He shoved Donghae back, panting for air as his throat was released. The agile man simply stepped back, smiling and holding his hands up in mock surrender. Closing the gap with ease, he hovered over Kyuhyun, allowing barely a breath to separate them. “So what are you doing here?”

“Where is Ryeowook?” Kyuhyun growled, coughing.

“He’s probably still in bed,” Donghae answered calmly, voice lowering to a murmur, “We had a long night.”

The next second, Kyuhyun was lunging at the man, only to be pushed back. There was a clicking gun and then the air shifted.

Donghae stared down at the skinny boy wielding a weapon. “Your little friend, I presume?” he cocked his head, catching Taemin’s eye, “Youngest of the agency, androgynous features, born Lee Taemin. Am I right?”

Kyuhyun snapped the safety of the gun back in place before the shaking boy could pull the trigger. Wrapping an arm around his partner’s waist, he yanked him backwards, confiscating the gun as well. “Cool it, kid,” Kyuhyun hissed at Taemin while pointing the gun back at Donghae’s chest.

“S-Sorry,” he mumbled, looking down.

“You’re calmer than I thought you would be,” Donghae remarked, leaning back against the opposing alley wall. “Is being a hero that much fun?”

“I don’t remember you being this much of a provoking douche the last time we met,” Kyuhyun replied.

“Maybe love changes people,” his eyes flashed, lips twitching up.

“He doesn’t love you.”

Donghae shrugged casually, “Then tell me why the situation is like this, Kyuhyun.”

“Because you’re a manipulative bastard,” he spat, arm unknowingly tightening around Taemin. The younger fought the urge to voice his pain, confusion and fascination mixing dangerously.

Bzzt…bzzt…

The brown haired man checked his phone, lips pursing together. “Looks like I have to head back,” he glanced at Kyuhyun, “see you around.” And then Donghae vanished into the crowds.

Throwing Taemin aside, Kyuhyun tried to rip through the throngs of people, but was jerked back by an incredibly panicked boy. “Let me ing go,” Kyuhyun pushed at Taemin, struggling to peel him off, “This is my only—”

“—you’ll have another chance!” he shouted over the older man. “Please…it’s not worth it to go against the mission’s orders.”

Kyuhyun searched the crowd with his eyes, slumping weakly when he realized that Donghae was certainly gone by then.

***

Warm wind rolled through the balcony doors. Ryeowook made a soft noise, rolling over and opening his eyes. There was light coming through the opening, spilling over the bed sheets and sprinkling gold across his bare skin.

The bedroom door opened softly. Sitting up, Ryeowook blinked a few times, smiling as he met Donghae’s warm brown eyes. Silently, he knelt down to kiss his lover. “You slept late,” he whispered, running fingers through Ryeowook’s hair, pushing him back down to the soft sheets.

“Where did you go?” he asked, hands holding the chiseled face.

Flopping over, Donghae picked up the bag he had dropped upon entry and opened it. “Food,” he responded, handing Ryeowook a pastry bun.

“Ah, thank you,” he laughed a little, scooting up to lean back against the head of the bed. “So did you find out anything?” Ryeowook took a bite of the bun, breaking off a bit to feed Donghae.

The latter opened his mouth, taking it and chewing while rummaging for his phone. “Mm,” he nodded, showing Ryeowook the screen.

To: 24336EE

From: Withheld

10 P.M.

There was a map attached with no written directions of where to go. A simple red line sufficed, though. Ryeowook made a faint noise of understanding, laughing the tiniest bit.

“What are you laughing at?” Donghae prompted, amused. He took another bite of the pastry.

“Clever, that’s all,” he answered vaguely. “What should we do until the meeting?”

“There are plenty of things we could do.”

Ryeowook rolled his eyes, finishing the bun.