Taeyong slowly opened his eyes, the sterile scent of the hospital room filling his senses as he blinked away the haze of sleep. His body ached, and the sharp pain from the explosion reverberated through him, but his focus shifted when he felt the presence beside him. Yuta was there, sitting close, watching him with a guarded expression.
"You're awake," Yuta muttered, his voice low and devoid of any real warmth. His eyes flicked over Taeyong, but there was no worry in them—only impatience.
Taeyong winced, trying to sit up, the memories of the previous night rushing back in waves. The explosion, the chaos. "What... happened?"
Yuta's gaze darkened slightly, and he leaned forward, his tone flat and emotionless. "There was a bomb blast at the mansion. Most of the Midnight gang managed to escape."
Taeyong swallowed hard, dread creeping into his chest. "And Soonyoung?" His voice trembled slightly, despite his best efforts to keep it steady.
Yuta's expression didn't shift, but a faint glint of satisfaction crossed his features. "Soonyoung... didn't make it."
For a moment, time seemed to stop. The weight of those words hung in the air between them, heavy and suffocating. Soonyoung was dead. The man who had been Yuta's boyfriend, who had trusted him, believed in him—gone. Just like that.
But instead of grief, instead of the anguish that should have followed such a revelation, both men exchanged a silent look—a shared understanding. And then, almost in unison, they exhaled, as if a great burden had been lifted.
Yuta leaned back in his chair, his hands resting on the arms as he let out a sigh of relief. "It's over."
Taeyong's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smirk. "Finally."
The air between them shifted, tension unraveling as the truth of their situation settled. For years, they had played their parts, Yuta pretending to love Soonyoung, Taeyong keeping their relationship hidden, both of them entwined in the delicate dance of lies. But now, with Soonyoung out of the picture, there was nothing standing in their way.
"No more hiding," Yuta said quietly, his voice filled with a strange sort of freedom. His eyes met Taeyong's, a flicker of something dark passing between them. "We're free."
Taeyong nodded, his heart racing not with fear or regret, but with anticipation. For too long, they had been bound by Soonyoung's presence, by the need to keep their affair a secret. But now, Soonyoung was dead, and they could finally live the life they had wanted—no more lies, no more pretending.
Yuta reached out, placing a hand on Taeyong's arm, his touch firm but not affectionate. "We move forward now. No one can know what really happened."
Taeyong's eyes narrowed, his mind already spinning with the possibilities. "Of course."
There was no mourning in the hospital room that day, no tears shed for the man who had died in the chaos of the bomb blast. Instead, there was a quiet sense of triumph, a mutual understanding that they had won. Soonyoung was gone, and with him, the last obstacle standing in their way.
As they sat there, the hum of the hospital machines filling the silence, both men allowed themselves a moment to savor their victory. But even in their shared relief, there was a flicker of something else—something darker. They had succeeded in freeing themselves from Soonyoung, but at what cost? And how long would this fragile peace between them last, now that the man who had tied them together was gone?
Only time would tell.
_
The farmhouse in Iksan buzzed with life as the Midnight gang relaxed for the first time in what felt like ages. They had been on the edge, battling the CBI, and the memories of the explosion still haunted their minds. But tonight, they could afford to let their guard down, even if just for a little while. The warm, rustic ambiance of the farmhouse, with its wooden beams and crackling fire, added a sense of comfort they hadn't felt in a long time.
The table was littered with half-empty bottles of liquor, snacks, and a few dishes hastily prepared by Jeonghan and Seokmin. The mood was light, laughter echoing throughout the room as they reminisced about their narrow escape. The gang had survived, thanks to Jun and Minghao's last-minute intervention, and they weren't going to let that go unnoticed.
Seungcheol, sitting with his arm draped over Jeonghan's shoulders, watched the room with a satisfied smirk. He couldn't keep his hands off Jeonghan, running his fingers through his husband's hair, placing soft kisses on his cheek. "You know, Jun," Seungcheol began, his voice loud enough to cut through the chatter, "you might've saved our asses, but you've got competition for the most important person here. I still think Jeonghan's my hero."
Jeonghan rolled his eyes dramatically, though a fond smile curled his lips. "Oh please, Cheol. We all know I'm the real brains behind this operation," he teased, leaning into Seungcheol's side. "But honestly, Jun and Minghao really pulled through. We should all be thanking them properly."
The gang cheered in agreement, raising their glasses. Seokmin, sitting beside Joshua, nudged his husband playfully. "You hear that, Josh? We were saved by *artists*." His tone was flirtatious as he brushed his fingers along Joshua's arm. "I guess I'll have to make sure you're safe in bed tonight too, just like they saved us."
Joshua's cheeks flushed, and he gave Seokmin a playful shove. "Seokmin, *stop*," he muttered, clearly embarrassed by his husband's forwardness. But his eyes twinkled, showing he didn't really mind. "Focus on celebrating, will you?"
Jun, who had been quietly watching from the corner of the room, couldn't hide his pride. He held Minghao close, his hand resting on the small of his back. "Honestly, Minghao deserves all the credit," Jun said, his voice warm as he gazed at his lover. "He stepped up when it mattered most, even though he hates all of this... the violence, the danger. He didn't have to be here, but he was."
Minghao, his face flush from all the attention, waved his hand dismissively. "I just did what I had to do. Don't make a big deal out of it." But despite his words, he leaned into Jun's side, letting the comfort of his presence wash over him. There was a glimmer of something deeper in his eyes, though, as if the events of the night still weighed heavily on him.
"Big deal or not, you two really did save the day," Joshua chimed in, raising his glass again. "We'd be screwed without you."
As the teasing and laughter continued around the room, Jihoon sat in the corner, nursing his drink. His usual sharp tongue was uncharacteristically silent as his thoughts wandered. The celebration should've been enough to lift his spirits—after all, they had made it through—but his mind kept drifting back to Soonyoung.
He huffed, running a hand through his hair as he stared at the flames in the fireplace. Despite everything, the thought of Soonyoung lying unconscious in the wreckage gnawed at him. He had saved him, yes. But was it out of duty, or something more? Soonyoung had betrayed them, and yet, Jihoon couldn't shake the feeling of unease in his chest.
"Earth to Jihoon," Seungcheol's voice pulled him from his thoughts. Jihoon blinked, looking up to see Seungcheol's knowing smirk. "You okay over there? You've been quiet all night."
Jihoon shrugged, trying to brush it off. "Just thinking. That's all."
Jeonghan, always perceptive, tilted his head curiously. "About the mission? Or... someone in particular?" His eyes gleamed with mischief, but there was genuine concern behind them.
Jihoon scoffed, but the heat rose to his cheeks. "It's nothing."
But Seokmin, ever the jokester, chimed in with a sly grin. "Ah, I see. Thinking about Soonyoung, aren't you?"
The room grew quieter for a moment, the name hanging in the air. Jihoon shot Seokmin a glare, but it wasn't as sharp as usual. There was no denying it now. Soonyoung's presence—or rather, absence—was heavy on his mind.
Jun, always the mediator, changed the subject with a light chuckle. "Let's not spoil the mood. We've got more than enough reasons to celebrate tonight. We're alive, together, and for now, that's what matters."
The others nodded in agreement, though Jihoon remained quiet. As the conversation shifted back to lighter topics, he took another sip of his drink, trying to drown out the thoughts of Soonyoung that continued to linger.
But no matter how hard he tried, Jihoon couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from over.
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The Conquest (Underworld 5) SH
FanfictionBOOK #5 "Breaking up their entire mafia operation and exposing their underground dealings is the only way I can secure that promotion." "And you really think I'll just stroll into your trap, officer? You'll need more than a shiny badge to catch me."...