HERMAPHRODITE

▪️▪️▪️CH. 49▪️▪️▪️

"As you can see, there isn't much happening here at the moment. No further contact has been made with the terrorists that we know of and we're unsure if the terrorists have contacted the police. The rumor going around is that the terrorists want some anti-government criminals released in return for the safe release of the hostages which confirms what we were told previously, although official sources have yet to say anything definite on this either way. We don't as yet have an identity on the unfortunate victim from earlier but we do know he was a government official, which also confirms our earlier suspicions that government personnel are amongst those being detained. This is Choi Bada reporting live from the Glasshouse."

Jaeseok lowered the camera from his shoulder and took a look around. Jiwon stuck his head out from inside the van and gave the thumbs up. Seongmin hopped out of the van and took out a packet of cigarettes. He shook it and pulled a stick from inside, placed it in his lips and lit it. He inhaled deeply then blew out the smoke into the late afternoon air.

"Boss says it's all good so far. He wants you to try and get some more inside info on what's going on up there if you can," said Seongmin as he took another drag.

"Fucking hell, he doesn't want much, does he?" snapped Jaeseok. The camera man's sense of compassion was kicking in big time and while he knew the public had a right to know what was going on, there wasn't any need to exploit the situation any more than it already was. Those people up there were someone's son, brother, husband, father and he knew if it were one of his own relatives he wouldn't want them being used to sensationalize the headlines. Seemed Bada had also found a sense of morality.

"There's only so much information we can get and of that there's only a certain amount we can transmit without being held accountable or sued," Bada said in disgust. "We were lucky to get away with screening that poor guy's fall to earth." Bada shuddered as she recalled the body crashing down.

"Yeah, I know but the boss wants all he can get," repeated Seongmin.

Bada gave the man a look of disdain. She really didn't like the guy. He was a sleaze in her opinion, always pushing, always chasing the female population at work and trying to get into their pants. He made her uncomfortable to say the least. Movement to the side caught her eye and Bada looked around to see a couple of Preventer officers coming their way.

"Now what?" she muttered.

Jaeseok and Jiwon also looked up and spotted the agents. Jaeseok was quick to hand Jiwon the camera and the tech removed the tape, putting it in a safe place inside the van.

Bada smoothed down her skirt and quickly turned to her coworkers. "Let me handle this," she said quietly.

Jaeseok and Jiwon nodded, more than happy to let the reporter speak with the agents, after all, she did have a silver tongue.

"That's it, use your womanly charms on the helpless dicks," mumbled Seongmin as he crushed his cigarette out.

Hearing the words, Jiwon lowered his hand to Seongmin's shoulder, the fact that he was still poised in the van's doorway giving him extra height and grunt. He squeezed - hard. "I suggest you shut your mouth, now."

Seongmin froze as pain invaded his shoulder from the vice grip of the tech. "I won't breathe another word," he muttered with a scowl and then relaxed as the pressure to his shoulder eased.

"Can I help you, gentlemen?"

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Jimin wheeled a grumbling Jungkook through the hospital corridors as quickly as he dared. He took the shortest route and fortunately they only passed a couple of nurses and an orderly on their way to the ward Jimin had ready. They approached a couple of glass doors and he swiped his card through the locking system.