A/N: Yikes. Am I late to update or what? Sorry guys...the week was busy, and something health related came up over the weekend so I wasn't in a condition to finish the chapter until late. Anywho, hope you enjoy it! :)

Thirty five minutes. It had been thirty five minutes that they'd been locked into this cell if Vanderwood's cracked watch was correct.

Saeyoung's eyes burned, but he continued to stare at the corridor opening. His hand clutched the cross at his neck. He'd been praying under his breath for a miracle. That somehow MC would walk through that opening with a way to get them all out.

Even better, just have all of this be a dream...a delusion...he didn't care. Something other than reality.

"Hey, your bleeding is getting worse," Vanderwood pointed out from the other side of the cell, breaking his concentration.

Saeyoung barely spared a glance at his own arm. His shirt was already soaked with blood, and he couldn't remember what not having pain there felt like anymore. He returned to his vigil. "I'll deal with it later."

"I know you're worried and all, but I really don't want to see your dead body here. It'll ruin my life."

Saeyoung started at the statement. It was spoken so softly…almost brotherly, if he dared to imagine it. He raised a brow and turned to his ex-handler. The latter didn't look at him but busied himself with a small string on his jacket. "I'm fine," Saeyoung replied. "I can get through it. I have someone to protect after all."

The nagging thought that MC might not need protecting if she were already dead weighed down on his chest. No…he had to resist entertaining such doubts, or he was going to do something rash.

Twenty more minutes. That's all he was giving them before all chaos broke loose. With each passing second, the weight of gun on his arm increased, albeit he wasn't sure if it was because he was getting weaker.

"Hey," Vanderwood said, pushing himself to his feet. "I think I see someone coming."

Saeyoung's heart leapt when echoing footsteps confirmed the statement. His body seemed to move on its own as he stumbled towards the bars and pressed his face against them. He wasn't sure what he was expecting. Maybe MC waltzing down the stairs with her usual positive, playfulness. Or maybe even Jumin who might have managed to locate them with the given half of the coordinates. Either would be a miracle.

He certainly wasn't expecting the cheerful humming. "Luciel," Saeran sang, his voice wavering here and there from suppressed laughter. "I have a surprise for you!"

Saeyoung held his breath. His heartbeat quickened with every inch his brother's shadow grew closer. Finally he appeared in the doorway holding a motionless form in his arms. Saeyoung's heart plummeted when he recognized it as MC.

"N-no," he murmured. He blinked several times, hoping that something would change somehow, but it didn't. He leaned further against the bars, ignoring his shoulder's protest. "What happened?"

Saeran chuckled and sauntered forward. He stayed several paces away from the cell.

"I've brought you Sleeping Beauty," he smiled.

Saeyoung reached a hand through the bars in an attempt to touch her. Sleeping? She was alive, right? Oh, God, she had to be. "What did you do to her?" he growled.

"Oh, I didn't do this," Saeran replied. "The princess just pricked her own finger. That's all."

He seemed very pleased with his riddle, but Saeyoung was not amused. For the first time since their reunion, irritation towards Saeran prickled under his skin. He gritted his teeth. "This isn't a joke," he said.

Saeran threw his head back in laughter. "You should really see your face right now. Do you honestly care for her that much?"

Saeyoung shifted his gaze from MC to Saeran. His brother knew the answer. He knew very well, and that's why MC was unconscious in his arms. "Please, you have me. Just let her go at least."

"And have her snitch?" Saeran scoffed. "If you didn't want her harmed, you should've warned her that everything you touch only ends in suffering."

Saeyoung deflated. Not because the words were hurtful, but because they were true. He had told everyone that before…didn't he? Dread pooled in his stomach as he once again looked at MC. Her pointer finger twitched ever so slightly-a sign she was alive. But, she shouldn't have been harmed at all. That wasn't Saeyoung's plan.

After deeming his "fun" over, Saeran gestured the guards for the key.

"Back away if you want her," he ordered. "Or else I'll just take her straight back and begin the purification process."

Saeyoung's throat constricted at the mention of "purification." He didn't want to know what it entailed, so he obeyed, walking backwards until he hit the wall. His eyes remained fixed on MC's far too pale face. Saeran glanced between Saeyoung and Vanderwood a few times before setting MC's feet on the ground and opening the cell.

He lost his grip of her—or simply let her go—and she started collapsing. Saeyoung jumped forward, using his good arm to break her fall as she slumped against his chest. In the midst of it, Vanderwood had also lunged forward, his hand reaching for the cell door. A smart move, but, Saeran was too quick and swung it shut before his fingers could get a grasp. Vanderwood swore as the younger twin let out a triumphant chuckle.

Saeyoung shifted MC in his arms as he lowered her to the ground. Resting her head on his lap, he inspected her body for injuries, trying not to think of the various tortures any one from Mint Eye could have done in half an hour. His thumb hovered over the raw skin on her wrists. "Wait!" he called when Saeran began walking away. "What did you do to her?"

His brother's face contorted. "I told you it wasn't me, you idiot."

"Then what did the others do?" he said. He was acutely aware at his temper and aggravated tone, but his nerves were beyond chafed…besides that, Saeran wasn't completely innocent. He knew what he was doing bringing MC to them in this condition. It was to throw Saeyoung off the edge mentally…and at this rate, it was working. "How did she get these cuts and bruises?"

"She wouldn't have if she wasn't so concerned about getting to you," Saeran crossed his arms. "Don't you see how harmful you are?"

Saeyoung shut his eyes and released a shaky breath. When he met Saeran's gaze once more, he softened his expression. "Saeran—"

"Don't," the twin snapped. He glanced at MC one last time before disappearing down the corridor.

Saeyoung sighed and turned his attention back to the girl in his arms. He tugged at the sleeve on her left wrist, wincing at the raw skin. Besides that, the black and blue bruise near her wrist and travelling up her hand was telling of a potential sprain. Her pulse was slow, but not deathly so. "I…I think they just gave her sedatives or something," he said.

Vanderwood huffed from his place by the cell door. He was still angrily brooding at the exit. "So, are both you and your twin destined to give me trouble?"

Saeyoung would've thrown something if he could. "Is that what's important right now!"

The older man clicked his tongue and knelt beside him. "Here, let her sit against the wall to get her blood flowing. If you're right, then she'll wake up soon."

He scooped MC in his arms, since Saeyoung couldn't, and set her near the back so she was sitting up. Meanwhile, the red head searched her for any other major injuries. Thankfully, there were none, but he hated that she had been hurt at all. The drugs couldn't have been strong, as she managed to mutter some unintelligible phrases here and there. After a few minutes of her unresponsiveness, Vanderwood dismissed himself to the other side of cell, keeping watch for anyone else.

Saeyoung wiped the sheen of sweat from his brow and sat next to MC. Despite the adrenaline from his panic, his body wasn't keeping up. It was too warm, and even his thin jacket was stifling at the moment. His eyes stung from exhaustion, but he resisted the urge to close them. He took MC's hand in his own, afraid she might disappear if he let go again. He absentmindedly traced the lines in her palm with his finger.

"You stupid, stupid girl," he said quietly. "Always worrying about other people. What were you even thinking letting them take you away?"

He turned to look at her, but she had no response except the fluttering of her eyelashes. He let his head fall back against the wall. Saeran's words began to settle in his mind. Poison…was that what he was? Did he seep into people's minds until they trusted him? Then…they got hurt while he continued to live life. Thoughts laced with regret and guilt resurfaced inside of him. He glanced around at the dreary walls and rusted metal. Had he been foolish to hope for happiness all this time?

"Maybe I should've let you leave that apartment alone after all," he said. "The chances of Saeran kidnapping you was slim anyway. I think I was being selfish then. You just get more hurt with me, right? Even now…I'm so weak and useless to you."

"If you …say something like that again, Saeyoung, I swear…I swear I'm going to trash one of your cars."

His eyes widened at the breathless voice. He jolted up to look at MC. Her half-lidded eyes sparkled even in the dim light. Relief swam over him. Forgetting his arm completely, he crushed her against his chest. She weakly returned the embrace, burying her face in his neck. His arm was searing, but he didn't dare let go, needing the physical affirmation that she was there.

"If I had more energy, you know I would hit you for talking like that about yourself again," she said.

"We were separated in a place where people could potentially kill us and that's what you want to say to me?"

"You scolded me first!" she protested. She grew silent a few moments. "Besides that, if anyone is useless around here, it's me."

He pulled her back, surprised when he saw tears on her cheeks. He brushed them away with this thumb. "What the heck are you talking about?"

"I was trying to find a way out," she explained. "I…I couldn't do anything. They tied me up, and I couldn't escape. I tried to get something to escape, but…I guess I just ended back captured. If it were you or Vanderwood, you probably could've gotten out of this situation easily. I…I'm sorry."

He squinted his eyes, his brain not processing what she had said. "That's what you were trying to do?"

She nodded sheepishly. He laughed in disbelief. He wouldn't say that the feat was exactly the smartest idea in a place like this, but she was brave and selfless.

"Hey, look at me," he said, his tone firm. He cupped her chin and tilted her head up to meet his eyes when she didn't comply. "Three things. First of all, you're not useless. Most normal people don't know how to escape being tied up—especially when drugged up. Besides, I really hope you're never in this situation again, so the information would be irrelevant, got it? Secondly, don't ever scare me like that again. I don't care if you have to claw at someone's face—just don't let yourself get separated. Got it?"

"Yeah, yeah," she said, though he could still see traces of guilt in her eyes. "And the third thing?"

"Did I say three? Oh, right. Just this," he said before kissing her full on the mouth. She let out a muffled yelp of surprise before returning it with equal desperation, her fingers weakly curling around his shirt in an attempt to pull him closer.

Vanderwood's cry of disgust made the couple jump apart, flushed and breathless. "This isn't the time!" he exasperated.

"Sorry," Saeyoung muttered. He was right, but the young hacker couldn't help himself. He was caught up in the moment. Besides that, being apart in a place like this made their dangerous reality all the more definite.

He remembered MC's bruised hand and gently picked it up. "Where are you hurt? What happened up there?"

She took a deep breath, probably in attempt to shake off her sluggishness. "Nothing important. Just some trouble with the ropes before Saeran brought me here. It probably looks worse than it is. I'm more worried about you…"

Her voice trailed off as her gaze drifted to his arm. He knew there was no sense in hiding it now. "I'll be fine for now," he said. He patted the top of her head. "Now that you're here, we can search for a way out."

MC bit her lip. "I wish I could remember the way we came, but…"

"Not your fault," Saeyoung said before she started giving him that face again. "Um, do you have a knife on you? Or something sharp like a hair pin?"

She slipped a finger in her pocket and retrieved a hair tie. "This is all I have."

Saeyoung pouted and retrieved another one from his pocket. "That's all Vanderwood had too."

"If we had a razor, we could make a saw," she suggested.

Saeyoung fell back against the wall, using it for support. The adrenaline that fueled him for the past hour was now trickling away. "We have nothing."

MC's shoulders slouched, and disappointment flashed across her features. He rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry," he said. "I'll get us out of here, even if I have to give up everything."

"That better not include your own life, Saeyoung," she said quietly.

"And if it does?" he replied. He tugged on the two bands with his fingers.

She let out a shaky sigh. "Well, that would suck. What about our future?"

A smile tugged on his lips. "Our future?"

MC's head fell sideways on his shoulder. "Yep. Can't get married in a space station without you, can I? And what about starting that family you talked about?"

Heat crept into his cheeks at the thought. He hadn't exactly been thinking when he mentioned that weeks ago. Sometimes, his imagination got ahead of him and things slipped out. He tugged at his collar that seemed to get tighter by the minute. "Oh—er—subject change! Did Vanderwood just say something? We should-"

"Saeyoung," she said, her voice quiet and small, yet demanding his full attention. She looked up at him with such fire in her eyes, he was sure he would burst into flames any second. "I know it seems impossible right now, but…I still want to believe in a future for us. Both of us. Where we rescue Saeran, get married, live in a nice house, maybe even have Vanderwood visit on the weekends. "

Saeyoung snickered, and she grinned. "Yeah," he said. "I want to believe it too. So…will you trust me, then?"

"I always do."

"No," he said. "Trust me when I say I'll always come back for you. Somehow, no matter the circumstance, I will fight everything in my path to get to you."

MC chewed on her bottom lip, a few tears brimming her eyes. "You promise?" she choked.

"Yes," he said, bringing her hand to his lips. "I promise you'll get that future, even if it takes a lifetime."

Vanderwood scooted closer to them, pausing when he saw their position. "Sorry to interrupt this touching moment when our lives are at stake, but one of those disciples just came down the stairs and whispered something to our guards. I think they just got new orders."

Saeyoung stood to his feet. MC tried to follow suit, but apparently her legs weren't working quite yet. He helped her hobble over to the bars. "Do you think they're going to take me back?" she asked, eyeing the stairs warily.

"Nope," Saeyoung said, instinctively pulling her closer. "Not going to let them."

"Maybe I can—"

"MC, no," he said. "We're not splitting up again."

Vanderwood crossed his arms. "What do they even do here? I hate not knowing what's going on."

"You and me both," Saeyoung muttered. It seemed like the RFA was buried in more secrets than he could have possibly imagined. So many questions swirled around in his head, begging to be answered. The only problem was that V and Rika were probably the only two who held the truth, and both turned out to be liars.

The three watched the exit for what seemed like hours to Saeyoung. His brain was beginning to grow hazy again. He blinked a few times in order to refocus, but it didn't help. Suddenly, the floor spun underneath him, causing him to stumble to the ground. He dragged MC with him since she couldn't stand on her own yet either.

"Saeyoung, what happened?"

He groaned and rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry. I…" his words trailed off as fatigue hit him.

She rolled up his sleeve, her face growing pale. "You're bleeding again."

Vanderwood swore as he helped Saeyoung move against the wall once more. "The bandages are soaked. I can't really do much more."

MC somehow managed to crawl over to him. She touched his cheek. "He's burning up too."

Saeyoung tried to protest, but he couldn't find it in him to speak. He would need to conserve energy if they were to make it out alive.

"He needs to rest for now," Vanderwood said. "I hate doing this, but we have no choice but to wait here for now until we can make contact with one of your friends."

Saeyoung nodded, no longer able to fight against the call of sleep. He dived in and out of it several times before the sound of boots thudding against stone roused him.

"What the hell is going on? Seriously!" Vanderwood said. He was gaping at the open doorway.

MC seemed to regain some of her strength as she was now standing on her own by the bars. Her left hand hung at her side while the other clutched to the metal. She too was staring at the entrance way. She didn't seem as surprised as Vanderwood, but she her posture was more rigid.

"What…" Saeyoung began, blinking away his drowsiness.

MC turned to him, her eyes glittering in pity or sympathy—he couldn't tell. "You're not going to like this."

"And this has been a picnic so far," he retorted. Testing out his limbs, he clambered to his feet. He dragged himself over to the bars to observe what was happening. It took a few moments before shadows even appeared along with what seemed like another prisoner. He recognized the man immediately.

Saeyoung let out a bitter laugh as they drew closer. Of course….it had to be V.

A/N: Guess this was the small fluff before the storm.;) Our favorite couple is reunited, but are things better or worse? Hmmmm. As always, I love to hear your comments and thoughts throughout the week:) Hope you have a wonderful week and I will see you soon~