THE8 | Junhao

TWENTY - FIVE

| CHAPTER TWENTY - FIVE |

"Alright, alright... Gather 'round." Seungkwan waves everyone over, taking a seat at the table. He had called a meeting for their team, saying today was hopefully D-Day, and if not they should at least talk about plans.

"So," Dino grins, slapping the table enthusiastically, "What are we gonna do, boss?"

Seungkwan nods, "What I was thinking was we raid his old drug bank," He tells them, looking around at everyone. Minghao has to fight the urge to scream, his eyes squinted, "Y'know? That huge building? It's all brown and rusty? The one we tracked him down to a couple years ago?"

No.

Minghao gulps.

Because out of all fucking days, his unit decides to go to the one place Seungcheol said he'd be today. He had finally figured out what that glitter type drug was, and told Minghao he was just headed out there today to run a few more tests.

Fuck, he's done for.

How's he supposed to stop this?

"A couple years ago?" Minghao asks, trying to sound like he wasn't losing his shit. He leans forward, forcing a curious look, "You really think he'd still be there?"

"Definitely," Mingyu nods, leaning back in his seat, "Ah, I remember it like it was last week. He escaped before we could cuff him that day." He sighs, seeming to reminisce, "I swear I cried that day. Failing missions suck ass. Especially ones you've been working on for years."

Minghao sighs, understanding way too much.

"He's just too good." Dino shakes his head, pouting, "So annoying, really. We're always so close to catching him, yet there he is... always having a backup plan."

"It's like he mocks us," Minghao turns his head when Jun finally speaks, "Mocks our abilities." He returns the glance.

"He knows he's good, that's what makes me upset." Wonwoo scoffs, "I swear I'm losing hair because of that man. He's just too powerful. He slips away from our fingers like butter every time we get close."

Minghao stays silent, looking away.

"That's why I'm determined we'll catch him this time." Seungkwan smiles, before halting it with a shrug, "This year hopefully." He huffs.

"I'm sure we can do it." Jun nods, "Seriously. I think all these years of us failing was just training for us to finally catch him. I really think we'll get him this time." Jun smiles in Minghao's direction.

Minghao chuckles nervously, giving him an awkward grin back, his mind spiraling, wondering how the fuck he was supposed to warn Seungcheol about this.

He had finally gained the man's trust. He couldn't fail him on the first mission. That just made him seem like the weakling he felt Seungcheol knew him as. He would just be proving him right.

It's fine, he tells himself. He'll just have to sneak away later to text—

"Alright, I'm gonna need all your devices." Seungkwan tells them, pulling out a box.

Minghao freezes.

He turns to look at everyone to see their reactions, only to furrow his brows in confusion as they non-reluctantly pull out their phones, tossing them in the box as if it weren't new.

Seungkwan seems to have caught on to Minghao's confusion, "It's for safety measures." He tells him, "I can't have you guys getting distracted on a mission. It's just for protocol, don't worry, I'll return it when we get back."

Minghao stares at him for a moment, hesitating on pulling his phone out. But he has no choice, eventually forced to slip it out of his pocket, his phone thrown in the box before he can even realize what he did.

How the fuck is he supposed to warn Seungcheol, now?

While his mind runs and swirls, he doesn't realize everyone had stood up, until the muffled voices clear, and a hand grips his shoulder.

"8?" Jun hums, poking his shoulder.

Minghao flutters his eyes, looking up, "What?"

"We're heading out." He says, nodding towards the door, Minghao catching the other four leaving the room. Jun then frowns, catches Minghao's state, "Are you okay?" He asks, "You look a little off." He frowns, shaking his head, "If you don't wanna go, we completely understand—"

"I'm fine." Minghao blinks, standing to his feet, "I'm just... just a bit nervous." He chuckles, running a hand through his hair, "This is my first mission in about a few months. I'm afraid I'll be rusty."

Jun looks at him, "Well if you end up feeling uneasy at any point on the way there, let me— let us... know and we won't hesitate to turn back around, alright?" Their eyes meet, and Jun sighs.

Minghao nods, "I swear I'm okay." He's not.

Jun knows he's lying of course. He can tell by the trembling in Minghao's hands, the red haired catching on and chuckling awkwardly as he clasps them behind his back.

"Let's go?" Minghao raises his brows, nodding his head for Jun to start walking, "We need to suit up. They're probably waiting for us."

Jun looks at him for a moment before nodding, "Yeah... No—Yeah, right. You're right, lets go." He grins, turning around.

Minghao takes a breath, following.

He's fucked.