Tangeled in shadows | Min Yoongi

Chapter 25: A Line Crossed

The mission was supposed to be simple—a routine raid on an enemy shipment. But nothing ever went as planned. As gunfire erupted in the darkened warehouse, Yoona and Yoongi fought side by side, covering each other's backs with a precision that had become second nature.

"Smoke! Cover the west entrance!" Yoongi's voice cut through the chaos, firm but tinged with an urgency she hadn't heard before.

Yoona didn't question it, moving in sync with him as they pressed forward. They took down the last of the guards, the gunshots echoing in their ears. Silence fell, thick and charged, and Yoona exhaled slowly, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline and relief wash over her. But tonight, there was something else beneath the surface, something deeper, more unsettling.

Yoongi turned to her, and for a moment, his usual calm mask slipped. "Are you hurt?"

The question came out rougher than he intended, and his eyes were searching hers, lingering a bit too long. Yoona felt her heartbeat quicken under his gaze, surprised by the raw concern in his voice.

"I'm fine," she replied, her voice soft, almost breathless. "It's nothing."

"Nothing?" Yoongi took a step closer, his brow furrowing. "Smoke, that was way too close. You could've been—"

He broke off, clenching his jaw as if trying to rein in his emotions. Yoona noticed the slight tremor in his hands, the way his fists clenched tightly at his sides. For someone as composed as Yoongi, it was a clear sign that tonight's events had rattled him more than usual.

"Agust," she said softly, her tone almost tentative. She wanted to say something reassuring, to break the tension hanging thick between them, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she reached out instinctively, placing a hand on his shoulder.

The simple touch sent a spark between them, a silent acknowledgment of everything left unsaid. Yoongi's eyes flickered down to her hand, then back up to her face, and Yoona's breath hitched as she felt the intensity of his gaze.

They stood there, locked in place, the world fading away around them. Yoongi's hand moved almost of its own accord, lifting to brush a strand of hair from her face. His fingers lingered, his touch warm against her cheek, and Yoona felt herself lean into it, drawn to him in a way she couldn't deny any longer.

"Yoona..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.

For a moment, neither of them moved, caught in the tension between them. And then, as if some invisible line had finally snapped, Yoongi leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a tentative, hesitant kiss. It was quick, just a whisper of contact, but it was enough to shatter the walls they'd both so carefully built.

Yoona's heart pounded, her mind racing as she registered the softness of his mouth, the faint taste of adrenaline and warmth that was uniquely him. The kiss lasted only a second before they broke apart, both of them breathing heavily, staring at each other in shock.

"Smoke... I..." Yoongi started, his voice rough and uncertain. But he didn't finish, as if he couldn't find the words to explain what had just happened.

Yoona stepped back, her fingers lifting to her lips, still tingling from the unexpected kiss. She searched his eyes, looking for some hint of explanation, but all she saw was the same uncertainty mirrored in his gaze.

"Agust," she whispered, her voice barely steady. "What are we doing?"

Yoongi let out a shaky breath, raking a hand through his hair. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice raw. "But I can't... I can't keep pretending that I don't think about you."

Yoona's heart clenched at his confession, and she felt her own carefully constructed walls begin to crumble. She had told herself that he was just an ally, that the strange warmth she felt around him was nothing more than the adrenaline of survival. But now, standing in the dim light of the warehouse with the memory of his lips on hers, she couldn't deny the truth any longer.

"Me neither," she whispered, barely able to look him in the eyes. "I keep telling myself this is all just part of the mission, that we're just here to survive. But..."

Her voice trailed off, and she looked away, struggling to find the words. Yoongi reached out, his hand closing gently around hers, grounding her in the midst of her confusion.

"Yoona," he murmured, his tone softer than she'd ever heard it. "Maybe... maybe we don't have to understand it right now. But I can't keep pushing you away."

Yoona felt a surge of emotion at his words, and without thinking, she squeezed his hand. "Then don't."

They stood in silence, each absorbing the weight of what had just happened. It was terrifying, knowing they had crossed a line they could never uncross, but it was also liberating, like they had both finally admitted something they'd been denying for far too long.

Just then, a voice called out, breaking the silence. Jisoo and Seulgi were waiting by the exit, their expressions a mixture of confusion and amusement as they watched the two leaders standing far too close.

"Are you two planning to stay here all night?" Jisoo teased, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Or can we get moving?"

Yoongi quickly dropped Yoona's hand, clearing his throat and taking a step back. "Let's go," he said, his voice regaining its usual composure, though his eyes lingered on Yoona for a moment longer before he turned away.

As they walked out, Yoona felt her heart still racing, the memory of his touch lingering like a promise. She didn't know what the future held, but one thing was certain: there was no going back.