YOUMIN

"You're lead sniping. I won't be there this time."

I nod. He marks a building, pointing at the top floor. It's blended into the surrounding structures— and I focus my attention to memorizing the spot.

"Your position will be here. I'll be close by, but I'm part of the team going in."

His dark eyes lift.

"Understand?"

I nod my head. I'd be alone this time— alone in the top of that building, watching for counter snipers.

"There will always be someone that will be looking for you." He says, voice quieter. "Find them first, before they find you. And you've already killed once, means you can do it again."

I swallow.

"Don't disappoint me."

This was my real debut mission. The last one I'd gone with Taehyung was more like a trial— where I was supposed to watch.

But I had a given part now.

And I knew if I stepped out of line for even a second— I would be punished severely by the higher-ups.

But Taehyung would punish me the most.

"Answer me, Youmin."

I bite down on my lip. Then I nod, fingers tightening into my palm.

"I promise I won't disappoint you."

_________________________

Calm down.

I peek through my scope, eyes narrowed as I scan over the dark windows. It was extremely difficult to find someone in this darkness— and under cover at this night.

And the fear.

Any second, I could get hit. If he found me before I did, my life was over in that moment.

I keep holding my breath.

But below me, I can sense that the mission is going well. Taehyung and his team had successfully broken into enemy base a long time ago— and it didn't look like there was much trouble.

I hoped he was safe.

He had to be.

Looking back, I start searching again. I check every window— for any unusual shape behind its frames.

Then I find him.

A low, hidden figure. It's a miracle I even spotted him in the first place— but now that I've found him, I see the glint of his gun, the shape of his head.

My hands tremble as I aim, fingertip resting on the trigger.

He might find you any second. Just do it.

Just do it.

I'm not worried than I'll miss. My aim is perfect— and my calculations are flawless. But that other sniper. I'd kill him, and he won't even know it.

Shoot!

And I pull the trigger.

The gun jerks into me in recoil, and I hear the hushed shot as the silencer quiets the sound. Just like that, and it's over.

I confirm my hit.

Taehyung would be proud of me. I force myself to forget about the person I've killed— he would've killed me and the people below me if I hadn't.

But the relief is greater than the guilt.

I slump backwards, breathing harshly with my forehead sweating in concentration. I'd done my part— I'd really done it.

And that's when everything goes wrong.

My location is bombed.

__________________________

TAEHYUNG

The base is broken.

The mission's going extremely well, and I adjust the hearing aid in my ear as I reach the place where he should be.

I'd kill him.

Kill him now, before he could ever get a hand on Youmin like he'd done to my sister.

I'd seen the look in his eyes back then. It was pure obsession— insanity. I wouldn't expect any less from a man like him.

I break through another door.

This was a chance I couldn't miss. This was a minor base— if I lost him tonight, I wouldn't get such a perfect opportunity twice.

Last door.

The moment I get through, I adjust my aim to his head. And he's there— with his smirking lips, shadowed eyes.

"Kim Taehyung."

"Don't fucking say my name." I growl, gripping my control before I lose it. "You'll be dead by the end of tonight. It's over."

"Do you really think that way?"

My voice is back to coldness.

"You're still a coward, hiding." I say lowly, motioning at the transparent wall. "It won't save you. Nothing will."

He grins.

"Your little sniper will."

"....what?"

"She's killed my sniper, revealing her location to our bombers." He laughs, making my blood run cold.

Bomber.

"Any moment now."

An explosion trembles through the ground. And his sick laughter— it grows louder, watching the pain bloom on my features.

No.

He plays with a gun in his hands. "You can still get to her, if you give up on me. You'll lose your precious chance, but you might be able to save her."

He looks up.

"So what will you choose?"

___________________________

YOUMIN

How...had they found me?

The roof had crumbled down. Flames are everywhere— licking up at the walls, at the debris that had rained from the ceiling.

I can't feel my body. My ears are hurting— echoing the deafening burst of the bomb when it had hit the building.

But I don't think I'm hurt.

Or maybe I am, and I'm just too out of it to feel the pain.

I close my eyes.

When the bomb had gone off, I'd been thrown across the room into the opposite wall. The place where I'd been before is wrapped in flames.

And it's coming to me.

Ash on my skin, I lie there like a useless doll as I watch the heat get stronger. Everything feels far away— and I open my eyes just to close them again.

Taehyung.

He hadn't gotten bombed too, had he?

And I laugh at myself, for the worry that I'm feeling. I should be caring more about myself— but I was worrying more about the man who'd made me cry and go through more pain than I'd ever been through for all my life.

So stupid, You—

"Youmin."

I know that voice.

My eyes push themselves back open.

And a broken smile lifts my ashen lips when I see Taehyung, his face lit with firelight. He seemed safe— he looked safe.

"Tae—"

My sentence breaks off into harsh coughs.

The smoke. The air. I can't breathe— I'd already inhaled so much of the flames that I couldn't even take a single breath of air.

"Stay awake."

Soft lips touch mine. He's breathing into me— and I clasp the hem of his shirt tighter as I struggle to take it in.

He breaks away.

Then he wraps something around my
mouth and nose— his bandanna, wet with water. And it's like breathing for the first time.

"Stay awake."

My fingers fumbling, I just hold onto the front of his shirt. I feel like fainting any second— eyes tearful with smoke, cheeks streaked with blackened ash.

But he's told me to keep awake.

I stay on the edge between consciousness and unconsciousness as he gets me out of the burning building. The moment cool air touches my body, I know that he's saved me again.

How many times...

I'd thought I'd done well.

My eyes slightly open to see him, above me. His dark hair is messy— pale face ashen just like mine. But there's this expression on his face that I've never seen before.

Fury. Defeat.

Then his eyes shift down to meet my dazed ones, and I end up staring back because I don't even have the strength to avoid it.

Pain fills his eyes.

And for the first time ever, Taehyung is the one who turns his gaze away.