p a p a
OPERATION: LOVE
Bursting through the doors, Jaebum furiously grabbed onto the collar of the first person he sees, “WHERE IS HE??? WHERE THE IS HE??!! TELL ME WHERE IS HE OR I SWEAR I’LL PULL MY GUN OUT RIGHT NOW AND SHOOT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!!!!”
“Please-please calm down! We-we’re trying to lo-locate him right now!!!” Yugyeom squeaked and desperately trying not to get suffocated by his own shirt. Jaebum’s grip was strong and enraged.
“Locate??? Locate? How long has it been??!! HOW ING LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU DUMB-ASSES GOT MY ING BOYFRIEND KIDNAPPED??!!!” Jaebum roared, eyes bleeding red with anger and tints of extreme worry.
“Since… Since last night, sir, around eleven,” Yugyeom whispered timidly.
“ing hell, he’s been missing for a full goddamn eight hours and you decided to tell me now? Where the is Jackson Wang??” Jaebum released his youngest agent. Although still covered in fury, Jaebum couldn't help but think of all the possibilities that could happened to Youngjae during those long eight hours. Youngjae was already a walking target. “… I should have… Goddamnit, I should have ran after him last night. Why didn’t I… !”
Bambam was watching the whole ordeal, scared less to do anything else. It was all his fault. If he hadn’t let that ing van got away, Youngjae would be safely in Captain Im’s arms right now. “I… I-I’m sorry, sir. I let that ing bastard got away with Doctor Choi and I… I’m sorry,” Bambam sniffled and tears started streaming down his baby-face. Yugyeom immediately went over and wrapped an arm around his best friend, comforting him.
Sighing, Jaebum rubbed his face with his hands. He needs to stay calm. He needs to stay calm so he can figure out a way to track down Youngjae before it’s too late. God, if anything happened to his Youngjae. then Jaebum probably put a bullet through his own head.
“I got it, Bambam, you did your best, it’s okay,” Jaebum said, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration, “now, please, stop ing crying.”
“Sir, we’re-“
“YOU ING IDIOTS! I should just kill you all right now!” The thundering voice of the Vice Captain strikes through the room. Jinyoung stormed in with a ing gun in his hand, all loaded and ready. The two youngest agents’ eyes widen in pure horror. Their Vice is, literally, going to kill everyone right now. Bambam’s choked on his sob, mouth fell open, desperate to scream, but couldn’t. Yugyeom pulled Bambam closer, determined to protect the smaller male.
“Jinyoung! Stop it!” Mark grab a hold of his husband from behind and managed to take the gun away from the insane Vice Captain’s firm grip after a few struggle. “Both of you, OUT. NOW.” Mark ordered precisely, caring for the safety of the agents.
Hurriedly, Yugyeom dragged a frozen Bambam out of the room, leaving only Jaebum, Jinyoung, and Mark. The oldest in the room spun his husband around. Grabbing tightly onto Jinyoung wrists, Mark said, voice laced with disappointment, “are you ing crazy, Jinyoung? You could have really hurt someone. Listen, I know you’re very shaken up right now, but please, baby, calm down. Killing people isn’t going to bring Youngjae back.”
“Then what am I supposed to do, Mark?! What am I supposed to do when Youngjae is out there, God knows if he’s dead or alive,” Jinyoung shouted as he ripped himself from Mark’s iron grasps. The Vice Captain’s legs gave out and he slumped down onto the nearest chair, head trapped between the palms of his hands. “What am I supposed to do…” Jinyoung said, barely above a whisper.
“Calm the down, Jinyoung,” came Jaebum’s tearing Captain’s voice, “that’s what you’re supposed to do.”
Mark sighed and went over to his husband. He sat down on the chair next to Jinyoung’s and placed a hand on top of the perplexed male’s knee, rubbing it gently and comfortingly. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You of all people knows how smart and strong your best friend is. He’ll be fine, so calm down and we’ll find a way to bring him back, okay?”
“Okay…” Jinyoung nodded and obediently leaned against Mark. “Okay… I’ll… I’ll do that…” Mark wrapped an arm around Jinyoung and kissed the top of his husband’s head. Jinyoung drown himself in Mark’s familiar cologne and warm embrace. If anything could calm him right now, it would be Mark. And only Mark.
Jaebum paced around the room, hands balled into tight fists. Ignoring the couple’s presence, the agent’s mind was filled with thoughts of the missing doctor. He felt so utterly stupid for not trusting his instincts and go after Youngjae; if he had, none of this would have happen.
“Goddamnit,” Jaebum huffed out, trying to hold himself together from another anxiety attack.
Mark looked up at his best friend, “Jaebum, no matter what you’re deciding to do, I’ll help you.”
“You’ve got no rights to say in this, Mark. I haven’t thought about what I’m going to do with the fact that you were operating behind my back.” Jaebum glared hard into Mark’s composed eyes. “Take Jinyoung and get the out. I’ll handle this on my own. Anymore distractions that slow down the process of having Youngjae back in my arms will be obliterated.”
It didn’t take a second glance for Mark to gather his emotion-drained husband in his arms and disappeared out the doubled-doors. Now, Jaebum is alone.
Jaebum pulled out his phone and dialed the number that he’s so familiar with whenever he’s in deep emergency. A couple of rings later, an authoritative, and quite annoyed, voice answered roughly from the other line. Jaebum didn’t hesitate when he sternly reported his about-to-be-very-reckless-and-possibly-dangerous-mission. “I’m not calling to ask for your permission, because without it, I’ll carry it out anyways. I’m calling to let you know that if you happened to try to stop me from executing this last-minute rescue plan, then I’m sorry to say that you have created an enemy for yourself.”
“Jaebum, please, don’t stick your stubborn in this mess-“
“Sir, save it. I won’t be listening right now.”
“Don’t be stupid. What can you do without the permission to operate a mission? What, are you planning on doing this by yourself? That’s crazy! You can’t just enter the lion’s den for someone who’s under the government’s list of suspects! Jaebum-“ Chief Commander Park was up all night and now he has to deal with his best agent’s rowdy attitude.
“I don’t care what kind of identity he has,” Jaebum gripped the phone so tight that his knuckles were painted white with controlled rage, “all I know is that he’s the safest when he’s with me, so I’m bringing him back, dead or alive.”
“Think about-“
Captain Im hung up abruptly, didn’t care that he’ll probably get fired later. Right now, he needs to find Youngjae. And that has become his top and only priority.
*
*
*
Sticking the hot burnt tip of a knife into the bloodied opening searing the skin of his bicep, Jackson’s teeth bite down hard onto the small cloth that’s slot in between them. He tried to remove the bullet of that revolver as quietly as possible, but small whines still slipped his dried lips due to the surging amount of pain continuously pouring throughout his body. Sweat trickling down from the sides of Jackson’s face as he dug the knife a little bit deeper into the wound. He stopped for a moment, breathing heavily and the veins on his neck were popping with aching colors. Unable to take in anymore pain, Jackson let out a shaky groan, his eyeballs rolling back into his head, his limps gave out. The clattering of the knife echoed throughout the secluded space of an old storage room.
The noise of metal meeting hard cement woke the unconscious doctor; Youngjae’s eyes snapped open and his body immediately reacted in full alert. In a sitting position, the doctor whipped his head around, absorbing the suspicious surroundings. Youngjae looked down to this lap, only to see a black suit jacket. The last thing Youngjae had remembered was the revolver pointing towards the meet of his brows. How the hell did he ended up here? Didn’t he die? Where the hell is this place? Heaven? No way, heaven cannot look this rundown.
Moving his eyesight a bit lower and to the right, Youngjae spotted a head of messy blond hair. Very cautiously, the doctor crawled closer to the “head.” When he was close enough to identify who is was, Youngjae gasped and hurriedly crouched down in front of the fainted person.
Gently shaking the blond’s shoulders, Youngjae called, “Jackson-ssi, Jackson-ssi…”
A pained moan was the only respond Youngjae was getting. Noticing Jackson’s bullet wound and failed attempt to remove the object, Youngjae carefully laid Jackson down onto the cold ground. The doctor began ripping the sleeve of Jackson’s white blood-soaked dress shirt, giving him better access to the wound. Youngjae picked up the knife, wiping it on his black slacks before proceeding a mini surgery to get the bullet out. Slowly, but steadily, Youngjae inserted the tip of the knife deep inside the wound. Jackson’s gasps and labored breathings escaped his lips, although the agent was still slipping in and out of conscious. Knowing how much the whole process was hurting Jackson, Youngjae would stop for a bit and continued after seeing the blond’s partially relaxed face.
After a while, Youngjae managed to drag the bullet out of its place between the muscles and a couple of minor arteries without endangering Jackson’s life or well-being. Dropping the knife and bullet softly onto the floor, Youngjae reached over to Jackson’s suit jacket. The doctor wrapped the jacket around the agent’s bleeding bicep carefully before tightly tying the sleeves of the jacket together.
Youngjae let out a sigh as he slumped down against the wall next to Jackson’s unconscious body. He looked over at the agent, who’s now breathing normally again and face started to gain back its original color, as he recalled the ordeal of the passing hours.
It was around eleven, or midnight, that he was kidnapped and dragged to a warehouse in the middle of God knows where. Then, it was probably around three, or four, in the morning that Youngjae had accepted his fate and was ready to die. He was sure that the trigger was pulled. Except the bullet didn’t hit him. Before Youngjae could open his eyes and processed what was happening, the chair that he was tied to rocked backwards and his head hit hard against the ground, causing a terrible concussion. And everything faded into darkness.
Now, he woke up with an injured agent inside a, seemingly storage, room and lying on the ground was the bullet belonging to that creepy abductor’s revolver. Youngjae concluded that Jackson had saved him. Sighing, Youngjae pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them while resting his cheek on top, patiently waiting for Jackson to wake up.
Humming softly to himself out of comfort, Youngjae nodded along with the melody that’s rippling within his throat. Too into the rhyme of the self-created music, the doctor didn’t notice the slight twitching of the agent’s arm.
“H-hey…” Jackson softly groaned, “you’re… You’re awake…”
“Jackson-ssi!” Youngjae positioned himself by Jackson’s side in lightning speed, helping the agent into a sitting pose. “How are you feeling?”
Jackson cracked a pained smile, “no problem, I’m all right. Thank you,” the agent looked down at his bandaged arm.
“No, thank you,” Youngjae smiled, “you’ve saved my life.”
“Don’t mention it. Good thing I was there on time.”
“But how did you-“
“Youngjae-ssi,” Jackson said, voice stable and strong despite the mild pain from the bullet wound. “It has already come to this, so I don’t want to lie or hide anything from you. You’re under the eyes of this nation’s government, in lesser words, you’re an asset, a ticking bomb, a dangerous threat.”
“What are you talking about? I don’t understand?” Youngjae looked at Jackson like the blond had grew a second head.
“I’m sure you do. This all comes down to your eight months of captive. The Authorities want the informations that you know. And the Russians want your head since you’ve known too much. And the corrupted wants you as a leverage. You’re a walking target.”
“It’s that…” Youngjae broke his eye contact with Jackson and found interested in the knife he had used earlier. “It’s that why Jae-Jaebum…”
Jackson’s eyes widen, “oh, my God, no,” he quickly said in English, “I mean, yeah, he was, like, that was his mission, but, oh, God, please understand that Jaebum really loves you-“
“No, he doesn’t,” Youngjae snapped, “I know, okay? You don’t have to pretend anymore. I thought you said you don’t want to lie to me.”
“Exactly! I’m not! Jaebum ing loves you! And that’s the truth,” Jackson defended, hoping to clear whatever misunderstanding that’s clouding Youngjae’s sensitive mind. “Listen, Youngjae, I swear to you that I’ve never seen Jaebum genuinely cares for someone as much as he does for you. The past Im Jaebum doesn’t care for people, especially for someone he has to get close to as his mission. Please, Youngjae-“
“I don’t want to hear anymore! I was a fool to fall for him!” Youngjae shouted, fuming with anger, “, why the hell did I dropped so low…. Why the did I let down my guard? Why… didn’t I realize that everything was just a show…”
Jackson couldn’t help but felt pained when Youngjae was having that look that’s screaming “I don’t deserve this” and his eyes were desperate to cry out. Determined, Jackson decided to let Youngjae know just how hard Jaebum had fallen.
“Youngjae-“
But before the agent could give his speech, noises from the other side of the molding storage room’s door pierced through the empty air. Youngjae turned his attention towards the locked door, holding his breath. Jackson also shuts his mouth and listened closely. There were a lot of footsteps and clinking and clattering of what assumed to be weapons.
The agent reached for the knife and slid it over to the doctor. Youngjae took the knife and looked at Jackson, eyes communicating, “what about you?” Jackson scanned the room until his perceptive brown orbs landed on a rusted crowbar, looking back at Youngjae, eyes replying, “I’ll just use this.” Youngjae nodded and mouthed “good luck.” Jackson returned the gesture with a nod, confirming to Youngjae that they’ll be fine.
The two, on their feet now, leaning against either sides of the door, with their respective weapons tightly in their hands, lie in waiting for the moment of action to come. Eventually, the footsteps draw closer and closer to the door. Youngjae bit his bottom lip, secretly hoping that whoever on the other side would just ignore this ed up storage room and walks away. Unfortunately, the handle of the door was being held on the opposite side. Someone’s trying to yank it open. Since the door was old and rusty, it didn’t take long for it to began loosing and the screws started giving out into the pressure of the force.
Jackson and Youngjae looked at each other. The agent whispered, “on my count of three, kill whatever you see first, and don’t worry, I’m right by you.”
“All right,” Youngjae smirked slightly, “I got this.”
Quirking an eyebrow at Youngjae’s enthusiasm, Jackson completely let the fact that Youngjae was personally trained by the Lieutenant of the nation’s largest marine corps flew out the window.
“Okay, then,” Jackson softly sighed, “I believe in you.”
Youngjae’s grin was ecstatic.
*
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*
JYP bursted the doors open. Gabsoo glanced up from his computer’s screen, lowkey wasn’t surprised at the youngest Chief Commander’s entrance. He was sort of expecting it. Gabsoo smiled widely, “Chief Commander Park, have your mother not teach you any manners?”
The addressed male stormed his way to the desk of the office’s owner. He slammed both of his palms down hard against the polished wood. His eyes flaring fire. His face stern and commanding. His shoulders squared in an intimating threat. JYP spat, “my mother was dead before I could even get to put a bullet through her useless brain, so, no, I haven’t been taught manners; however, I have been taught how to make a murder looks like an accident. Chief Commander Kim, I know you’re a smart person. I know you won’t go out your way and tried to achieve something dumb and leave evidence, right?”
Facing JYP, Gabsoon scoffed, “what a foul mouth. You’re lucky I don’t lean on my seniority to bully disrespectful juniors.”
“ you,” the corner of Jinyoung Park’s lips twitches, “you think you’re careful, but actually, you’re not.”
“I have absolute no idea what you’re talking about, Jinyoung.”
“No, you do. You know perfectly well what I’m talking about.”
“What exactly did you came in here for?” Gabsoo stared daggers into JYP’s piercing gaze. The man badly wanted to reach out his arms and wrap his fingers around that neck and choke the younger until death rested upon those vexing dark orbs.
“I know you’re going to use this opportunity to make a damn out of Jaebum,” JYP said, “but what you didn’t think about was how your oh-so-perfect plan was going to backfires.”
“If I were you, I’ll go beg the Authorities to lessen the punishment on my best agent who just illegal used the K.N.S.S team to operate a completely personal mission,” Chief Commander Kim smirked, knowing he’ll be the one with the checkmate.
JYP wasn’t an easy opponent. He refused to back down to something so vile and venomous, “if I were you, I’ll go offer to the of the Authorities in hope of them to stop my exile from the dirt of this country.”
“YOU-“ Gabsoo roared.
“Checkmate,” Chief Commander Park sneered, oozing with overwhelming confidence.
*
*
*
Jinyoung’s hands wouldn’t stop shaking since the news of Youngjae. The Vice Captain couldn’t help but blame himself for not being there for his best friend. If he was at the bar, drinking with Youngjae, everything would have been fine. Youngjae would probably be at the hospital, working like usual. Not abducted and missing and God knows what else had happened. The whole morning was hell. Jinyoung couldn’t find himself concentrating on anything. One moment he’s all seated and the next he’s pacing around his office with his fingers fidgeting and nerves plucking at his anxiety. The news of Jaebum’s disobedient action had spread throughout the facility like wildfire. Unit G was thrown into the state of confusion. Jinyoung doesn’t blame them. Who wouldn’t be confuse when their Captain suddenly releasing teams after teams of special agents without the permission of the higher-ups just because his boyfriend went missing? Obiously, the fact that Choi Youngjae is the country’s asset was kept a secret to everyone but the Authorities, Chief Commanders, and Im Jaebum. Well, now, Mark Tuan, Park Jinyoung, and Jackson Wang are also on the boat, too. Either way, it’s pretty chaotic. And Jinyoung, being the Vice Captain of Unit G, finds it hard to calm himself down to reassure his team that what their Captain is doing is important to this country and whatnot.
The Vice Captain continued mumbling to himself. He’s sure that Jaebum would find Youngjae. But that also means that Jaebum will be in deep trouble. But that’s okay, because Jinyoung can threat to retract all the funds that his company contributed if the government dares to execute harsh punishment on his Captain. Or to avoid all of this, Jinyoung could just use the absolute power of his Park Group. But then things would have gotten a lot more messier. Frustration blurred Jinyoung’s vision. He’s so restless, yet, there’s nothing he could do that’ll won’t result in something along the line of dragging down the economy of the entire country and failing about two handful of vital stocks.
Being so occupied with different plans and strategies, the Vice Captain didn’t hear the knocking on his doors. Also, didn’t see someone stealthily slipped inside the room. It only came to his attention when he felt strong arms wrapping around his torso. Jinyoung immediately turned his body around to face the owner of those arms. An angelic face smiled back at him.
“Jinyoung,” Mark softly said, “quit overthinking and take a seat, will you?”
Nodding, Jinyoung grabbed his husband’s hand and make his way towards the couch. The younger pushed the older male to sit first; then, Jinyoung climbed onto Mark’s lap. The Vice Captain curled up against the warmth of his husband’s body. Mark sighed but didn’t think twice as he wrapped his arms around Jinyoung protectively. They stayed like that for a while. Mark thought Jinyoung had fell asleep.
“Mark,” a light whisper reached the E.C.I. Captain’s ears.
“Hhmm?” Mark hummed in respond and pecked his husband’s cheek.
“Why am I so useless at times like these?”
Mark sighed, “Jinyoung, sweetheart, you’re never useless, okay? You can’t help everything, babe. Although I hate the business and politic world with a passion, I know that there are things you can’t meddle with, Jinyoung-ah. So it’s not your fault and you’re not useless.”
“But I… Youngjae… Jaebum… I could…” Jinyoung looked down at their entwined fingers, “But then I can’t…. It ing .”
“Baby, look up at me for a bit.”
Jinyoung titled his head up, staring directly into his husband’s loving eyes. Mark smiled before leaning down and sealed their lips together with a sweet kiss. With his other free hand, Jinyoung found the back of Mark’s neck and gently pulled to deepen the kiss. Mark sighed contently into the kiss and smiled against Jinyoung lips, “all you need to do right now is to calm down so your team can feel safe and somewhat settled. Their Captain is already out the doors; they can’t afford their Vice Captain to lose it, too. I need you to be strong and not worry, Jinyoung-ah. Jaebum is out there, doing his very best. I can guarantee that Choi Youngjae will be fine.” Mark said, voice slightly above a whisper.
“It’s always you who knows exactly how to make me feels everything all at once,” Jinyoung gave a small smile, “you can’t just be kissing me and then telling me to calm down.”
Pulling away, Mark chuckled, “it worked, didn’t it?”
Craning his neck to land a kiss on Mark’s lips, Jinyoung lightly bit Mark’s lower lip, “yeah, thank you.”
“Anything and everything for you, sweetheart,” Mark grinned widely.
“We’re so gross,” Jinyoung laughed.
“But you love it,” Mark commented.
“Yeah, I love you.”
“I love you, too, my prince.”
Jinyoung smacked his husband’s chest out of embarrassment. Mark just laughed, clearly enjoying the blush that’s making its home on Jinyoung’s adorable face. They cuddled for a little bit more before a knock came to the Vice Captain’s office doors.
“What is it?” Jinyoung’s voice boomed loudly throughout the room.
From the other side of the doors, a faint voice was heard, “Vice Captain, Doctor Choi has returned.”
*
*
*
Jaebum entered the building at the same time as his Vice Captain and best friend came rushing down to the main entrance. He took one look at Jinyoung and already read the worry on the male’s prince-like face.
“Jaebum!” Jinyoung approached his Captain. “How was it? Did you find him? Is he okay?”
“Yes to all of your questions, Jinyoung,” Jaebum sighed. “The team came in time of them two beating up a bunch of gangsters.”
“Where is he?” Jinyoung looked around and behind Jaebum.
“What happened?” Mark asked.
“Youngjae got kidnapped and was about to get shot, but Jackson came right on time. Youngjae’s fine, but Jackson is being sent to the hospital for further treatments,” Jaebum informed, “that’s what reported to me. I haven’t actually seen them in the flesh yet.”
“Thank God,” Jinyoung relaxed his shoulders for the first time today. “Thank God he’s okay.”
“Yeah,” Jaebum smiled, “I know. But now, Jinyoung, won’t you do the honor and go tell the team that their Captain is in deep but at least he’s back.”
“Will do,” Jinyoung nodded understandingly. He turned to Mark, “I’ll see you later.”
Mark smiled, “good luck, babe.”
And with that, Jinyoung his heels, ready to calmly walk the other direction that’s leading to the elevators. He didn’t make pass two steps when a shrilling scream of skin colliding with skin resonated throughout the spacious, empty, lobby. Immediately, Jinyoung turned around towards the direction of Jaebum.
Jaebum’s cheek was stinging and aching where Youngjae had slapped him. It came so fast and suddenly that he had no time to react. The slap sends his face turning harshly to the side, exposing a reddened cheek to Youngjae’s cold and angry glares.
“Youngjae-“ Mark, who was shocked at what had happened, was the first one to speak up after a long silence of nothing but heavy air suffocating the four of them.
Youngjae didn’t let him finish, though.
“You’re a ing liar,” Youngjae said, his jaw grinding together, his voice shaking violently with controlled tears, “Im Jaebum, I can’t believe that I fell for it. You,” Youngjae’s breathing was uneven, “I don’t want to see you anymore. Get the out of my life.”
Jaebum didn’t dare to look at Youngjae even once. The doctor turned around quickly and sprinted out of the building. Jaebum couldn’t bring himself to watch the person who matters to him the most running out of his life. He ed up. Jaebum ed up.
Mark took one look at Jinyoung, who’s stood there like hell froze over, before he ran pass Jaebum to go after a heartbroken Youngjae. Only after Mark was gone that Jinyoung finally snapped out of it. He looked over at Jaebum who hasn’t moved from his position at all. His head was still facing sideways and his cheek was burning with Youngjae’s hurtful hand.
Jinyoung turned Jaebum’s head to take a better look at his Captain. The sight that the Vice Captain was greeted with stabbed him straight through his sympathetic heart. Wiping the tear that's silently rolling down Jaebum’s darken face, Jinyoung tried to comfort his broken Captain, “Jaebum…”
The words that left Jaebum’s mouth made Jinyoung wants to run after his best friend and return the slap for his partner,
“I know, Jinyoung. He deserves so much better. It’s okay… Because as long as he’s happy, then so am I. I’m willing to let him go, no matter how ing much am deeply in love with him. I just can’t stand him hating me. I can’t do it. I can’t live my life knowing that the person I love hates me. I can’t do it. I don’t want Youngjae to hate me. If he can’t love me, fine, I’ll deal with it, but I can’t… I can’t be still living on this world without being in his life. I want to be a part of his life, even if it’s a small part, I still want it. , I still want him. Still love him. Love him so ing much. And everything just ing hurts. Make it stop. Jinyoung, make it stop, please.”
Jinyoung couldn’t make it stop, but he did lend a shoulder for Jaebum to cry on; he did let Jaebum clings onto his suit and pour his heart out about how much he loves Choi Youngjae.
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