Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Name: Choi, San.

Age: 6. 

Got returned by five families. Moved to a new orphanage three times in two years.

Could read and write. Was claimed to be a genius by the orphanage’s principal. Quick-witted. 

Hongjoong peeked over the report. A cautious frown sat on his forehead when the pink-haired kid stared back at him. If he had to do this mission the right way, he needed a child who could qualify for Eden Academy. This kid, even if said on paper were six years of age, looked nothing of the sort. Should he go to a different one?

“I am six years old.” The kid said, pouting. And Hongjoong blinked, somewhat creeped out and surprised.

Did he say that out loud?

The kid’s face went pale after. “W-well! I just want to say it!”

“Right.” The man laughed politely, “I got you, kid.”

Hongjoong turned back to the paper, frowning again.

Name: Kim, Edward.

Age: 26. 

Code name: Rocky.

Occupation: Spy. 

Family: Unknown.

Organization: WISE.

Current Status: Preparing for Operation Strix.

Rocky was a well-known face in the minister's underground system, a skillful spy in charge of complex cases involving Westalis and Ostania. With the nickname The Man with Many Faces, it was challenging for the enemy force to capture the spy, as nobody knew what he looked like and how various the cases he took would be pinpointed. Rocky had infiltrated political meetings and operated under different identities. To this point, nobody knew where exactly Rocky was; hence, his establishment was knowledgeable in the industry.

After completing the previous mission from the supervisor, this time, he was assigned a new one by the Westalis ministers themself.

Operation Strix was the name.

The car stopped in front of a newly rented apartment, and the little kid behind him climbed out of the back seat with a Shiba Inu plushie, waiting for him to turn off the key and open the door. A click signaled the child to push the back door, and after stacking cases and valises on a cart, the man carefully looked around, fedora tipped on his slicked-back black hair. He let the kid inside the elevator, leading them both to their respective apartment room. Starting now, Hongjoong'd need to be careful of his own actions. One suspicious move could end with both of them in trouble.

Ever since the news of spies mingling among the civilians had been notified, many of the underground workers have been captured due to the people’s reports. Hongjoong had to take everything into consideration as he acted.

“Okay, kiddo.”

“San.” The kid said.

“Okay, San.” The man fixed his words, “From now on, you will be my son. If anyone ever asks, you should tell them you have always been my son. And I am your father, alright?”

San nodded, “Papa.” 

“Well done.” The spy nodded back.

They greeted a few neighbors walking by, with San bowing to every one of them, declaring the thing he had just learned.

“Hello. My name is San, and I have always been my papa’s son.”

Hongjoong mentally facepalmed.

I did not ask for that.

They stood in front of a wooden door a few minutes later, and Hongjoong fiddled for the key, opening it with a soft click. San instantly darted inside.

The pink-haired child was more energetic than the man anticipated, rushing over the devices under the TV once he set foot on the carpet, and the man took off his hat, hanging it by the door with a tiring sigh. “San. Don’t run around like that. You will disturb the neighbors.”

San immediately paused, looking at the man in the green suit apologetically. “Sorry, papa.”

“I’m not mad.” The man smiled, “Just be careful, okay?”

San nodded cheerfully, knowing that he wasn’t in trouble.

The man stood up after, dragging the suitcase that contained his laptop before he pulled it out and turned on the power. He needed to report his status to his supervisor before continuing with the following plan. 

Hongjoong Kim. 28. Occupation: Psychologist. Spouse: N/A. Have a son. Previously known as San Choi. Now, it was San Kim. Age: 6. 

Hongjoong tapped his pen on the table, frowning again. How should he do this? Operation Strix required both parents to attend Eden Academy's social gatherings. So far, he got himself a child. But being able to find a wife in the span of a week was nearly impossible. Even if Rocky was known for his efficiency in the workforce, these aged political men really overstated his achievements this time. He could meet up with Maddox and discuss this issue, but that would delay his time in actually finding himself a wife. And without a wife, how would Hongjoong be able to register for his child to attend school? If he failed this mission, he would have to return the child to the orphanage. And what would that make him out to be? A failure? He was supposed to serve his title as Rocky. He felt like he wasn’t even starting on his step yet but could only back down like a turtle.

Operation Strix needed to be done. It was the key to finding peace between both nations, and he was sick of seeing another war burst out solely because people in power couldn’t use half of their brains to function.

Hongjoong rummaged through his suitcase again, and his disapproval scoff resonated through the walls. The pink-haired kid kneeled on the ground and watched him, tiny hands gripped tight on his shorts.

If Hongjoong hadn’t known he hadn’t done anything wrong, he would have thought the kid was being penalized. 

“San. Why are you sitting there like that? Is your stomach hurt?”

The kid flinched at the voice.

“N-no! I’m okay.” 

Hongjoong looked at him amusingly before he stood up and reached the door. “I have to go out to do some-“ he coughed, “business. So stay still and behave, okay? I will be back.”

San nodded at him with an adoring smile, almost surprising the spy because, wow, how convenient. Have 6-year-olds always been this nice? But before he could dread on longer with his newly adopted son, Hongjoong headed out to see Maddox.

When the door closed, San blinked his eyes twice, standing up with an admiring face, hands clapped together.

Papa is a spy, San-ah waku waku! He thought in excitement. 

And he is saving the world! Papa is so cool. I want to save the world with him, too! 

Instantly, the kid ran off to the bedroom where his new father’s room was, inspecting for secret communication devices and discovering how to become as cool as his dad.

Choi San. Age: 4.

Identity: A telepath.

Born under an experiment of a secret scientific institution, Choi San possessed the ability to read people’s minds as far as he could think. Due to the strict nurturing method in the institution, he had escaped and wandered around different cities in search for a roof that could take him in.

A roof that could treat him as a child, and not a test subject.

San was smart enough to know not to reveal this power to anyone.

He knew enough how dangerous it could be once anyone could find out his secret.

San just wanted to have a family.

“I don’t want to!”

“San!” Hongjoong warned with a stern voice, beckoning the pink-haired child to stop running. “You need to start on this, or it would have been fruitless.”

“But I don’t want to study! I don’t need to study! I can just- Just read…”

…Read people’s minds.

Hongjoong frowned, looking at the kid in frustration. “You can’t do anything during the admission test aside from study. No cheating allowed. You have to do this for me, or else-”

-Or else, this mission will fail.

Hongjoong thought about the paper report from the orphanage's principal and felt skeptical about it. What if the report was exaggerated, and they just wanted to kick a child out due to the overloaded occupancy inside the institution? Regardless, it was none of his business. If this child was not capable of accomplishing even the first step of the mission, there was no use in adopting him. Hongjoong would have to return-

The pink-haired child burst into tears before the spy could even finish his thoughts.

“Ahh, Papa!” He wailed, “I’m sorry I will be good I promise I will be useful. Please don’t bring me back!” The kid cried, and Hongjoong’s nostrils flared up in distress before the bell door rang. A few knocks from concerned neighbors echoed inside the apartment. “Papa, please don’t take me there!”

“Mr. Kim! Is everything alright in there?! I hear a child’s cries.” 

Never in Rocky’s life had he felt this helpless. 

“Okay! Okay, Sannie. I’m not taking you back. It’s okay!” He said hastily, rushing over to the door to open it as the old lady next door peeked inside the apartment skeptically. 

“Papa pwomise?” The kid sniffed, running behind him. Hongjoong sighed before picking the child up as he greeted his new neighbor -the same lady he just met outside yesterday.

“Yes, Sannie. I promise. In fact, we will be heading out to get you some peanuts. How about that?”

“Are you two doing well?” The lady asked, looking at San with a worried expression before she returned her glance to Hongjoong, almost as if interrogating him. 

Hongjoong gulped and smiled shamefully as he rubbed his head, his other arm still balancing San on the waist. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Anderson. We are doing fine. I accidentally broke Sannie’s toy earlier and upset him. I apologize if we did disrupt you.”

San looked at him.

Papa is a liar.

The lady watched him carefully, nodding in understanding, “Sannie must have been very sad.” She cooed at the kid, and San’s head peeped a little as the lady leaned closer to pinch his cheek.

Barely one day moving in, and this poor kid already had an abusive father. This is suspicious. The police need to be alarmed.

San gasped at the old lady’s thoughts.

Papa is going to jail because of Sannie?! But if Papa’s gone, the mission will be unaccomplished, and the world will be destroyed! And Sannie will have to go back to the orphanage! No! Papa cannot go to jail!

“I love you a lot, papa!” San suddenly screamed, gripping the man for dear life as if the lady beyond him just burnt his face with a kettle. Mrs. Anderson flinched back, staring at the two of them in confusion.

Hongjoong slowly patted the kid on the back, chuckled in hesitation as he mustered the most plastic smile, and awkwardly nodded at her. “I-I love you too, Sannie. Haha…Ha…”

“You don’t know, Missis Anwyoson. Papa is the best Papa ever! There will be no other papa that can replace papa. I just wanna stay with my papa!” San said adamantly, looking at the lady with determination — as if no man could change his mind.

The woman watched him, and then she laughed. 

Maybe I think too much. This child has no problem with his own dad. I don’t find any reason to report him.

“I’m happy that you love your papa too. Sannie. I guess since there’s nothing going on, I will head back to my room. Nice talking to you, Mr. Kim.”

Hongjoong greeted her politely.

When the lady was out of sight, San exhaled in relief.

He had managed to save the Earth by helping his papa today. He was proud of himself.

San had successfully protected his papa on his first spy mission!

“Monin’ Uncle Maddox.” San opened the door, letting the young man inside after a creaking noise voiced from their apartment’s wooden door.

“Morning, Sannie.” 

San knew who Uncle Maddox was; Papa had told him Uncle Maddox was his friend, even though San knew he was an informant that Papa worked with as a spy. 

“We got code R today. There’s a ring we have to take down at six.” Maddox said, comfortably sitting down on the sofa while San’s little feet patted over to the carpet, sitting in front of the TV. He had been watching a new cartoon recently. The Famous Spy Captain was the name. 

“Did you get what I asked for?” Hongjoong set two cups of tea on the table, taking his seat beside Maddox.

“Here you go,” the latter pulled out an envelope from the back pocket of his vest, pressing it towards the spy. It was an admission invitation from the school. “You don’t know how much shit I had to go through for this.”

Hongjoong glared, hissing at him, “There’s a child in here.”

Maddox snorted.

“Sorry, kiddo. Pretend you didn’t hear that.” 

San turned his head from the TV confusedly. “...Hear what?”

“Nothing.” Maddox smiled, turning his attention back to Hongjoong, “Didn’t know you have to be so uptight with this role.” 

“I am supposed to send him to Eden Academy, Dox. Being prestigious is literally the first admission rule.” Maddox still huffed, regardless. 

“Wealthy political people and their nonsense faux morals. Sounds like bullshit to me. Anyways, have you found a wife yet? You only have four days left.”

“It’s not as easy as done than said.”

“I never took you to be a give-up-er.” Maddox grinned. Hongjoong kind of wanted to punch that smirk away.

“That’s not even a word.”

“I thought this was supposed to come in handy to The Man with Many Faces. What happened to your supposed upholding figure?”

“As if I can go outside and ask a random woman to be my fake wife.” Hongjoong chortled, offended by the accusation of his title. 

“I don’t know, man.” The informant shrugged, “You can just request one of our female spies in the organization. There really is no need to put yourself in this trouble.”

“We don’t have enough people to work on all the ongoing cases right now, especially with the reported workers this month. The least I could do is suck it up and work it out.” Hongjoong said grimly, “Give me the list of all single women in their twenties. I will have to go out today to see who can click with this.”

“Vibe check again?”

“Something like that.”

Maddox shuffled the bag that he carried with him today, dragging out a stack of paper that he had prepared beforehand. “I spent all night doing that. And not a dime was given from you. I need to survive as well, Hongjoong.”

“Tonight.” Hongjoong flipped the list, “The ring owned a collection of arts. Missing one piece won’t be that noticeable.”

Maddox sighed and shook his head, “Fine.”

“Did you hear about another case today?” A woman asked.

“I did! That was creepy as well. I never knew people like that would turn out to be spies.”

“That’s why anyone could be a suspect. Besides, don’t you think it’s weird how someone has lived that long in their youth and is still single? That’s concerning.” The third lady whispered, then subtly glanced over to a tall figure who carefully poured the coffee packs inside a paper cup. “Like someone in this room.”

The tall figure blinked, turning towards the conversation in question.

“Hey, Seonghwa. Have you heard about the news as well? There was this girl who got reported by her neighbors this morning just because she’s nearly thirty and lives alone.”

“Oh really?” Seonghwa asked, his voice adjusted to the usual high-pitched accent that he used whenever he was outside. “I didn’t know about it.”

The first woman gave him half a smile, looking at him up and down with a judgy attitude as she spoke to the two other women. “Right. She never really engages in this type of conversation. Sometimes I’m worried about her.”

“Me?” Seonghwa replied timidly, confused by the statement. 

“Stephanie is right. You always seem so quiet. Aren’t you single as well? You know, you have a nice figure. If you dressed up more nicely and added a bit more makeup, I’m sure you wouldn’t be so left out.”

Seonghwa smiled awkwardly, “Well…”

“See, that’s the face of a virgin. No way she has a boyfriend.” The second woman giggled, senselessly hiding her mouth as if she just made a very good joke. 

The tall figure tilted his head in confusion. 

Does being a virgin have a certain look to portray?

“Ally, that’s rude.” The third woman said, sounding like she was trying to defend him. However, she chuckled as such words left her mouth. “Anyways, there will be a small gathering tonight at my place. You girls can bring your partner along. You can come too, Seonghwa. With your partner if best.” She said, smirking at the way Seonghwa pushed himself closer to where the water dispenser was, gulping silently as the two others followed. The last lady stopped, patting his shoulder.

“Be careful not to be targeted as a suspect, Seonghwa. People are cautious.” She laughed mockingly.

Seonghwa nodded awkwardly.

“T-thank you for the advice.”

Seonghwa groaned as he rubbed his sore feet. Even after pretending to be a woman for so long, he could still never get used to the feeling of wearing heels.

At first, his outside cover was maintained due to his nighttime occupation’s protection. Dressing as a woman could reduce the suspicion of the ones who aimed to capture him. But now that even young, single women could be considered spies who entered the border to infiltrate the nation, Seonghwa wasn’t sure if he could continue hiding his identity. He rubbed his head stressfully, giving out an exhausted sigh before putting his heels on again. He fixed his turtleneck to make sure it covered his Adam's apple. Then, the man walked out of the workplace’s Woman bathroom.

Seonghwa had already finished his tasks, so he decided to leave work earlier. What was left was packing his stuff before spending some hours for a weekend grocery shopping. Today was Friday, which was the only day he didn’t have to work for his Boss. If one of the co-workers, Linda, had already invited him to a dinner party, he wouldn’t have been able to reject her offer. Besides, he was supposed to mingle among his connections, or else he would have been too obvious and could endanger himself by accidentally revealing his true cover due to a simple mistake.

He needed to find himself a partner before he could even go to Linda’s place. If he were unable to find a partner, they would start suspecting his background even more.

Except, how the hell could he do that in under five hours?

Seonghwa pitifully groaned as he marched towards the supermarket a few streets away from his company.

“Where are we going, papa?” San asked with wide eyes, messily shoving a large amount of peanuts in his mouth. Papa didn’t break his promise and actually took San out to buy peanuts. 

Hongjoong carefully darted around, then returned his glance to his son, smiling in a textbook way. “Groceries shopping. We didn’t get much food in the fridge after moving out. I also want to take you out for some fresh air.”

Papa is a liar.

San inwardly smirked. Heh…He knew why Papa took him out. They were on mission two — finding Mama. San would be an idiot for not participating in Papa’s second mission to become an amazing spy who could save the world. San wanted to look for Mama, too! Papa couldn’t be the only one that took all the credit.

San ran in front, gripping his bag of peanuts with oily hands and crumbs stuck in between his fingernails.

Hongjoong watched the little figure in front of him running and giggling out of the blue with a stressful sigh, silently pressing on his fedora.

I really cannot understand how a child functions. God knows what the kid is thinking in his head.

“Slow down, Sannie.”

The spy called, but the pink-haired kid didn’t stop his excitement. He ran backward, waving at his dad cheerfully. If Papa had already decided to look for Mama, San wanted to find Mama as soon as possible! The more, the merrier, isn’t that right? Besides, the faster Papa could find Mama, the quicker the world could be saved. 

By that means, there was no time to waste.

San was too eager to notice that his careless move could tackle his goal quicker than expected. 

“Okay, just the salmon and the tomatoes left. And then I can- Oof!”

In a swift second, little San could feel his entire back bumped into a figure behind him — or in another perspective, in front of him since San was running backward — and as he turned around, it was too late to yelp over the brown grocery bag that the lady in front of him was holding. The entire content splattered out, and San was okay! He got his posture back before almost slamming his face onto the concrete. But the lady was unlucky, as her heels crooked to the side, and she lost her balance.

When a figure suddenly appeared, San almost cried from guilt, thinking that he had hurt the lady. And the next moment, before he knew it, papa gripped the lady’s waist before they spun around, and then the lady leaned over to Papa’s arms like those two people dancing the Tango dance that San saw the other day on a TV commercial.

Woah… San thought.

Papa was so cool.

San wants to be like Papa, too.

San watched as Papa blinked at the lady, their position still held just like five seconds ago, and Papa's face suddenly hardened with a bead of sweat lingering on his forehead. The lady stared back, blushing, and was just as flustered as him.

“Are you alright?” San’s papa asked. And San watched the lady gulp, nodding slowly. 

“Y-yes. Thank you for…” 

Then the lady looked at their position, shyly pushing herself up before she fixed her attire. “…This.”

And San’s mind went bombastic.

Small…

San whipped his head instantly at his papa. Papa was thinking.

Her waist was so small…

San could see the way Papa unconsciously stared down at his own palms - as if being stupefied.

Wow…

San whipped his head towards the lady this time, surprised to hear in the lady’s head that it was a man’s voice.

I have never seen someone this charismatic…

The lady was a man?! San gasped. But why would the ahjussi dress as a lady? Isn’t that weird?

Papa coughed awkwardly after that. Is Papa sick? Before he kneeled down and tried to pick up the items that scattered over the pathway. “I’m sorry for causing this mess. I should have warned-”

He could be the one! San could hear the way the lady ahjussi’s head blinked with a lightbulb as he concentrated on the man’s thoughts. I could ask for his phone number so he could attend tonight’s meeting. And people will stop pestering me about my relationship so I don’t look suspicious, and my assassin cover won’t be discovered.

San’s mouth nearly dropped to the ground.

Weird lady ahjussi is an assassin?! And Papa is a spy?! And I’m a telepath! This is so cool. We can save the world together like this! San-ah waku waku!

“Papa!” San ran over, dragging Hongjoong by the neck as he yelled, “Say yes!” 

Hongjoong sputtered in confusion, “-What?”

But before San could tell the man about his jumbled words, he could hear the weird lady ahjussi’s thoughts running at a hundred miles per hour.

This man was already taken with a child, and I was about to ask for his phone number. Jesus fucking Christ, I am so wrong for this coming for a man with a family just because I’m desperate and thinking he’s hot like what was I even THINKING-

San’s face went pale after that. They needed a mama. He had to bring this mama home so San and Papa could save the world. Why did this mama have to think this much, to begin with? Could he just be Sannie’s mama?

What if they delayed this? What if Papa couldn’t find a mama? And what if THE WORLD WOULD BE DESTROYED BECAUSE PAPA COULDN’T FIND ANOTHER MAMA?!

“Oh! Oh! Sannie is so sad!” He cried dramatically. “Oh, how cruel! Sannie is so sad. Sannie missed Mama. Sannie missed the warmth of Mama’s hugs. Sannie wants a mama.”

The weird lady ahjussi blinked at him.

“I’m sorry for interrupting.” The ‘lady’ asked, “Where has his mother been?” 

Hongjoong looked at the scene, folding in front of him and scowling a little. San didn’t need to open his eyes to know Papa was judging him. But the spy smiled politely at the weird lady ahjussi anyway, “He lost his mom two years ago. So I’m currently the only one taking care of him.” 

The latter let out an “Ahhh…” in understanding. As Hongjoong had already gotten all of the groceries back inside the brown bag, he held San’s hands, bowing down for a final apology before he dragged the pink-haired kid away from the previous madness.

San was about to protest, but it seemed that the weird lady ahjussi was a step ahead.

“W-wait!”

Hongjoong turned around, confused by the call.

“I-I…” The man said hesitatingly with that high-pitched voice again. “I have a request.”

“Your co-worker opened a party tonight and asked if you could come with your partner?” Hongjoong asked again, wanting to make sure he got the story correct. 

The taller figure nodded, “I heard that they have been reporting on people with suspicious backgrounds- And not like I do anything illegal! I’m just saying! But they have been saying that a single lady in her near thirty without a partner is skeptical. I have been asked about my partner so many times already. I want to at least, you know, let people know that I’m just a normal person so they could stop saying this and that about me…” The lady gulped, looking down at the floor as if someone had been yelling at her.

Hongjoong could only sigh and nod along. “We can do that.”

“I mean, I understand that if you want to deny, but- Wait, what?” the lady paused.

“I don’t mind it. We can do that.” Hongjoong smiled, “may I know your name?”

The lady watched him in dumbfounds before she composed herself and returned the smile. “Seonghwa. Seonghwa Park.”

“Lovely, I’m Hongjoong Kim.” But before Seonghwa could confess her thankfulness to the gentleman, he stopped her, continuing his words. “And in exchange, I also need you to do me a favor.”

Seonghwa nodded carefully, allowing the man to keep going.

“So,” Hongjoong inhaled, “have you ever heard of Eden Academy?”

Name: Park, Seonghwa.

Age: 27.

Code name: Prince of Mars.

Occupation(s): Accountant/Assassin.

Organization: Garden.

Family: Unknown.

Current Status: Becoming a part of the Kims’ family.

Chapter Text

Eden Academy—A prestigious K-12 institution that topped the educational system in Berlint—was well known for upholding important social events with attendees from the high class. 

Rocky, a spy under the WISE organization, was appointed to meet with Jurgen Jung to prevent the man from putting the world under fire after recent years of recovery.

Jurgen Jung—a member of the Ostania’s ministry, had the potential to declare war against Westalis with military power. The Westalis Ministry aimed to prevent such an issue from occurring.

Rocky’s mission was to stop this man from starting a new bloody battle. And to do so, he needed a family.

Jurgen Jung was said to only participate in specific social gatherings related to his children other than political events. A source had reported to WISE about these children’s whereabouts—Jung Gunho, a top student at Eden Academy. The youngest child, Yunho Jung, was about to start his first year at the same prestigious academy.

The admission process at Eden Academy required every first-grade student to take an admission exam. After passing, both parents must attend the admission interview to determine the student’s qualifications for being an elite scholar.

And that was the tricky part. Rocky needed a cooperative partner to assist San’s journey of becoming a member of this school. He only got a few days left before the admission process began.

In order to successfully insinuate the system and approach Jurgen, Rocky’s child must obtain seven Stella Stars and become a part of the student council. Once seven Stella Stars were achieved, the student could become an Imperial Scholar, and the chance of attending such important social events would be higher, making it more convenient for Rocky to operate his plan. In return, any students who obtained the seven Tonitrus Bolts due to misbehavior could potentially be suspended from the academy. 

…And well, Rocky could only hope for the best from San.

“Are you serious? Why the hell would I have to fight with you?!” Maddox whispered, but his tone almost let out louder than supposed. “I’m not even a fucking spy! I’m an informant!”

Rocky sighed, looking through the other building across the balcony with his binoculars. 

“I found a wife.”

“You found a wife?” Maddox whistled, “That’s faster than I thought. Who is she? What’s her name? Was she on the list I gave you?”

Rocky pushed the excited face away from him as he scowled, focusing on zooming his binoculars to see a few figures walking around an abandoned warehouse with boxes of items. “Tone it down.” He hissed, “I promised to attend something with her in exchange for her joining the admission interview.”

After that, he could convince her to marry him as he maintained the father image of the Kim family. 

Rocky had already investigated beforehand if she had any suspicious background, and to his surprise, the woman never seemed to carry any crime track on her records. She was a pretty idealistic character for a mother.

Two birds with one stone or something like that, he thought.

That made Maddox halt. “What did you even promise? This is related to my presence here, isn’t it?”

“She has to bring a partner to a party tonight. That’s why I want to make this quick. Now hold this and follow me.” Right after Rocky finished his words, pulling out from his hip was a device that helped the spy move across the building. The spy held it up steadily, shooting the anchor from his position to the aimed building as it dashed through the breeze, roughly forming a crack inside the concrete. Rocky tested its sustainability by pressing his weight on it. After making sure it was locked in, the man stepped back, pedaling himself before he jumped and grabbed the string with a handle he had attached previously, sliding over to the tower.

Maddox groaned before he moved along. “I was not paid enough for this.”

Seonghwa had been staring down at the watch on his wrist for the seventh time that night. He let out a sigh and mumbled, “You are very late, Hongjoong-ssi.” Rubbing the outside layer of his coat, the man looked around the curbside, where he was waiting for the promised man.

Tonight was cold—much colder than he expected.

“Is this what it feels like to be toyed with?” Seonghwa lamented, unconsciously rechecking his wrist. “I hope he’s not getting in an accident….” He thought about all the female co-workers and how they told him how off-the-grid he had been. Seonghwa thought it would worsen if he did not attend the party at all just because Hongjoong decided not to show up. At least being called a liar was better than being poorly talked from behind without knowing who’d reported him when he would be caught.

Seonghwa finally lifted his heels, walking towards Linda’s house in sorrow.

“What the hell?! I thought you said there’s only five of them, not a whole damn squad ambushing the building?!” Maddox yelped as he dodged a bullet, dragging his shaking legs with a material cart where he managed to stack the boxes up before he sprinted to their minivan. 

“Shit if I know. I didn’t expect that either.” Rocky grumbled, hiding behind a metal gate as the men from the other side fired bullets in their direction. “Start the vehicle!” He yelled, “I will take these ones down.” 

There were way too many of them. If he had to spend every second for each man, he could literally spend all night dancing with them.

“Fuck.” The spy whispered. And he was supposed to see Seonghwa tonight. What a way to ruin his nerves. Rocky looked over the other side of the gate where Maddox was, gripping another gun from the floor—where he had knocked a man down earlier. He dashed through the empty space and precisely shot down all the men he had spotted. His head banged against the hard surface when he landed on the ground. The spy groaned in pain.

“Hurry! Up, up, up!” Maddox drove the van closer to where he was, and Rocky pushed his body up, painfully grimacing at the way his forehead throbbed when he jumped onto the passenger seat.

“Yaaaa,” Maddox exhaled in relief as they escaped from the building at the fastest speed possible, “that was wild as hell,” an excited smile printed on his lips. But then his grin dropped, and his face returned its seriousness, pressing bullet eyes at the spy in irritation, “But don’t ever fucking ask me to do that again.”

Rocky chuckled airily, opening one of the boxes they had obtained from the previous mission. He raised his brows at the sparkling accessories inside the box. 

Maddox hummed when he peeked over, “Well damn. That wasn’t so bad. If I get to have all of this, I wouldn’t even need to continue this wreck-ass job.” 

Rocky looked at a diamond ring inside the box, holding it up as he inspected the way it reflected its light from the street lamps to the car. He gripped it, smiling. “I will take this.”

Maddox swiftly looked at him. His lip lifted slightly at the corner by the spy’s gesture as he shook his head. “I know it’s just a part of the mission, but man, you seem to enjoy this. Is she really that pretty?”

Rocky scoffed at the man’s playful antics. “Bullshit.” But his demeanor switched when he quickly glared by the rear window. “They are chasing us.” He spoke seriously.

Maddox checked through the back-view mirror and groaned. “Ah, shit. Here we go again.”

“See. She doesn’t have anyone with her. She came here all by herself, like an outsider. She’s so awkward. I can’t believe we were waiting for hours just to see her lying her ass off.”

Seonghwa sighed, sitting in the corner as he eavesdropped on the conversation between his co-workers. 

Was it that hard for people to…well…mind their own business?

“What if she is a Westalis spy trying to get information from us?”

“No way. Maybe she’s just awkward. You know how she sounds rigid sometimes. A spy would probably be more secretive than that.”

“You know how she always does things alone. It’s off-setting. She acts as if-”

Seonghwa gripped his right fingers on his left palm, pinching through the skin as a way to distract himself from the conversation. It had been three years since he went hidden as a woman. And no matter how hard he tried, he never seemed to fit in with anybody. Was he really that socially awkward? The man closed his eyes as a way to reflect on himself peacefully. 

Seonghwa never had anybody, to begin with. It had been so many years since the war between Westalis and Ostania. And ever since the warfare, he had lost everything. A young child at the time could only pull himself through dirt and grains to climb up the survival ladder. And becoming an assassin was his way of persisting through his painful past. He had lost so much since the war, and he refused to see another tragedy would happen again to the people around him. Seonghwa wanted to fight for it. Being an assassin was a name for it, but what he fought for was to protect the citizens of this nation. He had his reason to start and continue his job. His fight. His battle.

And even if he would like to live a normal life, Seonghwa knew his feet had dug too deep in this quicksand field. Seonghwa had no way out.

But the sudden ruckus from the military as they began to investigate for underground workers surged dangerously high that even if Seonghwa was never a spy, he still had to stay alert. God knew what would happen to him once they discovered who he had been working for. Garden might have been evasive, but the assassin should still make sure nothing could be uncovered. Seonghwa harshly gripped his dress at the thought. These women didn’t want to end the conversation as if having him in the spotlight seemed to be their little circusy joy. And their attitudes were slowly crawling to his frustration. 

It would be so easy if he could drag his stilettos across these women’s necks and have them shut their mouths up for the rest of their liv-

Ah- Words slipped.

He froze.

Seonghwa, stop it. Be normal for once. He couldn’t just think about killing and stabbing people like this all the time. These violent thoughts are why they don’t see you as an average person, you idiot.

The man opened his eyes as a way to come back to his senses. There was no point sitting at this party only to hear others badmouthing him in front of his face. He was getting tired from it. Seonghwa also wanted to blend in, but the task had almost seemed impossible. All these women and their partners appeared to be so used to each other’s presence that he couldn’t even feel his worth in the same atmosphere. Maybe Seonghwa should leave.

He sighed, patting on his dress after standing up, announcing his departure to all the guests. “Pardon my disruption. I will take my leav-”

“I’m here!” The door loudly opened, slamming on the side as a man roughly inhaled the air surrounding him. Seonghwa noticed how he grabbed his knees, his chest huffing up and down as if he had run miles to reach here. 

Seonghwa stared at the man with a speechless gasp.

He actually came.

“Suh- So-” Hongjoong pressed on his chest as a way to calm down, swallowing a dry lump in his throat to compose his words. “Sorry for being late. This is Hongjoong. Seonghwa’s husband.”

Hus- What?

Seonghwa looked at him in shock. He mouthed at him, flabbergasted, ‘You were supposed just to be my partner, Hongjoong-ssi.’

Hongjoong was startled, mumbling an inaudible curse. 

I can’t believe my ass thinks quicker than my brain for once. How professional, Rocky. He left that slipped unknowingly, thinking he was speaking for his mission.

But it was too late now; everyone had already heard his words. The only option they had left was to continue with the sudden act.

“Wow, Seonghwa? You never told us that you’re married?!” One of the co-workers gasped, walking towards the door in disbelief. As if this was the joke of the town, and in no way would she believe that a weirdo like Seonghwa would have a husband. A very fucking hot one at that. 

No way.

“W-well.” Seonghwa shyly rubbed his nape, trying to look for excuses that could potentially protect this immediate performance, “I didn’t think-”

“Actually,” Hongjoong had already started with his sentence, “This isn’t my first marriage. I have a son, and it hasn’t been long since our wedding, so I’m sure Seonghwa wasn’t sure how to bring it up to her co-workers. I respect her decision, of course.”

Not only is he hot, but he’s also good with words. The co-worker, Linda, thought in anger. That doesn’t make any sense because how did a man like him end up marrying this creep of a woman? She refused to swallow this bitter pill.

The lady pursed her lips. “Well, Hojun-ssi?”

“It’s Hongjoong.” The man corrected.

“Right. Did you know Seonghwa used to work at a nightclub? A single woman like her is working in such a place like that. Who knows what she did back then? Could be improper for all we know.” She mocked, and Hongjoong’s eyebrow twitched a little.

Seonghwa halted.

That was just a cover so he could do his missions to the targets that entered the bar accordingly through the Shopkeeper’s direction. And this lady used it against him, unprovoked as well.

“There’s a misunderstanding here. I-”

Hongjoong stopped him.

Is this what Seonghwa has to go through every day? The spy frowned. Jealousy is a disease.

“That is respectful.” He said. 

“What?” The lady blinked at him, taken aback.

“I’m sure Seonghwa was a hard-working person. Every job is respectful, and it doesn’t matter what she does for a living as long as she can support herself with her abilities. So, there is nothing to judge. I respect Seonghwa for who she is. I’m sure she has done the best of her duty to bring comfort to those who seek her position.”

Seonghwa’s heart throbbed a little at that.

Oh.

That’s kinda hot.

Linda didn’t seem very happy with his answer. She let out a disapproving ‘tsk,’ wanting to act out of line to satisfy her hostile attitude by embarrassing Seonghwa in front of everybody. “Well, since you’ve barely arrived. Come in! I just baked some desserts over there. Let me bring some so you two can enjoy them!” By the time she carried a tray back, Linda had glared at Seonghwa, yelping before she dropped to the ground.

“Oh! I’m sorry, that slipped out of me!” The tray undeniably was being thrown across the room as it flew straight to where Seonghwa stood, and the lady was close to grinning her cheeks off if it wasn’t because Seonghwa quickly swung his purse to the bottom of the aluminum tray, making it tossed back up. Seonghwa promptly grabbed it by the time gravity dragged it down. Unluckily, a chocolate-glazed croissant fell off the tray and flopped on Linda’s head.

Seonghwa would have used his foot for convenience if it wasn’t because it would have been dangerous if anyone in the room could look at the bottom of his dress. 

“Nice catch.” Hongjoong praised, grabbing a small cheesecake on the same tray and taking a bite from it. Seonghwa smiled shyly.

Linda didn’t even have the time to grit her teeth and complain when, immediately after that, Hongjoong pulled his self-proclaimed wife into his embrace and greeted everyone one last time before excusing themselves due to how late the day had been.

Seonghwa subtly followed the man’s steps, beaming.

“I’m sorry!” Hongjoong said embarrassingly, gripping the steering wheel. “I didn’t mean to slip out like that! If your family knows about it, I’m not sure how I should even explain myself.” Hongjoong decided to drive Seonghwa back to her place. After all, he still felt awful about being late for the gathering. He should give her that diamond ring soon as an apology.

Seonghwa smiled, shaking his head. “It’s okay, Hongjoong-ssi. I live alone. You don’t need to worry about it. And even if anything ever happens, I’m sure we could figure it out together.”

Hongjoong returned his smile, still feeling embarrassed for his claim of their nonexistent marriage, hesitated to ask if-

-BAM! The car got knocked to the right by a bruising slam as Hongjoong turned the wheel back to its track; his eyes widened, and he immediately looked at the left-hand side of the vehicle. A black car pushed its body into his van, and Hongjoong hissed in irritation. 

“W-what was that?” Seonghwa asked worryingly, and Hongjoong turned around, brows furrowed from the sudden attack. 

The surviving men from the smuggling ring. He clucked his tongue, focusing entirely on the road this time. The only way they could know his current location was through the art pieces and boxes inside the van. There were tracking devices in them. He bit his lip in disappointment. Hongjoong was careless this time. 

“My…uh,” He struggled to find an excuse. “I forgot to mention to you that I’m a clinical psychologist. Sometimes, a few patients act out of line, especially if they go through a severe episode. Trust me, this doesn’t always happen, but today was a special case!”

Shit. Hongjoong was an awful liar. Who the hell would believe all this nonsense?

“Wow,” Seonghwa said admiringly. “It must be hard being a professional in the clinic.”

And she believes me?!

Hongjoong bit the inner of his mouth, nodding stiffly from trying to hold back his laugh and panic. In this situation, he didn’t even know if Seonghwa was dense or too witty that she pretended to be oblivious. “Y-yeah! And these types of patients are not ideal for messing with, so I could only advise you to dodge their tantrums as much as possible.”

Seonghwa nodded along like a lost puppy. “U-Understood.”

“This way! I see that rat at the end of the road!” A man yelled loudly, his accomplices running right behind him. When he was sure he could find the spy, the shadow disappeared.

“What the-” He looked around in shock, “Where did that fucker go?!” It was not until now that he found out nobody was following him. The man squinted his eyes only to see four of his men already lying lifelessly on the ground a few yards away. 

The man was about to turn around when a piece of metal jammed at the back of his head. He dropped to the cement floor with a hard thud. 

“A-are you...” Seonghwa looked at how Hongjoong swiftly spun the metal pipe, questioning in shock, “Are you supposed to beat your patients like that?”

Hongjoong staggered, realizing what his action would look like to a stranger’s eyes, and awkwardly grinned as he pulled the latter for another run.

“I-It’s a method to treat our patients at my clinic.” He excused, “Offering concussions could reduce stress and violent behavior! It also helps with anger management!”

“Hmm!” Seonghwa nodded eagerly, “That’s very fascinating.”

At this point, Hongjoong was trying not to laugh out loud. I can’t believe that she believes me again.

“That’s why ensuring your patients get the right treatment is important. To those with conditions that require extra care, you have to be extra rough on them. Like how-”

Hongjoong couldn’t finish his words when a man on top of the metal balcony jumped down with a knife. If he kept running, that knife would immediately bore through his throat. But he didn’t think he could even back up because the man’s position could still stab him in the arm. Shit. Hongjoong would take this hit today, wouldn’t he?

But before he could even fret over it, a hard kick from above sent the intruded man straight toward the dead-end wall. Hongjoong turned around to see Seonghwa spinning midair before the lady’s foot smashed the thug right onto the bricked barrier.

Seonghwa was immediately alarmed when he saw Hongjoong’s dumbfounded reaction.

“I-I. It’s not what you think it is! I used to work as an accountant for the Ministry’s Forensic Investigation team! T-the job required a certificate in self-defense, so I just happened to know a few of them!” For a second, Seonghwa thought he would have to kill the man to discover his hidden identity. Instead, Hongjoong looked at him and then unexpectedly let out a jovial laugh.

“Seonghwa-ssi. You are very cool.”

“I- Wuh- I…am?” Seonghwa sputtered.

“Yes! You don’t find that many pretty ladies like you know proper self-defense now, do you?”

The assassin blushed at the compliment. “I-I supposed.” He could feel how his cheeks heated up from the man’s words. He wasn’t used to hearing pleasant praises about himself, being a woman or not. “But you see… I mean- I- Well! If that’s where we are right now, Hongjoong-ssi, let’s get married!”

Hongjoong choked on his spit, “I’m sorry, what-”

“I-” Seonghwa hesitated, “I mean, if that’s not what you want, then we don’t have to do it, but- But you know how my co-workers were being guarded around me just because I’m a single woman, and if I end up with a real husband, I would be able to talk with my connection easier. I-I can continuously help you with your son’s admission process, too! You did say that you want him to be a student at Eden Academy so he could have a better life. A-and it was your late wife’s last wish, right?”

Hongjoong did confess that dramatic lie this afternoon when he talked to Seonghwa. He didn’t expect that Seonghwa would still remember. But this was a given chance; if he agreed now, all knots could securely tie.

Seonghwa was semi-prepared for Hongjoong to reject him right on the bat. It was a ridiculous suggestion. And who would suddenly agree to get married when they barely knew each other for a day? That was completely unheard of. But as opposed to the assassin’s expectation, Hongjoong got up, dusted his pants, and smiled at him. Seonghwa had never seen this expression on the man’s face before, at least throughout his time observing him. Rather than his stiff and robotic manner, this smile seemed gentler.

“Okay.” The man nodded, “Let’s get married.”

Seonghwa’s stupid heart abruptly pounded again.

“Let’s head to the City Hall and get our paperwork,” Hongjoong said, instantly slapping Seonghwa’s mind awake. 

“N-Now?!”

“Of course! People like to say now or never. Might as well do something while we’re at it.” Then he offered his hand, and Seonghwa grabbed it hesitantly. Hongjoong reached for the ring in his pocket, but his face dropped afterward.

There was a hole in the inner of his jacket.

Shit.

Where did it go?

Hongjoong tried to look on the ground to see if he had dropped it somewhere, but it didn’t go as successfully when the rest of the men finally found them, chasing them from the other side of the dark road. Hongjoong and Seonghwa were already at a dead end. 

“Kill them! Don’t let those rats run away!” The men impatiently yelled, aiming their guns and simultaneously shooting the two figures. Hongjoong quickly blocked Seonghwa away from the bullets’ flow, instantaneously reaching for a grenade that fell off from the man that they’d knocked out earlier. 

“Seonghwa,” Hongjoong called him, holding up his hand as he put the circle of the grenade’s pin on Seonghwa’s ring finger. 

“Y-yes.”

“I know this isn’t much, but” Hongjoong pulled the pin off, throwing the bomb toward the angry men. “I, Kim Hongjoong, take you, Park Seonghwa, to be my wife, to have and hold from this day forward.”

Seonghwa gulped nervously and replied with a shaky tone, “F-for better, for worse.”

The angry men uttered a terrifying scream the second they saw the flying object.

“For richer, for poorer,” Hongjoong left a kiss on his hand.

“in sickness and in health,” Seonghwa followed.

BOOM! The impact pushed across the entire dark road.

“to love and cherish.” Hongjoong nodded in encouragement.

And it went silent.

Seonghwa beamed at him, allowing the man to take his hands and push themselves up “until we parted.”

For justice. Seonghwa thought, looking right into the man’s eyes.

For world peace. Hongjoong thought, returning the matching endearment.

Operation Strix—Step 2: Mission completed.

“Sannie has a mama~ Sannie has a mama~” The pink-haired kid spun around, dancing cheerfully with the Shiba Inu plushie in his arms.

Hongjoong stepped out of the bathroom, chuckling at the little ball of energy vibrating so early in the morning. “Is Sannie that excited?” He laughed, squatting down to give the kid a playful pinch on the cheek. 

“Of course!” He yelped. “Sannie’s Mama will come live with us today. Sannie has to be excited.”

Heh. The kid smirked, even if Sannie couldn’t take any credit with Papa this time. The world was safe for now. Papa had gotten Sannie a mama.

The doorbell rang, and Hongjoong went out with San, jumping up and down behind him, knowing it was the person San had waited for. After inviting Seonghwa in, Hongjoong reached for the moving boxes to carry them to the latter’s assigned room. 

“We will have separate bedrooms, but if any guests come over, we can set up my room as the couple’s one. Is that alright?” Hongjoong asked, stacking the boxes together by the bedroom door.

“Sounds good.” The taller man nodded politely. “Thank you for doing all of this, Hongjoong-ssi. I feel like I can never thank you enough.”

The spy shook his head, “This is a two-sided agreement. There’s no need to keep thanking me. I am a part of it, too, remember?”

San spun around the living room, waving his hands at the newcomer. “Welcome to Sannie’s house!” 

“Hello, San.” Seonghwa smiled at him, “Nice to meet you. Hope you will take care of me from now on.” 

“Hi, hi!” San replied, “Nice to meet you too! Uh…What is your name again?”

“It’s-”

“Doesn’t matter! You’re Mama. Sannie is happy to have a mama.”

Besides, he would figure out his Mama’s name sooner or later.

The kid excitedly hopped away.

“Mama…” Seonghwa mumbled, standing frozen by the title. His face turned red from the mixed emotions. Never had he ever expected he would be someone’s mother. What a wild day. He could only be thankful that he was able to maintain his civilian image without having to switch to a new identity. Before heading here, Seonghwa had even asked for permission from the Shopkeeper. He was glad the man didn’t object to it. In fact, the Shopkeeper even laughed at the out-turns of surprises. 

“You will be married to a man? As a woman? A man with a son at that? Very interesting, Mars. Very interesting.”

Regardless, as long as Seonghwa could keep upholding this character, he wouldn’t be in any danger as he would before. And if he could carefully hide this secret from Hongjoong, there would be nothing to worry about.

The jumpy kid suddenly stopped, flopping his tiny body on the sofa before he looked at his Mama, smiling innocently.

Seonghwa smiled back at him, feeling slightly smitten with the cute little kid.

Mama’s secret. San evilly grinned. Only Sannie knew Mama’s secret. Waku waku.

“Here’s my room, mama!” San opened the door, letting Seonghwa inspect the bedrooms after leading him from the kitchen, “And this is my spy partner, Shiber!” Then he showed the Shiba Inu plushie to the man, waving its paws. “Hewwo, dis is Agent Shiber. Nice chu meet yu.” 

“What a cute room you have, Sannie. And hello, Shiber, nice to see you, too.” Seonghwa smiled at the little kid, allowing him to drag his hand toward the new room.

“You saw Papa’s room earlier. And now this is your room! Come in.” 

The man stepped in, looking around the new furniture with a queen-sized bed in the center; he beamed happily. “Hey, Sannie. I am glad you and your Papa have given me such a pretty room.”

“Eung, eung! Sannie also helped with cleaning! Is Sannie good?”

Before the pink-haired kid could fish out compliments from Seonghwa, though, Hongjoong walked by and snorted. “You fell off your ass after kicking the water bucket to your face, kiddo. Very helpful.”

San looked at his Papa in shock.

Papa is a meanie…

San pouted.

Seonghwa watched them with a soft, fluttering feeling in his chest. 

“Thank you for such a nice place, Hongjoong-ssi. Again, I’m thrilled you agreed to my request.”

“Please don’t.” Hongjoong smiled, “Oh! And about our marriage certificate, I have a friend who is a judge. He was able to approve one so we can appear as being together for a year.” More like illegally forcing the stamp, of course, the spy thought, Maddox could be helpful when he needed to. “It will come in handy for San’s admission process.”

Seonghwa nodded in understanding.

San paddled over to one of the unopened boxes, planning to open it. “Lemme help Mama. I can take this one out!”

Seonghwa spun his head almost instantly.

“W-wait! Sannie, I can do it myself. It’s okay!”

The kid blinked at him in confusion.

Crap- I think I stored all of my weapons and poisons that could potentially kill an entire village in this box. If he opens it, we’d be-

“Ah-” San flinched at Mama’s thoughts, instantly pulling his hands back as if he got an electric shock. 

The kid gulped. All the blood on his face ran down to his feet.

Mama is dangerous…Very dangerous…

“Mister Kim, what is your reason for picking Eden Academy?” Hongjoong looked at the kid and scribbled presets of questions that could have been asked in the actual interview. 

The interview was conducted to properly select the students who were born in an upper-class society—a whole operation of classists that, to Hongjoong, was absolutely ridiculous. But he figured out why it was the way it was. After all, this school was solely built for the rich. 

“Uh…” San stared back at the spy, blinking confusingly. “’Cause Papa wants to?”

I mean, he’s right, but-

Hongjoong sighed, “Next question: what does your family do on the weekends?”

“Papa always went out to see Uncle Maddox, so Sannie stayed home and watched TV all day.”

That-

Someone please end this suffering, Hongjoong lamented.

He turned to Seonghwa instead, hoping for the best. “Mrs. Kim.”

Seonghwa was startled, “Y-yes?”

“What is your parenting style recommendation, and how would you improve your child’s education?

“Duh- wait. Uh- recommendation? Uh, strike and win? Beat when being disrespected? Uh- Uh- improving by forcing them to do homework every day? I- I don’t know.”

God have mercy. This is hopeless. All hopeless. How did she even grow up to be normal?

San silently watched Mama.

Mama...is normal?

Hongjoong slapped the notebook on the table, rubbing his hair. “Maybe I should give up.”

San and Seonghwa flinched at the words.

“Papa! Don’t say reckless things! What about saving the world?!”

“Hongjoong-ssi, I’m sure we can do something about this- Think about Sannie’s future!”

At this point, if Hongjoong kept going without a proper stop, he might as well choke himself on the spot. 

“You know what? Let’s go outside as a family.” The two figures watched him like lost meerkats. “I think we really need to touch some grass.”

“Family ootings! Sannie go out for family ootings!”

“Outings.” Hongjoong corrected him, watching the pink-haired kid with an exhausted frown. “And slow down, Sannie. You don’t want to bump into someone else like how you did with your mom, right?”

San pouted, nodding at his words. “O-wight.” But he wasn’t upset anyway; San ran back to Seonghwa, raising his hand. “Mama, hold hands?”

Seonghwa secretly cooed over the kid, “Sure, Sannie.” He smiled softly at how San’s tiny fingers snuggled against his palm. San cheered happily, pulling his Mama’s hand as he ran ahead.

Well, Hongjoong thought. At least they got along. It would have been troublesome if they hadn’t. 

“Where are we going, Hongjoong-ssi?” Seonghwa turned around to ask, waiting for the man to match their paces.

“Eden Academy is quite selective with their candidates.” Hongjoong explained, “So today we will learn what it feels like being upper-class.” The spy spread out three classical music concert tickets, handling each and every one of them.

San and Hongjoong fell asleep during the concert, and Seonghwa subtly watched how their heads bumped as they leaned on each other’s shoulders. He chuckled.

These two are way too adorable.

Afterward, Hongjoong took them to the museum. 

“Don’t yell and run around, okay? It’s disrespectful here.” Hongjoong warned, watching the kid widen his eyes at everything he saw.

“Eung, eung.” San nodded.

The warning lasted five minutes before San ran towards him, pointing at one of the statues.

“Papa, papa! Why does that ahjussi holding a plate have his pepe out?”

“Papa, papa! I saw boobies. That ahjumma don’t wear clothes!”

“Papa, papa! Why do those naked babies have wings?”

Hongjoong slowly wondered why he thought this place was a good idea. One more question, and Hongjoong would rip his damn hair out of his head.

Maybe he should take them somewhere else.

The man was about to ask if Seonghwa agreed to leave, only to see the lady standing by a glass box with a sword from one of the Kings back in the sixteenth century. Her hands lingered on the glass surface, and her eyes sparkled in excitement. If Hongjoong stared long enough, he could see the way she licked her lips with a bloodthirsty grin the more she watched it. Suddenly, Hongjoong shivered.

Now, that was creepy.

“S-Seonghwa.” He had no idea why he stuttered. The lady shook herself out from a trance, “Let’s go.” Then, she silently nodded and followed.

“Mama, can I have your sausies as well?”

San reached over to the man’s plate, aiming at the mini sausages with his fork as he pushed his body off the table. 

Hongjoong’s eyebrows twitched.

“San.” He warned, “Sit down and eat properly. Don’t take food from your mom and eat your veggies. You need to behave with manners in public.”

San pouted, sitting down with a dissatisfied frown. “But I don’t like carrots! I want Mama’s sausies.”

Seonghwa chuckled at the kid’s antics, grabbing his fork and lifting the sausages to San’s plate. The kid cheerfully stabbed one of them, shoving it into his mouth with crescent eyes, beaming.

“Mama is the best. Thankyu Mama.”

Hongjoong looked at him in frustration while the kid huffed at him and stuck his tongue out instead.

The audacity, Hongjoong scoffed.

Now, the spy felt like he was back to square one. The purpose of this trip was to train San to be like a child of the upper class. Right now, though, Hongjoong had no idea what he was even supposed to do with this kid. 

He doesn’t want to listen to me. Should I return him? He groaned.

San flinched at the thought.

“Papa…”

“What?”

“Papa is so mean.”

Hongjoong looked at him in surprise, pointing the finger at himself while mouthing ‘me?’ as he looked at Seonghwa—as if his wife knew the cause of San’s sudden statement.

Huh?

San sat back, biting the inside of his mouth with arms crossed on his chest, pouting again.

Children are so strange. Hongjoong thought. He wanted to say something- about how to understand the kid’s behavior, but the clanking sounds of Seonghwa setting down the silverware caught his attention.

“Hongjoong-ssi,” The spy turned his attention to her, “Would you come to this place with me?”

“I never knew there’s a place like this in Berlint.” 

Hongjoong held on to San as the kid sat on the balcony. Seonghwa had taken them to a park near his workplace. He smiled, observing the way Hongjoong focused on the people passing by from below. 

“I don’t always come here, either. But sometimes, I will come to take a break. Something about the city thriving and its liveliness eases my mind when I’m under pressure. I’m assuming it works for you as well.”

Hongjoong didn’t speak for a moment, still focusing on the wave of busy people walking by the park. 

“Maybe that is why I don’t hate what I do.” Hongjoong confessed, “Seeing all these faces without concerns and worries,” When Seonghwa focused on the direction that Hongjoong was staring at, he could pinpoint a small group of children gathered around the grass field, laughing. “It makes my mind at peace, even if it’s just a little.” 

San looked at the spy quietly. 

Papa…

“Ah!” Seonghwa suddenly yelped, clasping his hands together, “Since we are already hanging out as a family, should we have a family photo together?” He spoke excitedly, and Hongjoong didn’t find a reason to reject the suggestion. 

“Of course, does Sannie want to take a family picture with us?”

“Yay!” The kid nodded, “Yes pwease! Family picho! Family ootings and family picho! San wanna take picho!”

Seonghwa and Hongjoong smiled fondly at the giddy pink-haired child, then timidly beamed at each other. The assassin nodded to himself, satisfied that he could bond the two of them together again.

San looked at how his Papa and Mama looked at each other like they were in a staring contest and covered his mouth mischievously.

Oho?

Ohohohohoho?

“Mama and Papa are flirting.” The kid stated as a matter of fact.

The adults immediately snapped their heads towards him, “We are not!”

In return, the kid just stuck his tongue and buoyantly ran away.

After taking their family picture, the three wandered the shopping center until the sky darkened. Hongjoong carried a sleeping San on his back, opening the door to their apartment. Seonghwa watched the two of them from behind, feeling fluttering with the returned warmth in his chest. Even if it was for a short amount of time, Seonghwa had never felt belonged in a group like this.

San woke up soon after Hongjoong flipped the lights. The kid yawned and jumped from his shoulders, running to Seonghwa—who closed the door with a soft click—and snuggled between the man’s legs.

“Mama, I want hot cacao.” 

Seonghwa rubbed the pink hair, leading him to the sofa, and San sat there with a dazed expression. The assassin headed to the kitchen right after.

Hongjoong settled down on the chair next to it, taking off his tie. 

“Now, Sannie, I need you to practice the mock interview again.”

San groaned and rolled on the sofa, “Papa, I’m tired.”

“I need you to focus, San.” Hongjoong slowly figured out that the kid liked to tell him about saving the world. “So you can help me save the world.”

And San froze when he heard his Papa’s thoughts.

“Yessir!” The kid stood up straightly, fixing his clothes as he gulped nervously. Even if he had slipped up many times, San hoped Papa wouldn’t discover his secret. But Sannie really wanted to save the world with Papa.

Hongjoong seemed pleased with the behavior, grabbing the notebook and pen on the table again.

“Now, Mister Kim, why did you pick Eden Academy?” San went rigid.

“Because I want to…I want to…” Think San, think! What did Papa think about today when they were at the park? Aha!

“I want to bring peace to our world!” 

Hongjoong blinked at him.

What? Did Sannie say something wrong? He blinked at his Papa, trying to read the man’s thoughts. But Hongjoong’s mind appeared to be empty. 

The spy gripped the notebook, seemingly marking down something as he looked at San again.

Hongjoong adjusted his voice with a cough, “Well then, what does your family do on the weekends?”

San hummed. He knew how to answer this one now. “Papa and Mama took me out to watch a classical music performance, then we went to the museum and ate at a fancy restaurant, then Mama took us to the park, and we went to the mall after!”

“Oh, thank God.” Hongjoong sobbed, finally something fruitful. “Good job, Sannie. Answer that question exactly as you did on the interview day.” 

“Okie-dokes.”

Seonghwa appeared with a tray of drinks and carefully arranged them on the table. San brightly grabbed his cup of hot cacao and took a big sip.

Ah~ he smiled in contentment. Mama’s hot cacao is the best.

Seonghwa sat beside him, carefully blowing his cup of tea.

“Okay, one more. What will you do when you see your friend get hurt by a bad guy?”

San blinked blankly at his Papa again. The tingling sounds in his head began when he heard Mama’s thoughts behind him. His ears twitched to follow.

I would kick his balls and slice his neck into pieces. Seonghwa sipped on the tea peacefully.

“I would kick his balls and slice his neck into pieces!” San responded, his dimples revealed with a grin. Seonghwa instantly choked himself with his drink, desperately punching his chest so as not to lose his breath. And Hongjoong dropped his pen, staring at the kid in front of him in disbelief.

Nevermind. Hongjoong silently cried. This kid is definitely NOT ready for the interview.

Chapter Text

“Fuh…Forty-two points.” Hongjoong looked at the exam result on the Passing Board and silently let out a tear of joy.

It’s okay. The spy thought. 

San might have tanked the test poorly. But at least the kid passed the admission exam. He would have to give up Operation Strix if San scored two points less. After three days of constantly tutoring the pink-haired child, Hongjoong finally knew what it felt like to gain the fruits one grew.

The child couldn’t believe his eyes, gasping loudly when he saw his name on the board. “Papa…” He gripped the man’s suit. “Sannie passed.”

“Yes, Sannie.” Hongjoong nodded, “You made it.”

And what was left was the admission interview. Now, all Hongjoong needed to worry about was ensuring how to express their professionalism during the interview. He would make sure both San and Seonghwa comprehended the severity of this mission, and Eden Academy wasn’t a place to take lightly. Many families have been unable to send their children to this harsh-graded school. Knowing that Hongjoong could not always depend on the borrowing factor of this simulated family, he should also consider how to operate these factors appropriately.

He decided not to let the two act independently but to rely on him instead. After all, Hongjoong was the father figure of this family. He would need to form a list of things that could be a counter and an advantage throughout their journey to complete the admission process as a part, as well as Operation Strix as a whole.

San leaned towards Seonghwa, who had been smiling at today’s good news. 

Since they’d arrived in front of Eden Academy and taken his test, San was starting to feel exhausted.

Too many kids were in that room, and everyone had no idea how to answer the questions. San had wanted to read their minds to complete the exam faster, but it didn’t work the way he wanted. He even ended up having a bleedy nose…

But it’s okay! 

During the test, San closed his eyes, silently praying for the power of the Famous Spy Captain he watched on the TV before jotting down what he could remember from Papa’s tutoring lectures. And to know that San had made it, despite the headache, was a true miracle. Thank you, Spy Captain!

San beamed brightly. He just helped Papa complete another mission.

San was closer to helping Papa save the world!

Hongjoong inspected the buildings, pulling the fedora on his head down as he composed himself. They’ve been well prepared for this; the spy looked at Seonghwa, secretly nodding his head as a cueing signal. Seonghwa bobbed back, adjusting her neatly styled long hair, and fixed her hat.

“You ready, Sannie?” 

San went rigid, standing still like a robot with his new suit.

“Yessir!” 

“Well done. Let’s head in.”

Eden Academy was an old-fashioned, vintage-decorated institution. Tall buildings raced across the brick road in various dull colors, and different building structures resembled each Hall of the educational system. The moment they stepped inside the gates, Hongjoong instantly felt a grim ambiance around them. 

They were being watched.

Hongjoong already knew the list of staff members in this school, and if the masses decided to present on this day, it could only mean they were appointed to be examiners for the interview. If that were how Eden Academy wanted to play their game, Hongjoong would play with them.

“Let’s pay our respects,” Hongjoong said suddenly, stopping in front of a statue of a man, holding his right hand up to his left chest. Do not underestimate me, Rocky, a veteran spy with your careless examination. Performing according to my role is child's play, so just wait. If your suspecting eyes ought to lay on my family, you shall receive what it feels like to be a professional.

Seonghwa nodded and smiled. I have no idea who the hell the man of this statue is, but okay.

San copied Papa, looking at the old man's statue. Woooooah…Human shaped giant rock…Bald head…Very shiny bald head.

“Let’s continue.”

“Not enough elegance!” An old man in a neat suit pointed his crane at the window, observing all the competitors from above.

“These people dressed like peasants. Why are they even here?!” He pointed at another group, shaking his head. 

“Why would the mother carry snacks to the interview?” He looked at a different one and spoke disapprovingly. “Where did the glory of Eden Academy go? Do they think this interview is a joke? Eliminate!”

“Housemaster Jo, this is the thirty-first group we have marked as a fail. If we keep crossing out names, there won’t be many left on the list.” One of the instructors said, and the old man hissed.

“Nonsense! If they are eliminated, that proves their lack of elegance in being a part of Eden. Even if we end up not admitting any students this year, at least we know Eden will not tolerate any misconduct and will engrave its prestige image to other institutions. We are one of the tops here and shall remain as such!”

“But-” The instructor was cut off with a hand signal when the Housemaster noticed a family greeting the Founder statue outside the building.

“Oh? That’s a first.” The old man mumbled, watching a pink-haired child and his parents posing in front of the statue before entering the lobby. “Who are they?”

A different instructor commented, “K-117. They are the Kims, Housemaster Jo. The son scored a forty-two on his admission exam.” 

“A forty-two?! Disappointment! An absolute disappointment! And here I thought I’d finally found the light of the first graders. What is the family status?”

“The father had a remarriage last year. It might be a bit early. They could be having an impromptu marriage for the sake of this admission.”

The old man looked out of the window again, silently focused his attention on the father, “We can’t assume. But the only way to know is to see how elegant they are. I must observe their behavior.” 

“We are still under their watch. Make sure to be on your best behavior.” The Kim family passed through the checking corridor, this time walking straight to the assigned Hall that the instructor had directed. Hongjoong swiftly scanned across the building, pretending to fix his hat.

“It’s nerve-wracking to be in this situation,” Seonghwa said, feeling tired from having to keep his face stiff the entire walk.

“Papa, I want to scratch my butt,” San murmured.

“Oh, absolutely,” Hongjoong sucked in a stressful breath, “not, Sannie. Let’s keep going.”

“Help! Someone help!”

The scream alerted all contestants and their families. From afar, Hongjoong squinted his eyes to observe what the ruckus was about. It was a building where the instructor had pointed to those that belonged to Hall 5, which contained a large water pipe. On the side of the building was a hand-built kiosk that led to a smaller facility. Hongjoong assumed it was near the college’s kitchen, where trucks and carts of wooden barrels were stacked outside of the door—the house must have been the school’s food storage.

The large water pipe led straight to the rooftop of the storage, and a man was standing next to it, struggling to connect the broken pipe due to the uncontrollable flow of water pushing from one side of the line. “Someone needs to shut down the water line. It has broken! The dining room is soaked!”

Hongjoong finally figured out where the scream had come from, but he was too far away from the storehouse. The spy instantly darted towards the building with his suitcase, thinking of a way to climb up the roof and help the man.

Seonghwa hugged San up before sending him to one of the parents standing there, following right behind Hongjoong to assist. When Hongjoong climbed onto the kiosk, where he did parkour to reach the other building and rolled himself over to the rooftop, the man was still desperately pulling the pipes back together.

Even if his clothes were wet from the water surrounding him, he wasn’t as worried. Hongjoong opened his suitcase, pulling out a recent invention that Maddox had lent him. “How did this happen?” He asked, carefully putting a bottle of blue liquid inside the device and adjusting the gears.

The man shook his head, “I was cleaning the dining hall when water started pouring down from the ceiling. I decided to climb up to check and saw this. This water pipe has been here since the school was found. It must have been rusted off.”

Hongjoong nodded, inspecting where the water mainly pushed out, and noticed that the outer layer was thinner than the non-rusted parts. “Are you a staff here?”

“Y-yes.”

He asked the man to move back, putting the device up to his eyesight before he shot the liquid towards the broken pipes. “This is a temporary solution that can freeze itself for an hour. It can hold this back for now. But you still need to turn the water off. I suggest you should replace the entire pipeline for safety measures as well.” The man nodded, but before he could say anything else, Hongjoong was already sprinting toward the edge of the roof, landing on the ground.

“W-wait!”

The staff ran to where the spy had jumped off from and got startled when he saw the man was unhurt. “What kind of monster was that man?” He mumbled.

When Hongjoong was done with his job, he found Seonghwa running out of the storage room, huffing for breath. “Where did you go? Where is San?”

“I was checking to see if anyone was using the kitchen and unplugged all of the appliances. It was flooding there. They might need to spend some time cleaning the whole building.” The assassin pressed on the bottom of the dress, squishing out the load of water that was stuck on his clothes. Seonghwa let out a laugh at the sight, “Seems like we both got wet.” Hongjoong would have returned with a smile if Seonghwa hadn’t halted his action to look around.

“Wait.” Seonghwa darted his eyes across the field in panic, “San. He was just right there. Where did he go?” Hongjoong frowned as he searched around simultaneously, “I swear I just left him back right at that spot. Oh my God. Please don’t tell me he got hurt-”

“Mama! Mama! I’m here!” The couple whipped their heads toward the call, shoulders sagging after seeing their son waving his hands, standing near a tree with another man.

“Oh, Sannie.” Seonghwa sighed in relief as he watched the kid running to him and jumping into his arms.

“Eugh!” San complained, “Mama’s wet. Papa’s also wet.”

“Yes, Sannie. That was kind of unexpected.” Hongjoong rubbed the kid’s head. “Where were you?”

San turned around, pointing his finger at the old man who was standing next to him. “That grandpa, he told me to wait for Papa and Mama.” Right on cue, when the parents turned their attention to the figure, the man was already approaching. 

“Mr. Kim,” the man said, and Hongjoong observed him, watching the way the old man held his crane, his attire slickly displaying the sharpened aura. 

“You must be Housemaster Jo.”

“Oh? You know me?”

“Of course,” Hongjoong showed his polite smile, “Eden Academy was known for its educational faculties. I have heard great things about you, sir.”

His attitude. His manner. His gesture. Elegant. Very elegant. The old man thought. Maybe he shouldn’t judge the book by its cover. After the incident, nobody had come to help but the Kim family.

This is what elegance should look like.

San gasped, finally realizing that the old man he was staying with the entire time was one of the teachers here. Old man is an important character. San must approach him to achieve world peace. Hmm! Hmm! The kid nodded to himself.

“I sincerely apologize for what just happened. The incident must have startled you. That is something I am ashamed of today, for it is your first impression of Eden Academy. Even so, Mr. and Mrs. Kim, you have passed the first round of the interview. Please rest back at our guest house and have your clothes changed.”

The old man walked away, oblivious to the secretive dark grin that the three figures behind him shared.

“We are done changing,” San announced excitedly, and the old man turned around in confusion, seeing the way Hongjoong clicked his suitcase close.

“How-”

“We anticipated that any accident would happen, so my wife'd gotten us an extra pair of clothes to change.” Hongjoong smiled, adjusting a new fedora on his neatly styled hair, watching the expression of the housemaster drop in shock. “Shall we start with our interview?”

This is too elegant, way too elegant. Might be so elegant that if I didn't know, I would have mistaken them to be psychopaths. The old man’s hands trembled.

The wiretapping device that Hongjoong attached inside the room had told him enough about the interview’s procedure. Out of ten families, so far, only one had passed. Most of the questions were on the surface at first, but the more they continued, the more complex they became. Hongjoong heaved a sigh, looking at his son in worry.

I have never been this anxious in my life. Even when I chased through a drug ring, infiltrated a political meeting, hi-jacked a terrorist organization’s plane, or cracked a bomb at the last minute, I had never been this anxious. This was the first time I actually could feel fear covering my body.

San gulped at papa’s mind. Papa probably didn’t even know he was ranting. The kid settled his hands stiffly on his knees as the three of them waited for their turn to enter.

“The Kims?” A man called aloud, and they all robotically stood up.

“Here!”

“So you have come, Mr. Kim.”

Hongjoong nodded at the three housemasters inside the room, “Please to meet you.” The family entered, tension heavily pressed on their shoulders as the spy led the child to the small couch, then pushed the other one beside him so Seonghwa could settle down easily.

Manners maketh man. Hongjoong thought. Even if they focused on the child, Hongjoong knew both he and Seonghwa were no different than the kid himself. They were also being tested. Even if it was a petite point, to Hongjoong, it was a step closer to the completion of today’s mission. Not just San, he should also be on his best behavior.

“We will begin with a few simple questions. I will ask the parents a few questions first.” One of the men started, and Hongjoong nodded in agreement. Wilhelm Smith—Hall 5’s housemaster. The man was known to be polite and ethical, even if he was conservative sometimes. Honest answers would result in extra points.

“Mr. Kim, I am seeing in the record that you have remarried recently, may I know how you two meet?”

It’s understandable that this was one of the questions for the interview, Hongjoong thought. Family and friends strongly impact child development—even if educational institutions play a huge part in sharpening the child’s knowledge and skills. They must have been curious about the family’s parenting system.

“I met Seonghwa after taking San on a shopping trip. We bumped into each other by accident, and I dropped her stuff. After helping her and having a few talks, we felt comfortable conversing with each other. After my late wife’s death, I wasn’t able to let myself rest from the incident. But Seonghwa has been there to support me, and her thoroughness allowed me to open myself up again.”

The old man nodded, writing down a few words on his board. 

“Tsk. Mrs. Kim, a pretty lady like yourself, could have been with anyone else. Why did you pick a man who already has a kid?” The third man spoke, clearly in disgust, as he pursed his lips. 

Hongjoong watched him with his eyes twitching slightly. His name? Doesn’t matter. Housemaster of Hall 2. Works here through connection, being the son of a former Housemaster. He recently divorced his wife and lost his rights to child custody, so now nitpicking other couples’ happiness is his way of tolerating his anger. It is best if I don’t piss this guy off.

“That is not a nice way to talk, professor.” Housemaster Jo warned him.

The man scoffed. 

The other housemaster asked instead, “Then Mrs. Kim, what do you think about your husband and child?”

Seonghwa’s cheeks warmed at Hongjoong’s previous answer, timidly holding onto the edge of his sleeves with a smile, “Hongjoong is a nice man. On our first day, even if the accident was brief, he was adamant about helping me with my groceries. I began talking to him due to his attentiveness to his connections. Hongjoong’s son was always a sweet child. Ever since we’ve been together, I have never felt so belonged with someone. I know Hongjoong was a great father. He knows how to make San behave mannerly, and San has always been a cheerful and understanding child.” 

“Very well, may we know why you chose Eden as a stepping stone for your child’s education?”

“With the achievements that the school has obtained for decades,” Hongjoong started, “We acknowledged the dedication of the educational system that Eden is willing to give to each student. I believe I could entrust my son’s success to him by giving him a wide range of opportunities under Eden Academy.”

The man scribbled again, nodding with satisfaction, “Now, will you tell us what you think of your child? What do you think are his strengths and weaknesses?”

“San is a curious child.” Hongjoong replied, “he always seems eager to learn new things. And it could be considered noisy, but I acknowledge it as a strength. His awareness of the surroundings is quite witted. I believe San is a smart child."

Smart? Housemaster Jo looked at the child. With a forty-two on the exam?

San’s breath hitched.

“There are times when I’m feeling down; he was able to comfort me without any of us saying a word as if he could read my mind."

San hiccuped this time.

Yikes… He gripped his pants tightly. 

“The only weakness I could think of is that he is quite picky with his food.”

“Oh?” Hall 5’s Housemaster looked in surprise, “If he is picky, could you tell me what three meals you prepared for him in one day?”

Seonghwa looked at Hongjoong nervously. “W-well, I’m ashamed to say that as a mother, being able to prepare three meals per day for my child is quite difficult.”

“And what is the cause?” The man pressed on.

“We are both working people,” Seonghwa confessed. “On days that we both worked, we could only send him to a babysitter. I-I, of course, cook dinner! So, I tend to cook familiar cuisines that contain healthy ingredients yet are suitable to San’s taste. But three meals a day is not something that I could-”

“Being a woman and can’t even enter the kitchen three times per day? Is that how all mothers behave lately?” Hall 2’s housemaster mocked, and it might have struck a nerve at Hongjoong.

“Pardon. She is a hard-working woman. Even if Seonghwa is unable to provide meals at any time, we still make sure our child has a comfortable life. Besides, she has always been excellent at making our house neat and tidy. Seonghwa has always done her best.”

“I-it’s okay, Hongjoong. I understand.” Seonghwa said, “I also admit that I was lacking in that field.” 

“But-” Hongjoong wanted to protest, but his wife’s begging stare held him back. She shook her head as a sign for him to stop before he could rile up again.

Right. She’s not even my real wife, and I already couldn’t control the way I should act. If this is how I would behave in any other missions, I would have gotten myself killed. Stay calm, Rocky. Why are you so upset?

How sickening, the Hall 2’s housemaster thought. A hot lovey-dovey marriage couple? What a fucking joke. I will break them until they can't feel what happiness means again.

San shivered at the man’s bitter words. San didn’t like this evil man. He didn’t like this evil man one bit. The man is being mean to Papa and Mama! San was annoyed.

“O-okay,” Hall 5’s housemaster spoke after the scene, wanting to calm the atmosphere down, “now that we’re done with the parents, let me ask you some questions, San.”

“Yuh-y-yes, sir!” San jumped and quickly arranged his posture like a rock.

“What is your home address?”

“Uh- Uhhh, 127 Southwood Drive, B-Berlint, Ostania.”

“Very good. What does your family do on the weekends?” 

“We uh…we went to watch sausages and eat at a fancy opera concert, and Papa took me to the mall to see Mona Lisa, and we took family pictures at the museum.”

”…”

The three housemasters looked at him.

Papa and Mama also looked at him with the same expression.

Why were they looking at him with stunned faces? Did Sannie say something wrong again?

“Oh- O…kay.” Housemaster Smith said after a long pause, “Okay, San. Why do you want to be a student here?”

Hongjoong nodded. Because we need to meet Jurgen Jung and prevent the man from bursting into another war and destroying the lives of innocents. First, we have to be a part of the school to invade the system and encounter the-

“Because we need to invade the system and encounter the Boss!” San answered.

“Huh?” Housemaster Jo looked at him in amazement.

-Now what in the fuck is happening again? Hongjoong mentally groaned.

“San likes to have a sense of justice.” Hongjoong tried to correct, chuckling awkwardly, “he probably meant to say that he wanted to be a part of the honorable students and receive recognition from the housemasters. Right, San?”

San blinked at his papa. He slowly nodded. “Y-yes.”

“And how would you do that?” Housemaster Jo asked this time.

“I will go through a ring of fire and live in the ocean for three days to balance myself from the sea legs.”

Isn’t that…Isn’t that the training that the main character from his favorite TV cartoon did in yesterday's episode? Hongjoong’s eyes twitched again. God knew how many times they did today.

But housemaster Jo looked at San like he witnessed a ghost in real flesh and skin.

“Wow, okay. You’re a special one.” Housemaster Smith chuckled, “How would you grade your parents?”

The question surprised San a little bit. But San looked at the way Mama and Papa watched him with those gentle nudges in their eyes, without expecting much in return, and San felt as if he had returned back to their apartment, all drinking a cup of hot cacao together as they read San’s favorite pictured book.

“A hundred points!” He grinned, “Mama and Papa always love me and take care of me. To Sannie, Mama and Papa are the best! I want to stay with them forever.”

Even if San didn’t read their minds, their fluttering and blushing reactions were great enough evidence to prove how much they felt the same. San loved his papa and mama a lot.

“Hundred is hundred.” Hall 2’s housemaster finally spoke, “But do you prefer your real mom or your current mom?”

Mom…

What did his real mom even look like? 

San couldn’t even remember how he ended up the way he was, let alone understand whether he had lost his real parents or not. And for some reason, it just made him really sad.

San's first memory was of people telling him things he couldn’t understand—for being a special child who possessed a special ability. Yet, nothing in their voices gave him a sense of warmth.

Did that mean San was nothing aside from being a useful kid?

Were his parents abandoned him? Maybe that was why San couldn’t remember anything about them.

Did that mean…his real mama and papa had never loved him?

San didn’t even realize he was crying.

“You can’t be serious by asking a child that question?” Seonghwa stood up furiously, walked over to the pink-haired kid, and embraced him to his chest. 

“Mama!” San sobbed, hiding his face inside the man’s chest as he tried to calm the kid down.

How senseless. Hongjoong gritted his teeth. How fucking senseless. Just to satisfy your screwed-up mindset that you have to come out asking fucking senseless questions to a child who has lost his parents. Hongjoong was at the end of it. He was so close to losing it. So close, so close, so close—

“Why are you looking at me in such a way, Mrs. Kim? It sounds like he just confessed that he preferred his real mother. It was merely a simple question, and he already acts like a scaredy-cat. I was just doing you a favor-

Kill. I will kill him. Seonghwa glared at the dipshit of a man. His fingers cracked harshly. I will kill him.

“-If I didn’t know you are a proper family, I would have assumed that you are having malicious thoughts just by the way you are looking at me, Mrs. Kim. Why? Did I strike anyone’s ner-” 

The man’s face paled when he found a fist close flying to his face. He closed his eyes in fear before a gush of wind passed him, and a loud slam echoed around the room. By the time he opened his eyes, the man pushed back in shock, seeing the coffee table in front of them was crushed in half.

“W-wuh-what do you think you were doing?!”

“Sorry.” Hongjoong said coldly, “There was a mosquito, so I killed it.”

In fact, there was a dead mosquito on that crushed table.

Then he looked at the man, murdering glances ingrained in his eyes. “I don’t think we would like to continue with this interview.”

“That’s improper! The interview isn’t even done yet!” The man yelled loudly, disapproving at the way the couple carried the child as they opened the door.

“There is no point.” Hongjoong spoke grimly, “If I have to entrust my son to the people who neglect his feelings as an individual rather than becoming his stepping stone, then I don’t find myself the courage to apply for such disappointment. Especially as his father.”

Housemaster Jo looked at him with frustration, wanting to call him back, but Hongjoong was sick of it. He looked at the way San still clicked onto Seonghwa’s body, sniffing every few minutes.

And his heart ached.

They were doomed. They were so fucking doomed. Hongjoong buried his hands in his head, staring lifelessly at the coffee table in their living room. His body felt inflexible on the big sofa.

That was it for Operation Strix. Due to his lack of emotional control, he went out of his way and ruined the entire plan that he had worked so hard to maintain. What the hell was he supposed to do now? Returned San? Divorced Seonghwa? Left Ostania and hid in shame by running back to Westalis? Just for a simple mistake, and now Hongjoong knew how it felt like to reach rock bottom.

“Should I…?” He groaned and messed his head up again.

“Papa, don't be sad,” San said, secretly worried about the fact that his papa just thought of returning him to the orphanage. “I’m sure the old man will do something for us! That rude ahjussi was a real meanie, but I know the other two are nice people!”

“He’s right, Hongjoong-ssi. I’m sure we will be okay. It wasn’t as if we did hurt anybody anyway! Even if we got any points taken off, I’m sure the other two Housemasters will do something about it!”

Maybe they were right. Hongjoong finally sat up, allowing San to climb on his lap, and hugged him. The spy smiled a little at the action, hugging the child back as his ears warmed up from San’s optimism. “Mama!” San called Seonghwa, who was cutting fruits by the counter. “Mama, come here, too!” 

Seonghwa’s slippers slapped on the hard floor as he approached the two father and son. “Hmm? What is it, Sannie?”

“Group hug!” The child cheered, making grabby hands for him to come closer. 

Seonghwa blushed at the gesture. 

“Should I? Well- Isn’t it a bit-”

Hongjoong gulped, sharing the same reaction when they both knew that their cunning impromptu child was pushing the boat without their permission.

“Mama, hurry!” 

“O-okay! Okay. I’m coming.” Seonghwa said hesitantly, then he slowly moved closer, sitting right next to Hongjoong before he reached his arms over and wrapped around the man's neck. The husband nodded awkwardly, patting Seonghwa's back with hesitation as if his wife would run if he did it with more honesty. 

Seonghwa was so embarrassed he refused to look at Hongjoong’s face. Instead, he followed San, putting his head on the man’s shoulder and hugging him and San comfortably. 

“It will be okay.” He said softly.

“We will be okay.”

Chapter Text

“Nothing,” Hongjoong said shakily.

“Nothing,” Seonghwa followed, his hands trembling on his purse.

“N-nothing.” San’s voice was barely audible.

“T-then,” Seonghwa watched the spy’s dimmed expression with a certain reluctance, “we must’ve failed the interview.”

San’s name was not on the admission list.

Today wasn’t a good day.

When San attempted to jump at the gas station today, the poor kid tripped and sprained his ankle. Hongjoong ended up carrying him on his shoulders. When Seonghwa cleaned the dining table, he dropped the flower vase supposedly arranged in the center of the surface. When Hongjoong went to the bathroom this morning, he tripped and landed on his ass.

And earlier…

“Papa…,” San looked at his foot in terror, “I just stepped on poop….”

Hongjoong started to have a nasty, unsettled feeling under his skin.

And true to his instinct, now that they were at the school, a gloomy cloud buried their darkened expressions from the acknowledgment of…well…San had failed the interview.

Seonghwa tried to be more optimistic by giving positive encouragement, but Hongjoong was so deep in his mental breakdown that he couldn’t distinguish between white noises and his inner fried screamo. Then,…could this be…could this be the end of Operation Strix?

Had they indeed failed it?

“I’m sorry,” San mewled shakily, “This was San’s fault for stepping on poop this morning.” 

Hongjoong finally sucked in a heavy breath. His shoulders slumped. At this point, the spy was so out of it that he had no energy to compose himself. But to be a supportive figure, he shook his head regardless.

“It’s not your fault, Sannie. I have anticipated this.” That was a lie. “There’s no point being sad if that’s how it is. How about I take you two out somewhere for lunch?”

“Okay.” San still responded with a hindrance of sadness, but he wasn’t close to crying like before. 

The family was about to leave when they spotted Housemaster Jo looking at them under a tree’s shadow.

“Before you leave,” the old man spoke, “I have something to discuss with you, Mr. Kim.”

“A waitlist?”

“It’s confidential.” The old man nodded, shoving a piece of paper into Hongjoong’s hand, “But I want to let you know.”

Hongjoong looked at the paper, seeing bolder, bigger font letters on the top of the list, and gasped dumbly. 

“1. Kim, San.” was what it said.

“We are at the top of the list? B-but,” Hongjoong hesitated, “But after all the things that we did- How?”

“Do you know what the most dangerous species that exist on this planet is?”

“Uhm…, humans?” Hongjoong took a wild guess.

“Very close,” Housemaster Jo hummed, “It’s mosquitoes. They are bloody-thirsty monsters that can suck on our blood in dangerous amounts. And they carry diseases.”

The three parents and son looked at him in confusion.

“Yesterday, you saved all of our lives due to your heroic act of killing the mosquito. Such an elegant act has given you some decent bonus points.”

Wow, Hongjoong thought, it was really not that deep.

“And for one of our staff’s behavior,” the man continued, “I am here to apologize for it personally. We have sent a complaint to the dean, and he is no longer working here as an Eden professor. It is also my way to express how deeply humiliated I am for being unable to take your side in yesterday's interview.”

Hongjoong didn’t know the proper way to respond to such words, but he still nodded politely. “You have spoken too highly of me. We appreciate all these considerations and attention that you have given us.” Even so, seeing a staff under Eden Academy come out to help Hongjoong was peculiar. Giving a waitlist to the parents was no different than begging for a chance of getting suspended. “But I have some questions that I must ask.”

“Go on,” the man nudged.

“Why are you helping us?” Hongjoong didn’t understand why he had personally come over to tell Hongjoong if his kid had a chance or not. The spy wasn’t able to distinguish the old man’s intention.

“As you can see,” Housemaster Jo chuckled, “I have been a professor in Eden for forty years.” He briefly looked at San, then switched his attention back to Hongjoong, “I took great pride in teaching the students how to understand and maintain their ethical skills and elegance as an Eden student. So when you told me that you would rather not have your child become a student under an institution that neglected their feelings as an individual. I personally felt it was an insult.”

Hongjoong sweated at the words.

“And I have to admit how right you were. I allowed one of our professors to make you and your family uncomfortable solely for his own satisfaction without preventing its unfairness. So, I thought giving you this list was the least I could do. To assure you that your child can still have a chance and to make sure that what I do won’t be something I would feel ashamed of in the future. Now, have a nice day.” The man greeted, carrying his crane as he headed upstairs to the nearby building.

“We still have a chance,” Hongjoong said for the first time after five silent minutes. Even if the old man’s appearance was brief, it was a lot to take in for the three.

“We do,” Seonghwa agreed, “but what if nobody wanted to drop out? What if we still don’t have the chance to enter this school?” Seonghwa, like the Caretaker he was, currently thought of all the worst-case scenarios.

If that happens, will I need to kill a family for this? For Sannie’s to have a spot?  

San looked at his mama in horror.

“Don’t worry too much,” Hongjoong assured in a severe tone, “On average, every school will have a few students dropping out no matter the cause of their situation. With us being on top of the list, I’m sure we will get in.”

Hongjoong didn’t feel as exhausted as he was a few minutes prior.

Operation Strix could still be completed.

As expected, Eden Academy had called the Kim family two days later.

Seonghwa had taken the pink-haired child to the tailor shop for his new uniform to celebrate the news that San had officially become an Eden student. 

Because of a sudden emergency at the last minute, Hongjoong had to leave the house urgently. Seonghwa was beginning to worry about the man’s work pace lately, as Hongjoong always left the house early yet returned home late.

But who was he to judge? Seonghwa had taken more cases from the Shopkeeper as well. Nevertheless, he made sure to cook breakfast early enough so Hongjoong could carry it before he left for work.

However, such action had left Seonghwa with thoughts that he wondered if he was even allowed to have. 

They slowly resembled an actual family that, even if this was a temporary façade, something deep within him had hoped would last for a long time. He liked to be with San. And he felt an indescribable amount of warmth when he saw Hongjoong. This was stupid. So strange and absurd. 

But he wanted to stay in it—even if it made him stupid.

San was done with his body measurements, and the tailor pulled up a stack of fabrics from under one of the drawers, telling Seonghwa how the uniform would be made and how much it would cost for little things to be attached. Seonghwa nodded with intriguing apprehension, asking a few questions here and there, and they said farewell to the shop owner after the commission.

“Mama, where are we going next?”

“Hmm, we will buy snacks for our Sannie because he got accepted in Eden!” Seonghwa said with a childish voice, the type of tone that adults loved to use when cooing children.

San raised his arms up in joy, cheerily jumping around. “Yay! Snacks! Sannie go get snacks!”

Seonghwa patted the kid’s head, smiling delightfully at the little pink ball of joy with cute dimples. Even if this wouldn’t last, he had never been this happy since a long time ago.

When he was still together with his family.

“Sannie, make sure you stay right beside me, okay?” Seonghwa said before he moved through the crowds of customers. The man wondered what today was with how crammed the supermarket had been. It took him a while to find a cart and a longer time to push it through the vegetable section.

“Mama, can I have that?” San pointed at the dessert counter, where the flan cake was on the bottom bunk of the glass box. 

“Of course,” Seonghwa smiled, “But only one, alright? Too much sweets are not good for you.”

“Okey!” San nodded with excitement, running towards the counter with his jumpy feet.

When Seonghwa was finally done buying the needed vegetables, San returned, clumsily settling the cake inside the cart. Seonghwa looked at the size of said box, not expecting it to be larger than what he had seen from afar. “Wow, Sannie. This is a huge flan. Can you finish all of it?”

But the kid shook his head with a smile, “No, no.” he said, “This is for Papa and Mama, too.”

Oh my God. Seonghwa’s mind cried. He’s so cute. Hongjoong sure knows how to raise his child because I think my heart just melted a little. If this happens daily, I fear he will have no choice but to be my son forever.

San blushed at the thoughts.

“Mama praised Sannie?” 

Seonghwa was startled by his thoughts, thinking that he must have spoken aloud without realizing it. “Yes, Sannie. You are the best.”

San grinned brighter.

The butcher looked at San as he weighed the pork belly that Seonghwa had pointed to earlier.

“How old are you, kid?” He asked.

“Six!” Then, he raised seven fingers until he realized his mistake and put one down with an ‘oops.’

The butcher laughed, looking at Seonghwa, “What a cute son you have, reminding me of my grandkids. Has he been to school yet?” 

“Yes!” San spoke with excitement. “Sannie go to first grade next Monday!”

“Oh? What school will you be in?” After putting the meat chunk inside, the man attached the receipts to the bag and gave it to Seonghwa.

“Eden! Sannie just passed the test!”

“Smart one, huh? Well, good luck to you, kid.”

“Thankyu.” San bobbed his head, and Seonghwa pushed the cart with an endearing smile. 

Although he was trained to be flexible in his surroundings, Seonghwa neglected his sense of adapting to being average at moments when he wasn't in his working mode. So, when the assassin moved to a different section of the supermarket, he didn’t realize there were eyes behind his back after San’s conversation with the butcher.

The check-out line reached all the way to the end of a counter, much longer than Seonghwa expected. But there weren’t that many cashiers at the front line, so he understood the reason for its crowdedness. 

“Sannie wanna go outside waiting for Mama.”

Seonghwa watched the line, where at least seven more people were in front, before he nodded, “Don’t wander too far, Sannie. I will be there.”

“Aye, aye.”

The kid ran to the door, walked out, and stood beside it.

Until a group of men came over.

Seonghwa counted the number of coins as he shoved the receipt inside the shopping bag, darting his eyes around to search for the pink-haired kid. 

“San?” 

When he couldn’t find the child anywhere, Seonghwa frowned, walking to the left side of the supermarket. “San? Where are you? I’m done with the checking!”

There was no response from San.

Fuck. Seonghwa held tight to his bag, alertly inspecting the people outside the building as he walked quickly to the other side of the supermarket. San could not be kidnapped now, could he? Seonghwa threw the grocery bag over his shoulders, making a run towards a suspicious white van before he saw a group of men carrying a black trash bag with a large, unidentified object inside. Seonghwa gritted his teeth in anger.

“It’s our lucky day today, boys.” A man grinned wickedly, throwing the bag inside the back of the van as the three other men closed the trunk and settled into their seats. “These Eden Academy’s kids are rich brats. Now that we have one, we can make fortunes with their stupid parents’ money.”

The man in the passenger seat taunted, “Too bad he didn’t have his uniform on him. I heard that shit costs a ton.”

“Damn,” the other guy whistled, “could have been even better.”

They started laughing over their sudden jackpot, particularly at a child’s cries that got muffled inside the trash bag. But right when the driver turned on his key, a daunting slam crooked their car right at the nose.

“What the fuck?!”

When all four men abruptly looked towards the car’s front, they witnessed a young woman posing with her hands slammed on the vehicle, a murdering glare pierced through the glass barrier. If looks could kill, these men must have been sliced in halves.

“Did that-” One of them finally came back to his sense, “did that bitch just bent our-”

Seonghwa didn’t take his time as he opened the front car trunk with bare hands and punched the battery. The van instantly shut down like a dead corpse. 

“Fucking-” one man cursed, pulling out a metal pipe from the back seat as he opened the door in irritation, swinging his arms at the moment Seonghwa stepped into his view. Seonghwa gave him a brutal kick, making the man hug his stomach in pain before snatching the pipe and smacking it against the man’s head. The man blacked out in a beat.

“One down,” he mumbled, then yelled loudly, “Who’s next?”

The three men were stunned; one gulped, one froze inside the car, and another just as vigorously pulled out a knife as he ran to Seonghwa from the other side. Seonghwa pulled the locked door open with brute force, grabbing the terrified man who sat still the entire fight as he dragged his collars. The man screamed bloody murder at the sight of a tall lady hauling him without breaking a sweat. Seonghwa pulled him out of the vehicle, looking for the black plastic bag he had seen a few moments ago. He let out an annoyed hiss, knowing that he needed to go to the back of the van to carry San out. And to do that safely, he had to beat these guys first. 

“What the fuck do you think you are doing? I saw you were with him earlier. If a nanny like you don’t want to get in trouble, then move aside before we-”

The previous man chased him with a knife, going from behind and yelling in rage, but Seonghwa dodged, grabbed his arm without mercy, and snapped. The man screamed in pain, dropping the knife before the assassin pinned his body to the car. 

“He is my fucking son!” 

Then, Seonghwa hit his neck as he dropped to the ground. 

He turned to the man on the floor he had dragged out from earlier, looking at his trembling form as he desperately found something to defend. Seonghwa swung his leg for a clean kick, and the man’s body spun through the grass, unconscious.

The one man left broke out for a run, perilously begging as he found himself an escape. Seonghwa didn't bother to chase after him as he climbed inside the car, pulled the bag out, and ripped it. San’s mouth was covered in duct tape, and his head was messy, with bold strings tied around his wrists and ankles. In a swift movement, Seonghwa cut off the ropes with a small knife he always carried in his shoe and carefully peeled off the tape. 

“It’s okay, Sannie. I’m here. Mama’s here.” He said in reassurance. San immediately reached out to hug him. San burrowed himself in the man’s chest and heaved a loud sob. Seonghwa gently cradled him, allowing the kid to calm down from the incident. He sat there, watching how the kid hung tight on his neck and sniffed. 

He had never felt so guilty before. Seonghwa remembered the question the rude man from the interview had asked and started to contemplate whether he had failed his job as San’s guardian. For a brief second, the man wondered if San honestly had preferred his real mother over himself. And the thought broke his heart.

Suddenly, Seonghwa wept. “I’m sorry.” the assassin cried, “I’m sorry I didn’t care for you better. I let this happen to you. I’m so sorry, Sannie.”

But San paused at his mama’s words, bringing himself out from the embrace. San looked at the man with tears on his face and raised his tiny hands, whipping them away. “Mama, don’t cry.” He said brokenly, sniffing as he hugged the man again, “Mama saved Sannie, so Mama did your best. I’m okay now! If Mama’s sad, Sannie will be sadder.” 

Seonghwa looked at the kid, his heart hurt at their high-strung state, and shook his head, “Okay. I won’t cry anymore.”

“Good,” San nodded. The kid also stopped crying—even if his eyes were still puffy and red. “Sannie loves Mama a lot, so don’t be sad.”

“I love you, too, Sannie.” Then he composed himself with a cough, sniffing a few more times as he cleaned off the rest of the wetness on his cheeks with the back of his palm. 

He pulled San up so the kid could hug him around his waist.

After a minute, Seonghwa looked at the men lying helplessly on the grass with a foul scoff. “Give me a minute, baby.” He said, letting the kid down quickly as he searched for a phone booth. “We will need to report this to the police.”

About ten minutes later, when the police came, three officers wordlessly stared at the three figures being tied together in ropes and beaten bruises across their bodies. A piece of paper announced ‘kidnappers!’ was taped on the morphed, smoky white van by the curb. 

“Mama was so cool!” San said, standing up to imitate what had happened earlier that day when he had tried to peek through the black plastic bag.

Hongjoong opened the door with a sigh, cracking his aching neck as he carried his suitcase inside. His supervisor—Leez—had called him to work even more than before, and he was beyond exhausted, but somehow, hearing the cheerful scream of a familiar voice seemed to have done him wonders. Seeing the tiny kid raising his punches clumsily made the man smile with intrigue. “What are you doing, San? Why are you dancing around like that?” 

“Sannie is not dancing. Sannie is fighting the bad guys!” San said, spinning around as the TV played his favorite cartoon show. And Seonghwa was stir-frying bok choy with a spatula.

“Welcome back, Hongjoong-ssi,” he smiled at the man, watching him putting his fedora and coat by the hanger.

“Thank you, Seonghwa-ssi. How has your day been?”

Seonghwa grimaced, looking at the man with a certain hesitation before he concluded with a weak comment. “Splendid.” 

Hongjoong raised his eyebrows at the questionable tone but decided not to press on. 

Seonghwa decided not to tell the man about today’s incident. A large part related to him beating the hell to back on those kidnappers. And he definitely did not want the man to know how he was able to do the things he did—it attracted too much suspicion, and Seonghwa, although he had been comfortable around the man, didn’t want to risk his chance that way. He had asked San to keep it a secret. So, as long as San didn’t say anything about it, Seonghwa thought he should keep it low for now.

“What about you?” He switched the subject, grabbed a plate by the racket, and poured out the vegetables. “You’ve been home late these days. Being a psychologist must be tiring. Should I pack any energy drinks for you tomorrow?”

Hongjoong nodded, thanking Seonghwa for the kindness. Then he lamented to himself that his supervisor was grinding him to the bone with all the missions he had to sidetrack while focusing on Operation Strix’s processes. Hongjoong went straight to the shower after seeing Seonghwa setting dinner on the table at the last moment before he closed the bathroom door.

“Sannie, eat slowly, or you will choke yourself,” Seonghwa warned kindly, looking at the kid's eagerness as he stabbed his fork into the steak. After today, Seonghwa decided to make San’s favorite food as a surprise. Hongjoong took longer than usual with his shower, and the child was impatient with waiting, so Seonghwa allowed him to enjoy his meal first.

“Uhm! I won’t choke. I love mama’s steak!” He swallowed, then poked at another beef cube Seonghwa had cut beforehand. 

Seonghwa sighed at the kid. 

Hongjoong finally walked out of the bathroom, rubbing his hair dry with a towel as he stepped closer, looking at the dinner table with curiosity.

“What do we have tonight?” He asked. And Seonghwa was about to answer the question when he looked up.

And he gulped.

Goddamn, Hongjoong. He thought. Wet hair Hongjoong is doing me wonders.

San blinked at the remark. Then he reached slowly toward another cube and put it into his mouth. His eyes refused to leave his mama, wanting to watch this random romance drama. Seonghwa seemed to finally snap himself out with a cough, blushing when he saw Hongjoong lift his eyebrows at the lack of answers.

“U-uh, I made stir-fry bok choy and tofu soup with grilled steak and fried plaice.” Then he gestured for Hongjoong to take a seat. The man nodded briefly before sitting down. 

“Thank you for the meal, Seonghwa-ssi.”

The assassin smiled, tentatively looking at how Hongjoong reached out to grab a bowl and chopsticks—a towel hung around his neck, and his arms flexed a little as he scooped the rice up with the paddle. Seonghwa blinked blankly again.

Until he snapped himself off.

Wow, wow. Okay, Seonghwa, wow. Acting like you haven’t seen a man in your life before. As if you aren't a man as well. Seonghwa thought. But on a second note, he considered Hongjoong muscular for someone who was a clinical psychologist. 

Which was strange…

Do psychologists even work out during their office hours? For all he knew, Hongjoong was always busy with work. Usually, Hongjoong wore suits or long-sleeved shirts, but in those rare days when he wore simple tees, this was the first time Seonghwa had paid attention to men’s build.

But whatever, as long as he’s healthy, you shouldn’t need to care much about this, right? Seonghwa shrugged and finally started on with his food.

Mama almost figured it out. San watched his parents nervously. He wondered what would happen if they discovered each other's secrets. The thought thrilled him but scared him at the same time.

Hongjoong was eating when he noticed the way Seonghwa looked at his arms. The man paused to check it.

“Did something get stuck in my arms?” he asked confusingly, rubbing and expecting a patch of skin to peel out unwillingly. Seonghwa was startled, shaking his head.

“N-Nothing, I was just thinking.”

Hongjoong looked at him weirdly, wondering what went inside the latter’s head. But he shook the awkwardness off right after. 

When Hongjoong reached out to grab the fish, Seonghwa reached toward the man’s face. With reflex, the spy grabbed the latter’s hand with a warning expression. Seonghwa blinked at the action, questioning the man’s grip as he explained his movement. “Oh, sorry. I was trying to fix your bangs. It got tangled over here.” Even if Hongjoong was on high alert, he still let out a stuttering sorry and let Seonghwa work on it.

However, somehow, it made both of them feel on edge. 

“Done,” Seonghwa said, retreating his hand and continuing with his food. Hongjoong nodded shyly, thinking about how Seonghwa’s finger gently combed over his hair. And his body shivered with tingling hotness. 

“Thank you,” he said.

San looked at both of them with curiosity. He didn’t know what this feeling was, but almost as if his parents were thinking of two topics simultaneously. And it was strange how they thought the four same things at the exact moment.

San wondered if this was good or bad.

Should I be careful with this person?

But why do I feel this way?

Something is not right with this cautious expression.

Though why is my heart thumping so loud?

Even so, San could only hope that he would stay with Mama and Papa forever.

Chapter Text

“You are our chosen ones.” The principal spoke clearly as words traveled throughout the stadium, "To our 144 students of first grade, congratulations for being a part of us. Welcome to Eden Academy. Everyone here at Eden respects and appreciates your presence to the bottom of our hearts.”

The crowd clapped, cheering after the man’s speech. San looked around nervously, seeing children his age dressing in familiar outfits.

“Papa, all these children wear the same uniform as me.”

“Yep,” Hongjoong nodded quickly, “That is why it is a uniform. And you are also a child, San.”

The spy folded his arms across his chest, silently observing the line of professors sitting pointedly and adeptly at the benches below the podium. Now, Hongjoong needed to turn San into an Imperial Scholar. To do such a task, San must obtain seven Stellar Stars. But with all things considered, he wondered if it was possible. San might be a sweet kid, but the spy occasionally worried about him.

Do not forget how important this mission is. It is operated to keep the peace between the West and East. Leez had told him yesterday when he started on another task. Although the admission round was safely passed, an apparent tension that Jurgen Jung had announced last week about the connection between the two nations had brought heavy debates to the people. Hongjoong wondered how much time he had left before anything dangerous would explode, whether verbally or physically.

But really,…turning this kid into an elite? Hongjoong chuckled. Let’s not have high hopes.

San looked at his papa in shock.

This school is already filled with the best of the best children. San even managed to get in, which was purely a miracle. If I have higher expectations, I will end up being disappointed. But that’s another reason why plan B happens.

“We will begin our next session and name the houses and their housemasters. Please come forward when your name is called.” The vice principal announced, and everyone waited for the upcoming instructions. “Class One–Specter Hall; Millie Haronfreight, Sharon Knight, Kai Hirai, Lily Pham,....”

“I wonder what class I will be in,” San said, looking curiously at the line that the called names had formed.

“I’m interested, too,” Hongjoong nodded, watching the man reading Cecile Hall–the second class’s name list. Actually, he had known beforehand who would be in which classroom. After editing a few pieces of information, he could mix up the list the way he wanted. That means San would be chosen in Cecile Hall along with this kid.

“-Yunho Jung.” The man called, and a tall kid with a neat hairstyle stepped out, handsomely smirking at the students from the other side watching him. 

“Should have added Sir in it,” The kid stated disapprovingly. But regardless, he stepped with confidence to his line.

That’s right. The second son of my target, Yunho Jung. The spy hummed. Following his older brother’s step, the kid joined Eden to begin his education. I have had my sights on him since I saw his name on the list. This kid will be a crucial character for this mission.

First, San can befriend the kid.

Second, the kid will invite him and me to his house.

Finally, I will get to approach Jurgen Jung.

Since plan A sounds unattainable, plan B–which I named the Friendship Scheme–will be the after-step to success.

The pink-haired kid was drenched in dread at the man’s thought.

“San Kim,” The vice principal called, and San blinked in surprise, looking at his mom and dad. “Oh! That’s my name!”

“That’s right, Sannie. Follow the line.” Seonghwa smiled proudly, fixing the kid’s outfit before leading him with his arms, and San waved at them before he ran down the stairs toward his classmates.

Since San has been interacting with the orphanage kids, I will trust his communication skills. Hongjoong finalized his plan.

“Oh-” San paused as he saw the kid that Papa was thinking about. That’s the evil final Boss’s son.

The kid noticed San and half-heartedly glared at him with a questioning look. What’s with that kid? Oh? Maybe he has already discovered my attractiveness and has fallen for me? Good taste, kid. 

San walked away rashly.

Playing hard to get? Cute. The kid thought.

San looked at him in disgust and gagged. 

He- The kid looked at him with a flabbergasted yet offended expression. Ugh! Nevermind. Just a tasteless kid. 

“Nice to meet you. What’s your name?” The kid beside him asked when San reached the end of the line, and San’s eyes flickered tensely at the question. Oh, here comes human interaction. “I’m Wooyoung, by the way!”

“I’m San,” San answered, nearly grinning until he halted at the new kid’s thought.

Looks like an easy target to mess with. I can make this kid do things for me from now on.

San frowned and looked away, huffing at that kid like he offended Agent Shiber for having short paws, and the Wooyoung kid watched him with a baffled reaction. He- How dare he pull that face?

Ya, ya, ya! Hongjoong watched the scene unfolding before him with a mentally stressful scream. That kid, Hongjoong thought, Wooyoung Jung, the middle child of the CEO of the top military contractor, And he is a good fortune to pull information from. Yet, did my own son just huff at the kid??? What kind of crime have I committed in my past life? And holy crap- isn’t the kid that stands next to Jurgen Jung’s son, Mingi Song, the son of a secret service leader under the government? Hold up, And behind Wooyoung Jung is Jongho Choi, the son of a member of Ostania's ministry. This is a gold mine, San. A gold mine! Hongjoong wanted to scream. Take your chance now, or else you will regret it. He thought stressfully. Or ELSE I will regret it!!!

Seonghwa peeked at the man, giggling at how he seemed so pumped up when looking at San from afar.

Hongjoong looks so passionate when it comes to his child. It’s adorable.

“-There are twenty-four students in the second class. And Cecile Hall will be supervised under Housemaster Henry Jo.” The vice principal said as everyone paid attention to the old man with the crane at the end of the benches.

Hongjoong raised his eyebrows in surprise. A great housemaster like him teaching a first-grade class? That was a first. But he had done a background check on the man, and nothing seemed dubious. Maybe Hongjoong didn’t need to worry much. 

“It’s that nice professor.” Seonghwa proclaimed, smiling at the news that someone they were familiar with was now their son’s instructor. 

Housemaster Jo stood in line, letting out a short yet distinguished scoff.

First-grade? I’m only doing this to fill in the extra spot that bastard had quit from. This should be a cushy job. I will shape these kids the way elegance should be.

San sweated at the man’s words.

“Now,” the vice principal concluded, “The new students will follow their homeroom teachers on a campus tour, then head to their respective classrooms. There will be a meet and greet in Tower C’s lounge for the guardians. We welcome all parents to join us at this event as a form of connecting with each other.”

The parents applauded again, and the students began to move along the lines.

It’s up to you now, San, since you will be on your own. I hope for the best from you. Hongjoong felt a bit weighty. Although it might have been a fabricated household, sending your children to school surged a distinct type of sentiment.

Suddenly, San paused, turned around to look at his papa, and saluted. 

Okey-dokes, papa!

“Get in line, Mr. Kim.” Housemaster Jo warned, and the kid clumsily headed to his spot.

“God,” Hongjoong closed his eyes and whined stressfully, “I’m so worried.”

Seonghwa grinned at his countenance, “I understand how scary it is to see your child being independent. But I’m sure he will be fine, Hongjoong-ssi! Have some hope.”

Right. Hongjoong sighed. Let’s have some hope.

“Everyone can be an elite if they achieve elegant grades and obtain seven Stellar Stars. You can join the select dining room for the Imperial Scholars. But now, this is where you will be for feeds. We have all the most outstanding chefs in the nation who can provide excellent meals on the table. I do hope everyone will do their best and become a great image, of course. And any students that fall behind or misbehave will receive Tonitrus Bolts. I’m sure we all know what they are.”

“Yes, Sir!” The students simultaneously nodded, but the housemaster added as he rubbernecked at a particular child.

“Stay on your toes at all times, or else it won’t be a sweet result.”

San was dumbfounded. Why…why is that grandpa looking at me…?

“Sounds like an easy job for Yunho.” A kid said, and San turned his attention to the voice.

“Obviously, Jongho.” Evil Boss’s son smirked, “With my presence here, nobody can take a chance.”

“As expected from the son of the head of the National Unity Party.” A different kid praised, and San remembered him–the same kid that stood next to Evil Boss’s son the entire time.

“Wow! Really?!” The other students began focusing on the three kids, muttering on the side about how they had heard their parents mentioning the Jung Group. “Let’s be friends!”

“Be quiet! No private conversations!” Housemaster Jo said sternly.

Wooyoung scowled, shaking his head. “Idiots.”

Yunho didn’t bother to heed the housemaster’s words. Instead, he made his way to the kid that had gagged at him earlier. “What about you, kid? What does your father do? Maybe I will let you be my friend if he's important enough.”

For the sake of this mission, Sannie will stay calm.

“Papa is a sp– mind doctor. Papa helps people get better.”

“Hmph, a nobody then. You’re probably not rich, either. Boring-”

“-I want to go to your house,” San said, pointing his finger at the kid as if to prove a point.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” The Jongho kid scoffed, “Know your place. A peasant like you has no power to ask Yunho like that.”

“Lowly kid.” The taller kid beside Yunho sneered, shoving San back forcefully. “Move your filthy, peasant hands away from him.”

San stepped back from the push, clenching his fists in wrath. He thought to himself that I would punch him as Mama did to the bad guys until he remembered what Mama had said a few days ago.  

‘Remember, San. Never use your fist with anger. Letting emotions control your reason to fight is not what a hero does. It is not the true meaning of strength but a mask of being weak.’ After telling San to keep the kidnapping story a secret, Mama warned him. ‘Just like what Mama did earlier. I did not punch those guys because I wanted to scare them. I only did that to protect you. So if people are being a little mean to you, don’t use violence, but treat them back with kindness.’

‘What should Sannie do then?’ He asked at the time, and Seonghwa beamed at him, patting the kid’s head. ‘Smile and act as if nothing happened. They will think you are not afraid of them, and they can’t bully you anymore. That will make you look like a gentleman.’

‘A gentleman! Eung, eung! Sannie wanna look like a gentleman. Like Papa!’

He didn’t know why Mama blushed after that, but he was excited anyway.

So, Sannie would not use his fist today.

“Say something, San. You can’t just let them sit on your head like that!” Wooyoung withered at how San grimly looked on the ground, composing his stance.

“Heh.” San snickered, pulling out the most remarkable smirk he could muster from seeing the Famous Spy Captain once did in an episode. “Sannie didn’t mind it at all. Heh.”

That seemed to freeze everyone at the scene.

H-he. Yunho gripped his palms furiously, watching the pink-haired kid in shock. That kid. How dare he smirk in that mocking way at me?! 

Wooyoung gasped, flashing his eyes at San in astonishment. Elegance. This is what being an elegant gentleman means, right? He’s so mature! I was wrong to think that he was an easy target. I want to be his best friend forever! I’m impressed!

San blinked at the hectic train of thoughts from Wooyoung. Gentleman? Mature? Best friend forever? Waku waku! Maybe San was doing something right!

The pink-haired kid ended up smiling even more wickedly than before. “Heh.”

Yunho’s face was as red as a tomato, nearly at his final stage of combusting like a fireball. “Don’t get cocky, you pumpkin face! Ugly, short, pumpkin face!!!”

From behind, Jongho looked at him weirdly, shaking his head, “You're gonna need more vocabulary than that.”

“Shut up!” Yunho yelled, grumbling with anger.

“What are you even saying?” Wooyoung defended, huffing at the insults, “I know he’s uglier than me, but that’s very mean!”

Yuh- Eh? San was baffled at Wooyoung’s words.

“You shut up, too!” Yunho snapped.

Housemaster Jo frowned in disappointment, snarling at the uproar between the five students.

“I said to keep quiet! Do you want to get a negative point on your first day of school?!”

The commotion instantly shut down. But Yunho still returned his murdering look, and San still kept grinning like a psychopath.

Regardless, Yunho was ashamed of being yelled at on the first day. And San was confused that smiling didn’t help the situation at all. Mama is a liar. The kid silently pouted.

“Ah!” San hissed when his knee got kicked from behind. Yunho smirked meanly, pretending he didn’t do such things as he bypassed the pink-haired kid and Wooyoung with a careless whistle. Jongho and Mingi–now that San knew his name–followed with callow snickers. 

Hold it, Sannie. Hold it. Let’s not pay attention to these meanies.

“Stop it!” Wooyoung growled, just as irritated by the action, “If you keep bothering him, I will tell the teacher!”

“Pfff, Try it,” Mingi said challengingly, “Do you have proof that we kicked him? No. You. Don’t!”

“You-” Wooyoung huffed afterward, crossing his arms over his chest in frustration. “Just you wait!”

“It’s okay, Wooyoungie.” San kept smirking, resuming his way to where the group of classmates and Housemaster Jo had already stopped at the end of a hallway. “These childish remarks can’t bug me.”

“Tough words,” Yunho halted in front of him, pressing Wooyoung on the side strenuously as the kid yelped in pain. He pointed his finger at San’s face, “You don’t get a say in this, ugly. If you keep that smirk on your dumb face, I will smack it off by bullying you. Watch how you gonna cry to your parents later, loser.”

San’s eyes twitched uncomfortably. That’s enough, he thought. One more word and Sannie will let you know what the power of One Punch tastes like.

“What’s with that dumb face?” The tall kid laughed, and it was San’s cue to search for Housemaster Jo, checking if the old man looked in their direction. “Why? Where are you looking? Cat got your tongue? Can’t talk anymore ‘cause you’re too scared-”

A forcible slap imprinted on Yunho as he flew to the hallway’s wall. It didn’t hurt at first, but the pain slowly crawled up his face. The kid burst out a loud wail.

“This piece of crap!” Mingi screamed, running toward a crying Yunho while glaring angrily at San. “How dare you!”

“What’s going on here?!” Housemaster Jo ran over to the cry after hearing the ruckus between the five kids. 

“He hit Yunho!” Jongho said, pointing his finger at the pink-haired kid.

San blinked innocently, “I was putting my hand out, and he ran straight to it.”

“He lied, teacher!” Jongho disagreed.

“Do you have proof that I did that?”

“Your whole palm is on his face, you idiot.” Mingi retorted.

Oh…Yikes…

“Student Kim.” Housemaster Jo looked at him skeptically, “You do understand that lying will be punished, right?”

“I-” San paused with hesitation. He didn’t want the situation to turn out like this. But that Yunho kid was really mean. He couldn’t control it.

“Teacher! It wasn’t San’s fault! These guys have been bothering him since earlier!” Wooyoung complained, trying to defend his new friend.

“So you do admit that you have hurt your classmates?” Housemaster Jo asked again, and San gulped. He didn’t want to get punished now. It was barely his first day, too! What would Papa say when he knew about this? 

Suddenly, San remembered what Mama had told him on that same day. ‘Listen, Sannie. You should only use your fist to save others. If a bad guy hurts your friends, using your power to protect them is okay.’ 

“Sannie…,” he started guiltily, “Sannie saw Wooyoungie being stepped on and shoved away earlier by that kid…So Sannie couldn’t help it.”

“Oh my God.” Wooyoung grabbed his hands, eyes sparkling in respect, “You did that to save me? Sannie! Let’s be best friends forever. I love you a lot!”

San froze at the action, nodding back stiffly.

Instead of becoming aggressive for being bothered, he fought back for his friend. Even if today’s action was improper, it was to protect others. This is a young child, yet he has the elegance of an adult. You have outplayed yourself again, Kim. I will judge this fairly today. Housemaster Jo thought, humming softly to himself.

“One Tonitrus Bolt for you, San Kim. Now, all of you, get back in line.”

Huh- San’s face was paler than a paper sheet.

“But teacher! San was just-” Wooyoung uttered in panic.

“I will not repeat myself again.” But Housemaster Jo replied sternly, “Get back in line.”

As expected, Jurgen Jung did not attend the meet and greet. The only event that Hongjoong could attend without causing suspicions was during the student council meetings, and the unattended figure was the sole reason why Hongjoong couldn’t act rashly to protect his plan.

“Wow,” Seonghwa darted his eyes around, “so many parents here today.” Almost half were important people, he noticed. And it put him on edge knowing the position that he was in. He wondered if Hongjoong even knew how much influence these people had on the public. 

“Agree. I do hope San will blend well with other kids.” Despite needing to observe more and see who Hongjoong could approach, he opened conversations with Seonghwa instead. Even if they were here as a couple, a part of him reminded him that Hongjoong shouldn’t be too relaxed—no matter how sincere Seonghwa was. 

Seonghwa chuckled, grabbing a nearby drink on the table, “Relax, Hongjoong-ssi. You look even more nervous than Sannie himself. He’s a nice kid. He will learn how to handle things eventually.”

“I trust your words,” Hongjoong chortled, “But I also don’t. I know what that kid can do.” —Troubles were what. Hongjoong was scared shitless in his mind. With the amount of random Bee-Es(s) the kid had spoken out of the blue ever since Hongjoong adopted him, anything was possible. But as if to calm him down, Seonghwa intertwined his hand with the latter—that made Hongjoong freeze.

“Again.” Seonghwa reminded him, “You should relax. Look how stiff your shoulders are.”

“I can’t help it.” Hongjoong sighed, “Just thinking about him is already making me nervous.”

Seonghwa watched him in silence, thinking deeply for a moment before he asked, “Should I give you a massage?”

“W-what? Like, here?” Hongjoong stuttered in surprise, embarrassed by the man’s suggestion.

“Yeah! I’m good with that stuff.” The assassin quickly put the drink down and reached to Hongjoong’s shoulders.

“W-wait, wait! That’s tickled, hang on-” Hongjoong let out an uncontrollable laugh, “-I don’t think I need-” The man’s words were cut short when he saw Housemaster Jo walk towards them with a solemn look.

Uh-oh. What is that supposed to be?

The couple composed themselves, not leaving their eyes on the man. 

“Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Kim.” 

Seonghwa and Hongjoong bowed politely.

“I have a situation to discuss with the two of you,” the man started, “about your son.”

Please don’t tell me something already happened. Hongjoong thought stressfully. It’s barely two hours!

Seonghwa returned the same gaze, gulping at the unexpected words. Seems like I spoke too soon.

“Has something happened?” Hongjoong observed, chanting like a mantra in his head that he must have thought too much and nothing probably happened. 

“Yes.” The old man nodded.

Ah, shit. Hongjoong lamented.

“We found that Student Kim hit a classmate today.”

“H-hit- Hit a classmate?!” Seonghwa uttered in bewilderment. 

"...May I ask who...?" Hongjoong asked carefully. Please don't be him, please don't be him, please don't be-

"Yunho Jung." The man said, and Hongjoong's heart dropped.

No way.

“Well, we usually give them three Tonitrus Bolts for such behavior, but San had done so to protect his friend, so under my judgment, I gave him one bolt as a warning.” The man further explained, but Hongjoong’s soul was about to leave his body.

“How…,” He whispered shakily, “How generous of you, sir. T-thank you.”

“As much as I want to dismiss the incident, Misbehaving is still misbehaving. I hope you two will understand.”

“Thank you for telling us.” Hongjoong nodded, using his last bit of sanity to push himself up before he actually lost his damn mind. “We appreciate…we appreciate your patience and consideration for our son.”

“Likewise.” The old man said firmly, “Have a nice day.”

“Y-yes…Nice day.” 

When the man was out of sight, Hongjoong’s legs almost gave out from the shock.

Now, now. Barely one day in, San already got himself a bolt. Hongjoong wanted to cry.

Seonghwa looked at the side, overwhelmingly apologetic at the news. “I’m sorry, Hongjoong-ssi.”

The pale man turned to him with a questioning look, “For what?”

“For teaching him that protecting his friends is a good thing. In my defense, I did not expect this to happen on the first day of school. But…I thought teaching him about ethics and morals before school was necessary…” Seonghwa bit the bottom of his lips, watching Hongjoong with a guilty look.

“It’s not your fault, Seonghwa-ssi.” Hongjoong responded assuredly, “Now let me just-” He attempted to walk, but his wobbly legs almost gave out again, making Seonghwa reach over to catch the faltering figure.

“Are you okay?”

“-I’m okay! I’m okay. Let me just…let me just have a moment for myself.” 

Seonghwa released his grip, looking at the man worriedly, but he agreed regardless, “All right. I will come to you later.”

Hongjoong nodded with a weak gesture and tremblingly walked away.

One Tonitrus Bolt…On the first day…When his job was to have San obtain seven Stellar Stars in the span of a few months. And out of anyone, it just had to be Jurgen Jung’s son. Hongjoong wanted to cry. Hongjoong seriously wanted to cry.

Chapter Text

“Good morning, Hongjoong-ssi. You’re up early today.” Seonghwa yawned, sliding his in-house slippers to the kitchen.

Hongjoong looked up from the bowl of whisked eggs and smiled at the pink pajamas the latter wore until he halted at the chest.

Seonghwa…Not to be judging, but she does look kind of flat.

The spy instantly darted his eyes away, humiliated by the sudden thoughts. It’s rude to evaluate a lady’s body like that. What a gentleman you are. He coughed, “How was your sleep?”

“Very-” Seonghwa cleared his throat, startled by the deep voice he uncontrollably let out. “Very well,” Seonghwa returned the smile, pulling out a cup of water and taking a sip. Hongjoong better overlooks that. “Are you baking something? I have never seen you do this before.” He peeked at the brown content inside the bowl when Hongjoong poured the flour in and mixed them.

Hongjoong nodded shyly, not daring to look at his wife’s face, “It’s my first time baking. I want to try making cookies for San so he can bring some to school. I know it’s nothing much, but I watched a few YouTube videos yesterday.” Aside from bugging Felix, one of his WISE colleagues, about the recipe, of course. Not like Hongjoong would tell Seonghwa that information. Since San had ruined the Friendship Scheme by sending a smack on that Yunho kid’s face, Hongjoong might as well saved the situation and made San apologize the next day. With that in mind, if San could lure the kid with some sweets, maybe they could go back on good terms after a sincere apology.

Even if the rest depended on his adopted son, Hongjoong figured that self-baking some cookies was the least he could do. 

“Do you need help?” Seonghwa asked with interest, feeling incredibly heartwarming at the man’s action. San was lucky to have a father like Hongjoong. “My baking skill is not as great as my cooking skill, but I can lend a hand or two.”

“That would be great,” Hongjoong confessed. Even if he had watched through all types of instructions, having someone with experience in the field felt more assured. Hongjoong might be a top spy in WISE, but he wasn’t born a prodigy.

Seonghwa chuckled, going straight to the fridge and pulling out a butter bar. “You are absolutely welcome,” before he set the bar on the island. Hongjoong widened his eyes with a gasp.

“Ah, shit. The butter!” 

Seonghwa grinned wider.

“I figured something was missing when I saw you cracked the eggs inside that suspiciously dehydrated mix.” 

Hongjoong scratched his head, still reddening from his mistake, “Maybe that is your cue to come in before I ruined this batch of cookies. Thank you, Seonghwa.”

“Pleasure,” The latter said, starting to melt the butter with the stove and letting it soften as he hummed, “What is this sudden baking urge, though? I have never seen you do this before.” Then he abruptly shook his head, trying to fix his words, “Not like I’m complaining or anything. I’m just asking-” 

The spy just smiled, “No worries, Seonghwa-ssi. I just want San to bring some cookies to school. Remember how he received his Bolt yesterday? If this could help with his relationship with classmates, I will do anything so he could have a better learning experience.” Reviving plan B could help Operation Strix go smoothly.

“Oh, right.” Seonghwa blushed, acknowledging that it was his fault for teaching San that fighting with reasons was fine. It was for Seonghwa, but San was a child, and Eden wasn’t an organization of hitmen. “I’m sorry again for teaching San those things. If I didn’t, nothing would’ve happened.”

The spy denied such words. After all, Seonghwa was just trying to help; putting his anger on the lady wouldn’t help the situation but could also ruin this cover and the Kim Hongjoong image in the long run. The spy noted, assuring the latter, “It’s not your fault, Seonghwa-ssi. And neither was San’s. Rather than feeling guilty over something that has passed, we should try to change it by making it better.”

Seonghwa felt his heart thrumming loudly at the man's opinion. He really knows how to use his words. If I had known him before he married, I would’ve hit on him right off the bat.

“R-Right.” 

They began rolling the batter into small, half-a-palm-size balls as they set them on the baking tray, and fumblingly, Seonghwa grabbed the kitchen gloves inside a drawer. Then, he arranged the cookies again to ensure they had enough gaps. Hongjoong moved aside, making space for the stove to be opened.

“Mama! Did you see my strawberry toothpaste?” San ran out of the bathroom, holding his toothbrush with a sleepy face, “I didn’t see-” but he paused when he saw his papa’s face. The situation from yesterday flashed back to the poor child’s mind.  “-my tooth... M-Mornin’ papa…” He said with an apologetic pout.

Seonghwa stood up quickly from his position, planning to reply without realizing that Hongjoong was right behind him. The taller figure let out a frightening yelp, nearly landed himself bordering the stove, and potentially burnt his hands even if the cookies were barely warmed.

Hongjoong caught him before that, though.

The assassin’s breath hitched at the close approximation, seeing Hongjoong’s eyes widely stare back at him with a gulp. This is the second time.

A part of him was glad that his sleeping mask was hanging around his neck, or else he would be doomed with how near they were. If Hongjoong found out about his secret, he wondered what Seonghwa would have to do to him—no matter how much he despised the thoughts.

But the fact that Hongjoong’s hands were holding onto his waist made the man feel things he shouldn’t be feeling.

“Ah.” San blinked at them. “Mama and Papa are flirting again.”

Seonghwa hastily pushed the latter away as Hongjoong coughed in embarrassment.

“W-We are not!”

San waved at his parents before he stepped on the bus.

“Remember to give them to Yunho and apologize, okay?” The kid poked his head out of the bus’s window, eagerly nodding. 

“Eung, eung.”

“Tell him to accept it since you have also tried packing them earlier. So you have helped make these cookies. He will see your sincerity better.” 

San nodded again, “Aye, aye. Bye-bye, Papa. Bye-bye, Mama.” 

The bus drove away slowly after, and Hongjoong let out a tense exhale.

“God. No matter what he does, I’m just so worried.”

Seonghwa grimaced at how the man’s shoulders dropped, “I know I would have assured you, but past experience has told me enough; nothing can improve it. Sorry again.” The last time he tried to console Hongjoong, San brought home a Tonitrus Bolt. That frightened the assassin enough.

Hongjoong shared the same painful smile, “I know exactly what you mean.” Then he glared to the side of Seonghwa’s shirt collars, leaning closer.

“W-wait. What are you doing?” Seonghwa watched him nervously.

“You got something stuck here,” Hongjoong explained, then pointed at the spot near his neck, and it took the assassin a second slower to understand. Oh Lord, I really thought he was leaning in to kiss me. Seonghwa tilted aside, allowing the man to help him. After that, they parted ways—with Seonghwa heading to his firm and Hongjoong walking towards his clinic.

When Hongjoong made sure Seonghwa was out of sight, he pulled out a device.

“Crescent, has her location shown up yet?”

A voice from the other side confirmed with a tactical noise.

“Yes.”

“You are suspecting your wife,” Crescent stated as a matter of fact, watching the man beyond him with a calculating expression. “How come, though?”

Hongjoong didn’t know why, either. “Instinct, I guess.” He ailingly responded. 

Nonetheless, his co-workers shrugged. “I mean, sure. Rather be safe than sorry. I’m just a little surprised that you even added a tracking device on someone you have done a background check beforehand. Nothing has ever bypassed you before.”

And that was why Hongjoong couldn’t understand. He knew Seonghwa wasn’t someone who would stab him behind his back. And although they have been together for weeks now, nothing was out of the blue. Seonghwa was nice, sometimes looking at him with those sparkling and innocent eyes and sometimes silently watching him with a scarlet grin, thinking Hongjoong didn't notice.

Nothing except this morning when Hongjoong pulled the latter back from falling. 

On the first day, Seonghwa had worn at least three layers of clothes when Hongjoong had grabbed her, but this morning, she only wore a thin set of pajamas—so when Hongjoong’s grips were on her hips, something felt wrong despite his better judgment. But in all of his years as a spy, Hongjoong learned never to ignore his instincts.

“If this feeling turns out to be wrong, then it will be wrong. But for now, I want to make sure I’m rational and not assuming things with emotions.”

“Emotions?” Crescent questioned in amazement, but otherwise, no further commenting on the man’s words.

A nurse knocked on the door three times before peeking her head inside, “Dr. Kang, a patient has requested to see you.” 

The two men swiftly adjusted their behaviors and kindly nodded at her. Dr. Kang smiled charmingly, not missing a beat, “I will be right there. Thank you.” The nurse returned the expression with a shy blush as she closed the door.

“Welp, there’s your cue.” Hongjoong leaned back on his chair, looking relaxed.

“I will report what I see.” Dr. Kang stood up with his clipboard. “But don’t expect much from it. A tracking device is easy to manipulate if she knows that you have done this to her.”

Hongjoong decided not to listen to the latter, “See you later,” the spy waved, “Yeosang.”

Chapter Text

Seonghwa hummed a song as he strolled by the curbside of a busy street. 

It was payroll season, so Seonghwa had received an overloaded carton box of sorted paperwork from his clients. And now he headed back to his office with two bags of paper.

A part of him wished a modern platform could help by allowing these stacks of paper to insert the data by themselves so he didn’t have to carry them from the auditing company to his office. The people surrounding him stared at his figure in bewilderment, seeing a young, tall lady with heels and an office dress holding two bags of pure numbers and strange terms without tripping or sweating.

Seonghwa turned a corner, walking on the small path hidden behind a building, heading for the shortcut he had known ever since he started working as an accountant for his firm.

Two men stopped him a minute later.

“Are you Seonghwa Park?”

“Yes?” Seonghwa asked back, almost unsure of himself. He hadn’t expected a confrontation, especially at such a secluded place.

The relatively tall blond hair between the two watched him, then pulled out a piece of paper from his neat uniform. His face was hardened with a grim attitude; the inner vest’s pocket revealed the message as his hand roughly pressed on the strange signal stamped on said paper.

“We are from the secret police and have received a cryptic mail sent to our office. Your name is shown at the end of this form.”

Secret police? Seonghwa looked at the men in shock. Why would the secret police be looking for him? And what kind of paper did he even sign? Seonghwa wrecked his brain to consider if he had forgotten anything for the past few days but to no avail.

“May I ask for the content of such a paper?” He asked carefully, observing the police officers’ expression to see if he could handle this situation without violence. Even if he had no idea about his take on such a paper, having the secret police look through his profile might be a risk. He wondered if the Shopkeeper knew about this.

“That’s a strange thing to say,” the other man finally spoke, stepping closer after taking the paper from the other man. “You don’t know what paper would have a Westalis stamp, or are you trying to act oblivious?”

Seonghwa frowned even more.

Westalis spies’ secret message? But under his name? Seonghwa couldn’t understand how it would come to his position. But not once had he seen such a stamp in his life, let alone signing one.

“There must be a misunderstanding.” Seonghwa shook his head. “I have never signed anything like this. I don’t even know what it is for! I was born and raised in Ostania.”

But the brunette man pressed on, “How are you going to explain when your name and signature are right over here? Unless someone had forged your signature to blame it on you.”

Seonghwa gulped nervously. Who could have done this without his knowledge?

He was an assassin under a government organization.

“You are living with a husband and a son, right?” The blond man suddenly questioned. “Hongjoong Kim. He could be a suspect. Oh, but that would be slick—to think your marriage partner is a scum from the other wall.” He commented offhandedly, looking at the assassin as if to test his reaction.

Seonghwa tried his best not to jostle at the words. He didn’t think the secret police would have the citizens’ records this fast. They must have been watching his family for a while. But that would mean Hongjoong could be counted as a spy. 

But Hongjoong? Someone he had tried to read as they lived together for weeks and had been anything but suspicious. Their son, as well. Spy or not, San was just a kid.

Impossible.

“It’s not him,” Seonghwa spoke quietly, shaking his head. Then, as if to truly convince his conclusion, he repeated. “It’s not Hongjoong.”

The men looked at each other, seemingly communicating through their eyes before one coughed. “How are you so sure? What if he was hiding his identity and taking advantage of you? Of course, if you’re adamant that this was not your doing.”

“I know he doesn’t.”

Seonghwa looked down at the road briefly but changed his expression soon when he stared back at the two men with honesty. His face remained calm, like a rock wall that required a giant wrecking ball to split. Unbreakable. It shouldn’t be. His family was on the line for every word he said. 

“Hongjoong has always made sure everything he did was for the goodwill of others.” He knew how the man had been these days, and nothing was shown that brought the hostile or scheming attitude in his action. Hongjoong always acted on things as if he cared. “If he is one, I’m sure he is doing it for a good reason. But I believe he isn’t one. I just know it.”

There wasn’t a particular excuse that he could provide to protect his family’s image. But deep inside, Seonghwa knew Hongjoong was a good man. San was a child who received the most outstanding care from his father, so even if he had cried about the lack of his passed mother, Seonghwa would still do his best to fulfill the position with his life. 

If things went south, who would be there for their son? And if Hongjoong was a bad guy, why would he even bother to make Seonghwa feel like belonging? Impossible. It just felt impossible. 

But moments like this slowly made Seonghwa realize he had revealed more than he should have.

It was one of those rare times ever since he entered his line of work that Seonghwa had spoken from the heart rather than the brain. 

And his thoughts just wandered—entertained the idea that Seonghwa slowly fell deep into the cover of such an impromptu family.

He had realized his new-grown feelings for the man who was supposedly his fake husband. Well, crap.

“You just know it?” The blond man pressed, watching Seonghwa’s face as it turned beet red. Seonghwa almost looked to be stuck in a trance. The taller policeman snatched the paper back from the brunette one, reading through it one last time before he started at the content.

“Apologies.” He confessed, looking at Seonghwa with a tint of embarrassment, “It seems like we have mixed up the names here. The signature was signed by Songhwa Park, not Seonghwa Park. This would not be related to you in any way, then.” And Seonghwa blinked at them in confusion.

So… was this really a misunderstanding? Knowing that Hongjoong wasn’t any spy from Westalis, he seemed to push down the rocks on his shoulders. It would have been troublesome, as he had bet his feelings on the line. And on another side, he was betting on his job as well. 

Seonghwa’s job was to protect his people, not to let his feelings get in the way.

“So, I am not involved in this, nor does my husband, right?” He asked again to make sure he didn’t freeze and mishear anything. The two men nodded again, showing politeness with the same sharpened expression, yet more relaxed this time. And Seonghwa finally excused himself with a farewell, continuing his way to where he had walked earlier.

“Is this what you mean when you say you don’t want to think with your emotions?” Yeosang whispered, watching the stressful spy ruffling his hair with strained eyes.

Shit. He was doomed. Hongjoong thought. He was in deep shit. Intense shit.

Their lunch break consisted of locating Seonghwa and silently following the lady to see which locations she had been to. But all in all, Seonghwa was an accountant, working for a local tax firm near the park next to the City Hall. It was what she had told Hongjoong before, and he slowly believed that he was overthinking about putting a tracker on her.

When she bumped into the secret police. Hongjoong and Yeosang had watched the scene from a nearby balcony. Now that the prominent people had left, all he could do was curl into a ball as he processed what had happened.

His cover was almost lifted, even if it was a coincident misunderstanding. But what troubled him the most was how Seonghwa didn’t need any to bring any suspicion yet wholly protected him through a mere instinct. The action touched him but made Hongjoong guilty at the same time. He knew Seonghwa was kind-hearted. But to know her decision was a misleading advantage-taken one made the spy feel worse than when he exploded a ring’s basement save.

He knew Seonghwa must’ve acted out of the impression that Rocky was trying to build. Yet, every bit of him wanted to apologize to the woman solely because of how susceptible she was and how dreadful he felt for leading such a fraudulent misconception. Even if lying was a part of his job.

Lately, Hongjoong struggled to distinguish between his responsibility and his emotions. His trouble only grew more prominent when he got home at night, seeing how Seonghwa busied herself, making the three of them feel like a real family despite going through a lot during the day; a certain weight just seemed to drag the spy down endlessly.

Was it a bright idea to keep this plan going? As far as he knew, it was the only way.

Then why did he seem to regret it now?

A fear in him murmured an unwanted thought that even if he was soaked in these so-called moments of happiness, he knew he had to shut them down one day.

And that scared him.

“Oh? You’re back early today.” Seonghwa said in surprise, hastily taking off his heels as he arranged them on the shelf by the walking entrance.

“Ah, yeah. I got off from work early today.” Hongjoong smiled, putting a tray down as he took off his apron. Seonghwa looked at the scene in amusement. Today was a strange day. Hongjoong had been making things in the kitchen twice for the first time ever since the assassin first knew him.

“What are you doing?” He asked, peeking over the island to see what was inside the tray. Then he gasped, “No way. Did you make this yourself?”

“Yeah…,” Hongjoong nodded shyly, “I want to make something again as a thank you so….”

But Seonghwa was confused by that information. “A thank you?”

“Yeah.” The man blushed, “To you.”

“To me?” The taller one seemed even more lost than before, “For what occasion? But what did I do?” 

“For everything.” Hongjoong shyly revealed, looking away as he pretended to busy himself by cutting the chestnut pie he had just made so he didn’t have to focus on Seonghwa’s expression. “For keeping up with me and,” he hesitated, “With this family.”

Seonghwa melted at the words, “Oh, Hongjoong-ssi. You didn’t need to do anything! I also have my reason for this!”

“Still,” Hongjoong shook his head, “I want to show my appreciation. Whatever you are doing is a great help to me. Here, try it. I want to see your approval.” He said excitedly, taking a piece out and setting it on a small plate. 

Seonghwa took the fork from the man’s hand with a soft grin.

“Mmmh!” The assassin hummed, “Not bad for the first time. I would say it’s a bit dry, but it tastes amazing.”

Hongjoong touched his nape, embarrassingly watching Seonghwa’s eager eyes as he aimed for a second bite. “I-I’m glad. I guess the internet pays off sometimes.” Then he sat next to Seonghwa, where the assassin was leaning over the island with half his leg hooked on the chair, smiling. Hongjoong grabbed another fork.

He grimaced after the first bite.

It wasn’t just a little dry. It was scorched. He wondered if Seonghwa was enjoying or just straightening up, forcing herself to make Hongjoong happy.

“If it’s not that good. You don’t have to eat all of it.” He assured, pulling the plate towards himself in an attempt to stop and acknowledge his failure. But Seonghwa seemed to oppose the idea and dragged the plate back.

“I didn’t say it wasn’t good!” The latter objected, “You did great with it, Hongjoong. Besides, didn’t you say it was for me? Just let me have it.”

“But-” Hongjoong wanted to defend, birthing some sort of dumb excuses to prevent his wife from another consumption that he feared the pie wasn’t baked at the right temperature—hence, the dryness. But Seonghwa assured him with another smile, taking another bite from the silverware. The lady watched him with a hint of shyness, and Hongjoong could see how her cheekbones raised and down in an upbeat motion. He started to feel lightheaded the more he focused on the latter. 

Hongjoong fluttered like he was in a daze. 

“Woah.” Seonghwa took the last bite from the small pie, sighing in contentment. “That was amazing. You should try to make a meal next time, too. I’m sure you will do a wonderful job.” He set the fork down, turning his attention back to Hongjoong only to raise an eyebrow at the man’s unfocused stare questionably—recognizably for the scarcity of response.

“Hong…joong?” he whispered, looking at the man for any sign of reply. Confused by the lack of reaction, he raised his hand. But before he could reach the man’s shoulder, Hongjoong pulled him first, smoothly covered the two sides of his shoulders and-

“Uhm!” Seonghwa yelped, feeling the shorter man soon pull back with a flushed face. And Seonghwa touched his lips in disbelief.

“Fuck.” Hongjoong mumbled. “T-that slipped out.” 

Seonghwa’s heart was jamming with three different EDM beats as he stood stiffly like an unripe plantain tree. Blood pumped across his veins, then traveled to his ears, cloaking his hearing sense aside from the thundering pump of his chest. When Hongjoong was about to apologize for what he did, Seonghwa couldn’t even hear anything.

Fuck. He didn’t want to hear anything.

“Sorry- I- I don’t know what just got over me. I-”

Seonghwa dragged the man back and deepened the kiss.

All Hongjoong could think of was the number of fucked-up incidents he had accumulated in the past few weeks. First, it was the Tonitrus Bolt, and now it was him catching feelings in a mission—which, surprisingly, was a first. 

He wondered what Leez would think when he learned about this and what Hongjoong would do to save himself from digging deeper into his mistakes. 

The thought didn’t last when Seonghwa let out a breathy exhale from the lack of air, and his focus uncontrollably remained on the body beyond him. They had been making out for probably a few minutes. He was losing track of time, but the spy knew enough that the dizziness was a sign for him to do something. 

What something—though—was the real question. 

Surprisingly, Seonghwa was an excellent kisser. Seonghwa seemed to have mastered this unanticipated soft skill even if Hongjoong was confident of his pleasuring abilities. For a young, single lady—to think Seonghwa was quite an expert in such a field. Which was, well, pretty odd.

But goddamn, Hongjoong was too drunk in the kiss to care; that unforeseen skill made Seonghwa even hotter.

Hongjoong bit down her lips as she pressed her back against the island, letting out a soft hiss, yet having no sign of breaking the distance. The spy felt bolder, traveling his tongue across the warm, blushing corner of his partner’s mouth and sucking lightly on the tongue. Another sound broke out, urging him to do more, savoring more, taking, and giving more.

“Fuck.” He whispered against the latter’s swollen lips, “What are you doing to me?”

But Seonghwa’s sparkling eyes seemed to ask the same question, wordlessly watching him with a numbed look, before she leaned back again and closed her eyes. Hongjoong couldn’t help but listen.

His hands secured on the two sides of the island as Seonghwa wrapped her arms around his shoulders, sitting on the chair this time for stability, and Hongjoong leaned down for easier access as he—

The door clicked softly as San waved his lunch box around in excitement. His pink hair was messy, and his backpack was semi-opened. But the kid was joyous as he bragged about his accomplishments.

“Papa! Mama! Guess what! Yunho said he will forgive me for giving him the coo-”

The kid froze at the scene, dropping the box with a loud thud at the sight of his parents.

Hongjoong and Seonghwa immediately pushed each other out, faces widened with fright and humiliation. 

Seonghwa instantly covered his lips, where Hongjoong had bitten so that it started bleeding a little, and the spy awkwardly laughed, trying to divert the child’s attention from the previous scenery. “S-San. Hey, kiddo. You’re back already?”

But instead of answering, San just appeared gobsmacked, staring at his mama in complete horror.

“So Wooyoung was right.”

“Who?” Hongjoong asked, confused by the statement.

“My friend Wooyoung! We just talked about this today! Papa and Mama just smooch smooch.”

Then he made the gesture where his tiny hands formed into fists as they bumped into each other.

Hongjoong looked at Seonghwa, and the latter returned the same muddled expression. 

San took this somewhat easier than Hongjoong thought—considering how children his age shouldn’t have seen any of this. Then, he was about to explain that San should understand what kissing was and when or to whom it could apply, the pink-haired kid following words sent the both of them into a pot of stupor.

“Wooyoung said if Mama and Papa smooch smooch, Sannie will have a baby sibling.” Then the kid ran over to his mama, touching the man’s stomach as if he knew exactly what he was saying.

The parents stared at the kid dumbfoundedly and collectively sputtered at his innocent comment.

“W-What?”

San clapped his hands eagerly, jumping up and down.

“Oh, woah! So Mama is pregnant!”

Seonghwa nearly choked on his own spit.

Chapter Text

“Mama is not pregnant?”

“No, Sannie. I’m not pregnant.” Looking at the child’s devastating state made him regret even explaining the situation. But San ought to know, children or not. The thought allowed Seonghwa to let out a snort uncontrollably. “We don’t get pregnant after, uh, kissing someone.”

Besides, Seonghwa was a man. He was anything but reproducible.

Aw, really? San looked up and suddenly frowned at the assassin’s thought. So a man and a man can’t get pregnant after smooch-smooch-ing? Even if they are Sannie’s papa and mama? That doesn’t sound inciting anymore. And here he was, getting excited about nothing.

“Hmph.” San pouted. “Unfair.” His expression seemed to make the tall man laugh. But to Seonghwa’s surprise, the kid was more composed at the news than he anticipated. Nonetheless, as long as San didn’t question why his parents were kissing each other, to begin with, he could lead this conversation astray.

But his first fatal mistake, however, was to contain all his thoughts in his silly little head.

San peeked up at Seonghwa with a realization.

“Ah, yeah.” He gasped as if he had just discovered a chamber of secrets, “Why did Papa and Mama smooch smooch?” 

Seonghwa froze at the question.

Goddamn it.

“Well,” He gulped, “We were…we were just-” Seonghwa didn’t take any Parenting 101 lessons in his life, never read a Ways of Parenting for Dummies book, nor had a child relative in his connection due to the nature of his past. So, to be in such a situation threw him off-guard. Seonghwa was dumbstruck for an extended period, struggling to bring up an excuse. “You know, we were-”

“Sannie, would you like to try my chestnut pie?” Hongjoong spoke abruptly, and the assassin might have looked at the man in bewilderment. In return, Hongjoong gave him a knowing gaze and pulled the child’s attention to his pie tray.

San instantly jumped to look over the counter in wonder. “Chestnut? Is it like peanuts?”

“Not exactly. But you can taste it and let me know if you like it.” Hongjoong cut out a piece and pushed the pie plate toward the kid. Seonghwa followed by bringing the pink-haired boy to the high chair. 

“Bleugh. What is this thing?” San instantly frowned at the first bite. Hongjoong was taken aback by his honesty. It was good that children could not lie. But lord, the kid was brutal.

Seonghwa grinned mysteriously at the oblivious remark.

“Sannie. Papa made it himself. At least say something nice!” Seonghwa whispered into the kid’s ear, and San looked at his papa with his mouth agape. 

“Oh- papa made it? No, no. Papa, papa. Sannie likes it! Yum!” The kid swallowed with an awkward grimace. Then, he made a gagging gesture, pressing his chest as if pushing the hardtack-like pie downward was a survival challenge. In the end, small hands pathetically moved the plate away, unable to continue the lie. Hongjoong looked at the kid and sighed. For some reason, the two of them were exactly the same. It amused the man to see that San already knew how to please people at such a young age. And you don’t find that in a lot of 6-year-old children now, do you?

“If you can’t eat it, you can spit it out, Sannie,” Hongjoong said with a firm nod, letting out a signal that the kid didn’t need to force himself with the spy's failed attempt at cooking. And as accommodating as the kid could be, San disliked how the pie was tough to chew. 

“Can I…?” He asked carefully, almost afraid to offend his papa. Hongjoong just shrugged. “Sorry, papa.” He said guiltily, and Hongjoong cheekily smiled and ruffed his head.

“Tell us about your day. How did it go, Sannie?” He asked, looking at Seonghwa with a playful wink and tilting his head towards the child, hinting at Seonghwa that he got this — being able to distract San — and that they could continue with this road without having to explain anything. Seonghwa returned his stare with a subtle thumbs-up.

“O-oh! Ah, yeah!” San yelled like he just suddenly remembered something. The kid jumped down from the high chair as he looked for his cookie box and shoved it into Seonghwa, who naturally put it inside the sink and opened the cap. “I gave the cookies to Yunho. Unlike Papa’s weird nut pie, the cookies were delicious. Yunho said he would forgive me this time if I stayed in my line and treated him like a prince.”

Hongjoong squinted at the words. The kid is this young and already has a superior complexity? I mean, why am I surprised?

San looked at his papa in puzzlement. Superior complexity? What’s that? Can Sannie eat it?

“It’s good that you guys have made up then.” Regardless, Hongjoong smiled, “I’m glad I could help you. How was school today?”

“Pretty good!” San clapped excitedly, “I got to play dodgeball in P.E. class, and Wooyoung gave me his phone number! I’m unsure what that is for, but I wrote the numbers down anyway. I have no phone.”

The spy nodded, and it seemed like Operation Strix was going well. If this process continued to progress in a positive light, Rocky could complete his mission more quickly. Now that San had constantly mentioned the Wooyoung kid, Hongjoong finally recognized which family this kid belonged to—even if his young, little knowledge was deemed a bit questionable.

“Oh!” San added, “Wooyoung said he wants to visit our house tomorrow.”

Seonghwa raised his eyebrows at the kid’s words. “Tomorrow? After being friends for merely three days? That’s a bit quick, don’t you think?”

“Is it?” San tilted his head with inquisitiveness, “Is Sannie not allowed to let Wooyoungie visit us?”

“Of course not, Sannie. You are free to tell him to come over. I’m just not expecting it.” Seonghwa inwardly frowned, thinking of how he had to ask the shopkeeper to let him have one night off so he could clean the house and decide what dishes to make for San’s friend to come over. San gulped at the thought. He completely forgot about Mama’s job.

“If Mama is busy. I can tell Wooyoung to come over another day.” The kid spoke abruptly, and that startled Seonghwa from his thoughts. 

“No, Sannie. I don’t work tomorrow anyways.” Was he that obvious to read? Seonghwa wondered if he had been foolhardy lately and had given away his thoughts too carelessly. But he shook his head and ignored such an uncertain idea. Sometimes, children could read adults better than they believed. San seemed to be one of them.

San looked at his mama nervously. 

“Uhm.” He lowered his voice, switching the subject, “Can I have hot cacao?”

Seonghwa blinked, feeling a bit odd but beaming nonetheless. “Absolutely.”

“The target is at six o’clock. Turn left after you reach the fourth level; there is a bathroom entrance. Wait for him to walk towards room four-eighty-two and give it a knock afterward. He called a male escort earlier.” 

“Roger.” Seonghwa cunningly replied, hiding over half his slender body to the wall as he observed the hallway. Soon, a man (in his fifties, perhaps) in a brown suit walked towards the room with a hand on his phone, discussing it with someone repetitively in the other line.

The man fumbled for his room card before he swiped it to open the lock, pushing the door wider to walk inside. Seonghwa counted about three minutes after assuring that nobody was around. The CCTV had been turned off when he checked, and Seonghwa fixed his attire, ensuring his velvet mask covered his face well before he gave the door three sharp knocks.

The man opened the door with a questioning look until he scanned Seonghwa’s outfit with an inevitable realization. “You’re here quicker than I expected. Come on in.” Seonghwa nodded subtly and allowed the man to guide him; his movements were easy and exposed. His hips swayed professionally as the door closed softly with a click.

When the man attempted to advance towards the locked door as the barrier, Seonghwa revealed his face covered with a seductive smile. The man checked his features as if being hooked, and Seonghwa blocked his chapped lips before he could reach further. 

“Mr. Schulz. Apologies.” He leaned over, breathing hotly to the man’s ear, then spinning his stiletto with a swift movement before the target could even realize.

“Ugh, how troublesome.”  Seonghwa sighed many times that night, rubbing off the blood stain from his sheer blouse using the same bathroom he had hidden in before. “My favorite one, too.” After half an hour of being unable to scrub off the cursed color from the edge of his top, the assassin groaned in defeat. 

“Maybe I should quit this job and be an actual housewife instead.” The man recounted the number of clothes he had to throw away from all the unexpected blood spatters clinging onto his clothes. “I wouldn’t have to go shopping once every weekend.” And even if he had always worn dark outfits, this navy blouse was, unfortunately, a poor victim to the substance he had touched the most during his missions. 

He had thought that being who he was didn’t seem as important as what he had now. And somehow, having a family made the man realize how much he had been isolating himself from society. Maybe without Hongjoong and San, Seonghwa would have kept wondering what his mistake was as he rarely talked or kept a connection to anyone else other than the organization.

It made him realize what it would feel like to be normal.

He truly believed that if he were to leave and never came back to Garden, he could be happy living under this family. Something about them being together… just sounded right.

Seonghwa paused and pushed his thoughts away when he heard footsteps outside the bathroom. He was able to have his cover around his face when the door burst open. A man was posing by the door, pointing a gun toward him. Seonghwa couldn’t figure out if he had seen the man before, as his face was also covered up, and his hat was tipped on top. But the first thing Seonghwa did was hiss out a curse, darting around for an escape. He got spotted.

Seonghwa was here for his mission, not to kill those involved in whatever he was in. Especially the people whom he was not assigned to take down. Hence, being trapped inside the bathroom gave him a sort of frustration. The man spoke no words, inching closer to where he was with his gun dangerously abutting his position. Seonghwa warned.

“Move.”

The man remained unperturbed.

“I’m not here to waste my time with the people I don’t need to hurt. I said move.” Seonghwa seeped his weapons into both of his hands, steadily waiting for a good breakout without having to use violence. But the man was adamant about keeping him hostage. And Seonghwa didn’t have enough patience to continue this painstakingly long process. He decided to push when the man had no sign of backing down.

Seonghwa swung his stiletto as close to the man’s head as possible without any actual hurting intention, and as expected, the man dodged before it hit him, using his gun as a close combat weapon to aim his hit toward the assassin. Seonghwa spun, moving his hand to block the impact without having to poke his stiletto at the man’s arm. The man’s other hand reached over with his right shoulder and yanked him back before he noticed his opening. And before Seonghwa could inwardly disapprove of his mistake, a cold tip of the gun was pressed on the side of his temple, with the man’s arm firmly holding his neck.

Rude. Seonghwa winced. Here he was, trying his best not to harm the latter, yet the figure behind him had not given any mercy so far. Seonghwa wondered if he could make it out of there alive.

“Who are you working for, and why did you kill Schulz?” The man finally spoke, and by the strange twitches of his tone, Seonghwa struggled with recognition. 

A voice changer.

However, not even his organization could use such a device to cover itself due to the difficulty of identification. Moreover, it was a breach of regulations, so the ministry dismissed the allowance of such devices inside Ostania. So, if this man could use one, he was not someone from here.

Fuck. Seonghwa widened his eyes.

A Westalis spy?

Why would they be here? A trade? To meet up with an informant? Was Schulz a part of the connection as well? Seonghwa’s head began to throb, but what he could only focus on was to lead the gun away from his head and escape before this man could call for backup. He didn’t want to deal with all this bull crap right now.

When the man gripped him harder, Seonghwa let his body loose, testing the water by pulling his strength on the submission side. Pretending to be vulnerable seemed to do the trick most of the time, so when the man’s hold released a bit of tension, Seonghwa pushed forward before he slammed back with his elbows, making them drilled toward the man’s abdomen as he let out a loud groan and had one hand clutching his stomach. 

That victory didn’t last long when Seonghwa was about to escape. The spy managed to wrap around his waist using his other hand, and the gun again secured by his head. This time, his other arm wrapped around his neck. But to Seonghwa’s surprise, the man seemed to freeze when he gripped Seonghwa's hips. That was enough for the assassin to lean forward and knock his head toward the man’s face. Seonghwa successfully made a dart out of the door, leaving the man back covering his face with an angry growl as he shakily aimed and shot at the door. But by that time, it was too late; Seonghwa was already fleeing from the capture.

He ran down two floors with the emergency stairs, then hid inside a nearby storage room as he sent a quick code to the shopkeeper with his earpiece, alerting the man about the situation. Grabbing the janitor uniform, Seonghwa frowned. It seemed like he wouldn’t even have to clean the blood stain; this might be the last time he saw his favorite outfit. And the thought riled him to no end, but he didn’t even have the time to be upset about it. Seonghwa changed his clothes as quickly as he could. Then, casually pushing the cart of cleaning equipment, he pulled the baseball cap closer to his face as the face mask carefully hid his features. 

He could see a few men run upstairs as he reached the other side of the hallway and went through the elevator with the cleaning cart toward the garage. Seonghwa inspected for any cameras and closed the elevator after ensuring nobody was following him. Those men must have been the backups that he had expected from earlier. And knowing that the Westalis spies were somehow involved in this case sparked his curiosity and uneasiness. But Seonghwa understood how grave it was to dig in and question the issues when it was not what he was ordered to do. 

When Seonghwa reached the bottom floor, he immediately ran towards his organization's car and absconded to his intended location.

Home.

Seonghwa dried his hair with the towel as he stepped out of the bathroom, sighing contentedly.

He paused at the dark figure sitting by the sofa, however, attentively looking at his freshly showered body with an unreadable expression.

“Hey?” Seonghwa asked worriedly, noticing the lack of response. Soon, he was surprised when Hongjoong suddenly stood up, marching toward him like a man on a mission.

It was midnight by now, so seeing the man remain awake in his oversized tee and pajama pants surprised Seonghwa more than it should have. And Seonghwa was doing his best to walk around the house quietly. It seemed like he wasn’t as secretive as he thought. Seonghwa was about to ask what was wrong when Hongjoong suddenly hugged him behind his back. His head nudged into the crook of Seonghwa’s neck, and he attacked the dammed skin with soft kisses and bites. His arms wrapped around the latter’s hips. 

Despite the unexpected gesture, Seonghwa still let out an airy gasp as he tipped his head to the side, making way for Hongjoong to leave even more marks around the sensitive area. “What’s with this intensifying load of attention?” Seonghwa chuckled as Hongjoong led them toward the sofa. But Hongjoong didn’t say anything. Instead, he swapped their position by having Seonghwa flop on the cushion and desperately diving into the man’s lips. Seonghwa took it just like he had this afternoon, letting the moan and broken hums cover the living room as Hongjoong took his breath away. They kissed for so long that Seonghwa could start feeling how numb his swollen lips were, but before he could break out of their trance, Hongjoong ended it first.

The man let out a troubled groan, appearing conflicted the more his eyes scrutinized Seonghwa with an incomprehensive reaction. And when Hongjoong completely stopped his movement, Seonghwa raised his brows in question. “Is everything alright?”

But again, the man remained silent. Hongjoong suddenly pulled away, leaving a dazed Seonghwa sitting on the sofa with a questionable look before he mumbled a quick ‘good night’ and closed his bedroom door. 

Seonghwa touched his lips with a lost expression.

What just happened?

“We’ve gathered the informants from the other line. Schulz was assassinated by the Ostania ministry’s order.” Rocky’s supervisor spoke through the tactic line as he flipped through the stack of paper delivered this morning from the organization.”

“Do we know who the hitman was?” Hongjoong spoke quietly, checking his watch to see when Seonghwa would be home from her grocery shopping. San was at school, but he knew the kid would be here soon with his new friend. 

“Yes. A source had collected data from the wounds on Schulz’s body. A thirty-centimeter stiletto. And if it comes to the Ostania ministry, there is one known assassin in the field.” 

Hongjoong seemed sobering at the information, “And who would that be?”

Leez flipped through the paper again, humming without any specific rhythm. “Under Garden. A class S assassin. Code name’s Prince of Mars. We don’t have enough data on this man, but I know he is the only one using this type of weapon. He’s kind of mysterious in a way,” Then the man chuckled as if he had just discovered a funny joke, “Kinda sounds like you.”

The spy scoffed.

“It’s unlikely to see you show personal interest in someone from Ostania, though.” Even if Hongjoong tried to obscure his intention, it seemed like Leez could read him too well. “An assassin at that. Did you find something from yesterday’s encounter?”

Hongjoong wanted to say something. An itch in him urged him to, so he opened his mouth a little. But the flash of memory from yesterday held him back as a warning that he might regret his decision if he just acted without thinking. And goddamn, he was thinking—very hard at that. 

But in the end, he said nothing.

“No. I’m just curious.” He spoke curtly, “My wife will be home soon, so I will talk to you later. Thanks for the updates.”

“Alright, see you.” His supervisor replied, and the line ended after that.

Hongjoong slumped down to the floor stressfully.

Fuck. He thought. What did I get myself into?

The door opened when he gathered himself up. Hongjoong tried to appear natural, which seemed to be working since Seonghwa's door was held by her bag of groceries, and the lady didn’t seem to notice any difference. She beamed at him happily, and Hongjoong returned the gesture with an awkward smile. 

He noticed San excitedly chatting with another kid by his side as he dragged him inside the house with his tiny hand.

“You’re back early.” Hongjoong started, voluntarily taking the grocery bag and allowing Seonghwa to walk inside the kitchen to prepare the food for their new guest. 

“Yeah, I figured we still have a lot of stuff in our fridge. And San said Wooyoung wouldn’t stay long. I will just make them some snacks, and they can play together in the living room.” 

“Sounds great.” Hongjoong nodded, taking the vegetables and meat out of the brown bag and organizing them to where they would belong. While Seonghwa was mixing the eggs with the flour to make the waffle batter, Hongjoong took out two iced tea mugs for the kids.

San was still chatting animatedly next to his friend, but they looked up at the same time, and Hongjoong smiled when he set the drinks down on the table. Wooyoung blinked, appearing awestruck, before he turned to San, questioning.

“Sannie, you didn’t tell me you have an older brother,” Wooyoung whispered in the pink-haired kid’s ear. And San stared back in bewilderment.

“Brother? Who said Sannie has a brother?”

“Then who’s this hot guy?”

Hot guy? San looked even more confused. Is Papa on fire right now? He doesn’t look anything like that, though. 

“That’s Sannie’s papa!” He clarified, and Wooyoung frowned this time, unconvinced by the statement. 

“No way!” He denied, “He looks too hot and young to be a dad. Sannie is lying, so I can’t have a chance of being together with your brother, right?”

Hongjoong rapidly flickered his eyes at the scene folding in front of him. It was flattering to hear a 6-year-old child compliment his appearance, but it was more questionable on the part that this child is 6-year-old, and behaving like not how a 6-year-old should be. 

“I don’t get you, Wooyoungie. What do you mean?” San croaked out hesitantly, and Wooyoung pulled him closer, whispering again like it was a private matter that Hongjoong ought not to know, even if he was right there.  

“Lemme tell you a secret. I just watched the newest episode of the romance drama my mom likes to play at night, and the main girl tripped herself as she fell in the main guy’s arms, and their feelings bloomed after that.”

Hold up. San blinked. Didn’t that happen to Papa and Mama, too?

San looked at his papa, seeing how the man had already walked away in an attempt to leave the kids alone, even if San knew well that his papa was eavesdropping on their conversation. 

“-so I’m going to do the same to him. Do not stop me.” San returned to where his friend had left off and seemed a bit gobsmacked.

“You can’t do that?!” He whispered loudly, “Papa and Mama are together.”

“Oh, I will.” Wooyoung nodded assuringly, “If you help me with this, I will buy you peanuts every day.”

San paused. “Really?”

“Promise.”

He could hear his papa’s thoughts as the man pretended to read his newspaper. For a kid that age, his imagination sure runs a little wild. He already knows how to bargain, too.

Well, it wasn’t like Papa didn’t treat San well. But the offer did sound very tempting. San nodded slowly. “Okay.”

At least having peanuts day-to-day seemed like a better deal.

Sorry, papa.

Suddenly, Wooyoung stood up and clutched his stomach. “Ah! Mr. Kim. My stomach hurts! Could you take me to the bathroom?”

Hongjoong looked at him with a secretive half-smile, “You can ask Sannie to take you there. I’m sure it’s better if he goes with you.”

San abruptly stood up as well.

“I! I uh,” he gulped. “I wanna go play with Agent Shiber. Yeah! Can Papa do that instead?”

Hongjoong did his best to hold back his outburst of laughter. Children might be strange, but they were full of wonders. “Alright, then.” He said, “Come along.” The man stood up, taking small strolls towards the bathroom with Wooyoung following along like a puppy. 

Then, the kid ran in front of him, using his left leg to lose his balance. He let out a dramatic yelp, peeking over at San, who was standing still with a thumbs-up. San returned the action.

Hongjoong would have fooled along with their silly antics if it wasn’t for Seonghwa carrying out two waffle plates with strawberries and whipped cream on top, which distracted him from the little kid. 

“Dessert’s done! Have some, Sannie. Wooyoung, too. I hope they suit your taste.”

Wooyoung ended up falling down the carpet. His face was beet red with anger when he saw Seonghwa beaming at him innocently. So this was his rival, Wooyoung discernibly judged.

Then, the kid huffed in irritation as he stood up, hastily dusting off whatever was on his uniform. He glared bullet eyes toward the poor figure, grumbling with a tint of childish disapproval. 

“Cockblocker,” the kid remarked.

And Seonghwa’s smile instantly dropped.

“I- W-what?”

San had no idea what that meant.

But it was the first time since forever that Hongjoong had cracked such wholehearted and unrestrained guffaw.

Chapter Text

“What is this?” The shopkeeper stared at the white envelope with puzzled eyes. Then he glanced up at a nervous Seonghwa who seemed out of place trying to fit in with the black wallpaper.

“Please review and approve it.”

The shopkeeper shot him a skeptical look, lifting the white wax stamp with uneasiness. 

“You want to resign?”

“Please approve it.”

The man observed him for a moment, deeply in thoughts. Seonghwa felt like he was being read like an open book.

“You fell in love, did you?”

“W-what? No!”

“Say the one who can't contain his frights in his boots.”

The statement sounded like a jab to his chest.

Seonghwa didn't know why the shopkeeper said so. His resignation letter was written because of the family he got himself into. After living with them for almost eight months, Seonghwa thought the lifestyle clashed too much with what his occupation had to offer. Every afternoon, seeing San and Hongjoong’s faces after reaching home, he didn't have the courage to proudly tell them what he did aside from the accounting job that acted as his disguise. He figured maybe quitting would allow him to stay with this family longer. After all, he finally felt belonging somewhere.

Not because he had feelings for Hongjoong or whatever.

Seonghwa didn't mind being a housewife (he reasoned).

“Will you approve it?”

The shopkeeper tapped his fingers on the soil tin can.

“Have you thought it through?”

“More than you’d know.”

“Alright.” The man said quickly, “You have three weeks with us before returning your badge.” 

“Really?” Seonghwa didn't think the shopkeeper would agree to this quickly. Considering how much he knew about the organization, he thought he’d have to fight for his life to get out of there.

“Of course, what do you think I’d do to you?” The man chuckled, setting his gardening scissors down after cutting off a branch from his orange tree. “You are one of my first employees, Mars. You have earned your respect here for years. What would other agents think of me if I can't allow one request? But if you ever changed your mind. We always welcome you.”

“T-thank you.” Seonghwa didn't know why his chest felt heavy, but at the same time, it felt like a large rock had been lifted off his shoulders. He was ready to leave the mansion, but the shopkeeper prevented him from doing so with a raise of his gardening tool.

“Ah-ah, not so fast.” The shopkeeper turned around, holding the branch he had just cut, and snapped it in half. The pieces sadly flew to a nearby trash bin. “You will be given three more assignments before you go.”

“Pardon?” Seonghwa blinked, dumbfounded.

“Don’t think you can dust your feet off just because I approved it.” The man smirked, turning back to cut another branch with clean, sleek movement. Something about how he snapped the tree brought chills to Seonghwa’s spine. “You are still Prince of Mars for three weeks.”

The assassin watched his uncaring boss with a laugh. Speechless.

Fine. He agreed, considering the shopkeeper had taken him in when he was rolling through the streets back then, trying to find a living purpose. It was the least he could do.

“Can you give me a bonus before I go?”

“One thing at a time, Mars.”

“I want a cat.” San looked at the front page of a newspaper, pointing at a picture of a park, eyes sparkled.

“Sannie. Are you sure about this?” Seonghwa peered over the content, frowning at the kid’s abruptness. 

“Eung! Sannie wants a cat! Can we go?”

“Alright, baby. Where is it?”

Things turned unexpectedly ordinary after the incident with the pink-haired kid’s new friend. Seonghwa would love to contact Wooyoung’s parents solely to interrogate their responsibility for the entertainment the kid had seen with his mother every dinner, much to his dismay. But not wanting to attract attention, he decided otherwise. That lucky child, he thought. He had no idea how he became a cockblocker in his own house, either. But the accusation was hysterical. The child could have been a scriptwriter in the future if he had kept that knack of his. 

Regardless, Hongjoong promised to reward San for successfully befriending Yunho, so San got to make one wish as long as it was within their capability. Easy tasks.

Neither Seonghwa nor Hongjoong expected the wish to become cat owners from their bubbly son. Looking at each other in conflict, Seonghwa carefully retrieved the newspaper from the coffee table, reading through the topic's title San was excited about.

Autumn’s National Park Fest — A three-day festival opened at a national park for tree planting and animal adoption. There was even a recently built amusement park in that area. The festival acted as an opening event to attract customers. It checked all of San's boxes.

The assassin’s hands tweaked at the realization that the shopkeeper had assigned him a mission for that same event, although he didn't show his nervousness upfront.

He hummed nonchalantly and gave the newspaper to the other man.

Hongjoong didn't take long to look at it.

Uh-oh.

The spy skimmed over the description of the event’s location—bad news.

Just yesterday, Leez had given him the task to infiltrate the area due to a planned assassination of an Ostania politician. The men they recently captured revealed an outlet regarding bombs carrying on the animals at the park due to an announcement this morning regarding Politician Richard Neumann attending the event with his daughter. This festival was opened as a friendly peacemaking proposal between the Westalis and Ostania. Hongjoong recalled that Westalis’ government had paid a hefty amount to sponsor the event.

If Neumann died, Westalis would be under fire due to their current involvement with Ostania, and the treaty between the two nations would crumble to dust.

That being said, another war would break out, whether there was Jurgen Jung’s initiation.

San gasped at Mama and Papa’s thoughts. His small hand swiftly reached his forehead to wipe down a tense sweat.

Mama and Papa will have to save the world tomorrow.

“Can we go?” San pouted, pulling his mama and papa’s shirts. San was afraid of the terror that would happen, but he wanted to see his parents in action.

“Sannie, well.” Seonghwa gulped, eyes unfocused. “Maybe next time? Or next week even. Mama don't think tomorrow is possible. I have a meeting with my coworkers.”

“On a Saturday?”

Great. Seonghwa spoke without thinking.

“Yeah! It’s about a new dish that Linda made. She asked us to come over to try it with her.”

San pouted harder.

Mama is a liar.

“But, mama. You promised we would find kittens together if Sannie did well at school.”

Seonghwa looked at his husband, begging for help.

“Actually…, sweetie. I don't think tomorrow is possible for me as well.” Hongjoong chimed in. He gestured to his wife to go to the kitchen so he could talk with San. But San wasn't an oblivious child. He knew what his parents were thinking.

“Papa is so mean.”

“What?” Hongjoong gulped. Come again?

“Papa is really mean!” San bawled this time, sitting on the ground as he cried loudly, throwing a tantrum. “Papa is really, really mean!” 

War flashbacks rushed through the spy’s mind since it wasn’t the first time the child told him so, and Hongjoong realized he needed to lock in, or else this would never end.

“There, there.” Hongjoong pulled the kid towards him. “Papa’s sorry, okay? If you really want to go there, then we can go together. I guess it doesn't hurt to take a break sometimes.” The spy figured it would be more convenient to have San tagging along so he could pretend to be a regular commoner visiting the park for entertainment with his child. He looked up at Seonghwa, who was busy preparing their lunch with a defeated glance. “Mama will join us, too, right?”

Seonghwa halted, moving the chopping board to the side and setting the knife on the counter.

“You really want us to go, Sannie?”

“Really, really!”

“Okay.” Seonghwa sighed, “I will contact Linda.”

Seonghwa couldn't neglect San’s wish by straightforwardly denying him. After all, they did promise to go together. But that would risk his mask as an assassin since Hongjoong and San would always be beside him. Seonghwa didn't know how to carry this mission without problems chasing him. 

Should he reject the mission? But what about the shopkeeper?

God, he didn't know what to do.

Mama…

San frowned after reading the assassin’s thought and realized the severity of his dilemma. San wanted Mama to save the world, but he definitely didn't want to be in Mama’s way! 

“Mama you will be busy busy?”

“I’m afraid I am.” Seonghwa couldn't lie. “There’s more than just trying new food with the ladies.”

“Okay.” San said sadly, “It’s okay, Mama. I can go with Papa. Right, Papa?”

Hongjoong blinked, then nodded. 

“Of course, Sannie. I can go with you.”

“Yaaaaay!” 

The pink-haired boy jumped out of Hongjoong’s lap, raising hands like a cat who got the cream, “Sannie go get kitties with Papa. Sannie go see kitties!” 

Whatever concerns regarding Seonghwa were left at the back of his mind. San knew Mama had better things to do, and he made sure he would not be some unwanted obstacle.

The first assignment involved escorting Politician Neumann and his daughter to safety ever since the public speech he gave last week regarding the living conditions of the Ostanians. His final statements fueled some controversy, which had been reported on the radio for the past few days. Although Neumann did not believe he needed a bodyguard, he still requested someone look over his daughter. Garden was assigned to take over the spot regardless of whether the secret police entered the scene due to the confidentiality of the situation. Moreover, Neumann personally contacted them.

Seonghwa thought it was hilariously ironic how he needed a wig to act as a man. The bright platinum color made him pop out more than others, which made his role unrecognizable since his family would also be joining the event. The assassin covered his face with a pair of sunglasses and a face mask to suit his role of a proper bodyguard. 

He couldn't even remember the last time he had a suit on. The fit hugged his body comfortably but was also outlandish enough that whoever knew him in his woman mask could never tell that it was currently his real appearance. The stilettos snugged neatly by his boots, and his communicating device covered his left ear. He could use his hair to cover the device in case of suspicion.

“This is Mars. He will be your daughter’s bodyguard for this event. I am Unc-T. We will be partners for this mission, and I am in charge of overseeing the guests attending this event as well as escorting you.”

Seonghwa shook hands with the politician as they stood inside one of the suites booked at a nearby hotel. Ever since the amusement area was included in the park, the owners also requested to build lodgings and inns for tourists and guests to stay over. To prevent further attention to where Neumann would be located, Garden booked a standard suite for him with Uncle Tea guarding Richard Neumann’s door while Prince of Mars would be in charge of Kayle Neumann. 

Uncle Tea was one of the senior assassins under Garden. Apart from Seonghwa, there were only seven others on the list. Thus, he knew slacking off wasn't an option the second he stepped out of this room. When Seonghwa excused himself to take Miss Neumann back to her room, he scanned the suite, checking for wired tapes or secret lines and hidden cameras or recording chips. 

No issues—all safe. Proceed to move on.

Under the sink. Safe.

Bed? Safe.

The lamps? Safe.

Walls outlets? Safe.

How about the closet and cabinets? All safe. 

The assassin hummed satisfyingly and set himself on the seat beside the cabinets.

His client settled on the bed. 

“Care for a talk?” 

Seonghwa nodded without hesitation.

“Oh! I didn't think it was that easy.” Kayle said.

Now that Seonghwa had enough time to relax, he realized Kayle wasn't as “young” as what Neumann painted her to be. Before receiving the mission, the description made it seem like she was a little girl. It was hard to imagine his client since the politician had been secretive about his family. If anything, the client before him seemed to be in her early twenties.

Seonghwa coughed awkwardly.

“Hey, it's not in a bad way. I just thought you had been looking so serious that you wouldn't even care about talking to me. You still have your whole face covered, so it’s a little intimidating.”

Rookie mistake. He might be a bodyguard, but he didn't like giving people a bad impression. Besides, he knew he wasn't wandering outside of the suite. Hongjoong and San would miss him in this state.

Seonghwa took off his mask and sunglasses. “My apologies, young lady. Do speak as you please.”

“There we go.” The lady grinned. She also had dimples on both cheeks, and Seonghwa returned the expression unknowingly. Her smile reminded him of San. “Now that I’m seeing your entire face, I’m surprised. You should've been a model instead. Why are you here being my bodyguard?”

The man chuckled, thinking how impossible the idea was considering how his life had been. “Thank you. You’re quite the look yourself, too, Miss.”

“You flattered me.” She laughed, “I’m sure it must be boring just tagging along with me for no reason. Let’s talk about each other.” She chirped, “Any partner yet?”

Seonghwa looked at her, debating whether he should tell her or not. He was bad at talking about himself and, even worse, a terrible liar. He also didn't know if the lady was judgmental or not. But with how she gave him that encouraging nudge, the assassin gulped, looking down.

“I have a husband and a son.”

The young woman was stunned and caught off-guard by the discovery. 

Seonghwa inwardly shrunk himself down the chair. He didn't know why he was so honest. He rarely talked about his life to anyone. And with his line of work, it's usually easier to keep things to himself. But the woman didn't seem to have any malicious intentions. He had been in the field for so long that he could tell when someone was trying to take advantage of him. 

“That’s wonderful. Having a home to come back to as you please is a blessing. I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you.” Seonghwa smiled, “And you?”

“Me?” She pointed at herself, “I do have my family with me today.”

“Your father?” 

The lady’s laugh echoed across the room, “Oh, honey. He sure is, but my family is also right here.” Her hands caressed the stomach, which hardly displayed a bump. “My baby boy.”

Seonghwa didn't express it on his face, but he shifted on his chair after realizing his role in this mission.

It wasn’t just to escort one person, but two .

“How long…?”

“Eighteen weeks now. I know it doesn't show as much as others.” 

The assassin didn't know if it was rude to inquire further, so he nodded. However, the lady knew what he was thinking at the top of his head. 

“Go on. I know you have questions.”

The assassin gulped.

“What about your partner?”

“I don't have one.” She replied casually.

“How come?”

“Well, I can't just air all my shameful stories out.” She grinned cheekily and didn't seem offended by the blunt confusion, “But long story short, he left me for another woman. And now this baby is all mine.”

“I’m sorry.” Seonghwa frowned. If that were him, he would make sure the guy turned into an eunuch before he had a chance with other people.

“Don't be. I’m happy, at least, that we didn't officially get together. If not, I don't know how long I will remain suffering being with him.”

“Will you be okay, though?”

“Why wouldn't I be?” She smiled, “I don't need a man to raise my child.”

Seonghwa agreed. He knew society would push her down if any news of this came out since she was, regardless, the daughter of a known politician. Some hidden masks would attempt to take advantage of this as a weakness to bring the man down. Maybe that was why Neumann needed an organization he could trust to take the job—although Seonghwa still didn't know his relationship with Garden. He figured the lady wouldn't know the answer, either.

“I wish you two the best of luck.”

“Likewise.” She smiled again. Seonghwa missed his family just looking at her. The woman was an optimistic character. “If you're working right now, what about your family? Are they staying at home right now? Do they know about your job?”

Seonghwa couldn't answer the question.

“They don't know what you're doing, right? A fabricated family? I noticed you are wearing a wig.”

His feet felt heavy again, like dumbbells dragging him down an endless black hole. “They are also visiting this festival. I didn't want them to recognize me while on duty.”

“No need to be ashamed, Mars. I’m sure it’s difficult to tell the people you love what you do behind a shadow. I understand. I know you are a good person.”

“I’m planning to quit after this,” Seonghwa confessed, looking at his hands stained with invisible bloodshed and sins he had been carrying since the war ended. At the time, the assassin took over the job as his only method of survival, but now that everything had been established. Prince of Mars was one of the most known assassins under Garden. Moreover, Prince of Mars was—no, Seonghwa was financially comfortable enough to live with the wealth he had been saving for years with hard work and great struggles. The desire to settle down had been bubbling since two figures entered his life. 

“Pressure? Guilt?” The lady implied, but Seonghwa shook his head. 

“I initially became what I am now ever since I lost my family in the war. I wanted to become someone who could bring justice to those who deserve it even if I don't reveal myself and everything is done in the background. But that's because I was alone and needed to do something to help me feel at peace.” Then he looked out the window, distracted eyes zoning out to the clouds. They seemed more free than he used to be. “I have found my new peace and don’t think it's necessary anymore to remain in this position.”

Hongjoong’s face flashed through his mind, and Seonghwa smiled, looking at the wedding ring that Hongjoong had given him some time after San got admitted into Eden Academy. Seonghwa didn't know he had been so attached to them, but he’d do anything to prolong this happiness.

“That's admirable, Mars.” The lady hugged her stomach rather lovingly, sharing the same sentiment.

The door knocked three times, then rapidly four times, and stopped after one absolute knock., startling them.

That was the code Garden’s agents commonly used. Seonghwa knew it was Uncle Tea behind the door. 

“Yes?” He shouted.

“Mr. Neumann will present his speech for the open ceremony of the festival in a couple of minutes. Will Miss Neumann participate?”

“No, Unc-T. Thank you. I would like Mars to accommodate me later today.” 

Seonghwa acknowledged her request with a nod.

The other assassin confirmed, and footsteps echoed across the hallway, signifying that the politician was heading toward the park entrance.

“It’s just you and me now.” Kayle smiled, standing up. “Let’s go.”

“Where would you like to go?”

“I want to walk around the park. Standing close to the reporters suffocating me.”

“Understood. Let me know if you encounter any discomfort.”

“So many kitties wah. Papa, can we go see the puppies, too?!”

“Sure.” Hongjoong let the pink-haired child drag him through the animal adoption center without much resistance. When he passed by a tour guide, they briefly exchanged glances. 

The stranger gestured quickly with his fingers as Hongjoong's eyes traced along, reading the signs. 

Three o’clock coming from the South. Red shirt, seven bombs located. There's more somewhere on the other side.

San gasped, looking at the interaction with sparkly eyes.

That tour guide ahjussi is also a spy! And that's so cool! They already tracked down the bombs! San-ah waku waku.

“Don't run too fast, Sannie.” Hongjoong warned, “There’s a lot of people here. You will get lost.”

“Okie-dokes!” The child saluted, running towards the direction the previous spy pinpointed. “Papa! Let’s check that pet house over there!”

How convenient, Hongjoong thought. He was planning to head there as well. Sometimes, it felt as if San could truly read his mind.

San nervously walked in front, rubbing his sweaty hands on his clothes.

Papa is not getting suspicious of Sannie, is he?

What if Papa goes, “So ‘turns out you can read my mind all this time?! That's it! I’m returning you.”

San shivered at the vision.

“Papa, can I pick a kitty?” He changed the subject, distracting the spy from those possible scary thoughts.

“Go ahead.” Hongjoong nodded when they reached the pet cages, which were stacking up like building blocks. 

“Woah...There's so many animals here.” 

“Take your time, Sannie.” Hongjoong smiled, then greeted the store owner.

Skin-colored tape on the neck? He observed the man. To cover tattoos. His fingers are chapped—not coming from being a pet store owner. These are heavy work injuries. He looked away, touching the fish tank as if looking over the center. According to WISE's reports, these hired assassins will take down Neumann. The decorations here seem out of place as if the store had just recently been set up. If that's the case, these bombs must be easy to locate. I just need a good distraction to work on them.

San’s head tingled as he read Papa’s mind.

Alright! San thought. Sannie will help Papa with this mission! Sannie will save the world with Papa. 

“Papa, Papa.” 

“Yes, Sannie?” 

“Can Sannie play with the pets?” 

“Uhhhh…”

“I want to check the puppies over there. Can Papa ask for Mr. Owner to come and show me? Sannie will pick a favorite one. And Papa, can you help me look for other kitties?”

“O-oh, sure. I can do that.” Hongjoong nodded. If the owner got distracted from surveying him, he could locate exactly where the bombs were and shut them down. By the time the wires got cut off, the spy could replace each bomb with a fabricated version that he carried in his coat to trick them into proceeding with the plan. Hongjoong requested the owner to assist his son with the adoption process without wasting time.

“Mr. Owner!” San clapped excitedly, dragging the man outside the center to check for other animals. “Can you tell me what this dog breed is? Oh, and its age? Or its gender? Oh, and its parents? Where was it born? Oh, and this one too?! Sannie also wants to know about this one. And this one, and this one-”

The owner stuttered, attempting to start from the first question while the pink-haired kid spun the man’s head around like a yo-yo with his bombarded list of inquiries.

Hongjoong soundlessly walked to the counter, peeking over the inner glass to check for extra bombs the previous agent couldn't spot due to the owner occupying the area. 

Found one. 

Hongjoong looked around to check for bystanders, then swiftly snatched the bomb to shove it in his pocket. He replaced the spot with a fake one.

He proceeded to walk over the dogs and checked them one by one. Around twenty dogs in the area, about six of them in total, carried the bombs. The assassins purposely selected the bigger and fluffier ones to hide the item inside their fur easily. The spy quickly replaced them all after cutting off the wires. 

Now, there was one left to locate. 

Hongjoong glanced over the cages and spotted a Siamese cat hidden behind the rest of the other ones. A black plastic square was attached to its collar, and regular people would have easily missed it. This one was a special bomb type that was created as a hidden disguise to kill someone unprepared. But why would they choose it? Were they trying to offer the cat to someone? Siamese cats were considered expensive breeds. If it was meant to be given to someone, they must be an essential character. And aside from everyone here, there was only–

Richard Neumann. Hongjoong frowned. He was the reason for this bombing attack. Siamese cats have been viewed as a symbol of Westalis, and if they were planning to kick everything towards the Westalis to fuel a war, they would be successful. This was too cruel for a plan. It had to be coming from someone with intense hatred against his nation. 

He cursed under his breath, getting into action. Hongjoong would not let this horror happen again.

He exchanged the cat's collar by replacing the black plastic with another similar one (he made sure he carried all types of faux spare parts in case of this situation) right before San returned with the owner. Then he shifted his expression, smiling kindly at them both.

“How did it go?”

“Sannie didn't like them.” The kid pouted, shaking his head, while the store owner looked like he had just got his soul sucked out of his body. 

“I can't do this.” The owner said, “This child is too picky.”

“But that's because none of those pets were pretty.” San moped. 

“You know what, Sannie?” Hongjoong hummed, “I just found a very cute cat.”

“Where?!” San yelped in excitement. “Can Sannie see?”

The owner’s face was pale as paper when he saw Hongjoong pull the Siamese cat’s cage out from the stacks of cages that tried to block it from sight. 

“This one.”

San gasped, looking at the cat in amazement.

“Meow.” The cat licked its paw.

It’s so pretty!!! San gaped at it with excited eyes. 

“Papa! Can we have it?”

“Of course. Can we?” Hongjoong smiled and addressed the question to the other man. He inhaled the satisfaction of witnessing the owner’s facial expression crumble from the struggle to contain his shock.

“N-no.” The man snatched the cage away. “Not this one. This one is my cat.”

“Why is it in a cage with a tag then?” San blinked, sulking when the man hid it. He wanted the cat so badly that he had already thought of its name. 

“Uhm…” The owner darted his eyes around, having difficulties making excuses. “Well, it doesn't matter. You cannot get this cat. It’s not for sale anymore.”

I can't let them discover the bomb on the cat’s collar.

San looked at him. Shock.

This lousy guy put a bomb in the cat’s collar! What do San do? What do San do?!

He looked back at his Papa, who calmly stood there.

San read Papa’s mind and heard Thank God, I was quick enough to replace the bomb on that collar, so the kid touched his chest, sighing in relief. 

“Papa! I want that cat! But I don't like that collar! It’s so ugly.”

Oh? That was a good excuse for Hongjoong to hit two birds with one stone.

“You see, my son really wants the cat. Is there no other way for you to let us adopt it? I will pay double the adoption fee. Can I request a new collar? Apparently, he doesn't like this one.”

The man watched them, conflicted. He leaned down and pointed at other cages. “There's more than just one Siamese cat here, kiddo. Why don't you check other ones, too?”

“But Sannie only want this one!” San said dramatically, his voice tightened like he was about to cry. The man backed out, sighing. 

It seemed like the suggestion worked.

“Okay, I can give you the cat. What collar would you like?” He led them to the other side, where the pet goods would be, setting the cage on the front counter.

“This one!” San pointed at the collar with a little star trinket.

“Alright.” The man said, opening the cage to change the collar. 

When they left the center, San ran excitedly in front while Hongjoong carried the bag with the cat inside. 

“Hmm, hmm, hmm~” San sang and skipped happily. “Sannie have a kitty now.”

“What do you plan to name her?”

“Ah yeah! I want to call her Byeol. So her name is Byeol.”

“Byeol? Why? Because of her collar?” Hongjoong peeked over the bag. The cat had that ombre shade of cream and dark brown, reminding the spy of the chestnut pie he made the other day. The collar glistened under the sunlight, coming through the see-through fabrics of the bag.

“No. Silly Papa. Of course not. I thought of the name before we got her the new collar.” San raised one finger, wiggling it back and forth with a know-it-all smirk.

“What's the reason then?” Hongjoong chuckled at his silly behavior.

“She reminds me of Mama,” San revealed, and the spy raised his brows.

Oh.

“They have the same eyes. So pretty like stars. Byeol makes me think of Mama. Isn't she pretty?”

San smiled with his dimples on display, then continued to hop around with incitement without noticing that the spy’s ears flushed like ripen cherries, and he darted his eyes around, looking at nothing in particular, face blushing.

“She is,” Hongjoong mumbled.

Chapter Text

“WOAH, A VIKING SHIP!” San clapped excitedly, then waved to the people on the ride.

“And big roller coasters! And arcade room, water park, food courts, food stands, and cute walking giant teddy bears!!!” 

“Sannie, calm down.” Hongjoong chuckled at the child's antics.

“Waku waku waku waku waku waku WAKU!” San chanted, jumping up and down. “Can we go check our suite now?”

Hongjoong led the child to the room WISE booked for them before the trip. Considering the festival would be held for three days, the organization didn't know how long Neumann would stay for the opening ceremony. Thus, Hongjoong had a spot here for three days and two nights. 

San opened the door with his key card and ran towards the bed by the windows, flopping himself down. A pleased sigh left his mouth, and he giggled with contentment at seeing the double queen beds, which meant he got this one all for himself.

“Papa, this room is so big. I feel like going on a grand adventure.”

“So be nice and don't wander around, okay?” Hongjoong jested, “I got a discount from work that allowed us to be in this suite at a cheaper price.”

More like Leez gave him a travel card, and everything he swiped on this trip would be counted as business expenses. It wasn't like Hongjoong cared enough to save money. Eat the rich. He knew Maddox was biting his nails, throwing up, and crying somewhere at work right now from jealousy.

San put his bag next to the bed and pulled out Agent Shiber, arranging it in the center, between the pillow. 

Then, he unzipped the cat bag Hongjoong held to pick Byeol up. Although Byeol wasn't a problematic cat, she was arrogant. She huffed at San once and looked away, continuing to lick her paws.

San pouted.

I adopted you, you evil cat!

The child gave his father an accusatory glare, huffing with his hands crossed. Fine. Sannie will be a bigger person and won’t pick fights because Mama said being petty is not nice.

Hongjoong smiled at the interaction.

“Papa! Let's have a grand adventure now. Sannie wanted to check the park before it explodes.”

“Explode?” 

Ah– San said without thinking. He forgot he was supposed to not know about Papa’s mission.

“I-I mean, let’s check the park before it gets darker! Didn't the poster we received earlier at the entrance say fireworks will be tonight? Sannie means a fireworks explosion!”

“Ah…” Hongjoong nodded, buying the words. “Sure, yeah. We can go check.” Besides, after the mission ended, he still had time to stay over and take San around the festival. Leez wouldn't mind him using the company's budget for one (1) extra day.

If anything, Hongjoong could convince his boss that he did this because of San. San needed entertainment to relax and further improve his education at Eden Academy. All of this was done for Operation Strix. Yeah, that sounded like a good excuse.

The child turned away, wiping a tense sweat on his forehead. 

Phew… San almost made a huge mistake.

Seonghwa didn't think he had ever been so stressed out on an assignment before. He used to have a streak of timed completion charts, each to succeed and hassle-free missions. He took pride in his ability and experience. But now that he headed towards the park with his client, the assassin felt like a puppy with its tail in between. 

Back and forth, back and forth. All clear, no Hongjoong or San insight. 

Never in Seonghwa’s life would he be considered an amateur at work because he jumped at every noise the people at the park made.

“Are you okay?” Kayle asked, and he nodded in embarrassment. 

“Yeah…Don’t worry about me.”

The girl laughed, smacking his back as a friendly gesture to remind him he needed to calm the fuck down. “You're not a good liar, Mars. Has anyone told you that yet?”

He knew that, between her and him, he looked like he needed a bodyguard more than she did.

“I am very self-aware. Thank you.” Seonghwa returned the remark with his flare of sass, then he coughed, “I apologize…I’m just worried that I might catch my family out here–” Just as he confessed his concern, two blobs of pink and black walked out from the other direction. He saw San hopping in front while holding an ice cream.

“Papa, can I try the spinning horses over there?”

“You mean the merry-go-round?”

Oh shit. Oh fuck, oh hell no.

He turned to the side and snatched a newspaper from an old man sitting at the bench, pulling his client with him.

“What–” Both Kayle and the man yelped.

“Sorry– Can I borrow this real quick?” Seonghwa said, covering his face with the newspaper.

The two figures passed by, and the lady peeked over his shoulder. She hummed knowingly, then followed along without further questions.

“Must be difficult to be secretive, huh.” 

Seonghwa returned the newspaper with an apology and dragged her in the opposite direction the second his family members’ visions no longer included him. 

Seonghwa was so close to carrying the lady to the water park area to escape from the familiar faces. 

Oh, thank God. They didn't see me.

San halted when his head tingled as he heard a voice in his head.

Mama?

The kid whipped his head around, witnessing a mysterious white-haired man in a suit and a young lady he had never seen before walking side by side from behind, and narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

That height and body…

That has to be Mama, The kid thought. If that’s Mama, I can't let Papa see her, or he would…

“So you are a man all this time? And why are you wearing a wig? Are you an assassin? You tricked me!” Hongjoong gasped dramatically, pushing a frantic Seonghwa to the front, and pulled out his gun, ready to shoot. “I will have to kill you and return San to the orphanage!” 

“Wait!” Seonghwa cried pathetically, shaking his head.

*bang!*

San shivered at the potential downfall he played in his head. 

“San? What are you doing?” Hongjoong’s words pulled the child out of his imagination, startling him. “Is there something back there–”

“PAPA!” San screamed, stopping the man from turning around, “Sannie needs to poop.”

“Now?”

“Yeah! Sannie’s going to poop his pants soon.”

Hongjoong appeared stunned by the statement, picking up the child in a hurry to find the bathroom. The spy recalled there was one that they passed by earlier. He was planning to turn around, but San screamed again and grabbed his face, forcing the man to look at him directly to prevent him from spotting the assassin.

“Papa.” San said grimly, “The bathroom we passed by earlier was very stinky.”

“How do you know? We weren't even close to the door.”

“Uh…uh…Sannie has a sensitive nose. I accidentally smelled it. Anyways, can we keep going and find another one? I don't like that one.”

“I thought you said you’re going to poop your pants soon.” Hongjoong didn't know why, but he felt like the kid was dragging his nose around like he was a fool. It was a particular hunch that gnawed at his senses.

“It’s okay, Papa.” The kid bobbed his head. Sannie’s stomach said it could hold until we reached a cleaner bathroom.”

“Okay…” Hongjoong skeptically said but still proceeded to search for another location.

It’s okay…This is to protect Mama. Sannie is willing to risk his pride for Mama because our family won't be broken if Mama’s identity isn't revealed.

San closed his eyes with an inward shameful cry as he let Papa carry him to a new bathroom.

For the sake of saving the world, Sannie will let Papa think of him as a pants-pooper.

Seonghwa finally heaved a relieved sigh when he knew he was far away from his family.

“Feels better?” The lady chuckled, offering him her water bottle. Seonghwa politely denied the gesture but was thankful regardless.

“Much better.” When San gave him that newspaper on that fateful Friday night, asking them to visit this location, Seonghwa knew he wouldn't get a happy ending out of this mission.

It didn't take them long for his relief to vanish, however, because–

“Dodge.” Seonghwa squeezed them to the side of a nearby building, using his hand to protect the woman’s head from bumping into the wall.

“What-” The lady didn't have enough time to realize what happened before Seonghwa pulled out one of his stilettos to block another hit. A bullet fell with a clank.

“Shit. They spot us.” He grumbled, spinning them over for another bullet dodge; eyes alerted and glistened the second he spotted the assassin and–

The assassin from afar grunted with a cold drop when the stiletto pierced through his throat.

Sniper rifle. That man had to be at least 700 meters away from their location.

“W-Why are we under attack? I thought my father was being extra and getting bodyguards just in case. Am I being targeted?” 

Seonghwa didn't waste his time pulling her up in a bridal carry, running at the speed of lights towards their initial suite. It was too risky to have her running and standing outside. Seonghwa could deal with these assassins individually—a trick to lure centipedes into entering a dark vase once they returned to the room. He hoped they still hadn't surrounded that spot yet. “Based on what my supervisor had told me, due to a dispute between your father and one of his opponents, a large bounty is now on his head among The Dark Alleys. The man wanted them to assassinate the entire family, thus your father's request for us to be the Neumanns’ protectors for this event.” 

Thankfully, nobody was guarding the hallway when he darted through it. He set the lady down and came closer to the door. He could scan the key card but decided to check the room first. He peeked into the fisheye lens.

*bang!*

Seonghwa dodged to the side before the bullet could lodge into his brain through the lens. 

The lady shrieked in panic, but Seonghwa hushed her quickly, signaling her to stay back, and kicked the door with his heel. The room was dark, save for the lights coming from the windows. He knew the second he stepped inside, he had to count all the possibilities of getting ambushed. Just as he expected, the door slammed closed. A man with a large axe strived at his back from the corner of the ceiling above the door with bloodthirsty eyes. 

Seonghwa jumped out, twisted his body with a matching gaze, smiling devilishly, and crossed the stilettos to block the attack. 

“Amateur.”

“What?” The man growled. “How dare you–”

Seonghwa made a split, driving the man’s body forward unprepared, and he uncontrollably swung the axe to the ground. Seongnwa circled his right leg from behind to the right like a compass, then stood back up, fully stretched his leg with a spin, and kicked with half his strength.

His attacker’s head slammed into the wall, leaving a large hole and the sound of a cracked skull. 

A rumble and a subtle click of a case came from the closet.

Seonghwa looked at the wooden furniture with dangerous eyes, flipping on the light switch.

“Come out while I’m being nice.”

“...”

Seonghwa frowned, and the closet door split in half the second he landed his kick on it.

A small, scrawny man grinned wickedly at him after the exposure, spraying a specific gas on him that Seonghwa couldn't help but laugh when the man’s smile dropped, seeing he was unfazed by it.

So Seonghwa unapologetically killed him with his stilettos without hesitation. 

“I’m only telling you this because you died,” Seonghwa taunted like he divulged a secret, “But I’m immune to poison.” He wiped his face to erase the blood that had accidentally splattered previously. The adrenaline hyped him up for a moment before it dropped, and he inwardly complained about the state that he was in: bloody and messy.

“A-Are we safe?” Kayle peeked in from the lack of inside noises and nervously observed the crime scene. She tried to ignore the pool of blood on the floor.

“For now, Miss. I do apologize for the mess. I will contact Uncle Tea and request a room transfer.” The assassin attempted to do some damage control with his smile but knew it was useless due to how grimy he appeared. Fortunately, his entire suit was black, so even if there were blood on his body, it wouldn't be easy to notice. He chatted with Uncle Tea through the earpiece regarding the situation and invited the lady to sit on the bed—surprisingly, it hadn't been ruined yet.

“The customers have been served.”

That was Garden’s code to signify the enemy had been dealt with. 

“How many were there?” Uncle Tea calmly asked.

“Three so far. It might be due to my appearance that we got spotted.” His suit might have been customized to fit him, but it was still out of place, as he was wearing one in a park to stand next to a young lady. Nobody would wear a suit to hang out at a park.

“I suppose you're right.” The older assassin hummed, “Did you carry an extra outfit?”

Fuck. He didn't, at least not in everyday clothing. He only had suits and ties in his bag.

“You can borrow mine.” The young lady offered, almost got Seonghwa’s neck whipped around with a crack.

“I’m sorry?”

“I have an oversized jacket with me. You can wear it for now. And maybe we can visit one of those souvenir stores."

“Oh, Miss. I really appreciate it, but–” He hesitated, thinking of ways to deny her kindness, but she had already reached over to her valise to give him the outerwear. 

“Don’t worry about it. Just see it as a part of your job. You need to cover yourself to protect me.”

That convinced Seonghwa. So he agreed, and they left the suite with Seonghwa calling the lobby about a fake incident of a broken shower head in the bathroom, a request for a room change, and signaled Garden’s backup team to visit the room and clean up the mess. 

Since he hadn't heard any commotion from the opening ceremony or Neumann’s side, Seonghwa figured everything was going smoothly. He guided the young lady out of the hotel as they walked again around the park.

All was well until he reached the souvenir store.

“It's going to get dark in a bit. Are you sure you want to keep those sunglasses on? It might be hard to walk around in them.” Kayle suggested, feeling concerned as she sensed that people were looking at him again.

Seonghwa decided to listen and took them off with restlessness. As long as he didn't meet San or Hongjoong, the assassin thought everything would be fine. 

“Are you sure you want to buy these?” Hongjoong gave San a difficult look, befuddled by his choice of souvenirs. “This is a weird souvenir to give to your friends.”

“Why?” San pouted, “I thought they looked cute!”

“Honey, I’m sure they are, but…Usually, people bring back snacks or decorative items. These are painted pebbles…Not even marbles.”

“Why?!” San looked at his Papa displeasingly, “I want each of us to have a common thing. You know, even Wooyoung has a pet rock! Why can't Sannie buy him pretty pebbles?”

Hongjoong contemplated a little at the argument and gave in with a sigh, “Fine. I don't know what rich people’s hobbies are nowadays, anyway. I’ll get them for you.”

“Yay! Papa is the best!” San jumped up and down, and Hongjoong scoffed with ridicule. 

“‘Not going to happen next time.”

San grinned as he took the bag the cashier gave him after Hongjoong paid for it, “You always say that, but you always have to spend money. Papa always spends money on things.” It wasn’t meant to be accusing, but the spy felt like a knife stabbed through his conscience. San was an honest child, so he knew it came out as a genuine statement from the bottom of his heart, which was, geez, harsh and hurt as hell.

Oh, to be roasted by a child for his lack of financial responsibility. Could be him.

“You don't say. Who do you think I spend all that money on?”

San stuck his tongue out.

Ah…but what kind of top should I get?

San froze when he heard Mama’s thoughts.

Mama?! San whipped his head around, searching. 

The thought came closer and closer, so San babbled, grabbing the shirt and shorts nearby and shoving it in Hongjoong’s hands. “W-What—”

“Here, Papa. Try on. I think they suit you.”

He would make sure Mama and Papa didn't meet, or else they would know each other’s secrets, and this family would fall apart.

“And here, here, here, and here,” he added a hat, a jacket, a pair of shoes, and a necklace with a Spongebob pendant in the middle. “I think they suit you.”

“Wait,” Hongjoong said nervously, staring at the clothes his child had just dumped on him. “This is too much, Sannie. I don't think—”

“PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! Try them on!” Sannie yelled, practically dragging his Papa into the fitting room with desperation. Hurry before Mama sees you!

“Okay!” Hongjoong yelped at the child’s urgency. “I will.”

San heaved a relieved sigh when they both settled inside the fitting room.

Should I get a black shirt or a white one…? Would it still be obvious? Oh! A turtleneck.

San could hear his Mama’s thoughts outside of the door. He pressed his ears on the door.

“What are you doing?”

“O-oh!” San jostled, turning back to look at his father. “Nothing?”

Hongjoong raised his brows. He noticed how strange San had been acting today and couldn't determine the cause of such behavior. Did it have anything to do with him? Did he screw something up? God. Hongjoong didn't even know. Anything could happen when it came to San.

“Oh, wow. Mars. That top suits you so well! You look like a flirtatious biker now.” A young lady laughed loudly, and a soft “Thank you” tone followed.

San silently gasped at Mama’s deep voice. Mama sounds like a different person! I want to do that, too.

So, he copied the ‘thank you’ like Mama did. But instead of sounding like her, he sounded like a dying parrot. San pouted, disappointed that his tone didn't turn out how he wanted.

Hongjoong stared at the child; half of his shirt was tucked in his pineapple shorts, which he felt a little foolish about, and appeared lost by his son’s randomness.

“You’re…welcome?”

“No, not you.” San frowned and dismissed him with his hand, left ear still pressed on the door.

From outside, Seonghwa chuckled when the lady opened the fitting room door for him. “I should be the one doing this. You don't have to.”

“Oh, no, no. Don’t mind me.” The lady responded.

And San mumbled, trying to copy his Mama’s voice again.

“I should be the one…No, you don't have to…”

He still sounded like a dying parrot.

Hongjoong suddenly got chills after a second of observation. He had no idea what was going on.

People tend to say that children have a unique sixth eye that adults no longer have—adulthood was the cause due to a lack of superstition and childhood innocence. Seeing San appeared like he was on edge and kept talking to himself, even that previous ‘thank you,’ and then this—who would say thank you out of the blue unless to another person—

Blood dried from Hongjoong’s face as he shoved his trembling hands into his pockets.

What if there was a ghost in this place? Usually, San wouldn't react this way, but since they visited the park, the child had been…odd. There were three things Hongjoong hated seeing the most in his life: (1) himself failing his missions, (2) San receiving a Tonitrus Bolt, and (3) the unknown.

If the Babadook was invisible but somehow the opposite under San’s magical eyesight, and he had been talking to him this entire time, Hongjoong would need to pack his bag and move as soon as possible. 

Otherwise, he would shit himself.

“Papa, are you okay?” After realizing his Papa was drawing ten different scenarios in his mind, San blinked confusingly, and his little head was spinning from overthinking.

Hongjoong’s entire body got goosebumps the more he haunted himself with the thought, and San’s question was his last straw because the child was looking at him this time like Hongjoong was the crazy one. 

“That’s it,” Hongjoong said abruptly, changing his clothes. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Wait–” San dragged him back. If he left now, he might catch Mama outside. “You didn't get to try the entire fit!”

“I don't think I want to try anymore, Sannie. Not when you keep having a one-on-one with Mr. Slenderman like that.”

“What slender man? Who’s Slanderman?”

Hongjoong refused to elaborate on the figure. “You were talking to yourself this whole time like you were talking with someone else.” 

“Oh…” San scratched his head. He didn't realize he had caused trouble for Papa. “It’s my ehm…You know, uh…I was practicing my speech for my English class!”

Hongjoong watched him in disbelief.

San? Practiced? For school? That sounded like a mismatched pull in a slot machine. 

But at least it wasn’t the unknown, which eased the spy a little. 

“Either way, I don't think this fit combination looks good,” Hongjoong explained, saying he wanted to leave the fitting room to return the clothes. He remembered San mentioned wanting to see the fireworks show. They might not make it if they don't leave the door now for dinner.

San held his arm back, stopping him from leaving, which concerned Hongjoong because he had noticed San had been doing this since earlier as if he was trying to hide something. That set Hongjoong's senses alert. 

“What are you trying to do, San-ah?” He spoke calmly, although with as much seriousness in his voice that the second San read his father’s mind, the child got scared and released his hold.

He could see that for a brief second, Papa was thinking he was suspicious. That’s not good.

“Nothing…”

Hongjoong opened the door.

“–I’ll take it. It fits me well. I can–” A  shocked gasp followed, and Hongjoong turned to look for the surprised sound and found a booth at the end of the fitting area. A tall man with white hair had his back on him, and a lady looked at Hongjoong briefly before she turned to the man. Both were next to each other awkwardly and gossiped with each other.

Hongjoong could have sworn he had seen that lady before but couldn't pinpoint the exact location. On the other hand, that white-haired figure looked awfully familiar, and Hongjoong would love to strike up a conversation with him to find out who he was, but San’s call cut his train of thought.

“Papa, let's go! Are you going to return the clothes? I’m hungry. Can we go eat now?” 

San averted his eyes from the assassin and quietly dragged the spy’s shirt sleeve, pulling him towards the check-in counter before anything worse could happen.

“Sure,” Hongjoong replied easily, turning back to return the clothes. “What do you want to eat?”

So, they left the store without further lingering, heading straight to the food court.

When Seonghwa could finally assure that his family's conversation was far enough, he dropped to the floor, sighing in relief.

San was planning to assist Mama with her mission as a great agent because he also wanted to save the world. Once in a while, he would look back to see if his mother was around, or if he could read her mind, or even help her take down the bad guys as well. However, he hadn't seen a single bad guy today, which he felt defeated about because he hadn't been helping Mama at all. And he was supposed to be as great as the Famous Spy Captain, dang it!

Now, he didn't know where Mama was since Papa was beside him the whole day.

San stabbed the steak with a sour face, chewing on the cut-out piece with displeasure.

Hongjoong stopped his gesture altogether.

“Are you upset at me?”

San paused, looking at his Papa in confusion, having a mouthful of the piece of bread he grabbed from earlier.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, Sannie,” Hongjoong gave him a funny look, “You look like someone used a pincer to nip your nose.”

San didn't realize he was making a face the entire time. Was Papa concerned about him?

“Sorry, Papa.” San pouted, chewing on another piece of steak, “I didn't mean to make you worry. He looked at the empty seat between them; this table was supposed to be for three people. “I just wish that Mama could join us.”

The confession surprised the spy. The empty seat suddenly became larger than Hongjoong remembered. Although sometimes the child would say the strangest things, none of them were spoken without reason. San might be an oddball sometimes, but he was still a sentimental and intelligent child. Hongjoong realized how much effort parents would put into ensuring a happy family. It wasn't easy starting one, but it sure wasn’t easier keeping it anchored. 

“Do you want to call Mama later?”

“Can we?” San asked excitedly. The spark of wonder returned to his eyes at the thought of talking to his mother. He knew Mama had to hide herself due to her mission, and San knew it was necessary to act like he didn't know who she was, but deep inside, San missed her even if it had only been a day. 

San also missed Mama’s hot cacao drink.

“Of course we can.” Hongjoong smiled, ruffling his head.

When they left the food court, it was completely dark. His watch suddenly vibrated, blinking several times in a certain rhythm. 

WISE’s secret codes.

Fuck. He needed to figure out how to distract San.

The spy darted his eyes around and scanned the area. Aha! 

‘Play-n-Funz.’ 

It seemed to be a children's playground. The sign outside the building was decorated with cartoonish drawings and toys.

“Do you want to go to that place, San?”

“Ew. It looks so childish. Not waku waku at all.”

Hongjoong looked at him. Shock.

“Aren't you a child yourself?”

“I am, but…” San pouted, “I'd rather go watch cartoons. What's so fun about hanging out with other kids?”

Hongjoong didn't know his son was that introverted. 

“Well, you can sit in a corner and read the comics there. I have to uhm…, to do option two,” he pointed at a nearby bathroom, “explosive diarrhea,” then added awkwardly.

Papa is a liar.

San knew Papa had to pick up a call from his spy boss. He also wanted to tag along so he could hear about Papa’s mission, but he could tell that Papa was getting anxious the longer they stood there. San felt terrible, although he wasn’t happy that he couldn't help Papa.

“Okay,” San said, following his father inside the building. Hongjoong explained his situation to the lady inside the playground and quickly left. So San picked a couple of comics that seemed interesting and settled inside one of the reading booths.

“Wow, sweetie.” The caretaking lady said, “That’s a lot of books. Are you sure you can finish them all?”

“Yes, Miss. Sannie likes to read quietly, so don't disturb him.” He said, giving a no signal with his little finger and a grave countenance that was beyond his actual age.

The lady smiled at his cuteness. “Okay, honey. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Aye, aye,” San said, then ran towards the booth. He sat there for ten minutes, skimming over the comic, and tapped his shoes. When the lady turned her attention back to the book she was previously reading, San stepped out of the booth, gluing himself to the wall and making small steps in her direction.

The lady flipped over the book, coughing.

San crouched, hiding under the front desk.

One of the kids playing the slide spotted him, planning to call him out loud.

You! Shh! 

San glared at him with intimidating and widening eyes. He made a neck-cutting gesture with as many threats hidden in his gaze as possible, something he had seen his Mama do when she was in front of the kidnappers. 

One more sound, and you're gone.

The kid gulped, looking away.

San made two more steps from the counter towards the door and spotted a small toy by his feet. 

Here comes my chance.

The child grabbed the toy, making a full swing. The thing hit another child’s head from behind, and San immediately lay flat on the ground to hide from being detected, waiting for the commotion to start. The child touched his head and burst out crying.

“What? What is it, sweetie?” The lady rushed over to the child, checking on him.

“I don't know!” The child mewled, “Something hit me!”

San gulped, crawling up from the floor, and darted to the door. 

I’m sorry! Papa and Mama said violence is never good, but Sannie has to save the world with them! Sannie will get you a Power Ranger bandage later!

The pink-haired child rushed out like a winter breeze, putting on the toy sunglasses he found earlier in the playground and putting up a disguise—because all cool guys wore sunglasses when in action! Like the Famous Spy Captain! San thought.

Hongjoong rushed to a phone booth beside a restaurant and dialed a familiar number.

“Rocky’s here.”

“Rocky.” Leez addressed grimly. “A new report just came in.”

Hongjoong answered, looking around to see if anyone was eavesdropping. “What is it about?”

“Neumann’s bodyguards. They are not the State Security Service’s people. They are under Garden.”

Garden? Hongjoong frowned at the news. "Why would Garden’s people escort a political figure?”

“Beats me. But there are currently two of them amongst the crowd, so be careful. We don't want to tick their bombs, considering one Garden’s agent is capable of wiping down a mob of professionals. After all, we are their enemies and are infiltrating their country. They might kill us without hearing our reasons.”

Hongjoong knew that. Garden was such a terrifying group of people that every story related to them almost sounded like an urban legend. Hongjoong had never experienced going against them before except once. But that was…

“Do you know who those agents are?”

His supervisor hummed, flipping over a stack of paper.

“Some of our agents found traces of battle inside Otto’s Hotel. There weren't any bodies found, so Garden must have taken care of that. However, there were some scratches on the walls and furniture. I’m assuming it was from the fight. They shared similar marks.”

“Have our team  identified the weapon type?”

“It was only an observation, but the scratches looked like they were done using a large needle. Like scratch marks on cars.”

Like a stiletto.

Hongjoong didn't need Leez to finish his sentence. He already knew who the assassin was.

Prince of Mars.

Any words afterward filtered through his ears because all Hongjoong could think of at the time were the familiar figures he met in the fitting area that afternoon.

Suddenly, it made sense. Neumann’s appearance here was due to the opening ceremony. He also received the news of Neumann's daughter tagging with him to the event. 

Back in that area, Hongjoong could have sworn that the lady was affiliated with one of his missions. Or at least somewhat related. Leez had once given him a mission to enter a laboratory to steal a secret case of test tubes that contained poison the Ostanians planned to import over to contaminate Westalis’ water source. The laboratory’s owner had harbored a deep hatred for both countries and had kept a record book of political figures and their backgrounds (some weren't even available to the public) as a part of his ruse. Hongjoong had a chance to skim over and briefly read about the Neumann family.

Kayle Neumann—The only daughter of the Neumann family.

If Garden's agents were here to act as bodyguards, they either focused on both of their clients or split out into pairs. Based on the situation he had seen earlier, Hongjoong was more confident on the second assumption. And if Neumann was busy participating in the ceremony, there could only be one answer regarding the fights in that hotel.

Hongjoong made a run to the ceremony.

Seonghwa checked his watch, making sure everything still went well without issues.

Uncle Tea signaled him to observe, and Seonghwa turned to the side, seeing another sniper sitting on top of a building. His client had requested him to join the crowd for the ceremony since the fireworks show would start anytime soon, and Seonghwa agreed under the condition that they would remain hidden amongst their surroundings.

Before heading to the location, Uncle Tea told him he hadn't spotted any assassins around his area. Seonghwa frowned; something urged him to be more alert with that discovery. 

If no assassin was lingering around the podium and the entranceway, then their focus must be on Neumann's daughter. 

But why?

He recalled the fights with the previous assassins. An axe and poison gas. What did those weapons have in common? Or were they from different assassin groups? Until now, Garden didn't have enough information to identify its enemies clearly, but Seonghwa didn't have the time to stay aloof and ponder.

The opening ceremony from earlier was a welcome act to open the park to the public. The fireworks show was one of the attractions the festival offered every Friday and Saturday as long as the park remained open. Neumann was invited to visit an area belonging to VIP guests. An entry must be from the owner's invitation. Paparazzi and journalists could gather in front of the building to interview politicians and other well-known faces. 

Thus, it was strange to see that there was no single target for that man. Neumann kept a confident composure as he talked about the state of peace that the two nations were upholding and their purpose for this park to open near the border, a sensitive matter that the people hoped to hear. Only those outside the political cycle turned oblivious to the potential war, but those inside…Regardless, Seonghwa wished the peace would last for decades if not centuries. 

Suddenly, a man came out with a cat, bringing it closer to where Neumann was standing.

“Mr. Neumann! For the headlines of this festival, can we have a picture of you holding this cat? This is the park’s mascot.” 

“Headline?” The man was distracted from his speech, looking at the pet questioningly. Seonghwa could see Uncle Tea tense up at the offer. 

“I’m sorry, Sir. We cannot give it to Mr. Neumann without properly inspecting the animal. It is for safety reasons.”

“And didn't he just talk about stabilizing the treaty of the two nations?! He can't even touch a mascot now?” A stranger announced, making the people look at the man and each other with conflicted eyes.

Shit. Seonghwa could see a scheme the second that man started talking. Something was suspicious about this engagement. Uncle Tea must've thought the same. 

“Of course I can.” Neumann said firmly, “Here, give it to me. It doesn't hurt to have some more pictures.” The man knew that if he had something else to say other than what the public wanted, it would be harder to convince them about his purpose for visiting and sponsoring this park. After all, the festival acted as a frontline to assure the public that a new war was not coming, considering a few weeks ago, an anonymous complaint had alerted the people that a new war would burst since the Jung Group had taken over most military forces. Neumann was one of those least corrupted, per Seonghwa’s speculation. He had learned about the ministry during his time working in Garden. He had his fair share of knowledge.

This may be why Neumann had some connections with Garden. As Seonghwa was aware, the shopkeeper was a colonel of the Ostania military under the previous war—someone who despised the idea of another war breaking out.

Uncle Tea couldn't interfere when the cat was offered over, almost as if shoved into Neumann’s arms. And the cat’s collar lit up for a brief second. Seonghwa and Uncle Tea exchanged glances, looking at it in panic.

A bomb.

No.

Seonghwa darted to the man as quickly as he could, eyes locked on the collar as he pushed through the crowd to reach the front and—

The collar suddenly popped, revealing a string of colorful confetti, which startled the cat and everyone standing close to it, but no injuries were incurred.

“What?” Neumann was startled, and Uncle Tea immediately clasped the frightened cat to ensure another trick similar to that scenario wouldn't repeat. Seonghwa peeked at the men who had started the ruckus and recognized the look of surprise in their eyes. 

Neumann’s interview returned without hassle since the reporters and people thought it was a special preparation to celebrate the festival. But Seonghwa had learned more than one thing after that stunt.

So this wasn't their doing…They looked like whatever had occurred didn't happen the way they planned. Whoever had replaced the actual bomb on that cat’s collar also knew about the assassination. Except, Seonghwa couldn't tell if they were friends or foes. 

Regardless, those suspicious men hadn't found him yet, so the assassin moved back to where he initially came from to keep a low profile while ensuring the daughter was under his sight. 

“W-What happened?” The girl asked, seeing how tense he appeared.

“We have to leave now,” Seonghwa warned, leading her out of the crowd. “We are under observation at the moment, and I still haven't figured out who is our enemy. I left my position earlier and caught some attention to our surroundings. I’m afraid my cover has been exposed.”

“T-then, what do we do?” The lady asked nervously, allowing him to lead the way without questions.

“Before taking on this mission, my superior had given us a map that could take us to a hidden inbuilt basement by the West wing of Otto’s Hotel. If we follow the map, I should be able to hold down the enemy until Mr. Neumann can leave the event. We will escort you two on the road as well. In the meantime, our team is surrounding the park. We will barricade all the hired hitmen from leaving this place to keep you under safety.” 

The basement was meant to be a final option for a worst-case scenario. Usually, Seonghwa never had to reach this stage, but it seemed like someone genuinely wanted the Neumanns to vanish because while running to the podium in a rush, Seonghwa could feel murderous intentions reeking throughout the entire area. And they all were skilled hitmen.

The lady nodded without any protest. Seonghwa hoped the situation wouldn't affect her body’s condition or, worse, her baby.

He circled his stilettos on both hands, carefully stepped through the corridors with Kayle following from behind, and they passed through another hallway with open windows connected from Otto’s Hotel to Huberreon’s National Inn.

Red laser light pinned on the wall and zapped over to his client’s right temple when Seonghwa alarmingly traced along. The clueless lady blinked when he jumped over her and released a soft ‘oof!’ 

Seonghwa put his hand on top of her head as her body hit the wall, his back blocking her body from the sniper’s view.

“Are you okay?” He grunted, inhaling and exhaling.

“I– What? I–I’m fine, but— Oh my God. You got shot.”

Usually, Seonghwa would push his client away from being targeted so that no one would be hurt, but considering his client’s current condition, Seonghwa didn't think he had that much of a choice. Besides…

He turned back and glanced straight at where the sniper was. He already knew where the man was standing from the direction of the bullet. The sniper jerked after seeing an enraged Seonghwa staring straight at him through the scope.

A blink and a stiletto flew in, smashing into his operator’s lens. 

From this far?! The guy shrieked, jumping back in fear. That guy shot his stiletto with brute force, and it reached this far. The sniper swore he was at least three buildings away from them. 

What kind of monster is he?!

A second later, he was shot by another Garden agent who had spotted his hideout due to the blow Seonghwa caused.

Seonghwa lamented that he had to throw away one of his good stilettos. Then he led the lady again as if nothing had happened.

“Are you sure you are okay, Mars?” The lady asked nervously, seeing blood seeping down his left shoulder painfully slowly.

“Don't worry, Miss Neumann. I have gotten worse injuries before. I’m okay.”

He wasn't, but she didn't need to know that.

Footsteps echoed through the hallway, making the ground rumble. Seonghwa became impatient, bridal–carrying his client across the hall and making a left, a right, and another right before they met a dead-end, and a ladder leading to the basement appeared.

“Go in.” Seonghwa urged, “Do not open the door until I ask you to. I’m sorry that it has come to this point, but I will retrieve you soon, young lady.”

The lady stepped down the ladder, looking at him with trepidation and concern. “W-Will you be okay?”

“It’s implausible for me to die on a mission,” Seonghwa assured her, “Besides, this is my job, no matter the outcomes.”

The lady watched him one last time, sobbing as she climbed down and closed the metal door with a tight shut. And Seonghwa thought to himself how cruel it was that he was in this situation. Back then, he never really cared whether he lived or died after a mission because, at the end of the day, he had done his best to protect his country.

Now, however, he wasn't sure if he could remain unbothered by the fact that he could die. 

He had a family to return to this time.

Five men, no, ten men lined up with different weapons collectively taunted Seonghwa when they saw him standing by the end of the hallway.

“Well, well. Look what we have here. A pretty face. First time chaperoning someone?”

Seonghwa chuckled and spun his stiletto in effortless motion.

“Ah, how festive. ‘coming in to be my treat?”

“A stiletto?” One of them voiced, gaping at his weapon in a stupor. “No way…You must be Prince of Mars.”

“That I am.” Seonghwa smiled, “I didn't know my name would reach that far, even in the rat holes, since you bits know about me.” He purposely provoked them, pacing back and forth with glee as their minds crumbled. An unfocused man is a man of weakness.

“Why do you have to assist Neumann when you could join us? The rewards are hefty, you know?”

“Oh really? What's the deal?”

“Ten million Darc.” 

Seonghwa pretended to think.

“Sounds good, doesn't it? We get paid for it and get to kill this worthless jester from trying to side with the West. Sounds like a good deal to me.”

“I see.” Seonghwa nodded, “Good deal, indeed.” 

“That's why you should stop being difficult and let us share the rewards together—”

The stiletto pierced through his throat, stabbing through the wall. His body fell with a pathetic thud, and the rest of the assassins stared at each other, stunned.

“–And that is why I can't let you bastards group me in the same kind. Do you even hear how stupid you sounded?”

The men snapped out from what had just happened, chasing to where Seonghwa was standing after realizing it was pointless to explain their standing to him.

Seonghwa’s eyes lit dangerously. He ran up the wall, sped through them in a blink, and landed beside where his stiletto was. The men stared at each other dumbfounded again, making the assassin laugh. They reminded him of a group of meerkats. One swung a whip at him, trying to damage him from a distance. Seonghwa grabbed the whip with his hand. It burned a little, and he was sure his skin was peeled off at the palm, but that action was enough to make the man yelp. Seonghwa dragged the whip and the man towards him in sheer force, so the eight other men didn't have enough time to react before the stiletto had already logged onto the poor whip user’s skull.

“Who’s next?!” Seonghwa screamed, sleekly spinning his stiletto again to shake off the blood—the red liquid splattered on the white wallpaper, making where he stood the more eerie.

The eight hitmen gulped nervously, gripping their weapons tighter.

San saw his Mama run to the hotel with the mission lady and got shot on the shoulder. The child freaked out at the sight of his mother being hurt, but instead of falling, Seonghwa still stood firm against all odds. 

With the dire situation, San didn't know how to save his Mama, but he wanted to help her. When he saw Mama’s weapon fly to one of the buildings he was standing near, and Mama thought of how disappointed she was that her metal stick was gone, San immediately knew what his mission was.

He had to retrieve Mama’s metal stick! She needed it to save the world. And San would do anything to help Mama and Papa save the world. So the child ran inside the building to reach the highest floor. The balcony was restricted, so San sneaked into the elevator with another family, pretending to be their kid.

“Hey, who are you?” Their child questioned, maybe around his age, so San hushed her, pulling out a candy in his pocket.

“Shh! Sannie has to save Mama right now. I’m participating in an important mission, and I cannot give you any details, but…” He placed the candy on her little hand, “If you help me keep this a secret, Sannie will be very thankful.” Then he tipped his sunglasses and winked. San saw Papa did this in his mission to other ladies before to obtain information.

The little girl blushed and nodded shyly.

Papa might be a liar, but he's good at his job. San thought. I don't know exactly what it does, but I’m glad it works!

In the end, the pink-haired child made it to the balcony. He hid between the walls and looked around to find the door that could lead him to the upper floor of this building, which was where he knew the sniper was initially located until Mama destroyed his gun with her metal stick.

San climbed up the ladder and opened the door with a struggling grunt. Immediately, he spotted a body lying there. It wasn't scary because the ahjussi’s back was facing him, and although there was blood on the floor, it was dark outside, so it wasn't spiking his fear in any means. San picked up the stick with a satisfying hum, then prepared to leave so he could give it back to Mama. 

But he changed his mind shortly when he saw the laying ahjussi again.

San walked closer and huffed, giving him a weak kick on the back with his little leg.

This is for hurting Mama!

The kid climbed down again and exited the building, running towards where his Mama was fighting.

Hongjoong had lost track of Garden's agents except one after the confetti incident. He knew that would eventually happen, considering that he was the one who replaced the bomb in the first place.

However, he saw a blob of white hair rushed to the front with a stiletto hidden in his sleeve, and all of Hongjoong's assumptions were correct. Nothing drastic happened, so the man retrieved and pulled the young girl Hongjoong remembered seeing. Hongjoong chased them from behind, trying to see where they were going, but—

A young man walked by, dressed casually and with a baseball cap, giving him a hand signal.

Leez told us to come back.

Hongjoong halted.

What do you mean by that? The assassination is still ongoing. He subtly signaled back.

He said since Garden is involved, we should retreat in case they find out about WISE’s activity and pull the purge on us. You know how crazy those people are.

Hongjoong became frustrated by the news. When he looked in front, he had lost the two figures he was targeting. He inwardly groaned.

Tell Leez I’m putting in annual leave for the next two days. I want to have a vacation here while I’m at it.

The spy returned his gaze with a surprised look. But he agreed without questions. Hongjoong knew that was out of character, of course. His co-workers always joked that it would have been snowing in the summer if Rocky had ever taken a day off in his life. Hongjoong didn’t think he had the time to elaborate. Hell, he didn’t want to explain any reasons, nonetheless. 

Stay safe.

The man signed his final words and vacated, leaving Hongjoong in distress. The spy looked around to see where his targets had run to before he darted around to search for them.

Seonghwa wiped his face with his palm, huffing in pain after taking down at least fifty men so far. They all lay on the ground like dead bugs—one by one kept running toward him like they had a dead wish. It wasn't his first time doing nonstop intense combat, but it had been a while. He'd have taken them down faster if it wasn't for the blood constantly seeping through the leather jacket. He felt worse knowing that the jacket was now stained in his blood; it wasn't even his clothes. God, he wondered if Kayle would be furious seeing its current stage. 

Getting a new jacket seemed more compromised.

Footsteps echoed again. A group of thirty men banded up like dominoes as they hoped to take him down this time. They became impatient as every hitman sent to his way lost their connection with the main culprit of this assassination. 

“You don't seem clear-minded anymore, Prince of Mars.” One said, “Getting rusty?”

Seonghwa grinned, leaning against the wall with labored breathing. “Am I now?” Then he forcefully ripped off the bottom of his shirt, using the ruined fabric to tighten it around his wound, where the bullet was located. It hurt so fucking bad when he wrapped the fabric tightly around his shoulder, but at least it should hold the blood for now. Seonghwa stepped back, sucked in a shaky breath, and posed with the stiletto, using his hand to provoke them.

Each man surged up, and almost on autopilot, the assassin turned, dodged, kicked, shielded, blocked, stabbed, and danced around them like a mindless robot. Kill. Kill. Kill.

One breath. Two breaths. A scream, a bone snap, and a wild animal's maniac cackle.

At that moment, Seonghwa became a mayhem itself.

“Keep it coming!” After throwing another body onto the floor, he announced, “Is that all you got?!” After the words, the assassin realized no other man was left to take the stage. And when reality finally washed over him like a waterfall, Seonghwa grunted, leaning over the wall with tears staining his face.

Fuck! It hurt like a bitch right now, and he couldn't do anything to subdue the pain. If it wasn't because of the injury, even a hundred men was a walk in the park for him. But Seonghwa realized that ever since he had a family, he had become more unpracticed than he wished. 

Finally, when he tried his best to stabilize his breathing, another man walked in, holding a katana with ferocious eyes, somewhat matching his own when Seonghwa locked in.

“S–Shit,” He barely escaped before the sword stabbed through his heart. “Can't you at least announce yourself before you start attacking me? Not even a hello?”

“Die.” His opponent said.

So much for being friendly.

He ran his feet on the wall and up the ceiling, making a one-eighty across the hallway while blocking the sword with his stiletto. Although he couldn't move much with his left arm, having two stilettos was more helpful than one. The katana was so sharp that if they kept going at it, eventually, his weapon would break. 

Seonghwa instantaneously looked for openings in the man’s bottom half since the sword became his enemy's front shield. But the man was consistent with his blocks. Compared to those eighty men, this guy was on par with him, which Seonghwa thought was unfair since he waited for Seonghwa to get worn out before he appeared. As much as he wanted to praise the latter’s skills, he couldn't tolerate his calculated demeanor. 

A slash went by his left shoulder, and Seonghwa hissed, suddenly feeling dizzy.

What the–

Poison?

He glared at the man, seeing a satisfied smile on his heartless face. 

The man kept jabbing, searching for his weakness as he grunted, grounding himself from being swept under the man’s sword.

After fighting each other for ten minutes, he began to feel his body aching and slowly exhausted. All of his dodges became slower, and he couldn't keep himself stable since the poison started kicking in, distracting him. 

It had to be such a strong dose that it meant to kill a person with one touch. Fortunately, Seonghwa was trained to deal with them, so his body was long immune to poison. But just because he wasn't dying immediately, that didn't mean his movements weren't getting weaker, and he was slowly losing the fight.

Suddenly, the stiletto snapped in half, and Seonghwa watched it shatter in bewilderment.

Damn.

He started escaping and dodging the man’s attack by running away, hoping to see if there was another weapon he could take from one of those lifeless bodies. 

Until a stiletto was thrown inside from one of the windows and rolled toward his feet.

Isn't…this the stiletto I threw earlier? Seonghwa stared at it in wonder. There was too little time to ask extra questions, but he was glad to see the familiar object again.

He turned around, cracking his neck to relieve the stiffness of his neck, and whirled the stiletto again, speeding over to his enemy at an inhuman speed, frantically and ruthlessly.

The man twisted the sword to block his attack when Seonghwa attempted to reach closer again and used his other hand to punch him.

The assassin dodged, using his hand to stop the fist from touching his face.

“Nuh-uh. Not my face. I don't plan to become a panda before my family.” He pushed himself back again, changing his pose. His opponent took the chance to dart forward, sword pointing straight at him without brakes, which caught Seonghwa off-guard. He dropped his stiletto and used both hands to stop the blade from piercing through his stomach. 

The man grunted when he realized Seonghwa was stronger than him; as the sword stuck between the assassin’s hands, causing blood to drip mercilessly, Seonghwa returned the murderous glint after seeing his stupefied expression and gripped the blade with all his strength.

The sword cracked into pieces. 

“What–” The man gasped, finally realizing his opponent's power.

Seonghwa didn't let him think any further before he choked the man with his bloody hands.

“You soaked the sword in venom, did you? No wonder I kept getting this tingling feeling around my body,” Seonghwa slammed him on the wall. “Too bad you picked the wrong foe to poison.” He used the sword shard from earlier and made a slight cut on the man’s neck. The man scratched at his hand, choking before he started convulsing, then slowly slid down the wall when Seonghwa released his grip.

Seonghwa would have been more merciful if it wasn't for them to keep coming at him with all forms of torture. It wasn't like Seonghwa was being paid to be kind, either. He dropped the shard with shaky hands and pressed them on the walls to stabilize his breath again.

This was it, right? There shouldn't be any other enemy coming his way, right? Seonghwa groaned when the pain traveled across his body, then turned tenfold at his left shoulder. His eyesight became even more unsteady than he remembered, and the hallway lights blinked, reflecting the color of blood across the hallway. Bodies stacking among each other like sacks of rice, and Seonghwa couldn't fathom the work it would take to clean everything up. 

Sorry, Uncle Tea. I will leave this to you.

Seonghwa heard a crack and turned, weakly pointing the weapon toward the fresh appearance, but he stumbled and tripped over one of the bodies. 

“W-Who?”

The poison would eventually dissipate if he stopped moving for a few hours, but for now, Seonghwa didn't think he was sane enough to uphold a conversation with anyone, let alone fight someone. The hazy figure came closer. Seonghwa’s trembling hand eventually dropped the stiletto, and he fell backward.

A pair of hands caught him before his back hit the puddle of blood, soaking the borrowed leather jacket even more.

The assassin opened his eyes with great struggle, seeing a shadow looming over his face. 

“I must be hallucinating.” He chuckled to himself. One of the stranger’s hands reached over to his cheek and shook him. All forms of action became a blur to him as his ears were muffled, and he felt like he was underwater.

“Wake up, Seonghwa.” The voice called for him, but he couldn't understand what was said.

Instead, Seonghwa chuckled, touching the shadow’s face like an absentminded drunkard.

“That’s funny,” He slurred, smiling, “You look just like my husband.”

Then he fell unconscious.