Behind Enemy Lines

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: All names of places and people are not owned by me and this is purely a work of fiction... just in case you didn't know, oof.

This is mostly just for shits and giggles since I'm in the middle of writing a book. :3 enjoy what writer's block has brought me

Dedicated to my friend, happy birthday girl~
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The quickest way to a man's heart was through the stomach. This was something Leah knew all too well.

Caldwell was a pig, uncaring for manners as he hastily scarfed down his food. Mashed potatoes and peas clung to his beard in a waterfall of slobber as he reached to strangle a leg of chicken onto his plate.

Leah sat silently with her own plate untouched as the man finished his food and stood to leave. Wet, meaty hands patted her head as he swiped his stache full of whipped cream.

He blamed it on a miscalculation when his hand hungrily grasped her shoulder and dislodged the loose tie holding her dress together. He blamed it on opportunity when unclean fingers left abrasions on her bare chest.

Leah reckoned it closer to fate when Goliath Caldwell collapsed a step from the door. Her cold smile glowed in the rays of the rising sun. Another job well done.

Nimble fingers tied her shoulder strap closed and she stood towering over his colossal figure. Her work was quick as she removed the ring finger of the man with a concealed dagger on her thigh. She was careful to preserve the two gold rings at the base when she slipped the dismemberment into a blacked out bag.

Without further delay, out the door she went clutching her trophy in one hand and the stolen keys of her dead husband in the other. The click of her heels ricocheted against the concrete as she made her way to Caldwell's favorite car. The guards at the gate smiled at her, one even wished her a good day. Her disarming nature came out easily like breathing. A small tilt of her head to the brutish man and an extra sway to her hips was all it took for him to blush and stutter like a boy half his age. The older of three at the gate rolled his eyes at the common behavior and scanned his hand for the opening of large metal bars. Leah was all too happy to exit the premises, her farewell was honest when she clicked open the door of the black Mercedes.

Switching the gear, Leah checked the dash. She was ahead of schedule, how nice. Perhaps she'd even have time to grab some Starbucks before reporting in to her boss.

As she rolled out the drive, the shouts of men sung through the doors.

Leah stepped on the gas.

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Namjoon was having a good day.

He had awoken early to take a walk and caught a group of deer grazing on his usual trail. They were ethereal the way they wandered past without a care in the world. One even nuzzled his hand when he sought to capture a photo. The nuzzler was a gem, a young female who had bright white spots coating her hind legs. The father of this gem didn't seem too concerned with his offspring interacting with a human but even so, Namjoon held his breath when his camera shuttered to catch a Polaroid picture.

At the sound of the snapshot, Gem retreated to her father but Namjoon couldn't be happier. He yearned to blow up this photo and encase it in his room. He imagined it'd go nicely with his wide assortment of house plants and wooden sculptures. Nothing was like displaying one's own art however, he'd treasure this day forever.

Namjoon was going to risk taking another photo when the call of his name billowed from up the trail. Sound birds screeched and flocked away at the sound of the noise, summoning all the creatures with them. Gem and her family sped away, taking with them his shred of joy.

Namjoon sighed as he returned the call of his handler. Heavy footsteps soon joined him as Rathe clambered through the thick foliage. His black suit was dirtied and sweat soaked as Rathe's wrinkled hands attempted to smooth the material down for a form of dignity.

Not one to waste time, Rathe's words were curt. "Young Master, you are required at the mansion."

Namjoon clicked his tongue, hand grabbing his phone from his pocket. When he swiped the screen, his mood visibly darkened. "It's not eight yet Rathe, whatever you expect of me can wait."

Rathe fixed his tie. "That may be Mr. Namjoon, but with your father away, the responsibilities of the HeadMaster befall on you and—"

Namjoon ran a hand through his warm hair. This was not the morning he envisioned. "Can't you make Jin do it? He's the one who shadows our father anyway in every meeting. Not like the bastard would bother to invite me..."

"Mr. Namjoon!"

A bitter laugh escaped him and Namjoon didn't bother to look back as he retreated further down the yellowbrook.

"Mr. Namjoon!" Rathe puffed as his stocky figure scrambled to not slip on the jagged stones coating the walkway. "Your father has his reasons on why he does what he does, even if it doesn't always make sense to you. Master Kim put your name in the trust of his legacy, not Master Seok Jin."

Namjoon stopped in the middle of the road. He did not turn. "What?"

Leather shoes squeaked as they neared. "Your father is getting old Master Namjoon, and knows that in order to preserve this organization he needs a suitable heir. While away, he wanted me to specifically monitor how well you do on completing his schedule."

Namjoon was flabbergasted, his heart rate sped. "I never knew..."

Rathe continued to lecture him on the importance of responsibility but Namjoon turned him out to simply breathe.

Namjoon didn't know how to digest Rathe's information. His honey eyes caught his balcony in the distance overlooking the great Forest Kiba; the epicenter of his father's legacy. All he felt when looking at the building his family curated was a heavy burden--a burden that was now being shoved on his shoulders. He didn't want the extra weight but he had always felt bitter towards his brother for being the favorite of the two. Jin partook in everything with their father: every meeting, every dinner, and every dance. Namjoon couldn't understand why he was being tested for something Jin had obviously been groomed for. Even so, there was a creeping lake of pride swimming in his belly. For the first time, he was chosen over his older brother. And it was him being scouted for the boss position, not Seok Jin.

Namjoon wanted to make his father proud while he was away, if only to rub it in the face of his brother that he accomplished something Jin had not. Namjoon could imagine the scowl Jin would make when he was told he wasn't leader material. Boss had a nice ring to it.

Namjoon glanced at the edges of the building that awaited him. There were two guards holding binoculars scanning the trees repeatedly as if he'd just magically appear from thick foliage. They were under the direction of Rathe while his father was away, and Namjoon didn't doubt his handler was above sicking his mutts on him if he decided to book it through the woods. The possibility was tantalizing but he knew ultimately useless. With a simple cock of his head through the cherry trees, he spotted more men flanking him with guns he imagined to be tranquilizers.

Rathe knew him too well.

Namjoon sighed, his hands slipping into his pockets and he nodded to the still jabbering old man as he made his way back up the winding steps that withheld his destiny.

What a wonderful morning.