Seoul, 25 November 2016

Seungcheol wakes up earlier than he planned last night. Couldn’t bring himself back to sleep he wanders around the rooms and his feet led him to the Institute's rooftop. Lighting up a cigarette he breaths in and let them smoke curls out through his lips. He didn’t bother wearing any coat as in 2 hours he needs to welcome the new recruits. Watching the sun rises he feels at ease, he’s been worrying about a lot of stuff lately, Jonghyun’s condition. Ren died in the Los Angeles attack almost a week ago and the Head of Seoul Institute seems like not coping it well. On the other side, their mission was supposed to be an easy task. What worries him the most is the attacks that have been going on around the world. Amsterdam, Stuttgart, Thailand, London, and Los Angeles. With all these attacks Seungcheol could not help to worry his sister, Seunghee. Still living in Scotland with both of their parents as the Head of Scotland Institute and her boyfriend Joshua, makes him worry for them. Deciding to call her at 4 am in the morning, he dials his sister’s phone. 

“Seunghee-ya?” Seungcheol greets his sister, “Yes? Is everything alright?” the feminine voice asks softly. Don’t get her wrong, they both are too busy that sometimes they only manage to exchange few texts saying they’re ok. But her brother calling at 4 am in the morning KST worries her. “I’m fine, just…I just want to hear your voice,” He sighs, letting the silence overtook them. “It’s because of the LA attack isn’t it?” She asks this time, “Yeah, Be careful ok…” He reminds her again. She hums in response. “I will, I always do,” Seungcheol can hear the grins from her voice. “Aight, I have to go,” Seungcheol just hums, “I love you Oppa…” She said softly, “Love you too,” he replies just above the whisper, and she hung up. 

Looking at his wristwatch says its already 6 am by now, crushing the cigarettes with his foot Seungcheol walks back inside. Shower, and get ready for his individual mission fast before the new recruit comes. 

Los Angeles, 24 November 2016

“Alright, everything is set?” Jeonghan asks as final with luggage by his hand, Seokmin is already out loading the rest of their stuff. “Yep, we’re good to go,” Minghao smiles, by that they load their luggage’s inside the van and heads to the airport. Leaving LA has never felt this hard for Jeonghan, he couldn’t contact any of his family members nor know whether they’re alright or not. Glancing back to the city Jeonghan decided to close his eyes and let sleep take over him. 

Seoul, 25 November 2016 

As they arrived well, Jeonghan and the rest of them can feel the thumping inside their chests. It feels like they’re new agents all over again, Jeonghan misses Seoul. The weather rather colder than Los Angeles for sure and everyone’s speaking Korean! This, he misses this so much, oh how much Jeonghan wishes his family is here. Dragging their own luggage’s outside they found someone in all black with the name “Yoon Jeonghan” catches their attention. “Only Yoon Jeonghan? We exist? Thanks,” Minghao said bitterly, Seokmin just laughs brightly, “No worries it’s uncool if they wrote Jeonghan and the gang would it?” He asks to loosen up the mood. 
Approaching the slender and petite man, Jeonghan notices the tattoo by his left neck, a scorpion, then this indicates that he’s not just a normal agent, he’s one of the best. “Yoon Jeonghan?” The man asks his voice is a bit low which is surprising compares to what he looks like, he looks…not soft but he not tough too. “Yes, That’s me, and these are my teammates.” He said looking at the man in front of me, “Good, Follow me, I’m Wonwoo, Seungcheol hyung couldn’t personally pick you up as he needs to do other mission.” They just follow him and nods, Wonwoo stop for a while, “Jihoon, Jun has been waiting for you at the Institute and I’m glad you’re alright,” He smiles. Jihoon blushes a bit by the mention of his boyfriend name. “Thanks,” then after loading their stuff inside they immediately go to the Institute. 

The institute is not as big and as not as ancient as Los Angeles, to be honest, it’s more modern quite surprisingly. Entering the building he realizes how modernize this institute is with the glass tablet hanging on every corner for agents to research and put news, and Jihoon couldn’t help but to get itch looking at every of their computer station, they’re facilitated with each station at least 2 computers that immediately connects to the glass tablet in the middle of each station for meetings with their own team. Going straight pass them they're greeted by an even larger room near the weapons room, it’s in the corner, quieter than the rest of the stations it has 2 glass tablet, 1 black oval table, and 2 IT station with 2 computers on each station. “Woah,” Seokmin mutters. Wonwoo smiles a little by their reaction. 

Too amazed by the design of the Institute Jihoon didn’t realize a certain blonde agent lean himself on the oval table now standing up straight, “Baby?” He croaks out, Jihoon averts his gaze to the figure as he smiles, Jun sighs in relief as he walks past them to his boyfriend hug him tightly, resting his nose on top of his head. “Oh God, I’ve missed you…” He breaths in Jihoon’s scent. “I’ve missed you too baby,” He smiles too, tightens his hug on the taller male’s torso. Looking at the sight Jeonghan, Minghao and Seokmin smile too. Then they realize there’s another 2 guy sitting by the table, they exchange look for a second taking in the first impression of the others. Both of them stand up as they over their hands, “Mingyu,” the guy with the dark skin smile, “Jeonghan,” He smiles back, “These are Minghao, Seokmin and yeah, Jihoon” He points out his friends. “Hansol,” The other guy next to Mingyu with a foreign feature nods briefly at them. “Where’s Cheol hyung?” Wonwoo asks them. Just as he shut his mouth Seungcheol came jog a bit, 

“Hey sorry I’m late, Boss kind of occupy me for a bit earlier,” as the man with black hair hanging loosely just pass over his eyebrows makes him looks more attractive walk over them. Jeonghan who’s been looking at the man couldn’t help but stare, with a pale skin as white as the snow in December and his sturdy body only covered in a rather tight black t-shirt which hugs his toned chest perfectly makes Jeonghan hardly can breathe. And dear Angels above, his smile, Jeonghan almost slump down right there and then looking at his dimple smiles. “I’m Seungcheol the leader, nice to have you here with us,” He smiles again looking directly at Jeonghan now they locked eyes for a bit, but to Jeonghan it feels like hours as he drowns in Seungcheol’s brown orbs. “uhm…I’m J-Jeonghan, Yoon Jeonghan, the leader too,” He smiles back with a hint of rosy cheeks. 
Jihoon break the whatever tension between the two quickly, “Hey Cheol,” Seungcheol tears his gaze from the beautiful male and look at Jihoon, “Woozi-ya! How are you?” He beams a smile. The other just nods, “I’m fine, You look great,” He pointed out, “Hyung been working out,” Wonwoo said from behind while jabbing his tablet to check some news for them. Seungcheol laughs softly, “Well some missions sometimes do require a lot of working out so yeah, you look not bad for yourself,” He grins, Jun snickers by the comment, “What do you mean not bad? He’s gorgeous!” He said exaggeratingly, the rest just roll their eyes by Jun’s cheesy comment. 

“He’s cute isn’t he?” Seokmin breaks the silence of their shared room, Jeonghan just stared at him behind his suitcase, “Who?” He asks plainly, “Seungcheol hyung, I mean, with that soft smile and his athletic body, damn he’s a 10 for me,” Jeonghan snorts, “I thought you’re straight,” Seokmin finishing his last clothes putting it in the cupboard. “Oh I am, I’m as straight as spaghetti” Minghao laughs at that, “That means when the room gets steamy you’ll loosen up?” Jeonghan laughs along with them, “I don’t mind being gay for Cheol hyung, I mean have you seen the guy?” Jeonghan closes his suitcase avoiding the question. “I mean a sane man would be lying from themselves if they still said they’re straight after seeing Cheol hyung,” Seokmin said laying down, “You know, it’s funny that you talk so bluntly like that Seokmin-ah,” Jihoon finally in the conversation. He just shrugs. “You’re the one who knows him hyung, tell us about him,” Minghao asks, Jihoon continue folding his clothes as he pauses for a bit trying to remember what should he tell them. 

“He’s- uhm, he’s a good leader,” Jihoon said, “That’s it? I mean come on what’s he’s like? Girlfriend? Boyfriend?” Seokmin asks excitingly, “Well, here’s the thing, I know that his family lives in Scotland, they used to live here together but his dad transferred to Scotland as the Head of Scotland Institute,” They nod hearing the story, “I don’t really know his preference, to be honest, there was a rumor he almost married to this girl from Scotland, his dad’s preference back in 2014, but I don’t really know what happened after that.” They stay silent for a while, “I didn’t see any ring,” Minghao said, “So he’s straight? What a bummer right Jeonghan hyung?” Seokmin teases the older, which resulting a flying pillow landed on his face. “I wouldn’t say he’s straight, Jun said there were rumors about him and Wonwoo back during trainee days,” Seokmin gasps, “So they’re a thing?” Minghao asks now, “I don’t know, I don’t think so, Jun didn’t say anything about him and Wonwoo so, I don’t know honestly,” Jihoon also laying down now after putting his clothes neatly. Jeonghan didn’t say a thing, Of course, they’re a thing, he can see the way Wonwoo look at Seungcheol or how he answered the questions for Seungcheol as if they know what to say for the other, he thought. But why does he feel a pang of disappointment thinking that maybe Seungcheol and Wonwoo are a thing? They didn’t discuss it any further after that and sleep after the long flight.