#halazia

|| SYNOPSIS: The Black Fever is not a gentle legend, nor a tavern song: it is a name that runs across the waves like a curse, a shadow that cuts through the mist and leaves behind the silence of those who never returned. And when you find yourself dragged away from your orderly life, from your family name, from the certainties that have always kept you fixed in the proper place, you understand that there is no longer a “before” to cling to. They are not heroes. They are not saviors. And they have no intention of making you feel safe. The problem is that when the sea chooses, it demands.

|| WARNINGS! n$fw, smut, MINORS DO NOT INTERACT eventual smut, slow burn, lots of teasing, mentions of assassination, thievery, pirate stuff, violence, alcohol, fembodied reader, polyamory, fluff, relationships, pirate of the carribbean fanfiction inspo, pirate!Hongjoong, pirate!Seonghwa, pirate!Yeosang, pirate!San, pirate!Wooyoung, pirate!Mingi, pirate!Jongho, pirate!Yunho

|| REMINDER: my works do not represent the irl members in any way, this is purely a work of FICTION.

0. Will you be my friend?

1. Beginning of the End.

2. Shadows in the Fog.

3. Hello, princess!

4. Surgical Attention.

5. A Tide of Superstitions.

6. The Rematch.

7. Good Luck with your Boredom.

8. Ashore, Not Free.

9. Fresh Air and Bad Omens.

10. Rukhar.

11. Goodbye cell!

12. The Messenger.

13. Feathers and Blood.

14. Chances.

15. Legends will be Legends.

16. The princess, the thief and the cabin boys.

17. No Mercy.

In a dark room full of men in expensive suits, sharp and undeniably charming faces, a projector is showing information about their next prey, someone who will make them wealthier, heck, maybe rank their gang up.

"Ahn Y/N, our treasure."

Standing in front of the humongous table is Kim Hongjoong, captain of the Hala Clan, stating their next mission. He has been told that Seojun will be marrying you, the precious daughter of the Ahn Clan. Hala and Seojun have a bad history.

A few years ago, Hongjoong and Seojun were actually allies. Their clans worked together on a major operation that could have made both organizations extremely powerful. Hongjoong trusted Seojun completely and even considered him a friend.

During the operation, however, Seojun secretly sold information to a rival organization. When everything went wrong, Hongjoong's men were ambushed.

The worst part? Hongjoong's older brother was killed because of the information leak.

Seojun escaped unharmed because he was the one who orchestrated it. Everyone believed the rival organization was responsible, but Hongjoong eventually discovered the truth.

Since then, revenge has become personal.

His plan is simple. Track Y/N's routine, kidnap her at the right designated time, hold her hostage for some countable days, just enough time to make Seojun realize her disappearance, make some calls and threats, lure Seojun into his trap, get his revenge, and maybe steal from him. Easy work, or so he thought.

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The day of your marriage is near, you could count the days. Each day passes, and you've been stressed, locking yourself in your room, trying to figure out how to get out of this shitty condition of yours.

You don't live with your family, you have a penthouse on the outskirts of Seoul, living by yourself. Being in the same ground with your father made you feel like trash, sure, you obey him and all, but that doesn't mean you like him.

You just finished your shower, and your white robe tightly wraps your body as you make your way to the balcony. Cigarette in between your lips as smoke flies away with the wind of the night. You were deep in your own thoughts, completely dissociating from the world. You think about your mother, about the things Seojun will do to her. Just thinking about it made your blood boil, you truly despise that man.

The door leading to your bedroom is widely open behind you, the white dress they have prepared for you can be seen from your peripheral view, and you're sick of it. Sometimes you just want to burn it and throw the ashes at Seojun, or throw it from the balcony and have someone pick it up or something, so you wouldn’t have to be reminded of the marriage every time you see it.

You were about to take another cigarette from the pack until you heard something from outside your room. It's not something loud, it's something that an untrained ear would miss. Your instinct immediately kicked in telling you that there is someone in the house, you carefully went back to the bathroom to wear something, then swiftly grabbing a gun and a knife underneath the sink, you strapped the knife to you thighs and covered it with your clothes.

You make your way silently to the door, your ear pressed to the wood to listen for something, anything.

You open the door after hearing nothing, carefully twisting the knob, revealing the dark hallway leading to the center of the penthouse. The only source of light is from the moon, illuminating the hallway, making it unnecessarily creepy. You're moving like a feather, no sound can be heard each time you step on the ceramic floor. As you reached the living room, you were once again greeted by the dark.

"Fuck why did I leave every light off?" You curse under your breath.

You had left your phone somewhere in the bedroom, and you're not risking your life by turning on the lights. So when you feel like there's no one in the living room, you silently make your way back to the bedroom with your gun steady in your hand, pointing to every corner in the house. Once you get there, you close the door and lock it. You immediately went to search for your phone somewhere in the mess of your bed.

"shit, where is it?!" You curse as you silently and carefully dive into the mess, looking for your phone.

You were fully invested in looking for your phone to realize that the door to the balcony was widely open, the wind blowing from outside made you shiver, making you hyper aware of the balcony. And that's when you heard it, something, or rather someone, landed on the balcony. It was too dark to see, only a silhouette could be seen standing under the moonlight, his clothes swaying from the winds blowing. You immediately pointed your gun at the silhouette of someone standing tall on the balcony. The moon behind him made him look eerie.

That silhouette make his way slowly to you.

"Don't move," you command. But he doesn’t listen and keeps moving carefully towards you.

You don’t want to shoot anyone, so you quickly make your way out of the bedroom. Your instinct told you that he is not alone, someone else is in the house.

You went to another room that is connected to another balcony. Your initial plan is to jump and land on top of a roof or something, then make your escape. But once you open the door leading to the balcony, no roofs are in sight, you immediately go back inside and go to another room.

You open the door quietly, once again meeting with the dark, praying nobody is in this room. You enter the room carefully, listening for any movements of breathing, until something cold touches your temple. You know very well what it is, you didn’t dare to make a move.

"Don’t move. Put your gun down." A heavy voice said.

You did what he told you to, you carefully put your gun down on the floor, and put your hands up. That man grabbed the back of your clothes and led you forcefully to the living room, where three other men were waiting. This time you could see them clearly, they were wearing black suits and shining silver watches, looks expensive.

They eyed you up and down, like some wolves eyeing their prey.

"What do you want from me?" You asked, eyes glaring at them, trying not to show any weakness. They didn’t answer you, they only keep glaring at you as if you’re going to jump at them out of nowhere.

One of the men comes up to you with a rope in his hand to tie your hands. But they didn’t know a knife was still strapped securely on your thighs, hidden by your oversized tee.

Just before he could tie your hand, you grabbed the gun pointed at you and kicked the man in front of you, immediately catching him off guard and fell down. With super speed, you pinned his hands with your feet, making a cringe crunch sound. You then grabbed the man beside you and pointed your knife dangerously close to his throat as your other hand pointed the gun at the other two.

"Answer me, what do you want from me?!" You repeated. As you press your knife to the man’s throat, resulting in some blood drips down from his neck to your hand.

You could see the panic on the other two faces, trying to figure out what to do, and it seems like they didn’t expect you to fight back, they were super wrong.

"Fuck. Okay, calm down." One of them said, trying to make up some words, or ways to tackle you down, probably.

You eyed them one by one, trying to figure out who they are, and who they work for. You scanned their suits, carefully searching for something, a clue perhaps, to whoever they are. Until something small and shiny caught your attention, a pin on their collar, with an ‘A’ logo, that's when you realize they are the Hala.

"Hala… I see what you’re trying to do."

You knew the history between Seojun and Hala, and you figured that they are here to kidnap you and lure Seojun to give him their revenge. And for once you thought maybe being kidnapped is actually not bad, considering Seojun will have a hard time.

But your thought immediately drifted to your mother, if you played along and let them kidnap you, you couldn’t imagine the things Seojun would do to her.

You were deep in thought while still keeping your eyes on them, but you didn’t realize that the man you’re pinning with your feet right now is making a move, biting your calf. You jolted at the sudden pain and lost balance, which made the man you’re holding take advantage of it and turn the tables. You are now the one with a knife to your throat. You gripped his arms tightly, trying to break free, but he was too strong. The other men also regained their composure. The gun you dropped is now theirs again. You have to figure out something smart and quick, that's when a plan comes up in your mind.

"Okay, listen, I know your plan is to take revenge on Seojun. Look, I hate him too, even more than you guys do." You said steadily, eyes scanning for their reaction.

"What if we work together? I can help you guys get your revenge, or even better, kill him. I’ll even pay you guys as much as you want to get rid of that bastard." You try to persuade.

They look at one another, probably considering your offer.

"Well, we still have to take you to our captain, try to persuade him with your offer when we get there," the one holding you said. He dragged your body and make their way out to the car. At this point, you’re giving up on trying to break free already, due to their strong grip.

"Could you at least be less forceful or something? I’m literally coming with you guys of my own will." You protest.

"Shut up and get in already." He said as he shoved you inside the car.

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The drive to their base was long, of course, since you lived on the outskirts of town. You also had learned their names as they were yelling and blaming each other while you tried to have a peaceful drive. Mingi, the one who eerily walks to you from your balcony, and the one who is driving right now. San, the one you kicked and bit your calf. Wooyoung and Yeosang, who basically did nothing. Your hands are tied now since they don't trust you

After some time, the car stopped in front of a gigantic rusty gate. A security guard comes up to the driver's window to check the car, and once he sees Mingi, he immediately opens the gate to let the car through. After the gate is a humongous mansion looking deliberately haunted for some reason, but actually, you're not that surprised, the mansion totally screams Hala for sure. Once Mingi stopped the car right in front of the entrance, Wooyoung grabbed you and pulled you out of the car.

"Dude, you need to chill. I'm not going anywhere. Geez." You once again protest. The way they keep pushing and pulling you really piss you off, you're literally coming either way.

They all led you through the hallway, making turns until you spot a big wooden door, perhaps the captain's room, you thought. Once you get inside, you are greeted with four other people, and one of them has this vibe that screams leader; his hair is slicked back, shoulder broad, and his suit is spotless. The way he stands is just very intimidating, and the smile on his face seems smug.

He makes his way to you, striding graciously toward you. You're not going to lie, he is one of the best sights you've ever seen, and you couldn't help but stare at him.

"Ah, Miss Y/N?" He purred, his voice sounded like the sweetest honey that can kill you slowly.

You were too mesmerized to even form a word and reply to him. Your eyes are stripping him slowly, taking every detail of him into your memory.

He chuckled, sounding majestic for some reason, it hypnotized you further away from reality. As he comes even closer to you, you can feel your heart beating hard under your skin, trying to escape your body and jump right into his hands.

"I have been informed that you have a great deal to give me. Could you emphasize?" He asked, as he stopped right in front of you, eyes searching yours, eager for an answer.

The proximity made you realize the situation you're in right now. You immediately regained your composure and cleared your throat, opening and closing your mouth, trying to find the right word.

"I know your history. You're trying to take revenge on Seojun, Right? And I'm sure my role here is as a trap, luring him into your cage." You explain, voice trying to sound steady and confident.

"So I have an offer. We work together, you hate him, and so do I. I don't want to be married to a cocky prick and trapped with him my whole life, I'd rather die."You continued.

"Hmm... I see. But aside from getting my revenge on him, what do I get? You get to be free from him and all, but me? Only a revenge wouldn't be fair, isn't it?" He emitted.

"I'll pay you as much as you want. I want him erased from this world if you will." You added.

His expression shows that he is intrigued by your offer, and your hope increases as you search his eyes looking for answers.

"Okay, can you fight?" He asked, tilting his head like a puppy's first time hearing foreign sounds. Gosh, how is this man the captain of Hala? You thought it was going to be someone super big and scary-looking. But instead, you are met with a charming and super handsome looking man.

"I... Know how to throw punches?" You mumbled.

He laughed at your reply. " Yeah, no. I want you to participate in taking him down, and throwing punches won't help, darling. You'll need some more training." He beamed.

"We need to take him down fast! He's going to hurt my mother, and the wedding is in literally less than two weeks." You fumed.

"Oh, don't worry. I guarantee your mother's safety. My men will take care of her. While we get ready to take that son of a bitch down." He smiled, the way he said we feels like he's flirting with you, especially with that face of him.

He later introduced his name as you guys make plans to take down Seojun. Kim Hongjoong, his name matches him really well. He took you all into a meeting room, getting straight to making plans.

Hongjoong doesn't play around when it comes to Seojun. In fact, he does not play around with anything. You've learned that he takes everything seriously, and he probably has anger issues or something, because throughout the meeting, he would yell at his men, mostly Wooyoung, because he plays too much. But one thing is for sure, he's undeniably scary when he's angry, and somehow, you found it super hot.

After some time discussing the best plan, you all finally agreed on this plan

You will not be held hostage by him, which is a great thing because being hostage is not fun at all. You will be his eyes, since you get to be around Seojun a lot, and then give important information to Hongjoong so he can tell the others about their parts. Some of them will keep an eye on your mother, ensuring her safety. And the rest, will back you and Hongjoong up when taking him down.

The plan is that you will be acting like nothing happened and bear being with Seojun until the day of the wedding, and at the ceremony, Hongjoong, and all of the rest will move and execute. It needs to be silent, and you will be acting shocked when Seojun gets shot. And just in case things go south, you will be joining the battlefield. Hongjoong had given you a super thin knife that can be hidden in your dress, and you will fight using that.

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It has been almost a week since you got 'kidnapped' by them, and since that day, you have been closer to basically everyone in the mansion.

There's Hongjoong, Captain of Hala. He carried himself like a king who had built his throne from blood and ambition. He wasn't the tallest man in the room, nor the most physically intimidating, yet every head turned when he entered. His sharp eyes seemed capable of dissecting a person within seconds, always calculating, always planning. Neatly styled hair framed a face that was unfairly handsome for someone so dangerous.

There was elegance in everything he did, from the way he adjusted his cufflinks to the way he delivered threats with a smile.

Most people feared his anger. You feared how calm he became when he was angry.

Seonghwa, Hongjoong's right hand. Seonghwa looked more like a luxury magazine model than a criminal. His appearance was always immaculate; not a single wrinkle dared touch his suit, and his dark hair remained perfectly styled no matter the situation.

His gentle smile often fooled strangers into believing he was harmless. They usually learned otherwise.

While Hongjoong was the storm, Seonghwa was the silence before it. His voice rarely rose above a calm tone, but when it did, even seasoned members straightened immediately.

Yunho, the trainer. He was impossible to miss. Towering over nearly everyone, his broad shoulders and long limbs made him look intimidating from afar. Yet the moment he smiled, every ounce of danger disappeared.

His laughter came easily, loud and genuine, often filling entire hallways. You quickly learned that beneath his friendly personality was a terrifying fighter capable of dropping a man twice his size without breaking a sweat.

Yunho was proof that kindness and strength could exist in the same person. You would come over a lot, for training or to evaluate plans, and sometimes you would help with some errands. It feels like you're one of them already.

Yeosang, the Sniper. He had the unsettling habit of appearing out of nowhere. One moment a room would be empty. The next, he'd be standing in the corner silently observing.

His sharp features and calm demeanor made him seem almost detached from the world around him. He spoke only when necessary, and every word felt deliberate.

Unlike the others, Yeosang never wasted energy. Never wasted movement. Never wasted bullets. His unreadable expression often made people uncomfortable. Which he secretly enjoyed.

San, the Enforcer. He looked dangerous. There was no better way to describe him.

Everything about him radiated intensity—from the sharpness of his gaze to the way his jaw clenched whenever he was annoyed. His emotions sat close to the surface, making him explosive and unpredictable. Despite his reputation as Hala's attack dog, those closest to him knew his anger stemmed from fierce loyalty. If San cared about someone, he would walk through hell for them.

If he hated someone, he'd happily drag them there himself.

Mingi, the Driver and Weapons expert. He was chaos disguised as a human being.Tall and impossibly energetic, he moved through life as if consequences simply didn't apply to him. His loud voice echoed through every room he entered, usually followed by someone yelling at him to shut up.

His playful nature made him seem careless.That assumption usually lasted until people saw him behind the wheel.Or holding a gun. Then they understood why he was one of Hala's most trusted members.

Wooyoung, the Infiltration Specialist. He was trouble. The kind of trouble that smiled beautifully before ruining your entire day.

He possessed an almost supernatural ability to get under people's skin within minutes of meeting them. Charming, flirtatious, and endlessly dramatic, he thrived on creating chaos for his own entertainment.

Nobody could ever tell when he was joking. Sometimes not even Wooyoung himself. Behind the constant teasing, however, was someone exceptionally observant.

He noticed everything. And forgot nothing.

And there's Jongho, the Medic. Jongho was perhaps the most terrifying member of Hala.

Not because he was loud. Not because he was aggressive. But because he wasn't. His quiet demeanor often made people underestimate him.

A mistake.

Beneath his calm exterior hid strength that bordered on ridiculous. You once watched him lift a grown man as if he weighed nothing. Jongho preferred actions over words. If he cared about you, he'd patch your wounds, bring you food, and make sure you survived.

If he didn't... You'd know.

Today, you came by the base because Yunho told you to come train and box with him. As you make your way down the training ground, you can hear someone punching the punching bag. You thought it was Yunho, after all, he is the one who asked you to come. But once you make it there, you are met with Hongjoong instead.

Sweat runs down from his temple to his chin as he keeps punching the bag. The black tank top he wears reveals his big, sturdy biceps glistening with sweat. His hair is tousled from running his hand through it. It was truly a sight.

You didn't realize that you're literally frozen in place, eyes obviously striping the man in front of you, until his voice disturbs your day dreaming.

"You like what you see?" He chimed as he made his way to you, running his hand through his hair with a smirk plastered smugly on his face.

"Huh, no. Where's Yunho?" You tried to change the topic, trying to hide how flustered you are by averting your eyes, searching for the said man that is nowhere to be found in the training ground.

"He's not here. I've sent him to do some errands, important ones. So you'll be training with me today." He cheered. You couldn't help but think he purposely sent Yunho out so he could train with you.

"Hmm, that's suspicious, but I'll let it slide." you replied as you stretched, getting ready to train for today.

The two of you walk into the ring, preparing to fight each other.

You strike first, throwing a fake punch to his head, and then kick the side of his body. You thought you could trick him, but he is way faster than you thought. He immediately grabs your foot and pulls it, making you lose your balance and fall on your back.

"Fuck, that hurts." You agonized, rubbing the back of your head as you tried getting up. Hongjoong only chuckled and repositioned his body. You did the same thing. This time, you wait for him to strike first, trying to read his movement.

He raised his foot to kick you, but you thought it was a fake one, so you shielded your head instead. But Hongjoong is way ahead of you, it was actually not a fake. He actually kicked you, sending you to the side of the ring. Oh, you are fuming, and he could see it.

"C'mon, is that all you got Y/N?" He trilled.

That question made you rage. You got up and immediately launched at him, straddling him down. Just as you were about to throw a fist at his face, he pulled you and changed position. He is now on top of you, and both of your hands are locked above your head.

You groaned in annoyance. Hongjoong, on the other hand, seems to enjoy this, he is grinning like he got the best reward ever.

Once you realize the position you're in right now is very questionable, if someone suddenly walks in on you guys. You got flustered when realizing that your face is inches away from his. Upon realizing you're flustered, Hongjoong leans even closer, and your noses are touching already. You were frozen, too afraid to breathe and move at all.

"You need more training darling." Hongjoong whispered, and you could feel his breath brushing your face. Then he got up, grabbing his towel to wipe away the sweat like nothing had happened. While you lay motionless on the ground, heart beating too fast, mind hazy. You could still feel his touch lingering on your skin.

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Seojun was not a man who ignored details. In his line of work, overlooking the smallest inconsistency often meant a bullet between the eyes. It was why your recent behavior bothered him more than he cared to admit.

A week ago, you had looked like a trapped animal whenever he was around, tense shoulders, sharp tongue, eyes filled with nothing but resentment. Yet lately, something had changed.

You were still rude. Still stubborn. Still looked at him as if you wanted to shove him off a cliff.

But there was something different beneath it all.

Hope.

It was subtle enough that nobody else would notice. A slight ease in your posture. The way your gaze no longer seemed permanently exhausted. The way you occasionally disappeared into your own thoughts and returned with the faintest hint of satisfaction hidden behind your expression.

Seojun noticed. And Seojun hated things he couldn't explain. The first report landed on his desk three days later.

"Miss Ahn has been leaving her penthouse more frequently." Seojun skimmed the paper without much interest.

"So?"The man standing before him shifted nervously.

"She visits the western district several times a week." That made Seojun pause. The western district.

Hala territory.

His fingers stopped tapping against the desk. "Continue."

"We followed her as far as we could, sir, but she kept disappearing. We couldn't determine who she was meeting." Silence settled across the office. The man lowered his head, awaiting punishment for the incomplete report.

Instead, Seojun leaned back in his chair.

Interesting. Very interesting.

The following week, more reports arrived. You were spending less time at your penthouse. Your schedule had become unpredictable. You often turned off your phone for hours at a time. And every trail somehow led back toward territory controlled by Hala.

Coincidences existed. Seojun simply didn't believe in them. That evening, he watched you from across the dinner table. You sat comfortably in your chair, scrolling through your phone while pretending not to acknowledge his presence.

For a brief moment, the corner of your lips twitched upward.

A smile. Small. Gone within seconds. But he saw it.

His gaze darkened.

"Something amusing?" Your head immediately snapped up.

"What?" You questioned.

"You seem happier lately." He stated.

Your smile vanished. A flicker of alarm crossed your face before you recovered. "No idea what you're talking about."

Seojun hummed thoughtfully. Maybe you truly believed you were hiding it well. Maybe you thought he wasn't paying attention. The realization almost made him laugh.

You had spent so many years around criminals that you should have known better.

Everyone lied. Everyone betrayed. Everyone hid secrets. And Seojun had built his entire life around finding them.

As you returned your attention to your phone, unaware of the eyes studying your every movement, he silently made a decision.

Double the surveillance. Track every route. Monitor every contact. Because one thing was becoming painfully clear. You were hiding something.

And Seojun intended to find out exactly what it was.

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As the wedding day approached, everything seemed to be falling perfectly into place, almost too perfectly. The morning of the ceremony, Hongjoong received an urgent report from Yeosang.

Something felt off. There were more guards than expected, unfamiliar faces lingering around the venue, and security routes that had been changed without explanation. Trusting his instincts, Hongjoong stepped away to investigate, leaving the others to proceed as planned.

What was supposed to be a quick check turned into a chilling realization, Seojun wasn't walking into their trap. He had already discovered it. By the time Hongjoong rushed back toward the ceremony, his heart pounding with dread, it was already too late.

On the other hand, Mingi notices another sniper aiming at him. If he shoots first, He dies. The mission collapses.

He hesitates for one second. And that's all Seojun needs.

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You were walking down the aisle, your mind drifting somewhere in your own world, when you suddenly heard a gunshot. You look at Seojun, who is standing in front of you, he is holding a gun, pointing it at you. That's when you feel it, something warm oozing from your abdomen, your white dress is stained with red. Seojun had shot you.

The air in your lungs emptied suddenly, and the striking pain from your abdomen made it worse. You fell down, clutching your abdomen, trying to grasp oxygen to your lungs, and you can see black dots in your eyes. You're slowly fading away.

"Did you really think I wouldn't notice?" Seojun said. He has kneeled down to talk to you, tracing your face with his fingers. Silently mocking you with his smug and cocky face.

That's when you realize, he knew all this time. Of course, he knew, how could you be so stupid? Why did you underestimate him?

Your mind was scrambled, you thought about Hongjoong, where is he? Has Mingi been caught? Why didn't he snipe Seojun?. Did your mother see you get shot? Is she safe? You question everything, you didn't even care about that prick kneeling over you, saying bullshit, you don't even care.

Your ears are ringing, the sound of your surrounding slowing fading away, replaced by the intense ringing. And all you can see is Seojun's face, mumbling words you can't make out anymore. At this point, you've given up, thinking this is probably your shitty fate, dying in the hands of the most notorious prick ever lived.

That's when you saw a ginger haired angel, standing behind Satan himself. Hongjoong swifly slits his throat, finishing him thoroughly. It is the end for Seojun, and perhaps, for you too. Your consciousness is fading away.

You feel Hongjoong lift you up, holding you like you might break if he moves erratically. You can see the tears and panic in his eyes, his mouth moving like he's trying to say something to you as he runs as fast and gently as he can.

Then you hear him, faintly. His voice sounded sad, broken.

"Stay with me Y/N, please. keep your eyes open for me, darling. I've got you." He pleaded.

He took you in a car, and everyone is there. You can see Mingi's hair on the driver's seat. He's driving us somewhere. Then you feel Jongho's warm hand on your stomach, putting some pressure on it, probably to stop the bleeding. It hurts like hell, but you're too tired to even react. It feels like you're losing the ability to move your body.

Then, the dark finally consumes you. You couldn't hear Hongjoong's voice, no more pain in your abdomen. Nothing.

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The first thing you heard was the steady beeping beside your bed. Then came the ache.

A dull, burning pain spread across your abdomen, making you wince before your eyes had even opened. Your body felt heavy, like someone had poured concrete into your veins.

You slowly blinked against the bright hospital lights. The room was quiet. Too quiet.

Your gaze wandered around until it landed on a figure slumped beside your bed.

Hongjoong.

His head rested on folded arms near your hand, his ginger hair messier than you had ever seen it. Dark circles sat beneath his eyes. His suit jacket had long been discarded, his shirt wrinkled and sleeves rolled up carelessly.

For a moment, you simply stared. The mighty captain of Hala looked exhausted. Broken, almost.

You shifted slightly. The movement was enough. Hongjoong's head immediately shot up. For a second, he simply stared at you like he wasn't sure if you were real.

Then his chair screeched against the floor.

"Doctor!" he shouted, standing so quickly he nearly knocked it over. "Get the doctor-"

"Joong." Your voice came out weak, raspy. But it stopped him instantly.

His entire body froze. Slowly, he turned back around. The look in his eyes made your chest tighten.

Relief. Disbelief. Fear. All mixed together.

"You're awake," he whispered.

You offered a small smile. "That's usually how surviving works."

The joke was terrible. Yet Hongjoong let out something between a laugh and a sob. He sat back down immediately, reaching for your hand as if afraid you would disappear again.

His grip was warm. Tight and desperate.

You frowned. "How long?"

"Four days."

Your eyes widened. "Four-"

"You weren't waking up." His voice cracked. The words hit harder than they should have.

You stared at him. Really stared. The man before you looked like he hadn't slept properly in days. His eyes were bloodshot. His hair was a mess. Even his hands trembled. Hongjoong was trembling.

"I thought..." He swallowed hard. "I thought I lost you."

Silence settled between you. Heavy. Painful. You squeezed his hand. His jaw tightened immediately.

"I should've known," he continued quietly. "The extra guards. The changes in security. The missing routes. The signs were there."

"Joong-"

"I was arrogant."

His eyes finally met yours. For the first time since meeting him, he looked completely vulnerable.

"I thought I was smarter than him." The confession sounded bitter. Like poison.

"I brought you into this."

"You didn't force me."

"I should've protected you."

"You did."

His head shook immediately. "No." His voice cracked again.

"I promised you."

The room fell silent. Hongjoong lowered his head, staring at your joined hands.

"I heard your heartbeat stop." The words barely rose above a whisper. Yet they shattered something inside you.

"I heard the machine go flat for three seconds." His fingers tightened around yours.

"I've been shot before." A bitter laugh escaped him. "I've been stabbed." Another. "I've had guns pointed at my head more times than I can count." He finally looked up.

"But those three seconds were the most terrified I've ever been in my entire life."

Your breath caught. Because he wasn't speaking like a captain. Or a leader. Or a man seeking revenge. He was speaking like someone in love.

You reached up slowly. The movement hurt, but it was worth it. Your fingers brushed through his hair.

Immediately, his eyes closed, leaning into your touch. Seeking comfort.

"I'm here." His shoulders trembled. "I'm here, Joong." A tear escaped before he could stop it. Then another.

You had never seen him cry. Never. Not once. Yet now, with your hand in his hair and your thumb brushing his cheek, he looked utterly defenseless.

"I love you." The confession slipped out before he could stop it. Raw. Honest. Terrified. As if he had spent four days holding those words hostage.

Your heart squeezed painfully. You smiled softly. "I know."

Hongjoong huffed out a laugh. "That wasn't the response I was hoping for."

You rolled your eyes. Even that small movement hurt. Then you tugged weakly on his sleeve. He leaned closer immediately. Closer, until your foreheads touched.

"I love you too, idiot."

For the first time in days, Hongjoong smiled. A real smile. Not the captain's smile. Not the manipulator's smile. Just Hongjoong.

And as he pressed a gentle kiss against your forehead, you realized something. For the first time in your life, you weren't fighting alone anymore.

The moment Hongjoong finally calmed down, the room felt strangely still—like the world outside had stopped existing entirely. The only sound left was the steady beeping of the monitor and his quiet breathing as he refused to let go of your hand.

Then, the door slammed open.

“Y/N!” Wooyoung was the first to burst in, loud enough to make the nurse outside immediately shush him. He froze halfway into the room when he saw you awake, eyes widening before his face twisted into relief.

“OH MY GOD, she’s alive.” Behind him, Mingi shoved his way in. “Move, you idiot.” He stopped mid-sentence, staring at you like he couldn’t process it properly. Then his shoulders dropped, and he let out a breath that sounded too shaky for someone who usually never stopped talking.

San followed next, quieter than usual, but his eyes immediately locked onto you like he was confirming you were really there. His jaw tightened, and he looked away almost instantly as if he hated the fact that he had been worried.

“Don’t do that again,” he muttered, voice rough.

Yeosang stepped in after him, silent as ever. He didn’t speak at first, just stood by the doorway, watching you carefully. Then, after a long pause, he gave a small nod.

“Good,” he said simply. One word. But it carried more relief than anything else.

Jongho came last, pushing past the others with a medical bag already in hand out of habit. He scanned you quickly, eyes sharp and focused, before letting out a small exhale.

“Vitals are stable,” he confirmed, as if he hadn’t been worried at all. But the way his fingers tightened around his strap gave him away.

Seonghwa appeared behind them, composed as always, but his expression softened the moment he saw you awake. He didn’t rush in like the others. Instead, he stepped closer slowly, like he needed to make sure the sight was real.

“You caused quite a mess,” he said gently. But his voice wasn’t annoyed, it was relieved.

For a moment, the room was chaos. Wooyoung talking too loudly, Mingi pacing, San pretending he wasn’t shaken, Jongho checking monitors unnecessarily, Yeosang watching quietly, Seonghwa trying to restore order.

And Hongjoong, he still hadn’t let go of your hand. You looked around at all of them. At the noise. At the concern. At the way none of them had actually left your side. And something in your chest shifted.

Because this wasn’t just protection. It wasn’t just a mission anymore. This was family. Messy, loud, dangerous.

But real.

Wooyoung suddenly pointed at you. “I swear, if you scare us like that again, I’m personally-”

“Shut up,” San snapped immediately.

“Make me!”

“Both of you, quiet,” Seonghwa sighed.

You let out a weak laugh before you could stop yourself. The room went silent. All eyes turned to you. Even Hongjoong froze slightly, glancing at you like he was memorizing the sound.

And for the first time, You didn’t feel like you were surrounded by criminals.