Guts (EXO)

The Verdict

Chanyeol’s big dark brown eyes turned into raging slits seeing who the mystery savior was. With no hesitation, he furiously stomped towards the former M-LX agent, arms tightening up and causing his muscles to bulge out and for his powers to be summoned. Hot, burning fire rid up from his palms to his shoulders.

Seeing what the boy was about to do, Agent M gave him a stern look. “Chanyeol, don’t.”

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he demanded, his chest slightly bumping with Baekhyun’s before pushing him so hard the boy’s back collided harshly against the walls.

“Ow!” Baekhyun cried, not only because of the painful impact of metal against his back, but also because of Chanyeol’s push. Chanyeol’s arms were ablaze the moment he pushed him, leaving a nasty burn on his chest that was still hissing with smoke.

“Chanyeol, stop it right now!” Agent M exclaimed, gesturing to Suho and Kris to stop the angry boy. The two nodded and pulled Chanyeol back despite glaring at Baekhyun.

“How dare you come here, traitor!?” Sehun angrily questioned, also advancing towards Baekhyun. Lay prevented him from going any further.

 “Sir, how can you just bring him to the HQ? Once Jiyong finds out where we are it’ll be the end of all of us!” Chen said, looking incredulously at Myungjae.

“Calm down, everyone,” Myungjae said, walking over to Baekhyun and helping him get back to his feet. “It’s okay. He won’t do us any harm.”

“Won’t do us any harm!? Did you just suddenly forget what the hell he did to us!? He already caused us  so much harm!” Chanyeol exclaimed, not taking his eyes away from Baekhyun who was looking to the side, refusing to look at his former teammates.

“Well that’s all in the past!” Myungjae bit back, pushing Baekhyun behind him. “Baekhyun was the one who helped me escape. Once you crashed the party I managed to get out of the room I was held captive in. While I was finding my way out, I came across a group of Xinths and before they could take me again, Baekhyun saved me,” he explained. “He gave me his gun and from there he helped me escape, all the while fighting against Jiyong’s men. Eventually we found our way but couldn’t use a car because it would be too suspicious. We came here by foot,” he said, eyeing the M-LX agents in the room carefully.

“But how can you just trust him so quickly!? He’s the reason why all this is happening!” Chanyeol yelled.

“He is not!” Myungjae yelled back, his booming voice startling everyone. “There is no one else – no one –“ he emphasized, “–responsible for all this madness except for Jiyong. He is the one and only person who caused harm to everyone so don’t blame it on anyone else but him.

“I know Baekhyun betrayed your trust. Our trust. But can’t people change?” Myungjae questioned. “You kids are so caught up with the past when you’re living in the present. You think holding grudges will benefit anyone? No! Not even you! It’ll only make you feel like crap!” he exclaimed. “Me and Baekhyun were talking on the way here and he wants to help us. He wants in again and he may just be the key to stop Jiyong.”

“It’s not as easy as it sounds,” Chanyeol said in a much quieter voice. “It’s not like we can just take the bitterness away and be friends again.”

“But that’s not what I’m asking,” Baekhyun entered, finally lifting his head up and revealing his tired, worn-out eyes. “I’m not asking to be friends again. I’m not asking you to forget nor am I asking you to bring back the old times. Heck, I’m not asking you to even forgive me. But what I am asking is for you to give me another chance,” he said, clenching his fists secretly behind his back in order to stop the shaking. “I know it’s going to be hard because that requires trust but I can be of extreme help to you. Jiyong told me a lot about his plans and I can share that with you if you’d let me,” he finished, jaw clenching and unclenching as he fought to keep an emotionless façade.