Chapter Text
Breathe. Slow and steady. The fog in my mind clears up and I open my eyes. I blink slowly. Once. Twice. I feel a cold hand rest on my shoulder. The touch makes me shiver a bit, clearing my vision and helps me regain a sense of reality. This reality. The only reality I want to be in.
“You okay?” The owner of the cool hand speaks softly in my ear. “Hmm. Yes, sorry. Just a little headache.” I reach out for my glass and take sip of water. I clear my throat and the cool hand leaves my shoulder. “We need to gather everyone. If my father is in danger, we are the only people he can trust to save him.”
🝮
My father. The head of the most feared Mafia in Seoul: District 9. Him and my mom ruled the underground together. Everyone loved them. They were like king and queen. Until the queen died… It was tragic. They were always careful. Always having their guards up. Never going out without back-up. Never leaving me unattended.
I was in bed when the alarm blared through the house. I just turned 18, finally old enough to go out on missions, help my parents, earn my spot in the gang. Red flashed and loud wailing woke me up instantly. I grabbed my new dagger and ran downstairs. I know stupid me, running right into the threat, but I loved the thrill. I was trained for this. To fight. To defend myself. 8 fierce (hot) guys right beside me, ready to do the same. Don’t worry I’ll introduce them later.
They came form everywhere. Shots were fired, blood was dripping, everything moved in slow motion. My parents came home right in the heat of the moment. Both of them rushing in killing some of the intruders. My father was an elite assassin and my mother was the most beautiful and skilled swordswoman in the business. Those two in battle was like watching the most thrilling, blood boiling action movie. They moved in synch, killing intruders left and right. We thought we’d gotten everyone. That the threat was gone. My parents were hugging me and the boys when it happened. One last shot. The killing shot. Aimed at me. Destined to hit me. And yet it was my mother who caught it. She lurched in front of the bullet. Protecting me. Sacrificing herself. A second shot was fired right after, killing the last intruder. I screamed. My throat giving up on me after a while. Everything went to black after that. My body went into shock, making me faint.
When I woke up 2 days later in my fathers arms, I couldn’t speak. I could only cry, clinging onto my fathers arms. We sobbed together. We grieved together. I lost my mother. He lost his true love. Once the tears stopped, my father distanced himself from me. He grew colder, harsher in training me and forcing me shut of any emotion when it came to combat. My mother’s death changed us. It changed me. My father pushed me to my limits. Leaving me alone, drenched in sweat and blood during trainings, for one of the boys to pick me up again. I hurt the first two years but it became easier as time went by and a darkness came over me. The thrill I usually felt from fighting only grew. The adrenaline pumping in my veins made my eyes turn black and my vision red. I used to love the thrill of the kill. Now I lived for it.
My father made it his live mission to get his revenge on the gang that killed my mother. They lived in the shadows. Nobody knew anything about them, not their name, not what they looked like, not why they wanted to bring us down. The only thing we knew is that they killed my mother, trying to kill me. Why me? Again no one knows. So now 5 years later, my father dedicated his life to finding them now and killing them before they could reach me again. He left 2 month ago, following one of his empty leads. I haven’t heard from him in 3 weeks. Apart from one text I received this morning saying: “will be gone longer. Another lead. Love you.” That’s how I know something is wrong. Yes my father loves me. I know that. But ever since my mother died, he’s never said those words again.
🝮
“I already send them a message. They should be here any moment.” The soft voice reassures me taking a seat to my right. And sure enough, 7 boys (I should say men, but oh well) came into the room and sat down at the large round table.
“So what’s the plan Ridley?” The boy next to me asks
Wait! First what you all have been waiting for: Introductions.
We’ll start with the one that asked that question. Broadest shoulders that could carry the whole business. Muscled body that most women (and men) would scream for (I might be guilty for that). Big puffy lips, big boba eyes, soft brown curls and the personality of a big German Shepard: The sweetest most caring man that would kill anyone for hurting the ones he loves. Mr. Bang Christopher Chan, my second in command and the best shooter I know.
To my left: a lean body with a pretty triangle shaped face. A perfect heart shaped mouth and perky nose. The softest eyes you can imagine making you want to jump in and drown in them (guilty again). They say his eyes hold all the stars in the universe but couldn’t contain them so they spread the remaining on his soft cheeks. His black shoulder length hair perfectly lays perfectly on the side of his face. He’s the ultimate sunshine, but goes feral when he uses his martial art skills in combat. Lee Felix Yongbok, Taekwondo specialist.
Next to Chan sits our youngest. Fierce fox eyes, cutest round face with small lips. His body is lean like Felix’s, but he’s been training more, building muscle (aka driving me crazy). He’s got the whole gang wrapped around his finger, and he knows it. He loves to play as if he hates our affection but I see him smile while the others tease him and give him hugs. Even though he’s clumsy as fuck he never misses a shot. He’s our Maknae On Top: Yang Jeongin ‘Innie’, our sniper.
Next up the God of beauty himself. Face, body, personality, skill. He has it all. He’s tall, the tallest of the group, he’s not as muscular as Chan but he for sure has arms that could pull anyone in. Perfect symmetrical face, with the most lushes lips you can ever imagine. Eyes that could deceive, make you swoon, make you sell your soul to him. He can move his body like no one else can. His swift silent movements are never noticeable. He can enter and leave a room and you would never know he has been there. That’s how he gets the job done. Quick & silent. Hwang Hyunjin, spy.
A puppy. A golden retriever puppy. That’s what he looks like. Soft eyes, soft nose, soft cheeks and hair that bounces up and down like floppy ears. Don’t be fooled though. This man is the brains of us all. The smartest puppy you might say. When he’s isn’t helping me with making plans, you can find him on the streets. Racing his heart away. Speed. He loves it. He does it the best. Kim Seungmin, the brains and getaway driver.
Next to Felix sits his sunshine twin. (They’re not actual twins, not even blood related, but with only one day apart and their chemistry no one stands between them). The roundest cheeks that can store food for days, the biggest boba eyes imaginable and pretty lips. The tiniest waist EVER that makes every girl jealous (guilty again). Fire. He’s good at everything. Fighting, shooting, negotiating, driving, everything. We call him our ace, but fire. That’s what he loves. To make things burn. Han Jisung, arsonist.
Muscles. Muscles EVERYWHERE. Broad shoulders, muscular arms, legs for days, eight-pack abs, lord he even has the best butt (him and Chan tbh). He has full lips, small eyes, perfectly long nose and the sharpest jaw. He’s our best negotiator, he makes sure we get everything from everyone if needed. Does he scare people with the amount of muscles he has? Sure. Is anyone complaining? Hell no. They are used perfectly in combat. He fights like no one. Who needs weapons when your body is a weapon itself? Seo Changbin, negotiator.
Sinister eyes, a sharp nose perfectly round button nose, perked up lips that hide his small bunny teeth, a perfect body that moves like a dancer. He’s the toughest of the group with a heart of gold. His demeanor scares people. But he’s mostly misunderstood. He’s sweet, caring and loves all of us to death. But… the sinister in his eyes can take over in combat. He’s the most gruesome killer I know. He loves to torture his enemies. Seeing him work brings chills over my whole body. When he goes out to get rid of someone, no one asks questions. He plays with them, makes a mess but cleans up afterwards, leaving no proof or body behind. Lee Minho, torture expert.
And then you have me. Ridley Ray. Deceiving eyes, round nose, pretty full lips, pretty good shaped body (I do need to workout with the boys more…) My specialty? Mostly keeping these boys in check. But next to that? Manipulation. I can get everything I want from anyone with only my words. Does it help to be a girl? Yes of course it does. But even with my body covered in mud I can sway any man or woman to my desires. Hell, I could even to it to my boys. I would never, but I could if I wanted to. Oh and I’m the daughter of the most feared man in Seoul of course but that’s not important.
Now back to the plan.
🝮
“We need to gather info. Lix, Jinnie, you guys need to go to ATEEZ tomorrow. We’re closest to them and they are the only other gang we can trust.” I look at both of them and they nod back at me. “Minnie, you and Ji go upgrade the cars. And for the rest of us, time to train some more. We’ll start tomorrow. I know you all had a busy day, and as long as we have no info we’re stuck.” Everyone nods in agreement and takes their leave.
“Chan?” I call out for him before he leaves the room. He comes back to stand behind me. His hands massage my tense shoulders, trying to make me relax. “Just breathe Rids. If someone can find him it’s you.” I chuckle in response. “I’m nothing without you guys,” I admit.
It’s true. Without these boys, I would never be where I am now. Yes, my father helped me a lot in my training, but after my mom’s death his revenge filled his days more than spending time with me. So the last 5 years these boys have helped me grow stronger, helped me train and fight. My parents gave them a home many years ago. I was only 10 when they found 8 stray kids in the back of a basement in an abandoned house.
My parents took them in and gave them a home, a family. They gave me a team, friends, even lovers. Because yes, I did fall in love with them. All 8 of them. Can you blame me though? I live with 8 gods in one house. Let a girl live a little...
“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” Chans voice brings me back from my thoughts. “Hmm. Just thinking about how grateful I am that my parents found you all those years ago.” I let my head fall back against my chair as I look up to him with a soft smile. “I mean it, I am nothing without you boys.” Chan smiles back at me and kisses the top of my head. He turns my chair to face him, one hand at the top of my chair, tipping me backwards, while the other rests on my cheek, gently rubbing back and forth. “We’re grateful too. To have someone like you for all of us.”
The hand on my cheek falls lightly down to my throat. I tilt my head up with a smirk. “You’re playing a dangerous game Christopher.” I lift myself up from the chair, making him step backwards. My hand rests on his chest pushing him back more until he’s backed up against the wall. the hand on my throat not leaving it’s place. I let my pointer finger trail up to his necklace, catching the chain around his neck. One tug and he leans his head forward, closer to mine. “I know that game. I invented that game.” My other hand finds the hem of his shirt, my fingers teasing his skin lazily.
“Rids, you need to see this.” Seungmin and Minho stand in the doorway. “I’ll be right there.” I say without looking at them. “Looks like we’ll have to play another time Channie.” I huff looking up at Chan with a pout. He smirks back as I let him go and we make our way to the two waiting at the door. Minho raises his eyebrow at me and smirks. “What? It’s okay to be jealous Min, but don’t worry. We’ll get to play soon.” I tease him with a wink. He rolls his eyes and huffs in response.
“Now what did you want to show me Minnie?” Seungmin behind me. His shoulders are slumped down. He hesitates to speak. “Seungmin what is it?” I press again. Minho grabs my shoulder, making me stop in my tracks. “Rids, it’s your mom’s sword,” Minho says, his voice is solemn.
I freeze.
Mom?
🝮
My mother’s sword. It was beautiful. A brown leather handle with yellow ribbons above the silver guard. A long, sharp iron blade that could cut through anything, even stone. It reminded me of my dagger. The one I got for my 18th birthday. It’s a replica to my mother’s sword, except for mine being a black handle with red ribbons and a gold guard. I love that dagger as much as my mother loved her sword. Yeah, it was truly a beautiful weapon. And also missing. For 5 years. So why am I now staring at it in my living room?
“Ridley?” a soft voice speaks up while my eyes don’t leave the sword laying in front of me. “Wasn’t that sword supposed to be buried with your mom?” Jeongin nervously asks. “Uhuh… But it mysteriously got lost the day of her funeral. We looked everywhere. And now it’s here. Seungmin why is it here?” I ask confused.
“No clue… Only thing I know is that it’s pretty suspicious, you get a weird text from your father today and suddenly your mother’s missing sword ends up on our doorstep.” I nod at his response. “Anything else?” I close my eyes and rub my temple. “There’s a note.” Minho hands it out to me. For my little warrior. That’s my mom’s hand writing. “I need a minute.” I say as I walk outside to the backyard, scrunching the note in my back pocket.
🝮
I let the smoke of my joint escape my lips as I slowly exhale. “Wanna share?” I ask the person coming up behind me, holding the joint out for them to take. “I thought you quit?” Felix response as he comes to sit next to me and takes the burning stick to put it between his lips. “Hmm I thought you did too?” I lean into his shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’m not gonna drive anymore today.” I tell him rubbing my cheek against the soft fabric of his sweater.
“I know. I just didn’t want you to be alone,” he smiles at me. “And I couldn’t let you enjoy Innie’s stash without me,” he nudges me as I take joint back and take a long drag. My head finally feels fuzzy, making my muscles relax and sink deeper into Felix’s side.
We stay quiet for a while. It’s not uncomfortable, it never is with Felix. But even with the buzz of weed my mind floats back to the sword in the living room and the note in my pocket. “I’m worried Lix.” He doesn’t answer, only shifting his weight to wrap his arm around me and pull me closer.
“That text was one thing but now that sword.. what if they are connected. Minnie was right about all of this being suspicious.” I take another hit and give it back to Felix. He takes it and also takes a hit before pushing the joint out on the ashtray next to the bench. “I know you’re worried. We all are. But let’s not dwell on it right now. You need to rest. You have training tomorrow morning and after that we’re going to figure out why that sword appeared today.” He shifts again, taking my face in his hands. “But for now. Just relax and enjoy the buzz.” I nod softly at his words with closed eyes and feel him place his lips on my forehead.
🝮
I don’t know when I fell asleep or how I ended up laying in bed between Chan and Felix. Won’t hear me complaining though… But the warmth of their bodies sandwiching mine feels good. I reach over Chan’s body to tap my phone. 3AM. (Sigh) what now… I consider laying back down, but decide to get up anyway. Not leaving the bed before kissing Felix on the shoulder and Chris’s cheek. They stir a little but are fast asleep.
The hallway is quiet apart from that one squeaky tile at the top of the stairs. I roll my eyes hard when it squeaks under the pressure of my socked foot. Once I’m downstairs, I purposely avoid the living room and go straight to the kitchen. My heart jumps happily when I open the fridge to see a plate filled with fruits and brownies and some cookies. I take the plate out and sit myself down on the counter, setting the plate next to me.
It doesn’t take long before I hear someone enter the kitchen. I look up with cheeks filled with brownie as Jisung stares back at me. We both freeze for a second and then end up snickering at the same time. He comes to sit next to me and I give him a piece of brownie with a goofy smile. While he munches away I catch a glimpse of a purplish spot on his neck.
“I see you had and Minho had fun again,” I say with a smirk on my lips. “I should thank for that no? I heard you teased him, when him and Seungmin disturbed you and Chan hyung.” I gasp dramatically. “Me??? Tease Minho??? I wouldn’t dare!” I can’t contain the smile on my face when the words leave my lips. We laugh for a hot minute, before I nudge him and say “You’re welcome” with a wink.
Right, I should also mention that, yes, I have shared my bed with all of these boys, but they themselves have their own boyfriends too. To sum it all up, there is: Minho & Jisung, Seungmin & Innie, Changbin & Jinnie and Chris and Lix. Yes, we all love and share each other and no, no one gets jealous. Questions? No? Good.
We stay quiet, eating the last pieces of fruit and snacks on the plate together. “Should we have left some for the others?” I look at him with a sliver of guilt in my eyes, which quickly disappears when we both shake our heads saying “Naah”.
“I’m gonna go back to bed, before Min wakes up and realizes I’m missing from my spot on his chest.” Jisung says stretching his back and getting up. “I swear that guy might be the most gruesome killer among us, but he becomes all mush when he sees you.” I reply with admiration. “When he sees us. He adores you as much, if not more than me. Little cat.” His hand ruffles my hair when he teases me with the nickname. “Hey, only Minho can call me that!” He kisses me shortly and takes his leave walking backwards with a smirk. He doesn’t dare… “Sorry kitten”
“JISUNG!”
I can hear him giggle while he runs back up the stairs to his and Minho’s room. I shake my head with a smile plastered on my face.
🝮
When the silence fills the room again, my brain goes restless. The swords is right there in the other room. Fuck it. I stand up and go back to the living room. A small piece of relief falls over my shoulders when I see the sword being tucked away in the case it came in. I scan the outside of the case. The case is made out of beautiful oak wood, the handle is made out of the same brown leather as the sword itself. The latches are painted brown to match the handle and in the middle of the top of the case is our gangs symbol engraved.
I open the case with a sigh, the inside is filled with a soft black material. I trace my fingers over the handle of the sword, tears burning in the back of my eyes. I swallow them away immediately. I haven’t cried since she died, not even when my father left me squirming in pain and blood after one of his harsh training sessions. Not one single tear in 5 years. And I don’t mind that one bit. It makes me stronger & I’m not going to let this sword change that.
Another sigh leaves my body. “Why are you here… why now?” I speak aloud. I end up closing the case again, now staring at the familiar symbol burned on the lid.
Frustration builds inside of my veins. WHY? We searched for days. Heck my father never stopped looking for it and now it’s just here? Out of no where? Does he have to do something with the sword showing up here? Speaking of, where the fuck is he? Is he okay? Why would he send that message? Yes it looks like a normal message to many, but the ‘Love you’ doesn’t feel right. He can’t grow cold on me for 5 years and then just say ‘I love you’ like that right? RIGHT? Fuck what if I’m overthinking and he really is just going after another lead? What if he found something about my mother and it warmed his ice cold heart? What if he found my mother? Alive and breathing and all will be fine again??? No. Don’t be fucking delusional. You saw her life slip away from her body in your own arms.
God my head hurts.
I roll my eyes again, feeling annoyed with myself and check my phone again. 5AM. A couple more of hours of sleep wouldn’t be too bad. So I make my way back to my room. That same goddamn tile squeaks again and it makes my blood boil. I throw my fist around like a child getting annoyed when her favorite toy stops working. Shut up it’s been a long day. Done with my mini tantrum, I enter the room with Felix and Chan still sleeping. I wiggle myself between them again feeling the two boys shift to my direction.
The three of us wrap ourselves around each other. Chan scoops me into his arms with my face pressed into his chest while Felix wraps around my back like a blanket with his face nuzzled in the crook of my neck. Our limbs are all intertwined as I’m caged between them. “You okay love?” Chan asks whispering. I close my eyes, breathe deeply and let go of all my frustration feeling the warmth radiate from their bodies. I nod in response. “Hmm, good.” A deep voice speaks from behind me. A smile appears on my lips and sleep consumes me again.
ఌ