Tangeled in shadows | Min Yoongi

Chapter 18: A Dangerous Alliance

Yoona woke up to the soft hum of machines, the ache in her side dull but persistent. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light in the room. She could feel the weight of her crew's presence, their bodies slumped in the uncomfortable chairs, finally succumbing to exhaustion.

But what caught her attention was the figure by her side.

Yoongi-Agust-was sitting close, his face softened in sleep. His hand was resting on hers, loosely, but the contact was undeniable. For a moment, she just stared, her mind struggling to process the scene in front of her. This man, her sworn enemy, the person she had hated for so long, was here, beside her. Watching over her as she healed.

Her breath hitched as her eyes traced the sharp lines of his face, softened by the vulnerability of sleep. He looked different like this. Less dangerous. Less like Agust D. More like a person she didn't know-a stranger, not the ruthless mafia boss she had dedicated her life to destroying.

She shifted slightly, wincing as a sharp pain shot through her side. The movement stirred Yoongi awake. His eyes blinked open, and for a brief moment, they were soft, filled with something that made her chest tighten.

Then reality hit him, and the guarded mask slipped back into place. He pulled his hand away, sitting up straighter, his eyes sharp as they locked onto hers.

"You're awake," he said quietly, his voice rough with sleep.

Yoona didn't know how to respond. Her mind was spinning, the weight of what had happened still pressing down on her. She should be angry-furious, even. She had been shot by his men, nearly killed, and yet here he was, taking care of her like she was something more than just an enemy.

"I... I should've killed you," she muttered, more to herself than to him. But the words hung heavy in the air.

Yoongi's expression didn't change. He just looked at her, his gaze intense. "But you didn't."

Silence stretched between them. Yoona didn't know what to say to that. She couldn't explain why she hadn't gone through with it-why she hadn't made that final move when she had the chance. The truth was too confusing, too tangled in emotions she didn't understand.

Finally, Yoongi broke the silence. "You need more rest. You're not fully healed yet."

Yoona's frustration flared. "Why do you care?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended. "Why did you stay by my side?"

Yoongi was silent for a moment, his gaze hardening. "I don't have to explain myself to you."

Yoona clenched her jaw, her eyes narrowing. "You're the reason I'm here. You're the reason all of this-" she gestured weakly toward the room, toward her injury, "-is happening. And now you're acting like you give a damn."

Yoongi's eyes flickered with something she couldn't quite place-something like frustration, but also something deeper. "I'm not your enemy right now," he said quietly, his voice laced with intensity. "You need to heal. That's all you should be focusing on."

Before Yoona could respond, the door opened, and Jisoo stepped inside, her eyes immediately landing on Yoongi. She stiffened, clearly not expecting to see him still there, let alone so close to Yoona.

"What the hell is going on here?" Jisoo demanded, her voice sharp as she stormed across the room. Her eyes flicked between Yoona and Yoongi, suspicion blazing in them.

Yoongi stood up, stepping back from Yoona's bedside. "She's awake," he said simply, as if that explained everything.

Jisoo's gaze hardened. "You need to leave. Now."

Yoongi met her glare with one of his own, but he didn't argue. He glanced back at Yoona, his expression unreadable, before silently walking out of the room.

As soon as he was gone, Jisoo turned to Yoona, her face softening with concern. "Yoona, what's going on? Why is he acting like he cares?"

Yoona sighed, her hand subconsciously going to her side. "I don't know," she muttered. "None of this makes any sense."

Jisoo sat down on the edge of the bed, her eyes filled with worry. "We need to be careful. I don't trust him."

Yoona nodded slowly, but the truth was, she didn't know what to think. Yoongi was supposed to be her enemy, but the lines between them were blurring, and she wasn't sure she could untangle them.

---

Yoongi's steps echoed through the hallway as he made his way toward the holding cells. His mind was racing, his thoughts tangled. He had told himself over and over that keeping Yoona alive was just a tactical move-an advantage he could use against her crew. But deep down, he knew it wasn't that simple.

He had stayed by her side because he wanted her to live. He didn't understand why, but the thought of her dying-even by his hand-had become unbearable.

As he descended into the basement, the cold, damp air settled around him. He pushed the door open to the holding cell where Park was being kept, the traitor who had gone rogue and shot Yoona without his orders.

Park was slumped in the corner of the room, his face bruised and swollen from the beatings Yoongi's men had given him. He looked up as Yoongi entered, fear flashing in his eyes.

Yoongi stepped closer, his expression cold. "You disobeyed a direct order," he said quietly, his voice laced with danger. "And nearly cost me everything."

Park whimpered, his hands trembling as he tried to push himself up. "Boss, I didn't know- I thought you wanted her dead-"

"You thought wrong," Yoongi snapped, cutting him off. His eyes were hard, his patience gone. "You don't make decisions for me. You follow orders. And you didn't."

Park's breathing grew ragged, panic flooding his features. "Please, boss. I didn't mean to-"

Yoongi crouched down in front of him, his eyes narrowing. "Do you know what happens to people who betray me?"

Park's eyes widened in terror, but before he could beg for mercy, Yoongi stood up and motioned to his men standing at the door.

"Take him out of my sight," Yoongi ordered. "And make sure no one ever hears from him again."

As they dragged Park away, Yoongi stood in the silence, his thoughts racing. He had been slipping, letting his emotions cloud his judgment. Yoona was making him weak, and in this world, weakness was deadly.

But despite knowing that, he couldn't shake the feeling that had been growing inside him since the moment he had saved her.

He was no longer sure what was right or wrong anymore. All he knew was that he couldn't let her die-not while she still had a hold on him.

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End of Chapter 17

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This chapter sets up the growing tension and the internal conflicts Yoona and Yoongi are both struggling with. In the next chapter, we can explore the external threat and further dive into the personal backstories that will draw them closer. Let me know what you'd like to explore next!