“Are you sure about this?” Mark asked for the umpteenth time. “We don't even know if she missed it on purpose when she shot me.”

“Bambam and I saw the footage.” Taecyeon didn't look at Mark as the latter continued to untie the ropes that were binding Sunmi to the chair. “She almost broke out from the brainwash.” His voice got a little softer as he stared at his unconscious fiancée. “I am willing to take this risk. You want your brother back too, right?”

“Yes, but...” Mark trailed off then spoke in a soft whisper. “The both of you took me in, I don't want—“

“That's rare of you to express what you feel.” Taecyeon joked. “Hanging out with Nayeon definitely changed you.”

“This is not the time to joke around.”

“I wasn't, not fully at least.” Taecyeon turned to look at Mark, a soft smile playing on his lips. “You’ve been showing more emotions lately even though it’s just a little more but you’ve changed.”

Mark made no response as the slight movement from the corner of his eyes caught his attention.

“Sunmi—“ He started which Taecyeon turned his body around to face the awakening girl again. 

“Mimi?” The man started quietly, taking a step forward. Mark stepped closer to and held onto Taecyeon’s arm, attempting to stop him from getting anymore close. Bambam who had heard them, ran into the room too. 

“Hey…” Taecyeon spoke in a quiet tone as he pushed Mark’s hand away. “It’s me, Taec.” He continued while Mark and Bambam watched the two of them intently, ready to pry the man off anytime he’s in danger. However, there was no movement from the woman in front of them yet.

Using that chance, Taecyeon squat in front of Sunmi and rested his hand on hers. That touch was the trigger and everything happened in a flash. Sunmi had kicked Taecyeon away and before Mark or Bambam could even react, Sunmi had the gun, which Taecyeon had placed by her side, pointed at the man himself. 

Taecyeon stood up from the ground, giving Mark and Bambam a gaze that said “Stay put” as he held up his arms in a surrendering way.

“I’m not going to hurt you. I will never.”

“Ok Taecyeon, the boss.” Sunmi muttered monotonously. “Mark and Bambam, the hackers. Just the three of them, no one else is spotted.”

Mark and Bambam shared a gaze. The way Sunmi was speaking sounded like the androids they had fought before. Just what did those do to her. 

“Kill.” That one word made Mark and Bambam to swiftly turn their head to look at the woman. However, Taecyeon seemed unfazed by it.

“Lee Sunmi, remember what I’ve said before?” Instead, he continued to speak in the same gentle voice as before. “That the one reason I wouldn’t mind to die is when you’re the one who killed me. It was a joke before but I wouldn’t mind it now.”

Silence filled the air, except for the heavy breathing from the three men. Sunmi made no move either but Taecyeon noticed her finger relaxing a little on the gun trigger.

“You remember, don’t you?”

“No…” Sunmi shook her head and despite the slight hesitance in her voice, her finger pulled on the trigger again. “You’re an enemy.”

“Do you really think so?”

A look of discomfort brushed across Sunmi’s face for a brief moment.

“Think back to those days.” Taecyeon wasted no time and continued. “Remember how we created Udon together? He’s really fine now, I’m sure you will love him.” Sunmi’s arm dropped slightly as a frown grew on her forehead. “And Mark, do you not remember him? You used to dote on him a lot..”

“SHUT UP!” She screamed and raised her arm up again. “I don’t know you, you’re an enemy. All of you!”

“There’s Bambam too.” Taecyeon ignored her scream. “During your disappearance from us, he had grown up too. I know you would never want him to be part of this but he misses you a lot. And I do too…”

A loud bang echoed throughout the basement. Sunmi had shot a bullet right beside Taecyeon’s left foot. Mark and Bambam widened their eyes at the spot where the bullet landed on.

“You missed that on purpose, didn’t you?” Taecyeon smiled.

“No, it’s not that.” Sunmi took a step back as panic plastered on her face. “It’s not that… NO!”

Another loud bang filled the air and then four more followed after. Jaebum and Jeongyeon who just arrived rushed into the basement and the scene that greeted them made them widened their eyes. Mark and Bambam were by Taecyeon’s side as blood dripped onto the floor from his lower left abdomen. Sunmi who still had her arm stretched out dropped down onto the floor along with the gun. 

“Mimi?” Taecyeon managed to utter out in between his uneven breathing as his gaze stayed fixated onto the shaking figure in front of them.

Sunmi slowly raised her head and everyone noticed the tears that was falling uncontrollably from her eyes. 

“What have I done?” She muttered repeatedly under her breath and crawled towards the man who knelt down too, his blood still dripping but he couldn’t be bothered about it.

“No no no… oh my god, Taec.” Sunmi sobbed, her hands cupping her lover’s face as she brushed her thumb across his cheeks. Her gaze trailed down to Taecyeon’s gunshot wound and her sobs grew even more uncontrollable. “You ing idiot.” Her hand was still shaking when she placed it on his which was pressing hard against his own wound. “Why didn’t you dodge? Why…”

Her sobs escalated into loud cries as she gripped onto Taecyeon’s shirt. He gently put his hand onto her head and gave her a few gentle pats before his body went limp and dropped to the ground.

“Taecyeon!” Everyone shouted at the same time. “Jeongyeon, first aid!” Jaebum was the first to react and started giving orders as he walked up to the unconscious man. “Bambam, drag your cousin away from him. I’m not sure if her emotions’ stable. Mark, help me lay him down.”

Everyone did as they’re told. Jeongyeon knelt down beside them and opened the first aid box.

“There’s a limit to what we can do here.” She stated as her hands took out everything that’s needed. “Thankfully, we prepared antiseptic here…” Her mumbling stopped as she cut the bloody area of Taecyeon’s shirt, exposing the gun shot wound.

“Even though Taecyeon taught me but I’ve never done this before… It’s usually him who does this. This is a lot worse than the time he got stabbed.” Jeongyeon took in a deep breath then poured the bottle of antiseptic solution onto the wounded area. She looked up and for a while, she was grateful that Taecyeon’s unconscious. She wouldn’t know how to react if he’s in pain. Taking another deep breath, she gently wiped the blood away.

“Clean the tweezer.” An unfamiliar voice caught Jeongyeon’s attention. She turned her head around and realised that Sunmi’s standing behind them. “Your hands are shaking, I will do it.”

“Wait-“ Bambam who followed after tried to stop her. 

“Can we trust you?” Jaebum being himself was still doubting her. 

Sunmi wiped her tears away with the back of her hands then picked up a pair of gloves from the box, putting them on right after. She went to Mark’s side and knelt down too.

“Mark.” Her voice was firm and the male handed her the tweezer he had just cleaned with the antiseptic solution. Everyone watched her as she skilfully yet gently took out the bullet from Taecyeon’s flesh. 

No one said anything, not even Jaebum while Sunmi cleaned up the wound and pressed a gauze pad on the wound. She let out a sigh and relaxed in her kneeling position when the blood stopped flowing. No one knew how long she’s been holding that breath in. 

“He needs to be bandaged properly.” Sunmi spoke again, her voice shaking a little. 

“I will buy the essentials.” Jeongyeon stood up and took a quick glance at Sunmi, Mark and Bambam who were still at their spot. She then dragged Jaebum along too. “Boss, you’re coming with me.”

“What?”

It was obvious that Jaebum’s unwilling and was still doubting Sunmi but Jeongyeon had already dragged him out.

“Sunmi…” Mark started quietly.

“Just what in the world have I put you guys through?” She interrupted him, her voice breaking again. “All these years…”

“It’s not your fault.” Mark muttered in a rare gentle tone and shifted himself to a sitting position which Bambam did the same too. “If anything, it’s our fault. We should have stopped those guys…”

No one said anything after that. Mark and Bambam only watched as Sunmi reached a hand out but her movement stopped when her hand hovered Taecyeon’s face. 

“I’m sorry…” She dropped her hand back to her side as tears fell from her eyes again. Sunmi then looked up at the two younger males sitting in front of her. “Both of you too.”

“Like I said, it’s not your fault.” Mark repeated himself and stared into Sunmi’s eyes. Before Sunmi could make a response, a soft sob caught both of their attention.

“I’m so glad you’re safe.” Bambam choked a little, holding back his tears. “After all these years, we found you and you’re now in front of us…” He wasn’t able to continue as his sobs slowly got uncontrollable. 

Mark who was by his side turned to look at the younger boy then hesitantly pat on Bambam’s head gently. He hadn’t seen Bambam cried like that throughout the years they’d known each other and for that moment, he had no idea what to do. In the midst of his hesitancy, Sunmi had gotten up and moved to where Bambam was. She knelt down beside him and hugged his head closer to her chest.

“I’m sorry for leaving you alone.” 

That was the only words she spoke as silent tears continued to roll down her cheeks. Mark watched them and for the first time since a long time, he felt an unfamiliar lump in his throat and before he knew it, his nose felt a little sore and his own tears fell. He quickly wiped them off with the back of his hand and looked away. Just as he did that, Jisung’s unconscious figure was in his vision again.

“Jisung…” He mumbled to himself.

Come back to us too…

---

It wasn’t easy to calm themselves however, Taecyeon stayed unconscious throughout.

“Where did Jaebum and Jeongyeon go?” Bambam was the surprisingly the first to speak up. “We can’t leave Taecyeon like this.”

It was as if they heard the boy, the two of them walked into the basement Following behind them were two figures. Sunmi’s eyes widened at one of them.

“You…”

“Hello, I’m Udon.” Udon smiled and gave Sunmi a wave. “Taecyeon and Mark kept the name you wanted for me.”

Sunmi’s hands were over after Udon spoke and a sound of a choked chuckle escape from her. 

“He was complaining that it’s a stupid name.”

“It still is.”

Everyone turned their attention to where the strained voice came from. 

“Taecyeon!” Mark and Jinyoung who had been standing behind hurried to his sides, supporting him up.

“You shouldn’t be moving.”

“And you shouldn’t be here.” Taecyeon retorted back at Jinyoung’s words. “I told you to stay low.”

“Well…” Jinyoung gave him a sheepish smile. “Jaebum told me—“

“You called me and demanded an update.”

“Shut up.” Jeongyeon stopped the two men. “We need to get Taecyeon somewhere safer and where he can rest. This place…” She paused and looked around. “I’ve always wondered how the three of them could live here.”

“My apartment is open.”

“No.” Taecyeon stopped Jaebum. “Not there, it’s not safe anymore. This place is enough for me. Udon’s staying with us. We need him to undo Jisung’s brainwashing.”

Jaebum, Jinyoung and Jeongyeon shared a glance with each other. Judging from the others’ expression, they knew that Mark and Bambam agreed with Taecyeon’s decision.

“Then let us at least wrap you up properly.”

“Again,” Sunmi spoke up and walked up to Jeongyeon, taking the bag of medical essentials from her. “Let me do it, don’t worry. I’ve got experienced since Mark used to get into trouble a lot.”

“Sunmi…” Mark cleared his throat out of embarrassment. None of his team members knew much about his past. He quickly averted his gaze away when he felt their eyes on him.

“Alright, the three of you go back to your lives.” Taecyeon instructed. “Don’t come to this place unless necessary. Remember, we are still being watched. Udon, send them out.”

“Roger.”

With that said, he pushed the other three out of the basement.

“You found yourself a great team.” Sunmi smiled after Mark and Bambam supported Taecyeon to the small couch by the corner.

“I have to.” Taecyeon turned to look at her and returned a smile. “In order to find you, I have to.”

Mark and Bambam shared a glance and walked away. It was a moment between the two of them and neither of them should intrude that intimate moment.

---

For the rest of the day, Sunmi had made sure Taecyeon did not move around. She sent Bambam out to buy a long list of groceries when she saw the collection of cup noodles in the cabinets at a corner which was what supposed to be a kitchen.

Mark was quiet for the rest of the day. She had caught him watching the unconscious Jisung a few times. It wasn’t too long ago when Mark had knocked Jisung out because he was struggling again. Sunmi noticed the pained expression on Mark’s face and guilt filled inside her again. She walked up to him and stood by his side.

“I’m—“

“Don’t apologise.” Mark stopped her before she could finished her sentence. “It’s not your fault. I admit, I wanted to blame you and what you’ve done when I saw your codes. But like what Taecyeon and Nayeon had lectured me, I was being irrational. It’s never your fault and now that we got you back, we can save Jisung… right?”

Even though it wasn't obvious but Sunmi could still hear the doubt in his tone.

“I can do it, we can.” Sunmi assured him. “After all, you and Taecyeon completed Udon. Who would have thought that the once young boy we took in would become a fine man?”

There was a slight teasing tone and Mark looked away. Even years ago, Sunmi had liked teasing him just like an older sister would.

“But you’ve changed.” Sunmi turned to look at the taller Mark. “You express yourself more now and a girl’s name just came out from your mouth. Who is she?”

Mark walked away but Sunmi wouldn’t let him off as she followed after him. 

“Come on, tell me.”

“It’s nothing important.”

“You used to tell me everything.”

“It’s not important.”

“Come on.”

“No.”

---

` it's been a while since i've last updated, i got a serious block and was very distracted. but some of the messages and comments i've received gave me the motivation to write the next chapter and you've got it! i even have the next one half written. so i guess, i'm back!

new character aesthetics: