Tangeled in shadows | Min Yoongi

Chapter 7: Cracks in the Armor

The days following the dock confrontation were unnervingly quiet. Yoona felt the tension simmering beneath the surface of her world, as if a storm was waiting to unleash itself. She could feel eyes on her wherever she went—whether it was her own crew, watching her with newfound suspicion, or the unseen enemy biding their time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.And then, there was him—Yoongi. No matter how hard she tried to push the memory of that night away, his voice, his presence lingered in the back of her mind. He had gotten under her skin, she hated it.

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"You're distracted," Jisoo's voice cut through the room, sharp and unyielding.Yoona looked up from the pile of intel spread across the table. "What are you talking about?"Jisoo crossed her arms, eyes narrowing. "You haven't been the same since the docks."Yoona's jaw tightened. "We got out of there alive, didn't we? That's what matters.""That's not what I'm talking about, and you know it." Jisoo's tone was low but insistent. "There's something going on between you and Agust. I don't know what it is, but you're not telling me everything."Yoona clenched her fists beneath the table, struggling to keep her composure. She couldn't let Jisoo see how close to the truth she was. "There's nothing to tell. Yoongi's our enemy. End of story."Jisoo raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "It didn't look like that at the docks. You two were in sync. Almost like you've been fighting side by side for years. I don't trust him, Yoona. And I don't like how this is making you act.""You think I trust him?" Yoona snapped, her voice colder than she intended. "I haven't forgotten what he's done. I'm playing the long game. You should, too."Jisoo didn't back down, but after a long moment of silence, she sighed and uncrossed her arms. "Fine. But if you're playing a game with him, don't forget who the real enemy is. Don't let him get into your head."Too late, Yoona thought bitterly. But she said nothing, watching as Jisoo left the room. The door closed with a soft click, leaving Yoona alone with her thoughts, the weight of Jisoo's warning settling heavily on her shoulders.

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Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Yoongi leaned back in his chair, his mind occupied with thoughts of the same woman who plagued Yoona's. The memory of their conversation, the way she had looked at him with both fire and hesitation, gnawed at him. He knew it was dangerous—this curiosity, this pull—but he couldn't stop himself."She's still on your mind, isn't she?" Namjoon's voice broke through his thoughts.Yoongi looked up to find his second-in-command standing in the doorway, arms crossed, his expression serious. "What are you talking about?""Don't play dumb," Namjoon said, stepping further into the room. "Smoke. It's obvious something's changed since that day. You're more distracted than usual."Yoongi's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.Namjoon sat down in the chair across from him, his gaze never leaving Yoongi's. "You're letting her get to you, and that's dangerous. You know how this world works—emotions are a weakness.""I don't have emotions," Yoongi said flatly, though even as the words left his mouth, they felt hollow. He wasn't even sure he believed them himself.Namjoon let out a short laugh, but there was no humor in it. "Right. That's why you let her walk away when you could've killed her. Twice."Yoongi's hand tightened around the glass he was holding. "You're wrong.""Am I?" Namjoon's voice softened slightly, though his eyes remained sharp. "I get it, Yoongi. She's different. But you can't let this—whatever it is—distract you from what we're doing. She's still the enemy. And if you're not careful, it's going to get us all killed."Yoongi stared at the amber liquid in his glass for a long moment, not responding. He knew Namjoon was right. He knew he should walk away from this dangerous line he was tiptoeing across. But the truth was, Yoona had already gotten too close, and no matter how much he wanted to deny it, he couldn't ignore the connection that simmered between them."I'll handle it," Yoongi finally said, his voice low and resolute. "She's not a threat.""She's the biggest threat," Namjoon replied, standing. "Don't forget that."

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The night fell heavy and tense, the air thick with unspoken threats. Yoona had gathered her crew at a small warehouse on the outskirts of town, preparing for what they believed to be an easy exchange of information with one of their contacts.But the moment they arrived, something felt wrong."Stay sharp," Yoona muttered to Jisoo as they approached the meeting spot, her eyes scanning the darkened alleyways around them.Before Jisoo could respond, the air exploded with gunfire."Ambush!" Jisoo yelled, diving for cover as bullets ricocheted off the walls.Yoona cursed under her breath, pulling out her gun and firing into the shadows where the shots had come from. Her heart pounded in her chest, not just from the sudden danger, but from the realization that they had been set up."We need to fall back!" Jisoo shouted over the gunfire.Yoona's eyes darted around, trying to find a way out, when a familiar figure stepped into the fray. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw Yoongi, flanked by his men, firing into the same enemy lines."What the hell—" she started, but there was no time for questions. The attackers were closing in fast, and there was no choice but to fight.Yoongi's eyes met hers for a split second, and without a word, they moved in sync once more, taking down enemies side by side. It was a brutal dance, one that neither of them had rehearsed but seemed to know instinctively. The fight blurred into chaos, but they were a single, unstoppable force.Finally, the last of the attackers fell, leaving the alley silent except for the distant wail of police sirens.Yoongi holstered his gun, turning to Yoona with a cool, unreadable expression. "You're welcome."Yoona wiped the sweat from her brow, glaring at him. "I didn't ask for your help.""No, but you needed it," he said, his voice calm, as if the gunfight hadn't rattled him in the slightest.She hated how right he was.-----
Later, when the adrenaline had worn off and the crew had regrouped at a safe house, Yoona found herself alone with Yoongi again."You have a habit of showing up at the worst times," she muttered, pacing the small room they were in, her nerves still on edge.Yoongi leaned against the wall, watching her with that infuriatingly calm demeanor. "Or maybe it's the best time. You'd be dead if I hadn't stepped in."She shot him a glare. "I didn't ask for your protection.""I know," he replied, his voice softer now, almost teasing. "But I couldn't let you die, could I?"Yoona stopped pacing, turning to face him fully. The tension between them was thick, almost unbearable now. She wanted to push him away, to tell him to leave and never come back. But instead, she found herself asking, "Why? Why do you keep showing up?"Yoongi's eyes flickered with something—something vulnerable, just for a second, before his usual mask slipped back into place. "Maybe I'm curious.""Curious?" she repeated, incredulous. "About what?""You," he said simply, his voice low, filled with something that made her stomach twist. "You're not like the others. I want to know why."Yoona's breath caught in her throat, and for the first time in a long while, she didn't have an answer. She hated how close he was getting, how much power he seemed to have over her, even though she swore she would never let him in.But now, standing here, staring into his eyes, she wasn't sure she could stop him anymore.

Later that night, after the crew had regrouped, Yoona couldn't shake the tension in her chest. She had wanted to question Yoongi, to press him on why he kept saving her, but the opportunity hadn't come. Everyone was too on edge, too bruised from the ambush.

The crew had dispersed, but Yoona stayed back, alone in the safe house's dimly lit kitchen. She poured herself a glass of water, staring blankly at the liquid as if it held all the answers she was too afraid to ask.

She heard footsteps behind her—calm, measured. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

"Can't sleep?" Yoongi's voice was low, steady, just behind her.

Yoona stiffened, gripping the glass tighter. "What do you want?" she muttered, still facing away.

"We need to talk," he said, and for the first time, there was no hint of amusement in his tone.

Yoona turned slowly, her heart pounding, her eyes meeting his. There was something different in his gaze now—less guarded, more serious. She could feel the storm brewing between them, something unspoken that had been building for too long.

"About what?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.

But Yoongi didn't answer. He just watched her for a moment longer, his eyes searching hers, before he stepped closer. The room felt smaller, the space between them charged with unspoken tension.

"I can't keep doing this," Yoona said suddenly, her words surprising even herself. "I can't keep pretending like I don't hate you."

Yoongi's gaze didn't waver. "Then stop pretending."

Her breath caught in her throat, but before she could respond, the familiar weight of the knife at her side seemed to grow heavier. The urge to end this—whatever this was—consumed her once more. Without thinking, her hand reached for the weapon, the cool metal giving her a sense of control in the chaos.

Yoongi didn't move. He didn't flinch as she stepped closer, the knife now firmly in her hand, hovering just inches from his chest.

"You want to kill me, Yoona?" His voice was calm, almost challenging. "Then do it."