Phantom Legion

CHAPTER 6: UNCHARTED WATERS

After the not-so-awkward coffee session, Namjoon quietly headed towards the cafeteria. The morning buzz was starting to fill the air as agents trickled in for breakfast. He preferred arriving early to avoid the crowd, grabbing his meal and making his way back to his dorm. Or rather, their shared dorm now.

As Namjoon entered, he was taken aback to find the others gathered in the kitchen, seemingly in the midst of a playful argument over the last piece of toast. The scene was unexpected—it shattered his preconceptions of what living with his team might entail. They weren't just colleagues; they were a group of young men, bantering and teasing like old friends. It tugged at Namjoon's heart, reminding him of what he missed out on all these years.

He silently retreated to his room, setting his tray down and sitting on the edge of his bed. His appetite had vanished, replaced by a mix of longing and uncertainty. Playing with his food absentmindedly, he managed to eat a few bites before giving up. Instead, he reached for a book, hoping to distract himself, though his thoughts kept wandering.

Lost in contemplation, Namjoon jumped when a hand shook his shoulder gently. He looked up to see Taehyung standing there, an awkward expression on his face.

"Umm, I tried calling you... We have a meeting in 15 minutes," Taehyung informed him hesitantly.

Embarrassment flooded Namjoon as he realized he had lost track of time. "Okay... sorry," he managed to say, feeling awkward under Taehyung's concerned gaze.

Taehyung seemed like he wanted to say more, but he shook his head and turned to his cupboard. Namjoon hurriedly checked his outfit, opting for comfortable trousers and a collared t-shirt. Satisfied with his appearance, he began brushing his hair in front of the mirror.

Suddenly, Taehyung's voice broke the silence from behind him. "Umm, earlier... you were zoning out... are you okay?"

Surprised by the genuine concern in Taehyung's voice, Namjoon felt a warmth spread through him. It had been so long since someone outside of Chief Bang had shown interest in his well-being. He turned around, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about something."

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, clearly not entirely convinced, but he nodded and returned to his phone. Namjoon couldn't suppress his smile. It was a small gesture, yet it meant a lot to him—a sign that maybe, just maybe, he was starting to find his place among his new teammates.

When Namjoon saw Taehyung leaving the room, he quietly followed him. The others were already gathered in the living room, where chairs had been arranged to accommodate everyone. Namjoon took a seat next to Taehyung, feeling a mix of anticipation and nerves as he settled in.

Seokjin cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Well, now that you're all here... we have a new mission."

Instantly, the atmosphere shifted. Namjoon noticed a spark of excitement in everyone's eyes, including his own. He leaned forward, eager to hear the details.

"We have a situation in Busan," Jin continued, his voice steady and commanding. "A former agent, now turned rogue, has stolen classified information. Our mission is to track him down and retrieve the data."