killer affection | jaywon

07

It wasn't easy at first.

Trust was a hard earned commodity among the boys, especially when it came to Jungwon. The young assassin had come into their lives with a mission to kill their boss a fact that wasn't easily forgotten, even after Jay vouched for him. But over time, the walls began to crack, and the tentative acceptance of the group slowly turned into something resembling camaraderie.

For the first two weeks, Jay kept a close eye on Jungwon, forbidding him from engaging in any physical activities until his arm had fully healed. Jungwon wasn't thrilled about being sidelined, but he understood that pushing himself too soon could jeopardize his recovery. So he bided his time, observing the group dynamics and slowly getting to know the others.

Sunoo was the first to break the ice. The bubbly hacker had a way of making even the most hardened souls feel at ease, and Jungwon was no exception. Sunoo's constant chatter about his latest hacking exploits and his fascination with obscure trivia kept Jungwon entertained during the long days of recovery. They would spend hours talking about everything and nothing, and Jungwon found himself smiling more often in Sunoo's presence than he had in years.

"You know, you're not as scary as you look" Sunoo teased one day as they lounged in the living room, Sunoo's fingers flying over his laptop keyboard. "I thought you were going to be all broody and mysterious, but you're actually pretty cool."

Jungwon chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't let that get around. I've got a reputation to maintain."

Sunoo grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Your secret's safe with me. But seriously, I'm glad you're here. I think you're going to fit in just fine."

Jungwon felt a warmth in his chest that he hadn't experienced in a long time. "Thanks, Sunoo. I'm glad to be here too."

If Sunoo was the easiest to get along with, Sunghoon was the most awkward. The guilt of having shot Jungwon weighed heavily on him, and though he tried to act normal around the young assassin, it was clear that the incident had created a barrier between them. Sunghoon wanted to apologize, but the words always seemed to catch in his throat.

It wasn't until after a particularly grueling training session that Jungwon decided to take matters into his own hands. As they both wiped sweat from their brows, Jungwon approached Sunghoon with a calm expression.

"You know," Jungwon started, "if you've got something to say, just say it."

Sunghoon blinked, momentarily caught off guard. He hesitated, then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. About the alley. I shouldn't have shot you. I just... I saw Jay getting hurt, and I panicked."

Jungwon studied him for a moment before nodding. "It's fine. You were just looking out for your friend. I would've done the same."

Relief flooded Sunghoon's face, and he finally managed a small smile. "Thanks. I wasn't sure if you were going to forgive me."

Jungwon shrugged. "We're on the same side now, right? No point holding grudges."

From that day on, the awkwardness between them faded, and a tentative friendship began to form. They trained together more often, each pushing the other to improve, and by the end of the week, Sunghoon was cracking jokes around Jungwon like they'd known each other for years.

Heeseung, ever the protector of the group, remained skeptical of Jungwon for a while. It wasn't that he disliked the younger boy quite the opposite. There was something about Jungwon that reminded Heeseung of a stray cat- fierce, independent, and a little lost. He found himself growing fond of the assassin, but he was also cautious, knowing how easily trust could be broken.