“As I was saying, reports are in. Disgracefully, the mutant population has grown by 5%. We need to send more Neo Troops, and we need to quicken the N. Rooms testings. How abo-“

“Doyoung,” Taeyong interrupted, taking a long gulp of his wine. “It’s over.”

Doyoung’s expression softened, dropping the businessman façade, revealing his life long friend.

“Yongie, did Jaehyun tell you something again? It’s nothing, I-“

“No, Doyoung. It’s over, I want to terminate the company.” 

“T-terminate?”. For the first time, Doyoung was taken aback. “But Yong, we have done so much. W-we worked so hard to reduce the mutant population, to create the perfect weapon to exterminate it. You have sacrificed so much... I have sacrificed so much.”

Taeyong couldn’t bare to look him in the eye. He had forced him into the life style of a psychopath, the life of a murderer. The Doyoung from before would never force such inhumane experiments on human beings, mutants included. He would never threaten a mutant to kill his loved ones. 

Selfishly, he had forced this lifestyle on him. Selfishly, he’s taking it away.

“I know, Doyoung. We have done so much, you’ve accomplished so much.”, he closed his eyes, imagining Ten holding his hand, giving him the strength he needed, “But this has to end. I know I toxically forced this mindset into you, I know I am a toxic friend. That’s why this needs to end.”

Doyoung said nothing. He couldn’t see his face, and he didn’t wish to. Sadness, anger, frustration, he couldn’t see the emotion plastered on his face. He could just hear his breathing, his constant breathing. 

“I’m sorry.”, Taeyong said.

“What will we tell the press? They’ll eat us alive. We can’t just simply say you’re a mutant. They’ll demand an explanation, one we cannot give.” Doyoung’s eyebrows furrowed, nibbling at his lip, his thumbs fidgeting. 

“We’ll worry about that later. How do you feel?”

“I... I don’t know. This is a shock, for me, Yong. I... I truly don’t know.”

“Go home, Doie. Go cuddle with Jae or some . Be happy for the first time in a while.”

“From the bottom of my heart... thank you Taeyong.”

“I’m home!”, Doyoung called out. He truly did not know if Jaehyun was home yet, but either way, he’d always done this. 

Surprisingly, he heard his husband call, “In the kitchen!”

He walked in to the most beautiful picture. Jaehyun was trying a new recipe for bread, carefully adding each ingredient. Jaehyun believed that food was art.

It’s sad to say, but Doyoung used to think that the way the test subjects cried and begged for mercy was art. He will change that. To be the man Jaehyun feels proud of.

The smell of previous ‘failed’ breads hit Doyoung like a tidal wave. Sweetness, bittersweetness, a fountain of scents.

“The bakery needs new recipes to fit the summer vibe.” He placed the batter inside the oven. “Want to be my tester?”

“I... think you need to give me a job at the shop.”, he whispered, as he stared directly at his lips.

“H-huh? How so?”

Doyoung smiled. “I lost my job.”. His gums showed, smile reaching ear to ear, his pearly white teeth glimmering.

“Love, why are you so hap- oh! Is it really...?”

Doyoung nodded, as tears danced in his eyes. “I’m free.”, he declared.

He was surprised by Jaehyun’s sudden tight hug. He could barely breathe, yet took it. He would endure anything just to see his husband happy.

“Let’s adopt a kid, shall we?”, Jaehyun whispered to his ear.

Doyoung’s tears were now dancing on his cheeks.

“If we want to be more subtle while using our abilities, we’ll need to be smart.” Jungwoo sipped on tea, looking as calm as sea before a storm. 

“No , Woo. Once again, you’ve provided us with information we already know.” Renjun groaned, trying to light the wood at the center of them. “Shifting into an eagle or wolf ain’t exactly what you call ‘subtle’.”

“I’m astounded by your lack of respect, shifter.” Jungwoo hissed. He took a long gulp of tea, closing his eyes, enjoying every last drop of his drink, before finally saying. “I believe you shall have to always use abilities, Renjun. Well, atleast whenever we are in presence of people who do not know who we are.”

“You mean like, always being a dog or something else?”

“Precisely.” He turned to look at John, who had been quiet all this time, “As for you, Hyung. You need to loose the gas mask, replace it for a medical mask, I understand you need to cover your pores. I shall use dark glasses to cover the fact that I’m using my ability.”

“Very well.” John said.

Renjun snickered, “This whole is so clichéd.” He laughed victoriously as the fire was finally lit. 

They stayed in silence, only the cracking of the fire was heard. Not a single cloud danced on the night sky, and the beautiful moon was at its fullest phase. All of this seemed too clichéd, to John. 

He looked down at his hands. Bloody. Before arriving here, an alley of some random building, he had killed a neo troop that was scouting the area. He hadn’t wanted to use his ability on them, so he strangled them with his bare hands. He couldn’t help but feel nostalgic.

John’s family were all mutants, they were constantly hunted, therefore never had a permanent home. His mother did not enjoy killing, she was a pacifist that believed that humans were good deep down. His father’s power was deteriorating, he had no choice but to kill their persecutors himself. 

He was born with blood on his hands. For the greater good, he would continue staining himself.

“Jungwoo. Go fetch water, you finished the last of it for making your tea.”

“I am so sorry, hyu-“

“I am not scolding you,”, he interrupted, “lighten up.” John turned to Renjun. “You stay here and guard. I’ll go find us dinner.”

John walked the lonely alleys of Seoul, in a quest to find food. He found nothing but drunk bastards and es. This met his expectations. 

He was stunned when he found two children fussing over something. He stepped closer, slowly, to go unnoticed.

They were fighting over a rotten apple. 

“I found it!” One screamed.

“It’s my turn to eat! You already ate last time.” The other demanded. 

His heart broke at the scene. He could easily shut their fussing by either stealing the rotten fruit or simply killing them both. But he was no monster. A murderer, yes, but not a monster.

He saw a man out of the corner of his eye, paying fifty thousand won to what seemed to be a e. He slowly approached them, silently hoping the children wouldn’t see what he was about to do. 

They were conversing about another meet-up. Once he got closer he realised the e was male, and the man was a foreigner. The man seemed to be human, but he couldn’t quite place what the e was. In a few seconds, it wouldn’t matter.

Without a sound, he put a hand over the man’s nose and let deadly gas seep into his nose, traveling to his lungs. The e let out a blood-curling scream, dropping the money to the ground. 

The man dropped to the ground, cracking his skull when he hit the dirty concrete floor. Yep, definitely dead. John collected the tossed money, and left the ones that were blood-stained. 

“What did you do?!” He wailed, stepping back fearfully.

“Human or mutant?”, John asked.

“H-huh-“

“I asked you something, scum,”, he snapped, “human or mutant?”

“M-mutant.” He manages to spit out. John chuckled, a low, menacing sound. He looked up to his next prey, and winked.

“I don’t usually kill brethren.” He threw his hand to his throat, letting the other let a choked scream in surprise. “I guess I’ll make an exception with you.” 

 “Dinner is served.” He threw at Jungwoo three apples and six bits of bread. “Those are for all of us, so eat wisely.” 

He couldn’t help but smile thinking about how those children’s faces lit up when he gifted them with a basket full of food.

“Eat up, tomorrow we kill someone hard to kill.”

Yes, he was a murderer, but not a monster.