Archive of Our Own

Jeno stood on the terrace, or rather a piece of debris that mimicked a balcony. His back to the door as he looked out on the world. What was left of their world anyway. He remembers trees and greenery, space and laughter and food. But that was long ago, nearly 20 years now since everything changed. 

Nuclear war burned their atmosphere to shreds, leaving the air in perpetual polluted twilight. The fallout killed billions of people, made agriculture impossible and water scarce. People banded together, those who survived wanted to rebuild and heal. But there would always be someone who needed their hand around the people's throats. The Pack was formed out of puritanical alpha’s, powerful and violent, they took whatever they wanted. If you are an omega, you had no escape, if you were a weaker alpha you could either pledge undying loyalty or die. Which birthed Jeno’s rabble of miscreant rebels trying to fight back and free those who had the Pack’s boot on their necks. Jeno’s family was killed, his brothers taken to work camps never to be seen again, friends lost to the dust and fire who he didn’t even know if they were still alive or dead. 

Looking out in the black and red scorched ground all around him, he lit the cigarette between his lips even as the ghosts of the past occupied his chest, his black fringe falling over his brow and in need of a trim but there was no time or need to do so. Tomorrow they will pull off their most difficult heist yet. And what were they stealing? Water. They were stealing fucking water. 

Deep in thought, running their plan through his head again and again, the footfalls behind him pulled him back to the surface. He knew those footsteps, even the pattern of his breathing, so long had they been working together. Almost 9 years now, before their grandiose dreams of freedom turned to grim determination. They lost everyone they knew, they grieved together, they fought together, injured and dying and stayed by each other’s side for years. But there were lines. Lines they could never cross and they could never afford to. 

As it were, Jeno would push him into the fray to be shot and killed if that meant their mission would succeed. Or that was what he told himself, it was how he used to feel. But everytime they went out on another heist, every time he got hurt or had a brush with death, something in Jeno changed. So small, so unrecognizable but day by day Jeno became closer and closer to dying for him instead. And that was the problem, they had priorities and they couldn’t sacrifice anything for sentiment and affection.

“General Lee.” His voice greeted him, his clever fingers plucking the cigarette from between his lips to pinch it between his own instead. 

“General Na.” He greeted flatly, taking another grubby cigarette out of the slightly crushed packet to replace the one Jaemin had nicked. 

Regardless of how entwined their pasts were, they always kept up appearances, formal respect afforded to one another. But Jeno was tempted, just for a second, to use his authority to make Jaemin stay behind tomorrow, not that Jaemin would listen. 

Jaemin made himself comfortable next to Jeno, resting his elbows on the rusted, twisted railing mimicking Jeno’s posture. Jeno didn’t look at him, he never looked at him if he could help it. Because if he started, he would never want to stop. Inky hair curling at the edges, big eyes the palest green and a smirk too sharp for his innocent face. 

For as long as he knew the other alpha, he had never lost his impish nature, his hunger for mischievous antics. Even when their world was ending, Jaemin still found it in him to play pranks on their subordinates and laugh with the kids. But Jeno knew how Jaemin could fight tooth and nail for others, he knew how whip-sharp his brain was and how bloodthirsty he could be for revenge. 

It was strange, it had always been strange to Jeno, how his angelic face could become even more charming when splattered with blood. 

“You ready for tomorrow?” He asked, smoke pouring out of his nose as he spoke. 

“Ready to die.” 

“If you die, I’ll kill you.” 

“That’s not possible, idiot.” 

“Of course it is, I’ll just need to follow you like I always do.” 

This time Jeno did look at him, he couldn’t help it, Jaemin the only thing in this world that had any power over him. They both knew it, there had always been this unspoken thing between them, but they had never done anything about it even after all this time. 

The scar on Jaemin’s lip and the pearly splotches of healed burns on his forearms were as familiar to Jeno as the back of his hand. But one thing remained, one thing Jeno had never uncovered: Jaemin’s scent. Their world too destroyed, everything smelling of oil and smoke and death, their senses dulled, Jeno had never smelled it. 

He had wondered about it, of course he did, especially in those long dark nights where sleep eluded him, he imagined it. 

“Still stupid.”  Jeno replied, the tone of his voice as deep and cold as it always was. 

“What am I supposed to do when you’re not here anymore? Do you know how boring that would be?” 

Jeno just rolled his eyes, hiding the hint of a smirk behind the drag of a cigarette. 

They stayed in companionable silence for a while, a comfortable quiet that was only born through years of familiarity. They had stumbled across each other by accident, 19 year old dumbasses trying not to die in the desert, and had somehow become inseparable.

Jeno was the first to leave, flicking the butt of his cigarette over the ledge and down down down to the red cracked earth far below. 

He left without a second glance at Jaemin, but he felt the other alpha’s eyes on him though. He didn’t know if he should like it, or if he should reject it, so he just did nothing, sticking his hands in his pockets as he made his way through the cold patched up steel that led deep into the earth. 

Even in old camo, stained but clean, mended more times than you could count, Jeno walked broad and proud deeper into their so-called home. 

Jaemin sighed to himself, oh for only one night he wished he could have Jeno at his mercy, but no, this was not for them. It could never be for them. 

The two of them led a total of 38 armed rebels, their home populated by just as many innocent civilians they had taken in over the years. Jeno had been young and alone when he lost everything, but found it in himself to help instead of kill. Over the years he had saved many, so many followed him.

But what would happen if one of their Generals failed? If they chose sentiment over their duty? They were trusted to protect the people who made this place home, they would always choose others over themselves, and choose themselves over one another. 

Sighing over the thought of what could have been, Jaemin followed Jeno inside. He was indeed the more emotional of the two, hot-tempered and volatile at worst, rash at best. Jaemin was the kind of man that would rather seek forgiveness than ask permission. His instincts have never led him astray however, not when he had Jeno who meticulously planned everything, a master strategist. Jaemin was his cannonball, a bulldozer always at the front acting as Jeno’s weapon. 

Smirking to himself at the memories of the past and his lived experience, Jaemin followed Jeno inside. 

They had made their home inside a massive crack in the earth, digging deep into the earth on both sides of a long canyon, hiding in its shadows. Through years of hardship and endless labor, they crafted their own labyrinthine stronghold, building a roof of layers and layers of metal and clay to completely disguise the rip in the ground they occupied, making it look like just another dune from above.

It was safe, or as safe as they could get in these circumstances. 

The deeper Jaemin walked into the tunnel, the cooler it got, so deep they had dug their home that their heat signatures were undetectable. The Pack hoarded everything, from gas to generators and water and food. There were even rumors of farms and animals, but Jaemin didn’t know if that was true. The nuclear fall out had scorched the earth beyond repair, things like that were in the past. 

Voices and clatter of steel plates rang all round him as he entered the mess hall at lunch time. Men jumped to their feet and saluted Jaemin as he walked past, he returned the salute more out of habit than necessity. He was their General, his alpha only second to Jeno’s, but sometimes Jaemin wondered if it really mattered. They only heeded him because everyone was scared of him.

“What’s up dickhead?” Donghyuck greeted him as he neared the command table.

“That’s General dickhead to you, Major Assface.” Jaemin smirked, kicking at his friend’s boot as he passed him. 

Donghyuck was much in the same shape as Jaemin, his honey hair long and messy as it curled around his nape and ears. A fight some years ago had claimed his left eye, leaving one an icy blue and the other the hazel that Jaemin remembers from his childhood. 

They had been classmates once, back when classes still existed. They lost each other, but found one another again years later after Jaemin decided to stick with Jeno. So here they were. But even after all this time, Donghyuck always found a reason to laugh. That develish grin never far from his deeply tanned countenance. 

Jaemin sat down on the hard metal bench, Renjun offering him a warm bowl of potato gruel. The omega’s smile wan as his hand trembled. Normally sharp tongued and witty, he always got like this the night before a mission, scared once again that this will be the last time he sees Donghyuck. 

“Thanks” he picked up a bent and scratched spoon to bring the watery meal to his lips. Renjun crafted a way to grow potatoes underground, only in need of a single red light, the barest sprinkle of water and a ton of shit. It did solve their food crisis, but Jaemin was so goddamn tired of potatoes. 

Jeno wasn’t there, he was probably in their meeting room going over the plan for the next day yet again, which meant Jaemin needed to swing by later to be his soundboard for the nth time.  

Their group of leaders always sat around the command table together, majors and lieutenants and officers alike, each with their own units and expertise. Naturally, Jaemin and Jeno were head of the core unit; the one with the most experience and who undertook the most difficult and dangerous missions.

Hence: operation deathwish. 

It wasn't really called that, but Jaemin forgot the official name.

Among them was Jaehyun, who never said much, most of his past a mystery. But he was an excellent marksman, no one knowing where he picked up the skill but extremely valuable nonetheless. He didn't want a rank or any authority, he just wanted to be useful.

Johnny was also there, years of loss had turned the once gentle giant into a hard man, cruel and savage, Jeno the only one he ever listened to. Johnny always stood out though, his dirty blonde hair tied up away from his face, a thick scar on his chest. Right over his breastbone, a large 10 was carved into his skin. He had wielded the dagger himself, nearly overcome by grief as he cut up his own flesh to memorialize his loss. 

Taeil their doctor, YanYang and Jungwoo always with their heads together to invent new ways to solve some of their problems. Mark also sat close by, cleaning his gun at the table with a toothpick between his lips as was his habit. Much like Jaemin, he was prone to launch himself into the thick of it like a harpoon. Sometimes Jaemin thought he wanted to die, he was so reckless. Jaemin didn’t blame him however, much like Johnny, losing a mate was earth shattering at best. They all missed Taeyong dearly, so Jaemin couldn’t even imagine how Mark felt. 

Lieutenant Xiaojun and his unit sat a little bit further down the table, heads together. They were in charge of security the following day when Jeno and Jaemin were out.

“So, everyone ready to die?” Donghyuck asked with that shit-eating grin on his face. Jaemin kicked him under the table to warn him to keep it down.

“Don’t you dare die you dumbass.” Renjun huffed, his lemon-thyme scent bouncing off the walls. One of the few whose scent was known, Jaemin chalked it up to his expertise in botany.  

“Yup,” Jaemin replied, tossing back the bleach like alcohol that Jungwoo also made from potatoes, “get some sleep.” He continued, getting up from where he sat, everyone done eating as the severity of their mission weighed them down, stealing their appetites. 

The rest of their community still talked and ate happily, families gathered around steel tables, the yellow light of the low hanging bulbs a comforting glow. It was difficult to grasp the time under the earth like this, but after years of living here, Jaemin’s internal clock was pretty accurate. 

“Bye General! ” Donghyuck called after him, Jaemin flipped him off behind his back as he went. His boots thudded hollow and forlorn over the steel. 

Even though Jaemin had told them to get some sleep, he wasn’t planning on resting at all. Instead he made his way through the dark, twisted hallways to the deepest, safest part of their maze-like home. The place that always gave him the most strength, reminding him why he was doing this. 

Pushing open a large blast door they had salvaged from an old aircraft carrier, he went inside. 

He saw Jisung first, then Chenle. The pair surrounded by a group of little ones. Jisung was reading out of a children’s book (one of many drawn and written by Renjun many years before), while Chenle translated. The moment one of the little girls saw him, she lit up like a light. 

“Uncle Nana!” She was on her feet, the other children following suit as they sprinted over to him, tossing themselves into his arms, little hands tugging at his legs.

“Hi, babies,” he crouched down to their level, handing out hugs and loving touches to the tops of their heads, “how are lessons today?” 

The reaction was mixed, some complaints and some praises while Chenle gave him the stink eye for interrupting them once again. 

“Are you going out again tomorrow Uncle Nana?” one of the little girls pouted, “will you come back?” 

“I don’t know,” Jaemin smiled at her, “I’ll try my best.” 

They were as honest as they could be with the children, wanting to protect them but also manage their hopes and hurts. There were 7 of them, rays of sunshine in their dark, dark world. They were born into this time, never having known the before. 

“I need to go, okay?” He greeted them as he stood, quickly saying goodbye so he could go to his quarters and prepare. 

“General,” Jisung waved him over to share a last few words before he left, “be careful hyung.” He spoke softly as Jaemin came to stand in front of him. 

“Always am.” Jaemin smirked 

“You’re not though,” the young alpha deadpanned, “you’re dumb and reckless.” 

“Yet I am still alive.” Jaemin stuck his hands in the pockets of his ratty cargo pants.

“God knows how,” Jisung crossed his arms over his chest, pressing his lips together to prevent himself from scolding Jaemin, “at least Jeno is always looking out for you.” 

“Excuse me, I’m the one looking after his brooding ass.” 

“An ass you wish you had.” Chenle snickered after sending the kids off to their own lunch

“Respect your elders.” Jaemin tutted

“You’re 28, not 82.” The omega rolled his eyes, his black hair also in need of a trim. 

“And still your General.” 

“And still a pain in my ass.” 

“Yeah, yeah,” Jaemin waved them off as he left again, “see you tomorrow.” 

“I hope so.” Jisung whispered sullenly after Jaemin was gone, Chenle taking his hand. 

••

Tired from an arduous hike, the sun beating down on them through the mottled yellow sky, their mission was about to begin. The road they were going to wait at was in a hollow ditch, some high rocks on either side in the same dead red dust as the rest of the world.

The terrain was risky, they were too far from home to suddenly escape, hiding was also near impossible. Either they succeeded or they died, which just raised the stakes. And in Jaemin’s case, his adrenaline. 

“Ready?” Jeno asked, looking around at the group. All of them dressed in patched clothes and cloaks that perfectly matched the black and red sand and hoods over their heads.  

They nodded one by one, tossing some hand signs his way. 

“Let’s go.” 

550 seconds.

Each of them pulled their bandanas over their noses and mouths, goggles over their eyes. Jeno signed quickly, each of them sprinting off to take their positions, rifles in hand, handguns and knives strapped to their limbs. They would have been indistinguishable from each other at a glance, but having known them for so long he could tell them all apart. 

Jeno was with Johnny crouched low by the roadside, Jaehyun taking the high ground with Mark and Jaemin. Donghyuck opposite Jeno with his back to a rock. 

They waited, Jeno counting down in his head. Exactly 412 seconds and the truck would come into view. After months of recon, holding Pack minions hostage for information, they finally had their target, the heist planned down to the last millisecond. 

Sure enough, exactly on time, the rumble of a truck could be heard in the distance. But there was something wrong. Jeno frowned as he heard something that wasn’t supposed to be there. Motorcycles; extra security. Instead of a small group they could take out and rob, this was now an entire convoy. And another truck. There were two fucking trucks. 

Jeno hastily signed to Donghyuck, telling him to bail and retreat. There was no way they could take them on and survive, they were also way too far from home to get help. Donghyuck quickly signed in denial, pointing up as he shook his head. 

Fuck

Knowing Jaemin and Mark could see the increased size of the group from above, they still wouldn’t fall back. Jeno cursed the two in his head, knowing they would drop like boulders from the sky to carry out his plan regardless. 

5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1

Jaemin and Mark jumped. 

Feet first, rocketing through the air.

THUD - THUD

They landed on the roof of the truck. Denting the metal at the force, kicking up dust. 

The truck swerved sharply, Jaemin steady on the roof with his feet apart. Unphased, he pressed his gun to his shoulder and pulled the trigger. 

Clap - clap - clap - clap

Jeno could hear him laugh, raining bullets down on the cabin. Blood splattered on the windows as the drivers died. Mark was at his back, peppering the other truck with shots, killing those drivers, knocking the truck to its side in a flurry of flying metal and wheels. But the motorcycles rumbled full speed on either side of the lurching truck. They raised their guns, right at Jaemin and Mark who stood like beacons, immovable.

Clap - clap - clap - clap

Jaehyun shot from above straight through their heads impossibly fast, bloody mist evaporated in the dast. The truck fell on its side, skidding and rolling, wheels and scrap rocketing into the sky, scattering down in violent thuds. Jaemin and Mark were in the air, leaping at the last second to land heavily off to the side in a spray of sand. 

Loud. Violent. Too much noise, so much dust. The brutality of their lives.

On queue, Jeno, Johnny and Donghyuck rolled out, crouching low, rifles raised. With years of experience and fighting in their blood, they shot. Taking out the remaining motorcycles, bodies flying and machines rolling, spilling crimson and steel. 

Jeno dodged a chunk of truck flying straight at his head, hearing a grunt from his left where shrapnel had clipped Johnny’s shoulder. 

Then - silence.

As quickly as it came, the noise and the screams and the violence was over. Twisted metal, body parts, pieces of whatever smoking and burning, a stray wheel still turning sadly. The quiet was suddenly deafening in the hushed silence that fell over them. 

Donghyuck and Johnny rushed towards what was left of the first truck, hoping the contents were still secure. Jeno couldn’t believe they made it without losing anyone, they were vastly outnumbered and far out but it was to their advantage that the added security was on motorcycles, easy to take out.

Which was what worried Jeno. The Pack has never been this sloppy, so easy to get rid off, especially when it came to precious cargo like water. 

Something’s wrong, Jaemin quickly signed as he walked over to Jeno, red dust still heavy in the as it clung to their boots. There was blood on his clothes and face, his rifle held at the ready. 

Jeno signed his affirmative. 

They quickly regrouped, the five of them back to back as they looked around with their guns raised, Jaehyun looking after them from above as best he could through the smog. But the dust made it hard to get a good view, their vision obscured by the red cloud. 

There’s water in one truck and ammo in the other, Donghyuck signed, surprising Jeno. He had thought the trucks would be empty, based on how different the shipment was from the information they had been given. Then again, they would have known instantly by the way the truck’s wheels rolled if it was loaded or not.

Suddenly, a shot clapped through the air like thunder. 

BANG

An angry grunt followed. 

Jeno spun around, seeing something akin to a nightmare. Jaemin whipped back, blood splattering behind him as a bullet ripped through his shoulder. His rifle went flying, he was falling, a curse on his lips. 

The world stopped turning. Jeno heard the sliding click of a reload. He saw a shadow far away atop a rock. 

No!

He jumped. 

Clap - clap - clap

Thud - thud - thud 

••

Jeno was piled on Johnny’s back, blood dripping onto the copper sand beneath their feet. The stronger alpha ran at full speed all the way back to the canyon. The rest were close by, a tank of water on each of their backs, containers of bullets strapped to their chest. Jaemin’s shoulder screamed in pain as they ran as fast as they could, kicking up sand. Jaemin couldn’t slow down, they couldn’t afford to delay at all. Even in his injured state, he had to carry his weight, the large tank bouncing on his back, the metal box hammering against his chest. They ran like this for nearly half an hour, their boots ripping into the dry earth, pushing themselves beyond their limits, Jeno needing help, they needed to escape. Not caring if they were followed, not caring about leaving tracks, they sprinted with all their might over the dirt and dunes that had taken them hours to hike earlier that morning.

Finally, they reached the hidden entrance to their home, Jaemin ripped open the blast door with all his strength, jumping down into the tunnel, sliding down deep into the earth, the rest fast behind him. 

Skidding into the metal bubble on a cloud of red dust, the hollow echo of steel catching them, Jaemin’s eyes scrambled over the other leaders that were waiting for them.

“Taeil!!” Jaemin called hoarsely, tossing his cargo to the ground as his throat and lungs burned, his legs shaking. Donghuyck was throwing up in the corner, Mark heaving on the floor.

“Who -?” He asked, pushing through to reach Jaemin. Just then, the rest popped out of the tunnel, collective gasps echoing among them as Johnny slid out with a pale and unconscious Jeno on his back, covered in blood. 

Without another word, Taeil ran down a dimly lit corridor, Johnny dashing after him with Jeno. Jaemin wanted to follow him, he wanted to be with Jeno so badly, panic beat in his ears and choked his windpipe. But he couldn’t, not while everyone was watching. 

Everyone else was on the floor, the sand on their faces turned to mud as sweat poured down their limbs, even the normally unphased Jaehyun was panting where he lay on his back. Jaemin ripped his goggles and bandana off to hurl it aside, gulping stale air, hands on his knees. 

Fuck fuck fuck fuck FUCK. 

He slammed his hand against nearest wall, “Fuck!” 

No one blinked, feeling the same at seeing Jeno like that. 

Jaemin had no idea what happened, the heist felt wrong . He didn’t know what the purpose was, if it was a trap why did they still have water and ammo on the truck? Why the extra security that was useless in the end. An unknown sniper that only aimed at Jaemin? His spine ran cold with suspicion and worry, and anger. Jaemin was so pisssed of he could chew nails.  

But he reigned it in, he had stuff to do. 

“Ammo goes to the armory,” he quickly commanded, his men jumping in to follow his orders, “water to the greenhouse. Disinfect everything.” 

Jaemin grabbed the load he had tossed aside once more, following Renjun to the greenhouse with Mark by his side. 

“Jaemin, you need to get that checked out.” Mark spoke in a low whisper, his filthy face coloured in concern.

“Later.” He grunted, feeling blood trickle down his fingers as they jogged down the tunnel on hollow boot falls. 

Moments later, all the water was lined up neatly, Renjun, Jungwoo and YangYang immediately setting to work to clean the containers and test the water. The ammo was offloaded in the armory for Jaehyun to inspect. 

“Meeting room,” Jaemin demanded, “now.” 

While the others set to work, his men followed him so they could discuss what the fuck happened. Filthy, clothes stained, blood stiff and dark, they fell into their seats around the table. The room was just for them, right next to Jeno’s quarters.

“It was a setup.” Jaemin immediately said, pacing back and forth, not able to sit down with the others, “How? How did they know we were coming? And what the fuck do they want?” Jaemin demanded from no one in particular. 

“They had to put something on the truck or we would clearly see it was empty.” Mark contributed, pointing out the obvious

“Why didn’t they just have men back there to weigh it down? Why the extra security that ended up not meaning anything?” 

“They were after you,”  Donghyuck pointed at Jaemin, “all if it was just a grand performance to get to you.”

“ What the fuck would they want with me?” 

“You’re the only way to get to Jeno.” something bitter and disappointed pulled at Donghyuck’s brow. There were rumors about them, people talked, but Jaemin always ignored it. Because there wasn't something between them, nothing they would acknowledge. 

“Shut your fucking mouth, you’re talking out of your ass.” Jaemin snapped, his temper rearing its ugly head at Donghyuck being so perceptive.

“Look at what the fuck happened Jaemin,” Donghyuck was on his feet, slamming an angry fist on the metal table, the loud thud hollow, “It was a test and we fuckng failed! We know what Jeno will do for you, and now they know too.” 

Jaemin’s alpha roared within him, enraged at the challenge.

“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to, Major ?” Jaemin snapped, the superior strength of his alpha forcing Donghyuck back into his seat. Donghyuck didn’t say anything else, but he glared at Jaemin through his mismatched eyes, dark skin smeared in filth. 

Jaemin knew that he was in this position because of his abilities, not because of his alpha and it was unfair to wield it against Hyuck that way, but he was unwise in his outrage.

“Get cleaned up,” Jaemin instructed, “I’ll deal with Jeno.” 

Jaemin marched off, leaving them behind to go check on what needed doing. He went to the greenhouses first where Renjun, Jungwoo and YangYang grew their potatoes and recycled the little water they had. 

“Update.” He snapped the moment he entered the dimly lit space, Jaemin only a few lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling with frayed wires. 

The omegas’ paled and wide-eyed at his tone, his alpha clearly pissed off as hell. They were used to seeing Jaemin this way.

“The water is clean,” Jungwoo continued, gritting on his teeth, clearly not liking Jaemin’s attitude, “not contaminants, poison or tracking devices.” 

In the past the Pack had tracked them, or tried to anyway, but their steel bubble was so deep under the cool surface that the signals were completely interrupted and impossible to pick up. They had tried to follow them, find them, but to no avail. So far they have been pretty secure here.

“Good, add it to the system.” He instructed, turning on his heel to leave with angry strides. They had a very small and primitive plumbing system, trying to keep everyone as clean and healthy as possible to avoid disease and panic. But the water was rationed, it was always rationed. 

Next, Jaemin made his way to the far side of the labyrinth, people who passed him in the tunnels scrambling out of his way, his face and body language immediately giving away his fury. 

Slamming the door open, he found Jaehyun behind a table, different magnifying glasses between his gaze and the bullet pinched between his fingers. He was completely unphased by Jaemin’s loud entrance. 

“Can we use them?” 

“Some,” he answered, never a man of many words, “poor quality though.” 

“What do you think happened?” His voice was sharp and authoritative, Jaehyun’s alpha bowing to him. Jaehyun was formidable, and he submitted only out of respect, choosing to do so but not needing to. 

But he did make it known on occasion that he didn't have to listen to Jaemin. 

“They want Jeno,” he replied, dark gaze meeting Jaemin’s eyes, “so they’ll take you.” 

This was exactly what they wanted to avoid, this was exactly why they tip-toed around each other for so many years. Jeno should have left him behind, he should have let him die. 

They had an... encounter, when they were young and stupid. Curious hands and hesitant lips, but they quickly realized how dangerous their feelings and actions could be, so it never happened again. They never spoke of it again. 

But it was a punch in the gut for it to be everyone’s first answer in the face of something like this.

Jaemin led as well as Jeno did, but he knew that without Jeno he would make mistakes out of his impulsivity. If Jaemin bit the dust, Mark, Donghyuck and Johnny could easily take his place as General. But if Jeno dies, no one could fill his shoes and do what he did. And the people here trusted him, they always looked to Jeno. He was the reason people didn’t hurt each other here, he was the reason people stayed and lived trying their best. Without Jeno, this home of theirs wouldn't exist at all.

His temper still bubbling hot and poisonous in his mind, he left Jaehyun behind to finally make his way to the medical bay. Mad at Jeno, mad at himself, mad at his men for hitting the nail on the head so easily, he stormed into the room. 

Taeil didn’t look up, razor sharp focus on the task at hand as he carefully sutured one of Jeno’s wounds. 

“Stay there,” Taeil said, knowing Jaemin too well, “you’re filthy and you hover.” 

“Taeil -“ 

“He’s going to be fine, Jaemin.” Taeil deadpanned, bent over Jeno’s pale chest, pale linen tied over his mouth and nose as he worked, “now fuck off and take a shower. Come back later and I’ll take care of your shoulder.” 

“But -“ 

Taeil raised his head then, meeting Jaemin’s gaze with a hard one of his own, a warning to Jaemin to do as he said. He was an omega respected for his knowledge and his age and never took bullshit from anyone regardless of their rank. Also one of many who owed Jeno their lives.

Not able to shake the sight of Jeno so pale and limp, three holes in his torso dark and angry in his pallid skin. Taking a deep breath, he turned on his heel and returned to his quarters. Right next to Jeno’s, Jaemin entered his room, slamming the wonky metal door in anger. But he did as Taeil asked so he could return to Jeno’s side as quickly as possible. 

Peeling his filthy clothes from his aching limbs, he tossed them aside into a corner before opening the tap next to his bed. Catching the little bit he was allowed in a metal bowl, he grabbed a rag to wash the muck from his body. Even though everything was clean, their clothes and their rooms it was stained and discolored still. 

He grimaced as he reached his shoulder, carefully washing over the still bleeding hole. He was lucky it was a through-and-through and had ripped through the meat of his shoulder missing bones and arteries. His alpha was also strong enough to speed up his recovery, much like Jeno’s was.

It became really clear to Jaemin that they were indeed after him to get to Jeno. The enemy sniper could have killed Jaemin with a shot to his head or heart, instead he just aimed for his shoulder to get a reaction out of Jeno. But why didn’t they just shoot for Jeno right away? They could have killed him directly instead of going through Jaemin, they could have killed them both right there.

His brain ran 100 miles a minute to dissect all the events, looking at it from every angle. But Jaemin felt like he didn’t have all the pieces of the puzzle, he needed to talk to Jeno and figure this out. But Jaemin was going to yell at him first. 

Washing his hair as best he could with the sharp smelling herbal chunk of ‘soap’ that Jungwoo made. Drying off, Jaemin used the sliver of mirror he had on his wall to run a blade over his cheeks before opening the trunk (rather a metal crate once used for missiles) that held the three pairs of pants and four shirts he owned to get dressed. 

It all happened so fast, it was all so confusing. The holes in the events of the day were pissing him the hell off. 

He tied his boots up, he would need to steal a new pair soon, before returning to the medical bay. He hadn’t been gone long, but Taeil was done when he entered. 

Jaemin still wanted to toss furniture around, or shoot something, or bite someone’s throat out, but he governed his emotions with an iron fist until it was just a simmer below the surface and not a raging wildfire. 

“Sit down.” Taeil instructed him, waving to a stool close to Jeno’s cot. Jaemin obeyd, keeping his eyes on Jeno as he did so.

“Off.” he crooked his fingers at Jaemin, the alpha pulling his shirt over his head as Taeil asked. 

“Not bad,” the doctor said, poking at the hole, making Jaemin grimace, “you do need to keep it clean though.” 

Jaemin snorted, that would be hard, he was sure, with how they lived. Running around the surface with a gun in his hand like a maniac while trying not to die and kill as many as he could - being clean wasn’t so easy. 

“If it gets infected, I’ll chop your arm off.” He warned, waving a finger at Jaemin in warning.

“You know that won’t stop me.”

“What if the knife slips and I take your balls too?”

Jaemin chuckled, “No need to be hasty.” 

“That’s what I thought, General.”  

Jaemin found himself unwinding somewhat in Taeil’s presence, the omega’s nearness naturally soothing for his patients. It didn’t take long to sew up the hole front and back, the bite of the needle through his skin not even enough to make him twitch. Luckily there was no lasting damage except another scar added to Jaemin’s collection. 

“I’ll be back in an hour,” Taeil told him, hanging up his apron and washing his hands in a small bowl of herbed water, “don’t kill him before then.”

“Can’t make any promises, doc.” Jaemin smirked at him, Taeil rolling his eyes as he left. 

Finally, Jaemin was alone with him. 

Jeno was pale and so so still where he lay on the cot.

Three bullets were removed, his insides cleaned and stitched up, but he had lost a lot of blood and there were no guarantees that he would make it, no matter how good the prognosis. 

But Jaemin was mad, he was so fucking furious that Jeno could be so stupid he was tempted to strangle him in his sleep . Jaemin had to regroup and debrief everyone who had returned from their mission, everything they managed to get their hands on quickly cataloged and stored, the patrol for the night in place. 

He did all of that without Jeno. He could, he has the ability to act without him. But he hates being put in a position where he had to. He knew his words would always be second guessed, he knew that people were probably already speculating about what had happened to Jeno. The barest hint of doubt or difficulty could tip this delicate ecosystem of people right into hell. 

“God you’re stupid,” Jaemin cursed him, bitter anger and worry twisting his stomach into painful knots, “how could you do this? You fucking idiot”

His bare torso wrapped in discolored bandages, spots of crimson leaking through. His black hair was dirty and messy, his limbs dusty and bruised. Taeil cleaned up the areas he needed to work on, but Jeno’s hands and legs were still stained in copper dust from their mission.

“You should have just let me die, you dumbass.” 

Jaemin placed a scratched metal bowl on a stool after pouring a small cup of water from the tap, rinsing a rag in the water, tousling the herbs and tonics that Taeil had left about turning the water milky. 

All the while Jaemin was nearly crippled by worry for Jeno. He didn’t show it, his authority needed to be unwavering as he led alone, setting everyone at ease. If he made his concern known, everyone’s morale and conviction could be shaken. So he held on, until the sun rose again and Jaemin could wake another day at his side.

But he was also hurt. Deep within beneath all his darkness, his heart ached. After everything that had happened, everything they both turned their backs on, why the hell did Jeno do this.

“Fucking punk making me worry about you,” Jaemin used the rag to clean his limbs, slow and tender he washed each of his hands, wiping down his arms and legs, combing his wet fingers through Jeno’s hair to tend to some of the knots, “I’m gonna give you an earful when you wake up.” 

When. Not if.

Satisfied that Jeno was cleaned up properly, his bandages were tight and secure and he was tucked in, Jaemin’s hands didn’t leave him. His rough, calloused palm lay over Jeno’s cheek, his stubble scratching at his wrist. That pretty mole wasn’t always visible beneath Jeno’s eye, he would be too tanned or too dusty, but Jaemin always liked knowing he was one of few who even knew it was there. 

No one could ever see Jaemin like this, Jeno couldn’t even see him like this, but once he didn’t have anything to keep his mind occupied, his anger was replaced with heartache and exhaustion. His fingers quivering as he mapped the determined set of Jeno’s jaw. The scar that ran from his cheek into his hairline, his brow still frowning in his sleep. 

Jaemin didn’t know when or how, but he was soon pulled down by his fatigue, the day was too long, too much. His cheek fell to Jeno’s thigh, one arm slung over his waist as if to keep him there. Out like a light, something akin to grass permeated his dreams. 

••

What was that smell? 

Jeno struggled to wake, cotton in his mouth and a muddy fog slowing down his brain. He smelled something. Something he hasn’t smelled in a long time, the memory of it felt foreign to him. It was sweet and heavy… somewhat creamy? He didn’t recognize it right away, it has been far too long since he so much as seen something like it. But then he remembers: after 20 years, he never thought he would smell sugar again. 

Trying to force his eyes open, his lashes sticking together. His vision swam with pain and nausea, the feeling of coming out of unconsciousness brought about by injury was much too familiar to him. He smelled herbs, he felt the throbbing pain in his chest, the memory of getting shot again still fresh in his mind. 

He struggled to remember what happened but came back to him in waves. He saw Jaemin fall, he saw blood on the ground. He heard the cock of a gun. 

Jeno fucked up. He knew he did. 

But it had been pure instinct, both man and alpha compelled to protect him. 

Jaemin had been hurt before, shot, burned, broken, near death. Jeno had never stepped in like this, but something in him regrets never having protected him before. 

I am so fucked.  

Jeno had blundered right through the carefully crafted walls between them, and in front of his men too. 

Frustrated with himself, bracing for the shitstorm he had unleashed, Jeno sighed tiredly wishing he had some of Jungwoo’s rancid alcohol in his system, 

Still, the smell of sugar didn’t leave him, thinking it an hallucination, he looked around trying to get his sluggish limbs to come back to life. He was in the medical bay, the haphazard patches of steel and rust and low hanging yellow globes part of his home.

There was someone else there too, his real home. 

Jaemin. 

Passed out on his thigh, cheek squished against the thin linen of the sheet as he drooled. He held onto Jeno with his good arm like he was afraid of letting go. But the smell, that smell , was coming from Jaemin ever so faintly. Sweet, it was so sweet but muted and vague. Curious, Jeno raised a hand, ignoring the pull in his chest at the motion, he ran unsteady fingers through Jaemin’s damp fringe. Sure enough when he brought his hand to his face, he smelled it on his fingers. 

Jeno wondered how he had never even caught the smallest hint of this sweetness. They had huddled side by side in the cold, plastered together when needed, sleeping in the same sleeping bag when there wasn’t enough to go around, Jaemin had carried him, Jeno carried Jaemin, they had even been naked and washing together more than once. 

And of course that one time. But he shouldn't think about that.

Jaemin was indeed a contradiction, a man of violence and sharp edges, but softness lurking in the recesses of his heart. And now he smelled like sugar, something sweet and distinct that he couldn’t quite put his finger on even as it reminded him of his childhood. 

Jeno’s hand returned to his hair, gentle through the tresses. He fell asleep again with his hand still on Jaemin’s head.

By the time Jeno woke he was alone, it was night time again and nearly a full day after their mission. There was no way of telling the exact time from how deep their windowless maze was below the surface, but Jeno had clumsily gotten out of bed to sneak out to the nearest terrace to get some fresh air. He hurt a lot, but was once again grateful for his alpha who saved his life so many times by helping him recover impossibly fast. Getting shot in the chest was after all not even close to some injuries of the past.

It was dark and cold where he stood, the temperature at night the opposite of the scorching desert heat of the day. He dug around in his pockets and found a single cigarette, a little bent and crusty, but he quickly lit it with the flick of a metal lighter. It had been his brother’s once, a long long time ago when getting caught smoking by your parents was the worst of your worries. He hasn’t seen Donghae in 20 years, and Jeno had long since given up on ever finding him again. Too many times he had seen false hopes dashed and how devastating it could be, so he didn't hope. Not anymore. 

But that was a lie wasn’t it? 

He did hope for one thing, or one man at least. He dared to believe even knowing there was never going to be a way for them. It was odd, Jaemin was the emotional one, Jeno the logical one. But their roles were quickly reversed and Jeno was swept away by sentiment when Jaemin fought to keep him grounded. 

Jeno made a mistake. He had made a terrible mistake saving Jaemin. He brought people here, helped them make a home, made a home for himself and welcomed anyone who needed a place to live. Jeno knew he was the pillar of the 114 people who lived here; he was the one who set up the rules, who enforced them, who made the plans, who solved their problems. Without him, someone could take advantage of his people, they could scatter and get hurt, they could be afraid or sick or even hurt each other. 

He had all the world on his shoulders, but he risked it still. And for what? Feelings. 

He thought of that moment when he woke up with Jaemin sleeping on his leg, how familiar it was, how much he was tied to Jaemin. Their past. It shook his resolve. 

Thinking back, Jeno knew he would do it again, no matter how foolish his instincts would drive him to save Jaemin. And Jaemin was going to rip him a new one for his irresponsibility, making Jeno’s mouth pull down at the corners. He hated fighting with Jaemin, even though they did so often. 

He sighed tiredly, rubbing a hand over his face as he thought. Careful of his wounds, but knowing he would be fine in a few days, Jeno’s gaze danced over everything around him. They weren’t allowed any outside lights, their patrols always on duty regardless of their camouflaged roofs and entrances. Here and there he saw the dark holes of the balconies and terraces dot the canyon below and across from him. There were tunnels beneath the floor of the canyon that connected both sides, hiding so many innocent people who just wanted to live away from the oppression and the violence. Renjun and Donghyuck had their little home on the other side too, opting to rather stay amongst the children and the plants than the military. Mark also dwelled there somewhere, he refused to return to the quarters he once shared, but didn’t feel at home by himself anywhere else, so he just slept where he could and no one could tell him any different.

Quiet in the dark, the desert eerily silent at night, Jeno finished his cigarette in his own company. Normally he wouldn't be alone out here, but he knew Jaemin was waiting for him somewhere with glass on his tongue.

Flicking the stub over the edge as was his habit, he rubbed at his chest where one of the holes ached. Luckily the bullets had missed his heart and lungs, or there really was no saving him no matter the strength of his alpha.

Making his way to the far corner of the maze where he and Jaemin resided and their meeting room was, the air grew progressively more stale. These openings in the canyon were their only source of ventilation. They couldn't afford to dig vents upward or risk collapses at best, discovery at worst. So they had these entrances dotting the rock and some fans, and that was pretty much it. But after nearly 10 years of digging and surviving and fighting here, most everyone was used to the claustrophobic nature of their home.

Sure enough, when he pushed open the heavy metal door to his room, Jaemin was already waiting for him. His scarred arms crossed over his thick chest, an angry frown on his face telling Jeno he was pissed. The yellow glow of the one lightbulb in his room casts everything in a soft, sad light, somehow making Jeno expect the worst. 

Jeno closed the door behind him, knowing what was coming next. 

“Glad to see you’re on your feet.” Jaemin spoke, his alpha already growling and vibrating in preparation to clash with Jeno’s own. The soft, beautiful creature that had fallen asleep by his side was nowhere to be seen. 

“I try.” he deadpanned, he should probably attempt and diffuse the situation, but once Jaemin got rolling, there was no stopping him until his temper fizzled out on its own. 

“You seem fine.” Jeno nodded at his shoulder, only a thin bandage still over it under his shirt but no show of discomfort. 

“Of course I’m fine.”

“You’re welcome.” Jeno retorted, as he also crossed his arms over his chest to mimic Jaemin’s standoffishness. Even when it stung and tugged and he felt stitches draw taut, he stood tall and firm. 

But based on Jaemin’s face, that was the completely wrong thing to say. 

“Are you fucking insane?” He demanded, “Are you out of your goddamn mind?”

“It’s not a big deal, Jaemin -” he tried brushing it off, but he knew for a fact he was pushing Jaemin’s buttons.

“Not a big deal?” Jaemin snarled, uncrossing his arms as he took a threatening step toward Jeno, “are you fucking serious?” 

“Jaemin -”

“How could you?!” Jaemin exploded, face coloured with anger. Their alphas butt heads, snarling at each other as the both of them grew increasingly upset. Luckily no elses’ quarters were nearby, if the rest of their community knew how much Jeno and Jaemin yelled at each other it may affect their perceptions. 

“I couldn’t stand still and let you die,” Jeno snapped equally angry, “How could you even ask me that?” 

Jaemin took a sharp breath to yell back, but Jeno interrupted with his own temper.

“And what about this, huh?” Jeno demanded, grabbing Jaemin’s forearms, his grip instantly bruising the scarred skin. Jaemin had splotches of long healed burn scars over his forearms, an injury he had obtained by flinging himself between Jeno and some poison gas the Pack had hurled at them before they made their home here, “Isn’t this the same thing??” 

“No, it’s not!” Jaemin tried to shake Jeno’s hand off, but he didnt let go, Jaemin’s skin turning purple beneath his grip, “You built this place, you led everyone here, you kept everyone safe!”

“So does that mean I should just let you die??”

“Yes!! You should have let me die, Jeno!” Jaemin shoved at his chest as he finally broke free, “I don’t matter!! I’m replaceable - you’re not!” he ignored Jeno’s injuries, something twisted in Jaemin wanting to hurt him.

“Don’t say that,” Jeno snarled, his alpha colliding with Jaemin’s in a fight for superiority as he pushed him back with an angry palm to his shoulder, “don’t you fucking dare say that.” 

“It’s true Jeno! You know it’s true, they’re using me to get to you!”

Jaemin pushed at him again, with all his strength and upset. Jeno caught both his wrists this time, preventing him from pushing at him again or even punching him in the face. 

“You’re not replaceable Jaemin!” He snapped, their eyes clashing as both of them heaved with how they shouted at one another, “Not to me!” 

“Don’t you see that’s the problem!” He tried to wrench free of Jeno’s grip yet again but only managed to pull him closer, “Every time we go out on mission, we’re prepared to die for our people, but how the fuck dare you die for me.” 

They had drawn closer to each other in the midst of their argument, without noticing they were toe to toe, breathing each other’s air. 

“Why would you risk everything just for me??” 

“You know why Jaemin, don’t pretend that you don’t. You know exactly why I jumped in front of those bullets.” Jeno gritted through his teeth, knowing he was once again plowing through the rubble of their non-existent boundaries. 

“Don’t say it, Jeno. Don’t you fucking say it.” Jaemin growled, the tone of his voice steadily lowering because of their proximity, his green eyes burned with rage and frustration.

Jeno didn’t say it, but he did something that was probably even more stupid. 

He gave in. He kissed him. 

He yanked Jaemin by the wrists right into his chest, and he kissed him. A gasp of surprise left Jaemin’s lips, but then he was kissing him back. Electricity zinged straight through his spine as Jaemin parted his lips to allow his tongue inside to tangle with his own. He tastes of sugar and salt, his lips rough even as he kisses him so sweetly. 

Jeno hasn’t stopped wanting him since the moment he kissed him as an 18 year old moron who couldn't even hold a gun. Jaemin had always been there, in his heart and in his life, the only constant that there ever was. 

As if awoken from a dream, realizing how he had fallen into the moment, Jaemin suddenly bit down. He shoved himself off Jeno, his face no longer colored in anger alone, but there was hurt too. Jeno pressed a finger to his bottom lip and as he withdrew his hand he saw blood. 

Jaemin wiped across his lips with the back of his hand, chest heaving as he stepped further away from Jeno. 

“How can you be so fucking selfish?” He spat, his entire body shaking. Jeno caught a whiff of burnt sugar but it was gone as soon as it came. 

“All this time,” Jaemin snarled, “we pushed each other away. Don’t you throw that back in my face now.”

“Jaemin -“ 

“That’s General Na to you,” he snapped, his alpha still contending with Jeno’s in a snap of teeth and hurt, equally matched.

Clear as day, Jaemin carved a line between them yet again, this one deep and indisputable. He turned his back on Jeno and left his quarters slamming the blast door with a final bang. 

He was right, Jaemin’s life isn't worth much in the big scheme of things. Jeno rubbed at his chest, the hurt deeper than any bullet could ever travel.

••

Jaemin had never been so angry in his entire life, he was sure. Furious, but also hurt. It was the closest thing to a confession Jeno would get from him, and he still wouldn't listen. They had been doing fine skirting the edges of this thing they didn’t acknowledge even existed, Jaemin had no idea what the hell happened for Jeno to change all that. 

Marching through the corridors, lucky that no one was about at this hour or he may just bite someone’s head off, he made his way through the deepest parts of their base to where Renjun and Donghyuck lived. If Jeno didn't listen to him, he was going to do what needed doing, but he wanted answers first.

He found Mark along the way, napping in a dark corner with his pack and gun. 

“Come on.” He yanked him up, commanding him to follow. Mark did so without question as he fell into step next to Jaemin. 

Reaching a familiar door, he hammered on it impatiently, not caring that he may wake their neighbors. Of course, Donghyuck knew that only one person could be so rude and demanding this time of night. 

He opened the door with unamused eyes, the room behind them dark as Renjun had probably already gone to bed.  

“You here as my General or my friend?” he asked, leaning against the jamb with arms crossed over his chest, his mismatched eyes judging Jaemin. 

“You need to come with me.” Jaemin ordered, his tone answering the question.

Donghyuck saluted him with a lazy wrist before turning to grab his boots and stuff his socked feet inside. Jaemin was quickly on his way again, the other two flanking him as he continued his death march deeper and deeper below ground. Donghyuck caught Mark’s eye to silently ask him what the hell was going on but he didn't know either. 

Then they realized where Jaemin was going, and they steeled their thoughts and hearts for what they knew Jaemin was going to do. This wasn't the first time, and they grimly had to admit that Jaemin was good at it. 

This metal tomb was the darkest room of their entire settlement, the air down here was vile and stale, only a single bulb hanging forlorn and neglected from the ceiling. Five cells lined the walls, thick, crude bars keeping the prisoners inside. 

They had captured some members of the Pack one by one over the weeks, getting enough information for the heist they had just pulled off the previous day from some of them. 

“Dismissed.” Jaemin waved off the two that had been standing watch, they bowed and left instantly, not hesitating to obey. 

Donghuyck remained by the entrance as lookout, Mark followed Jaemin to the nearest cell and its sorry occupant. Unlocking the bolt, Jaemin stepped inside to confront what was left of the man. 

Jeno… frowned on torture. He recognised how important prisoners were for gathering information, but didn’t agree with interrogating them this way. Jaemin however, had no such qualms. He grabbed the man by the filthy collar and ripped him to his feet, the weak and small alpha letting out a pathetic squeal. 

“Why are they after me?” Jaemin snarled, shaking the man so hard his feet left the ground. 

He had his suspicions, his men had their own theories too - but Jaemin needed it straight from the horse's mouth.

“What - who?”

Jaemin dropped him, making him crash to the floor in a heap of bird bones. Jaemin crouched down to glare at the pathetic heap of rags to meet his eyes, his hand slipping into his boot to pull out a knife.

“Why…” Jaemin enunciated each word as he pressed the flat of the blade to the man’s dirty cheek, “are you after me?”

The man said nothing but just whimpered, annoying Jaemin even more. He pressed so hard that the blade began cutting into his cheek, a trail of blood dripping onto the floor. Something cruel and vicious took hold of Jaemin in times like these. The monster in him was well known amongst everyone, even to their enemies. 

“Tell me,” Jaemin growled, his alpha thick and suffocating in the air, its foot proverbially on the man’s neck as he commanded him to answer, “what you know.”

Mark shifted where he stood, not unaffected by Jaemin’s violent display of authority. 

“They - they wanted to make sure -”

“Of what?” he snapped, his voice echoing off the steel walls.

“That - that Lee would protect you.”

“ That was the purpose of the trap?” 

The man sobbed and shook, not wanting to divulge the answer that Jaemin was ripping from him nonetheless. 

He grabbed a handful of his filthy hair and yanked his head up, exposing his throat.

“Answer me!!” his alpha growled deep and low, the sound dominating the room as it reverberated off the walls.

“Y-yes,” he swallowed heavily, breathing hard and unstable at the painful angle Jaemin held his head at, “it would - would have been a test - to see -”

“And??”

“I don’t - I don’t know anything - anything else -” 

He glared at him for a moment as he thought, his green eyes alight in the dark. Certain he had gotten everything he wanted, Jaemin grabbed his head, twisting harshly. The snap of his neck echoed menacingly around. The body slumped down, Jaemin shoving it away from him with an angry boot.

Jaemin turned to Mark who was watching him with the same flat expression he always wore.

Did you hear that? He signed to him, not wanting any of the other prisoners hearing him. 

It was an ambush to see if Jeno would protect you. Donghyuck was right, Mark signed back, his fingers flying as he quickly talked, it was a test.  

It worked. Jaemin signed back, his shoulders pulled tight in anger, even more upset with Jeno than before. 

Why? Jaemin asked

There must be another part to their plan, Mark replied to which Jaemin nodded, agreeing with him. 

The other four cells also held prisoners, but three of them had been captured too long ago to know anything about what was going on. So Jaemin made his way to the last cell with Mark following. 

It was a Lieutenant, a higher up they had managed to capture quite recently and he hadn't been particularly useful, but Jaemin planned to change that. He entered the cell on the stink of alpha and a hand clenched around a knife, violence in his every move.

He tasted blood on his tongue, wearing the cloak of a sinner as he prowled in the half-dark like a true predator.

The lieutenant sat up from where he had been laying, more defiant than the one Jaemin had just killed. 

“Talk.” Jaemin commanded, his canines flashing in the shadows.

“Or what? You’ll kill me?” he snickered, seeming half mad from imprisonment. No one dared challenge Jaemin, not when he was like this. 

“No, I won’t kill you,” Jaemin replied, low and menacing as he loomed over the prisoner, his face hidden, his green eyes sucking in his soul, “but I will make you wish you never crawled out of that hole that birthed you.”

“Is that so?” his dirty grin shone yellow and stained in the half-dark. 

“It is,” his alpha pulsed in his voice, ready to force the man to answer everything he asked, “now talk.”

The man only cackled even as he began to shake and panic in the face of Jaemin’s demands. Impatient, needing answers, Jaemin grabbed the man by the throat, yanking him up with a grunt of effort and anger. 

His weak hands scrambled at Jaemin’s wrist as he struggled to breathe.

“ Talk.” he gritted, the prisoners’ sanity slipping away as he began to babble. 

“All we want… is the location of - of  this base.” The wretched alpha forced past his bloodied teeth, his feet twitching weakly where they hung in the air, “And you’re the one - you're the one who’ll give it to us.” 

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Jaemin shook him harshly, bloody gurgles escaping through his broken teeth as his windpipe began to crack and close from Jaemin’s grip. Easing up, Jaemin allowed him enough air to keep talking, even as his limbs began to lose strength.

“You won’t ever give it up,” he gasped for air, blood dribbling from his nose, “we know you, you’re a killer,” another rattling breath left him as his body gave up all its fight, “the demon that lurks this shithole. But General Lee is another story.” 

He gasped, wet and broken, his hands falling away from Jaemin’s wrist as death neared. 

“We will take you, we will break you. And Lee will give us everything we need to survive.”

Jaemin saw red, with all his strength and an enraged yell, he threw the miserable man against a wall, his limbs breaking and splattering like a stepped on moth, leaving a smeared mess of blood and brains behind. 

Pulling out his handgun knowing this was overkill, he pressed it against the already dead man’s head and pulled the trigger once, twice, three times. His head exploding like a rotten corpse bloated in the sun.

Bang - bang - bang 

Blood rained down on him, staining his hands and clothes crimson. The shots echoing like thunder around him, neither Mark nor Donghyuck even flinching, used to Jaemin’s appetite for bloodshed. 

Completely overtaken by his horrid anger, he made his way to the next cell, and the next and the next and the next. Knowing that they probably didn’t have anything useful to say, Jaemin still laid into them until his knuckles burst. Each prisoner they held said the exact same thing however: get their hands on Jaemin, dig their claws into his flesh, break him apart until Jeno gave up the location of their burrow. 

He ripped through all of them, his fists, his fingers, his gun tore them apart in a mass of organs and brains and snapping bones. Jaemin really was a devil that crawled through the dark. 

Jeno seese the good in you, he picks out those shards of softness and embraces the villain too. 

Fuck you, Jeno.

He left the hold like that, all the bars hanging open, blood on the floor, the roof, the walls, running down Jaemin’s arms and clotting in his hair. He tasted it in his mouth, his boots sticking to the steel beneath him as he began to walk away. 

Anyone who saw the massacre left behind would know who did it, Jeamin didn’t really care that there would be consequences either. Their enemies were getting closer and closer to their home, and Jaemin was Jeno’s only weakness. The three made their way back to Donghyuck and Renjun’s front door, quickly facing one another in the dark.

The last mission was only there to confirm whether Jeno would protect you or not, Donghyuck signed furiously, angry with the both of them. 

Which is exactly what happened, Jaemin confirmed.

What now? Mark asked

They’re going to move again so they can get a hold of me, Jaemin replied, fingers sharp and edged with fury even after he just killed 4 people. 

Jeno won’t sit still if they capture and torture you, Donghyuck replied, his brow dark as he thought of what they uncovered.

We need a plan, Jaemin replied, his brain whirring as it chewed on the events of the last two days. 

Leaving bloody boot prints in his wake, Jaemin made his way to his room to wash the muck off him and think about what he was going to do next. But when he opened his door, Jeno was waiting for him. 

They had just shouted at each other not too long ago, Jeno had kissed him, Jaemin had cursed him out. Now Jaemin was returning to him dripping blood. 

Jeno looked him up and down, unphased. Jaemin hated that it never bothered him, it made everything so much harder. 

“I see you interrogated our prisoners.” Jeno crossed his arms over his chest as Jaemin pulled his bloody shirt over his head, plopping the soaked material down right by his feet before he toed off his boots. 

“Why the hell are you here?” 

Jaemin grabbed a rag to wipe at his face and hands, the blood drying, turning tackey. 

“I came to apologize.” 

“Apology accepted, now leave.”

“Don’t be a dick about this Jaemin.” 

“God I could stab you right now.” Jaemin snapped

“Calm down, Jaem,” Jeno retorted, the nickname like a shard of glass through his heart, “let’s just talk okay?”

Jaemin clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. 

“You’re right,” Jeno casually turned away from him to plop down on Jaemin’s bed as if it was his room and not Jaemin’s, but it wasn’t an unfamiliar occurrence, “I shouldn’t have taken those bullets, I shouldn’t have risked it.”

Jaemin said nothing, not trusting the state of his temper to form a logical sentence. 

“I’m sorry for putting you through this and for doing this to you.” 

Jeno looked at him with something unreadable in his eyes, but it didn't quell the burning in his chest. 

“This can’t happen again, Jeno.” 

“You’re right, and it won’t”

••

“Why did you kill our prisoners?” Jeno asked two days later, their whole unit gathered in the meeting room. Jeno had to address this in front of everyone, and punish Jaemin for his actions. 

Jaemin just shrugged, feet on the table as he leaned back, no trace of the fiend he embodied that night. 

“I needed to see if they knew something about the heist.”

“And?” 

“Nothing.” Jaemin replied, crossing his hands behind his head. No one knew what happened between him and Jeno, Jaemin himself trying to forget it. He couldn't let it influence his decisions or his position, so aside from putting up a show for the people, they really weren’t talking. 

“They didn’t know anything.” Hyuck supported him, what the three of them discussed, also a secret. If Jeno didn’t know, then he couldn't protect Jaemin, which is what he wanted.

Mark quietly shook his head, confirming what they said. Johnny had disposed of the bodies and cleaned out the gory scene Jaemin had left behind even when everyone already knew what he was like. As much as he protected their home and their people, as much as he loved his community and every single person in it, he only had hatred for the Pack in truth.

“48 hours in the brig, 72 hours in the generator.” 

Jeno gave him one last look, hard and unforgiving as he handed out his punishment. Both he and Jeno had always done whatever it took, carrying the burden so others wouldn’t have to. Lately Jeno began forgetting that though, Jaemin needed to remind him.

“Xiaojun’s unit came across some intel.” Jeno announced, crossing his arms over his thick chest, the sleeves cut off of his dark shirt to stay cool in the sweltering heat of the room. 

A pity I wouldn’t get to bite into you just once before I die, Jaemin sighed to himself, once again relying on humor to choke out his doubts. If everything went to plan, if Mark and Donghyuck stayed on board, Jaemin would soon be gone. 

“There’s a shipment coming in, three days from now.” Jeno continued, “The Citadel is changing so this carrier will have all the maps and plans of the stronghold itself as well as the location of storage houses and work camps.”

“No, no way,” Jaemin spoke up, this was the perfect opportunity to get rid of himself, but he had to play his part and hide his plans from the rest, “we still don’t know what the fuck was up with that last heist, this seems suspicious at best.”

Donghyuck nodded, following his lead. 

“I think,” Jaehyun spoke up, a rare occurrence, “we should do it.” 

“Why?” Jaemin demanded, taking his feet off the table as his chair clattered back to the floor.

“We need answers.” Was his simple response, his dark eyes drilling through Jaemin. Of everyone gathered here, Jaheyun was most likely to catch a whiff of what Jaemin was up to.

“Use ourselves as bait?” Donghyuck asked, “that’s absolute insanity.”

“It will be dangerous, borderline suicidal,” Jeno acknowledged, “but I don’t see an alternative.” he took a deep breath, “either we come back with plans we really need, or we get to uncover their real motives. That’s a win-win.”

“Or we die.” Jaemin frowned at him, something in him clouded in a burning ache at lying to Jeno so blatantly, something he had never done before. 

Jeno’s gaze hardened as he looked at Jaemin, the tension between them becoming more apparent. 

“Johnny?” Jeno asked, turning to him to ask for his opinion. 

He just shrugged, “Not a bad way to die.” 

“Mark?”

“It’s crazy, but… necessary. I don’t like this feeling though.”

“Fine,” Donghyuck conceded, seeing he was outnumbered, but all the while he actually wanted this to happen just like Jaemin, “but if I eat it, then you have to deal with Renjun.”

“General Na?” he asked, finally turning to Jaemin again.

“Still think it’s fucking nuts,” he grumbled, “but you bitches will die without me.” 

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Donghyuck rolled his eyes, ready to get up and leave. Soon everyone shuffled out, leaving Jaemin and Jeno alone. The air was so strained, it could be cut with a knife. Jaemin didn't think they had ever been this far on the outs. Yes they argued and butted heads over a lot of things, but this was bad. Somehow they were always on the same page, Jeno and Jaemin, Jaemin and Jeno: two sides of the same coin. 

Yet now Jaemin was plotting his own death and Jeno had no idea. 

“Do you really oppose the idea? Or is it because of me?”

“Unlike you, I can separate my fucking feelings from what needs doing.” Jaemin got to his feet, shoving his hands into his pockets, “I’m tired of your bullshit General , if you want to throw yourself in front of me again, I fucking hope you die.” 

Jeno’s gaze iced over, Jaemin’s words cruel. 

Maybe that was the point, Jaemin didn’t want Jeno to remember him fondly, he didn't want Jeno to miss him. He needed Jeno to be strong, he needed Jeno to leave him behind and forge forward so that everyone they knew could have a future. 

Jaemin left without looking back. 

••

Time passed quicker than they expected, and they were finally here again. Gathered at the bottom of one of their exit tunnels, geared up, guns in hand and ready to run into the dust with their lives on the line. 

Jaemin checked his weapons, made sure he had spare ammo, knives in his boots and up his sleeves were secure. Everyone around him doing the same. 

“I can’t keep doing this, Hyuck.” he heard Renjun whisper from the corner where Donghyuck was holding him tightly, “I can’t keep waiting here, falling apart because I don’t know if I’ll see you again.”

“I know,” he pressed his cheek against Renjun’s dark head, “this is the last time, I promise.” 

They had discussed it at length, Jaemin, Mark and Hyuck. If everything went well, this really would be the last time. After today, they had a real shot at freedom, at thriving and not just clinging to the dregs of survival. 

Jaemin quickly looked around at everyone gathered, Xiaojun’s unit teaming up with theirs. Sicheng, Shotaro and Sungchan were what remained of their team. Chenle would also go out with them to fill the gaps, leaving a teary-eyed Jisung behind. Chenle was one of them, he had fought and killed by Jaemin’s side, until Jisung couldn’t take it anymore. Chenle resigned himself to stay behind and be a part of those who made this place a home. No one blamed him for it, but now they needed him. He would be joining Jaemin and Mark as the point break, his old position as a borderline berserker perfectly attuned to his personality. 

They said their goodbyes, Jaemin fondly pressing his forehead to Jisung’s to greet him, hugs for YangYang, Jungwoo and Renjun. 

You’ll be just fine without me.  

And they were gone, up the diagonal ladder to the surface. It took them a good while to reach the blast door hidden behind a rock, sweat already running down their bodies at the exertion and the heat.

Slowly, Jeno opened the hatch, assessing his surroundings to make sure they weren't spotted. The red earth was barren, no sign of anyone being close, not so much as a wisp of dust to be seen. The yellow twilight sky was also quiet and empty, so Jeno opened the door all the way, careful to not let it fall and make a noise. They hopped out quickly, one by one, Chenle bringing up the rear and closing the door, kicking sand over it as they always did. 

Their missions almost always took place during the day, the cold of the night made it near impossible for them to go on foot, and they could be spotted much easier during the night, the barest glint of a gun to be seen for miles. 

Jeno quickly signed off to them all, then they set off on the long hike. Goggles on, guns ready, bandanas over their noses and mouths, they made their slow and arduous journey to the location of their ambush. Years ago Jungwoo had made special treds for their boots that had nail-like spikes in them to keep their soles out of the sand so as to not leave any tracks behind. 

Invention was really born out of necessity, and Jaemin often wondered what they would have done without everything that Renjun, YangYang and Jungwoo had discovered and made. 

Judging by the movement of the sun, they had been hiking for nearly 3 hours, Jeno setting a brutal pace as they made their way to the location. Not too long ago, they had sprinted nearly the same distance to get Jeno help, nearly killing themselves from the exertion. 

None of that mattered now. 

Jaemin looked at Jeno’s broad back swathed in red camouflage as he led them. Jaemin didn’t have many regrets, not one to hold on to the past. But he was sorry for what he was about to do. 

Finally, they reached one of the main roads, having checked and double checked the information Xiaojun had received. Jeno had poured over their plans for hours on end, sacrificing food and sleep to get it right. This was going to be difficult, there were no cliffs to jump off of or rocks to hide behind, they were going to need to hide until the last second not having a choice but to choose this area. The road ahead had watchtowers and they would spot the ambush a mile away over the flat horizon. 

Jeno signed at them to take their positions. 

Dotting either side of the road, right at the bend, they burrowed into the sand to hide, guns at the ready. 

They had to wait for a while, making sure that any dust they kicked up had settled, until they saw a cloud in the distance warning them of the approaching convoy. It would be more heavily protected than their previous target, but they had a perfect plan and more numbers, so Jeno was sure it would work. 

Either they get some answers, or they get the plans, or they all die. 

He’s been in worse situations. 

At least this time, their information was accurate to a T and there were no surioses. Two armored trucks, a semi-automatic rifle on the roof of each, 9 motorcycles in total and a smaller truck of soldiers bringing up the rear. 

Jeno took a deep breath as he counted in his head.

Donghyuck and Johnny jumped to their feet, tossing a trip of nails over the road, the tucks barreling over it and blowing their tires with an angry hiss, a skid on the dust and a cloud of red kicking up around them. 

Mark, Jaemin and Chenle popped out of their spots in the back, immediately firing onto the guard truck from behind.

Jeno, Xiaojun and Sicheng jumped up too, aiming for the drivers of the armored trucks. 

Bang - bang - bang - bang. 

Blood splattered the cabin windows as all the divers were killed.  

They were used to the confusion and the low visibility that the dry earth always caused in fire fights like these, but it didn't make it any easier. 

Then came the rain. The two turrets atop the trucks fired into the copper mist, like hail it pummeled into the ground. 

Thud - thud - thud - thud - thud. 

The motorcycles were kicking up more dust on purpose, letting the turrets fire into the confusion at will to take the rebels out. But they could use it to their advantage too. 

120 - 119 - 118 - 117 - 116

Mark counted in his head, making sure they got out in time exactly as Jeno planned. 

Donghyuck, Johnny and Mark shot open the back door of the first truck, using the cacophony and the torrent of bullets and shells to hide the sound. They piled into the back of the truck, quickly looking around before they grabbed what they could.

Thank God.

The contents of the truck was exactly as they hoped for, there was ammo and other resources there, but they couldn't get that home. But there were also small boxes of maps and plans. They shoved all of it into their packs and were out again in mere seconds, guns raised. 

97 - 96 - 95 - 94 - 93

Jaemin and Chenle were acting as distractions for the turrets so that they could head to the second truck, the rest of the group taking care of the motorcycles. 

Fuck. 

The second truck had rolled to its side and the back door was bent inward. But they couldn't leave without its contents. Donghyuck pulled an ax from his belt, Mark and Johnny with their backs to him and guns to cheeks to protect him. 

Donghyuck raised the ax, hammering down with all his strength. Again and again and again. 

Finally, the locks were completely wrecked and allowed them to pry the door open. Rushing inside just like before, they stuffed their packs with stacks of papers, ignoring everything else. 

They jumped out of the truck, they would all bail soon according to Jeno’s plan. 

81 - 80 - 79 - 78 - 77

Then he heard it. The thrum of a chopper approaching. Donghyuck whirled to him with wide eyes, frantically signing so that they could run. They high-tailed it out of there, not knowing where the fuck they were going to hide in this wide expanse. 

As the chopper neared, the dust slowly began to clear. The three tossed themselves down next to the wreckage of one of the armored trucks, guns raised to try their absolute best to take down a chopper. 

51 - 50 - 49 - 48 - 47

I’ll distract it, you run. Johnny signed to them. 

But before they could even stop him, he ran out into the open, gun raised. Donghyuck ran, using what Johnny offered to get to the rest and get out.

Mark froze. 

The helicopter came closer, dropping toward the earth, blowing all the dust away. There was Johnny. Time slowed. Johnny fired, aiming at the pilots with a cry of fury on his lips. 

The machine guns whirred. 

Thud - thud - thud - thud. 

Bullets peppered Johnny’s body, his limbs flailing at the force, gun flying. He dropped to the ground like a stone. The helicopter turned away like a bird of prey satisfied with its kill.

Mark dashed toward Johnny, but he already knew. 

“I love you,” Jaemin grabbed the front of his shirt, harshly pressed his lips to Jeno’s, “I’ll see you in my next life, Jeno.” 

“Jaemin!!!” He tried to grab him, preventing him from going. People were screaming, bullets were raining down on them, he smelled blood and dust. His leg full of holes and unable to hold his weight as pain clouded his vision. 

“We have to go!” Donghyuck grabbed him by his collar and began dragging him off, he didn't know where Mark was, he didn't know where Johnny was. But the chopper had nearly cleared all the dust as it came closer to the earth, making more things visible. 

He heard the guns whirr, like claps of thunder. He saw someone fall. 

“Mark!!” He yelled over the madness. 

“Jaemin!!” Jeno screamed, trying to throw Donghyuck off. Chenle dashed to Hyuck’s side, yanking at Jeno’s other arm so harshly it dislocated. 

But Jaemin was gone. 

Donghyuck would never forget this moment. 

Jaemin ran right into the cleared center, his clothes and hair whipping around him as he faced an entire chopper with his gun to his cheek. 

“ Jaemin!!” 

Bullets rained down. Jaemin fell. 

“Jeno!” Hyuck yanked him back, his shirt ripping in his grip, Chenle screaming at him to go. Mark came sprinting toward them, covered in blood, he whacked Jeno on the back of the neck without a moment’s hesitation.

••

“Johnny!!” Mark yelled, skidding down by his side, not caring that he was in the open now. He pressed both palms over the holes in his chest, but the blood welled and spilled through his fingers, “Hold on hyung!! We’ll get you out of here!” 

“‘S okay,” he gurgled, bloody bubbles dribbling from his nose and mouth, “let m-me go.” 

“We’ll get you out of here! We’ll - we’ll -“ but Mark knew this was the end, his wounds too severe, his life fading away. 

“I can - I can be with T-Ten again.” 

5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1

Johnny sighed a breath. His last. He died with a smile on his face, Mark clutching at his hands, tears streaking through the dust on his face. But he couldn't remain.

Getting to his feet, Mark shook with fury and heartache, he grabbed his gun and slung it over his back, picking up Johnny’s discarded weapon and sprinted into the thickest part of the remaining dust, knowing he would find the rest there.

Bullets were still flying through the air with deafening cracks, the chopper and the turrets still fighting furiously, with who, Mark didn’t know. He pulled his goggles down and his bandana up, looking for any trace of them. He spotted Jaemin first, his gun pressed to his shoulder as he stood facing the helicopter that was barreling toward him. 

Mark looked away. 

Thud - thud - thud - thud. 

He knew what Jaemin was doing, and he accepted it. 

It was an honor to serve with you, General Na. 

Skidding through the sand, two silhouettes finally came into view as he heard a scream he recognized. Donghyuck was dragging Jeno by his collar, Chenle clutching at his arm, yelling at him to come on . His leg was bloody and most likely broken, but still he tried to fight him off and return to the fray. 

Your sacrifice is not in vain, Jaemin. 

“Sorry General.” Mark called before whacking Jeno on the back of his neck with the butt of his rifle to knock him out. 

As quickly as they could, the two of them dragged a now unconscious Jeno further away, grateful that Jaemin acted as their shield even until his last breath. 

The still semi-intact armored truck pulled up in front of them with a slide of sand, kicking up even more dust. Mark raised his gun to defend them as Donghyuck did the same, expert aim ready to kill whoever blocked their way. 

The passenger door was flung open from the inside. Jaehyun. 

“Get in!!” He yelled

Acting instantly, they tossed Jeno into the back and jumped in after him. Jaehyun flattened the pedal, skidding through the sand as the truck bulleted out of the cloud of dust their firefight created. Mark breathed a sigh of relief to see that Xiaojun, Sicheng, Shotaro and Sungchan were there. Holding bloody limbs, dust smearing their faces and clothes, but they were alive. 

“Johnny?” Jaehyun called over the rumble of the steel truck, “Jaemin?” 

“Gone!” Mark yelled back, gritting his teeth against the grief. There was a time and place to mourn, but it was not now. The grim faces around them said the same. 

“Fuck.” Donghyuck cursed, dragging a bloody hand through his filthy hair. 

The back of the truck was so loud they couldn't say anything, they just sat there as it rocketed through the desert, tossing them about. Mark shuffled to the back of the truckbed, getting his gun ready as he peered out one of the busted doors. 

They weren’t being followed. 

It would have been easy for the chopper to follow them, shoot them down and kill them all. But it didn't, and Mark knew why. Because they had gotten what they wanted: Jaemin. If they shot up the truck, they would never get their location, if they followed them Jaehyun would never lead them to their home but would probably drive off a cliff to kill them all before their base was risked. 

But Mark still sat there, keeping watch for hours until his hands cramped on the trigger of his rifle, but he just kept sitting there. 

Johnny wasn't supposed to lose his life, not like this. But Mark suspected that his friend knew, he had known this was his last mission, he had happily died doing his part. 

Jaemin was supposed to die. 

“They have to kill me. If they don’t and they take me instead, convince Jeno I’m dead anyway. He can’t keep going on like this, and I refuse to hold him back.”

“What the fuck Jaemin? You’re going to kill yourself?” Donghyuck demanded, Mark not knowing what to say.

“I’m not. I’m doing what Jeno can’t do right now. I’m choosing all of you over me.”

They couldn't argue, there was no alternative. 

Jaehyun got them away safely, the sun setting on the desert-like landscape bringing the cold with it. Not wanting to drive too close to home, they stashed the truck in a shallow cavern, tossing as much sand over it as they could, kicking at the tracks as much as possible. They still had a bit of a freezing hike left in front of them, so Jaehyun tossed Jeno over his shoulders and they set out. 

They didn’t talk, they had nothing to say. Somewhat terrified, they kept their eyes and ears peeled for any sign of the Pack. They had completely been caught off guard by the chopper, not knowing what the hell it was there for or even why it left. 

Mark and Donghyuck were the only ones who knew the truth.

Each weighed down by the loss they had suffered that night, having to rescue their injured leader once again. Jeno had changed in recent weeks, becoming more daring, taking risks he never would have before, being reckless with his own life. 

They knew why though, it was Jaemin. Mark didn’t blame him, he would have done anything for Taeyong, and Taeyong would have done anything for him. Which is why he wasn’t here anymore. Mark rubbed at the crescent scar in his neck, the mating bite the only thing he had left of his beloved alpha.

But now all that would come to an end, the only thing that weakened their General was gone.

After hiking for a good two hours in the freezing cold, pieces of the truck that they could still use strapped to their limbs, they finally reached one of the secret entrances to their base. 

Mark jumped first, Jaehyun and Jeno next then Donghyuck, Sicheng, Shotaro Sungchan and Xiaojun bringing up the rear, closing the camouflaged blast door behind him. 

Once again, their beloved ones awaited them. But this time two of them didn’t return.

“Chenle?? Jaemin??” Jisung called, pushing past the crowd to the front. 

“Jaemin and Johnny didn’t make it.” Jaehyun replied, voice as flat and cold as always. 

Jisung pressed a palm over his mouth as tears welled in his eyes, a pained cry caught in his throat even as Chenle wrapped him in his arms. He quickly took him by the hand to lead him away, tears running down his own face. 

Taeil came forward to lead Jaehyun with Jeno still on his back to the hospital bay. Whispers and cries and sobs echoed through the tunnels as news of Jaemin and Johnny’s death echoes through every corner of their compound. 

“I was so worried,” Renjun sobbed, his arms around Donghyuck’s neck as he clung to him, “I really thought I lost you this time.” 

Donghyuck had nothing to say, he just held his omega in his arms, breathing in his gentle herb scent to soothe his soul. His dirty, bloody clothes stained Renjun’s clean garments, but neither cared. 

Two of his closest friends were gone. People he shared the hardest years with. Losing everything at 8 years old, these people became his family. They were his home. But one by one they vanished from his life again. 

And Donghyuck couldn’t take it anymore. 

••

“I’m sorry Jeno,” Mark said, looking down at him where he sat on the cot, his broken leg splinted and stitched up, “he let us get away, he protected us.” 

“Why,” Jeno couldn’t speak past the rock in his throat, “why didn’t you stop him?” 

“He did what he had to do.” Mark stated plainly, Jeno’s face pale and drawn. 

A moment of heavy silence hung between them, Mark not knowing if he should stay or not. Jeno had gone completely still, just looking at the floor with his hands resting atop his knees. 

“You may go.” He eventually said, barely a whisper. Mark saluted and left without being told twice. 

Jeno didn’t know what happened to him, but everything inside him died. It became cold, he was so, so cold. Nothing could warm him. Not a fire, not a hot meal, not Jungwoo’s rancid alcohol. Not even training or biking for hours on end or the burning pain in his healing leg could chase away the ice in his bones. 

He slept in Jaemin’s room every night, clinging to his bedding, wearing his clothes, waking up with wet cheeks. But he refused to talk about him, no one bringing him up around Jeno. 

Jeno was sure he would break if his name left his lips.

He had never experienced loss like this, every day he begged for this nightmare to end, but this was real. 

Their people held a memorial for Johnny and Jaemin, lighting candles for them, saying prayers and singing songs as they said goodbye. Renjun used his paints to add their faces to the wall of the room next to the mess hall. From Doyoung, Winter, Karina, and Kun to Ten and Taeyong. He perfectly captured Jaemin’s sharp grin and the exact shade of his eyes. Johnny was finally with Ten again, also smiling and happy like he once was. 

It took Renjun longer than normal to finish their portraits, his vision blurred with endless tears as he did so, Hyuck never leaving his side. 

Jeno didn’t go though. He refused to visit them. 

Donghyuck lit a candle for them every morning, having a drink with Jaemin every night. Renjun too, he would talk to them for hours on end. Even Jaehyun would quietly go to the memorial hall and just sit with them in complete silence, keeping them company. Mark still haunted the compound like a ghost, but Jeno could have sworn he heard the echo of sobs down the dark hallways some nights. 

Jeno didn’t join them, he didn't cry, he didn't show them his grief. He couldn’t.

I’ll follow you to hell and back, Jeno. Jaemin had once told him, when he gave Jeno his undying loyalty and support. And he did follow Jeno into hell, except Jeno came back without him. 

Over the weeks that followed, Jeno realized that the worst kind of grief isn't the one you could see. It wasn't the crying and the weeping and the tearing of clothes. It was the silent pain, the one you carried inside that scarred your soul, the very depths of your being clutched in a fist. He didn't expect to lose Jaemin, not like this, not so suddenly. But he lost him in bits and pieces too. When the smell of him left his belongings, when the echo of his boots fell in the corridors no longer, when he could swear he heard his laughter just around the corner. But he was gone, he was gone forever never to return to Jeno again. And even now, the little things he left behind were fading away too. Like Jaemin never lived at all. 

Holding on to his responsibility as General, the only thing that gave him strength right now, he spent hours upon hours pouring over the maps they had risked everything for, memorizing each and every corner of the citadel. YangYang and Jungwoo put their heads together to help him formulate their next plan.

Jaemin believed in him, he wanted him to lead and protect them. He had been the first person to begin building their home, he had been one of few who fought back, rescuing others. Most people in their compound owed Jeno their lives. But Jaemin had been there for all of it, being his right hand so that he would never go astray. 

It was for this reason alone that Jeno patched himself up and stood as their fearless beacon once more. 

For you, Nana.  

••

After two months, Jeno finally had a plan. 

“We’ll hit them here, here and here.” he indicated on the map, his men bent over the table where all the plans were unfurled. 

“We need the water here, and the grains here -” he pointed at two more places, “and this is the largest work camp we’ve ever come across.” 

Jeno continued to explain, “Getting everything and everyone out is our biggest problem. We can’t do it on foot, or attract attention. We’re going to need to plan another heist first, get some more advanced weaponry and wheels, then sneak in and out. Done.” 

“No.” Donghyuck stated, not even giving Jeno the chance to finish explaining, “no sneaking around. I want to make them pay.” 

“Donghyuck, we can’t afford to take revenge, you know that.” Jeno replied, voice flat, eyes cold. 

“We can’t keep surviving and defending ourselves, it’s time we fight back!” He slammed his hand on the steel table, making the cups gathered there bounce.

“Hyuck ~” Mark laid a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him.

“I agree,” Jaehyun began in his emotionless voice, “with Hyuck.”

Jeno blinked, surprised by Jaehyun’s position. 

“I don’t think going in guns blazing is the best idea,” Xiaojun continued, “but having an end to this… that would change everything.”

“It’s hard y’know,” Sicheng continued, rubbing the back of his head with the hand that was missing some fingers, “to always pull off heists and steal and fight and lose people just to scrape by.”

“Isn’t there a way we can get rid of the Pack for good?” Shotaro asked, the hopeless desperation in his voice apparent.

Jeno shook his head, “They have too many strongholds, too much resources and fire power. It’s not possible.” 

“How about just this one?” Mark asked, “The one closest to us that’s been after us for years. The other citadels are too far away to help, and frankly I don’t think they will care if just this one falls.”

“It could work.” YangYang continued, cocking his head as he studied the maps, thinking as he chewed on Mark’s words. 

“If this is just going to be another raid and rescue, count me out.” Donghyuck’s frown deepened, the tension of angry alpha suddenly thick in the air, making some of the omegas in the room sit down, “I’m not losing anyone else just to get my hands on stuff that won’t last anyway.”

“Donghyuck.” Jeno growled, his stronger alpha demanding obedience. Loyalty had never been a problem, they followed Jeno not because of the strength of his alpha, but because of his leadership. Yet lately, Jeno and Hyuck have been on the outs.

“You know what Jaemin would have done.”

Silence strangled the room, a moment so tense you could hear a pin drop, everyone holding their breath.

Something in Jeno twisted into dark knots. He snapped, slamming Donghyuck against the wall, his forearm over his windpipe. 

“Don’t you talk to me about loss!” Jeno growled, his alpha roaring to life with bitter fury, trying to force Donghyuck to shut his mouth, “And don’t you fucking talk about him, don’t ever mention him again.” 

“Why not?” Donghyuck managed to choke out, his fingers digging into Jeno’s arm, “So you wouldn’t feel bad for what you put him through? So your guilt won’t keep you awake?” 

Jeno growled at him, low and menacing.

“He always put everyone else above himself,” Donghyuck gritted it, “even you. But you didn’t do the same. And he died, they targeted him because of you .” 

Jeno saw red, the omegas in the room whimpering at the force of his alpha’s fury. 

“Jaemin died because of you .” 

He was angry, he was so hurt he wanted to rip into Donghyuck’s throat with his fingers, pull out his larynx so he could never speak again. 

But a hand fell on his shoulder, the older alpha’s presence immediately making Jeno’s own back off. Jaehyun simply shook his head, this wasn’t the way. 

He let go of Donghyuck, the smaller alpha sliding down to the floor, trying to catch his breath even as he glared at Jeno. Renjun quickly rushed to his side, also tossing upset looks Jeno’s way.

 Jeno left the meeting room, his angry steps eating up the ground as he didn’t even see where he was going. 

He had never treated any of them this way, he had never been so angry at any of his men. It was vile and rude and cruel to try and subdue Donghyuck like that. No matter what he said to Jeno, no matter how rebellious he was, Jeno should know better, he should be better.

But Donghyuck was right, and Jaemin would have had his head for talking to him that way.

They targeted Jaemin to get to him, his affection for the other alpha so well known even their enemies wanted to use it against him. And they did, Jeno became a twisted and cold man without him, his constant companion for all these years, the man who knew him the best, was gone. 

I love you, I’ll see you in my next life. 

When Jeno looked up to see where his feet had carried him, he met a pair of sparkling green eyes. He was in the memorial hall, looking at Jaemin’s face on the wall, he ended up in the last place he wanted to be. 

Jaemin was as immovable as the mountains, vicious and short-tempered. Yet he loved books and children, he could listen to Jeno for hours, he snored in his sleep. Little things, all the little things that Jeno thought were set in stone had slipped through his fingers. 

Jeno laid his hand on the steel, palm against the cheek that Renjun had so lovingly painted there. But it was cold, just a picture of the one he would never see again. He traced the outline of his face, a thumb over his lips, his fingers trembling as he wished it was real. 

“I’m sorry,” he whispered low and broken, his voice echoing off the steel walls, “I’m so sorry, Nana.” 

He leaned his forehead against the wall where Jaemin’s would have been. 

You know what Jaemin would have done. 

And he did. Jaemin would flip off the entire Pack and rush at them guns blazing as he cackled. He wouldn't just raid and sneak out like Jeno suggested, the safe option. Jaemin would try his best to take them down for good, to make their prosperity last, guarantee the safety of their people. 

He made up his mind, looking at those green eyes once more before he left.

He asked YangYang, Renjun and Jungwoo to meet him the next day, to go over the blueprints once more to see what else was possible, and all three agreed that they could do so much more than just steal some supplies and free the prisoners. 

Then Jungwoo mentioned something that Jeno didn't expect: the way the Pack had set up the Citadel, was ideal to be blown up. If they could hit certain support structures, focusing on cornerstones, they could take the whole place down. And with that, they could free the work camps, take their time to collect the resources and safely leave without worrying about being followed or where their next meal came from.

Between the four of them, they planned exactly how they would infiltrate the Citadel, what they needed to do and where they had to plant the explosives. Jungwoo spent days on end in a feverish focus to calculate exactly how much of what they needed, which supply routes they needed to hit and when.  

They needed to be extra careful as to not alert the Citadel that they were planning anything, that these small raids were just their normal antics. A week later, with a solid plan in hand, Jeno called them all together again. 

He explained their new plan, this time a lot more level headed as he received their feedback and questions, the group seeming much more on board than they were with the previous strategy. Tasks were assigned and an exact timeline was drawn up, everyone in the compound being informed about what was going on, asking for help from anyone who could contribute. 

This really is what Jaemin would have wanted.  

It would take them a while to prepare, but they were going to do it. 

••

Donghyuck looked at the little box in his hand, eyes wide in disbelief. 

What the fuck, what the fuck, WHAT THE FUCK. 

In it was a missive and two fingers. Two fucking fingers. 

He recognised it right away, the flecks of pearly burn scars dotting the skin familiar to him. These were Jaemin’s fingers. They had taken two of his fingers.

Donghyuck took out one of the severed appendages, carefully pinching it between his fingers as he examined it with his one eye. The bleeding around the cuts showed him they were taken while Jaemin was alive, and there was no sign of decomposition either. Which meant Jaemin was still alive, somewhere out there he was still alive. 

Donghyuck placed the finger back and opened the letter that came with it. 

We have General Na. 

Have General Lee meet us at the Citadel in three days and we will return General Na to you in exchange.  

This was exactly what Jaemin wanted to avoid, this was exactly why he sacrificed himself. And it was working, Jeno was once again that man of steel that was decisive and strong, shouldering the whole world for their sakes. 

Jaemin’s sacrifice couldn’t be in vain. 

“Sorry, Jaem.” he whispered, digging a hole in the sand by his feet and burying the box and the letter. It felt like a pathetic ploy, something from one of those lame movies he remembers his father watching long ago. Did they really think that they were this stupid? It was a very weak attempt at a push back, but he couldn’t risk Jeno finding out.

“Hyuck!” Mark called for him. 

They had undertaken a night raid, a risky one but the only chance they had at getting the petroleum and explosives they needed. It had been a success, with added numbers and them being more determined than ever, no one was lost and no ruckus followed them. 

Donghyuck had found the small box and odd piece of paper on one of the corpses. He didn't know why it was here of all places, but thank God Jeno wasn't the one who found it. They quickly loaded all they could into one of the trucks and set off, Jaehyun driving once again. 

They had managed to take a few vehicles and most of the supplies they needed, now they only had to regroup, get their stuff and then they would blow up all those bastards. 

••

“Today’s the day, Jaem.” Jeno stood in front of his portrait once more, weeks after he was there last. 

“Hopefully it will all go well, and we’ll be free.” 

Jeno smiled at him, for the millionth time burning with heartache as he wished Jaemin was really here. He could tell him if this was a good idea, his quick mind could always spot Jeno’s oversight. But Jeno knew he would be here, encouraging him even as he virbated with excitement at the dangerous mission.

“Why did you have to go when I needed you the most?” 

He would save his heartache for when they succeeded. Then he could grieve and let go of all the pain he had kept inside for the last three months. Until then, he had to hold on. 

But God he wished he could kiss him, just once.

“Sorry, Jaem,” he took a step back, “I’ll make it through today. So you’re going to have to wait for me a little longer, hm?” 

Almost feeling like Jaemin was smiling down at him, giving him strength, Jeno left. They would leave in 30 minutes for the biggest mission of their lives, they were finally on the offensive. But first things first. 

Jeno entered the large room with a soft knock before going inside. He was met with a bunch of happy squeals and little legs dashing his way. 

“Uncle Jeno!” Just like how they always greeted Jaemin when he was still here, they greeted Jeno too with hugs and stories a million miles a minute, some little ones clinging to his legs. 

“I really wish you would stop interrupting.” Jisung sighed, setting the book he held aside. 

“Do you?” Jeno asked, crouching down to meet the children’s eyes to talk to them more. 

“No,” Jisung mumbled, “not really.”

Jeno and taken to coming by in Jaemin’s place, the little ritual that once made Jemin so happy had become his habit. They had cried when they heard that Jaemin didn’t come back, expressing sweet childhood sorrow at never seeing their Uncle Nana again.

“Will you come back?” one of the boys asked, his lips already trembling as his big eyes filled with tears. 

“I’ll try my best.”

“You have to promise.” another little girl asked, sticking her hand out to him, pinking ready. 

He didn't want to make a promise he couldn't keep, but they needed hope. Besides, he had promised Jaemin he would return.

“Promise.” he grinned, hooking his pinky around the girl's tiny finger to seal the words. This seemed to set all the children at ease, as if a simple pinky promise could save all the world.

Jeno greeted Jisung with a hug, Jisung begging him to please take care of Chenle. Then Jeno was gone, mind set and determined once more as his long legs ate up the ground beneath his feet. 

He soon reached that room from which they always deployed, the steel under his boots rusted from all the blood that had to be cleaned up there, some of it his own. 

He looked around at everyone gathered, the largest group of rebels they had ever assembled. This time even Jungwoo, YangYang and Renjun joined them, in charge of setting the explosives while the rest of them set to work on their different assignments. 

Everyone saluted him, proud and resolute without a single doubt among them. They grabbed their packs and guns, strapping up and checking every last item. 

“Let’s go.” 

And they were up the ladder, making their way to the surface.

They had stolen two trucks from different convoys over the last few weeks, changing the plates and matching their time to expected deliveries (that would never come of course). Jaehyun drove the one truck and Jeno the other, dressed in Pack uniforms, even their hair shaved at the sides and pushed back to match Citadel soldiers. 

They were the largest and strongest alphas amongst the whole compound and were the only ones who could pass as Pack thanks to their obsession with alpha purity. Jungwoo had built hidden compartments in the truck beds where most of the others were hiding, laying on their backs in rows. Like the Trojan horse he remembers from his childhood, they were sneaking them all inside. 

Donghyuck, Mark, Sicheng and Chenle were clinging to the bottoms of the trucks, the four of them able to make the trip through the sand and dust. They needed to roll out and set out immediately to unload the trucks and free the others while Jeno and Jaehyun acted as lookouts. 

Luckily, the Pack only knew of them and not what they looked like. So when Jeno and Jaehyun neared the Citadel in Pack trucks, no one even blinked an eye. 

It was the first time that Jeno saw the place up close, and it was massive. He had no idea how they had built it, but it was a misshapen mass of red stone and twisted black metal, low buildings sprawled in every direction. Massive walls reached into the sky, guard with guns patrolling at the top. 

They had electricity, food, running water and even technology that Jeno couldn’t even dream of. But it was only possible because they had stolen everything they could get their hands on, oppressing from those they tortured. Jeno knew that all the convoys and shipments they stole came from somewhere, probably some innocent place where they also needed water and food. But he couldn’t think about it too long. He couldn't return it or help them in any way, he had to think of his own people first. But maybe, after today, more people out there could have some peace. 

Gritting on his teeth, filled with hatred of the place and the people who ruled it, Jeno pulled up to the gate as confidently as if he had done this hundreds of times before. 

A number of guards were on duty by the gate, but only one came over to Jeno and knocked on his window. A massive man with a burly chest and jagged tattoos on his arms, he tried his best to be intimidating. But Jeno pushed back, only cocking an eyebrow at the men as the window rolled down. 

It was all about competition here. The Pack even kicked out their own if they didn't pull their weight or were found to be too weak or soft.

The guard sniffed at the challenge, but didn’t find Jeno suspicious. 

“Manifest?” he held out his hand, thick fingers crooking in impatience. Jeno handed over the stack of stained and wrinkled papers. Some of it was stolen, some of it forged by YangYang, but it matched the contents of the trucks and the expected delivery exactly. 

The guard waved over some others, they quickly rounded the trucks and hopped inside to sift through the containers and boxes. Jeno held his breath, praying that the ones hiding in the secret compartment, and the four literally holding on for dear life underneath would be alright.

But barely a minute later, the soldiers hopped out again and slammed the bay doors closed again. They were ragged, slow and not very diligent, not as imposing as Jeno remembers. 

It immediately piqued his suspicions.

“You know where to offload?” 

“Duh.” Jeno scoffed, rolling his eyes as if he was Pack to his core.

The guard just grunted in displeasure, waving them off. 

Jeno had memorized the entire complex, inch for inch for inch, even the sites that were designated for new expansions. Luckily the sun would set soon and they could hide in the shadow of night as they snuck around. Jeno drove through the broad dusty streets, not seeing as many people as he expected. 

The place was so large, shooting off in every direction in messy streets, but it didn’t seem very populated. 

Finally, they reached the offload bay. No one was on duty, at least this was exactly as they expected. The materials weren’t urgent and the hour was too late for anyone to bother. From what they could gather from some of their captives, the drivers would just park their trucks, leave to go get drunk and whoever was on site first thing in the morning would deal with the deliveries.

Jeno quickly got out, grabbed his rifle from beneath his seat, pressing the butt to his shoulder immediately as he looked around to check if it was safe. Jaehyun did the same, sharp gaze running over all the ruddy buildings around them. It wasn't the eerie empty quiet of the desert that he was used to, instead he heard drunken yells and laughter and voices down the streets, patches of light flooding the roadways here and there.

Jeno smacked a palm against the side of the truck when he knew the coast was clear, with a soft thud and a low grunt Chenle, Sicheng, Mark and Donghyuk rolled out, covered in copper sand. With Jeno and Jaehyun keeping an eye out, the sun completely set, the others clambered out the side of the narrow compartment. 

Jeno signed quickly, each team breaking off and dashing in different directions on quiet feet.

With Mark, Chenle and Donghyuck by his side, Jeno set out on his own task. Jaehyun and Sicheng had broken off to find the perfect high ground to protect them from above. According to the plans, the large square flat building right at the center of the city-like Citadel was the surveillance quarters. They avoided street lights, dashing behind buildings to hide from passers by, making sure to hide in the camera’s blind spots. 

Everything was jagged and primitive and harsh, the building as twisted as the people here. It wasn’t at all what Jeno expected, it made him wary.

Jeno could fall on his knees and worship Jungwoo to thank him for this amount of research and planning he did however. It was slow going, but they finally neared the building they were targeting. They pulled hoods over their heads, black bandanas over their faces to only leave their eyes exposed, melting into the night. 

Count to 20, he signed to Mark and Donghyuck, the two sprinting off to the opposite side of the building where the other entrance was. 

Jeno breathed hard, his heart beating in his head in anticipation.

15 - 14 - 13 - 12 - 11 - 10

Jeno looked at Chenle, checking in with him. He nodded his ready, already pressing his rifle to his cheek and planted his feet firmly in the sand. 

6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2

This is for you , Jaem.  

1

Jeno kicked open the door with all his strength, Chenle dashing in ahead of him. Their entrance immediately stirred the occupants, thick necked, angry alphas poured into the hallways that they had barreled through. 

There were more occupants than they predicted, but they were prepared. Hand made silencers atop their rifles, they shot at the enemy guards, Expert precision, barley making a sound, they mowed into them. 

Thud - thud - thud - thud - thud

Bodies dropped as bullets whistled through the air, brains splattering in chunky clouds. They had to work fast before anyone could raise the alarm. As soon as it began, it was over. 

It made Jeno realize something: the Pack was either arrogant, underestimating  Jeno. Or, they were dumb as fuck. They moved like a messy mob-like swarm, not nearly as coordinated and skilled as Jeno was used to. But he had to remain vigilant, for all they knew it could be another trap. 

Chenle rushed ahead, swiftly jumping over corpses to get to the center of the building. They found one or two more stragglers but they were quickly dispatched with holes between their eyes. 

One more alpha remained at the controls, but Mark got there ahead of them taking him out, splattering his brains over a screen. Monitors lined the room, each wired haphazardly, some images broken up by static. The hodgepodge of old technology and bad set-ups was quite overwhelming to look at.

It was crude and barbaric. How are these the people who sent a chopper after them? 

Okay? Jeno asked everyone. They were out of breath, blood thickly clinging to their clothes. But they signed back to indicate they were fine. 

Mark took his place down the hall, gun raised as he crouched low at a doorway. Jeno by the door mimicking Mark’s position. Donghyuck and Chenle swung their guns over their backs and quickly set about taking the cameras and security system down. 

Based on Jeno’s childhood memories, it wasn't nearly as sophisticated or shiny as he saw in the spy movies he used to like. But it still posed a significant danger to them and could get them caught just by setting off a single alarm.

The mass of keyboards and other buttons was spread out like dead birds over a large slab of wood that acted as a desk. Chenle pulled out the piece of paper YangYang had meticulously written on, telling him exactly what to do. They quickly signed back and forth, confirming what each should do. 

Thud. Grunt. 

Jeno spun around to see what had happened, but all he saw was Chenle slapping at Hyuck’s arm, pointing vigorously at a small screen in the far left. He turned his head to where Chenle pointed and froze in his boots. 

Jeno couldn't see what had elicited this reaction from them. Narrowing his eyes at the monitor, he saw something . 

Is that…? Could that be…?

Forgetting about his post, Jeno straightened and walked over slowly, his eyes widening with each step he took.

Hyuck was frantically signing to Jeno, but he wasn't looking. His eyes glued to the small screen, showing him a black and white image.

He’s alive. Jaemin is alive. 

He saw him there on the monitor, kept behind bars. Jeno blinked, rubbing his eyes to dispel the illusion. But no, it was real. The image was grainy, but Jeno wouldn't mistake that posture or face for anything else.  

Jeno couldn’t breathe.

The inside of the cage was wrecked, Jaemin beat up from head to toe, but the guards seemed wary of him. Jaemin spitting and cursing, after weeks of captivity he still had so much fight left in him, banging on the bars and making a ruckus, his alpha howling in fury. 

That’s him. That’s his Jaemin. His beloved lunatic. 

We need to go, Hyuck commanded, stepping between Jeno and the screen. 

Jeno looked at him, the expression in his mismatched eyes. Then realization dawned on him.

You knew, didnt you? You knew he was alive.

Yes. 

Jeno stepped closer, furious and betrayed as he glared at Hyuck. 

We don’t have time for this, Chenle grunted angrily, fingers flying. Hyuck turned away from Jeno to get back to the task at hand. 

Jeno stared at the back of his head in disbelief. They had just found out Jaemin was alive, he was alive. He was right there. And Hyuck shrugged it off, admitting he had known Jaemin was here all along. 

Jeno couldn't even think about Hyuck’s betrayal, he couldn’t think about anything else, only Jaemin. So he bolted out of the room, leaving his men behind like he knew he wasn't supposed to. He skidded up to Mark, grabbing him by the shoulder. 

Jaemin is alive. You’re in charge.

You can’t go! It’s too dangerous, Mark frowned angrily, grabbing Jeno’s arm to stop him. 

Why didn't they understand? Why didn't they feel as Jeno did? Weren't they supposed to be as desperate to save him as Jeno was? 

What would you do if it was Taeyong? If you had a chance to see him again?

Mark’s eyes widened, his hand dropping from Jeno’s arm. 

I’ll get Jaemin, we’ll meet you at the rendezvous. 

Jeno ran again. He was pressed for time. There were exactly 772 seconds left before the whole place blew, Jeno needed to get Jaemin out before then. Relief, hope and desperation pushing him forward, Jeno ran with all his might to where he knew the prisoners were kept, his gun still in hand. He was alone, the building better guarded than the security room which Jeno found very odd. 

Huddling in the shadow of a building, Jeno’s eyes raked the patrolling men, the ones by the door, the ones on the roof. He thought and thought and thought. There was no way he was leaving without Jaemin, but he needed a way to get in there, he needed a way out. 

As his brain whirred at the speed of light, Jeno put two and two together. It was a trap. It was a trap just for him. 

All this time, the Pack wanted to take him down, find their base. Jaemin would never give it up, Jaemin would pull the trigger and kill Jeno himself if it protected their people. But Jeno was different, that was why Jaemin had been so angry at him.

Jaemin had done this on purpose to take himself out of the equation, and Donghyuck and Mark had known. They knew that Jeno would come for him. Except Jeno still thought him dead until a moment ago, how could he have come for Jaemin? How had they known they could lie in wait for him? 

Something wasn’t adding up, but Jeno was sure that the extra security around the prison was because of him. All he knew was that he needed to get inside, get home and then punch Jaemin in his stupid face for doing this.

Using his experience and instinct to guide him, Jeno slung his rifle over his back. Leaping up, he grabbed hold of the edge of the roof of the building he had been hiding next to. Lifting himself up, he was on the crinkled zinc looking down at the prison. Soundlessly, he crept further, slowly moving from roof to roof until he was atop the building directly adjacent to the prison, looking down on the concrete of the building and the men patrolling it. 

561 seconds. 

Sliding two curved Kukri knives from his belt, he took a deep breath. Just like Jaemin so enjoyed doing, Jeno leapt as high as he could. 

He dropped like a bullet.

Right atop a guard, his knives smashing through the back of his head. The other guards whirled in confusion at the odd noise. Jeno leapt off with a harsh shove of his boots, throwing one knife as he whirled through the air. It hit a guard between his eyes, collapsing to the ground. He jumped, catching another neck between his thighs, twist, snap. 

One left. 

Jeno threw the other knife. The guard raised his gun. And he fired. 

FUCK.

The knife cut through the mans’ throat, all of them dead. But the single shot had drawn attention from the guards below. He heard shouts, doors banging open and orders being fired back and forth. 

509 seconds. 

Jeno sheathed his knives, got his gun ready and yanked open the trapdoor in the roof to drop into the prison. 

Chaos. 

Jeno tossed himself around a corner, the corridor he was in filled with alphas firing their guns as they ran at him down the long hall in a mass of limbs and teeth. Plaster exploded around him as it rained lead. With his back against the wall, he peeked around the corner to see how far they were. He whipped back, nearly losing an eye. The sound was deafening, Jeno’s ears ringing.

FUCKING FUCK FUCK FUCK. 

They were nearly on him, and he didn’t have a choice. This was going to cause a huge mess, it could endanger their entire mission, but he had to. He pulled a grenade from his belt, pulled the pin with his teeth and tossed. 

Jeno threw himself further into the nook he had been crouching in.

BANG.

Gasping at the pain that sliced through his head at the horrid noise, the whole building shook as Jeno nearly blew the roof off. Then there was silence. Dead quiet. The soft pitter patter of dust was the only thing Jeno could make out. 

Wary, he carefully looked around the corner. Death. Blood. Limbs. Guts. 

But what was left of the hallway was clear, so Jeno jumped to his feet. His gun pressed to his shoulder and his eye level with the scope, he sprinted forward. His boots squelched on leftovers, the smell was horrendous even through his mask as he leapt over pieces of concrete and twisted body parts.

But then he heard it. The howl of sirens. Jeno had just announced to everyone that he was there. 

476 seconds. 

One by one, more alphas came out of other rooms and around corners, but Jeno quickly got rid of them. When his rifle ran empty, he tossed it, having used his extra mag already. Pulling a glock from his belt, he leveled it with both hands on the grip and finger on the trigger. 

Finally, he reached the largest room, out of breath, cuts on his face and limbs, heart pounding as he ran inside the space he had seen on the monitor. 

“Jeno if that’s you I’m going to fucking murder your dumbass!”

Jeno wanted to laugh as he heard the familiar voice and his trademark curses. 

The room empty except for the twisted black cage, Jeno pulled down his hood and mask to lay eyes on Jaemin. Even clearly beaten up, pale and thin under the rags he wore, he still glared at Jeno with those bright green eyes. 

“You fucking moron I can’t believe you’re here.”

“A thanks would be nice.” Jeno replied, running over to the lock. He took one look at it before pulling his butterfly knife from his boot. Flicking it open he poked the sharp point into the keyhole, wiggling it but to no avail. 

“You’re doing it wrong.” Jaemin drawled

“Then you do it.” He stuck his hand through the bar to hand Jaemin the knife. He took it and quickly crouched down to eye the keyhole from the inside. Tongue between his teeth, he quickly picked it. 

“You lost two fingers.” Jeno blinked at Jaemin’s bandaged hand. 

“No shit, I hadn’t noticed.” Jaemin pushed the door open with a dull metallic whine, hopping down the little step to stand in front of Jeno.

“I literally blew up a building to save you and you’re being a bitch.”

“You know I’m a brat when I’m hungry.”

“Come here you jerk.” Jeno grabbed him and pulled him into his arms, wrapping him so tightly in his embrace neither of them could breathe. Jaemin was thin and cold and smelly, but he was alive. And he hasn't lost his fire, that ember of life that Jeno had missed more than anything else. 

“I missed you,” Jeno spoke in Jaemin’s neck, “I missed you so much.”

Jaemin returned the embrace, his palms splayed over Jeno’s back as he breathed him in. 

“I missed you too, Jen.” he breathed, nuzzling deeper into his arms.

403 seconds. 

“We need to go.” Jeno said, quickly letting Jaemin go, “when we get back you have a hell of a lot of explaining to do.” 

Jaemin turned away from him with a sneaky wink to grab some of the guard uniforms and boots that hung in the corner. Dressing himself more warmly, color already began to return to his cheeks as he warmed. 

The howl of the sirens returned to his ears once more as he became aware of the commotion outside. Shouts and running feet, the growl of engines as cars and bikes whipped back and forth. 

“Where’s the rest?” Jaemin asked, quickly tying the boots around his ankles.

“Planting bombs to blow this place up.”

“Nice.” Jaemin grinned, sharp and pleased. 

Done, Jaemin stood in front of Jeno again. 

“Gimme.” He held out his hand, wiggling his fingers.

Jeno pulled his glock from its holster again, offering it to Jaemin grip first.

“I swear you don’t know me at all.”

Jeno just rolled his eyes before taking the gun back and handing Jaemin his two Kukri knives, slick with blood. That predatory smirk returned to his face as he whirled the knives around his fingers. 

“Let’s go.” Jeno pulled his hood down again, Jaemin following suit. With his glock raised and cocked, Jaemin’s knives flashing at his sides, they ran to the trapdoor again. Jaemin had lost some of his strength and speed, but none of his determination. And even when he was breathing hard, he still kept up with Jeno.

Jeno leapt through the hole, reaching down to offer Jaemin a hand. He plucked him up, Jaemin landing on steady feet. The alarm rang loud and menacing out here as they looked at the maze of streets now flooded with trucks and motorcycles. 

“Why aren't they coming for us?” Jaemin asked, crouching down to peer over the edge. Sure enough, all the ruckus they heard outside was moving towards the west of the Citadel. 

“Hyuck.” Jeno realized. After they took down the security system, they were supposed to head to the silos and oil repository. But it seemed they were the ones who set off the alarm and not Jeno. 

“Come on.” Jeno was on his feet, leaping up to haul himself onto the roof of the building he had jumped off of just moments ago. With Jaemin close behind, they ran all along the wavy zinc roofs to where the truck they had arrived in was parked. The streets were so filled with motorcycles and feral alphas that they didn't have to bother being quiet but ran at full speed. 

Reaching the truck, Jeno jumped over the ledge, landing with a grunt. He turned around to catch Jaemin who had tossed himself down after Jeno. Luckily this part of the Citadel was emptied of people because most of the ground floor dwellers had swarmed the west.

“You take that one!” Jaemin sprinted over to a truck, pointing to the other vehicle. 

“Jaemin ~” Jeno protested, not wanting to be apart again. 

“I’m right behind you.” Jaemin grinned, that stupid sharp-toothed shit-eating sly smile that Jeno so loved.

“Asshole.” Jeno retorted, Jaemin flipped him off. Jeno covered his eyes with his forearms, before firing a shot or two at the windshield, shattering the glass. He raised a leg over the dash and kicked it out completely. 

Grabbing a glock that Jaehuyn had left behind, Jaemin did the same. Jeno kicked the truck into reverse, spinning back before gunning the engine and peeling away, knocking up clouds of sand. Renjun and Jaehyun’s groups were probably already done, hopefully emptying the workcamps, planted all the bombs and detonators to wait for them at the east exit like they planned. 

But this oncoming shit show was because of the ones who tried to raid the stockpiles. 

As they neared the district where Hyuck, Chenle and Mark were assigned, the streets were full of alphas with guns and motorcycles tearing down the streets in a frenzied mob. Jeno saw in his rearview how Jaemin swerved into another street so he could race parallel with Jeno.

Everything was so loud and overwhelming, the Pack uncoordinated and messy. 

One hand on the wheel, Jeno raised his glock and shot. Through where the windows used to be, he nailed whoever he could see. His aim was way off trying to shoot with one hand and drive with the other, but he still managed to shoot a few wheels and backs and arms, just enough to get rid of them.

It was a bit odd to Jeno still, that even among this ruckus, even with the alarm wailing in the background, these seemed to be the scraps of the Pack. Bad equipment, horrible aim, dirty and primitive, in fact, even among the death and rain of bullets, Jeno thought that they died too easily. 

His thoughts returned to the chopper that killed Johnny and took Jaemin months ago. This place of red earth and twisted steel buildings was certainly not the place where a chopper was held and he was sure that none of these cavemen knew how to pilot one. 

His thoughts left him as they finally pulled ahead of the alpha mob rushing west. He slammed on the breaks as he reached the silos, the large truck skidding on the sand until it came to a grinding halt. 

Jaemin pulled up next to him, hopping out before the truck even slowed completely. 

“Hyuck!” he yelled, rushing closer to the silo, “Mark!” 

It was dark, Jeno held his breath, expecting the worst. 

“Jeno!” He heard a cry, whirling to his left, Jaemin at his back with his knives ready, Mark came rushing out of a dark building, rifle in hand, mask pulled down. 

“Chenle got shot!” He panted, skidding to a halt in front of Jeno, his eyes wide in his face. 

“Chenle is here??” Jaemin demanded, dashing over to them.

“Jaemin??” Mark gaped. 

“We don’t have time for this!”

351 seconds. 

“They’re here!” Mark ran into the dark room he had come out of. Sure enough, they found Chenle propped up against a barrel, holding hand to a gunshot in his side. It wasn't too bad, but he was losing blood fast. 

“Jaemin?” Hyuck gaped up at him where he crouched by Chenle’s side.

“What’s up.” Jaemin smiled as if the entire world wasn't ending around them.

“Hyuck, you and Jaemin get Chenle in the truck. Mark with me, grab the cargo.”

Everyone jumped into action to obey. They weren't able to get as much as they wanted, but the oil and the food they managed to load up was way more than they were ever able to steal before. 

Mark drove the other truck with Hyuck and his rifle in the passengers seat, Jeno and Jaemin the same. The truck was heavier than before, slowing it down even as Mark barrelled down the road ahead of them. 

Bang - bang - bang - bang - bang

Bullets suddenly peppered them from behind, the metal of the bay doors clinking as they showered the truck. 

Jeno pressed his glock and a spare mag into Jaemin’s hands, knowing he would know exactly what to do. Stuffing the spare mag in his pocket, Jaemin turned around in his seat, shoving his one shoulder out of the window. 

Pop - pop - pop - pop - pop

He fired back, the glock whipping back in his grip, his hair streaming around his face. Jeno heard a crash and the scream of metal, catching a tumbling truck in his rearview. Jaemin whooped in satisfaction, his alpha feeding off the fight and the victories. 

“There’s more!” Jaemin called over the thunder of the truck’s engine and the whine of the wind through the windowless cabin, his hands making quick work of dropping the empty mag and shoving the new one home with expert precision. 

“Get ‘em!” Jeno yelled back, keeping his eyes on the road and Mark ahead of them. 

“Yessir!” 

He leaned out of the window again, glock in both hands as he cocked it. 

Pop - pop - pop - pop - pop

Another truck was taken out, this one tumbling right into a building at a deadly speed, setting fire to the structure, the sudden flash lighting up the dark sky. 

Jaemin shot down a couple of motorcycles before falling back into his seat, windswept and out of breath. 

“I’m out!” he called gasping for air, the exhilaration kicking his weakened system into overdrive.

Jeno shook his head, he didn't have any more ammunition and his rifle was long gone. 

“Grenades?” Jaemin yelled, wind streaming through the windowless cabin.

“Belt!” 

Jaemin leaned over the middle part, tucking his hands around Jeno’s waist to unfasten his belt and pull it out. 

A whole row of grenades were strapped there, Jaemin’s eyes widening as his canines flashed. 

“Thanks baby!” he smacked a kiss to Jeno’s cheek before he was shoving himself through the small door that led to the back of the truck. 

Jeno knew exactly what he was going to do, and it made him wonder if he should ever let Jaemin out of the house after this.

Kicking open one of the doors, keeping his feet splayed and his balance solid as the truck veered and bounced through the Citadel. 

Take this you bastards.  

For all the pain they caused, for all the people they took from him, for all the hurt that Jeno suffered, Jaemin took his revenge on the horde of vermin following them. 

One hand holding on, he pulled a pin with his teeth. 

“See you in hell!” 

He tossed it.

BOOM.

A truck blew up, the sound and the light washing everything in red, steel and glass exploring everywhere like fireworks. His alpha senses were overwhelmed with the horrid noise and smell. 

But he did it again, and he laughed each time a truck blew up. 

BOOM.

That’s for killing my friend s

BOOM.

That’s for torturing me

BOOM.

That’s for shooting Jeno

BOOM.

Until there was nothing left behind them but burning buildings and destroyed streets. But now they weren’t racing through the Citadel to escape, now they had to get away from the massive blast that was sure to rip this place apart. 

Jaemin joined him in the front again, his face alight with joy. Jeno wanted to kiss him breathless. 

119 seconds. 

Mark hurtled through the eastern gate toward their rendezvous spot skidding in the sand as he rammed the breaks. 

The moment they halted in the dust of sand, a crowd of people poured out from the shadows of the wall they had been hiding in. 

“Let’s go!” Jeno hurried them on. He saw all the faces of his team and some unknown ones. There were only about a dozen workers freed, their bare feet and scarred wrists and skinny faces wild and afraid as they piled into the back of the truck. 

But between Renjun, Jaehyun and Xiaojun’s team, they had piles of crates and barrels with them. Working at lightning speed, they tossed all of it in the back of Jeno’s truck, the newcomers in the back of Mark’s.

“We need to hurry up!! It’s going to blow any second!” Renjun yelled, the last to hop in the back of Jeno’s truck and slam the door.

14 seconds.

Jeno pulled his goggles and mask on, Jaemin pulled his mask all the way over his eyes to keep the sand out. He floored it, the truck spinning in the sand before finally taking off, shooting into the desert like a rocket. 

The moment they flew off the sand and onto the dirt road, they picked up speed, the deep dark night of desert quickly swallowing them. Just as Jeno looked in the mirror to see if they were being followed, it went off. 

With a crunch of force, he could count one by one as the bombs went off. Slow at first, they ripped from one side of the citadel to the other faster and faster. 

Like an orchestra of death, phyres of white hot fire shot into the air. One by one by one

And then it was all gone, in a balloon of fire and smoke. Even at this distance the noise was deafening, the aftershock flooding past them to rip massive amounts of dust from the ground, the truck shuddering at the impact. 

The eruption burned so bright and thick that it lit up the landscape like the sun, throwing every rock and every fleck of sand in stark relief. 

They couldn't see the exact outcome, the dust and the smoke was too thick, so they continued at this breakneck speed as far as possible. 

“Now isn't this nice.” Jaemin sighed happily

“Not particularly.” Jeno grunted.

“Why not?” Jaemin’s arms tightened around his shoulders, “you are blessed with my outstanding company and you get to touch my ass.”

“What ass?” Jeno jokes, squeezing said flesh between his strong hands.

“In that case, you are denied all access to my non-existent ass.”

Jeno chuckled, so comforted by Jaemin’s company and his ridiculous banter. They had stashed the trucks as close as they could to one of the shoots to their base, but needed to still be careful, they hiked the rest of the way. Jaemin had been cold and tired and wary, so Jeno offered his back to carry him home. 

They had so much to talk about, their last days together had been difficult at best. But right now all Jeno wanted was to bask in the fact that his nightmare was over, Jaemin was alive, Jeno was home. 

Their trek was slow going, the dense dark of night making it difficult to navigate, the sky so polluted they haven't seen stars in years. The rest of his men opted to rather help those who were freed get to their base than unload the trucks, they would come back for them later. 

“So, are we going to talk about what you said to me?” Jeno asked, something had burrowed deep into his heart in their time apart. And Jeno’s biggest regret was never letting Jaemin know how he really feels, never protecting him and loving him like he deserves. 

“And what was that?” Jaemin asked, yawning atop Jeno’s back. 

“You told me you loved me.” 

There was a beat of silence, Jeno not able to read Jaemin’s expression at this angle or in this light. 

“We can talk when we get home.” Jaemin replied, voice low and serious. Jeno didn't say anything again, knowing that they really would talk about it later. He knew Jaemin well, the best actually, and even with his dirty mouth and wicked humor and violence, he had a depth to him. A well of feeling and thoughts and character, a richness to his soul, substance found in few. 

So if Jaemin said they were going to talk about it later like that, he really meant it. It quickly set his mind at ease, Jeno directing his thoughts toward more practical matters as Jaemin fell asleep. 

••

Returning home was a mess. 

They shot down different tunnels to the rooms below, bringing noise and dust and commotion with them. 

Everyone was asked to stay in their quarters, the only one waiting for them was Jisung. 

At the foot of the main tunnel, he was bouncing on his heels, twisting his fingers and gnawing his lip raw, until he heard that telltale thud and skids that meant people were home. 

One by one they shot out into the room. 

He saw Chenle first, bloodied and injured but alive. He tossed himself into Jisung’s arms, smearing dirt and blood everywhere, “I’m me never fucking doing that again.” He sobbed into Jisung’s nape, so glad to be home. 

More people followed, pulling off their masks and goggles as they gasped for fresh air. Jisung didn’t see everyone, hoping that they entered their home somewhere else. 

Jisung saw Renjun and Hyuck, both dusty and dirty and bloody even as Hyuck clung to him, kissing him furiously. 

He saw Jaehyun, he saw Mark. 

Then last, Jeno landed. 

And in his arms was Jaemin. 

“Jaem??” Jisung called brokenly, not believing his eyes. 

“He’s alive, Ji.” Chenle took his hand, bringing him forward so he could talk to Jeno. 

“He’s really alive?” Jisung peered up at him with glassy eyes, “Really?” 

“He’s back.” Jeno smiled at him through the mud on his face, Jaemin out like a light against his chest, “I’m going to take him to Taeil, I’ll call you when he’s up okay?” 

Jisung nodded, pressing a palm to his lips to hold in his feelings. 

Jeno felt much the same, his emotions clogging up his throat. He couldn’t look away from his sleeping face, he couldn’t stop holding his own breath just so he could hear Jaemin breathing. 

When he entered the medical bay, it was filled with civilians helping, his men getting sewn up and all the people pulled from the work camp getting blankets and food. 

“Taeil!” He called over the noise, getting the doctor’s attention. He hurried through the crowd filling the small room. 

“I knew you wouldn’t die so easily, sneaky bastard.” Taeil grinned as he caught sight of Jaemin. 

“Come on, take him to your room.” Taeil waved at Hendery to take over for him, before rushing them out. 

In his room, Jeno gently lays Jaemin down in his cot for Taeil to look him over. Under the guard uniform and the remains of his old clothes, he was thin and pale. His skin and face bruised, cuts layered over cuts. 

Jeno shook in anger, clenching his fists at the sight. Jaemin had been cold and neglected, beaten up and hurt for months . If those motherfuckers weren’t blown up already, Jeno would kill them all with his bare hands. 

“He’s emaciated, his body temperature is low,” Taeil quickly finished checking all of his vitals, “but he doesn’t seem to have any major injuries.” 

“Was he tortured?” Jeno gritted out, his chest burning in fury. 

“I’m not sure,” Taeil looked at him with empathy, “but he did lose two fingers, and they were cut off with something very sharp.” 

Jeno looked away as Taeil cleaned his hand and changed the bandages, inspecting the wound.

“What can I do?” Jeno asked, needing to do something or he may run all the way to the Citadel and kill whoever he could find, “What does he need?” 

“He needs to be clean and warm, and he needs to sleep.” 

Taeil straightened up, fixing Jeno under his gaze. 

“Everyone can pull together for a day or two, stay here.” 

Jeno didn’t argue, it was what he wanted to hear anyway. His sense of duty wanted to protest but it was half-hearted at best.

“Trust your people Jeno,” Taeil turned to leave, “you shouldn’t be anywhere else but here.” 

When the doctor left, the noise that flooded his room cut off, leaving Jeno alone with Jaemin. 

Jeno was still in his horribly filthy clothes, so he quickly stripped down and used more water than he was allowed to to clean his limbs, muddy, bloody water running down the little drain. 

He dressed in whatever clean stuff he had lying around before taking more water and herbal soap to Jaemin’s sleeping figure. 

Jaemin’s hair was long and dirty, his lips chapped and his nails chipped and bloodied, but Jeno took care of every inch of him. Slowly, he washed his limbs, drying and treating the cuts and bruises like Taeil showed him. 

Jeno held the metal bowl behind Jaemin’s head and even washed his hair. Color already began returning to Jaemin’s face, looking a lot more comfortable. 

Jeno just sat with him for a while, not knowing what he was supposed to do now. 

Like he had done so many times when he placed his hand on the cold steel of Jaemin’s mural, Jeno rested a rough palm on Jaemin’s cheek. But it was soft and warm and supple and Jaemin was real. 

Jaemin’s lashes fluttered as he sighed deeply, shifting ever so slightly. 

“Jaem?” 

“Hmh~” he breathed slow and deep, blinking in confusion. 

“Can you hear me?” 

Of course, that angelic restfulness only lasted a moment when Jaemin rolled to his back, yawned and stretched like a cat. 

“Fuck,” he sighed, “that was a nice nap.”

“How are you feeling?” Jeno asked, a little skeptical that Jaemin was quite fine after everything that happened. 

He rubbed at his eyes, yawning again before turning his head to Jeno. 

“Not bad.” 

“Are you sure?”

Jaemin looked at him strangely, his green eyes bright in his pale face.

“Is the fearsome General Lee worried about little old me?”

“You were held captive for three months, Jaemin.” he deadpanned, knowing that Jaemin was using his humor to divert Jeno’s attention. 

“Really?” he replied drily, “I had no idea.”

“Cut the crap, Jaemin. We need to talk about this.”

“Or what?” 

Jeno rubbed a hand over his face in frustration. Jaemin was normally easy to deal with, Jeno knew how he worked and where he came from. But sometimes he was so obstinate Jeno wanted to set him on fire. 

“I thought you were dead, Jaemin.” Jeno leveled a glare at Jaemin, trying to hide his true feelings behind his anger, “For three months I missed you, I mourned you. My best friend was gone, I lost half of myself.”

Something in Jaemin’s green gaze softened as he looked at him, but he didn't say anything. 

“Every day, I thought I heard your voice, I thought I would wake up and you would be here with me. It was hell, it was utter fucking hell. Nothing ever felt as bad as losing you did.”

Jaemin pushed himself up, his dark hair falling over his eyes. He looked at Jeno, that gaze that sometimes felt like he was looking straight into Jeno’s soul. 

“I’m sorry for what I put you through.” Jaemin reached for him, his good hand gentle on Jeno’s jaw. 

“Why did you do it?” Jeno asked, his dark eyes a mess of feeling, “why didn’t you make them let you go?”

“I wanted to protect you, Jen. I wanted to protect everyone.” 

Jeno looked away, no longer angry but hurt nonetheless. 

“Was it so bad Jaemin?” he asked quietly, navigating unknown territory, “Was it so bad to love you?”

“No,” Jaemin ran a thumb over his cheek, the skin hot against his calloused palms, “it’s a beautiful thing to be loved by you… but I couldn’t make you choose between me and everyone else, so I made that choice for you.”

Being apart, finding each other like this again, neither of them could push the other away anymore. For the first time they wanted to openly talk about what they had always felt. 

“It nearly killed me,” Jeno said, leaning into his touch as his eyes fluttered shut, “losing you, nearly killed me.”

“I’m sorry.” Jaemin replied, sincere and deep as his alpha reached for Jeno’s, “I didn’t think I would ever see you again, Jen. I hated missing you, I hated waking up in that place every day without you.”

Jeno had so many questions, so much was still unknown to him. He really needs to seriously talk to Jaemin, talk to his team, but somehow being honest about his feelings was more important. 

“We’re safe now, Jaem. We don’t need to make these choices anymore.” Jeno opened his eyes to affix Jaemin under his black gaze, “Will you let me love you?” 

Jaemin leaned into him, pressing his forehead against Jeno’s, eyes shut as he just breathed him in and enjoyed his nearness. 

“If you’ll have me.” 

Jaemin felt Jeno smile under his palm. After all the tragedy and the devastation and the pain and violence, they were in a world of their own. So much was lost, so much was gained to be lost again, but Jeno and Jaemin were always on a path of their own. Maybe it was heading here, maybe it was some other place far away, but the road they were on was always the same.

Jaemin opened his eyes and leaned back to study Jeno’s face. So close he could feel JEno’s breath on his lips, his black eyes reflecting his face.  

“What would you do if I kissed you?” he asked, a teasing grin already pulling at his lips. 

“I would kiss you back.”

Jaemin leaned in, catching his lips in the sweetest kiss. Jeno’s hands slid into his wet hair to hold him close, kissing him back with the same longing that Jaemin felt. Both their alphas were completely enchanted by the other, at peace like they never could be apart.

It was a tender, tame thing, more about their hearts than their actions. But it was a promise, something secret yet infinite, sealed between them alone. 

“Don’t you ever fucking do this to me again.” Jeno breathed against his lips

“You’re never getting rid of me.” Jaemin smiled into the kiss

••

“This is so fucking embarrassing.” Jaemin whined, looking at his three-fingered hand, “I am trapped in the twilight of perpetual finger-guns.”

His head flopped down on the table with a dull thud as he groaned. 

“At least you kept your middle finger.” Hyuck chuckled, “that has got to be useful, you can still flip people off with your little raptor hand.”

“Or,” he raised his head, wiggling his fingers as his eyes slid to Jeno, “finger fuck a certain someone very well.”

Hyuck cackled, gleefully slapping his thigh at Jaemin’s obscenities. 

Jeno just pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed heavily, “I swear to god I’m locking you up again.”

“Ooh, bondange,” Jaemin quirked an eyebrow at him, “how naughty of you General Lee.”

“Jaemin, I am so close to strangling you.”

“Well -”

“If you dare make a choking joke I will murder you.” Jeno threatened, even as his heart soared at being in the vicinity of Jaemin’s ridiculousness again.

Jaemin laughed, throwing his head back in delight. The happy sound echoed off the walls and Jeno felt like he could breathe again. He even had to hide his own smile behind his hand, remaining serious as they waited for the rest of their men to join them. 

Sure enough, everyone else quickly filed in, Jaemin safely locking his antics up for the meeting. 

“There is a lot we need to get straight,” Jeno said, tapping his finger on the table to enunciate each word, “we need to clear up this mess and decide on what we’re doing from here.”

Jeno perfectly wore his mantle as General in front of them, and Jaemin did the same. His soft, playful nature gave way to the soldier. 

“When we interrogated the prisoners, we were told one thing; that heist that felt so wrong, ws just a test. It was a performance, set up only to see if Jeno will defend me.”

Jaemin began to explain, folding his arms over his chest as he leaned back. No one commented or reacted, it was common knowledge among them that Jeno and Jaemin were close, and they had all been talking about how that affected Jeno’s judgment anyway. 

“That was the first part of the plan. Next, they wanted to capture me to either trade me for General Lee, or to use me as leverage to get the location of our home from him.”

Everyone expected that this was what had been happening, it became more clear the more they thought about it. But the plan felt badly thought out, almost immature. 

“This seems… flawed.” Jaehyun commented.

“Actually,” Haechan spoke up, rubbing the back of his head, “they did try to contact General Lee. I found a message and Jaemin’s fingers on one of the dead guards on a raid not too long ago.”

There was a beat of silence, Jeno’s brow darkening. 

“You purposefully kept it from me.” he stated, voice flat and hard. Jeno and Hyuck were still on the outs, and would take a while to work through it after all that happened. 

“He was following my orders.” Jaemin added, cutting Jeno short. 

Jeno gave him a hard look, a typical we will definitely talk about it later look. 

“We took out the citadel, we were able to score some materials and food, and rescue some workers. But the place was… off. I’m not sure if it was us that changed, but it wasn't as difficult as I anticipated. Their tech was outdated, their plans foolish, their guards lazy… the infiltration was easy, the exit was easy… it was all just too easy .”

“Actually, I thought so too.” Renjun contributed, “getting the explosives in and planted was a breeze actually. The cornerstones weren’t guarded, no one paid attention to us… the place was also a bit empty… short-staffed?”

“That adds up,” Jaemin continued, “the way they guarded and interrogated me, it was half-hearted at best. But I did notice that the place became progressively emptier… less guards, less food, less noise… they weren;t nearly as coordinated or advanced as I remember.” 

“Then there’s the goods themselves,” Sicheng began, “there was a lot less than we were told, even the work camp was basically non-existent. All our previous intel talked about hundreds of people enslaved. But we literally only found a dozen.”

Jeno listened carefully to everything they were saying, all of it jumping out to him as worrisome. There was something he was overlooking, something he couldn't quite figure out.

“The latest shipments were off.” Jaehyun added simply.

“The goods are bad quality, their plans are flawed. They made stupid mistakes.” Mark said, his brow pulled down in concern. 

“General, could this be part of a bigger trap? Or a larger plan we’re not seeing.”

“Perhaps.” Jeno thought, his mind racing with a hundred different outcomes, “but what would the endgame be? We blew up the entire city, we weren’t followed, we can’t be tracked. I don’t see the point in letting any of this happen.”

“There could be a chance one of those we rescued is a spy,” Jaemin slid a look to Jeno, silently picking his brain, “we should keep an eye on them.”

“Agreed.” Jeno nodded, “we’ll get them settled, then we need to talk to each of them alone. Find out what they know and if they can be trusted.”

“It’s going to be difficult to take care of the added numbers, General.” Jungwoo said, everyone practically hearing how the gears in his head turned, “We need to rethink a lot our current systems and solutions.”

“That we can do, but turning them away, we can’t.”

They discussed their way forward for a while still, considering all their options and how best to take care of the newcomers. Then naturally, Jeno had to hand out Donghyuck, Jaemin and Mark’s punishments for acting without his knowledge. 

Finally, they were dismissed to each tend to their duties, leaving only Jaemin and Jeno behind. 

“You actually asked them to help you kill yourself?” Jeno asked, fists clenched at the horrible words that left him.

“Look, Jen,” Jaemin leaned forward on his elbows, green eyes searching Jeno’s face, “I knew about their plan, I knew what was going to happen and what position that was going to put you in.”

Jeno didn't say anything, he hated that Jaemin was making sense even though his solution to the problem was absurd at best.

“All I did was ask Mark and Hyuck to help me make you believe that I was dead, or that I would really die.”

“Which is why Donghyuck hid that he found that message.” Jeno pressed his lips together as he stated the obvious.

“Yes.” 

“God you’re so fucking stupid.” Jeno rubbed his hands over his face, feeling exhausted and saddened, “You never told me, you never looked for another way out.”

“If I had any other choice, I would have made it. This was the only way, and Hyuck and Mark agreed. Besides, if you look at the outcome it all worked out.”

“In no universe is losing you an acceptable outcome. I saw that chopper shoot you, Mark confirmed your death…”

“Yeah, it shot me in the foot.” Jaemin chuckled, reaching over the table to take Jeno’s hand, “besides you got shot up pretty bad too… I was worried about you the whole time too.”

“It was just my leg,” Jeno sighed, bringing Jaemin’s knuckles to his lips, “Chenle dislocating my shoulder was a lot worse.”

“He did what?”

“He tried to stop me from going after you.”

“I owe him a drink then.” 

“Not funny.” Jeno replied coldly, narrowing his eyes at Jaemin.

“This is better though,” Jaemin took Jeno’s hand and pressed their clasped fingers to his chest where his heart beat steady and strong, “I’m glad we made it, and I’m glad you found me… and I’m glad we have each other.”

“Nana,” Jeno began, he only ever used that nickname when they talked about things intensely personal, “You’ve always been my weapon, and I’ve always been your General… can we just be us from now on?”

“You know I’ve always been yours in every way, Jeno.” 

••

It was… interesting being with Jaemin. 

They had known each for so long, worked so closely together and survived so much by one another’s side. But being the only one in Jaemin’s thoughts, the only one receiving all his affection and attention, was both unexpected and exhilarating. 

Jaemin had always been caring and compassionate in his own way. But Jeno had no idea he could be so … sweet. They talked about everything and nothing, falling asleep in the same bed, Jaemin such a snugglebug as he basked in Jeno’s nearness, the words he directed Jeno’s way dripping honey. 

But there was also heat. And Jaemin made it obvious what he was thinking when they were together. Even just eating dinner with their team, Jaemin’s hand would sneak progressively higher up Jeno’s thigh until his fingers grazed his zipper ever so suggestively. 

Some mornings, he would press up against Jeno making sure he felt all of him. It was somehow an invigorating game of cat and mouse. And Jeno loved playing along, because he wanted Jaemin just as much. When Jeno kissed him, he always made sure to palms and squeeze at the most delicate parts of him, finding Jaemin’s skin to be particularly sensitive. Sometimes they would pass each other in the hallway, Jeno would shove him up against a wall and kiss him breathless, only to smirk and leave Jaemin in that state. 

Days went by like this, the perimeter of how they were circling each other in this matter growing smaller and smaller. Jeno wondered who would be the first to break, but when he came back to their room after a particularly long day, he got his answer.

He had barely closed the door when Jaemin grabbed him and kissed him like he was starving, tugging on his hips to lead him further inside. Jaemin began walking him backward until the backs of his legs hit the sides of their narrow bed. 

“Aren’t you at least going to ask me how my day was?” Jeno smiled, pressing butterfly kisses along his jaw.

“We can talk later,” Jaemin huffed, “right now I need other things.”

“What are you planning?” Jeno asked, gaze half-mast as he looked at him. Jaemin’s green eyes were heated as he blinked slow and seductive, his lips pink and plump as he drank Jeno in. 

“I’m going to suck you off.” His tongue found the corner of his mouth as he teased Jeno. 

“You want it that bad huh?” Jeno’s whole body crawled with heat at Jaemin’s forwardness. But that was just one of the millions of things he loved about Jaemin, especially knowing their games of late had peaked and led to this. 

“You know I do.”

“I’ll let you on one condition.” 

“Oh that’s mean,” Jaemin playfully nipped at his bottom lip, “bargaining over your dick. Unfair.”

“I need to know,'' Jeno began, Jaemin’s fingers already reaching between them to unfasten Jeno’s pants, “what do you smell like?” 

The desire in Jaemin’s eyes didn't even dampen as he took it all in stride. 

“Why don’t you find out?” Jaemin tilted his head, exposing his throat. 

This was not a position alphas ever found themselves in, baring their throat at anyone was unheard of, especially to another alpha. But Jaemin trusted Jeno, the only one who would ever see him like this. 

Outside of this room, they were still General Lee and General Na, but here in the confines of these four walls, they were just two people who loved each other and nothing else mattered. Even though everyone around them already assumed how their relationship had changed, they didn't need to announce it or get some sort of approval. 

Jeno’s hands slid around Jaemin’s waist to bring him closer, Jaemin’s fingers tangled in his hair. Jeno closed his eyes as he lowered his head, he dragged his lips over Jaemin’s scent gland, breathing him in. Jaemin hummed in appreciation as Jeno flicked his tongue over his skin, tasting its hot expanse. He smelled something. It was that sweet, warm, thick smell that he caught a whiff of months before. 

Stronger now, Jeno nuzzled at Jaemin’s neck to try and get closer to its sweetness. Slowly, a gentle trickle, it wrapped around his mind, filling his lungs ever so slightly. The scent was so familiar, it was memory, but Jeno didn't know exactly what it was. He knew it smelled and tasted so good , thickening and deepening as Jaemin’s arousal climbed. 

“What is it?” Jeno asked, kissing and nibbling at Jaemin’s jaw, “it’s so sweet.”

“Can’t you guess?” Jaemin asked, voice low and rough.

“I can’t put my finger on it.”

“Chocolate.” 

Something he hadn't tasted in 20 years, memories so fond to him of his childhood where the delicious treat was freely available. No wonder he didn’t recognize it at first, but now that he knew what it was, Jeno’s alpha began to salivate. 

“Hmm,” Jaemin hummed in appreciation, “ someone has a sweet tooth.” He shifted his hips ever so slightly, his dick grazing Jeno’s rock hard cock ever so slightly. And it was true, the moment he drew in that breath laced with cassonade, his cock had filled completely, his desire for Jaemin rampant through his system. 

“How come I’ve never smelled it before?” 

“I don’t think you wanted to,” something in Jaemin’s gaze softened, that impish green turning to gentle comfort, “besides, we’re normally filthy.” ‘

“I want to know now.” his palms ran up Jaemin’s back, feeling all the firm strength through his thin clothes. He had grown strong and healthy again in recent days, eating like a tornado and biking almost every day. Jeno was a little regretful Jaemin cut his hair though, something in Jeno quite liked to… pull it.

“Me first.” 

With a smile on his pretty face, he undid Jeno’s cargo pants and shoved it over his hips. The look on Jaemin’s face driving him toward ferocity, Jeno slotted their lips together, kissing him hungrily, messily. Jaemin whined in his mouth, drowning in each other’s air, hands impatient. 

Jaemin pulled Jeno’s shirt off, and over his head, tossing it aside. Jeno did the same, nearly ripping Jaemin’s shirt in his haste. 

“Did I ever tell you how fucking hot you are?” Jeno growled against his lips, his hands running over Jaemin’s naked torso. Thick cords of muscle, more scars than he could count, Jeno couldn't stop touching him now that he was finally able to freely do so. 

“No,” Jaemin breathed, heat bubbling up inside him, curling in his gut as he felt Jeno’s back flex under his hands, “but I would like to hear it more often please.”

“Please?” Jeno chuckled, dragging his lips over that place where Jaemin’s scent is the thickest, “did you just say please?”

“Yes, because I need you to hurry up and get out of your pants so I can have your cock in my mouth.”

“Demanding are we?” Jeno nipped at his earlobe, so needy he could explode, but also so, so content. 

Jaemin pushed him back, Jeno plopping down on the edge of the cot. Jaemin immediately yanks his pants off, nearly pulling Jeno right off the bed in his haste. He pushed Jeno’s knees apart and kneeled between his legs. Going commando most days was mostly necessity rather than choice, and Jaemin was thankful for it. 

Finally he had Jeno naked and at his mercy. And he was a sight to behold. Jaemin confessed that he’s looked in the past, but now he could look. He reached for Jeno’s chest first, thumbing at the circular scars dotting his torso where he had taken bullets for Jaemin not too long ago. He caressed the swell of his pecs, Jeno’s tan skin vibrating under his hands as Jaemin mapped all of him. Jeno just watched him as he had his fun, letting Jaemin do anything he wanted. He pressed his thumbs over Jeno’s nipples, his eyes flicking up to meet Jeno’s to see his reaction. The flush of color over his chest, the heat in his gaze, the way his knuckles whitened where he gripped the edge of the bed told him that Jeno was indeed enjoying this very much. 

His hands fastening on Jeno’s lats, Jaemin pressed in and flicked a hot wet tongue over Jeno’s nipple before nipping the sensitive flesh with playful teeth. Jaemin could feel how Jeno was gritting his teeth, not a man to whine and beg, but Jaemin wanted to hear him gasp and choke. He swirled his tongue around the perked bud, tasting the salt and heat of Jeno’s skin on his lips, humming in satisfaction. 

He couldn’t believe they waited 9 fucking years to get here. 

Jaemin gave Jeno’s other nipple the same treatment, the steel frame of the bed whining from how hard Jeno gripped it. It made Jaemin buzz with anticipation at what Jeno would do. His lips and teeth made their way down Jeno’s abs and the trail of dark hair that was like a pretty roadmap to where Jaemin wanted to be, his palms stroking at the bulk of Jeno’s strong thighs. 

Jaemin looked up once again, wanting to see the effect he had on him. With a wet- hot tongue, he licked over the head of Jeno’s cock. Jeno’s jaw flexed, his eyes darkening as a deep groan caught in his chest. Satisfied, but wanting to hear more, Jaemin’s gaze lowered to the task at hand. He was a General after all, intelligent and decisive, he knew how to make a plan and carry it out. Right now his plan was to make Jeno come so hard he’ll see stars. 

And of course, Jaemin had a strategy.

Step 1: dig his fingers into the juncture of Jeno’s hips and thighs. Jenos’ spine began to pull taut, the color of his skin deepening. 

Step 2: fill his mouth with Jeno’s cockhead, suckling and licking it, humming at the burst of salty precum. Feeling Jeno’s thighs tremble under his hands, Jaemin pushed forward. 

Step 3: choke on it. Jaemin took Jeno’s cock all the way into his throat, the pressure, the stretch, his dick so far back Jaemin couldn’t breathe. 

And good god Jaemin was enjoying himself. He grabbed one of Jeno’s hands and placed it atop his head, his fingers immediately fisting the strands. Jeamin swallowed around the thick cock in his mouth before bobbing his head, greedily licking and swallowing, earnest in his ministrations, more focused than when he was trying to shoot someone. 

Jaemin loved the way Jeno tasted, the way his jaw and knees ached, the way he struggled to breathe, spit running down Jeno’s cock, his eyes falling shut at the overwhelming sensations. 

But what he loved most of all, was when Jeno struggled to control himself. He moaned low and broken, his hands painful in Jaemin’s hair. His thighs flexed and trembled. Jaemin wrecked his throat, tears he never shed ran freely down his cheeks as he swallowed every drop of pre-cum. 

Jaemin was an obscene mess in front of Jeno. His moans and wet gurgles and chokes spun honey between Jeno’s ears, and his mouth felt incredible. Hot, wet, his tongue doing a thing that made Jeno’s toes curl and his eyes roll back into his head. Needing to see, needing to know, Jeno yanked at Jaemin’s hair to tilt his head up. 

Tears ran down his face, his pupils so blown not even a trace of green was left. But the sight of his aching cock moving in and out of his mouth, the sweat glistening on Jaemin’s chest at the exertion, it buzzed along Jeno’s system all the way to his fingertips and back again. 

“Fuck.” he grits out, shaking from how hard he was trying to keep himself still. Jeno feels it coming, that heat that builds between his ribs and dances through his bones then wells up past his ears. The tingle in his chest flares bright white, ripping him from the inside out. He wanted to keep watching Jaemin, he wanted to see him wrecked and ruined, but that tension in his gut pulled into knots. 

“Jaem ~” he groaned through clenched teeth.

~Mhm hmm~ Jaemin hums around his cock, squeezing his thigh. 

Everything in him seized, his fingers dug into Jaemin’s hair, his chest lurched forward as a strangled gasp escaped him, his hands left Jaemin’s hair to catch on the edge of the bed. Jaemin eagerly swallowed all of it, treating his cock like a forbidden drug that he couldn't get enough of. Jeno had no idea he had that much in him, he had no idea he could feel like this. The occasional casual tousle with a stranger or his own hand in the cold, lonely nights, were incomparable to what Jaemin gave him. 

Jeno’s chest heaved, his muscles cramping from how hard he clenched down, he tasted chocolate, he smelled his own scent thick in the room. When the white spots cleared from his vision as he was able to think and hear again, he looked down where Jaemin still sat with his legs folded between Jeno’s knees. He was equally out of breath, skin glistening with sweat, but he was leaning his cheek against the inside of Jeno’s knee, looking up at him with something akin to adoration. His tongue flicking out to lick at his swollen lips. 

“Who - what -” Jeno’s brain had ground to a halt.

“Take your time.” Jaemin patted his knee, his voice a gravely ruin. 

“You -”

“I’m amazing, thanks I know.” Jaemin got to his feet, lithely unfolding his limbs from the cold steel floor. He stood between Jeno’s legs once more, cupping his face, his thumb adoring his feverish skin. 

“Good?” he cocked his head, that teasing grin never far from his lips. 

“Incredible.” Jeno rested his hands on Jaemin’s hips, leaning into him as his body finally began to settle. It seems that the alpha in him that allowed him to fight and run without stopping, or heal from horrible injuries, also had the labido of a freigh train that never ran out of track. 

“Did anyone ever tell you, you smell like flowers?” Jaemin asked, the expression on his face unreadable. 

“No one’s ever been close enough to tell.” Jeno replied, even as his fingers flexed on Jaemin’s thighs and his body began to harden again.

“I like it, it reminds me of… spring.”

And it was true, Jaemin’s chocolate scent was like coming home, a memory of a life long left behind and a childhood they had both lost and would never have again. It was comforting and enticing and addictive. Jeno smelled like daisies and roses and sunflowers and freshly cut grass, something beautiful that didn’t exist anymore. It made Jaemin want to sink into his skin and never leave. 

But the sweet sentiment didn't last long, the familiar softness deepening as heat bubbled between them again. It was strange to have two alphas be so physically compatible. But after years of staying by each other’s sides and harboring the deepest love that was always kept secret, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. 

Even their alphas, as strong and fierce as they were, were now besotted with one another. 

“And what are we going to do about this?” Jeno asked, nosing at Jaemin’s erection that strained against the zipper of his pants, right by Jeno’s eye level. 

“What do you want to do about it?” Jaemin asked, his tongue finding the corner of his mouth in that gesture that Jeno now knew was Jaemin thinking about ways to devour him.

Jeno yanked Jaemin down, the other alpha falling right into his lap on a breathy gasp. Jaemin was heavy, but Jeno enjoyed the weight of him pressing down on his legs, the rough material of his pants dragging over his cock. 

Knowing that they were most likely going to break his rickety bed, Jeno still chucked Jaemin to the side so he could crawl over him. 

“Typical alpha,” Jaemin breathed, his canines flashing, “tossing people around.”

Jeno blanketed Jaemin’s body with his own, covering every inch of his skin with his own. 

“Says the alpha who lets me toss him around.” Jeno pressed sloppy wet kisses over Jaemin’s scent gland, lapping up the delicious sugary taste. 

Jaemin hummed in approval, turning his head to give Jeno even more access, his hands sliding down Jeno’s sweaty back. 

“You know I could put you on your ass.” Jaemin replied, even as his head began to swim, Jeno’s weight pressing him into the bedding, his hands and lips so hungry. 

“Yet you don’t” Jaemin felt Jeno grin against his throat, nipping at the tender skin there, “I wonder what everyone would say if they saw General Na crying on his knees.”

Jaemin slid a hand into Jeno’s hair, pulling hard to make Jeno look at him.

“If you keep this up, I’m going to bend you over and fuck you dumb.”

“I would like that actually,” Jeno’s heated gaze drank him up, burning his skin, “but you first.” 

Jaemin was promptly shut up as Jeno surged forward and kissed him, wanton and hungry, he sucked on his tongue, his hands merciless as they bruised down his skin. Jaemin opened his legs to bring Jeno closer, his knees clamping down on his sides. 

Jeno was naked and hot atop him, starving as he bruised and marked his skin, Jaemin shaking in his arms from how his senses were overwhelmed. Jaemin meant it, he would love to bend Jeno in half and have his way with him, knotting him up and leaving purple clouds on his skin. But he also wanted other things. And right now he needed to get these pants the fuck off.  

Jaemin squirmed underneath Jeno, trying to chase the friction but also wishing he was naked already. Jeno caught on and quickly pushed off of Jaemin to pull his pants over his hips so Jaemin could kick it off. 

Then Jeno paused, just looking. 

“Jeno,” Jaemin breathed, “I know you think I’m hot but I really need you to focus on other things right now.” 

“It’s not that…” Jeno’s eyes ran down his torso, the flex of his abs and the lines of tough vitality in his limbs. And there it was: Jaemin in all his glory, his strength and flaws and sharp edges, his darkness and his eyes and the violence trapped there. But there was also light, warmth and love. 

“I can’t explain how you make me feel, Jaemin.”

Jaemin’s eyes warmed as he looked up at Jeno, his hands gentle as they reached for him to bring him close once more. They kissed again, Jeno chasing the lips he couldn't get enough of. Jaemin’s blunt nails dragged down his back, fastening on the flesh of his ass and squeezing the supple muscle. 

Jeno replied with a roll of his hips, a hiss escaping Jaemin’s lips as their naked cocks rubbed together. Jeno nosed at Jaemin’s jaw, asking for access. Jaemin turned his head to the side once again to allow Jeno to bite and suck as much as he liked, marking the skin and lapping at his musk. Jeno rolled his hips again, Jaemin’s spine pulling concave at the burning pleasure, his sensitive skin singing. 

In typical alpha fashion, Jaemin really wasn’t that hard to please. But something in him, maybe it was pride?, wanted to hold on longer, to show off his prowess in front of Jeno. The longer he could hold himself back, the more fun they could have, right? But what Jaemin hadn't taken into account was just how much he loves him. It was very hard to keep your body at bay when you were completely bespelled by someone else. 

“What can I do for you, Nana?” Jeno asked him, his deep voice teasing at the thin skin over his collarbone, “how can I make you feel good?”

That alone was enough to pull Jaemin’s eyes crossed, the words so enticing. Jeno Lee of all people asking how he can please him. 

Knowing exactly what he wanted, but not knowing if he could hold on until then, Jaemin took the hand closest to his face, Jeno shifted his weight to that elbow instead. Looking Jeno straight in the eyes, he parted his lips and sucked Jeno’s middle finger into his mouth. The digit was thick, hard and calloused as Jaemin swirled his tongue around it, sucking and playing around. 

“Fucking hell.” Jeno cursed, the wet hot lick of Jaemin’s tongue shooting bolts of arousal straight to his cock. Eyes still locked, Jaemin parted his lips again, asking for more. He sucked at two of Jeno’s fingers, low thrums of satisfaction escaping his chest. 

Feeling like something feral had hijacked his mind, he bent his knees to give him better purchase, his free hand wandered down Jaemin’s body, reaching between them to fist his cock. He whined around Jeno’s fingers, his own hand joining Jeno’s to show him how he liked to be touched. 

The dry drag of skin on skin stung and pulled, but it was good. Most of the people down here tended to neglect their bodies in one way or another, but Jaemin and Jeno had neglected their hearts too, which made this togetherness so unreal. 

Satisfied that Jeno knew exactly how to jerk him off, Jaemin reached for his leaking cock too. Dragging his fingers over the shaft to thumb at the slit, drawing shivers up Jeno’s limbs. It was a lot, having Jeno’s fingers in his mouth, his hand moving over his cock, his own hand filled with Jeno. It quickly turned Jaemin into an uncoordinated mess of spit and sweat and debauched moans. Jeno was methodical and focused in everything that he did, clear headed and precise, and now Jaemin’s body was subjected to his ability to hyperfocus. 

It didn't take long for Jaemin to reach his peak, it wasn't a gradual climb, it wasn’t anticipated, but just tore through him like glass through linen. He bit down on Jeno’s finger, his entire body arching as he came between them, thick and hot over Jeno’s strong hand. 

Jeno retrieved his fingers to allow Jaemin to gasp for air, but Jaemin wasn’t finished just yet. 

“Not done -” he gulped air, “‘m not done.”

Jaemin took his spit slick hand, Jeno watching him with burning curiosity. He guided Jeno’s fingers down and down, pressing his wet fingers where he wanted him the most. Jeno’s eyes lit up with realization, something deep in him rumbled in expectancy. 

Shifting to make themselves a little more comfortable, Jeno anchored a palm next to Jaemin’s head, hiking one of his knees over his shoulder. Jaemin was a mess of cum and sweat, his chest heaving, his burn scars pale and pearlescent on his flushed skin. 

“Hold onto me.” 

Jaemin’s hands returned to his shoulders, digging into the firm flesh just as Jeno pressed his middle finger against Jaemin’s rim. Their bodies were different from that of omegas, and Jeno needed to take his time, but he also knew how good this could feel for an alpha. And he was determined to give Jaemin just that. 

He intently circled Jaemin’s rim with the spit that clung to his finger before pressing down. Slowly, Jaemin’s rim gave the tiniest bit, but just enough to allow Jeno’s fingertip to slip inside. Jaemin bit down on his lip, tasting blood, his fingers scrambling on Jeno’s slick skin. 

Jeno knew that the first stretch was the hardest, so he leaned in and kissed Jaemin to distract him, sucking on his lips and rolling their tongues together until the tension melted out of his limbs. Careful, Jeno pressed deeper, his middle finger sunk into Jaemin’s warmth all the way to the knuckle. The response was immediate, Jaemin shaking and trembling beneath him, shoving his face into Jeno’s neck to gulp his scent down. Jeno crooked his finger, gradually turning his wrist as he looked for something. 

There.

Jaemin groaned, biting into Jeno’s collarbone as his second orgasm wracked his body. The sound, the smell, the way Jaemin clung to him with all his strength, his nails drawing blood on his back, giving Jaemin pleasure by his hand, it speared through Jeno and without even being able to stop himself, he came all over Jaemin’s torso, their cum and sweat splattering onto the bed. 

As carefully as he could, he dropped Jaemin’s leg and plopped down at his side, nearly rolling off the narrow bed, Jaemin’s arms falling limply off him. Limbs shaking, hearts racing, they lay side by side as their gasps echoed off the steel walls, the small square of space drenched in cassonade, spring and sex, the air twice as hot as it normally was

“Fucking hell,” Jaemin panted, “if I knew it would be this good I would have fucked you years ago.”

Jeno chuckled breathlessly, eyes on the shadows of the ceiling, Jaemin entwining their fingers at his side. 

“I don’t think you have it in you to fuck me, General.” 

“Says the one who came untouched.”

“Says the one who came with a bad handjob and one finger.” 

Jaemin laughed, a happy tinkle that laced so many of Jeno’s memories. 

“Come on, we need to get cleaned up.” Jeno said, turning his head to look at Jaemin’s profile.

Jaemin whined in protest as he turned his eyes toward Jeno, “I don’t wanna.”

“You smell.” Jeno nipped at his shoulder cap.

“News flash, you do too.”

“Don’t lie, you like it.” Jeno raised an eyebrow at him as he nuzzled at Jaemin’s skin.

“Oh my god you’re such a fucking dude. ”

“If I remember correctly, you sleep with a knife under your pillow and you gave all your guns names.”

“Okay, okay.” Jaemin chuckled, sitting up, giving Jeno a perfect view of all the bruises and crescent bite marks he had left behind. 

“Oh hell no, don’t you look at me like that.”

“Like what?” 

“We’re supposed to get cleaned up and get some sleep.” Jaemin stood up, looking at Jeno over his shoulder. He walked away from him, tall and naked, tanned and bruised. Jeno really liked the look of his ass at this angle, he was definitely going to pay more attention to the soft swells next time. 

“Speaking of, I really hope your hands were clean.” Jaemin glared at him as he opened the tap. 

“You should be more worried about that filthy mouth of yours than my fingers.” 

They did end up breaking Jeno’s poor rickety bed and using more water than they should have. 

••

It was difficult to get the newcomers settled, they were running out of space, ventilation was now a real issue and tensions were running high. Jeno was afraid that illness or violence would break out in the cramped hallways of their home. They had succeeded, in so many ways they had won, but now they had more problems than ever and these issues needed solutions. 

But before he could decide on the proper course of action, he needed information and facts to guide him. So he waited in their meeting room with Mark, Renjun and YangYang and the people they freed from the work camp were brought in one by one to talk to them. They were dressed, fed and cleaned, but they were all still skittish and afraid, their eyes running over every corner as they clutched at their scarred wrists. Luckily Renjun and YangYang were also there, the two were a lot better with people than Jeno and Mark were. 

They varied in ages, alphas and omegas alike, there were 14 in total. But each of them told them the same story: the Citadel as they knew it was being emptied. 

It used to be a sprawling stronghold of powerful alphas occupying grandiose towers, swimming in supplies and blood. But somehow, it began to change. Those in charge began to pull out, moving away somewhere unknown leaving a rabble of lackey behind. The work camp used to be filled with hundreds of people but they too were shipped off one by one.

It made sense in Jeno’s head, why their traps and ambushes had been so clumpy lately, why their city fell so easily, their movement uncoordinated, even Jaemin’s capture led to nothing. But Jeno couldn't quite figure out why. 

Then the last person came to see them, a young alpha woman named Aya. Even thin and tired, wrists scarred and ferality clouding her eyes, she stood straight and unflinching in front of them. 

“I will tell you everything you need to know,” she began, “if you give me your words we can stay here under your protection.”

“You have my word, and that of my men.” Jeno answered without hesitation.

Jeno asked her about what all the others had said, and her answers surprised him. 

Looking Jeno dead in the eye, she began explaining “The place you blew up was never a Citadel, or particularly important. It was just a trading post.”

“How do you know this?” Jeno asked, leaning forward on the steel table to listen to her.

“One of the guards at the camp,” her hands clenched into tight fists, “took a special liking to me, and he was loose-lipped to say the least.”

Hatred for the Pack burned within his gut at her expression.

“It was well regulated, effective and rich, a strategic point of trade between other Pack cities. But then you came.” 

Everyone was listening so closely to what she was saying, you could hear a pin drop in the hollow room. 

“You raided so many convoys, stole so much Pack property, but no one could find you. The higher ups who used this post to trade through began using other cities and camps, this one losing its influence and fortune.”

“There were rewards on all of your heads, the leaders of the trade posts jumping ship, your people caused a lot of trouble for them.”

Jeno felt two things at once; satisfaction that they had single handedly dragged this Pack settlement to hell, but also concern over knowing that there were bigger cities, more dangerous alphas out there. 

“The Pack, isn’t really… a pack.” Aya explained, “it’s an Empire. From what I heard, they have large cities, an Emperor… they have farms, and water…”

Jeno frowned at her words, this was completely unexpected. They had been hiding and surviving in their little hole for so long, he had to admit he had no idea what was truly going on in the rest of the world. 

“I don’t know if that’s true… I never saw it. But I did see something once, I saw a guard eating an apple.”

“The fruit?” Renjun asked, jumping to his feet, “like the actual fruit? The plant?”

Aya nodded, “It was green.” she answered simply. This changed everything, this blew the top right off of Jeno’s entire world-view. 

“I do know that you are safe here,” Aya said, seeming more at ease the more she talked to them, “there aren't any other Pack settlements anywhere near here, and if what I heard was true, this corner of the world is a bit forgotten. Without that trading post, the Pack has no reason to look for you or come here at all.” 

His conversation with Aya changed everything. 

The whole day her words churned in his head, he mulled it over as if it was an unsolvable puzzle he had at his fingertips, his men couldn't stop talking about it amongst themselves either, Jaemin fascinated by what Jeno told him. 

Later Jeno made his way through the whole compound, checking in with their new families, reassuring the rest. He went to talk with Renjun and Jungwoo in the greenhouse, desperate to pick their brains.

“It makes sense,” Jungwoo replied, crossing his arms as his brow pulled together, “everything she said fits. I was really worried about the last heist, everything felt too perfect, even sneaking into the city, faking manifests and plates, the bad security… I thought it was all a trap.”

“But it was just the leftover muscle that occupied the city,” Renjun added, “and with barely any trade coming in from the outside they wouldn't have gotten any support or supplies, they really couldn’t find or stop us.”

“How are things with the food? Water system? Medicine?”

Jungwoo and Renjun exchanged a worried gaze, “Not good.” Renjun answered.

“We can hold out for a bit, but the increase in our numbers has caused a lot of issues. Ventilation is now our biggest concern, but the water recycling system is also under a lot of pressure. Food is pretty okay, we have a high supply, but I’m worried about the power.”

And without power, they would have no food. 

“We need a more permanent solution, General.” Jungwoo added, biting at his thumb in worry. 

“I agree.” Jeno thanked them and turned to leave. 

“General, wait,” Jeno turned to see Renjun coming after him, “here.” he pressed something into Jeno’s hand. 

He frowned down at the item, a small glass vial with a cloth stopper. There was some thick, clear liquid inside. 

“It’s rosemary oil,” he whispered, “for you and Jaemin.” he winked at Jeno before rushing off. Jeno frowned at Renjun’s retreating back, confused as he tried to decipher what the omega could mean. 

Walking off, looking at the vial in his hand, realization punched through his brain. 

Oh. Oh.  

Feeling his alpha wake and churn in his chest, Jeno shoved the vial into his pocket before his hormones ran rampant. 

Jeno was addicted to Jaemin’s skin, his warmth, his scent, his nearness, and the feeling was mutual. Long languid kisses, lazy touches to hungry lips and hasty hands, gasps, moans, curses, it decorated the inside of their quarters. It was also a great relief to Jeno that they didn't have any neighbors. 

But actually having sex, they had yet to go there. 

They both knew that they were circling the subject a little, uncertain of how to approach it. They were both alphas, their relationship and affection established, but this was something else. Practically… what were they supposed to do?

Renjun’s gift burning a hole in his pocket, he made his rounds to all of the other important sections, but certain thoughts weren’t far from his mind. He went to the armory, medical bay, school, mess hall, and finally their power generator. 

It was funny, calling it a generator, when in fact it was a row of shabby, stuck together stationary bicycles that everyone took turns peddling to charge the small batteries that held this place together. There were only two people peddling at this time of day, the sweltering heat of the room nearly suffocating. Donghyuck and Jaemin seemed to be racing, swearing at each other as their legs pumped, both shirtless as sweat poured down their spines. 

Jeno just rolled his eyes at them before leaving again. Of course you could trust the two of them to turn their punishment into a joke. 

But Jeno really needed to talk to Jaemin, he had a lot to share with him, but he had to wait until Jaemin was done with his shift at the generator. So instead he went looking for Jaehyun. 

Jeno found him in the armory where he usually was, meticulously cleaning all the guns in their stockpile, the cold alpha preferring the company of bullets and metal over people. 

“Update.” 

“Got some ammo and rifles, lost some handguns and knives.” Jaehyun answered easily, not looking up from the rifle that lay in pieces in front of him on the metal table.

“I want to go back to the ruins, see what we can find. We need answers and material. This place is about to burst and we can’t help everyone.”

“Just say when.” 

“Meet me topside in one hour, we need to patch up the trucks first.”

Jaehyun nodded in assent, Jeno quickly leaving again.

Sure enough, exactly on time, Jaehyun was waiting for him at the exit on the furthers side of their hole, pack, gun, gloves, goggles and bandana at the ready. They set off in silence, taking the long hike to where they stashed the two trucks, they needed to make a plan to also find the vehicle Jaehyun had hidden so long ago when they left Jaemin behind. 

As the sun dipped past its peak, they reached the hollow they were looking for. As they always did, they were still careful as they tracked through the endless expense of red sand. Keeping their eyes on the horizon, ears peeled, spikes on their boots to not leave trails, they hiked with their guns in hand. 

But it was quiet, nothing and no one for miles. Jeno so badly wanted to believe everything that Aya told them, but he needed to be careful, he couldn't risk it before making absolutely sure. Not needing to tell him what to do, Jaehyun immediately set about digging the one truck out of the sand that accumulated around it, Jeno doing the same with the other. 

Years ago, Jungwoo had taught them everything he could about engines, even showing them how he made the rechargeable batteries that kept their home afloat. Using that knowledge, Jeno and Jaehyun tinkered with the engines. Luckily, their tanks were still quite full and the engines didn't need much fixing. Before the sun slipped behind the horizon, they were both driving off, slowly this time as the trucks were still missing windshields, but they eventually made it home, ready to go back to the ruins the next day. 

Tired, thirsty, hungry, filthy, Jeno finally headed back to his room as night fell. He had  a long, emotional day, and all he wanted was to see one person. Jeno had always depended on Jaemin, leaned on him and trusted him, but ever since they decided they were in it for the long haul, Jeno had needed him more and more. 

He hated waking up when Jaemin was already out and about, he hated leaving while Jaemin was still asleep, he hated going a whole day without so much as a whiff of the alpha. He was quite pitiful, but then again he had been at Jaemin’s mercy for most of his adult life. 

Exhausted, he pushed open the blast door to his quarters. Jaemin was fast asleep, wearing nothing but an old pair of cloth shorts. Jaemin had brought all of his stuff into Jeno’s room making himself comfortable there without being asked. He brought his own bedding too so they could at least have a semblance of a bigger bed even if it was on the floor. 

Jaemin had left the light on for him, the single yellow globe hanging from the ceiling casting the entire room in a gentle, romantic light, highlighting Jaemin’s sleeping features. As quietly as he could, he stepped out of his dusty boots and peeled off his sweaty, filthy clothes before washing by the tap. Double checking that he was clean, smelling of the potent herbs in the handmade soap, Jeno was finally able to lay down next to Jaemin. He didn't even bother dressing, the two of them had a tendency to end up without their clothes anyway if they were left alone too long. On his side, he watched Jaemin’s sleeping countenance. He was lying on his stomach, his cheek squished against the pillow as he breathed deeply. Jeno wound an arm around his waist and snuggled closer, pressing a kiss to Jaemin’s brow. 

A small smile pulled at Jaemin’s face, even though he was still out like a light. As if on instinct, Jaemin snuggled closer, pressing against Jeno’s chest with a happy sigh. Jeno quickly fell asleep, his nose filled with chocolate and his mind on that vial that he left right by the bed. 

Jaemin slowly woke from a deep sleep. He and Hyuck had really overdone it the previous day and his legs were wasted, but it had been fun and they did their part too but when he got home he couldn't wait for Jeno and just passed out. It was going to take some time for Hyuck and Jeno to patch things up though, but Jaemin was sure they would get there. 

As always, that sweetness of spring that no longer came filled his nose. The more they were together, the more Jaemin could smell him. But it didn't seem like anyone else could. It was satisfying, it fed into his alpha’s possessiveness. But being possessed in return, now that was a whole nother story. Jaemin knew Jeno liked to bite and suck at his skin where everyone could see it, and Jaemin loved showing it off. 

At first, it was a bit of a surprise to the people (not their men though), but once the idea settled into the community that their two leaders were indeed together, the support (and the teasing) had been rolling in.

But there were also other things that Jaemin thought of, other things that he wanted. Things were changing all around them, their future was uncertain, and it made Jaemin wonder where they were going too. 

It had been so easy for them to slip into intimacy, the natural evolution of their unbreakable bond. But to Jaemin this was only the beginning, but the beginning of what he wasn't completely sure. Jaemin had never held his tongue in front of Jeno, whether it was about a plan or a mission or the compound, he said what needed to be said. But these days he found himself chewing on his words more and more. He wondered if it was because of what happened, that Jeno had to suffer for months thinking him dead, or that they hadn't really said it again since then. 

I love you.  

Jaemin said it first, even under the horrible circumstances, it still counted in his book. But Jeno had yet to say it back in full. 

Sighing to himself, Jaemin slowly opened his eyes. He was plastered to Jeno’s back, his arms around his waist, their skin already tacky even though it was barely morning. Knowing Jeno would also wake up soon, Jaemin nuzzled into his hair chasing his flowery scent. 

Jaemin may have gotten just a little carried away as he found himself nipping at the shell of Jeno’s ear, his hands that were so innocently pressed against Jeno’s abs were now not so innocently wandering down. 

Why must Jeno always sleep naked? 

Jaemin was sure he did it on purpose to test Jaemin’s self-control knowing he didn't have any. 

“What are you doing?” Jeno's deep voice rumbled, thick with sleep as he drew Jaemin out of his thoughts. 

“Knitting.” Jaemin flicked a tongue over Jeno’s lobe, shifting closer knowing Jeno could feel his hard-on very very well where it pressed against him. 

“Naughty aren’t you?” Jeno turned his head to catch Jaemin’s eyes. His deep brown gaze was already dark, his black hair tousled from sleep. Jaemin wanted to eat him, or be eaten, either way was fine. 

“Excuse you, I am a saint.”

“Too bad, I wanted to do filthy things to you.” 

“General Lee, how quickly I have corrupted you.” Jaemin’s green eyes glittering at him with mischief. It was true in some sense. Jeno wasn't really one to joke or laugh or mess around, but these days spent with Jaemin had lifted his heart, maybe he had become like this because he was … happy. 

“Maybe,” Jeno turned onto his back to get a better look at Jaemin, “or maybe you just make me happy.” he thumbed at Jaemin’ jawline, those green eyes tender as they looked at him. Jaemin turned his head to press a soft kiss to Jeno’s wrist, both of them knowing that his gentle affections were reserved for Jeno alone. 

“Now why would you say things like that?” Jaemin sighed, but there was something that was warming the innocent banter between them, turning the air not so innocent. 

“I mean it.”

Jaemin swung his leg over Jeno’s hips, deftly straddling his lap with his palms on Jeno’s chest. Jeno’s throat tightened in anticipation, feeling how perfectly Jaemin sat atop his already hard cock. He really should stop going to bed naked if he ever wants to be on time for anything in the morning. 

Jeno’s hands slid over the density of Jaemin’s thighs, dragging his blunt nails up and down. 

Eyes locked, sharing something hot and yearning, Jaemin leaned down to rest his elbows beside Jeno’s head, rolling his hips as he went. Jeno impatiently fisted his hair, pulling him all the way down to crash their lips together. Jeno’s free hands grabbed hold of Jaemin’s ass, fingers digging into the soft flesh as Jaemin sucked on his tongue. 

They always dealt roughly with one another, teeth and hands impatient. Something about the chase and the climax and the release had both alphas’ buzzing. They never hurt each other outside of the boundaries they set, but slow gentle loving was not for them either. 

“Renjun gave me something.” Jeno spoke low and rough, Jaemin’s teeth in his neck. 

“Hmm?” 

“Rosemary oil.”

Jaemin stilled for a moment, then pushed himself up again, looking down at Jeno with wide eyes. 

“Now that’s surprising.” 

“What do you think?” Jeno asked, both of them very aware that this was unchartered territory. 

“Why don’t you just tell me directly, General Lee.” Jaemin cocked his head at Jeno, his hands already moving over his chest. 

“Let’s fuck.”

Jaemin chuckled, delighted at Jeno’s words even as color crawled up his bare chest and his chocolate scent grew heavy. 

“How do you want to do this?” Jaemin asked, already moving his hips the tiniest bit to get them both revved up. 

“Hmm?” Jeno’s grip on Jaemin’s hips tightened, his brain far off with how Jaemin was grinding down on his naked cock. 

“Are you going to fuck me or am I going to fuck you?” 

He fixed Jeno under his pale gaze, his thumb tracing Jeno’s bottom lip, already slightly out of breath.

“I don’t mind.”

“Liar,” Jaemin grinned at him, playfully flicking his cheek with a gentle finger, “you know what you want. So just tell me.”

“I want to fuck you, I want to fuck you so bad.” 

A hungry grin cut through Jaemin’s face, his sharp canines impish yet lovely, Jeno not quite believing that they were here. After 10 years, they could finally be together. 

But as ravenous as Jeno was for him, he didn't want to rush. This was a big deal, firsts for them both. Even in this wretched world, they could still have special moments, beautiful memories shared. 

Jeno pushed himself up, Jaemin remaining in his lap as he crossed his ankles behind Jeno’s back. He wrapped him in his arms, palms splayed over the flare of Jaemin’s back as he chased his lips. Jeno kisses him with as much passion and lust as the very first time, but there was something else, it was like Jeno was drowning, like he’s been wanting this entire life and now that he has him, he would devour all of him. But that was how it has always been with Jaemin, every feeling, every touch amplified tenfold just because it was him.

Jaemin’s hands painfully tugged at his hair, Jeno’s fingers leaving pricks of black and blue behind on Jaemin’s back and sides. 

“God fucking dammit do you want to kill me?” Jaemin moaned against his mouth, squirming in his lap, the friction of his ass over Jeno’s naked cock pushing him closer and closer to the edge. 

Jeno didn't reply, his entire body rampant with a passionate fever. He tossed Jaemin down on his back onto the hard bedding, then he was on him again. Something dark and dangerous twisted inside him, possessive and wicked. Jaemin wasn’t backing down though, he was taking as much as he was giving, his hands rough, his heels digging into Jeno’s thighs. 

“You better hurry up,” Jaemin demanded, “or I might change my mind and snap your back instead.” 

“Shut it.” 

Jaemin’s eyes heated at the tone, his alpha chomping at the reins, demanding to be let loose and punish the person who was telling him what to do. 

“Or what?” Jaemin retorted, a challenge glittering in his green eyes. 

That was exactly what Jeno needed; a dig at his authority to make him see red. With all of his strength, he ripped Jaemin around, pressing him face first onto the sheets as he leered over his back. 

Jeno spat on his hand, and without any finesse or warning he shoved his middle finger right past Jaemin’s rim into his tight heat. 

“F-Fuck!” Jaemin called out, his entire spine pulling rod straight, at the sudden sting and stretch, his head whipping up. 

“Relax.” Jeno grunted, Jaemin clamping down so hard on his hand that he couldn't move his fingers. 

“M-make me -” Jaemin looked at him over his shoulder, a spiteful smirk on his flushed face even as he breathed hard. There was something so hauntingly beautiful about the lines of his back on full display, the heat in his eyes as he glared at Jeno, the quiver of his legs. 

Jeno curled his finger, expertly finding that spot he had come to know so well. He twisted his wrist, mercilessly targeting the bundle of nerves.

“Say that again.”

“A-asshole,” Jaemin gasped, “you’re such a fucking asshole.” 

Jaemin’s quivering legs began to relax, his tailbone lifting every so slightly as his hips chased Jeno’s touch, even as a single finger tormented his insides. 

“What was that?” 

“Mm - ah - b-bastard ~“  Jaemin’s back flexed as he shuddered from pleasure, pushing up ever so slightly on his elbows so he had more purchase to cant his hips back. What a sight he was, moisture glinting down his spine, all of his strength pulled taut with tension like a bow ready to be shot, completely at Jeno’s mercy. 

Something akin to primal instinct flipped his sense of self on its head, all of him wanting to punch into Jaemin until neither of them could breathe. Insatiable, Jeno surged forward to bite into the swoop of Jaemin’s shoulder, pressing his chest against his back. 

“ Fuck ~” Jaemin ground out, his forehead falling to the bedding as his fingers twisted in the sheets, pushing his hips back even more, the movement hollowing his back. The perimeter of Jeno’s vision dimmed, another finger decisively shoving past his rim. 

“ Jeno.” Jeno sobbed, he was weeping . 

For just a breath, Jeno slowed down, all of his attention on Jaemin.

“Keep going or I’ll kill you.” Jaemin groaned, his voice wet and choked as his breath staggered, his alpha demanding Jeno’s attention. 

Jaemin couldn't see, so much was happening.

Jeno’s fingers were roughly working him open, his teeth were on his skin, his sweaty chest flush with his back. He could feel Jeno’s other hands sneak around his waist to wrap around his cock in the little space between the bed and his stomach, he felt Jeno’s thick cock against his ass, so so close. 

Jeno was everywhere, his spring scent turned to earthy musk as it swam between Jaemin’s ears, his entire body was ripped apart, tears were running down his face from pleasure and pain that made him high. His muscles ached in protest, the fire that was screaming in him wouldn't take much longer to be let loose, not with how Jeno was devouring him. 

But no, Jaemin is an alpha too, he could give as good as he got. 

Even with his limbs weak and shaking, he completely pushed himself up on his hands and knees, even with Jeno’s weight atop his back. As much as his skin begged for Jeno’s hands, he couldn’t stand this torture anymore, he needed all of Jeno.

“Fuck me right now you bastard.” 

His chocolate scent was so thick and lust-filled it shot like a bullet through Jeno’s brain, Jaemin’s alpha commanding him to do what he asked. But what Jaemin wanted, Jeno also wanted. He retrieved his hand from Jaemin’s body, his puckered hole fluttering around nothing, the skin of his ass already stained in pink. 

Jeno reached for the vial by the bed, and pulled the stopper out, without care or concern, he poured it out on his palm, slicking up his cock in one swift motion. 

“Say that again,” Jeno pressed his cock against Jaemin’s waiting body, his rim not giving right away, “I dare you to say that again.” 

“Fu ~” his words completely left him as all the breath was knocked out of his body in one foul snap of Jeno’s hips. 

Jaemin nearly fell on his face from the force, pain radiating through him at the foreign intrusion. Even though it wasn't quite comfortable, and would take some getting used to, Jaemin couldn't deny that it was good. Stretched by Jeno’s fat cock, the other alpha immediately set a blistering pace, gutterul grunts and groans and gasps echoing off the walls. Jaemin wished he could see Jneo’s face, he wished he could dig into his flesh, bite into his skin, but his thoughts were quickly shattered apart when Jeno found his prostate within the first few thrusts. 

His reaction and the curses falling past his lips was motivation enough for Jeno to keep fucking him right there. Jeno fastened his hands on Jaemin’s hips, pulling him back with each thrust to slam him down on his cock harder and harder. Jaemin isn't sure what Jeno was saying, he was overwhelmed and overstimulated by the dizzying friction he felt so deep within him, Jeno scrambling his insides and pleasing him in ways he never thought possible. 

His orgasm swept over him like a tidal wave out of nowhere, wrenching from him as his cum splashed all over the bed below. Jaemin felt faint, dragging harsh breaths through dry lips even as Jeno continued to pummel into him, his knees shucking back and forth on the sheets. 

Jaemin felt Jeno’s knot swelling against his rim. 

Oh fuck.

“If you - knot me -“ Jaemin gasped, his words split apart by Jeno’s thrusts, “I’ll - kill you -“ 

With one last sharp thrust, Jeno came hot and thick inside him, his knot pressing against the outside of Jaemin’s rim as he stilled. Jaemin fell flat on his face, his limbs finally giving way, a strange heat spreading through his abdomen as Jeno’s cum spurted into his body. Jaemin found that he actually quite liked the feeling. 

Jeno flopped down by his side, equally out of breath, skin shining with sweat, chest heaving. 

“Son - of a - bitch -” Jaemin gasped, chest plastered to the bed, he turned his head to glare at Jeno. 

Jeno chuckled breathlessly, meeting Jaemin’s eyes, they glittered like emeralds in the half-dark room. 

“Good?” 

“Don’t look so smug, General.'' Jaemin managed to even out his breathing even when he couldn't move so much as a finger. Jeno rolled to his side, much more energetic than Jaemin as he pressed a kiss to his scarred forearm. 

“Seems like someone had a good time.” Jeno quirked an eyebrow at him

“I did,” Jaemin’s eyes twinkled, “we really should have done this a lot sooner.”

Jeno’s hands slid into the back of Jaemin’s hair to lovingly rub at his nape. 

“You sure you’re okay?” Jeno asked, a palm caressing down Jaemin’s sweaty back. 

“Good, incredible, happy - all of the above,” a satisfied smile pulled at his flushed face.

“But ~?”

“Next time you’re taking it up the ass.”

“We can bet on it.” Jeno shuffled closer to Jaemin so he could rest his chin on his shoulder.

“You want to gamble on whose dick goes where?” 

“Correct. It’s fair after all.”

“I have a better idea,” Jaemin’s tired limbs shuffled around so he could lie on his side and face Jeno too, “just bend over whenever I tell you to.”
 

Jeno nipped at Jaemin’s smiling lips as his palm found his heated cheek, “Incorrigible.” 

“You love me for it.” Jaemin’s rough palm circled Jeno’s wrist, lovingly thumbing at his pulse.

“You’re right,” Jeno’s eyes softened as their dark depths swallowed Jaemin up, “I do love you, Jaem.”

“I know.” Jaemin beamed.

••

Pop - pop - pop - pop - pop

Jeno stood up straight to look in the direction of the gunshots. The ruins were now so flat and empty that the sound echoed for miles over the featureless desert. He wasn't worried however, so he returned to the task at hand.

Every single soldier and person they could spare had been driven out to the ruins in the three trucks they managed to get up and working, for days they made their way back and forth, back and forth. Staying out for hours on end as they dug through the rubble for whatever they could find. 

And they were able to find a lot. 

It was exciting and an immense relief as they plundered the ruins and discovered so much. Petrol for the trucks, oil, food, more water and weapons. But some other unexpected things they also found; shovels, drills, stick welders, bits and pieces of solar panels and a damaged water refinery. They dragged the hundreds of bodies out of the rubble, stripped them and burned them in the distance, but that meant they had new clothes, new boots and little trinkets like reading glasses and even cutlery and cups.  

Naturally, there were some stragglers and survivors, alphas waiting for them to return or too injured to escape. So of course while the rest of them worked, Jaemin and Donghyuck were running around the ruins like maniacs, shooting anything that moved. 

But it was worth it, their weeks of effort truly paid off. 

Using the steel, drills and welders they could finally build proper ventilation shafts that ran from deep within the earth to the surface, the fresh dry air that flooded their home made everyone sigh in relief. The solar panels were next, and they could mount all the leftover pieces on the camouflaged roof that stretched between the sides of the canyon. They tossed the bikes, turning the room into additional quarters. They also began building walkways between the sides to make access easier, but just having more clothes and shoes and burnt books to go around improved their quality of life tenfold. 

But then the day came where Renjun barrelled into the meeting room in the middle of Jeno’s sentence, his face alight as he held something in his hand. 

“It worked!” he shook whatever he was holding at them, “It fucking worked!!”

“Renjun, baby,” Donghyuck tried to calm him, “slow down.”

“Corn!!” he waved it at them, “I made corn!!” 

“What?” Mark gaped.

“Look!” Renjun opened his hand and in it was a baby corn. Just the size of his palm, but yellow and thick and healthy. 

“How -?” Jaemin couldn't believe his eyes.

“Because I’m a fucking genius!” 

Jeno had to agree. 

Renjun had used the grains they salvaged from the ruins to create a type of corn that grows under red light. With YangYangs’ help and weeks of effort and painstaking research and experiments, they made corn that could grow without direct sunlight and minimal water. Not long after, he was able to do the same with carrots. 

Potatoes, corn, carrots. 

It was literally nothing compared to the old world, but the new food, the added nutrients, the different tastes, brought tears to the eyes of many. 

“Oh my God.” Jaemin threw his head back, eyelashes fluttering as he gasped.

“Dude if that’s how vegetables make him feel,” Donghyuck eyed Jeno, “you’re not doing a very good job.”

Jeno flipped him off, enjoying his own food even as he kept his eye on Jaemin. Everything and everyone around them began to bloom with so much color, new health and new life breathed into the catacombs of their home. 

Or the catacombs of their farm more like. 

Needing to make space for the food that needed to be grown underground, they had started to construct quarters outside. It was hard work, the red rock of the canyon floor was unforgiving, the heat was menacing and the cold also bit at their fingers and toes. 

Blisters, cuts, injuries and pulled muscles were their constant companions. But after nearly 6 months of unprecedented struggle, they had homes. Some chose to remain in the canyon walls, Mark who still didn't take any room or himself, and Jaehyun who liked to stay away from people. Jeno and Jaemin moved to one of the homes on the canyon floor, Renjun and Donghyuck on one side and Chenle and Jisung on the other. 

It was still impossibly hot even under the massive roof that hid their settlement, and at night it was unbearably cold. There wasn't an obvious solution for the problem, but nobody really wanted one. Getting to live out in the open, to have space and air and food and water was enough for all of them. 

Jeno did feel like he benefited the most though. During the day Jaemin would be out and about shirtless, showing off all the bruises and bite marks and scratches that Jeno left there every night. But during the evening, when they went to sleep, Jeno and Jaemin would be plastered together to keep the cold out, clinging to one another in their little bubble. 

••

18 months later

“And this is uncle Taeyong,” Jaemin held the little gurgling baby on his hip, walking through their memorial garden with him to show all those who came before, “he was a good man, and a good friend. He would have liked you a lot.” Jaemin tapped the baby’s button nose, making his big brown eyes light up as he giggled happily. 

Baby Dal was almost one year old, and was one of the biggest blessings their villages could ever have received. The first baby born there in a long time, he brought joy to many. And his birth was the beginning of a new chapter for all of them. 

They had plants now, actual plants that grew tall and green, filling the canyon floor. They were made to withstand the cold and the heat, and fed off of the condensation that dripped from the ceiling high above. Renjun and Aya had joined Jaemin and Jeno as Generals to manage their city. It really has become a city; growing further and further down the canyon, needing more camouflaged roofs, more tunnels and underground dwellings dotting the sides as far as Jaemin could see. Their community went from dozens to hundreds in the blink of an eye. 

People came from far and wide to join them here, to be safe and to find peace again. They had rules and laws and leaders, they still had soldiers and patrols and people on the outside always keeping them safe, they knew that the Empire would always loom over them in some way or another. 

“And this ~” Jaemin adjusted the little boy on his hip, “is Johnny.” 

Jaemin looked at the portrait of his friend, his chest tightening at the sight. He wasn't there when he died, he hadn't known he was gone for the months he was held captive. But Jaemin would like to think that wherever he was, he was finally at peace and looking down at them with a smile and Ten by his side. 

“He was one of the funniest people I knew, I wish he could have met you.” 

Jaemin walked along the rocks repainted by Renjun not too long ago, to show Dal all the people immortalized in the stone. They had moved their memorial wall from the inside to the outside to become a beautiful mural to show the path that led them here, their loved ones facing the light again. Jaemin’s face wasn’t up there any more, but a few others had joined it since then.

It was a cruel reminder that this precious paradise of theirs was fragile, and how much it was worth protecting.

“Jaemin!” he heard someone call his name, a rustle of plants telling him the person was approaching.

“Did you kidnap my son again?” Hyuck reached him, Dal immediately squirming in Jaemin’s arms when he saw his father.

“No,” Jaemin drew out the syllable, Hyuck taking the baby from him, “I’m just his favorite.”

“Not to spoil your fun,” Hyuck smirked at him, “but you’re late for training.”

“Oh shit!” Jaemin quickly dashed off, having completely forgotten he was on duty. He sprinted through the leaves, boots thumping down the foot paths as he weaved through houses and people.

Toward the end of the canyon, they had built a square like arena where they taught people how to shoot, track, fight, hot wire an engine, build bombs and much more. And Jaemin was on knife-duty this month. 

Jeno called it ‘sparring-practice’ but Jaemin preferred to just call it stabby-stabby time. And he was late. 

Sure enough when he hurtled onto the main road and saw the square ahead of him, a dozen or so fresh-faced youngsters stood in neat rows with their hands behind their back facing two other people. 

He immediately recognized his husband, tall and domineering as authority radiated off of him, and by his side was Mark. 

Jaemin slowed a little, not wanting to let the newbies see him frazzled, instead he clasped his hands behind his back and casually sauntered up next to Jeno as if his heart wasn't beating in his head.

“General, Na,” Jeno greeted him flatly, not looking at him.

“General, Lee.” Jaemin replied stiffly. 

The group saluted them with a perfectly synced clap of heels and hands to their brows. Mark set them at ease, then ordered them through their warmups before the real fun began.

“You’re late.” Jeno growled in his ear, the circular bite scar in his neck glinting in the sun.

“Too bad.” Jaemin winked at him, the matching scar in his own nape catching Jeno’s eye

“You’re going to pay for that.”

“Who’s gonna make me?” Jaemin’s eyes twinkled, “if I remember correctly, I nearly snapped your back in my last rut.”

“And guess who's rut is coming soon, hmm?” 

Always taking everything in stride, Jaemin smirked as he lightly grazed a finger over Jeno’s knuckles.

“I can’t wait.”

••