Deep End | Hyunlix

19

Felix hadn't been able to shake the unease he felt on his first mission back. The pressure was weighing on him more than he'd expected. It had been a few days since his encounter with Hyunjin at the art gallery, and his mind had been wandering back to the man constantly. I.N had teased him relentlessly about it during the ride home, but Felix had insisted the younger not tell anyone else, something I.N hadn't been happy about but eventually agreed to.

"Felix," Chan's voice broke through Felix's thoughts, snapping him back to the present.

Felix blinked a few times, refocusing on the men around him. Concentrate, he thought, trying to push all thoughts of Hyunjin out of his mind. Now wasn't the time to be distracted. He shook his head, clearing the fog in his thoughts, and proceeded to lay out the plan.

"We're going in through the basement," Felix said, his voice steady despite the nerves buzzing in the back of his mind. "I.N will hack into the security system and give us thirty minutes. We'll get in, get the intel, and get out. Once inside, we'll split into two teams. Seungmin and Han, you're heading to the server room on the second floor to get everything onto our drive. Chan and I will stand guard. Keep things quiet. No gunshots if possible. Neutralize anyone with the darts to avoid drawing attention. Get in, get out."

The other four nodded, their faces serious. Felix could see the determination in their eyes, and that made him feel just a little steadier. They finished gearing up, then headed to the van, the weight of the mission settling into their bones.

Felix was nervous, he couldn't lie to himself about that but he pushed it down. He had to prove he was ready. After all, they had intel that this bank held information on who was funding the Snake Eye Clan. Follow the money was their motto, and it was time to do just that.

"Stick close to him," Felix heard I.N tell Chan.

The older man nodded, slipping into the back of the van with the others.

The ride was silent, each of them absorbed in their own thoughts. Felix could feel the tension in the air, and he couldn't help but take a deep breath to calm his racing heart. This is nothing new, he reminded himself. You've done this hundreds of times. It's just another mission. Stick to the plan and everything will be fine.

He felt the weight of the team's expectations, but Chan gave him a reassuring smile, catching Felix's eye. Felix nodded in return, feeling just a little more grounded.

"We're clear to go through the gate when you arrive. I've triggered it to open," I.N's voice came through their earpieces.

"Okay, mask up. Remember, we need to stay undetected. Get in and get out," Felix said firmly, pulling his mask over his face as the van pulled up to the gate.

They drove in and parked in the garage, right where they needed to be.

"The garage is clear. Once you're inside, start your timers. You've got thirty minutes before I'm kicked out of the system," I.N instructed.

"Copy that," Felix said, giving the team a final nod before stepping out of the van. They quickly moved toward the first door.

Felix took a deep breath. "Once I open this door, start your watches. We need to get to the server room as quickly as possible. Ready?"

The team nodded in unison.

Felix opened the door and led them inside, making their way to the side staircase. The building was quiet, the night leaving most of the lights off. They moved swiftly, staying close to the walls to avoid being seen.

"The next door to your left will take you up the side staircase. It's four flights up, and once you're through the door, you'll have to walk through the first set of offices," I.N relayed.

They quickly made their way up the stairs and through the door. Felix grabbed the handle to open it when he heard keys jangling from the other side. He immediately signaled for everyone to freeze, holding his breath and waiting for the person outside to leave.

After what felt like an eternity, Felix finally heard the footsteps fade. He let out a quiet breath of relief, slowly opening the door and peeking out. A small lamp flickered in one of the cubicles, and Felix quickly shut the door again, turning to his team.

"There's someone here. They're in the next office. We need to be careful. Stick close," Felix said in a low voice.

Chan started to speak, but Felix was already on the move. He opened the door and led the team silently through the first office, glancing at the cubicle as they passed. They made it to the second set of doors.

"Head left now. It's the second door on your right. Seungmin, you've got fifteen minutes now," I.N said.

Seungmin and Han slipped into the server room, and Felix and Chan took up position outside. Seungmin set to work immediately, pulling out his laptop and connecting it to the server. Han handed him a drive, and Seungmin connected it, his fingers flying over the keys. Felix glanced at his watch, the seconds ticking away.

Meanwhile, Felix and Chan remained tense, watching the cubicle across the hall. Felix's mind raced, unsure of how much longer they had before the operation was complete.

"I'm going to go around and see if I can spot whoever's in that cubicle," Felix said quietly, stepping away from Chan.

"No, I'll go," Chan said, not wanting Felix to go off alone.

"This isn't up for discussion. Stay here," Felix insisted. "If they're done before I get back, meet me at the stairwell."

Chan clenched his jaw but stayed put, his eyes flickering back to the server door. He silently counted the seconds, wondering how much longer Seungmin and Han would take.

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1000 words