At this point, she's surprised she hasn't had an aneurysm yet. 

There she was, scuffling back into the space in the building they call home, before collapsing onto the couch. Not aware of how eerily quiet it was. Only after she woke up from a brief nap, well, more like laying dormant and unmoving as you stare up at the ceiling, and noticing the silence did she finally step back out in search of her team. Asking the building to kindly guide her on her quest and in return the building shook for a brief moment before she heard yelling like the yelps and howling of recently abandoned pets. A couple of seconds more and the yelling got louder and louder until the source fell from the ceiling in front of her. 

"So, let me get this straight," Minji rubbed her eyes before pinching her nose as a strained exhale escaped her nostrils. They were back inside the extravagant oasis they call home. Specifically in the living room on the 2nd floor, "You took one step forward in the foyer and..."

"The floor gave out under us, yes," Bora supplied as Minji was still mentally trying to process what she was just told after a long day dealing with the court. It was obvious that their leader was on the verge of walking out for the night due to their antics. But Minji always had the patience of a mythical saint.

"And you thought it was because...??" Minji let the question hang simply due to the absurdity of the thought process. Her hand continued to Yoohyeon's hair. The younger one was currently draped across her lap since the older one sat in the middle and the pup was craving the comfort of a neutral party. Still pouting at the others that were across from them.

"Because Yoohyeon was being a bad luck charm," Siyeon finished. She was sitting with Bora on one of the loveseats and elected to stretch herself across the demon. Wolves have to stretch too.

A disgruntled cry was heard from Yoohyeon. 

"So you then all elected to...." Minji doesn't know whether to laugh or to cry.

"We elected to stay in one place until you found us," Dami's tone was even. The other loveseat was occupied by Gahyeon and Handong, the fox clung onto the demon, so she elected to sit next to Minji. But she also needed to stretch like the others. Being in a cramped space tends to do that to a person. So, her back was against Minji's shoulder and arm while her legs filled the rest of the space. 

A noise between a laugh, a chuckle, a sigh, and strangulation, escaped Minji's still appalled self. 

".....Guys.....we talked about this....." The sound of defeat was evident. She gave Yoohyeon's head gentle pats as if her hand was a gavel in order to emphasize the point. 

"Yes!! But also this place likes you more than any of us--" Bora started before Handong interjected with a proud smile. 

"Except me."

"--Which is very valid! As the building should!! In fact, that's how everyone should--"

"Focus!" Minji interjected before Bora got sidetracked in praising Handong again.

"Right, right, sorry. Where was I?" Bora squinted at the carpet in the middle of the stone floor in a vain effort to regain her place. Her eyes followed the elaborate and sporadic swirls but her mind still remained empty. 

Siyeon squirmed a bit in order to gain the distracted Bora's attention before jogging her memory, "How the building likes Minji and Handong more."

"AH, RIGHT! As such, we all looked at Handong for some guidance," She started again.

"I'm innocent," Handong stated before anything incriminating was said. 

"You are innocent and have done nothing wrong ever," Bora emphasized with a pointed hand to which Handong smiled and Gahyeon rolled her eyes, "But anyway, she was occupied with her lover."

"They are not--!!" Handong rushed to explain but Bora wasn't letting her. She only pouted at the interruption but quickly recovered as the fox nuzzled her with a comforting hum.

"She couldn't exactly lead us to victory in that occupied state, right?"

"I feel like you're dragging this out longer than you need to...." Minji dead panned with a questioning glare. 

"So that leaves only me. But, we all know, especially lately, Paradigm's call has been affecting me---"

This time it was Minji's turn to interrupt.

"You got knocked out, didn't you?"

Bora scoffed.

Everyone else harmonized with a unanimous, "Yes she did."

"Oi!! I wasn't just knocked out!!!" Bora's natural state of being loud was surfacing.

"Sorry, what actually happened was that the building has a personal vendetta against Sua and kindly tried to take her out," Dami finally spoke up with a small turn of her head in order to ensure her words were heard before going back to her natural state of hibernation.

"Thank you," Bora's chest was puffed out with pride before recognition hit her, "Hey, WAIT!"

Minji sighed again, "......It's too late for this....."

"Hah? It's only 17!!" Gahyeon looked at the hanging clock in the center of the cafe space down the hall. Being on the third floor meant the clock was eye level so she didn't have to strain too much. The hands were illuminated by an ivory yellow that showcased the elaborate patterns that were carved in. The time was 16:59.

"Too late!!" Minji whined before sighing again and looked at the demon and animalistic named Bora and Siyeon, "So, what's for dinner then?"

She should've known the answer once the question popped into her brain and escaped out of .

The duo glanced at each other and smiled before looking at the rest of them.

The answer was blatantly obvious.

"CHICKEN," The duo said in unison. 

"WE'RE GONNA TURN INTO CHICKENS AT THIS RATE!!" Gahyeon exclaimed as Handong covered her ears in reflex. The fox didn't even bother letting Handong go from her grasp before yelling. 

"SO?! CHICKEN IS LOVE," Siyeon started. 

"CHICKEN IS LIFE," Bora finished.

"WE NEED VARIETY," The young fox continued to make a stand despite how futile it was.

As they continued their yelling match, Yoohyeon couldn't help but whisper the thought that popped into her mind.

"Turning.....into chickens...."

"Yoohyeon, don't," Dami warned. She heard the gears running through Yoohyeon's head and knew what she was thinking and what kind of conversation could stem from such.

"Has there ever been a recorded chicken animalistic??? I mean, those little bastards can be vicious."

The question was the loudest thing in the living room. It rendered three of them speechless despite the prior yelling, left two shocked but thoughtful, and finally, left Dami to suffer alone. 

"Chicken.........Listic??" Siyeon was the one to finally break the wall of silence with words that reflected her state of mind. A state of confusion. Or what Minji likes to call, a state of confuSiyeon.

"I'm offended just thinking about it," The ever opinionated youngest said.

"I bet they would taste delicious," Handong smiled innocently.

The first erpunch.

"Handong, what--" Minji barely uttered her shock before another erpunch hit her.

"In more ways than one."

"BORAAAA!!"

Finally, it was her turn to yell. And of course it would be at Bora for something she said. She should know by now but her team still manages to catch her off guard. 

"WHAT?! WHY ARE YOU ONLY YELLING AT ME??!! HOW IS THAT ANY WORSE THAN WHAT DONGIE SAID? BESIDES, I MEANT IN TERMS OF COOKING!!" Bora defended herself, "SHE MEANT SOMETHING ELSE!!"

It was times like these that Minji is grateful for how strange their home is. The floors on all four levels were made out of raw stone. Polished down after years of various foot traffic and wear and tear. Lush carpets scattered about in the café  on the first level and continued onto the rest of the floors. Despite the haphazard placements it was obvious the carpets were to help guide people through. The furniture was just as rustic and complemented the stonework. Each piece was beautifully carved from master craftsmen and held a different motif. Motifs of wolves, foxes, dogs, birds, felines, rabbits, and bears danced within the carvings and even extended onto the stone like walls as well. Flora cascaded throughout the floors like a green flourishing waterfall without a clear origin point. As if they just spawned from nothing. Other plants and flowers comfortably waited in their pots in view of the windows and of the giant sky roof in the middle of their layered home. The rest of the interior architecture is the complete opposite compared to the outside of the building. The outside matched the 7th Hour's metallic, cold, and grimy environment and inside their home were arches of beautifully carved stonework with scroll motifs that flowed easily around the space. Stone stairs linked all the other floors together. Beautiful spiral staircases littered the corners and linked every other floor. As impractical as it may have seemed, it is with these staircases, that did move on occasion, that made getting to the books that lined the walls a tad easier. In the entrance, the café area, a giant fountain laid in the middle in a grandiose fashion. A fountain whose waters spread throughout their home in clear pipes with various fish that swim about. In fact, both clear and metallic pipes riddled their home like veins. Some started and ended on the walls, floors, ceilings, stairs, anything. There was no rhyme or reason for some of the pipes. Some were tubes that delivered messages to them personally, as a team, or for their business. Some tubes were for heating and cooling. The rest were a mystery. 

Yes, despite how over complicated their home was, it meant that it would be hard to be spied on due to all the interference. Although there is no such suspicion. Especially when a conversation like this is normal for them. No matter how much it hurts Minji's brain. 

And ears.

"COOKING A LISTIC?! THAT'S......wait.....would that be considered cannibalism??" Siyeon's expressive face turned blank at her own question.

"THAT....YES?? WAIT, no?? Yes??" Bora's face scrunched in confusion as her voice finally softened as she contemplated.

"Isn't cannibalism considered when the same species eat each other??" Handong joined in on the questioning. The spark of mischief never left her eye or voice but the question at hand distracted everyone from what she said. The perfect opportunity to strike again if she felt like causing some more chaos. But it's been a long day for Minji, so maybe next time.

"I mean, we're demons. Would that qualify?? And what about humans?? Would that also qualify??" 

Bora's question made them all think. Putting that one brain cell to work while the rest stayed in Dami's skull. Someone has to keep tabs.

"Well, we just look similar but we're not the same species. At least, we're not classified as the same species. Which is weird cuz Animalistics have human and Paradigm DNA and all that," Yoohyeon mused while fidgeting with Minji's hand. Her mind was following the trail of thought openly. Afterall, the genetics of Animalistics and what they are classified had always been unknown even if you did work with them for over half of your life. 

"But it's that DNA that makes the difference. At least in terms of legal classifications per the initial conception of the Animalistic program," Dami couldn't help but join in. Brain cells be damned, "I mean, if things were taken literally and based on previous notions on what makes a human, well, human, then that would make for a lot of gray areas. Areas that could easily be exploited."

"Then wouldn't you think they would change such classifications, especially now? The council, embassy, and even the Order is pushing the eradication of Animalistics and their impact in history," A harsh thing to say but she needed to say it. Yoohyeon felt a rush of cold air as soon as the words escaped but it wasn't aggression or resentment from her other members. It was the silent acceptance of their fate. 

"But even if such classifications were to change then there's still the physical aspects that would separate us from our fellow man," Gahyeon added, "History tells us there will always be something causing a divide in order to create inequality for the sake of having power."

The air in the space was serious and Handong saw the perfect chance to lighten it without having to pull from what she said earlier. And she took it even if it meant dealing with a grumpy fox later. 

"...Our fellow man," Handong muttered before she gave Gahyeon a wink and a grin. A smooth, eating grin, "Trying to distract yourself, little fox?" 

"ExcUSE YOU MISS MA'AM. I'M TOTALLY IN CONTROL," Gahyeon fell for the bait.

"Even though you haven't moved in the past thirty minutes like you don’t want Dongie to leave??" Dami observed. She knew what Handong was doing and she was grateful for it. 

"Yea, we definitely have to take her out later to blow off some steam before she combusts. I know a few places," Siyeon said as she gave Minji and Bora an assuring nod. 

"If they are the ones I'm thinking about then yeah, those are good," Bora confirmed while giving Minji a nod as well.

"EH?! ARE YOU GUYS STILL ON THAT?!" Gahyeon continued as she glared at the wolf and demon.

It was parents against child again.

"WELL YEA, WE CAN'T HAVE OUR CHILD SIT HERE AND BE GROUCHY FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG," Sua responded almost immediately, "BESIDES, IF MY CHILD NEEDS TO GET LAID I WOULD RATHER IT BE IN A PLACE AND SPACE WHERE WE KNOW YOU WON'T GET ANYTHING AND OR DIE AND OR GET KIDNAPPED."

"WHEN DID I BECOME YOUR CHILD?? BETTER YET, WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?! I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF," Gahyeon responded in kind. Still not letting go of Handong and instead is tightening her grip.

"DON'T TALK TO YOUR MOTHER THAT WAY. YOU BECAME OUR CHILD THE MOMENT WE SAW YOU," Siyeon joined in.

Just how did a wolf and a demon result in a fox?

A riddle for the ages.

".....I just wanted dinner...." Minji's voice was soft but they all heard her anyway. They always hear her. 

"AAAAAAAAAH, WE CAN CONTINUE THIS CONVO LATER THEN," Bora quickly stood up and let Siyeon fall onto the floor. Confident in the wolf's ability in catching herself. 

Siyeon promptly became very familiar with the tiny fibers in the carpet..

"SIYEON, WITH ME TO THE KITCHEN," Bora continued as she lifted Siyeon up, "YOOHYEON, DAMI, MAKE SURE GAHYEON DOESN'T COMBUST OR TRIES TO MAKE DONGIE STAY."

The duo gave her a salute in acknowledgment. They knew the perfect tactic. Annoyance.

"HANDONG, FINISHING MAKING YOURSELF UP FOR YOUR DATE TONIGHT. YES, I DID HEAR WHAT YOU  WERE TALKING ABOUT AND YOU TWO ARE DISGUSTINGLY CUTE," Bora took a deep breath and walked towards Minji.

"Weren't you supposed to be unconscious at that point?!" Handong whined as she wiggled out of Gahyeon's possessive grasp.

Minji could only look at Bora before her face was trapped between the demon's hands.

"AND YOU," She paused for a brief moment giving Minji's cheeks small pats, "Take a nap. A real one. You deserve it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Minji took residence inside the inner sanctum that was hidden away on the fourth floor. The first floor was strictly for business purposes. The second floor was their common areas with the living room, kitchen, dining, gaming, reading, weaponry, training, and rooms to fit workshops for any hobbies they picked up along the way. The third floor is actually where their rooms are. Many, many rooms littered the third floor in case they ever needed to house anyone but even then there were plenty of rooms to spare. Of course, that doesn't mean everyone has their own room. After years being roomed together prior to finally getting their own home, her team couldn't find it within themselves to separate from their roommate since the unit's conception. Well, except Yubin. Yubin is the only one who has her own room but it was the room that was in the middle of them all. The fourth floor is their war room. Locked behind many doors and security measures, the fourth floor was where they gathered for debriefing, research, or to just escape. 

In this case, it was all three for her. Papers and holo-plates and discs were scattered all around her. The only light that aided her were either from the holos or from the ancient lanterns that hung above. Their soft yellow hues reminded her of the sun that wouldn't be out for another couple of hours. Holo-screens of various contents surrounded her head like a halo as her gloved hand moved about. With a small swipe, the screens moved in a roulette fashion. Selecting the screen she wanted by touching said screen with her gloved hand while the other hand took notes from what she was reading. Each flick of her hand was a different command. It was as if she was conducting. 

"Minjiiiiii, what are you doing up this late??" Yoohyeon's tired voice enveloped her in its comfort. 

"I could ask you the same thing," Minji responded without looking away from her work. Her hand swiped and selected again as she brought a paper closer to her face so she could compare the reports. The discrepancies were minor but consistent enough to catch her attention.

"I got up for some water and saw there was a light on," Yoohyeon said as her footsteps softly echoed around the chamber. She was walking towards the still engrossed Minji.

"Despite the water fountain in your room?" Minji's brow arched as she asked the obvious. 

"I'm not crossing that minefield for water. Do you want me to die?" Yoohyeon stood beside the still enamored Minji. She briefly debated if she should just plop herself across the focused leader or give her mercy. 

Minji didn't respond as she continued to conduct. She was hunched over the scattered pile of reports, papers, and holos like a crazed theorist on the brink of a discovery. Normally Yoohyeon wouldn't mind it, but the moment she saw how tired Minji's eyes looked the answer was obvious in what she had to do.

Mercy won.

"Oi! Ya supposed to say no!" Yoohyeon elected to be whiny and plopped herself down next to Minji on the cold stone floor. Maybe they really should invest in some comfy furniture up here. The chairs were wooden and were just as beautiful, but they were hard to sit in. No wonder Minji elected to sit on the floor. Even if it meant not using the table.

"What's all this??" Yoohyeon asked after a brief minute of silence as she looked at what was scattered about. On the holos there were news articles about various murders and assaults against Animalistics, Rehabilitated Demons, and even some of the returned gods. But what was the connection?

"Our next assignment," Minji's reply was cold. As if she herself was struggling with accepting it. 

"Ah....." Yoohyeon muttered before changing the subject. No need to think longer about the assignment. It was coming anyway with the increased violence lately if that Kessler assignment was anything to go off of, "Hey, what happened today in the court? We saw the public agenda...."

Yoohyeon's question hung in the air for a brief moment. 

Minji finally stopped and powered off the holos with a snap of her gloved hand.

Instead of immediately answering, Minji motioned for Yoohyeon to lay across her lap. Something she questioned briefly but obeyed nonetheless. Besides, it was comforting.

As soon as she could, Minji's hand started to the younger's hair. A habit that has been increasing lately. Another comfort.

"The contract has been approved. But," Minji took another deep breath. It was something that she had been thinking about over and over again, "There are some contingencies. Part one and two of the three are already taken care of."

"Huh? How can there be contingencies if the contract was approved as is?" Yoohyeon questioned. She never once cared for the petty politics of the council.

"The contract states that only certain Units or Unit can still be operable. The criteria for such is based on part one of the contingency," Minji paused. Dreading having to say it as then it would cement the fact that their fate is timed, "Part two is a public sponsorship. Luckily the Listic & Rehabilitated Board elected to take that burden."

"You said part one and two were taken care of so what--" Yoohyeon stopped the moment it registered. And for once she wished she was oblivious in order to give Minji more time to come to terms with it as well, ".......The other Units....."

Minji gave a solemn nod before uttering the words she never wanted to say. Looking right into Yoohyeon's soul as she said them. 

"Disbanded and dissolved. All members separated. Their histories.......erased. We're ordered to not make any sort of contact."

Yoohyeon knew this was the moment to contemplate in silence. But she couldn't help but be angry. The other units didn't deserve such a fate due to the whims of the few. 

"Then, what's part three?" Yoohyeon's voice was steel. Her eyes bore into Minji's as they demanded nothing but the truth.

As if she could ever lie to her team. 

"Well, part three is obvious. We have to succeed in this next assignment," Yubin's voice was low as if she just woke up., "But, there's a backup plan, isn't there?"

"How do you walk so quietly??" Yoohyeon asked more to herself than to Yubin. As she looked, she saw that Yubin wrapped herself around a fluffy blanket making her look like a comfy ghost with how her head was poking out.

"I actually fell a couple of times walking up here but you guys didn't notice. Too deep into the conversation or into each other's eyes I guess," The tone was teasing as Yubin shrugged and continued to walk towards them.

"Wait, we weren't--" Minji started.

"Too late. My observation has been made and thus it is reality," Yubin stated matter-of-factly before sitting on the other side of Minji.

Sleepiness was starting to creep its tendrils into Yoohyeon's head. Pulling her with a gentle force that was almost like a plea. A plea to lose herself to the darkness. 

"Wait....so what's the backup plan?" Yoohyeon asked. 

"Well, I can't exactly tell you," Minji gave an awkward grin. She knows the pup will try to get the answer one way or another. 

"Hah?? Why not?!" 

"Because if I did then the plan would be ruined."

"How?!" The pup was turning defiant.

"Cuz if we knew then we would change our actions and habits. Which would then be a telling sign to whatever forces that may be watching," Yubin answered with a yawn that shortly followed. 

"........What?"

"By knowing the plan then it means ruining the plan," Yubin extended her arm out to gently bop Yoohyeon on the head for not getting it. 

Yoohyeon stared blankly. 

"The does that mean?"

"Yoohyeon, go back to bed! You can't think straight on little sleep," Minji scolded as she pushed the still confused youngster up with Yubin nodding her head in agreement.

"Hey! My thinking is as straight as me!" Yoohyeon puffed with pride.

"We just said you don't think str---Wait, is this your coming out?"

"Huh? I thought you guys knew?" Yoohyeon's confusion shifted focus.

Silence was her only damning answer.

"WAIT, YOU GUYS DIDN'T??? HOLD ON, HOW??" Yoohyeon didn't know whether to feel offended or not.

"We don't assume, remember?" Yubin's face was still neutral while Minji's beamed with happiness. 

"BUT BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER."

"It's dangerous to assume," Another signature Yubin shrug.

"Awwwweh, Yoohyeon~~" Minji started as she gave Yoohyeon a dazzling smile.

"OI, OI, I WAS ASKING QUESTIONS HERE!" Yoohyeon huffed with disgruntlement as a blush started to creep onto her face.

"Fine, fine" Yubin couldn't help but chuckle at the flustered pup, "Your answer lies in this question. Do you trust our leader?"

The answer was given from the heart and just as fast as it's beat.

"Yes."