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You never expected the party to do this well. In fact you didn't even expect the party to happen. The guests are crazy and the RFA is grieving their friend's death for the second time. Jihyun is long gone and the cult leader that caused all of this has went mia. No one knows if she's actually dead this time or is it just another trick.
It's been around two hours since party started. Last guests have finally arrived. These weird guests were in fact serious about themselves. The fat guy that calls himself Pluto is walking around in circles as if orbiting the party room. Yoosung's friend from internet cafe gathered a bunch of food from buffet and is eating them in the corner, lied down. One guy in yellow shirt thinks he's gonna catch Elizabeth the third with a red and white ball. You hoped Jumin won't see this or the guy might get kicked out.
Everything seems to be going smoothly despite the chaos, a small break from the party sounded amazing right now. You checked your purse to see if you have cigarettes on you. A few were left in your small black package that has a dying baby on it. Why would they put all these gore stuff on cigarette packs anyways. It doesn't make anyone want to smoke less, it's just annoying.
You made your way towards the balcony stairs, it was getting dark. You decided you don't want to go alone, who should you call with you? Anyone in the RFA would be nagging you for this right now. Zen maybe wouldn't but he did say something about wanting to quit and you didn't want to persuade him for an addiction he is trying to quit knowing he won't refuse your offer. How about Luciel's... maid? You have seen him smoking before in the small cabinet and you're not that close so you won't have to listen to him berating you.
Your eyes searched for him in the room. Bingo! Head of the C&R intelligence unit was talking to him but he doesn't seem one bit interested. It's not just for your selfish need to not be alone, you were also saving him from a conversation he does not want to participate. You lied to yourself saying it's also for him and approached him. You adjusted your dress to look presentable and put on a smile.
"Hey... Vanderwood! Hi intelligence department! How is the party going for you? Enjoying yourselves?"
Both of their attentions shifted to your figure. Vanderwood rolled his eyes while facing you, making sure the guy in the suit doesn't notice his degrading gesture.
"I heard Mr. Vanderwood helped you guys a lot during the research on Mint Eye and I was asking him how he did all that! I may be the head of one of the most important intelligence units in the country right now but I can always learn a thing or two from the real masters!"
So that's why Vanderwood was annoyed. This guy is so full of himself and talks quite a lot. You prayed for Jaehee's sanity for dealing multiple of these guys for weeks.
"Well I'm glad you guys are getting along!" Lies. "There's something I need to discuss with Vanderwood so is it okay if I steal him for a little while?"
"Oh! Okay! Make sure to bring him back to me later, I have more questions to ask about his surveillance skills!"
You gave the guy a small smile and hand gestured Vanderwood to follow you. You headed towards the stairs in the balcony.
"What is this about? Why did you made me part with my new 'friend'?"
His voice was sarcastic. He sighed a relief while following you. You brought two fingers to your lips imitating a cigarette.
"You're dragging me out so you can smoke? How pretentious."
"I didn't wanna go alone... Plus you were looking annoyed. Thank me for saving you from that guy."
He didn't say anything as he followed you upstairs. You searched for the ashtray you found while readying the party. You opened up your purse and pulled out a cigarette, putting it between your lips. While you were going through your purse, looking for a lighter, a small fire appeared in front of your mouth. Vanderwood lit up your cigarette for you, then his, and then put the fancy lighter back in his jacket pocket.
"Thank you madam."
You winked at him and he groaned, annoyed.
"Don't you start that bullshit too. One ginger is enough for me." Long pause as he drags a puff out of his cigarette. It was brown. Not a regular cigarette, looks like Captain Black.
"Everyone in this association sucks, no one is in their right mind."
He leaned backwards to balcony railings. He is enjoying the small break from all the commotion downstairs.
"I mean, they're not that bad. Although Luciel does seem to bother you a lot haha. He seems all funny and cheery and once he focuses on his stuff he becomes a whole different person. I got tired putting up with him cursing me out even though I just brought him some coffee. I'm trying to do something good for him and he's lashing out on me. Is he always like that?"
He nodded, sighing. He does sigh a lot. He must be fed up.
"Not just Luciel. I am very much used to his annoying ass. How about the funny haired guy?"
"You mean Zen? HAH"
"No. He is quite a narcissist but I don't have much information about him. I don't like him, sure but I don't hate him either. I'm talking about the drugged one. V? Is that what you call him?"
You were just joking about Zen's hair being funny. But good to know about his thoughts about him.
"Zen... Yeah don't know much about him myself either. He posts a lot of selfies though. Have you seen his Tiktok? I doubt you use social media. V, his name is Jihyun. He did brought a lot of trouble on us for sure. I don't want to hate him but his self deprecation is pissing me off. Everytime we need information he just goes 'Oh I'm so sorry!! I can't tell you I'm taking care of it!!' Yeah bro you definitely do. You got fucking stabbed and messed it up even more. I had to pull all nightes at hospital with Jumin until he woke up."
Vanderwood laughed at that. It's Jihyun that brought all this trouble upon us in the first place, it was right. Could he blame him? Maybe.
"His sorry attitude made everything worse. Blonde one didn't help much by blaming him for everything too. Maybe if he didn't blame Jihyun that much he would've spat out the truth faster. He kept cornering him and Jihyun got scared probably."
That's a way to look at it. Putting all blame on one guy, maybe he did got scared and Vanderwood has a point.
"I don't wanna blame Yoosung for it though. He was already grieving his cousin that he never even seen the corpse of. If we were to blame someone how about Jumin's blind devotion to Jihyun? He made the most contribution by gathering the intelligence team, sure. But he encouraged Jihyun's secrets and kept saying 'Oh trust my dear friend he knows everything' Here you go man. Well at least he made up for it."
Is it even okay for you both to blame everything on RFA? Definitely not. But everyone is pissed, especially you and this was kinda therapeutic.
"The only person who has senses in the entire charity is that woman who gathered the intelligence team. She worked day and night, I'm impressed. I wish my coworkers at the agency was as sensible and responsible as she is."
Hah. That one was true. Jaehee made the most important contribution and not just that, she remained calm all the time and made sure everyone was safe.
"Man I adore Jaehee a lot. I agree with you on that one. Don't forget about yourself Vanderwood, you helped out a lot too. If it weren't for you I would've lost my shit at the cabin. You took care of three people at once. You're amazing."
He ashed out his cigarette.
"Nah, I only did this because Seven promised me a car. Also he refused to do work until this thing is solved. I didn't have much choice. I don't even want to be associated with this mess called RFA."
Ouch. Rough words from someone who worked this much for their safety. No matter what he says, if he didn't care he wouldn't help at all.
"Do you really hate RFA that much? They're not perfect but they started growing me quite a lot..."
It was true. They already grew on you on your first week in Mint Eye, as fictional characters of course. You even imagined how far the game could go and maybe reading some fanfictions about this game called 'Mystic Messenger'. The whole realisation of them being actual human beings shocked you, but after meeting them all, they were okay people after all.
"What about me? Is there anything I did that made you hate me?"
Considering everything he said about RFA by now, you are also a part of it and he didn't say anything bad about you, yet.
He lit up another cigarette. The conversation isn't over, maybe he doesn't want to leave yet. Is it because he is enjoying your little chat or because he doesn't wanna go back yet, who knows.
"You... You're a nice one amongst them. Even though you were the damsel in distress this entire time you kept your cool and helped everyone out. Your work was admirable. You made the entire stay at the cold cabin durable, I probably have left long ago if you weren't there."
Ohh... That's a relief. He doesn't seem the type to lie about his feelings towards someone, even if it's gonna hurt them. It must be true.
"So you don't hate me?"
You giggled nervously. You weren't sure if you wanted to hear the answer, a yes would break in you in half right now, but the question still slipped past your lips.
"Why would I hate you? Didn't you hear what I just said? In fact, I'd say I've taken a quite liking towards you. But if you were to tell this to anyone, especially Seven, you'll lose all this positive attitude, got it?"
His hands were shaking while saying that. Is he nervous? Cute.
You nodded and light up your second cigarette to match his pace. A quiet ten minutes passed between you two. No words were needed at that point, he was a man of fewer words. You managed to be liked by a man who has never liked anyone. The feeling of butterflies in your stomach took all your focus as you watched the brunette finish his cigarette.
You were so focused on watching his idle smoking your own cigarette has been ashed completely, a grey strike with a yellow butt was sitting in your hand and you didn't even notice.
"Staring much?"
He looked the column of ash in your hand. Oops, caught. He laughed at your surprised expression. You tried to ash out the cigarette but ashes fell down before you reached the ashtray. You facepalmed internally and dusted off your hands.
"Let's go."
He gestured balcony door with his head. While you were passing by him, he draped his arm over your shoulders, his long jacket draped over your back.
None of you said anything as you both headed inside, his perfume filling your senses, being this close to him wasn't a part of your plan, sure, but who are you to reject him. You head inside together, inside his arms, pressed to his chest, warmth of him all around you.