The Box (A Twice AU)

Chapter 13 - A glimpse of the past?

Jeongyeon got out of the police car and approached her squad leader. Lee Sunmi stood watching the crisis negotiator intently. She stood beside Sunmi. The back and forth between the hostage takers and the negotiator seemed to be a lost case from what Jeongyeon could gather.

"Why are you not in gear, Yoo?" She heard the woman speak beside her. Jeongyeon immediately stood in attention. She has always admired that about the older woman, able to command respect whenever she spoke. Sunmi was a fierce woman, able to make the more arrogant members of the police force cower by the mere mention of her name. Jeongyeon knew that Sunmi was never a woman to be crossed, and she respected her more for that. Not to mention a very beautiful woman Jeongyeon thought. Seungyeon is very lucky... or is Sunmi the lucky one?

"Are we expecting action today?" Jeongyeon asked casually... until she realized it. "... Ma'am."

"Guess you got too used to me being a fixture in your house eh, Jeong?" Sunmi smiled endearingly. "Careful not to speak to me that way in front of other people."

"Sorry. It's reflex at this point. You've been going home with Seungyeon-unnie so much... You already feel like family." Jeongyeon sheepishly replied. Sunmi just chuckled and ruffled the younger's hair, something Jeongyeon despised, but what is she gonna do? It's Sunmi.

"Yes the negotiation seem to not be going anywhere, it's only a matter of time before we're called to action." Sunmi got back on topic, putting her serious face back on. "You should go gear up, Officer Yoo. Seungyeon will lob my head off if you get grazed even once." And Jeongyeon had no choice but to salute quickly and follow her superior's orders.

[later]

Jeongyeon took a deep breath and looked around her squadmates before looking back to Sunmi. Sunmi was trying to boost their squads morale, giving a speech on how this could be their last if they do not fight well, and how the lives of the hostages inside relied on them. As everyone waited for the signal, Sunmi approached her.

"You nervous, Jeong?" she asked. Jeongyeon just nodded.

"This will be my first combat experience. I'm pretty green." She answered.

"Fair enough" Sunmi nodded. "Everyone's first combat is always the hardest. But you will get through this. I've seen you in training."

"I don't think dummies and humans are the same, Captain" Jeongyeon tried to joke. Sunmi smiled.

"No. No they're not." Sunmi admitted. "But listen." She put her hands on the younger's shoulder.

"Listen to me Yoo", her squad leader told her. "Inside that building are five civilians with guns pointed at them. Inside that building are criminals who won't hesitate to fire at you and kill you until your life ends. This isn't just a matter of saving those civilians. It's also a matter of you walking out of there alive and be able to do more for the city after that." Sunmi finished. Jeongyeon nodded very quickly.

"I can do this. I can do this" Jeongyeon repeated. "I'll follow your lead Captain!" she claimed.

"Good." Sunmi looked at the negotiator, who in turn, shook his head. Sunmi looked upon her squad. "Well. Ladies and gents. It's time." Everyone nodded.

[later]

Jeongyeon stood with her squad outside the room where the hostages were held. They didn't encounter resistance on the way up aside from the two guards they quickly and silently dispatched, so it was safe to assume all the armed men were inside one room. Jeongyeon held her suppressed assault rifle in hand as one of her squadmates placed a small charge on the wall to break it down. Outside she can still hear the negotiator "trying" to reason with the hostage takers to no avail. Another squadmate pulled out a flashbang. Everyone waited Sunmi's signal...