perfect something ;; xikers

fourteen

"Yujun...!"

Seeun ran over to Yujun, pulling the shorter into a tight hug. Yujun didn't hug back, allowing the other to embrace him tightly. He felt Seeun's hand against the back of his head, and it somehow convinced him to hug the other. Yujun slowly raised his arms but hesitated.

Seeun pulled from the hug, placing a concerned hand to Yujun's cheek. "I'm glad you're safe. Do you have any injuries?"

"Uhm... a bullet grazed me... but I'm fine, I just put a bandaid on it," Yujun said, a small smile on his lips. "Minjae hyung thought I wouldn't be able to do it, but I did it anyways."

"Yesh, but what if K was there, huh? What, then? It wouldn't have been that easy," Seeun scolded. "Look, I... I care about you. A lot more than I did before. You can't be this reckless anymore - you have a team."

"I'm not used to it, okay?" Yujun scoffed, pushing Seeun's hand away. "I have to shower."

It was then that Seeun realised the blood splatters on Yujun's clothing. Albeit not that much of a mess, he was still covered in a contaminant. "Will you be okay on your own, love?"

"..."

"S-sorry, I shouldn't have- I'm sorry, that was weird."

"It's fine. Just not in front of everyone else," Yujun muttered. "Did Minjae hyung leave?"

"He was a little pissed, but he couldn't stop smiling - I think he's losing his mind," Junmin said, crossing his arms. "Can someone tell Hunter to set up his KS76 LIFELINEs at the exits? Drone sensor says they're inactive."

"I'm heading down, anyways," Yujun said, agreeing to Junmin's request.

Seeun quickly but gently grabbed Yujun's wrist, holding him in place for a second. "Wait, Yujun. Uhm... we need to talk. After your shower, preferably."

"Making plans, Seeun? Gross," Yechan commented with a laugh when Seeun glared at him. "At least tell Minjae hyung - he doesn't like secrets."

"Is it really a secret that I like Yujun?"

"I'm right here," Yujun muttered, crossing his arms. "Don't talk like I'm not here. And if your talk isn't so important, we can talk now."

"It's a private talk."

Yujun hummed before turning around. "Okay. Be right back, I suppose."

Yujun left the main room and Junmin sighed heavily, catching everyone's attention. "I can't believe he actually did it. I thought the rumours were just nothing but rumours, but... he's insane. He's crazy."

"He wasn't this serious when we were younger - something happened along the way," Seeun said, causing Junmin to frown in curiosity. "He was a sweet kid. He didn't seem like this type. I guess the terf war with Eidolon traumatised him and he felt obligated to survive on his own."

"Did you... really forgive him for what he did?" Junghoon asked softly, scoffing when Seeun nodded. "I still find him suspicious. Minjae hyung said that no one would be joining XIKERS after Sumin had joined a few months back. Suddenly Yujun's allowed in? What happened to security?"

"Having Yujun in the team ensures that we don't suffer the same fate as all those drifter groups he's been eradicating," Hyunwoo said. "We know what he's capable of. I think we should respect his drive and abilities."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean you should fear him," Junghoon rolled his eyes. "Minjae hyung even broke into a lab to get him the Magenta Signet. Does he fear Yujun too?"

"It bonded with him, in any case," Junmin shrugged, eyes glancing over at Junghoon, "so there's not much we can say regarding the Signet. Minjae doesn't fear anyone and you know that. He respects Yujun, which is why he trusts him with his own decisions - the same way he doesn't treat us like a bunch of children. He's treating Yujun like a member of the group. So why can't you just accept that we have a new member and get over it?"

"What does the Signet even do?" Seeun asked, crossing his arms across his chest. "We know it silences his steps, but there's gotta be more to it."

"For some reason, technology can't record his signature, presence or movements," Junmin answered, sitting at his desk. "We can track him with his watch, but a bunch of errors and blue screens appear whenever Yujun walks past a camera. The Signet is man-made, so it must be some sort of... EMP or something. I really want to understand it."

"Yechan, you were in the lab," Seeun said, turning to face the youngest. "Were there any lab reports or anything to say what the Signet does?"

"I passed out after mangling the safe door, and apparently Minjae hyung had killed the test subject," Yechan answered. Seeun kissed his teeth, glancing away in thought. "You said you have something to talk about with Yujun. Is it so important that you can't say it in front of us?"

"I'm planning on asking for an apology, that's all," Seeun murmured, "and I'm... going to let him know how I feel."

"So soon? Give it some time." Junmin didn't even look up from his screen. "I feel like Minjae has some things to say to him first. Let him settle in, do some more missions and grow more comfortable with everyone first."

"Otherwise it just seems like you invited your boyfriend into the group," Junghoon said with a small laugh. "I'm setting up the EMPs at the gate, Junmin hyung. Coming with to monitor me?"

Seeun frowned as Junmin stood up to follow Junghoon. "Monitor?"

"When K broke in, Junghoon's EMPs were down," the oldest explained, "so one of us has to go with Junghoon to make sure he activated all of them. Seeun, watch the drone, please."

Junghoon and Junmin promptly left, somehow dragging Yechan with them, which left Hyunwoo and Seeun alone together in the room. The taller glanced at the other and Hyunwoo let out a scoff. "You're blind as hell."

"I know what's going on," Seeun snapped, eyes forming a firm glare. "I'm aware of everything. If Minjae hyung thinks-"

"Minjae hyung gives him headpats, by the way. He even said that you're the one that told him that Yujun likes them," Hyunwoo spoke hastily. "The way he easily replaced Jinsik. The way he forgives his mistakes. He let him go out on an unapproved solo mission. He gave him a Signet. Heck, he even set up Yujun's room by himself. Doesn't any of that mean anything?"

"..."

Hyunwoo leaned forward, a condescending smile decorating his handsome features. "Minjae hyung - the same one that swore that he'd never fall in love - has a crush on your friend."

"I know, so don't shove it in my fucking face," Seeun snapped, suddenly standing up from his seat. "And why are you full of shit all of a sudden, huh?"

"I'm not," Hyunwoo defended himself immediately, "it's just that we swore we wouldn't fall in love. It's bad enough that Sumin and Jinsik came forth about their relationship."

"They're not even on the same division, so I'd say it doesn't really matter," Seeun sputtered, barely able to gather his thoughts anymore. "Yujun doesn't like Minjae hyung like that, in any case."

"Didn't you hear the comm call earlier?" Hyunwoo asked, standing up from his seat and slowly walking to Seeun. "Hm? 'You like me anyways'. That's what he said. 'Let me off the hook this time'. Seems like Yujun is playing along." He stopped just in front of Seeun, a smile on his lips. "Minjae hyung never makes mistakes."

"I won't let him have Yujun."

"Dont say that to me, I'm just a guy that made a hyperrealistic hologram of himself," Hyunwoo laughed. "He'll be back soon, I suppose. Have a little talk with our leader then, hm? Good luck, Seeun-ah."

Hyunwoo encouragingly clenched his fist as he patted Seeun's back, walking off out of the main room. The blonde simply sighed to himself, sitting down in Junmin's seat to monitor the drone as he had been asked.

"Minjae hyung doesn't like Yujun... right?"