#2pm drabbles

You sigh. You should’ve known that fake I.D would get flagged by the building security. That marks another supplier off your list. At least you still have a few others that can do a better job next time.

Checking your bindings, you nod to yourself. Simple zip ties. What are these guys? Amateurs? These’ll be off in a just a few seconds. Then you can untie your ankles and get the heck out of here.

“Are you ready to see your city destroyed by the very technology you all so greedily placed in the sky?” the villain asks with a cackle, finally turning around from his massive control panel. “It’ll be the story of the century. Too bad your nosey little self won’t be there to tell it.”

“You really chose the wrong city, you know,” you reply, stilling your hands and lifting your chin. “Clearly you’re a poor scientist.”

His face turns red and he stalks over to you, his nose inches from yours. “Why would you say that?”

“Because you didn’t do your research. Obviously.”

“No research?” He laughs. Backing away, he spins around, gesturing to the computers, blueprints, scans, and maps that fill the room. “I have done nothing but research. How else could my plan be so brilliant?”

“Except you forgot one thing.”

“What could I have possibly forgotten, you fool?”

Looking over his shoulder through the window, you smirk. Eyes going back to the villain’s face, you simply say, “Him.”

You squeeze your eyes shut just in time. Glass shatters. The solid sound of two bodies smashing into each other booms. Angry beeping followed by the heat of explosion.

But the fire never touches you. Instead, only the warmth of two thick arms and a firm body surround you, protecting you from both flames and falling debris.

When you open your eyes, a black O surrounded by a diamond of white stretched over a broad chest is the only thing you see. Ock, the resident superhero. You knew he’d make it just in time. Just like he always does. 

Tilting your head, you smile. “Right on time, Ock. I swear, you have to have a tracker on me.”

Your mysterious friend steps away, shaking his devastatingly handsome head. Of course, there’s not a single scratch on his bright green suit. “More like wherever there’s trouble, you’re always in the thick of it.”

“No idea what you mean.”

Ock gives you a disbelieving look. “Uh-huh. Let’s get you out of those ties so I can get you out of here before the police come and arrest you for trespassing.”

You move your hands away when he reaches for them. “I got it.”

His eyebrows raise into his long hair when you free yourself of your bindings in seconds.

“What?” You shrug nonchalantly, but are secretly quite pleased at impressing him. “You get kidnapped and trussed up more than a few times, you learn.”

“Only you would be able to say something like that and not sound crazy,” Ock says, sighing. “You know that, right? I’ve never met anyone as dogged as you.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment, big guy. So, flying time?” You extend a hand.

Ock looks back at the villain, now sprawled unconscious on the floor. “Yeah. He’s not going anywhere. Chief Douglas is already on his way. He’ll take care of him.”

Like you weigh less than a newspaper page, Ock sweeps you up into his arms. In a few strides, you’re at the edge of the busted window. You have three seconds to see the city spread out below you and then you’re airborne.

You adjust your arms around his neck more securely, but keep your eyes peeled. This bird’s eye view of the city you love never gets old.

“Don’t you get tired of it?” Ock suddenly asks.

You look at him, surprised to find him watching you. “Tired?”

“Of always needing to be rescued.”

“Hey, I had to get myself out of a ton of messes before you just showed up a few months ago,” you retort. “Besides, a story is a story, and-”

“A good reporter follows it until the end,” he finishes.

You pause, puzzeled. You don’t think you’ve ever given him that speech. “How did you know what I was going to say?”

Ock looks away and clears his throat. “Just a good guess, I guess.”

The lightbulb goes off in your head. Your voice is soft, almost lost in the wind. “Are you getting tired of saving me?” you ask guiltily.

“No,” Ock replies immediately. “Never... I just worry that one day... I won’t be on time....”

For once, you’re silent. Studying his face, you can’t find the answer to your puzzle. Sure, superheroes hate when innocent people die, but there seemed to be something more in Ock’s words.

By the time Ock gently lands on The Daily Star’s roof, you still haven’t figured it out. 

“I’m going back to help wrap things up,” Ock says as he sets you down. “Try to stay out of trouble for the rest of the day, okay?”

Before you can reply, he zooms away. You watch him even after he’s no more than a speck, still trying to interpret his words while you were flying. You’re still standing there a few minutes later when the door to the rooftop bangs open and you hear Taecyeon calling your name.

Of course he’s the first one here. Your deskmate and best friend since he transferred in earlier in the year, Taecyeon is always worrying about you. He was probably watching the sky for your return after you didn’t make it back by your designated time.

He grabs your shoulders, eyes scanning you, his glasses slid to the bottom of his nose. His usually perfect hair is disheveled, almost windswept he must have run his hands through it so much. Poor guy’s tie is even crooked and his shirt is hopelessly wrinkled. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, of course.” You pat his shoulder and fix his tie for him. It eases some of the guilt for making him so worried. “And I got the scoop!” 

You reach up to your neck and unbutton your shirt.

“Woah!” Taecyeon squawks. He lets go of you to put his hands in front of your chest. “What’re you-”

“Chill, big guy.” You tug off the top of the button and hold it out to him. “See? It’s a bug. They always check you for those clunky old wires or weapons, but if it’s not super obvious, the bad guys never find it.”

“Oh.”

“C’mon,” you say, hooking your arm in his to lead him back to the stairway door. “It’s been a good day. I got the story, I’m back safe, I got another flight with our new superhero, and there’s still time to submit it for tomorrow’s paper if someone helps me.”

“I’ll always help you,” Taecyeon says seriously.

“I know. Thank you.” You plant a quick peck on his cheek. As you lower yourself back down, you catch a glimpse of his ID tag. “Funny.”

“What is?”

“He’s Ock. Your last name is Ok.”

Taecyeon laughs, fixing his glasses. “Yeah, what a coincidence. Totally.”

You shrug. Maybe it’s a sign. Ock was definitely meant to come into your life. Now if you can just figure out who he really is. As you glance at Taecyeon as he opens the door for you, you pause. Why does he remind you of someone right now?

“What?” he asks, frowning at your scrutiny.

Being home felt strange after so long. You were glad to be spending the holidays with your family again after not being able to for a few years, but it was strange. A part of you regretted having left in the first place, especially since it ended up not being worth it. 

“Minjun’s mom told me that he was visiting for the holiday’s too,” your mother said while the two of you got breakfast ready for everyone. “You do remember Minjun right? You two were two practically stuck at the hip when you were children.”

Ah yes, Kin Minjun. You two were partners in crime up until…well up until you weren’t and you weren’t really sure when that happened.

“You stop by and say hi if you get the chance,” she continued. “I’m sure it would mean a lot.”

You smiled at your mother softly while she gave you a pointed look. 

“It wouldn’t hurt to reconnect with your best friend. You’re gonna be struggling if you’re always on your own.”

“Is it still the same house?” you asked after a moment of silence, earning a smile from your mother.

~~~

You stared at the house from the street. It looked exactly like you remembered it…for the most part anyways. There were a few noticeable renovations but other than that nothing had changed. You weren’t sure how long you’d been standing there for. You were snapped out of your trance when a hand waved in front of your face. Shaking your head, you followed the arm attached to the hand until you found a face. A face you would be able to recognize anywhere given that it looked almost identical to the last time you saw it - minus the small traces of aging that accompany everyone.

“It is you,” you heard Minjun say. “You haven’t changed a bit.”

“Neither have you,” you commented. “Although, you are much taller than I remember.”

He gave a small chuckle, “I didn’t know you were back in town. Are you staying for long?”

“I just moved back actually. I’m moving into an apartment early next month. Just waiting for the holidays to pass.”

He raised his eyebrows in surprise. You could see the wheels turning in his head trying to piece together the information you’d just told him and what he either already knew, or your mother had let slip when she met up with his mother, but he didn’t say a word, opting to just nod before pointing in the direction of the house. 

“Can I offer you anything to drink?”

You nodded following him into the empty home and taking a seat in the living room. Minjun came back with two glasses of water, giving you one while taking a seat beside you on the couch. It was silent for a while before you both went to speak at the same time.

“You go ahead,” you said to Minjun.

He nodded, taking a deep breath before speaking, “I really missed you (y/n). I know we hadn’t really been in touch for a while before you left, but I really did miss you a lot.”

“I missed you too,” you admitted. “I really could’ve used my best friend back in Spain.”

“My mom mentioned that that didn’t turn out as good as everyone thought it would.”

You nodded taking a sip of water, “Yeah, it was less than pleasant to say the least. But I’m leaving that behind and starting anew.”

“Well I wish you the best new beginning,” he said. “And I’m here if you ever need anything.”

“I’ll take you up on that. I may need help moving into my new place, if you’re up for it of course.”

The two of you continued talking not noticing when his mom and brother arrived, until they were joining in on the conversation before they too asked a bunch of questions regarding your return. What you had originally planned to be a quick visit soon turned into you joining them for lunch before Minjun offered to walk you home. The small moments of silence between the two of you were comfortable as you walked home.

Minjun stopped right outside your front door.

“I’m really glad you’re back (y/n),” he said, giving you a smile. “And I hope I’ll see you around while I’m here before I head back to Seoul.”

You nodded, “Me too.”

Just as you turned to open the front door you felt Minjun’s lip press a chaste kiss onto your cheek. Before he ran down the walkway waving at you with a goofy smile on his face.