w h i s k e y
OPERATION: LOVE
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: My goal is to finish this fic by Dec. 31st with an additional bonus chapter. So, expect quite continuous updates of the last few chapters. At the end of it all, there will be some very special announcements so make sure to stick around and read it. For now, just enjoy the wrapping up and don't be afraid to leave a lot of comments because I really like reading them~ ^_^
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Jackson hurried to the hospital, only to come a bit too late. Captain Im was already outside of Doctor Choi’s room with his head hung low and hands gripping onto a plastic bag. Jackson could tell Jaebum was angry.
“How’s the doc?” Jackson asked as he approached the Captain.
“Fainted due to too much pain,” Jaebum replied in a stressed-out voice.
“So you knew?”
“No, I didn’t,” Jaebum sighed and leaned his body onto the room’s door. “I didn’t until I had to watch him cut himself and pull it out while his lips bleeds, because he was stopping himself from screaming out loud.”
“Those sick bastards,” Jackson looked away from Captain Im’s piercing gaze, feeling ashamed and embarrassed that he had watched the video. “Mark ing knows it this whole ing time.”
Jaebum was angry and upset, but he didn’t think Jackson deserved to be lashed out at. “He knows everything, Jackson. I don’t think there isn’t a thing that he doesn’t know.”
“But he could have done something sooner!” Jackson half-shouted, suddenly mad at Mark for keeping to himself and don’t bother to fix it right away.
“He had his reasons, besides, he did leave it for you to find out on your own, right?”
“Well, yeah, but still-“
“Vice Captain Wang,” Jaebum called, “what’s done have been done. Let it go. Mark hasn’t regain consciousness and Youngjae is still very weak. And there’s Jinyoung who’s breaking Hell loose at the moment. Everything is a mess. This isn’t the time for us to be getting angry at our own team players.”
Sighing, Jackson retreated and dropped his back against the wall. Jaebum’s right. This isn't the time. He’ll just get back at Mark later.
“What do we do now…” The Vice Captain muttered under his breath.
Holding the plastic bag in front of him, Jaebum stared at the tiny chip with its stains of Youngjae’s blood. “I don’t know if we should turn this in or not.”
It makes the Captain’s blood boils in anger just thinking that because of this tiny thing, Youngjae had to go through such madness. Youngjae was at the wrong place at the wrong time. None of this didn’t have to happen. Fate would have written something different.
“Jackson.”
“Yeah?”
“Will you show me the video?”
The blond agent slowly turned his head to face Captain Im. “I don’t think-“
“Please,” Jaebum let out a huff of breath, “let me see it.”
“O-okay…”
“Thank you.”
*
*
*
It didn’t surprise JYP one bit to see Gabsoo standing by the very well-gaurded room of a certain agent. What did surprised him, though, was the fact that Gabsoo had the nerves to even showed up after sending an assassin. If it weren’t for the pure chance of the killer slipping into Jinyoung’s room, then Mark wouldn’t even be breathing by now.
“Chief Commander Kim,” JYP called like how he normally would, “here to visit?”
Gabsoo turned towards the despicable familiar voice and flashed a disgusting smile. “Yes, of course. I’ve heard about Captain Tuan’s condition and was horribly worried.”
Lips tugging upward to a sarcastic smirk, JYP said in a low voice, “horribly worried that you’ll be leaving a direct witness?”
Laughing dryly, Gabsoo went back to staring at the door. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Of course, you do. The government are already putting their hands into this. Wait till they dig deeper and you’ll have nowhere to run.”
The glass window was now covered by the blinds, hiding the patient who’s resting inside. The two Chief Commanders were left to stare at nothing but the closed door. A silence that caused an undisturbed stir settled among the tensed atmosphere. Even the agents around felt pressured. It’s not everyday to see two Chief Commanders standing around with eyes burning with hatred towards one another. Yet, they didn’t make any eye contact.
Gabsoo was first to break the silence. “Do you think it’s that easy to get rid of me?”
JYP scoffed, “of course not. But we do have a wild card.”
“Who? Chairman Park?” Gabsoo let out a laugh, thinking the whole idea hilarious. “He won’t risk anything for you all. For Captain Tuan, maybe. But Chairman Park wouldn’t put his chain on the line for merely a weak government.”
“I didn’t say the Chairman,” JYP simply replied to Gabsoo’s attempt at dragging his feet. “And by the way, it isn’t maybe, he’ll do anything for Captain Tuan like killing off one of your agent.”
Chief Commander Park felt satisfied when he saw Gabsoo’s clenched fists and red face filled with fury. JYP couldn’t help but pushed further. “Keep sending them and they’ll all be killed in the most dishonorable way that they don’t deserve. But what can they do? Their own Boss whom they trusted so much is the reason being their preventable deaths. How would you sleep at night, Kim Gabsoo?”
“That shouldn’t be any of your concerns, Jinyoung, unless you’re interest in me,” Gabsoo was good at plastering a wicked smile on his deceiving face.
“Actually,” JYP grinned widely as he turned his attention to his sworn enemy, “I’m interested in you. I’m curious at how you’re going to get yourself out of this hellhole that you’ve set up, thinking you could control Lucifer but that backfired."
“You-“ Gabsoo reached over and grabbed a hold of JYP’s shirt collars. The agents reacted right away and headed over to forcibly pried Gabsoo hands off of their Boss. Gabsoo reluctantly lets go, hating the fact that he’s the only one around there in the middle of a bunch eyesores.
“Hands to yourself, Gabsoo-ssi,” JYP smirked, “we’re still in public.”
Without another word, the older Chief Commander stormed away. JYP watched with hawk-like eyes. “I’ll make sure to be there to watch you drown without a life vest.”
Chief Commander Park went back to personally standing guard at Mark’s door.
*
*
*
Still hasn’t opened his eyes yet, Jaebum continued to keep them close as he suppresses his overwhelming urge to turn the Russians into a bloodbath. Jackson knew he shouldn’t have showed the Captain. But too late. What’s seen can’t be unseen. Vice Captain Wang shut his laptop after the video had ended. He looked over at Jaebum who’s cursing under his breath in a very scary way.
“Um…” Jackson pipped up after a while, “I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have…”
“No, I wanted to see it anyways,” Jaebum said instead.
They sat in silence in Youngjae’s office, neither wanted to move or do something else. They both were drained and just wanted to rest peacefully. The lavender smell of Youngjae that’s floating around the office is slowly luring Jaebum into his sleep. Jackson was also feeling drowsy. However, they fought it off. Captain Im handed Vice Captain Wang the plastic bag.
Jackson quirked an eyebrow in question, “what am I supposed to do with this?”
“Put it in,” Jaebum answered shortly and to the point, showing no shame of what he just ordered. “Hurry.”
“But… But aren’t we supposed to turn it in?” It’s not like Jackson was scared. Well, he was a bit. He didn’t wanted to break any more of the laws than he had.
Jaebum smirked, “supposed.”
Nodding understandingly, Jackson opened the bag and took out the chip. Using a dried napkin that’s placed in stacks in the stand on Doctor Choi’s coffee table, the Vice Captain proceeded to clean off the blood. Sure that the chip was wiped enough, Jackson opened up his laptop again and slid the chip inside the slot reserved for it.
As soon as the chip was processed, a whole bunch of tabs popped up on the screen. Jaebum leaned over and tried to read what was on them, but the tabs kept on updating, creating more lines of words. Jackson typed a couple of time and managed to slow down the system. It’s easier to read what was going on, but the more lines showed up, the number of tabs increased. Jaebum’s eyes, although exhausted, still opened wide and awake as it scanned over the information that’s unfolding on the screen.
“How do you stop this!” Jackson exclaimed, half-panicking, “it’s like a virus!”
“Quick! Download it!” Jaebum tapped violently on Jackson’s arm to rush the blond into storing everything down.
Listening to Jaebum, Jackson did as told and saved everything. A couple more minutes of nonstop popping ups of tabs and running of words on screen, the informations automatically disposed itself. Jackson was bewildered. Thank God he had listened to Jaebum.
“What was all that…” The Vice Captain mumbled to himself as he checked to see if the chip still works. Apparently, it doesn’t anymore, making it completely useless.
“ing hell. Youngjae had to go through so much just so this stupid piece of can just destroy itself?? Such ,” Jaebum scowled sourly before leaning back against his seat. Sighing heavily, he’s so done.
Throwing a glance over at the angry Captain, Jackson lightly shook his head and returned his attention to his laptop. He pulled up all the files he had downloaded by Jaebum’s wise command. Jaebum, as on cue, leaned forward on his seat again and looked over into the laptop’s screen. The two agents focused entirely on the newly retrieved informations.
Jackson gasped, “oh, my God. This… This…” He couldn’t help but think that his eyes are playing tricks on him because everything that’s on the screen right now terrified him.
“This is every transactions that’s been made in the past ten years of and between the mafias and underground societies,” Jaebum read through each line carefully.
“And it also documents the sells on the Russian black markets, recording to the tiniest details of every deeds,” Jackson added.
“And it contains the future plans of a revolt involving the assistance of a Sector of the K.N.S.S.” Jaebum also added onto the founded news.
Grinning from ear-to-ear, suddenly, all tiredness got up and flew out of the window, Jackson was excited. “This just gave us pure concrete evidence to Gabsoo’s schemes! Look! It even has his name and signatures!”
“Not only just that. There’s also other dirt here that holds against a couple more Chief Commanders. And it has all the hideouts of those underground rats. We can easily raid them.”
“I see why Youngjae was so dangerous now. He literally has all the evidences. But how did the Russians collected this and why'd they picked Youngjae?” Jackson clicked around a few more times to print everything.
“He was unlucky,” Jaebum replied to Jackson’s questions, “they must have thought he’ll be obedient and keep it inside him for a long time before it gets exposed.”
Jackson sighed, waiting for all of it to print, “he did, though, didn’t he? For an impressively long time. Did the wound just opened up by itself?”
“No,” Jaebum laid back down on the couch. “Youngjae was disappointed with himself after Mark’s operation, so he tried to scratch it open while crying. It was his way of punishing himself. He didn’t think it would really opened like that. So when it started bleeding, Youngjae decided to just rip it out. The whole scene was… Unimaginable. I-I don’t want to remember it. He was in so much pain and all I could do was just stood there shocked and frozen.”
“Jaebum-“
“I’m the ing worse.”
The Vice Captain sewed his mouth shut and let the Captain have his own personal space. Jackson isn’t the type to advice on things that’s related to feelings or such, since he wasn’t really good at it. Whatever he says might just adds more fuels to fire. But it is refreshing to see this side of Im Jaebum, the Captain who’s heart never moved for anyone so much before.
Jaebum closes his eyes and put an arm over them. The sweet scent of the office is drawing him in. He couldn’t resist the urge to fall into a deep slumber. “Don’t turn it in yet, Jackson. Let’s wait for Mark.”
“Of course, since he’s the one who found out about it all,” Jackson sighed and leaned into the soft cushion of the sofa that’s opposite of the couch Jaebum was currently on.
“We should sleep for a bit before sunrise-“
The buzzing vibration of the handheld device made Jaebum reached into his pocket and took it out. The caller ID immediately got Jaebum up on his feet. Jackson followed the Captain’s sudden movement with confusion; he was hovering above his comfortable seat, getting ready to get up, too.
“Hey,” Jaebum answered, voice went all soft and sweet, way different from the tired and cranky one from just seconds ago, “you’re awake, baby?”
Quirking an eyebrow and letting a silent “oh” left his lips, Jackson shook his head and sat back down. And here he though it was something extremely important. It was just Captain Im getting all excited ‘cause his boyfriend called him. Ridiculous, Jackson thought, such a fool for love.
“Yeah, I just stepped out a bit to do something…. Yeah, okay,” Jaebum continued with his phone conversation, the small smile never gets washed from his face, “all right… Okay… Got it… I’ll be over in a minute. Love you, babe, bye.”
“Going?”
“Yeah,” Jaebum grabbed his blazer and hung it over his arm, “you get out, too. Go check up on Mark or something. Don’t stay in here alone.”
“Scared I’m going to do something weird?” Jackson quirked an eyebrow, finding Jaebum’s statement a bit unnecessary.
“No,” Jaebum fixed his tie a bit, “I just don’t like anyone - other than me - alone in my boyfriend’s office. Thank you for your understanding.”
Putting his arms up in surrender, Jackson just smiled, “okay, I’m out then.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Jaebum offered with a matching smile, “hurry. I have someone important waiting for me.”
*
*
*
Youngjae was changing the bandages on his thigh when Jinyoung walked in. The agent looked a bit better than when the doctor had saw him last. Youngjae smiled as a little greeting, to which Jinyoung nodded back with a press of his lips. The agent sad down on the edge of the bed and took the gauze out of his best friend’s hands and began wrapping the wound.
“What happened? I was just gone for a couple of hours and you’re already hurting yourself?” Jinyoung carefully cuts the gauze and reaches over to the medical tape that’s sitting on the nightstand.
The doctor lowered his head in embarrassment, “something like that.”
After he finished, Jinyoung pulled Youngjae’s gown down and draped the blanket back over the smaller male’s lower body. The doctor gave a little “thank you” before scooting back to lean himself against the pillowed wall that Jaebum had made for him. Jinyoung lets Youngjae settled in comfortably before reaching out to hold his best friend’s hand.
“Why are the people around me keep getting hurt by themselves? Is it that fun? Should I hurt myself, too?”
“Hyung,” Youngjae puts his other hand over on top of Jinyoung’s, “don’t say that. And don’t look like that. I don’t like seeing you like this.”
From Youngjae’s point-of-view, at the moment, Jinyoung was anything but lively. Although his complexion does seems a bit better, Jinyoung still looked like someone had beaten him to death and decided it’ll be fun to stuff him up and make a talking doll out of him. That’s one part. The other part of Jinyoung just looks like he’ll snap in a second and starts ripping the flesh of every person he sees with his own bare hands. Youngjae can only guess that Mark hasn’t woke up yet. Because if Mark did woke up, the doctor swear Jinyoung will look and acts a million times better.
“What happened to you, Youngjae?” Jinyoung avoided the concerning remarks from his best friend, deciding that it’ll be best to gear the subject towards a certain sick doctor rather than his own broken self.
Mentally rolling his eyes, Youngjae sighed, “I’ll tell you, but don’t feel too pressured by it. You’ve already got enough on your mind.”
Nodding in agreement, Jinyoung listened to Youngjae’s side of the story. It didn’t took long for the doctor to explain everything. From how he got caught up in the whirlpool of international criminals to what was on that chip. By the end of it all, Jinyoung didn’t know he could be even more devastated in the span of seventy-two hours
“Look at you, hyung,” Youngjae sighed, “this is why I didn’t want to tell you. Now I’m feeling bad.”
The agent looked away, thinking about all the horrible things that had ever happened to himself. In a way, Jinyoung got it good. Youngjae, however, didn’t have anyone. “I’m sorry.”
“Jinyoung-hyung…”
“If I was there with you, none of this would have happened. I’m sorry I couldn’t be a good hyung and protect you until the end.”
“Stop with the nonsense,” Youngjae smiled as he lightly squeezes his best friend’s hand, “you’ve always been with me and I’m grateful for that. Also, if none of it didn’t happen, I wouldn’t be where I am today, right?”
Scoffing playfully, Jinyoung squeezed Youngjae’s hands back, “you mean you wouldn’t be with that bastard, which isn’t a bad thing, you know.”
Youngjae laughed and smacked Jinyoung on the chest, causing the older to faked hurt and gripped his chest. “I’m happy at least, yeah?”
Jinyoung grabbed Youngjae’s face as he leaned forward to give his best friend a kiss on the latter’s forehead. “Yes, you are, and I’m happy that you’re happy, too.”
“I hope you two aren’t cheating behind both mine and Mark’s backs,” Jaebum walked in on the kissing scene and honestly, he’s a teeny-tiny bit jealous.
Pulling himself away from Youngjae, Jinyoung rolled his eyes, “how childish can you get, Im?”
“Hi, Jaebum,” Youngjae greeted his boyfriend with a smile.
“Hey, Jae,” Jaebum returned the greeting and smile with his own before turning to Jinyoung, “I don’t know who’s more childish, Park, you or me? You couldn’t even stand me brushing dust off of Mark’s jacket, so I don’t know what you’re trying to prove.”
“Come on, now, you two. Jaebum, you should know how possessive Jinyoung can get. Let it slide,” Youngjae beamed brightly, hoping to ease the atmosphere a bit. It did. Who could resist such a charming smile?
“Are you hungry?” The Captain pulled his Vice up from his seat and replaced it with himself. Jinyoung just scoffed and glared daggers into Jaebum’s face. “I got you something before I came.”
Jinyoung seated himself on the chair next to the bed and crossed his arms annoyingly. “I feel like I’m interrupting your moment.”
Placing the big plastic bag on the mini table that connected with the bed, Jaebum took out a bowl of just-made beef porridge, “you are, Jinyoung. Get out.”
“Wow. Im Jaebum, you’re an ,” Jinyoung rolled his eyes but still remained seated stubbornly.
Ignoring the presence of his Vice, Jaebum focused on his sunshine instead, “it’s from the cafeteria. Sorry I couldn’t make one for you right away, but I’ll go home today and make some real quick and bring it back to you.”
“No,” Youngjae shook his head with a shy smile, “it’s okay. You don’t need to. I’d rather have you stay here with me.”
Jinyoung seriously wants to crawl into a hole and cry about how adorable Youngjae is looking with that blush and smile painted beautifully on his sincere face. Jaebum noticed the look Jinyoung was giving and didn’t hesitate to kick the agent’s knee.
“Was that necessary?!” Jinyoung bended over a bit to rubbed his hurt kneecap.
“I understand you’re not seeing Mark as often, but please, refrain yourself from ogling at my Youngjae like you’re in love with him,” Jaebum sighed sassily, “I don’t like sharing.”
“You-whatever. I don’t even know why I’m getting worked up over your y attitude anyways.”
“My y attitude? Excuse you, you’re the one who started all of this bull, Park Jinyoung.”
“We would still be fine if you didn’t try to meddle with my business.”
“I was doing what was best for you at the time. If you’re not grateful, fine, but don’t act like I’ve just killed your dog.”
“You don’t know how hurt I was, Im Jaebum, so shut the up. I don’t want to hear anything you have to say because they’re probably all anyways.”
“Jin-“
“If you two are going to fight then get the out,” Youngjae said before picking up the spoon, “my head hurts.”
Respecting Youngjae, they both sat there in silence. Jinyoung just stared out the window, waiting for sunrise. On the other hand, Jaebum went back to watching Youngjae eats, sometimes reaching over with a napkin in his hand to wipe his boyfriend’s mouth.
Youngjae appreciated the quietness, but the disappointing feeling didn’t go away. He didn’t want his best friend and boyfriend to be on bad terms with each other. Looking at Jaebum and Jinyoung, the doctor let out a sigh.
“You’re not eating anymore?” Jaebum asked worriedly, “what’s wrong? Are you hurt? Should I go back down to get you some pain relievers?”
Shaking his head softly, Youngjae sighed again, “no. I’m fine. Just lost appetite. Looking at you two makes me lost the will to even eat.”
“We’re sorry, Youngjae,” Jinyoung apologized, feeling embarrassed at his previous childish actions that now upset his best friend.
“Whatever this is,” the doctor watches as Jaebum gathered everything back into the bag and cleaned the table before pushing back to its original place, “solve it. I’m not happy with your attitudes towards each other. So will Mark-hyung.”
“We will,” Jaebum reached out and Youngjae’s cheek tenderly. “Sorry.”
With a smile, Youngjae placed his hand over the one Jaebum have on his cheek, “okay then.”
Jinyoung looked away from the scene, really feeling that he’s third wheeling. But seeing them warms his heart a bit anyhow. He suddenly misses Mark even more. And it hurts whenever Jinyoung starts missing. His husband is so close yet so far.
It’s cute seeing Youngjae and Jaebum like this. It reminds Jinyoung so much of the years he and Mark were dating. Not that marriage was bad. It never was. Jinyoung just realized that those dating years were so much easier and less painful. Everything was so slow-paced and innocent. Marriage changed everything. Things get rough and sometimes it hurts so much that it becomes unbearable. But the amazing side effects of being married is that it teaches you how to love more generously and makes you never wanting to let go of the love that’s been nurturing you.
Loving Mark was a mistake for Jinyoung. It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way. Jinyoung is a powerful figure. He didn’t need someone to tie him down and keep him grounded. He was going to rise above all and step on everyone else in the process if he had to. He was strong no matter what happened. But Mark came waltzing into his life like a melodic dance, and Jinyoung couldn’t help but get pulled to the dance floor.
Loving Mark was toxic. But Jinyoung loved the feeling so much that he refused to let go. He wants to keep holding on. No matter how selfish he becomes. No matter how blinded he is by the sweet sensation of love. No matter how foolish and dangerous it was for someone like him, who holds so much power, to fall in love. Jinyoung wants Mark. And he’s determined to not let Mark slips away from his grasp.
Mark Tuan was a beautiful blood-red rose that everyone wants but could never have, because roses have thorns. Holding onto Mark made Jinyoung bled so much that he had lost count, but he still does it anyways. He didn’t care about the thorns. If it’s about the pain, then Jinyoung could take it all. Jinyoung just wants Mark. And once he wants something, he will always gets it.
And once Jinyoung has it in his hands, it is forever his.
Try taking it away from him and he’ll raise Hell.
“I’m sor-sorry if I’m inter-interrupting but-but-but,” Sana bursted in, looking out-of-breath like she had ran here, “M-Mark-ssi… Mark-ssi, he-he-“
Standing immediately at the name that left from the breathless nurse’s lips, Jinyoung hurriedly over to Sana and grabbed her shoulders, “what is it? What happened? Mark what?”
The following sentence that uttered out of Sana’s mouth had Jinyoung took off running like mad. He couldn’t hear the callings of his name or anything else. Everything was a blur, but he didn’t care.
Jinyoung refused to let go and will never let go.
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