Tangeled in shadows | Min Yoongi

Chapter 12: Crossfire

The abandoned warehouse loomed in the distance, its rusted metal walls hiding secrets that whispered through the night air. Yoongi stood near the entrance, his hands tucked into the pockets of his leather jacket, eyes scanning the darkened surroundings. He could feel the tension tightening in the air, a storm brewing just out of sight.

Tonight was supposed to be about clarity—a chance to confront Yoona, to strip away the layers of confusion that had built up between them. But as he waited, his heart thrummed with an anxious rhythm, a reminder that the stakes were higher than ever.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the quiet, drawing his attention. Yoona stepped into the flickering light, her expression a mask of defiance and uncertainty. He had seen her like this before—fire and ice, determination battling with vulnerability. But tonight, there was something else in her gaze, something that suggested a deeper conflict.

"Agust," she said, her voice steady despite the palpable tension. "What's this about?"

"Smoke," he replied, his tone low but firm. "I needed to see you. We need to talk."

She took a step closer, her eyes searching his face for answers. "Talk about what? The last time we met, you said everything was a game. What's changed?"

He could feel the weight of her scrutiny, the way she seemed to peer straight into his soul. "I'm not playing games this time. There's too much at stake."

Yoona crossed her arms, a defensive gesture that made him want to reach out and pull her closer. "Like what? Your empire? Your power? Or is it something more?"

He hesitated, caught off guard by her directness. "You know what's at stake, Yoona. You're caught in the middle of this, and I can't let you become collateral damage."

"Collateral damage," she echoed, her voice sharp. "That's all I am to you? A pawn in your game?"

"No!" The word escaped him more forcefully than he intended. He took a breath, composing himself. "You're not just a pawn. You're more than that. You have a choice, and I want to help you see it."

She shook her head, a mix of disbelief and hurt flickering across her features. "Help me? After everything? You think I can trust you?"

"Trust is a risk we both have to take," he said, stepping closer, the space between them charged with unspoken words. "But I need to know where you stand. Are you with them, or are you with me?"

Before she could respond, a sharp crack echoed through the night, piercing the tension like a knife. Yoongi's heart raced as he turned, instinctively moving to shield Yoona, but it was too late.

Another shot rang out, and Yoona staggered back, her hand instinctively reaching for her side where a crimson stain began to blossom against her shirt. Time seemed to slow, the world narrowing down to the sound of her sharp gasp.

"Yoona!" he shouted, panic flooding his veins as he rushed to her side.

She fell to the ground, her eyes wide with shock, pain flashing across her face. "Yoon..." she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What the hell happened?" He could barely think, adrenaline surging through him as he knelt beside her, hands hovering uncertainly. "Who shot you?"

Yoona grimaced, pain twisting her features. "It... it was one of yours..."

The realization hit him like a freight train. No—They were supposed to keep their distance. His mind raced, fury mixing with fear. He had underestimated the loyalty of his own crew, the way they might react to a situation spiraling out of control.

"W-hy?" Yoona struggled to ask, her voice a mix of disbelief and betrayal. "Why would they do this?"

"I don't know," he said, his voice fierce as he looked around for the shooter. "But I swear, I'll make this right."

As he fumbled to assess the wound, trying to remain calm, Yoongi caught a glimpse of one of his men lingering in the shadows. The man's face was pale, shock etched into his features. He hadn't intended for this to happen, but the damage was done.

"Get help!" Yoongi barked, not taking his eyes off Yoona. "Now!"

"Yoon..." she gasped, her strength waning. "You need to—"

"I'm right here, Yoona," he said, trying to keep his voice steady, though his heart raced with dread. "Just hold on. Help is coming."

But as he held her gaze, something shifted within him—a growing rage mixed with fear. She was bleeding out in front of him, and he could feel the weight of everything crashing down. This was supposed to be a conversation, a chance for clarity, not this brutal reminder of their world.

"Why did you come here?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "You could have stayed away."

"Because I couldn't," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I needed to see you. I needed to know you were safe."

"I'm not safe..." she replied, her voice fading, a mixture of resignation and anger in her eyes.

"No, don't say that." Yoongi's hands pressed against the wound, his heart pounding as he tried to staunch the bleeding. "You have to fight, Yoona. You can't give up now."

But deep down, he knew that this moment would change everything between them. The lines they had drawn were now smeared with blood, their worlds colliding in a way he hadn't anticipated.

He could feel his own heart racing, the gravity of his decisions weighing down on him. He had stepped into this fight with clarity, but now everything felt muddled. He would do anything to protect her, but the chaos of their lives threatened to consume them both.

The sound of footsteps echoed again, and Yoongi looked up to see Jin rushing in, his eyes wide with shock as he assessed the scene. "Boss, what happened?"

"Get a medic! Now!" Yoongi barked, his voice low and filled with a protective rage. "She's hurt. This was one of my men—"

"I'll take care of it," Jin said, springing into action, but Yoongi's focus remained on Yoona, her breathing becoming shallow.

"Stay with me, Smoke," he urged, his voice breaking slightly. "You're going to be okay. I won't let anything happen to you."

Her eyes flickered, the fight dimming in her gaze. "Agust... I..."

"Don't!" he said sharply, desperation creeping into his tone. "You can't leave me like this. We have to talk. There's so much we need to sort out."

But even as he spoke, he felt the warmth of her blood soaking into his hands, the stark reality settling in. The stakes had risen, and now they were caught in a web of violence that neither of them could escape.

And as the darkness began to close in around her, Yoongi realized that everything he thought he knew was about to unravel.