Work Text:
Chu Wanning sat crossed legged on a chair, facing his boss. He was called this morning for a new job and headed over immediately to receive the information he needed.
"Your new target," The older man announced, sliding him a stack of documents. A picture sitting atop it.
Picking up the picture, he squinted lightly before looking back up the his boss.
"What kind of joke of this? It's too blurry, you could barely see his face."
He tried his back not to be disrespectful but couldn't hold himself back. With the nature of his job, a small mistake like this one could cost innocent lives.
The boss sighed, "I am well aware of that but this target in particular is hard to get close to. This is the best we could do. You'll immediately recognize him once you see him, trust me."
Next, Chu Wanning picked up the documents. Skimming through the pages.
Taxian-Jun. Head of the biggest criminal organization. Involvement in both politics and economics.
Works in the shadows and usually has lackeys running around doing jobs for him.
No one has ever seen him.
"I accept the job."
His boss smiled.
*
As soon as he left the office, he headed straight to his favorite coffee shop. The one located in the same street he lives in. A latte would be nice before he had to go prepare for his job.
As soon he pushed the door open he heard someone greet him, "Good morning. You're here again."
The young man standing at the counter smiled brightly at him. He was also Chu Wanning's new neighbor. A student, apparently He started working as a barista at this place a few days after Chu Wanning told him about it when he asked if there was a nice place where he could get his morning coffee.
"Good morning." Chu Wanning responded curtly.
"Ah, as cold as ever," The Mo ran sighed dramatically. "Just what do I have to do to get at least a smile from you?"
Chu Wanning ignored him, used to his antics, and walked towards the counter.
"The usual?" Mo Ran asked.
Chu Wanning nodded and Mo Ran smiled before he turned and started preparing his drink. Thankfully there weren't many people at this time of the day.
A few minutes later, Mo Ran deposited his drink on the counter.
Mo Ran had developed a habit of amusing him with latte art and would draw something different for him everyday. This time, it was a flower.
"A flower for a beautiful flower."
At his words, Chu Wanning couldn't stop his face from burning and he was certain it was red in color.
Mo Ran was a nice guy. Just a little too flirty. Which was not good for Chu Wanning's sanity.
Despite what he tells himself after every encounter with the younger, Chu Wanning was not immune to Mo Ran's words and actions. He might actually have a little crush on Mo Ran but he'd rather die than admit it.
There's no need for me to have this reaction. This was probably the way he treated everyone.
"Mo Ran." Chu Wanning warned.
Mo Ran chuckled, "Alright, alright. No need to get angry. I'll go away and let you enjoy your drink."
Chu Wanning didn't mean to send him away. He liked it when Mo Ran kept him company while he had his coffee but didn't dare protest as he watched Mo Ran disappear into the backroom.
*
Chu Wanning arrived at his chosen spot for this job. The rooftop of the building facing the one the banquet was being held at.
Flipped his hair over his shoulder when his ponytail got in his face. It was quite windy but not enough to make his job difficult. Thankfully he came prepared, taking out a black beanie and tucking his hair underneath it, save for a few strands that refused to stay put.
He sat down and took out his sniper rifle and his scopes, taking a full 15 minutes adjusting it to make sure it was ready to do its job.
He got in position, lying on his stomach and fixing the rifle against his shoulder, eye looking through the scope and into the window of the other building, and a finger on the trigger.
There was no need to look at the picture of Taxian Jun again. It was already burned in his memory.
He stayed in position for over 20 minutes before he finally caught a sight of his target. He quickly adjusted the scopre to get a closer shot.
The world came crashing down on him.
No, no, no. This is impossible.
Mo Ran.
How could this be?
His hands were shaking too much that he had to abandon his rifle and sit up for a moment.
What the hell did this mean?
The man on the other side of the street… the same face but everything else was difference. The cruel expression on his face, the arrogance in his strides.
He recalled Mo Ran smiling at him every morning and every time he walked into the coffee shop.
Was Mo Ran lying to him and living under a fake identity?
He gripped his head with shaking hands.
It couldn't be.
He quickly forced himself to calm down and resume his position. But even after nearly 30 minutes, Taxian Jun never appeared again.
He was no longer cut out for this job anyway. His focus long since slipped away from him to be able to deliver a clean shot.
And other reasons he dared not think about for the moment.
He was in the process of placing his rifle back into its case when, all of sudden, large hands encircled his waist a deep voice whispered in his ear. "Surprise, Wanning."
Alarm shot up through his body, rendering him unable to move. He couldn't act rashly in this situation. He had to think.
How is it that he couldn't feel this person's presence? And how did they know his name?(he had his guesses about that) This was far too dangerous.
Before he could try to elbow the threat into letting him go, he was spinned around and Taxian-Jun's -Mo Ran- face was mere inches away from his own. His hands clasping Chu Wanning's wrists with overwhelming strength.
"What the hell?" Was the only phrase Chu Wanning could voice out.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking asking that , my dear Wanning?"
Chu Wanning's breath caught in his throat. The tone, the face. Cruel and wrong . Unlike the warm voice and the sweet smile he grew to love.
"You- You lied to me."
Taxian Jun's face twisted, sneering at Chu Wanning and tightening his hold until he felt like his wrists were going to snap.
"Isn't it kind of hypocritical of you to throw accusations around considering the fact that I just caught you trying to assassinate me?"
Chu Wanning fell silent at his words. He didn't know what or why he felt the need to explain.
"That's not- I was-"
"Hm? What is your explanation?"
Chu Wanning gave up trying to talk. He glared up, "let me go."
Taxian Jun laughed, sounding somewhat amused, "Not so fast, darling. I am not quite done with you yet."
Those were the last words he heard before his world started spinning and darkness took over.