Chapter Text
The ICM Holding’s buildings stood towering, scraping the morning sky in the gated enclosure. The heavy security that involved several powerfully-built security guards and a tremendous case of surveillance cameras does a better job than flashing a bright sign reading that it wasn’t your average office buildings. It boggled Sehun’s mind to think exactly which part of this grandeur was supposed seem subtle, but he supposed that the agency would have had their ways of shutting up people who suspected anything odd. But why was Sehun spared all this while? Because he couldn’t care less to question anyone. In fact, he had stopped caring about almost everything a while ago. Like two years ago, to be more precise. And that included caring about himself.
“ID,” the guard, who looked completely oversold for a simple company’s security, demanded as the car’s window was rolled down. Sehun eyed the gun that was hanging at the guard’s hip, handing the huge man his ID card after taking the shades off.
“Mr Oh?” the hard expression on the guard’s face somewhat softened with a hint of something like respect. Sehun glanced away. He neither needed this attention nor the respect. He wanted to run back and hide in his darkness. And just be another disappointment. He was quite good at it now. “You may enter, Mr Oh.” the guard said and passed the card back before hurrying away.
Sehun quickly rolled the black tinted window up before gearing and steering his sleek black Maserati Granturismo into the compound. It seemed pretty stock. Spreads of green lawns, a decent number of fountains and trails of neatly trimmed shrubs added to the meticulous details of the compound. On the outlook, it was easy to believe that it was a multinational holding company, but if one had paid some attention to the minor details of the compound as Sehun had, it would be plain to see that there was more to this than meets the eye.
He pulled the car into the parking lot as the guards had directed him and shook his head. He did not want any attention. And being here would mean that he will have to face people and answer their questions. He couldn’t deny his father’s request either because he was already a colossal disappointment that could not confront the world. Sehun wondered if being here would somewhat comfort him since this place wasn’t exactly normal. Just like him.
“Mr Oh Sehun,” a female voice alerted him as soon as he stepped through the entrance of the office building. “Welcome to headquarters. I’m JJ. Your father’s secretary.”
She was a short woman but had good features. Sehun nodded once and averted his eyes. “This way. General Oh has been waiting. Here,” she said and handed out a card. “Without this badge, you will not be able to have any access to anywhere in this building.”
Sehun muttered a ‘thank you’ and trailed behind her to the elevator lobby, carrying himself like he was a dead weight.
The elevator ride was surprisingly long and every passing second slowly started to suffocate Sehun. He hadn’t seen or heard from his father in months until yesterday when the man asked—no, ordered him to show up at the ICM Holdings.
The elevator opened on the 25th floor and Sehun was ushered to a door, which was guarded by two uniformed men. “ID,” one of them demanded and JJ held hers out before informing the guards of Sehun’s identity. Once the formalities were over, Sehun was allowed through the doors. He had to scan his guest’s badge twice to access another couple of doors before he finally reached the general’s office.
“General Oh?” JJ peered into the office as Sehun stood quietly behind her, his toes curling in his shoes. “Sehun’s here.”
“Send him in,” he heard his father’s coarse voice and instantly, his stomach knotted. It was ridiculous to think that he felt like a student who was sent to the principal when he entered the office. JJ didn’t come in as she closed the door.
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Sehun faced his father who was seated behind a glass desk, dressed sharp and neatly in a black suit. Nobody would even believe that the man was almost 50. He still looked as though he was in his early 30s. Bloody smart, neat, broad-shouldered, tall and very good looking. Sehun often supposed that he took after his mother instead of his brooding handsome father.
“Father,” he murmured, hanging his head as his father rose to his full height.
“Is there an explanation that would justify your tardiness, Sehun?” his father asked.
Sehun had no reason that he would like to particularly share with his heartless father. “I’m sorry, father.”
“Will you ever be able to do as you were told for once?” his voice rose and Sehun hung his head. His father heaved a sigh and settled back in his seat. “But then again, I’m not even surprised that you’re able to upset me the first thing in the morning. Sit down.”
Sehun did as he was ordered and pulled at his black coat.
“Do you know why you’re here?” his father questioned.
How was he supposed to know that? It’s not like he was sent a letter with extensive details about the meeting.
“No.”
“I’m sure that you’ve always known that this is not a normal company. Not one that does that sort of mundane businesses, at least. I know that you’re smart enough to have guessed that,” he scoffed and Sehun gave a curt nod. “Do you know what we do here?” and Sehun supplied another nod. “Good. Here,” he said and pushed a file across the table, to Sehun.
Blinking his eyes, Sehun accepted the file and flipped it open. “What is this, father?”
“You are being appointed as an agent.”
“What? Me? Father… Me?”
His father leaned back on the seat with his lips pursed. Sehun understood that look all too quick. He had just disappointed the man again. “I know that you are good for nothing. But at least now, you have the chance of proving yourself.”
“I can’t, father.”
“Do you think I’m asking you a favour? You have been nothing but a total disappointment. You dropped out of a prestigious university for this worthless piece of shit you called love! You destroyed Avin. You ran away from home, utterly embarrassing me and your mother! And to be plain, you’re the one who killed your mother! Not to mention your disgusting homosexual shenanigans. And above all, you kept on giving all of us a hard time with your nonsensical suicide attempts. What, you thought it will bring us any good?! Your endless fiasco brings nothing but shame to me!”
Sehun closed his eyes and inhaled a breath. Every word. Every single word was a shard of glass to his heart. It had always been like this. The thing was, Sehun was no longer hurt by his father. This was how the whole world was towards him. He had gotten used to it and the only way for him to face it was hiding himself away from it.
“Listen, Sehun. Your mother and I always knew that we can’t last forever. My work does not permit me such prerogatives. She only had you and you let her down. Big time. I am not asking you of this. You’re ordered to do this.”
“Why me? I will end up disappointing you in the end, anyway.”
His father jolted up from his seat and wended his way to the glass wall, hands stuck into the pockets of his pants. “As much as I hate to admit this, we need you. Someone like you, to say the least. Physically, you surely would not qualify. But this mission requires your abilities to interpret and explicate. So, we’ll just have to shape you up. Your unexplainable level of IQ and persistence are what we need right now.”
“You could get anyone like that. I will not qualify to be an agent.”
“You will only be a rank-3 liquidator. The hard work will be done by your partner. You do the smart work. That’s how it works.”
Sehun shook his head, lowering it. “I don’t get it. What’s the catch?”
His father let out an exasperated sigh. “You don’t deserve to know, but I suppose hiding the truth would not help either of us. You’re reckless. That’s what I need. Because I think only you can handle the agent you will be partnered with.”
“Me?”
“Oh, please. You are certainly not the star player over here. This is a... tough mission, including strings of other dangerous missions. And we only have one agent in our hands who will be able to pull it through. But... he has astounding attitude problems. His behaviour comically unpredictable,” he said with his eyebrows drawing into a frown. “He is the star player. You are a lubricant, which will help him run smooth. Get it?”
“Father,” he breathed out, though he knew that he wasn’t in the position to decline.
“You will start your training for rank-2 first thing tomorrow morning. Be late and this time I will not be the one to give you a hard time. Make sure you read through the file. JJ will have your badge and passcodes sent over by this evening.”
“Can’t you hear me for once?”
“I neither have the time nor the interest to listen to your endless pathetic whinges. Sehun, you want to try to make your parents proud at least now, even though it seems beyond the bounds of possibility? Then, this is your chance.”
“I… I know that... but—”
“You argued the same way with me four years back for your stupid love. What happened to that? I always know what’s best for you.”
“That includes shaping your son as an assassin that takes lives?!”
“Shut your mouth! You will do as I say and that’s it! No more discussion! Get out!”
~*~
“Name?”
“Sehun.”
“Welcome, Agent Sehun,” the guard huffed out and scanned the badge before allowing Sehun into the training room, where he was met with a few men and women. Instantaneously, Sehun’s stomach clenches. This was how assassins were supposed to look. Tough, heavily-muscled with moves lighter than feather but faster than lightning. All of them came to an abrupt halt as their eyes landed on Sehun.
“Who’s this baby carrot?” one of them muttered.
“More like who’s baby is this carrot. Then, I will be able to answer that it’s the general’s,” another said and laughed.
“Guys, cut it out,” an agent hissed at his fellow friends and made his way to Sehun with a crooked smile. He rubbed his palm on his pants and held it out. “Hi. Sehun, right? You’re kinda like the hot topic of the agency. I’m Donghae.”
Sehun took the hand but failed to manage a smile. “Nice to meet you.”
“Cool,” Donghae smiled and grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat beads off his forehead.
“It’s amazing how you rich bastards could just climb straight up to rank-2 just because their daddy’s the official,” the other big man snorted.
“Bobby, I said cut it out,” Donghae snapped but before he could ask Sehun anything, luckily a loud roar of ‘get out, bitches’ interrupted everyone in the room. “Great,” Donghae groaned and rolled his eyes. “See you around, Sehun.”
“Yeah, see you around, faggot. Have fun with getting your ass kissed,” Bobby snorted at Sehun as he shoved past him with the rest.
Sehun spun around to see an unfamiliar guy striding into the room, clad in a black t-shirt, training pants and training boots. His mussed hair stuck out from every angle, as though he had just gotten out of bed. Maybe he had. Sehun stared at him yawning as he plumped on the chair before dropping his booted feet on the table. Who is this, Sehun wondered. He looked almost as scrawny as Sehun with his lean limbs and flat stomach.
Glancing away, Sehun scanned the racks of weaponry that bordered the room. He couldn’t recognize most of it, but he knew which he would pick if his instructor ordered him to. Speaking of his instructor, he was running late. A little too late. Sehun wondered if even just the rank-4 agents looked so powerful, what would a rank-5 look like.
“Hey.”
Sehun spun around to look at the guy arching a brow at him. “Yes?”
“If you’re done cleaning the place, you may go.”
“Excuse me?” Sehun blinked blankly at the man. “I’m not a janitor.”
The bronze-skinned man sat up straight and ran a hand through his hair. “Whatever you are, get out. You’re making me uneasy.”
“Why? I’m not even doing anything.”
“I’m allergic to redheads,” he said, smirking and leaned back in the chair.
“Not my problem.”
“Whoa,” he let out and rose to his feet. “Is that any way to talk to a sadistic, ruthless murderer in a room filled with bayonets and guns?”
Sehun stepped back. “I want no trouble. I’m just waiting for my instructor.”
The guy froze completely and for a long minute, he gaped at Sehun in something like horror. “You’re… Sehun?”
“Yeah.”
“Fuck, shit, no.”
“What?”
“They said they’d give me a body to work with, not some bean sprout!”
“I beg your pardon?!
“No, no, no fucking way. You’re a rank-2?!”
“Wait… you’re Agent K?” Sehun rasped, his eyes bulging out. “The only rank-5 agent?”
“Fan-fucking-tastic,” he exhaled angrily and kicked the chair’s leg before palming his face. “This is exactly why I end up killing all of my partners.”
Sehun gulped. “I’m sorry to have disappointed you, but aren’t you supposed to be like... really tough or something?”
Agent K threw Sehun a hard scowl, which looked kind of boyish. “What kind and phase of combat were you trained in?”
Sehun pursed his lips.
“Well?” Agent K pressed.
“I have been a boy scout.”
“And?” When Sehun didn’t respond, he scoffed. “So, you must be well-trained in saving squirrels and bouncing around campfires screaming Allzeit bereit like a bunch of pansies?”
“That’s not what we do—”
“I don’t fucking care! There must have been a mistake.”
Sehun gave up. This man was aggravating. He was irrational and overbearing beyond reason. “I don’t make the rules here,” he muttered.
“No shit Sherlock. But rule number one you’re gonna learn from me is that you don’t sass me because you like your life and you want to keep fucking breathing, is that clear?”
“I don’t.”
Agent K looked stumped. “What?”
“I don’t really want to keep breathing, Agent K.”
“Well, you’ve come to the right place then, Agent Stupid. Run around the compound. Don’t stop. Two and half hours! Go!”
~*~
“Hey!”
Cringing at the attention he was about to get, Sehun came to a halt upon hearing Donghae’s cry. “Hi, Sehun,” he greeted with a short smile etched on his face. Sehun’s eyes dropped to the gun that was hanging by Donghae’s hip and licked his lips. “Oh. Just came back from a mission.”
“I see,” Sehun muttered and offered a thin smile. “I have to… go. For a debriefing.”
“Alright. I’ll just tag along, then.”
On the one hand, Sehun was glad for Donghae’s presence, seeming that he was the only person who didn’t appear to be wanting Sehun buried alive. But on the other, he was no longer used to having anyone like him.
As they traipsed to the meeting room, Sehun noticed a handful of agents whispering, not-so-quietly, mainly about how pathetic Sehun was to be riding coattails.
“So, how’s boot camp with the devil?” Donghae dragged Sehun’s attention back to him.
“The devil?”
“Yeah,” he said, lowering his voice. “I mean, you’ve been for one day, but I’m sure you would have noticed that K isn’t really your average man, is he?”
“He certainly is not,” Sehun murmured but kept his expression impassive. He had forgotten how it used to feel to talk to someone so casually like this. “I actually didn’t spend much time with him yesterday.” How could he have if his instructor just vanished before he was even done with the hundred rounds around the compound?
They scanned their badges to attain access to the fifteenth floor. “So, what do you think about him?”
Sehun shook his head with a shrug.
Donghae heaved in a loud sigh and said, “It’s really sad that he’s the best we’ve got. And he pretty much knows it, that’s the worst part. I mean, I don’t think that any of us would be as cocky as he is. Well, yeah, he has the right to brag considering all of his major successes. But... he’s sort of off his rocker, you know.”
“What do you mean?” Sehun asked, blinking.
“He doesn’t care shit about himself. Guess that’s his biggest strength. The rest of us are somewhat scared for ourselves, for our safety. He isn’t. He’s just a reckless bastard who doesn’t give two flying fucks about the consequences of half of his actions. So long it gets the work done, that’s all that matters to him. He’s one classy dick.”
Sehun averted his gaze. “Is that the kind of man he is?” he asked. If so, why would his father pair him up with such an agent?
“It’s insane. He likes working solo. Which is why he... shot all six of his previous partners.”
“Shot?!”
Donghae laughed. “Now you see why you have my sympathy.”
“Wait, why are they keeping him, then?”
“Because like I said, he’s the best in business, unfortunately. He gets all the work done. None of us can match up to his fighting skills. You saw how scrawny he is, right? But trust me, he had me begging one time while sparring.”
Sehun ran out of words to express his thoughts. He was being paired with a monster. Not that he cared, anyway. This only meant that K would end his life sooner rather than later for good.
“But I think you’re different,” Donghae said, clapping a hand on Sehun’s shoulder as they reached the meeting room.
“How so?”
“You don’t look threatening,” he replied, grinning and Sehun couldn’t agree more. He knew one thing for certain. He would never fight Agent K. “See you around. Good luck, by the way.”
Sehun muttered a ‘thanks’ as Donghae strutted away. Upon entering the room, Sehun found a table of men, all unfamiliar. But only when he approached the table did he discern the guy clad in the black hoodie, the hood pulled over a black cap.
Agent K sat recumbent, hiding half of his face as if this was some club meeting. The other two men were dressed in shirts and pants.
“Agent Sehun, I’m General Jin,” the oldest man in the room said, extending a hand. Shaking hands with the General, Sehun slightly inclined his head to bow, but paused when he heard a mocking scoff from K. “I’m the leader of this unit.”
“Leader?”
“Yes. He’s the mama hen and we’re his little chickies, does that clear things out?” K remarked rudely and for a moment, Sehun wondered if it were possible at all to make fun of his superiors. But General Jin’s scowl suggested otherwise.
“Agent K, watch your attitude.”
“That’s gonna be more difficult than the Anthony Mission,” he murmured and turned his face away.
“Take a seat, Sehun. This is Agent B.I. He’s the brain of the team.”
“IT nerd,” K simplified.
“Thanks, Hulk,” B.I mumbled and shot Sehun a wide grin. “We finally have someone pretty in our team.”
K coughed. “Your faggot-ism is showing.”
“Kiss my ass.”
“Not before dinner, sweetheart.”
“That’s enough. We don’t have time for your cocky one-liners, K. Let’s get this done with. Sehun, here. All the information of your upcoming, first, mission is in there,” the General said and handed Sehun an iPad. “It’s in another four weeks. So, I hope, Agent K will have you ship-shaped by then.”
“N,” K protested. “I’ll need at least two-hundred-forty-five years to get this bean sprout ‘ship-shaped’.”
Sehun hung his head. “I’ll try what I can, General,” he muttered without looking up.
“You really should,” K snorted. “I don’t even understand what he’s doing here. He’s gonna get himself killed on the first mission itself, that is if I don’t kill him first.”
“No, you will not, K. I’m sure you are well aware of the consequences if you harm another one of your partners again,” General Jin warned in a low growl and K’s jaw clenched but he didn't make a retort. “You do not get a vote over here. He’s your partner and period. You train him as you are told to and will not utter a single opposition. We know of your methods of venting but it will the best if you could hold your temper.”
For a second, Sehun saw himself in K’s position. When he thought about it, he and K might just share a lot of things in common. As much as he wanted to protest, he couldn’t. But right now, Sehun can’t really oppose the idea of being paired with Agent K because his father had made it loud and clear that he was here in the first place for Agent K.
“Once you’re done with your training,” General Jin continued. “We will have another debriefing about the mission. I think Agent Wu and Agent Kang will be able to join us by then. They are also part of our unit but are not active agents of the missions you will be going on. Agent Sehun, I hope you could understand the seriousness of what we’re doing.”
Compared to his father, General Jin seemed like a nice, calm man. “I have a question which General Oh refused to answer,” Sehun said in a low voice. “As much as I hate to say this, I agree with Agent K. I don’t think I’m cut out for what you are all doing. I doubt that I will survive the first mission itself. All the agents here are trained for years.”
General Jin’s lips stretched into a fatherly smile. He didn’t look any older than Sehun’s father. “I believe that’s what Agent K is here for. He’ll back you up. You’re his responsibility just as much as he is yours. That’s how partners work, no?”
“Bullshit,” Agent K grated. “I’m not gonna babysit his skinny little ass.”
Jin leaned back and rolled his eyes as if he was infuriated. “Would you rather work with Kris then, K?”
“Feed me to the vultures, Jin.”
“So, pipe down and do your work. Here,” the General tossed him a file before pushing another towards Sehun. “Read them thoroughly.”
“This happens all the time,” B.I whispered with a smirk. Sehun blinked at him and tried to return the smile.
“Why do I have to read his biodata? You think I have nothing better to do?” K rasped.
“You live in the compound, K. You eat from the vending machine. You don’t have a girlfriend, I don’t think you ever did. You don’t come out of your apartment except to buy junk food and you sleep like a bear in hibernation. So yes, I don’t think you have anything better to do. All of your important details are in the files. Learn about each other. Weaknesses and strengths.”
Their argument seemed a little puerile but then again, Agent K himself was all about childishness. Sehun honestly had no idea how this man was the only rank-5 agent in the agency.
“I’ll have B.I keep you posted if there’s anything else,” Jin said and rose to his full height.
“Hey, Sehun,” B.I called once the General was out of sight. “We should hang out sometime.”
“And play tic-tac-toe?” K snickered, flipping through the file.
“Don’t be such an ass, K.”
“You’re lucky that I don’t have my gun with me right now.”
“Ooooh, I’m so scared.”
“Get out, kid. I need to inform little miss bunny over here with some job description.”
As B.I packed up, Sehun kept his eyes on the file and Agent K’s information.
Kim Kai.
Age 26.
Rank-3 at the age of 15.
Rank-4 at the age of 19.
Rank-5 at the age of 21.
Kills/Successes: 578 (32 civilians included).
Consecutive missions accomplished: 278.
Missions failed: 0.
Routs: 26.
Walkover: 90.
Detained: 7 times (6 for contravening the charter)
“Hey,” K’s voice snapped Sehun out of the jolt of surprise. K... Kai.
Sehun could barely get himself to breathe properly when he realized that he was sitting before a mass murderer. “I don’t care what you are or whose son you are, but you should know what sort of shit you’re getting yourself into. I have a few ground rules to establish if you want to keep your head attached to your body. Don’t talk to me unnecessarily. Don’t provoke me. Don’t challenge me. Don’t come near me when I’m asleep. Don’t touch my food. Don’t slow me down. Don’t make me mad. And don’t act smart. Is that clear?”
Sehun pursed his lips and stared into Kai’s dark eyes, which hid well in the shade of cap. “Kai,” he breathed out and Kai stopped for a moment to glower back at him. “Sorry.”
“You’re breaking the first rule already,” Kai muttered and averted his eyes back to the file. “Oh Sehun. 25. Dropout from the Michigan State University. Astrophysics and Astronomy. Rank holder from middle school, high school, junior college, what are you, Einstein’s grandson? What the fuck are you doing in this shithole instead of discovering new universes?”
“You’ve been here since you were 15? Or younger maybe. I might ask you the same thing.”
Kai’s brows furrowed. “Now, you’re breaking rule number two,” he spat and jolted up from his seat. “Be late for training today and I will kick your ass.”
~*~
“Uppercut.”
Sehun awkwardly crooked his arms, bending one upward and jabbed the punching bag.
“Back fist.”
Gritting his teeth, Sehun struck the bag with the top of the two of his largest knuckles.
“Spinning back fist.”
Sehun swivelled around before striking the punching bag.
“Overhand.”
Once Sehun had punched the bag, Kai rose from his seat, popping peanuts into his mouth while Sehun stood there, exhausted, sobbing for air and covered in full sweat. He threw Kai a hard glance but quickly averted his gaze as soon as Kai’s eyes landed on him.
“Hook,” he ordered, tossing a number of peanuts into his mouth.
Sucking in a deep breath, Sehun plunged his fist with his arm hooked and when his knuckles slammed the punching bag, he heard a loud scoff from Kai. “What?”
“No matter how hard you try, with that French bean of an arm, you’re never going to break a single jaw. Except maybe your own.”
Sehun shook the rude remark off. By now, he was quite used to Kai’s droll attitude. Mostly because he was used to being treated like shit all the while. One week was all that it took for Sehun to give up on this. All that Kai did for the whole week was sit on his chair and mock Sehun. He had basically hired a rank-3 agent to teach Sehun the basic punching moves for the first two days and the rest of the days, Sehun’s routine involved running around the compound while practicing his punching moves. At this rate, Sehun had no idea how he was supposed to survive a day on mission with Kai.
“Shovel hook,” Kai muttered, wiping his palm on his pants. Another thing about Kai that Sehun had learned in the few hours he had spent with Kai was that Kai cared little to no shit about his appearance or of what people thought of him. Sehun even wondered if the man had any preferences at all. He was basically a killing machine, as most of the agents in the agency called him. And Sehun was starting to believe it. Kai did what he was told, well, most of the time, at least. He didn’t question, he didn’t oppose. He apparently didn’t care much about his pay either. Sehun had heard from Donghae that Kai had a huge sum of money that he had earned all these years but didn’t have any access to it, god knew why.
“I... don’t know how to,” Sehun said, releasing and re-clenching his fists. Kai arched a brow and crossed his arms over his chest.
“So?”
“So? What do you mean?”
Kai rolled his eyes and stepped forward as Sehun took a step back. “Such a dweeb,” he said under his breath, reaching a hand out.
“Excuse me?” Sehun flinched when Kai’s hand touched his wrist. With one swift move, Kai spun Sehun around to face the punching bag. “Wh-what... are you doing?”
“Teaching,” he said and kicked Sehun’s ankles apart before grabbing Sehun’s elbows, raising his arms. Cringing at his touch, Sehun began to pant harder.
“Teaching what exactly?”
“Nursery rhymes, sweetheart. Ba-ba black sheep, have you any wool?” Sehun almost gasped when Kai latched his hands on the sides of his waist. Kai was standing too close. So close that
Sehun could feel Kai’s ragged breath on the nape of his neck. “What are you doing?”
“Huh? What?”
Kai cleared his throat and angled Sehun’s fists. Not that Kai’s closeness was driving Sehun over the edge but it had been such a long time since anyone had come this close to him. He felt extremely uncomfortable. “Get the liver.”
“Okay,” he said quickly before Kai could get his hands anywhere else on him. “I got it.”
Kai stepped away. “Five punch moves and you think you’re already a karate master? Alright. Show me what you’ve got.”
Sehun surprisingly must have done it right because Kai didn’t scoff. “Like that, Agent K?”
“Senior Agent K, baby sprout,” he said and none of Kai’s intentions seemed like harassment. Frankly, Sehun didn’t think that Kai was capable of sexual elation. From what Sehun had heard, Kai was a rude bastard to all the women and men in the agency. And he rarely stepped out of the agency’s compound except for missions. In his 12 years of service in the agency, no one had ever seen Kai with a partner. More of a proof that Kai had no care for himself and was utterly stoic if not for his rude behaviour and foul mouth. “We’re done for today.”
“That’s it? I’m sorry, but if this is what you’re gonna do every single day, I’m probably gonna die on the mission,” Sehun opposed as subtly as he could.
“Sweetheart, you’re gonna die either way,” Kai said blatantly and smirked but Sehun’s scowl started to falter his simper.
“I’m allowed to complain to General Jin, aren’t I?”
“Well, I’m not sure about that. But I know that I’m allowed to stick my boot up your ass to keep you in line.”
Sehun looked away, unable to swallow another one of Kai’s effronteries. “So, this is how it is? I say something and you threaten to put a bullet through my head?”
“Now, we know that we both don’t want that, do we? Don’t want your daddy throwing my ass into the skookum house.”
“He doesn’t really care about me, though,” Sehun muttered and faced Kai again.
Kai stared at him for a moment before asking, “Daddy issues?”
“None of which I wanna discuss with you, Senior Agent K.”
Kai nodded. “You know, you’re pissing me off quite a lot today.”
“I broke a couple of rules already. Shouldn’t you have stuck your boot up my ass by now?”
Kai’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t be so keen on crossing the Styx, sweetheart. I might just grant your wish soon enough.”
“You know, I still can’t believe that you’re a rank-5. I mean, I’ve never seen you in action but you don’t look half as promising as the other agents.”
A short smile stretched Kai’s lips as he yanked his shirt up and pulled it over his head, exposing his abs and lean figure. For a stretch, Sehun stood there, surveying the tattoos on the lower part of Kai’s abdomen. Biting his lip, he looked away from the bronzed abdominal muscles, fairly complimented by the swirling tattoos that were peeking out of his pants. He was still scrawny but his frame looked much steadier than Sehun’s. “Heard you speak Mandarin,” he said, rudely shoving Sehun away as he took his position a few steps in front of the punching bag.
“Uh, yes.”
“Then, you must understand Yoo Ah Eh Dahm Fak, I assume?”
Sehun reflexively scowled as Kai smirked.
“What about Yoo Stin Ki Pu?”
“I can’t believe you’re the mass murderer of the agency,” Sehun murmured but he wasn’t able to take his eyes of Kai’s impressive side profile and the tattoos that almost reached his ribs.
Kai lifted and bent one of his knees before stretching it out and his feet struck the punching, sending it jerking back while Sehun felt his head thunder. “Roundhouse kick.”
Sehun nodded, appearing to be learning, but he was just staring at the splendour that Kai’s body showcased.
Kai turned to face him with his hands on his hips. “Now, if you don’t want that kick to land on your face, you will learn keep your mouth shut. Capiche?”
Utterly embarrassed by the tone Kai used, Sehun pursed his lips and nodded once more.
“I told you. Don’t ever act smart with me. I don’t wanna end up killing you, which would be counterproductive for the both of us,” Kai continued. “Fail this mission for me and I will see to it personally that you bleed to death. Understand?”
Sehun smiled which took Kai aback. “You are not the first person to jerk me around, Agent K. Every time you say that you wanna kill me, it like music to my ears.”
“What?”
“As much as you don’t care about living or die, neither do I. You may threaten me as much as you want but I’m not scared of you. Actually, I don’t care. So, do what you can. Permission to leave.”
Kai grimaced at him and picked his shirt up from the mat. “You know nothing about me,” he spat and threw Sehun a glare before leaving the room.
~*~
“Stop it,” B.I’s voice was the first thing that caught Sehun’s attention when he entered the corridor. “I said cut it out, Bobby!”
“But your hair is so smooth,” Bobby’s voice was the next.
“Come on, Bobby. Leave him alone,” and then Donghae’s.
Sehun seriously didn’t want to face Bobby right in the morning but Kai was there, probing the vending machine in the corridor, looking so serious as if he was about to make a life-or-death decision. He was so weird, to be honest. Sehun often found Kai gouging on Pinky Puffs and chocolate bars but was the best agent possibly in the entire country. He was supposed to be his partner. Sehun was there for Kai. And yet, they had yet to have a proper, decent conversation. Sehun was always ready to put his ‘I’m Fine’ face on, but the problem was Kai. He neither had any care for his relations with others nor did he want any attention. He was perfectly happy, eating from vending machines and assassinating people for a livelihood.
“Oh, hey, Sehun!” Donghae chimed and Sehun instantly peered at Kai who apparently wasn’t bothering to spare him a look.
“Wow. You are on ‘oh hey’ term with this faggot?” Bobby remarked, draping an arm over Sehun’s shoulders. Grimacing, Sehun tried to shy away but Bobby’s grip on the back of his neck held him in place. “Where you’re running off to, carrot-top?”
“Come on, Bobby, grow up,” B.I defended as Donghae eyed Kai who was fetching his food.
“Stop. Let’s go,” when Donghae suggested it, Bobby’s grip only tightened that Sehun winced.
“Why? Wait. I'm kind of wondering how he likes it. In the ass or...” Bobby trailed off with a smirk. “What kind of cock does it like to suck?”
“Definitely not your kind ‘cause your dick’s so small you’d never be half the man your mother was,” Kai interrupted as he passed them, unwrapping his chocolate bar. Bobby instantly released Sehun’s neck as his smirk was wiped away. “In fact, it’s so small I once mistook it for a California raisin that I lost in the shower rooms. None of us really has time for Bobby the Big Bad Bully. So why don’t you scram?”
B.I laughed behind his hand.
Clenching his jaw, Bobby stomped away and Donghae flashed Sehun a smile before hurrying after him. “Thanks,” Sehun mumbled but Kai was already on his way.
“Wow,” B.I sighed.
“What?”
“That’s like the first time K had ever stood up for anyone.”
“I wouldn’t call it stood up,” Sehun started for the changing room to change into his training outfit.
“No,” B.I grinned. “I don’t get it. Do you literally have gay written all over your face or what?”
“Why would you ask me something like that?”
B.I chuckled. “Almost half the agency knows that you are one.”
“Oh. So, more Bobbies are gonna give me a hard time then. Especially Agent K.”
“Probably," he shrugged. “But not K. Bobby’s an ass but he’s kind of... nice, too. I suppose.” He flashed a shy grin but quickly hid it.
“You think Agent K would not mock me? Everyone does. And I’m sure as hell he’s not an exception considering his filthy mouth.”
“Well, yeah. He does have that problem. But I don’t think sexual preference is something that he understands. Come on, he knows literally nothing about Spongebob Squarepants. And when he finally came to know of it last month, he couldn’t grasp the concept of using water underwater.
He doesn’t comment on things he doesn’t get. Trust me.”
Sehun kept mum for a moment. He honestly didn’t understand where B.I was coming from. “It’s really weird.”
“I know. Anyways, good luck for today. He looks like he’s in a good mood, though.”
“Thanks.”
After changing, Sehun entered the training room and found Kai fidgeting with a gun. “You’re late.”
“I’m five minutes early,” Sehun argued.
Kai sat up straight. “You’re late. Five rounds around the compound.”
Sehun turned around to leave but Kai stopped him.
“Who is Avin?”
The question and the name were more than enough to knock the air out of Sehun’s lungs. His head briefly spun as his throat went dry. “How did you…” he trailed off as his chest burned.
“It was on your file.”
Sehun shook his head. “That’s none of your business.”
“Fine. Every little information might just save your ass from getting killed during missions, but suit yourself. Take off your shirt.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said take it off.”
“No.”
“Why not? I’m pretty sure you’re not hiding boobs under there, are you? Or this shit might just turn into a sappy chick-flick.”
“I won’t take off my shirt. What do you want me to do?”
“Salsa and some belly dancing,” he mocked and brought the gun to Sehun’s stomach, then pressed it against Sehun’s sternum. For a second, Sehun had gone frozen with an electric jolt passing down his body. No, not because of the gun. But because it was Kai’s gun. “I like it when you do that,” he laughed and retreated.
“Do what?”
“That expression. Like you’re flustered or something.”
Flustered?
“Anyways, five rounds. Run along now.”
~*~
“We’re starting with the toddler’s phase,” B.I presented with further details, handing Sehun and Kai a pair of iPads.
“Why is that?” Kai inquired with so much revulsion in his tone after scrolling through the respects of the mission. As nervous as Sehun was, the fact that he would have to spend an entire day out away from the compound with Kai outweighed the current trepidation.
“Agent Sehun has never done anything like this before, K. We should take that into account,” General Jin explained tiredly. “So, for tomorrow, you will be taking down May Jar.”
“Who’s May Jar?” Sehun asked and heard a soft scoff from Kai.
“He’s a bag man.”
“What’s a bag man?”
B.I chuckled before saying, “Well, it’s just an errand guy. Our interns have supplied us with the information that May Jar has been attaché casing.”
“What’s attaché casing?”
“It’s collecting bribes and illegal money.”
“Is that our job? To execute traffickers?”
“No. But he is said to have relations with Aguantin's Bangkok Connections,” General Jin said. “Illegal drugs have been delivered from Southeast Asia to the United States. The narcotics industry, long eschewed by Aguantin is one of the largest moneymaking rackets. And the money the Aguantin association receives is one of the main source for Aguantin confederacy. For years, we have been trying to immobilize Aguantin, which is a terrorist group that has been trying to bring down our government for as long as we know. All that we get are hints. Little tiers. The process is too slow and tedious. Which is why we need Agent K to get into action as soon as possible because we need to find the Capo di tutti Capi.”
Sehun blinked.
“That’s like the boss of the bosses. The Kingpin," B.I clarified. “The major problem we have is that many parties that support Aguantin. Since we’ve discovered that Aguantin is actively involved in the narcotics industry, we need to eradicate the drug connection ASAP. Agent K has already been on a month mission few weeks back, rooting out the Western Europe connections with Aguantin.”
“So,” Sehun sighed and eyed Kai who was scowling as if he weren’t excited by the whole idea.
“We get this May Jar and get some information from him?”
“No,” said Jin. “Your job is never to extract information. You terminate the ones that will be of no use to us and yet is still a threat. Unless if you are sent on such a mission.”
“God,” Kai groaned, hurling the iPad across the table. “Are you serious, Jin?! You want me to kill this fat loser?! Why? Because of him?!” he jerked his hand at Sehun’s direction. If only Kai’s hood weren’t pulled so low, his scowl would have intimidated Sehun. “This is a rank-2’s job!”
"Then, this should be a relatively easy task for you."
“And stop whining,” B.I muttered. “Look at it this way. The faster you’re done with this, the sooner you will be back in your little shell.”
“This is ridiculous,” Kai spat and jolted up from his seat.
“Sit back down, K,” Jin snapped but all that Kai did was plunge his hands into the pockets of his hoodie and strutted out of there. Exhaling exasperatedly, General Jin leaned back in his seat, tearing the glasses off.
“That boy knows how to get right on my nerves,” he mumbled and heaved a sigh. “Sehun, don’t worry. He will have your back tomorrow. But don’t let him do all the work. You are part of this team and feel free to do what you think is right.”
Sehun nodded and threw a glance at the closed door through which Kai had walked out. Training had been harder the past week. But little by little, Sehun thought that Kai was warming up to him. But right now, from the way Kai had walked out on them, Sehun understood that he was being nothing but a pain and an embarrassment for Kai. Sehun didn’t care, though. He hadn’t really asked to be here. He was going through hell and he didn’t care whatever that Kai was struggling with.
“Am I allowed to plan the execution, then, General?” he questioned Jin, averting his gaze from the door.
“Of course. If you both can reach your terms with it, go ahead. And you need to very mindful about the civilians.”
~*~
“This should be easy,” Sehun remarked, peering out of the car which was parked in the shady alley by the brothel. “It will be utterly suspicious if we went in together.”
He grabbed his iPad and began to plot the directions. “I think if we divide and conquest, it should be a better and wiser option. So, this is what we do.”
Kai’s eyes were piercing through his soul and even in the darkness of the night, Sehun could see those black eyes clearly. Every part of Kai was like an electric shock when it touched him, which had been the hardest part during the training, although Kai barely even moved his feet. But when he did, Sehun was always left jaw-dropped. Kai just made the hardest move seem so simple and easy. And if it weren’t for Donghae, Sehun never would have grasped how to properly use a gun since Kai was so nonchalant and inconsiderate when he loaded and dismantled every type of gun in the blink of an eye before Sehun could mimic a single move.
“I will go in first. It might take around three minutes for me to settle with someone. And then, if you look at the brothel’s plan,” he tapped on the iPad to display the layout of the brothel. “The informant says that May Jar is always with a regular prostitute named Anni. So, I’ll take another two minutes to find out which room they’re checked in. And here,” he handed Kai the Bluetooth headset. “I will get in and hold May Jar. When I radio you the room’s number, you should come in, then. If you don’t receive anything from me after seven minutes, you know what to do.”
Kai arched a brow. “Were you the boy scout leader? Or are you simply a control freak?”
Sehun pursed his lips and glanced away. “I’ll go now,” he muttered and exited the SUV. Buttoning his coat, Sehun started for the brothel. The whorehouse was bright, scintillating with angry colours, and as soon as he had caught attention, a woman stepped forward with a Cheshire grin etched on her face. She looked somewhat middle-aged but nevertheless was attractive.
“What can I help you with?” she chimed, dragging a hand down Sehun’s arm.
“You know what I need.”
“Hm. Upstairs. Room 21,” she grinned as her hand travelled down Sehun’s chest.
Nodding and faking a smirk, Sehun made an advance for the stairs. “Handsome,” he heard one of the girls he passed cooed and a string of giggle followed. Flashing a slight smile at them, he climbed to the top of the staircase and stopped before a tanned girl. “Can I help you, pretty boy?”
“I need Anni,” Sehun said, balling his hands into fists.
“Aw. Anni’s taken for the night. But...” she simpered, drawing a finger down Sehun’s chest. “I’m available.”
“Well, I guess you ought to be a better option,” he curled his fingers around the girl’s wrist with a smirk playing on his lips. “But I need to ask her something. Do you know where I could find her quick and then we’ll be able to have some fun.”
“I think she’s in that room,” she said, pointing at the room opposite of the corridor. “Meet me in room 24?”
“Of course.”
Sehun waited until the girl had swayed her hips away and as soon as she was out of sight, he hurried to the room, earning plenty of looks and glances from the prostitutes. “Kai,” he called, hanging the headset but there was no reply. “I’ve found him.”
He hoped that the door would be unlocked and pushed the door open before quickly slamming the door behind. Yanking his gun out of its holster, Sehun was about to raise it but the scene before his eyes completely paralyzed him. He lost all the air in his lungs when he saw Kai holstering his gun. “What did you—”
“What?” Kai asked in an annoyed tone and shrugged. “Got the work done. Let’s leave.” he added nonchalantly.
“How...” Sehun stared at the half naked bodies on the bed and the blood oozing out of their foreheads. “You didn’t stick to the plan!”
“Never said I would,” Kai said and turned for the window before climbing out of it as Sehun continued to gawk at him. Wiping his face, Sehun hurried after him. By the time he had climbed out the window, Kai had already landed on the ground and was now strutting back to the car. Grinding his teeth, Sehun descended down the short pipe and dropped on his feet before stomping after Kai.
“Stop!” he angrily yanked Kai around to face him but when Kai glared at his hand that was gripping his arm, Sehun released it but his expression remained hard. After so long, Sehun felt a powerful gush of emotion and none of it was positive. “What was that all about?! I thought we had a plan!”
“No, you had a plan. I never said I’m gonna follow your shit.”
Sehun’s jaw dropped. “Then, you should have at least commented something! We’re partners and if you’re just going to do everything your way—”
“Partners?” Kai scoffed. “You’re fucking kidding me, right? I don’t care whatever the fuck you wanna do but don’t get in my way. I don’t take orders from stupid, highborn shits like you, get it?”
“Stupid? You’re the stupid one over here. What were you thinking? You just stride in like that and murder two people, not to mention an innocent civilian!” Before Sehun could express his exasperation any further, Kai’s grip on his collar stopped him. “Ugh,” he grunted out as the back of his head banged against the wall when Kai slammed on it. The next thing Sehun knew was a gun pointed directly at his forehead.
“You dare to lecture me? You’re nothing but a useless worm, get it?” Kai hissed and withdrew his gun. “Do that again and I will fucking burst your brain.” He shoved Sehun back and began to march away with clenched fists.
~*~
“I’m sorry,” Sehun uttered under his breath, keeping his gaze out the window.
“What did you say?” Kai asked with a disbelieving tone. Sehun slowly turned his head to face him. Kai’s eyes bounced from the road to Sehun.
“I said I’m sorry. I’m sorry that you’re stuck with an amateur like me, who has no clue what he’s doing.”
Kai raised a brow, gripping the steering wheel before shifting the gear. “You ought to be.”
“But.”
A groan escaped Kai’s mouth. “There always has to be a but, huh?”
Sehun ignored the comment and continued. “We are partners whether you like it or not. And I will report this behaviour of yours.”
“See if I give two flying fucks about it.”
A scowl crossed Sehun’s face. “Why are you so... stubborn and inconsiderate?”
“Why do you care?”
Sehun gave up and averted his gaze back to the window. “You fear nothing and no one. Wish I could be like you,” he muttered, buttoning his coat. When he glanced over at Kai, the latter’s expression had gone hard.
"Well, if it’s any consolation, you don’t seem afraid of me. That takes real balls. And don’t ever wish to be like me,” Kai said and steered the SUV to the parking lot of a diner instead of heading back to the agency.
“Where are we going?”
“I don’t get to step out of the compound often. So, when I do, I might as well enjoy Big Mama’s double cheese burger,” he said, pulling over, and exited the vehicle before Sehun could manage to utter a protest. Sehun remained in the car for a minute and once he ran out of patience, he went after Kai. The diner was like any other diner; fairly crowded, plump waitresses and a foul stench of oily food. Kai was just taking his seat at the table in furthest corner of the diner when Sehun approached him.
“A moment ago, you were threatening to burst my brain and now you’re craving double cheese burgers?” Sehun asked.
Kai flashed a smirk at Sehun. “In case you haven’t heard the word around the agency, I’m the crazy ass lunatic.”
“Oh, I’ve heard,” Sehun groaned and took his seat across the table. Only then did he realize that Kai had pulled the hood over his head again. “Do you... feel uncomfortable around civilians?”
“Shit, no,” Kai snarled in a low voice, going through the menu. “I just wanna tear open their fucking skulls.”
“But it kind of looks like you’re scared of them.”
Sehun noticed Kai bite his lip as he didn’t make a rejoinder. “What can I get you boys?” the waitress asked with a ridiculous smile etched on her rosy lips.
“Double cheese burger,” Kai mumbled without looking up at her.
“And you, handsome?” she turned to Sehun.
“Same thing he’s getting,” Sehun said and smiled back at her but nowhere near as flirtatiously.
“Alright. Drinks?”
“No, thanks.”
Once the waitress had walked away, Kai scoffed. “Looks like you’re attracting all the whores out here.”
“You don’t have to be so rude. She was just being nice,” Sehun replied.
“I don’t care. She’s a whore and apparently, you’re whore enough to flirt with her. Why not just go back there and fuck her and you both could—”
“I’m gay.”
Sehun’s abrupt confession rendered Kai silent. For a moment, Kai outstared Sehun before awkwardly clearing his throat. “That... would explain a lot,” he said in a low murmur, his lips quirked into a crooked smile.
Sehun rolled his eyes. By now, he was quite used to Kai’s sardonicism. “I guess you have one more thing to shit about me.”
“Nah. I don’t have time to sit down and plot an insult for you. It just happens naturally, you know.”
Where did this guy come from...
~*~
“You write the report,” Kai ordered nonchalantly when they reached the agency late at night.
“Why me?”
“‘Cause I’m sleepy.”
“I’m sleepy as well.”
“Do you expect me to care and tuck you in your bed? Kiss you goodnight, tell you a bedtime story? Besides, I am capable of strangling you and you would take half a day to even raise a hand. And considering that you pissed me off tonight, you need to make it up to me,” he spat and turned to walk away.
“Kai.”
Kai quickly spun around. “And. Who gave you the right to call me by my name?”
“I just find Kai much better than K.”
Kai’s eyes narrowed before he looked away. “You’re breaking so many rules, sweetheart.”
“It wouldn’t have taken two seconds for you to pull the trigger back there. But you didn’t. I have faith, Agent Kai,” Sehun said, smirking faintly.
Kai stared directly at him now. “Fuck yourself, Tinkerbell,” he snapped and began to stomp away. Sehun dropped it. Whatever that he wanted to say would have to wait.