Dead Can't Talk (Seventeen x OC Gang Au)

Chapter 5

The living room seemed almost too quiet except for the TV news reporter updating the 13 males on the latest updates. The same woman from few days before now stood in front of the large police headquarter with an ocean of reporters and journalists, all snapping photos and asking questions. "Last night, the Seoul Police managed to bust yet another drug deal but this time, it is one of the largest as they caught Top Dragon and its leader right in the act. Top Dragon is one of the biggest and most mysterious drug dealing gang...," the woman announced.

"Wow, that's really unexpected," Wonwoo commented from where he sat on the couch. "Top Dragon had been hiding their deals for years and the police just upped and caught them," he looked stumped by the revelation.

Jihoon let out a snort. "Looks like the dumbass police did something right for once," he scoffed.

"But even so, it really needs to get into the perspective of a gang member to actually bust Top Dragon," Minghao added.

It seemed almost impossible that something so opaque and secretive like Top Dragon got busted just like that. The news cut to the face of Top Dragon's leader, a scrawny face and a large scar across his cheeks. He was shouting about getting revenge. "I pity the guy who managed to find out and bust him," Seokmin shook his head, but otherwise uncaring towards the leader. "Dammit, I lost again?" he whined throwing down his cards.

Soonyoung and Chan laughed as they restarted the game of UNO. Jeonghan seemed to pay the most attention to the news. He had been like that ever since the day that Jeonghui's forbidden name rose up. Seungcheol sat next to him, half paying attention to the news and half to Vernon's conversation. "The police had refused to disclose the name of the person who set up the base idea of what to do but she had been a big help in laying out the drug dealing business bare," the woman continued.

"That's new," Jihoon spoke up again. "Usually policemen would boast about their achievements or some shit," he rolled his eyes. Wonwoo nodded in agreement. Eventually, Jeonghan switched off the television with a deep sigh.

"What's up, hyung?" Chan asked.

Jeonghan forced a small smile. "Not much," he shrugged before getting up and heading to his bedroom. The whole house was quiet as they watched the second eldest enter his room. Seungcheol stood up with a worried frown.

"I'll go check on him," he shot them a reassuring smile. The rest nodded. They could trust their leader when it comes to their mental health or their lives for the matter. Seungcheol jogged to Jeonghan's room and gave three soft knocks. There was no answer but Seungcheol entered anyways.

Jeonghan laid on the top bunk, a framed photo held high above his head. "Hannie," Seungcheol whispered as he stepped on the bed of the bottom bunk so his head popped above the low wooden barrier that prevented Jeonghan from falling off. He could see the photo of Jeonghui when she first joined the gang, hiding behind Jeonghan, who had longer hair then. Her shy smile and dimpled cheeks reminded Seungcheol how much they fawned over her and treated her as their little princess.

"She was a sweet child, wasn't she?" Jeonghan gently stroke the photo as if he was stroking her hair. A method he used to calm her down when she had a terrible nightmare. Seungcheol could hear the sadness and longing in Jeonghan's voice as he sighed deeply.

"She was," he mumbled, reaching out to take the photo frame. "I still couldn't really forgive myself when I put her on her first mission," he gave a quiet laugh. "But she's a stubborn one. And slightly too naive."

Jeonghan nodded as his hand dropped to his stomach. Seungcheol's face had the look of pity. Jeonghan pampered and babied Jeonghui the most and had argued strongly against her first mission but she determinedly proved to be a strong, unexpected assets in their missions that all agreed to let her do the tiny details. Gradually, her job got larger...

And her childish thoughts of being a great gang member disappeared slowly.

Jeonghan sighed. "What happened if that night, I understood her better and treated her like an equal instead of dismissing her concerns? Would she have run away? Would our group change?" he wondered out loud. There was a pregnant silence as Seungcheol laid his head beside Jeonghan's.

"I don't know," he whispered. It was true. Seventeen consisted of criminals. Outcasts. Scum to society. Most of the members had a deep hatred to the 'fair' community of Seoul. It wasn't their fault but it was just how life went. The world did them the dirty. It was only fair to get revenge. To suddenly have a change of heart... seemed pretty much impossible.

There was another sigh from Jeonghan. "She was different, right?" he mumbled. Seungcheol nodded but didn't answer. The far-away look in Jeonghan's eyes showed that he had forgotten the older was beside him. Jeonghan remembered how he had found the little girl crying while bigger kids picked on her. He remembered the awful names they called her.

"Unwanted witch. Bad luck baby. Mommy and daddy's unloved," they taunted as they pulled on her hair and kicked her mercilessly. But she never cried, trying her best to protect herself. She was only ten then but she had spirit. Jeonghan decided right then and there that he had to protect her. Being much more intimidating even with his pretty face, he managed to terrorise off the bullies and took her home. By then, her fight had gone out after trying to stay strong for so long but she struggled weakly against him before eventually letting the man 6 years older than her carefully take her to his home and gave her the love she needed.

Jeonghan never forgave her parents for throwing her away when Jeonghui told him that her mommy and daddy didn't want her ever since she was born. When her baby brother came into their world, they tossed her away into a random orphanage and drove off, never bothering to leave her anything except for her stuffed bunny. He swore to protect her like a little sister, his little baby, just like how he swore to protect his own sister a long time ago.

Tears trickled down Jeonghan's face as he stared up at the ceiling. He missed her terribly. Seungcheol's head snapped up when he realised Jeonghan was crying. He reached out and gently wiped away the salty liquid that continued making his way down his cheeks.

"Hey, it's okay," Seungcheol swung himself up onto Jeonghan's bed effortlessly and pulled his friend close to his chest, hand softly running through his hair. "It's okay. Sshh, it's okay," he whispered, rocking back and forth in hopes to calm Jeonghan down. Jeonghan's head pressed against the warm comforting chest of his leader as he continued crying but he was unable to see the tears that rolled down Seungcheol's face too as he stayed strong for his member, his best friend and confidant and as he stayed strong for Jeonghui, the girl he too loved as his innocent little princess.

Both of them could hear the bedroom door opening as the members entered one by one. They could hear them climbing up the steps to the top bunk and squeezed into the tiny bed. They could feel the 22 other arms wrapping them up into a tight emotional ball of hugs.

They may be hard-hearted criminals but they were still humans. Just like anyone else in the world.