Sehun and Zitao were taking an impromptu stroll, discussing how many puppies they should adopt, now that they could do whatever they wanted.

"Can't we have Candy hook up with some dog and make a bunch of cute puppies?" Sehun asked with a thoughtful expression.

"No way!" Zitao gasped. "Unless we do background checks. My princess isn't going to get with some rascal."

"Who says 'rascal' anymore?" Sehun laughed, turning slightly to peck the other's cheek. "You're cute."

The cute one blushed at the compliment before smirking. "I know. Aren't you lucky."

Sehun scoffed, rolling his eyes. Everything was great now and he felt so light-hearted. He still needed to tell the Kims, of course, but that was a problem to take care of later. "I'm so happy," he sing-songed, swinging their intertwined arms like they were children.

A smile formed on Zitao's face and Sehun thought he was glowing. "It's almost too good to be true."

"Well, we've gone through a lot to get here," the younger pointed out.

"Yeah," Zitao mused. His bullet wound throbbed lightly as he remembered their first meeting, the confrontation, the make-up, all their little moments together. There had been so many tears, and blood, but now they could be together in peace, like they had promised.

But it really was too good to be true.

Or maybe people like him didn't deserve happiness.

A figure stepped out from the shadows and Zitao let go of Sehun's hand.

Sehun wondered at how he had let his guard down while Zitao peered at the newcomer. “Bii?” he asked, suspicion and fear in his voice. “What are you d-”

The man focused on Sehun. “Your friend is dead, and so is everyone else, I believe. Maybe you should go meet them.”

Before he could process what had just been said, Zitao's instincts took over. He sent a roundhouse kick flying towards Bii's head, grabbed Sehun's hand and ran.

“You're not going to get away!” they heard Bii shout. More footsteps sounded behind them and they ran faster.

“Why? Why is it like this?” Sehun cried.

“I knew it wouldn't be easy.”

Zitao and Sehun swung into a small alleyway and the former roughly pressed the other against the wall.

“Zitao-”

“They're coming after us, but it's okay.” The urgency made his voice husky and the glint in his eyes was something Sehun had never seen before.

“We don't have any weapons,” Sehun realized with panic. And then what the stranger had meant finally hit him. “Jongin's dead?” he cried, voice rising and cracking. "Dead?”

“Sh!” Zitao whispered harshly. The footsteps were closer now and so were the shouts and warnings. No bullets as of now, but both knew what was coming for them. “I'll protect you," he said, nonetheless.

Sehun shook his head violently. “Zitao, what is happening to us . . ."

“Listen to me, okay? We will survive this, but I need to tell you something. My master -- leader -- whatever you want to call him. It's Kyungsoo. This whole time, he wanted to kill Jongin.” Sehun opened his mouth, but Zitao plowed ahead. “He had been studying Jongin for a long time and he wanted me to get close to you, and therefore him, but please know that that wasn't my purpose. Our meeting was accidental and I love you. Please believe that." He paused and Sehun nodded, speechless. "I couldn't tell you because I didn't want this to happen! I didn't want him to send people after you for- for knowing too much. Please forgive me.”

“Why are you telling me this now?” Sehun asked weakly.

“Because you need to know. Someone needs to know and be able to take revenge. It's a cycle of revenge, but we need to do it to stop things.” All of his thoughts were spilling from Zitao's lips. He wanted justice for Jiaheng, for Sehun's family, for the Kims, for himself, even for his master. But the only justice was for everything to end in death. The only thing that was universal was death, and that would be justice and punishment enough.

“We'll do it together!” Sehun insisted.

Zitao blinked and wordless expressions flashed across his face. “Yes, together," he finally said. "Yes," he repeated, stronger.

And in that moment, all Sehun could see in Zitao's eyes was fierce determination and love. “We'll keep our promise and stay together.”

“I promise.”

A bullet ricocheted off the wall in front of them.

They joined hands and ran.