MASKED FACES || SEVENTEEN

⛥ FORTY TWO ⛥

The cavernous warehouse reverberated with the deafening crack of bullets, their echoes lingering in the eerie silence. The two men, concealed behind a flimsy wall, persisted in firing their weapons in a relentless barrage, their aim directed at the very warehouse that had become the target of their mission.

Numerous men lay motionless on the ground, their bodies crumpled in various positions, testament to the chaos and violence that had erupted within the warehouse.

Jeonghan meticulously loaded the bullets, his movements efficient and routine, almost as mundane as brushing his teeth each day. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips as he methodically slotted the bullets into place. His gaze flicked to Hoshi, seemingly unbothered by his lack of effort, casually twisting his dagger instead of aiming for their enemies.

Jeonghan's voice echoed through the warehouse, a hint of annoyance tinged with concern in his tone as he called out to Hoshi. "Tiger, focus" he urged.
Hoshi responded with a nonchalant eye-roll, his preference evident. "I'm not into shooting, I prefer stabbing," he stated matter-of-factly. "Why did you choose me when you could have picked Mingyu or Wonwoo?"

Jeonghan let out an exasperated sigh, the weight of their situation heavy in the air. "We needed someone for this mission and you happened to be the best for it," he explained, his voice tinged with a mix of resignation and determination. "Mingyu and Wonwoo are occupied elsewhere, and time is not on our side."

"You're skilled, Hoshi," Jeonghan continued, his voice firm but carrying a hint of reassurance. "Just remember your training and we'll get through this. We don't have time for distractions."

After the intense mission had concluded, Jeonghan and Hoshi found themselves ensconced within the confines of their car. A pensive silence enveloped the vehicle, interrupted only by the occasional hum of the engine.
Jeonghan, observant as ever, couldn't help but notice that Hoshi was seemingly lost in a whirlwind of thoughts, his gaze distant and contemplative.

Jeonghan glanced at Hoshi, concern etched onto his features as he took in his teammate's unfocused stare. "You alright, Hoshi?" he asked, his voice a low, soothing rumble that cut through the silence.

Hoshi snapped out of his reverie, momentarily startled by Jeonghan's question. "Yeah, I'm fine" he responded, the words coming out a bit too quickly, as if he was trying to convince himself more than Jeonghan.

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow, skeptical of Hoshi's hasty reassurance. He could see the tension in the younger's shoulders, the way his fingers nervously fidgeted with a loose thread on his shirt. "You don't seem fine," Jeonghan retorted gently. "If something's on your mind, you can talk about it, you know."

Hoshi inhaled deeply, a mixture of pain and regret etched into his features as he began to speak. "It's about Somin" he confessed, his voice tinged with a hint of both raw emotion and resignation.
Jeonghan's chest tightened in response, and he exhaled a weary sigh, his voice carrying a hint of irritation. "Hoshi, what did I tell you about not talking about this?" he repeated sternly.

Hoshi's shoulders sagged under the weight of his grief and guilt, his voice choked with remorse. "I can't, hyung" he repeated, his words thick with emotion. "I'm the reason for Somin's death. I shouldn't have let her go that day..."
Jeonghan's expression softened at Hoshi's raw confession, his own heart aching at the younger's pain. He reached out a comforting hand, placing it on Hoshi's shoulder.