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Two men in a deadlock.
The air is tense.
“The only reason I’m not shooting you here and now is because Seokmin would be sad if you died.”
“He’d probably also wake up with all that noise and he’s had kind of a busy week, so…” Mingyu trailed off, keeping his voice low and eyeing the wall as if assessing how thick they were.
“...Right. Well, it seems we both agree on something. At least you seem to have your priorities right, despite your incompetence as a fellow, ugh, assassin.” Minghao spat, almost disgusted at the thought of sharing an occupation with the other.
He slowly puts his gun away despite his barbed words, allowing some of the tension to leave his body. Mingyu takes this cue to lower his hands that had been held raised in a placating gesture and heaved a sigh of relief. He hadn’t expected a confrontation after a peaceful dinner with his boyfriends.
Hell, he hadn’t expected anyone to find out at all, hoping to take that secret with him to the grave. Unfortunately, they seem to have landed in a rather odd situation, with his boyfriend turning out to be from a rival agency. Ugh, he should have just stuck to taking over the family business like his parents wanted him to instead of-
“So this is what you meant when you called yourself a ‘freelancer’, huh?” Mingyu narrowed his eyes at the other.
“Don’t take that tone with me, you’re just as guilty. What happened to being an artist, oh great Xu Minghao, the golden child of Crimson? Were you ever planning to tell us?”
“Pot and kettle, Kim Mingyu. I’m not stupid enough to write off that this whole thing has been a farce to trap me in. What do you want? Money? Information? Or has a target been painted on my back by the infamous Sevens?”
The taller male blinks, almost in disbelief, and squawks indignantly, “What? No! I’m really in love with you! I didn’t even know you were from Crimson until literally a minute ago, you know, when you pulled a gun on me?”
"..."
"Come on, Hao. Would I really fake all those dates and that terrible confession that I wish everyone would kindly forget if I didn't have actual feelings for the both of you?"
Reading no deception in the other man, whatever remaining tension bleeds out of Minghao’s shoulders and he huffs out an incredulous laugh. What were the odds that his klutz of a boyfriend that he had met at a grocery store would turn out to be another assassin? In fact, what were the chances that Seokmin - sunshine and kindness personified - would be friends (and later boyfriends) with two deadly assassins? Speaking of Seokmin…
“Kim Mingyu. You’re in a lot of trouble.”
“What? I’m not exactly going to apologise for keeping it a secret, that’s kind of part of the job description.”
Minghao stalks over to drag him by the wrist over to the desk of the study, grabbing a stack of papers and waving it pointedly in his face. Eyes almost crossing in an attempt to read the words, Mingyu confusedly looks at the papers, not understanding what his boyfriend was getting at. They were just a bunch of receipts that he hadn’t had time to put away yet for his latest purchase of firearms- Oh.
“Oh.”
“Yes. Very intelligent. Look, I can’t fault you for keeping secrets, throwing stones at glass houses and all that. What I can’t forgive is your carelessness at leaving these out here in the open . What if Seokmin was the one to see these? Then what?”
“But this is my private study! It was meant to be secure!”
Minghao glares at his obtuseness. “In a house that we all live in. And you know Seokmin likes to be helpful and tries to tidy up the place when he finds the time. Whatever becomes of us and our occupations, Seokmin’s safety has to come first.”
A single nod in agreement. “And that means keeping him out of all this.”
“Exactly.”
They both think about their lovable florist boyfriend who greets his plants every morning and spends his days chatting with the old ladies that come into his shop. Mingyu recalls his college days and how the older man, then just a boy, had helped him through classes and shared his lunches when Mingyu had no money to buy his own. Minghao thinks back to the bullies and how Seokmin had quietly picked up his scattered art supplies and returned them to him. They think of his sweet smile and innocent demeanor and swear on their life that they will not allow the darkness of their world to reach him. Seokmin himself doesn't know it, but his kindness is what continues to anchor Mingyu and Minghao. He deserves kindness and all good things.
With that mutual understanding hanging in the air, they’re about to leave the study to find said boyfriend and maybe cuddle if Seokmin wasn’t too tired before Mingyu interrupts once again.
“Uh, one more thing, Hao. Will your agency have an issue with us dating?”
The Chinese man hums in thought then shrugs, “It’s a bit late for them to interfere now, considering we’ve been dating for what, three years now? Besides, they can’t afford to lose me.”
“Aww, I always knew you cared about me.”
“...Don’t make me regret it.”
Mingyu throws a cheeky grin in response and crows out, “love you too~ “ before dancing out of range of the kick that Minghao had aimed at him.
-
Ever since coming clean to each other, Mingyu and Minghao have become hypersensitive to the events around them. They're now conscious of the fact that that they have twice the number of potential enemies to look out for. Or rather, Seokmin is twice as much in danger just by associating with them, especially if some unscrupulous person gets it in their head to use him against them.
They're enjoying a date on one of Seokmin's rare days off, a friendly bowling competition at an alley just down the road from their house.
Mingyu is ribbing Seokmin over how bad he is at bowling but the score is the last thing on Minghao's mind.
He's a tad more concerned about the man that's been shadowing them since they left the house this morning.
He chances a quick glance over at Mingyu who is draped all over Seokmin. The other man looks up to catch his gaze and briefly glances in the general direction of their uninvited guest. Ah, so he is aware. Best to get rid of the threat while his lumbering tree of a boyfriend stands guard around Seokmin then.
"Hey guys, I'm going to the washroom. I think something was weird with the seafood soup I had earlier…"
Seokmin's noise of concern overlaps Mingyu's nonchalant "Mm, come back quickly." and Minghao stares flatly at both of them.
"Don't mess with my score while I'm not around. And for the love of all things good, don't let Seokmin play for me."
"Rude!"
"We make no promises~"
Rolling his eyes, Minghao strides away in the direction of the washroom, keeping track of the location of their little stalker.
He mentally calculates how much time he reasonably has before Seokmin gets suspicious (or worried) and resolves to settle this as fast as possible.
He doesn't quite trust his boyfriends not to mess with his score, after all.
-
"You know, your frequent disappearances make a lot more sense now. I always just thought that you had a really weak stomach."
"...Shut. Up."
-
Their enemies must have a sixth sense for when they're having date nights because there's no explanation for the third interruption in a week happening just as they're cuddled up on the couch to watch a movie together.
If Mingyu didn’t know any better, he'd say his enemies were trying to frustrate him to death. How dare they take away from his cuddle time with Hao and Seokkie? Rude.
He had asked his boss about any new bounties being placed on him that would lead to the sudden influx of enemies but Seungcheol hadn't had any answers for him either.
As it was, a buzz on his phone alerted him to one of his motion cameras being activated. Reluctantly, Mingyu extracts himself from their cosy blanket, mumbling an excuse of going to the washroom.
"Liar. You're just too scared of this horror movie, aren't you?"
"Heck no! I really do have to use the washroom, I have human needs too!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just go, you big baby. I'll just keep Seokminnie all to myself then." Minghao gleefully tugs Seokmin even closer, tucking his head under his boyfriend’s chin.
He continues, "I'll protect him from the big bad ghost that seems to scare the two of you so much."
Nodding in acknowledgement, Mingyu pads off towards the breached room, trusting Minghao to keep Seokmin occupied and more importantly, safe.
He'd better hurry though. He's missing out on quality cuddles.
-
"Be truthful: you were glad that the alert sounded in the middle of the horror movie, weren't you?"
"...Maybe a little."
"Ha!"
-
At Minghao's insistence, the boss of Crimson , Jeon Wonwoo investigates the string of enemies and agrees to send someone after the group behind the recent attacks.
Finally, peace.
But not for long.
Seven months, two weeks and six days from the last incident, (not that Minghao is keeping count,) their date night is interrupted yet again.
This time by assailants who aren't even bothering to be quiet about it. Ugh, it's almost as if the universe was conspiring to reveal their big secret to Seokmin.
He's particularly annoyed because they were about to have dinner. And he's hungry.
Well, he's just about done with laying out the cutlery, and Gyu and Seokmin are busy plating up the food. He'll just have to deal with them really quick.
He calls out, "Hey, I think I left my paint out on my floor. I need to cap them up and wash my brushes before they dry out, I'll be quick."
"Okay!" Comes the cheerful reply from Seokmin and Minghao takes that as his cue to leave.
He heads in the direction of the noise and cautiously slides the door open, only to come face to face with his boyfriend.
Caught wide-eyed with an unconscious and bloody man slung over his shoulders, Mingyu gapes back at him. "W-weren't you with Seokkie?"
"I thought you were in the kitchen with Seokmin? I heard a ruckus and came to check."
"Ah… I came to plug my phone into the charger when these guys came traipsing through the window…"
Seeing each other, both men abruptly arrive at the same conclusion. "Shit. No one's with Seokmin."
Minghao takes a deep breath to collect himself and barks out, "Right. Let's make this quick then. We get rid of the bodies, clean up the blood and get back to dinner before Seokmin starts looking for us."
"Sounds like a plan."
Mingyu leans forward to get a better grip on the limp body across his shoulder. As he jostles the sliding body backwards however, the body's arm hits a lamp and tips it over.
It shatters. Loudly.
Of course it does. That stupid fancy glass lamp they had insisted on getting 'for the aesthetic' has come to bite them in the ass.
He thinks he hears Minghao whimper.
Please. If there's a god out there, don't let Seokmin hear any of this. Let there be a distraction. A bug, a kitchen fire, anything, please.
Of course, because Mingyu must have been a serial killer in his last life, or someone that kicked animals for fun or something, the door creaks open to reveal Seokmin.
What a mess. There's blood on the floor and dead men strewn all over and they haven't had any time to think of an excuse ( not that anything could plausibly explain away… all this).
"...Gyu? Hao?"
Time stops. His blood freezes over. He barely registers the body sliding out of his grip and onto the floor with a heavy thunk.
“Seokmin-ah, I can explain! I-It isn’t what it looks like!” Mingyu blurts out in a panic. God, he’s really gone and messed up now. He knew his innate clumsiness would land him in trouble one day. Broken plates could be replaced and botched jobs could be remedied, but there was no way to fix a broken relationship.
Losing Seokmin would destroy him. His heart is thundering loudly in his ears and his eyes involuntarily squeeze shut, not willing to see the horror that must be unfolding on his boyfriend’s face. He can almost see that warm smile crumpling into disappointment. Would he even want anything to do with them now? He was bright and perfect and they were... tainted.
“...Seokmin. I’m sorry. We never meant for you to find out this way.” Minghao kneels in front of the older man as if begging for forgiveness. Even with his eyes closed, Mingyu can hear the guilt and horror that colours Minghao’s voice.
“We just wanted to keep you safe. Even if that meant keeping you in the dark. I’m sorry.” And now it’s all going to end.
“Well, if that was the intention, you’ve done a terrible job at it, you know.”
What?
Mingyu plucks up the courage to look at Seokmin, but instead of the horror he expected, he meets an expression of fond exasperation as their boyfriend looks between the two assassins. Minghao also seems startled at the sudden twist in events, looking up at Seokmin with incredulity.
“You mean to say…”
“I knew. I’d be a pretty bad undercover agent if I didn’t know, actually, “ mused Seokmin.
“B-but… you… f-florist?” And there goes his capacity for speech. Mingyu didn’t think the day could get any more surprising until his boyfriend dropped that bombshell on them. Somehow, it seemed like the universe was having a laugh at his expense.
“Yeah, that’s my day job cover. You guys really aren’t subtle, by the way. Going after the man that tried to flirt with me at the restaurant, really? You’re lucky I love you two. I’ve been leading the team on a wild goose chase while I clean up your messes.”
Mingyu blinks. And pinches himself. It hurts, and the dream doesn't end.
"You've been lying this whole time? But… you're you! Seokmin! Pure-hearted, innocent Seokmin! How did you get away with lying under all our noses?"
The man in question fails to stifle a chuckle, lips curling back to reveal his teeth as he grins widely, "it's almost like nobody seems to remember that I majored in Theatre . My professors would be really proud of my practical application."
Feeling like the whole world has tilted on its axis, Mingyu sinks down to join Minghao on the floor, not trusting his shaky legs to hold him up any longer.
Minghao doesn't seem to be handling the news any better, his face having scrunched into one of thinly veiled confusion.
"Pfft. You're both so silly. Thanks for trying to look out for me, I appreciate the sentiment." Seokmin chuckles and kneels down to peck them both on the forehead. "How about we hurry up and clean up the bodies? Dinner is getting cold."
He helps the two still-stunned assassins up and pulls them into a hug. The weight of Seokmin's arms securely round their backs kicks their brains back into gear and they scramble to return the hug.
Minghao doesn't need to vocalise it to know that he's incredibly relieved. They both thought they'd lost all chance with their beloved sunshine when he had walked in on them.
God, what a trio they make; two assassins and an undercover agent. A recipe for disaster.
And yet, they've already been dating for three years, nearly four. They'll make it work. Somehow.
-
They're in love, after all.