Chapter Text
PART 1
Hongjoong is settling into the tub for a soak. It is rare that he finds time to indulge in having the apartment to himself without one of the other boys hanging around ‘babysitting’ him. After he’d taken a bullet to the abdomen (really it was more of a flesh wound more than anything), Seonghwa had assigned him a ‘round-the-clock guard detail that would last until he was deemed fit for duty. Hongjoong had tried to argue against the idea, tried to reason with Seonghwa that he could take care of himself, tried to dissuade him from putting one of the others on glorified babysitting duty. Seonghwa, however, would not be swayed. Though Hongjoong was basically unstoppable with a knife, he had still taken a bullet to the side and lost a considerable amount of blood. Seonghwa had threatened to ground him and lock him away at his complex, so Hongjoong had eventually bitten his tongue and allowed the elder man to have his way.
Usually either Jongho or Mingi would be present and keeping him company throughout the day, however this evening Seonghwa had called all hands on deck and his usual babysitting detail had been interrupted. Hongjoong wonders what big event could have occurred to make the boss willingly call everyone in, but he does not take for granted this first peaceful night without one of the others hovering around. He can take care of himself, bullet wound be damned. It had been months since he had gotten shot anyway.
**********
Hongjoong had been out on an errand, meeting up with one of their lower-level contacts at a 24hr diner. After discussing things for nearly an hour, the two had parted ways. The underling had left first, meanwhile Hongjoong had finished his coffee and dialed Wooyoung to come pick him up. It had been unusually chilly that night and Hongjoong had shivered slightly as a light fog had descended upon the area. Hongjoong had mentally congratulated himself on deciding to have someone pick him up rather than attempt to brave the streets in this kind of weather. As he walked further out into the parking lot, he had glanced down on his phone to check for any messages from Wooyoung. Without warning, someone had slammed into his shoulder harshly. Whirling around, insult at the tip of his tongue and ready to scathingly be delivered, he had found himself staring down the barrel of a gun. Cursing, Hongjoong had thrown himself sideways as the unknown assailant fired the shot practically at point-range. By some miracle, the shot had ended up hitting him on the side of his abdomen, thankfully sparing his head. It was a clean shot, going straight through his body and miraculously missing any vital organs.
He gasped in shock, from both the pain of the bullet tearing through his flesh and the harsh impact of his body hitting the pavement. The stranger had wasted no time in fleeing from the seen, taking off running and leaving him to bleed out on the cold, damp ground. Hongjoong had valiantly tried to get his limbs to cooperate so he could put pressure on the wound, but it was fruitless. What seemed like an eternity later (but was only actually a few minutes later), he heard the sounds of a car screeching to a halt, followed by a car door harshly slamming open. Briefly closed his eyes and when he had opened them again, it was to the welcomed sight of a blonde-haired, young man entering his field of vision. Wooyoung’s worried face hovered over him and although he could see the younger man’s lips moving, he had a hard time making out what was being said. He tried to open his mouth to let Wooyoung know this but found himself unable to form words as the pain from his wound intensified to unbearable levels. Wooyoung had used his own suit jacket to put pressure against Hongjoong’s bullet wound and staunch the bleeding, causing said pain.
He must have briefly passed out from the pain because the next thing he knew, he was laying in the backseat of Wooyoung’s car; head and most of his upper body pillowed on an unknown person. Struggling to focus, he caught sight of Wooyoung hovering over his body. The younger was leaning forward, putting as much pressure as he dared against Hongjoong’s wound. Hongjoong felt himself fading out of consciousness again before the car suddenly jumped, running over something in the road and going briefly airborne for a second, a testament to the high speed they seemed to be traveling at.
“Hold on hyungs, we’re almost there!” A voice shouted from the driver’s seat. It took Hongjoong a minute to recognize the voice as belonging to their youngest member Jongho. His eyes fluttered towards the front of the car and by some odd coincidence, he accidentally met eyes with Jongho through the rearview mirror. The younger man's face was pinched with worry, but his eyes had a determined glint to them. Hongjoong wanted to smile and praise him for keeping his cool, but just then the car took a sharp turn and his body shifted sideways, nearly sending him falling off the backseat if not for the hands firmly gripping his upper body.
“Careful maknae!” Another voice shouted, this one belonging to the person who Hongjoong was currently using as a pillow. Hongjoong came to realize it belonged to one Choi San. Strange, the other man usually hung out closer to the main complex, preferring to keep patrol around the area closest to them. Hongjoong’s eyes fluttered up briefly to see the other man staring down at him with a rare stern gracing his features. He wants to tell San not to be too hard on Jongho and he managed to meet eyes with the other once San glanced down at Hongjoong to make sure his head is was still stable. Their eyes met and Hongjoong tried hi best to convey his thoughts but instead of words, it is blood that sputter out from between his lips. San had let out a startled yelp and began shouting at Jongho, shouting at him to go faster. Wooyoung, face pale as he watched Hongjoong choke on his own blood, had begged the older man to hold on. Jongho had also joined the screaming, shouting a “Hyung, don’t you dare die!” Hongjoong tried his best to listen to their please, but ended up losing his fight to stay awake, consciousness slipping away as the car jerked to an abrupt halt.
**********
Hongjoong doesn’t recall anything after that, only knows what San told him. After they had made it back to the complex, Jongho had helped San get him inside to Yeosang. The usually calm man had paled upon seeing their clothes covered in blood and Hongjoong looking lifeless in their arms. Wooyoung had been sent off to inform Seonghwa about Hongjoong’s current state. The boss had been furious when they told him and had quickly dispatched Yunho and Mingi to find and take care of the guy who had dared put a bullet into his right-hand man.
Hongjoong had bled out quite profusely and had ended up needing a blood-transfusion, which although quite harrowing, was not a problem thanks to the well-equipped medical unit Yeosang had access to, courtesy of Seonghwa.
Hongjoong had gotten the blood he needed, and so had Seonghwa.
**********
The shooter had been found hours later and showed up beaten within an inch of his life. Seonghwa had personally seen to the would-be assassin’s interrogation, and after they had gotten all the information they could out of the man, had finally put a bullet into his head and summoned Mingi and Yunho get rid of the body. San had delightedly shared with Hongjoong just how the tall duo had disposed of the 'parts'. Hongjoong had grimaced at the imagery, all too familiar with Seongwha’s violent ways, and had sent San to get him another class of water.
After Hongjoong had been stabilized enough to be released from continuous bed-rest at the main house, Seonghwa had swiftly assigned him a round-the-clock guard detail that would stick with Hongjoong until the younger would be deemed fully recovered. Hongjoong hated it but Seonghwa was the boss and he would not be deterred. Plus, it was the only way the older man would agree to release Hongjoong back to his own apartment. Months had passed since his shooting and although Hongjoong had almost fully recovered, Seonghwa continued to insist upon having a security detail stick to Hongjoong. The others in their group hadn’t dared oppose their boss, and thus Hongjoong had been stuck with a revolving door of ‘babysitters’ for the past six months.
**********
Hongjoong leans his head back against the end of the tub and allows himself to sink lower into the water. The tub is large enough that his whole body is comfortably submerged in the water. His muscles relax as the heat of the liquid permeates his skin. He feels a slight twinge in his abdomen, a reminder of his old wound making itself known. He bites his lip at the slight pain but it eventually fades away. The remainder of his bath passes by peacefully and he eventually doses off. He doesn’t realize he’d left his cellphone in his bedroom and doesn’t hear the vibrations signaling a repetition of calls that come during his time in the tub.
**********
Hongjoong startles awake as he hears the front door to his apartment slam open. His heartbeat rises as he realizes he had fallen asleep inside the tub and left himself vulnerable. He gets out of the water and hurriedly pulls on his robe. He forgoes his undergarments as he quickly ties his rob while simultaneously glancing around to locate his phone. He curses quietly as he realizes that he left it in his bedroom and then moves towards the bathroom sink, reaching underneath it to access the knife he keeps hidden there. Hongjoong keeps his movements light as the heavy sound of footsteps make their way through his apartment. He holds his breath as they come closer towards the bathroom and he hides himself beside the door. Heart beating wildly in his chest, he waits with baited breath as the footsteps come to a halt behind the door. Eyes glued to the doorknob, he watches as it turns and the door swings open.
A dark-clad figure enters the bathroom and as it steps in further into the room, Hongjoong attacks. He lunges forward, knife in hand and swings towards his intruder's back. The other hears his movements and whirls around quickly, catching the downward swing of Hongjoong’s knife hand. The hold on his wrist tightens painfully and causes him to drop his weapon. The now knife-less Hongjoong quickly uses his right leg to deliver a swift knee to the gut of his would-be attacker. The other man grunts in pain and releases his hold. Hongjoong takes advantage of the attacker’s loss of concentration and runs from the bathroom to his bedroom. He nearly makes it to the door before the figure from before slams into him and presses their body firmly against his, effectively caging him against the wooden door. Hongjoong’s heart beats rapidly in his chest as he struggles against the foreign hold, attempting to create enough space between their bodies so he can elbow his attacker.
“Hongjoong-ah stop it! Hongjoong-ah it’s me! Fucking stop!"
A very familiar voice growls at him. Hongjoong’s mind takes a second to calm down enough to process the voice but when he finally figures out who it is, he stops struggling completely. Heart still hammering in his chest, he swallows harshly before letting out a name he knows too well.
“Seonghwa-ah?”
{tbc...}