~_____~

Everyone seemingly met up at the hospital since Donghae had to go in for a checkup on his injuries as well as Kris and Namjoo.

It turned out a friend of two missing high school girls reported to the police that they’d gone missing at her uncle’s party. After six months of evidence, one of those two high school girls were found hidden at the host club in the upstairs room used as a “the room” for deeds. The club and the party all linked back to the uncle, who was arrested, but the girls Lay and Victoria were searching for had already disappeared before they found the host club. No one knew where they had been kept either.

“Are you sure you’re fine?” Victoria questioned.

“No major injuries,” Donghae assured as they walked down the hallway with his bruised face.

“What happened back there?” Victoria asked. “Who were you fighting with?”

“Lets talk about that another time, ok?” Donghae said. “Where’s Namjoo and Kris? Are they ok?”

“They’re still getting treated,” Victoria replied. “Your bruise looks bad. Are you sure you didn’t fracture your bone?”

“I said I’m fine,” Donghae repeated.

“Donghae!” Suho called when they turned around the corner.

“What happened?” Donghae asked.

“Ah…well…” Suho hesitated.

“They got attacked,” Chorong answered. “Namjoo’s still in shock and her ankle’s in bad condition. Kris’ wound is getting treated.”

Suho awkwardly laughed, “I guess this calls for a break.”

“Yea,” Donghae agreed.

“Really?” Suho’s eyes widened. “You know I didn’t actually mean that.”

“Maybe we do need a few days’ break,” Donghae felt his eyes turn solemn.

Suho and Victoria turned to look at him curious before they turned.

“I got the bills taken care of,” Lay walked toward them with some papers in hand and handed them over to Donghae. “They’re still not out yet?”

~_____~

“Don’t put any more strain on your ankle,” the doctor advised.

“Is that all? Nothing else?” Tao asked as if there should have been something else said.

“An ice pack might help ease the pain,” the doctor added before smiling and walked out of the room.

“Do you hurt anywhere else?” Tao turned to look at her.

“I’m fine.” She replied without looking at him.

He pressed his lips together when he saw the slight bruise forming on her face. Suddenly he wanted to hug her again and erase that awful memory from both their minds. Tao knew she was probably a lot more scared than she was showing. He remembered the night she asked him to stay with her and thought about how she was even able to live alone.  

“That bastard.” Tao muttered. Turning his back to her he said, “Here, I’ll carry you out.”

“I can walk.”

“I’m offering you my back, so take it as it is,” Tao insisted then turned around to look at her.

He repressed a sigh when he saw the downcast expression on her face and couldn’t help, but reach a hand forward to place at the back of her head.  

“Stop it.” Namjoo mumbled.

“It’s ok,” Tao assured, “I’m just being the nice guy for a moment.” And he slightly dug his fingers into her hair, “They can’t hurt you again.”

And he listened to her cry again before easing her head against his shoulder.

~_____~

Kris looked around when he walked out to see that Namjoo hadn’t joined the others yet.

“Are you ok?” Victoria asked.

“I’m fine,” he replied. “Just a stiff arm.”

“Yea, I don’t think you can move for a while,” Suho lightly joked.

To be honest, he wasn’t feeling that great. Not after seeing something like that before him and being unable to do anything about it. He couldn’t even comfort her afterward.

He felt Suho nudge him slightly, “Hey, feeling all right?”

Kris glanced around again to see that Tao was nowhere in sight. It didn’t take him long to realize where he might be.

“Is it all right if I go wait in the car first?” Kris turned to the others. “I kind of want to rest.”

“Oh, yea, sure,” Lay handed the keys over to him.

“I’ll go with you,” Suho offered and followed him down the hall.

They quietly made their way down the hall and reached the car a few minutes later. Leaning into his seat he closed his eyes only to hear Namjoo screaming in his head. She had been scared and he hadn’t done anything about it.

“Hey, I know how you’re feeling,” Suho started, “well, maybe I don’t know, but I get it that you feel guilty. Think about the bright side, nothing happened, and Namjoo is still ok.”

Kris closed his eyes again and exhaled calmly.

“I feel bad too,” Suho smiled pitifully, “I should have gotten there earlier. Or if we’ve found you sooner, that wouldn’t have happened to her. Then again, we can only be thankful nothing happened.”

“You didn’t hear her scream,” Kris opened his eyes, “she was terrified.”

Suho pressed his lips together and his expression transitioned into sympathy, “I heard, before Tao shot him.”

And Kris closed his eyes again. Why Tao? He couldn’t forget the way Tao had rescued and hugged her. It made him feel smaller and less worthy.

“It’s ok, Kris. Namjoo doesn’t blame you. I know she won’t.”

He knew Suho had good intentions, but he wanted to hear those words come from Namjoo herself.

A few minutes later he watched Tao piggy back Namjoo out of the hospital and turned away from the sight bitterly.

~_____~

Victoria dug into her bag and pulled out a balm she often used to treat her injuries. Walking out of their room she headed down the hall and almost hesitated before knocking on the door. A few seconds later Suho answered the door.

“Donghae there?” Victoria asked.

“Yep, hold on a sec,” Suho told before turning to walk away.

Donghae appeared a few seconds later with exhaustion in his eyes, “Something the matter?”

Victoria held out the balm, “Here.”

Donghae glanced at it before raising a brow.

“For your bruise,” Victoria told. “It’ll hurt less. Trust me. The purple goes away faster.”

“What are you? A nurse?”

Victoria snorted, “Be thankful you’re not a pulp yet.”

“Sure, thanks,” Donghae took it from here and watched her turn away. “Have a good night, Victoria.”

Victoria paused and turned around to watch him smile before closing the door.

~_____~

Namjoo listened to the air hum before pulling out the new shirt Kris had bought for her earlier in the day. How did such a good day turn so sour in just a few hours?

She closed her eyes and let out a desolate sigh upon remembering those scared eyes of his as he watched her get trampled. She knew he felt terrible for having been powerless. She knew it because he hadn’t waited for her in the hospital and hadn’t spoken a word to her afterward. Namjoo knew he blamed himself and she didn’t know how to approach him to tell him it was ok.

~_____~

Chorong glanced toward the bathroom door envious of how Suho worried over his team mate. While on their search earlier she hadn’t dismissed the anxiety in his face and the worry in his tone as he searched alone for Namjoo. She and Tao had just followed every which way.

They were really good friends, weren’t they?

She felt a bit guilty for being jealous over such a childish thing, but she really wished she could be as close to Suho. And she also wished he would worry about her as much as he did Namjoo.

“Namjoo’s not out yet?” Victoria asked after walking in.

“No,” Chorong turned off the TV she’d been blankly staring at and adjusted the pillows at the end of the bed for Namjoo before laying down.

“We’re getting out of Daegu tomorrow night,” Victoria told. “Feels like we’ve been here forever. Thank goodness for the break Donghae agreed to give us. I think we all could use a breather, especially since we’ve got injured people on the team.”

“Yea,” Chorong agreed. “I think a small vacation would be nice.”

And if she could free herself from this infatuation over Suho, she might be able to breathe even better. She hated thinking about the attention she hadn’t been receiving from him lately all because of their missions. Otherwise, she was sure; they could have become better friends.

They spent majority of the next day lounging around lazily in their rooms, watching TV, or spent time on their phones. Time spent working away from family really left them hanging with nothing, but themselves. No time to make friends or even just get out for some fresh air. Working full time and having to be ready for work whenever the need called for it was really tiring.

Chorong suddenly wondered if that was why Namjoo, Suho, and Donghae rarely contacted their families. She’d never heard about Suho’s family or Donghae’s. She knew Namjoo barely contacted hers. The three of them were so alike, it seemed almost sad. It was no wonder their relationship with each other stuck so well.

She had no idea about Victoria, but she and Kris has regular off days where they could spend time with family and friends. They weren’t kept around because there were other people to fill in for them when they weren’t present. She and Kris probably had the most normal lives out of everyone else in the group. It was a taunting fact.

They left for dinner around seven the next and as promised Donghae treated. Chorong sat across from Suho and watched him eagerly order a steak from the menu. One thing she was beginning to really envy about him was how cheerful he seemed even in the roughest times and was able to catch the right mood at the right time. He got along with everyone so well and even if he wasn’t the leader, he led well.

“Oh! This is so good!” Suho exclaimed after finally getting his steak. “Donghae, you have to try this! What about you, Namjoo? Do you want a piece?”

He treated everyone so well.

“Chorong, what about you?” Suho asked.

Chorong felt her heart skip a piece and without replying Suho slid a piece of his steak onto her plate with a smile.

“Really, it’s really delicious. How’s your plate? Is it good? Do you like shrimp?” he went on. “Oh, I’m in such a good mood.”

“Not enjoying your dish?” Lay questioned.

“Uh…no I am,” Chorong quietly answered stabbing a shrimp with her fork.

“Excited for our break? It’s going to feel like a mini vacation.”

“I guess, though I don’t know what there is for me to do.”

“Lets meet up over break and do something. I’ll be bored too.”

Chorong glanced at Lay before turning back to look at Suho.

~_____~

“Are you stressed or something?” Victoria asked observing the strange expression on Donghae’s face.

“No.”

“Aren’t you usually, I don’t now, more strict,” Victoria said.

“And your point is…” Donghae didn’t once look up from his food.

“Something happened during your fist fight, am I right?”

“Look, I don’t want to talk about that right now.”

Victoria raised her brow and slightly tilted her head.

“So what are you going to do during your four day break?” Donghae asked.

“You’re putting a pause on the case,” Victoria stated monotonously, “what about those two girls you’ve been searching for?”

“There are other cops and detectives searching for them,” Donghae replied. “Besides, didn’t you say something about a break earlier and got all mad at me? Now you’re getting it, so what’s the problem?”

“Cause it’s unlike you.”

“What is unlike me?” Donghae looked up at her. “Namjoo is injured and can barely walk and Kris can barely move his arm. How are we supposed to work like this?”

“Getting angry at me?”

“No,” Donghae denied before stuffing his mouth with a piece of potato. “I need a break too.”

“Then what are you going to do during your break, Mr. Lee?”

“I don’t know, relax,” Donghae muttered.

“Yea, you really sound like you’re going to relax,” Victoria prodded sarcastically.

“Are you trying to get on my nerves?”

Victoria gave him a firm smile, “What do you think?”

“Please, Victoria. Let me eat in peace.”

Victoria shifted her elbow onto the table and narrowed her eyes while observing Donghae. Something was off. He was hiding something from her, she could feel it.

~_____~

Namjoo felt almost stuffed, not from the food, but from the atmosphere surrounding her. There was Suho on her right, Tao on her left, and Kris in front of her. There was just something unsettling about the picture she couldn’t depict.

Tao had been strangely nice and awkward with her lately and she thought it might be because he was getting used to the team. Yet, there was something about the way he’d acted toward her yesterday. Though it was natural he’d worry, but the way he’d touched her was different. What was it? Had she felt…some sort of gentleness from him?

Then there was also Kris, who had surprisingly not spoken a word to her at all. By now, she thought, he would have tried to get on her nerves. Yet, he was so silent.

Everything was too strange.

After everyone finished their meal Namjoo stood in the middle of the hallway awkwardly while waiting for the others to finish washing their hands. When no one seemed to be coming out of the bathrooms she headed outside, since standing in front of the bathrooms seemed strange. The sun was just setting when she stepped out and Tao seemed to be enjoying the scenery to himself before he heard the door close.

Namjoo felt her eyes slide over him as if to make sure he’d stay where he was before stepping down the stairs. She stopped where she was leaving a distance between them. For a minute they stood there quietly. The tension in the air felt kind of like a lover’s first date; awkward with a hint of romance. Namjoo regretted having stepped out.

Tao remained still for a more seconds before he suddenly turned to walk over. She glanced up when he neared and grabbed her arm to turn her toward him.

“Wh…what are you doing, Tao?” she asked confused and nervous.

Namjoo listened to her heartbeat still the air before she felt him place a kiss on her forehead. Her eyes widened and she felt the hand on her arm become gentle.

“I told you before, I’ve never liked anyone, but I think that’s changed recently,” his voice was soft and gentle in a way she’d never heard him speak before. “When I become a better person, will you be my girlfriend then?”

She immediately looked up at him shocked and watched him softly smile shyly at her. Everything in her mind seemed to disappear and they turned when the front door closed loudly.

Kris was standing closest to the stairs staring at them, the others behind him.    

A sort of crash resonated inside her mind when her eyes landed on Kris.

“Oh…sorry about that,” Suho apologized with an awkward laugh and scratched his head. 

***uh-oh...who's gonna win now? Kris or Tao? 

***lolol Suho's definitely the mood maker