanting to have anything to do with his husband just yet.
But back to the actual plan, arriving there seemed to be the easiest part of it all. It was quiet for it being the time that it was, given that it was in the middle of the night. Finding out a way to go around the back side of the building and thanks to Yeosang for sneaking in from a nearby bush, zapping the security cameras that lined the whole building. Getting inside was the more difficult part of this, seeing as San and Jongho were going in as the new security guards. Good thing for Mingi to be able to alter their appearances. Once in, they both could tell right away the inside was fancy as hell. Larger than life itself was a chandelier hanging above, sparkling in the artificial lighting. A grand staircase was on the left side, assumingly leading up to another floor of some kind.
“ I’m inside. Going now. ” San said, whispering as quietly as possible into his tiny earpiece.
Earning a nod from Jongho, who was a little bit ahead of him, signally that it was safe to continue on. After walking for a few minutes, trying to take everything in as they could. Walking past a few of the staff members, making sure not to bump into anyone they passed by. The building was just as huge as it looked, especially on the inside. Everything had to be perfect, not one thing can go wrong. Spending the day here was going to be a challenge. Getting to know the ins and outs of this place was a highly risky thing. One of the biggest missions they’ve ever done.
Inside, they had to take out a few people. One woman who almost screamed when she saw them in the hallway. Good thing San got to her in time so he could put her to sleep and as well erase her memory of ever seeing him and Jongho. With Jongho dragging her unconscious body into a random utility closet. Making sure to lock the door as well to just be safe she won’t be found in time.
“ You two must be the new security, follow me. ”
Until they got approached by what they assumed to be the head of security. Judging by the fact that they were all wearing the same suits. Walking just behind the man to put enough distance between them but not to the point where it’s suspicious. Having the map of this building memorized was paying off, making them comfortable enough to not appear too awkward. Thanks to all of their own research that went into this making it look as real as possible. Plus Hongjoong knew a few people who could get it for them anyway.
San was trying not to show his nerves. The more they walked and the further they got, wasn’t helping in the slightest. He wondered how Jongho was holding up and if he was just as nervous about this as he was. Wondering if it was actually going to work and they can finally put this whole thing behind them. This was Yeosang, Wooyoung, and the ten children. This was for them. Having to keep reminding himself of why they were doing this in the first place. It’s going to be all worth it in the end or at least he hopes it will be.
Thinking of Wooyoung, he was the main thought on San’s mind that kept him going. Someone that shined so much light into his life, brightening his days just a little more. He knew he had fallen for the hybrid fast, blaming his weak heart. Never in his life would he think to find someone like Wooyoung. The one person who loves so much even though they haven’t put a label yet nor has San voiced his love for the hybrid either. The demon was too much of a coward to do that, fearing that Wooyoung might not feel the same way. He also wonders if Jongho was thinking of Yeosang the same way too. To answer that he was thinking of the other hybrid. Even if he was on his mind all the time, still thought about what would happen after this. Yes, they’ve confessed and kissed one time but that was it. Nothing else has happened or been processed since then.
Plus the plan was working already when the guy saw the disabled cameras on the many large monitors. Some on the wall and the rest on the large desk in front.
“ Here you are, this will be where you’ll be working. Oh, sorry I have to go now. Something’s wrong with a few of the cameras. Excuse me a moment. ”
With the guy leaving in a hurry, it was time for San and Jongho to get to work. Even though this was more so their speciality, it didn’t take away from the fact that it was nerve wrecking. The van that the others were waiting in was parked a few blocks down, just far enough to not look suspicious. Somehow remembering what to do, San’s fingers were typing vigorously across the keyboard. With Jongho doing the same thing right next to him and after a few minutes, there’s a problem.
“ Guys, we have a problem. There's a firewall up on a camera A8 and I can’t gain access to the feed. ” San said, frustration was already settling in and the more he tried to guess the password, the more the dumb thing beeped as it was an error after an error screen.
“ Does it have somewhere for you to type? Like a password? ”
“ Uh, yeah it does. But I can’t figure out what it is yet, I keep getting an error. ”
After San finally gets through it with some help, it was time. The password was just a jumbled up mess of numbers and letters, all varying in size. Whoever made that password must have not known what they were doing. Cause that type of password just doesn’t work for keeping out, so it made San wonder who the hell made that weird password? They didn’t have enough time to speculate about this mysterious person. Once San had gotten the access to the camera feed, what he saw was something he wished to unsee in that very moment.
Where she was didn’t add up either, which was what made this so much worse.
Minji was on the screen along with one of the security guards. It looked like they were in the city with the two of them covered up to hide themselves and blend in more with everyone else. Walking along the pavement, passing by people, cars and different businesses. Wasn’t until a car had stopped near them with Minji and the guard getting inside. It was the weirdest yet strangest thing to San to watch. From anyone else’s point of view, it looked completely normal with nothing out of place. At first glance that’s what it was but to San, he saw something that had an alarm bell ring in his brain. Minji was holding something in her hand, keeping whatever it was in her fist trying to conceal the item from view. But what she didn’t think of was when she turned to get in the car, the back of the item was on display. Just enough for San to see and make out what it was on the camera.
Zooming in on her fist and also improving the slight graining quality of the screen shot. It looked like it was some kind of tube, like lipstick or chapstick. But to San it had to be more than that. He couldn’t just seem to let it go for whatever reason it could be. Maybe it was just San thinking too much of the item. Maybe it was just nothing and it really was lipstick. But the nagging part of him was somehow convinced that it was much more than that. Without any proof or evidence to show that it was something else, San was unfortunately at a complete loss. Still going to file that away for later in his brain, getting back to filing through the rest of the other footage. Surprisingly, they kept only a few months worth of footage from each camera at a time. Judging by the timestamp of the dates and times in the bottom right corner of the screen.
The next time San saw Minji was much later in the day, it being way past midnight to be out that late. Getting out of the same car as before, but this time she was by herself. Dropping her off and then leaving in the opposite direction, at least this time San had gotten a clear view of the license plate number. Quickly using his ability once again to file that away for a later date. Now that he was looking through the rest of the footage left, that was all San could find. Nothing else seemed to be out of the ordinary. Even though San was double, triple checking to just make sure he didn’t miss anything.
“ Find anything, yet? Cause I haven’t found anything. ”
“ Yeah, I did. Come look at this. ”
“ I don’t see anything - wait, I see it, what is that? ”
Looking at the screen, Jongho could see what San was talking about. He had to admit though, it did look suspicious. Watching further and just before she gets in the car, whatever item was in her hand she used it to stab the guy in the neck. At first, Jongho thought the guy might fight back to try and get himself away from her. Maybe a His body immediately went limp, almost as if he was a rag doll. Then she literally shoves his unconscious body into the car just before getting in herself.
It was so fucking weird yet creepy at the same time. What the hell were they looking at?
“ See what I mean. ” San said, eyes glued to the screen in front of him.
“ We have to tell the others about this - but wait a minute, what is this? ”
Turning around at Jongho’s words, the siren was looking down at something in one of the drawers in the desk. He must have somehow opened it by accident. Getting up to take a closer look, inside was a file folder. Only looked to be filled with a handful of papers. Now, what was one of them was horrifying to put lightly. They were personal files on seemingly real people. People that the two recognized from the case.
“ Why would they have this? It doesn’t make sense. ” San said, in confusion eyebrows pushed together, thinking what it could possibly be. And it seemed Jongho had beaten him to already.
“ She’s drugging the people that work for her. To be her puppets, so they will do as she says. ”
But unfortunately, they got cut off. One of the security guys had caught them snooping around, yelling at them to leave. Bolting in a panic, San and Jongho get out of there as fast as possible. Moving past the security guards, more like shoving them to the ground. Having no time to put any of them to sleep, getting away was more important in that moment of running.
********
“ What’s taking Jongho and San so long for? ”
Hongjoong had more so said to himself out loud than to the others. He was worried, so worried for the two as to why they haven’t updated them on their whereabouts. They would be anywhere in that building, doing anything and he wouldn’t have a single fucking clue as to what was happening. He wouldn’t forgive himself if anything were to happen to them. Wouldn’t be able to live, breathe if he didn’t have two of the most important people in his life. It was a truly terrifying thought and sadly it wasn’t the first time this has happened. They’ve done some pretty messy missions in all the time they’ve been together. And this one was by far the most dangerous and fucked up one yet.
He couldn’t help but let his thought’s wander. Wonder to a dark and scary place, full of the horrors of what could happen. He knew he was being irrational and the likelihood of that happening was next to zero. It has been instilled in him over time to worry and overthink things when it wasn’t even necessary to do so. Something he was aware of but that didn’t help him stop. Nothing really stopped him when his mind took over for him. Worried about San and Jongho. What if something happened to them and they’re just sitting here. Doing absolutely nothing and just letting whatever is happening happen. Hongjoong could bear the thought of that, something happening to them. He couldn't do it, couldn't go through that loss.
Plus what was even worse was that Seonghwa still wasn't talking to him. He knew he has been fucking up lately a lot. He knows that, he's very much aware of that fact. Especially when Sownghwa won't even look in his direction, ignoring his existence all together. Every other time they had an argument, Hongjoong always knew how to fix it. Knew how to solve it, preventing whatever happened to never repeat itself again. No matter how careful he was, it came back to bite him in the ass. Reminding him that he doesn’t know every solution to a problem or knowing immediately how to fix it. Carrying a burden of having to know automatically how to get out things. But this time, he felt like the biggest failure.Snapping out of his thoughts was something he never thought he would hear.
“ We need your help! Come get us! ”
At the sound of Jongho’s voice ringing through the radio, it was go time. Sending everyone into a frenzy and them getting out of the van in a somewhat orderly manner. They had parked the van a couple of blocks down, just enough to not alert suspicion. The walk wasn’t even that far, even though to Hongjoong it seemed like it took an eternity. An eternity alone with the dreadful thoughts running through his mind.
But they made it to the back of the building, going through there instead of the front like San and Jongho did. Not wanting themselves to get caught, going in with no problem. Except it was quiet, too quiet to be normal. An eerie feeling went through Hongjoong, a shiver down his spine. The inside wasn’t even better, not a single thing looked to be out of place. Nothing touched, broken, or knocked over. Walking further in, running into a long hallway. No one was in sight, just an empty hallway. Something definitely wasn’t right, that was clear. Something felt so off, so wrong at the same time. How could there not be a single person? Not a staff member, not even security was nowhere to be found in sight. Assuming that it was clear and safe to go further, away they went. Hallway felt like it would never end, just a maze to get someone lost in so easily.
Until they had unexceptingly ran into some trouble.
Yunho was the first one to approach the men with the rest of them waiting behind him. In front of them was more of Minji’s presumed security team, at least part of it anyway. Three bulking, middle aged men standing on either side of a younger woman. She was dressed in an all black suit and matching black heels, her dyed blonde hair was pulled up in a bun combined with her professionally done makeup. The three other men were in traditional black suits and ties with the same black and shiny dress shoes.
“ Hello, I don’t think we’ve met before. My name is Siyeon. Lee Siyeon. ”
Hongjoong could tell that Siyeon was lying. She knew who they were and yet they hadn't even been kicked out yet. Lying for what reason was a complete mystery to him. He knew that she was Minji's own personal assistant, own puppet just for manipulation. Brainwashing her, molding her for Minji's own personal gain and power. Her smile was a giveaway to her fakeness. Such a sweet, innocently played smile that it was almost convincing. Hongjoong already knew everything he had to know about this woman. Every little thing about her.
“ How about I show you to Ms. Kim? Come this way. ”
Was all Siyeon had said before she turned on her heels walking away. The three men side eye them before following her. Feeling like it took forever, Hongjoong chose his time to look around. Nothing was out of the ordinary, everything seemed to be normal to the naked eye. The walk wasn’t even that long with Hongjoong straying behind this whole time. Before long, they had reached a large door at the end of the hallway. Opening the door, revealing an office. An office that looked to be worth millions and it most likely was. The door was closed behind them, trapping them inside with Minji. Who had been sitting at her desk this entire time. She had her legs crossed over each other, lying back causally in her chair. As if they were friends visiting her.
“ Good to see you guys, don’t be scared to come in. ”
Her smile was just as fake as her personal assistant. But the difference was the sinister undertone, in her voice and smile. She was so laid back and casual about this meeting that it made Hongjoong feel nervous. More nervous than he was getting here in the first place.
Being here made something inside of Hongjoong just snap. He had to make this right, make this right again and leave it all behind them for good. It was all Hongjoong could do, think off even. It was all he had been thinking of, nothing else occupying his mind. Like he was obsessed with it, an addiction that won’t ever break or get cured if he didn’t do something to fix this. Making his way towards the front, determined to make things right, back to how it used to be. Pulling out the gun Hongjoong has strapped to his side and somehow they missed to check him. Even as he was holding it, he felt the others take a step back from him. Hands shaking and trembling in his hand.
As for Yeosang he thought Hongjoong was insane. How could he do something like this when it wasn’t what they agreed to? He was going completely off course, off of the plan they so carefully crafted to be just perfect. With no room left for flaws, for anything bad to happen. He was going to stop the leader but someone’s hand had taken a hold of his wrist, preventing Yeosang from moving any further. It was Seonghwa who stopped the hybrid in his tracks. He had a look in his eyes telling him to just leave Hongjoong alone. Meaning there was nothing they or he could do to stop him. Just let Hongjoong do his thing, no matter the outcome whether it’s good or bad. Just let him go.
And so, Yeosang did just that. Maybe that was his biggest mistake.
“ Awe, what are you going to do, uh? Point your little gun at me? ”
“ I know what you did. You used your step brother, Hwang Hyujin to kill those innocent children. Using Lee Minho as an accomplice. Plus he was a surgeon, a well known one in fact. ” Hongjoong says with so much bitterness in his voice, eyes hard and cold, not missing a beat.
“ Oh, please, they had it coming. ” Minji said in a mocking tone, rolling her eyes as if she was bored with this conversation.
“ Using them to conduct experiments, sense Minho was a surgeon that was your way of getting all the supplies you needed. Plus you constantly donate millions to that hospital, which wasn’t even true at all. We know everything about you. Your mother and your abusive father, how you shot and killed him. Everything. Don’t make me repeat myself, bitch. ”
That must have been it for her. The final straw was pulled, harshly yanked out. Left out to be bleeding dry. Somehow, pulling it from her desk, was the same exact gun that she used to kill her father with. Now said gun was pointing at Hongjoong, ready to put a bullet through his skull. Killing and getting him out of her life, where he was no longer a problem.
Hearing something or more like someone coming, Hongjoong knew he had to do something. Having a bad gut feeling of what was behind that door, waiting on them. It was all he could do, to just get them to be safe. For his own peace of mind, for his own sanity.
“ GO! Leave! Now! You don’t have much time! FUCKING GO! ”
Hongjoong screamed at the top of his lungs, feeling breathless. Fortunately, the others listened after getting over the shock. Luckily, not arguing and escaping through the back door of her office. All but one of them left, Seonghwa. Tears streaming down his face, lip wobbling in sadness.
“ I can’t just - ”
“ My Star, please go. Please. ”
Hongjoong had pleaded with his husband. Pleading for him to just fucking listen to him. A pair of lips crashed into his mixed with tears and snot but it was gone in flash. Leaving Hongjoong with one last kiss before he might never see him ever again. At least he would be safe with the others. That was all Hongjoong could hope for, for them to just fucking safe. But all too soon, the doors were busted down behind them. The police must have been called, bursting inside with their guns raised.
“ We have found the two missing children. Kang Yeosang and Jung Wooyoung. Including Kim Hongjoong, the Captain of the HALAZIA Gang. ”
Was what one police officer had said into his radio before instructing his team to take Yeosang and Wooyoung into custody. Handcuffing the two hybrid’s, escorting them away. But of course without telling them where they are being taken to.
“ Kang Yeosang and Jung Wooyoung will be sent to Utopia Mental Hospital And Asylum. Take them away. And as for Kim Hongjoong, you are under arrest for the murders of Hwang Hyujin and Lee Minho. ”
As Hongjoong was being handcuffed, the reality of what was happening had finally set in. This was it. Their lives were over. It was all Hongjoong’s fault. If he hadn’t been so careless and fucking stupid, then maybe they won’t be in this damn mess. He had failed. As a Captain. As a friend. As a hyung. As a husband.
But most of all, the one thing that hurt more than anything. Feeling like a straight dagger to his heart would hurt way less than this.
The one person he swore to himself every single damn day of his life that he would never do such a horrid thing.
He had failed Seonghwa. His one and only spark. His Star.