A/N: Hello Everyone! Back with another update! Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! As it is the holidays, I may be able to update a bit quicker next time, but in the interim, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
If there was one thing MC appreciated about Vanderwood, it was his composure. Despite the frequent outburst, the older man demonstrated enough collectedness to handle the worst crises and incidences of stupidity—Saeyoung included.
However, after being shoved into her own car, ordered to drive to her boyfriend's house, and given no explanation for either demand, MC's appreciation for his fortitude was morphing into despise.
To her credit, she had shown exemplary patience of her own. Even under present circumstances, she was calm. Granted, her definition of calm was shallow breathing, incessant fidgeting, and of course, speeding.
"Hey, hey, hey! Slow down!" Vanderwood exclaimed from the passenger seat. His hand caught the edge of the wheel just before MC swerved into the adjacent lane. "And both hands on the wheel! Last thing we need is police pulling us over and asking questions."
Obediently, she returned her other hand to the wheel, but her foot defiantly increased the pressure on the gas pedal.
"Saeyoung lives in a fortress in the middle of nowhere," she said with more steadiness than she felt. "There aren't bound to be any cars—or police. So, unless you give me an answer as to what's going on, screw the speed limit."
Vanderwood snorted, unfazed by her terse reply. "It's not just the police," he said, brows knitted together as he returned focus to the laptop on his legs. "If anything happens to you, Seven will kill me."
He wasn't wrong.
No doubt, if Saeyoung was in the car that moment, he'd be scolding her to drive safer and stop worrying about him so much. As if he wasn't responsible for the concern eating a hole into her stomach…
His panicked call earlier that morning left her uneasy as it was, and Vanderwood's odd behavior only exacerbated her anxiousness. Not to mention, he hadn't yet shared his new number which made him impossible to contact.
"Almost there," MC informed when the tower of Saeyoung's notorious security system loomed in the distance. She received an ambiguous grunt in reply that tested her forbearance. "So, before we are, can you please tell me what's going on? Does this have to do with…well, you know who?"
Not that he answered any of the past ten times she'd asked.
Vanderwood paused his brooding to glance at her. His mouth parted, and for a moment, MC thought he might actually offer some insight into the confusion, but instead, his hand slapped down on the top of his laptop and stuffed it into a bag at his feet.
"Pull up to the gate, but stay four meters away until I tell you," he instructed, eluding her pointed glare by gathering the rest of his equipment scattered on the car floor.
Surrendered to the man's reticence, MC restrained the few choice words on her tongue and did as she was told.
Saeyoung's gate had always been an ominous barrier—all metal, greyness, and everything opposite from the playful genius who lived underneath. But as the car rolled into his driveway, the dismal machine seemed darker somehow, shrouding the tiny vehicle in its shadow.
Instinctually, MC searched the grey slab for the camera jutting from the side of the entrance. The red light that usually blinked atop the device was absent, staring down at the car with an empty blackness that mirrored the already present hole in her chest.
Silence blanketed the air around them, every bit consuming as the dead machine.
"The bunker is on lockdown," Vanderwood explained, probably sensing her confusion.
Apprehension spread from MC's chest into her limbs. "What does that mean?"
"It means," he began, slouching into the seat. "It won't open for anyone or anything—except maybe explosives.
The mention of bombs made her pale. "But then, how will we get it open? The gate…the camera…Nothing seems to be on."
"It's not," Vanderwood said. "He'll have to open it manually for us."
Her brain attempted to decipher the answer she was generously given, but her jumbled interpretations only aggravated her confusion. She thought to ask further, but Vanderwood seemed intent on returning to his tight-lipped pretense, leaning away to stare wordlessly into the fog.
Summoning the last of her reserve, MC released a tense breath and let her hands fall to her lap. "Look, if you won't tell me what's going on—or why we're here—can you at least tell me Saeyoung is okay?"
Finally, Vanderwood's features softened. His eyes shifted sideways, regarding her with something akin to concern—for herself or Saeyoung, she wasn't sure. With a surrendered sigh, he smoothed his ruffled hair against his scalp.
"I wish I knew what was going on," he said. "But ever since that kid stepped into the agency, my life is just filled with—" his hand waved in a vague gesture, "Not knowing! Nothing's making sense."
The loose response from the usually blunt man was disquieting. "You didn't answer my question. Is he okay?"
"He's fine…I think."
"What do you mean 'you think'?" MC demanded. Her relief at the man's cooperation vanished as he stubbornly pressed his lips together in a grim line. "Did you even call him?"
"I did before destroying my phone," he replied with unnerving sangfroid. "He was fine last I checked."
That still wasn't reassuring.
Too irked to continue the futile conversation, MC returned her gaze to the blocked entrance. She bit down on her chapped lips as the uncharacteristically insipid gate beckoned dark scenarios into her mind, haunting her head like phantasms. The taste of blood permeated her mouth, but the bitterness wasn't enough to dispel the sickening thought of finding the bunker empty—or worse lifeless.
Saeyoung had to be okay. If something happened to him…
Before she could finish the thought, the already suffocating air inside the car tightened around her throat and stomach. Her panic rising, she fumbled with the handle under her fingers and kicked the door open with her heel.
Vanderwood pinched the back of her jacket, threatening to haul her back into the stifling vehicle, but she flung herself onto the open door and out of his grip.
"Where do you think you're going?" he said. One hand swiped through the air to catch the hem of her shirt. "What part of 'four meters' did you not understand?"
"I just need some air," she snapped. "Please."
Whatever protest hung on his open mouth dissipated with his next breath. Raising his arms in submission, he returned to his seat, although his frequent glances didn't pass unnoticed.
MC brushed off the obvious surveillance, focused more on breathing and the cool breeze that slid under her thin clothes; she hadn't even changed out of pajamas. Her forehead rested against the metal doorframe, and she welcomed the frigid sting against her hot skin.
But, the respite was brief.
The car jolted underneath her, drawing her attention to the opposite side where Vanderwood's head peeked over the roof. The glowing embers of a cigarette burned between his lips, a contrast to their colorless surroundings.
"You don't look so good," he commented, earning him a deadpan glare. Was she supposed to be chipper in this situation? "You don't need to worry so much. Seven…he's really good at getting out of these kinds of things. And I'll help him get out of this one way or another. I did promise."
MC wasn't sure whether to feel grateful at his attempts to console her, or even angrier at another obscure reference to some obvious danger to which she was not privy.
She tangled her fingers into her hair, once again eyeing the wall that stood between her and the assurance of her boyfriend's health and safety. Was this punishment? For two weeks, she avoided this place, and now when she wanted to be there most, she was denied access.
"If the cameras are off," she said, finger lifting to the still lifeless device, "He can't see outside, right?"
Vanderwood nodded.
"And if your phone is gone," she went on. "How is he supposed to know we're here?"
Smoke wisped into the air when the edge of his lips lifted in a small smile.
"You," he replied simply.
As if on cue, the gate sparked to life. It emitted a deep groan with gears and bolts whirring behind the metal. A single red dot flared into the mist before softening into a faint glow. The camera. Just like that, the cold atmosphere turned warmer, the redhead's presence behind the machines winding through the brittle air.
"Miss Vanderwood, kindly extinguish your smelly cigarette before entering."
The familiar voice reverberated against the walls around them, and MC's heart leapt in response. She turned to Vanderwood, afraid she might've hallucinated, but he obediently squashed the ashes under his heel.
"It's about time," he called, ducking into the car to gather his bags.
Meanwhile, MC ventured forward, and thankfully, the ex-agent didn't protest. She directed a small waved to the camera, expecting the gate to click open or for the sprightly robot to spout some new nonsense her boyfriend programmed. But it remained disappointingly sealed.
"Saeyoung?" she called, remembering the hacker had previously programmed the machine to respond to her voice. "I know you're there."
The following silence was nearly the last piece to complete unhinge the pent-up annoyance from the morning's events. If there was one thing she hated more than feeling useless, it was being left in the dark. The fact that her own boyfriend was involved stung more than the tears welling behind her eyes—to her chagrin.
"Saeyoung," she nearly shouted, her voice wavering beyond her control. "I swear if you don't open this stupid door, I'm going to—going to— "
"Kill me?"
It was his voice again. But it wasn't muffled by static. It was clearer…closer…
Her head spun when she whirled around. A pair of hands caught her waist, steadying her body but worsening the giddiness rushing behind her eyes. She didn't know how he got there, the gate still firmly shut ahead, but at that point, she didn't even care.
She was finally facing the color red.
Not murky red like the distorted blood in her dreams. This was mellow and vibrant at the same time. The color of his hair. The color of his shirt. The color of his cheeks as ragged breaths huffed past his upturned lips.
"Sorry, babe," he said. "You'll have to wait in line."
For a moment, MC could only gape. Her brain engaged in a fierce debate on whether she should slap or kiss that stupidly roguish grin off his stupidly beautiful face. In the end, she chose a mix of both.
Her hands coiled around the collar of his shirt and yanked him down hard against her lips. His breath hitched, but he soon recovered, his fingers grazing against her cheek. His touch was warm, welcoming, and familiar. For the first time in weeks, MC felt the coldness in her limbs begin to dissolve…but unfortunately for the both of them, the reason for this reunion was very fresh in her mind.
Before Saeyoung could settle, she shoved him back, fist pounding against his chest.
"Why didn't you call me?" she demanded, anger rapidly replacing the worry that had only just dissolved into relief. She aimed another strike to his chest. "You said you were going to call, and then left me with no way of contacting you. Do you know how worried I've been?"
"MC," he began, shielding himself from another one of her attacks.
"You can't keep doing this!" she continued, tears finally sliding down her cheeks. "Every time there's trouble, you just disappear and try dealing with everything on your own while I'm left wondering if you're even alive or—"
He grabbed her wrist before she could land another blow, using the momentum to tug her towards him. This time he shut her up successfully with another kiss followed by several more peppered along her nose and forehead.
"I know. You're right. I'm sorry," he placated between kisses. Despite her tingling lips, his apology was less than pacifying, but he trapped her into a tight embrace before she could continue her assault. She fought against it, squirming and grunting like a petulant child intent on scalding him with her wrath. But, her frustration was defenseless against the warmth of his touch. Little by little, her vigor waned until she melted against him.
His hands slid to down her back and crushed her deeper into his chest.
"You're shaking," he said. "Are you cold?"
MC stared at her own fingers clutching his shirt. He was right. Another wave of frustration tore through her, and she shoved him back again. "Of course, I'm shaking! I was really worried!"
Still, he shrugged off his hoodie and swept it over her shoulders.
"Saeyoung, I'm not cold," she said, crumpling the clothing and pushing it back towards him. The distance allowed her to fully take in his ashen face and the exhaustion permeating every one of his features. Not to mention, his voice was hoarser in person than it was over the phone. "Besides, you look like you need it more than I do. You sound sick…"
Suddenly, guilt slammed MC in the chest. Maybe if she visited more often, she could've made sure he was taking care of himself and resting….
"I'm not sick," he muttered forcefully draping the cloth around her frame. He left no room for protest this time as he tugged her back into his embrace.
"No?" she snorted. Her finger hooked around the edge of the high collar. "You're wearing a turtleneck. You never wear—"
She had barely pulled the cloth down an inch, but it was enough to reveal streaks of red and purple under his chin, trailing downward to his covered neck. His eyes widened under her stare, and he hurriedly yanked his shirt from her grasp.
But it was too late.
Her trembling before was nothing compared to the shudders travelling through her every limb now.
She prayed the bruises would disappear. She prayed they were only her imagination playing another cruel joke on her eyes, fueled by her recent restless nights.
Again, her hand reached for his chin, but he caught it just short, shattering her hope along with her composure
"What happened?" she barely rasped through her tightening lungs. "How did you—"
She abandoned the thought of speaking as her meager breakfast threatened to expel itself from her body.
His throat bobbed in a hard swallow, only accentuating the contusions, which she suspected were mere tangents to a worse injury. "There was a small accident, but I'm okay now."
His dismissive tone did nothing to lessen the jolting alarm that slammed through MC's body.
"Accident?" she sputtered. "What accident?"
She clutched the end of her jacket to still herself.
"Saeyoung, what accident?" she repeated.
His lips pressed together, unwilling to name the culprit, but despite her wavering sanity, MC could deduce the answer very well.
It was clear by the deadness of the bunker that no immediate enemy was near. And with his brother in the condition he was, Saeyoung wouldn't dare leave the house, which meant…
Her eyes drifted towards the gate where the younger twin was still sheltered underground.
While MC had never witnessed anything more than his derisive comments and a few hurled objects, Saeran's threats of eradicating his twin echoed in her mind. She bit down on her raw lip, actively fighting against the images in her head of his malice manifesting into action.
"MC," Saeyoung called. His hands gripped her shoulders, drawing her out of her gruesome deductions. "Everything is fine. Trust me."
"That," she pointed to his neck with her shaking finger. "Doesn't seem fine, Saeyoung. That's—"
To her displeasure, her voice broke into a whimper, swallowing her stern tone with it. Her emotions were scattering faster than she could gather them, but she tried to keep herself together.
She was doing poorly.
Saeyoung's fingertips dug deeper into her arm, accentuating how badly she was trembling. He pressed his forehead against her own. "I'm fine—really. I promise I'll tell you everything later, but there's more important things I have to take care of first."
Her gaze swept over him long enough to translate her displeasure of his dismissal. But even if she could gather herself enough to scold him within an inch of his life, she knew it would be hopeless. He would protect his brother to the very end…even at the cost of himself.
Besides, she couldn't find her usual gall to prod any further. Exhaustion permeated his every word, and his frame was slouched as if gravity was just a little heavier today.
When she didn't verbally respond, his eyes scanned her face with that that recklessly selfless worry as his hands cupped her face. "You look pale. Are you okay?"
No, she wasn't.
She felt physically sick, emotionally wrecked, and…angry though she wasn't sure to whom the anger was directed. Truthfully, she didn't have the willpower to bother deciphering her emotions.
The image of those bruises still burned her eyes, and despite being only faint traces of red, her mind kept twisting it into something far worse—just like one of her dreams.
Maybe she could treat it like a dream—just for a second.
Not real, she repeated in her mind. Not real…
MC startled when Saeyoung spoke again. His voice sounded foggy in her head, so she only nodded, hoping he had repeated his question.
Gently, she rolled his collar over his lips—mostly for herself. She forced her eyes to remain on her own hands which lingered at his chest. The warmth of his breath on her chilled nose was a balm to her disorientation, and she grasped onto the reassurance of his presence with every ounce of energy she had.
It was probably just a few scratches. He seemed fine otherwise...but even that fact didn't still her shaking.
"I will be when you stop making me worry," she said, wrapping his hoodie back onto his shoulders and giving the strings a sharp tug. He only took it as another cue to hold her again. She didn't protest.
"I'm okay. Really," he murmured into her hair. "I was more worried when I saw your tracker so close to the bunker, I thought something had happened, and I—"
MC tensed. "You were tracking me?"
Subconsciously, her fingers brushed against the lapel of her jacket in search of the little device the redhead frequently attached there. So that's what Vanderwood had meant earlier. He had used her to signal off Saeyoung…
Guiltily, he ducked his head. "I know you don't like it. But…"
"You're not in the safest position," Vanderwood finished.
Having forgotten the older man's presence, the couple jumped apart. Vanderwood stood by the wall adjacent to the gate, his bags of equipment neatly grouped at his feet. "Sorry to interrupt this touching reunion, but considering we could be dealing with trained, vengeful ex-agents—or worse, I'd appreciate if you'd get this damn gate open."
"Agents?" MC burst, turning to Saeyoung who had grown rapidly pale. As if this day wasn't bad enough…
His fingers dug into her shoulder protectively. "Exactly," Saeyoung snapped, turning towards the other man. "So, why did you even bring her here? It's dangerous."
Vanderwood examined his now ungloved fingernails. "I ditched my phone. I needed to make sure I wasn't being followed, and that you'd open the door," he said. "I knew you'd be tracking her."
Saeyoung's face flooded red. "You used her as an escape?" he said, his voice dangerously low. "Vanderwood, you better have a better excuse for bringing my girlfriend here, or I swear—"
"Relax," Vanderwood spat shortly. "That's not the only reason I brought her here. This is actually the safest place she could be. Targets, Seven. Remember? Always better to have them in sight."
"Target? Who's a target?" she said. Realization clicked in MC's head as both men glanced at her, exchanging an unspoken code with their eyes that slowly morphed to guilt in Saeyoung's. Her breath fled her lungs, and she jabbed her finger into her own ribs. "Me?"
"N-not necessarily," Saeyoung stammered.
"Even if you aren't yet, you're the easiest one," Vanderwood added, shooting the younger man a pointed look. Saeyoung shrunk back. "Not only did the agents already see you, they know that if anything happens to you, he'd jump straight into the fire to either save you or join you."
"But—the Agency is gone," MC said, trying to make sense of all the new information swimming in her head.
She turned to Saeyoung, but to her dismay, he avoided her questioning gaze. Vanderwood seemed equally evasive, suddenly finding great interest in his jacket.
"There's a possibility that a few of them are still out there—likely angry with me," Saeyoung said, mercifully providing her an answer before the silence swallowed her whole. "But, we don't know anything for sure! So, don't worry."
"We won't know anything at all if you don't let me in," Vanderwood exasperated, once again gesturing to the wall.
Too stunned to form a question, MC watched dumbly as her boyfriend left her side to join the older man by the concrete slab. His free hand skimmed across the surface, pausing once in a while to rap the brick. One tap awakened a humming sound from inside, and a small scanner emerged from inside. He pressed his bare thumb against the screen.
There was a soft click before a door, previously blended into the wall, slid open. That explained Saeyoung's sudden appearance…
"Emergency entrance," he explained, stepping aside to let Vanderwood through. "It just goes to the computer room. It's safe, I promise."
Ironically, it wasn't the ominous black hole in the wall that triggered MC's hesitance.
She felt helpless and frustrated, caught up in a series of events that were completely opposite of her simple, normal self. Not that the past few months had aligned with any sane person's perception of "normal."
But, until now, this whole situation was of her choosing. She chose to follow a stranger to Rika's apartment. She chose to open herself to Saeyoung. She even chose to throw herself in harm's way by following the redhead into Mint Eye.
Not that she regretted any of those choices, but at least she had control over them…
Walking into that bunker would only make her feel worse. It would be like the situation with bomb all over again. What could she do but wait and watch?
"MC," Saeyoung called, sounding more urgent as she lingered. Numbly, she stared at his extended hand, ready to lead her into the gaping hole ahead—in more ways than one.
Lately, life was stripping her from any control. She couldn't control the past—or how it harmed her loved ones. She couldn't control the situation looming before her. And maybe worst of all, she couldn't control the tears perilously dangling on her lashes.
She hated it. All of it. And yet, here she was, taking yet another step into darkness…
Any warmth remaining from the mostly absent sun abruptly dissipated in the stairway's shadow. A shiver skittered down her neck, and for a moment, the thought of jumping back into the car and speeding away seemed like the better option.
But, would it be? The bunker or the apartment…both choices would lead to four suffocating walls. Those stupid suffocating walls.
"Coming," she replied, barely able to feel her own tongue move inside her mouth. With another step, she plunged forward—to whatever awaited.
After all, what choice did she really have?
A/N: Woop Woop! More *STRESS* for our bbys. Poor, poor MC. But hope you enjoyed the reunion-it feels so good to write Saeyoung and MC together again.
Thank you so much for reading and sending your support through the wifi 3 hahahaha! Until next time (which I hope is sooner than later)! And who knows...maybe we'll have more Vandy ahead? ;)
Stay safe everyone and have a happy Christmas week!
