AN: Mild Warnings for Suicide Ideation and like, almost everything to do with Zen's route in-game if you haven't gotten to Day 10, as well as some other spoilers.
Day 10 - 09:00 AM
Having decided to forgo setting her alarm after Zen gave her an abrupt wake-up, Zai didn't wake up until late in the morning. All traces of sleep were immediately banished from her eyes as she realized that today was the day. The deciding factor in the survival of the RFA.
She had started thinking about what she was going to have to do to prepare for the events that would soon be transpiring when her phone began lighting up with notifications. Hastily pulling on a top and a jacket, she unlocked her phone and tried to sign into the RFA app while simultaneously lacing up her boots with another hand.
Zai has joined the chat room.
/ ZEN: ZAI! /
/ Jaehee Kang: Zai! /
/ 707: Zai! OMG I'm so sorry! /
/ Zai: Whoa, guys. What's going on? /
/ 707: Zai...Last night.../
/ 707: A hacker got into the apartment's security system! /
/ 707: I'm trying to lock them out again, but so far... /
/ Zai: So I'm locked in or something? What's happening, Seven? /
/ ZEN: Zai! There's a bomb! /
/ Zai: WHAT?! /
Of course, she knew about the bomb, but panicking would get her nowhere, and she knew Unknown wouldn't blow up the apartment with her still in it. He still needed her for some reason.
/ 707: I'm Sorry;;;;; Rika wanted it installed for some reason... /
/ 707: I never thought it could be exploited like this... /
/ ZEN: Well it's a stupid idea anyways! Why would Rika want a bomb planted under the apartment?! /
/ Jaehee Kang: Zen... /
/ Zai: Zen please calm down. I'm not in any danger right now, I'm sure. /
/ 707: The bomb is set to detonate if anyone leaves the apartment or if an RFA member tries to enter it. /
/ Zai: See? As long as I don't leave, I'm safe. /
/ ZEN: I still don't like it! If that hacker is controlling the apartment's security system, they could blow it up at any time! /
/ Zai: I know, but freaking out about it won't solve anything. /
/ Zai: Thank you for caring so much about me... /
/ Jaehee Kang: Zai, of course we care about you! /
/ Jaehee Kang: This must be incredibly frightening, but there's nothing we can do except wait for Luciel to regain control of the system. /
/ 707: Yeah! Leave it to me! /
/ 707: Also, you'll be happy to know I have Yoosung on duty as well! /
/ Zai: Yoosung is there with you? /
/ ZEN: Oh yeah, I haven't seen him in the chat for a while. What are you two doing? /
Yoosung has joined the chat room.
/ Yoosung : I thought it was going to be a sleepover, but he's had me looking up stuff on Echo Girl ever since I woke up. /
/ ZEN: Echo Girl? /
/ ZEN: What are you researching her for? /
/ Yoosung : We're trying to prove your innocence! /
/ 707: Yeah! Defender of Justice Seven-Zero-Seven and his sidekick, the Blond Wonder! /
/ 707: Here to save the day! /
/ Yoosung : At least, we will be if I can find anything. I'm so tired... /
/ Yoosung : Luciel has been working me to the bone;;;;; /
/ 707: Stop complaining! I fed you, didn't I? /
/ Yoosung : Honey Buddha Chips aren't classified as a meal! /
Giggling to herself, Zai watched Seven and Yoosung's gentle bickering. She thought back to all the parties that happened after she was saved by Zen. Seven would go missing, and V was just...gone.
Before, Seven had always run away after Zen rescued her from the apartment. She'd been extremely worried about him, as he'd never even shown up to the party. At least now, he'd have Yoosung to keep him grounded in the aftermath. As for V...
Zai bid the chat a hasty farewell, then she was dialing Jumin's number faster than she once believed was humanly possible.
"Jumin Han, C&R Inter-" She didn't even give him enough time to finish his introduction before she was all but shouting into the receiver.
"Jumin!" The stunned silence lasted a mere second before, "...Zai?" Echoed out of the phone's speaker.
"Jumin this is important! Where is V?"
"Ah, he's in the bedroom. ...May I inquire as to why you are calling me to ask this?"
"You need to look after him, okay?" Zai hoped he could hear the urgency in her voice and not question her, but unfortunately, she had no such luck.
"I...Why?"
"Jumin, please. Someone needs to be watching V today. You can't let him out of your sight."
"Not that I'm complaining about having an excuse to keep my eyes on him at all times, but is there a specific reason I should do that?"
"Ugh, yes! But I can't tell you right now."
"Why not?"
"Are you usually this difficult?!" Even when concerning the safety of someone he really cared deeply about, Jumin could still be a stubborn jerk.
"It depends on what you classify as difficult." Zai huffed at his response.
"I don't know, Jumin. Maybe you should ask the suicidal man how he's been feeling recently? Just watch V and make sure he answers his phone when Seven calls!" Zai pressed the 'end call' button a little harder than necessary when hanging up, and suddenly she was regretting saying too much. Sighing into her hands, she gathered herself together before returning her focus to getting ready for the day. There was still a lot to do in such a short amount of time.
Day 10 - 09:24 AM
POV: Jumin Mode
Jumin stared at his phone screen, the 'call ended' notification blinking idly at him while Zai's words echoed in his mind. Ask the suicidal man how he was feeling. The phrase spun mocking circles in his head as he thought about the only possible person she could be referring to.
His body stumbled on autopilot into the bedroom he'd been sharing with V for the past few days. Said man was currently reclining against the pillows while browsing through an old catalog of photos he'd taken when he was younger.
"Hey, Jumin, do you remember this picture?" There was a small smile on his face as he pointed to an image of Jumin lying in the grass, one of his first jackets barely visible in the corner from where it had been tossed to the side. Jumin's heart seized as he took in V's appearance. How many times had he seen him in the past year alone? Had he been so engrossed in his father's company that he hadn't even noticed the warning signs coming from his own best friend?
"Jumin? ...Jumi-" He was so lost in his thoughts he didn't hear V calling out to him until he'd climbed onto the bed and started gripping at the other man's shoulders with desperation.
"Jumin what's wrong?"
"Tell me you weren't going to go through with it."
"Go through with what? Jumin, what's going on?"
"Tell me you weren't going to kill yourself!" He didn't realize he was crying until he noticed the droplets of moisture that were suddenly dotting V's shirt.
The room was silent except for the short breaths Jumin was taking. He was looking into V's eyes with the intensity of a man who had just learned how close he'd been to losing all he held dear. V himself was staring back at Jumin with shock painted across his face, his cerulean eyes wide with terror.
"How did you..." Jumin jumped backward.
"So it's true...you really were going to do it." V set aside the photo album and reached towards him.
"Jumin, Jumin no, please don't be like this."
"Be like what!?" Suddenly Jumin was climbing off the bed and pacing across the room like a caged animal.
"Don't be concerned for your wellbeing? Don't be confused about how you could possibly want to take your own life as though you mean nothing to us, to me!?" The corporate heir was pulling at his hair, the tension in his body making him seem like a rather jerky puppet. V moved to get closer but Jumin just stepped out of his range, looking like he'd rather leap off the balcony than be near him at the moment.
"No, no! Don't come over here. I can't get close to you like this. You might decide to leave me again."
"Jumin please be reasonable."
"Oh, as if you're the sensible one. What kind of sensible person just decides to kill themselves like that, Jihyun?" His name was said mockingly, and Jumin immediately wanted to take back his words as he watched V shudder and back away, expression turning blank.
"...The kind of person who had just lost everything important to them." The atmosphere was stifling as Jumin stared at the man he'd recently learned that he loved withdraw completely, curling into himself.
"Jihyun I didn't mean..."
"No, you're right. It was foolish of me to think that way, but after Rika..." A choked sob echoed through the room and then Jumin was right next to V once more, his arms around him as the other man grasped at his back while he cried into his dress shirt. "Jumin I've already lost one person I loved, I don't know if I could handle it a second time."
"Don't worry Jihyun, I'm not going anywhere." The two men relaxed into each other's embrace before V spoke up once more.
"So...How did you even learn about those..feelings.. of mine?" Jumin pulled back slightly so he could look into those bright eyes he loved so much, even if they were slightly red and puffy from the crying.
"Oh... Zai told me."
"But how would she know? I believe I've only spoken to her about three times since she's joined the RFA."
"Honestly, it doesn't matter, I'm just glad you're safe." He pressed their foreheads together before closing his eyes and just taking in the feeling of being able to hold V in his arms without worrying about whether today would be his last day with his best friend since childhood.
"Promise that you won't ever leave me again?"
"You know I can't promise that."
"Then at least promise me that wherever you go, you'll take me with you."
"...Deal."
Day 10 - 10:17 AM
POV: Yoosung Mode
Yoosung was exhausted. He'd been up for several hours looking through all of the files that Seven had collected on Echo Girl. The only thing he'd had to eat were some of Seven's chips, and while at any other time he would've been thrilled, now he was just sleepy and sick. He felt close to collapsing when he opened one file that had a list of all the statements Echo Girl had made on social media about Zen.
"Luciel, I think I found it!" Almost knocking over the chair as he stood, he turned around to face Seven, who had been furiously typing into the console but was now looking at him intensely.
"Really!?" Seven rolled his chair over, to look at the screen, his face immediately brightening. "Yoosung I could kiss you!"
"Oh, well you can definitely do that in a minute but I think you should look at this first."
Scanning through the article, Seven's eyes lit up as he took in the words that Echo Girl had irrefutably made several months earlier.
"This is perfect! We've got her!" He quickly typed in a few commands to save the selected document and made himself a note so he could tell Zen about it later. "Now we just have to focus on the other matter at hand."
Yoosung's moment of excitement was snuffed out when he remembered that Zai was currently trapped inside Rika's apartment with an active bomb that could go off at any moment. She couldn't even leave or the entire building would go up in flames.
"Luciel, what are we going to do?"
"The only thing we can do, pray."
There was a pause.
"Wait, did I say we? I meant you. You pray, I'll keep trying to restore the security system. Maybe get on the chat and reassure Zen and Jaehee that their girlfriend isn't going to be blown to bits any minute now."
"Your humor is so morbid."
"Hahaha! It's how I cope!"
Tugging lightly on the threads of Seven's jacket, which he'd borrowed for not the first time since he'd arrived at his house, Yoosung looked over at his boyfriend and made a silent promise to help him deal with whatever issues he was having after all this was said and done. He may have been considered the naive one in the RFA, but he could tell when someone was truly upset on the inside.
Pulling out his phone, he decided to listen to Seven's advice.
Yoosung has joined the chat room.
/ Yoosung : Hi everyone! Good news! /
/ ZEN: Really? Did Seven get control of the security system back from the hacker?!
/ Yoosung : Uh, no. /
/ Yoosung : But! We found evidence to prove that you're not guilty! /
/ ZEN: Oh, you mean with Echo Girl? /
/ Yoosung : Yeah! Apparently, she's been your fan since forever. /
/ ZEN: Wow...I mean, I can't say I'm surprised... but still! /
Jaehee Kang has joined the chat room.
/ Jaehee Kang: This is good! It means Zen can return to acting as soon as the party is over. /
/ ZEN: What? How does that work? /
/ Jaehee Kang: We can have a press conference at the party to prove that you didn't assault Echo Girl. /
/ Jaehee Kang: Because of all the important people that will be there, we can get the word out faster, with more high-profile news coverage. /
/ ZEN: That's a great idea, Jaehee! /
/ Jaehee Kang: I..Thank you... /
/ ZEN: Now where's Zai? We should tell her! /
/ Jaehee Kang: I don't know. She left rather abruptly earlier. /
/ Yoosung : I hope she's all right;; /
/ Yoosung : It must be scary being in that apartment all alone. /
Day 10 - 10:56 AM
"Stupid bomb...stupid apartment...stupid stupid Rika!" Zai was losing it. Already she'd done her best to move all of the cameras she could find so that they wouldn't be able to see her inevitable confrontation with Unknown. She knew Seven would be too busy trying to regain control of the special security system to watch her, especially when he knew that she wouldn't risk trying to leave the apartment and chance blowing herself up.
"I can't have him seeing this and sending everyone over here. Ugh, why did she have to make everything so difficult!? Who puts a bomb in an apartment? As soon as that useless security system is disabled I'm going to open up those drawers and find out just what it is that's so important that she'd risk killing herself for." As soon as she'd finished moving the cameras to the point where they wouldn't be able to see her or Unknown, she went into the closet to get out all the things she'd bought the other day.
"Let me see...Rope, check. Cloth, check. Noise canceling headphones? Check. Now where's my phone..." She was about to start looking for where she'd put her new phone when her old one started buzzing in her back pocket. "What is it now..?"
Zai has joined the chat room.
/ Zai: Hey! What's up? /
/ ZEN: Zai! /
/ Jaehee Kang: Zai, Yoosung, and Seven have found the necessary documents required to prove that Zen is innocent. /
/ Zai: That's great Zen! ^^ /
/ Jaehee Kang: Isn't it? /
/ ZEN: Yeah! Now if only Seven could hurry up with the security system so we can get Zai out of that apartment... /
/ Zai: Don't worry, Zenny. I'm sure he's trying his best. /
/ ZEN: Still, I think I should go over to try and help. I feel so useless just sitting around like this. /
/ Zai: Oh, no, please don't trouble yourself like that. /
/ Zai: Actually, you might distract him more if you go. /
/ Jaehee Kang: She's right. It's best that we leave Luciel to focus on his work at the moment. /
/ ZEN: Ugh, I hate it when you're right;; /
/ Jaehee Kang: Speaking of focusing on work, has anyone seen Jumin in the chat recently? /
/ ZEN: Nope. Has anyone tried contacting him or V? /
/ Zai: I did a little while ago, but it wasn't related to anything that's currently going on. /
/ Jaehee Kang: You called him on your own? What for? /
/ Zai: Uh, nothing important. /
/ ZEN: What? Then why would you message him at all? /
/ Zai: I just had to, ok? /
/ Zai: Anyways, I have to go. I lost something and I'm trying to find it. /
/ Zai: Call me if you have an update? /
/ Jaehee Kang: Of course. /
/ ZEN: Sure thing, babe. Please be safe! /
/ Zai: Don't worry about me, okay? ^^ /
/ Zai: I'll be fine, I promise. /
/ ZEN: I'll hold you to that;; /
Zai has left the chat room.
"Now that's over with...where did I put that phone?"
Day 10 - 11:29 AM
POV: Jaehee Mode
Checking the time, Jaehee realized that it was almost lunch. Standing up from her place among the several boxes she'd brought home from her office at C&R International, she gave a small sigh before moving to the kitchen to make herself another cup of coffee. It was only after drinking half of her fifth cup that morning did the gravity of the situation finally hit her. Zai could die today. The woman that she'd come to love so dearly was in mortal peril, and she was sitting in this cramped apartment unpacking her things as if there was nothing wrong.
Setting the mug down on the kitchen counter a little more forcefully than necessary, Jaehee pulled on her most comfortable outfit, stepped out the door, and started jogging.
It was only a little while later that she arrived at the main C&R Branch building, and by extension, Jumin's home. It appeared he hadn't hired a new chief assistant yet or changed the codes for the private elevator. She turned a few heads with her casual attire, but once people recognized who she was, they quickly parted as she made her way through the office structure.
Once she stepped off of the lift, she quickly put in the password for Jumin's private suite and walked inside. Elizabeth the 3rd was sleeping next to her food bowl. In a moment of pity for the feline, which had obviously not been getting as much attention as she used to, Jaehee cleaned and refilled both her dishes before making a beeline to the master bedroom.
She opened the door as loudly as possible, and if she was surprised to see a half-naked Jumin Han lounging on his bed next to an equally half-naked V, she didn't show it.
"Jumin I understand that you're mostly incapable of acknowledging the outside world without me reminding you of your duties, but now is not the time." Both men jumped as they noticed her intrusion and Jumin hastily pulled one of the sheets up to cover V's exposed chest and shoulders.
"Assistant- I mean, Jaehee... What are you doing here?"
"There is a bomb currently active beneath Rika's apartment, and I'm assuming the two of you, as well as Luciel, knew of it and didn't tell anyone."
The room was tense and silent before V spoke up.
"Please do not blame Jumin, Jaehee. It was I that agreed to the installment of the bomb." Jumin didn't look surprised by this news, and Jaehee narrowed her eyes.
"That may be so, but you were both privy to this knowledge before anyone else in the RFA. Now Zai's life is in danger because the special security system was hacked, and Luciel is the only one who can get her out safely." Jumin and V shared a look, and Jaehee wondered when their relationship had developed into something so...personal.
Climbing off the bed, Jumin moved over to his closet and pulled out a set of clothes.
"I'll get dressed to leave. Jaehee, I assume you still know the security code to my phone?"
"Yes."
"Good. Please contact security and have them send guards to both Zen and Luciel's homes. If the RFA is being targeted, we can't be too sure about whether or not the rest of them are in danger as well."
"Yes, si- Jumin."
There was a strange gleam in Jumin's eyes as he regarded her, but Jaehee held fast as he nodded at her in approval before moving to the bathroom and locking the door. Now she was alone with V, who was, unfortunately, still undressed.
"Jaehee I'm sorry."
"Whatever for?"
"When I encouraged you to take the job offer from Jumin, I didn't mean for him to work you so hard. He was supposed to provide a stepping stone for you to move on in your life." Looking over at him, Jaehee focused her gaze on V's teal eyes.
"It isn't your fault, V, don't be so self-centered." He jolted at her words. "You think that everything bad that happens to those of us in the RFA is somehow your fault. It isn't. Plus, there are more important things to be worried about. Working for Jumin taught me several things about myself, and in a bizarre way, I'm glad that he did what he did." There was a spark in her gaze that wasn't there before, and Jaehee squared herself before standing as straight as she could.
"I'll never let myself be used again in that way, but without him, I'd have never gotten the opportunity to meet Zai or Zen, so I'm thankful." She pointed her finger directly at V. "But if something happens to the woman that I love because of the foolish decision that you and Rika made, so help me, I will never forgive you." Her voice broke on the last part, but she was still strong in her resolve.
Without giving V time to respond, she turned on her heel and faced the doorway.
"Have Jumin call me once you two are finished getting dressed. We have to be ready for anything today." She grabbed Jumin's phone off of the side table where he'd left it and started to walk out the door when she heard V shout, "Jaehee, wait!" She wasn't prepared for the man to all but leap out of bed and dash to grasp her wrist.
"I must apologize again, but there is something I have to ask you." Turning to face him, she gently tugged her arm out of V's grasp.
"Yes?"
His adrenaline rush must have been smaller than she'd expected because V withdrew into himself slightly before speaking up again.
"Zai called Jumin earlier..."
"Yes, I know. She told us."
"Then I need you to tell me, how did she know I was planning on committing suicide?" Jaehee felt like the floor was falling out from beneath her feet. V had wanted to take his own life? When had this happened?
"I...I don't...she didn't tell us that.." She could feel the blood draining from her face as understanding sank its claws into her, a chill running down her spine. Just what had the RFA missed in regards to its members that a girl who had been with them for less than two weeks could see the signs of suicidal feelings in a man she'd talked to less than four times? "She said it wasn't important..."
Jaehee pressed a hand to her mouth as she saw realization dawn on V's face.
"I see, thank you Jaehee, this has been most insightful. I suggest that you carry out Jumin's request of sending security to the other RFA member's houses. I have a feeling that we will need it." Looking up at him, she still couldn't push away the feeling of dread that had settled into her chest.
"V...you'll be okay, right?" He turned back to look at her before flashing a comforting smile.
"It'll be fine, Jaehee. I have something...someone, to live for now." His eyes flashed towards the bathroom that Jumin had disappeared into before coming back to hers.
"Ah, I understand."
Finally exiting the room, Jaehee punched in the passcode and started calling up Jumin's bodyguards.
"Zai, I hope you know what you're doing."
Day 10 - 12:47 PM
It was over half-past noon when Zai had finally finished all her preparations for Unknown's arrival.
"Hah...when he gets here, I won't have a lot of time." She'd placed the rope beneath the rug in the hallway so she could reach it easily, and she was wearing hardy denim pants and boots to protect her feet and legs from the inevitable shards of broken glass that would cover the floor when Unknown broke into the apartment from the window. Now all she needed was something she could use to knock him out.
"Shoot, shoot...Okay, what's something that can knock out a person without killing them? A gun is completely out of the question, and I can't stab him..." Zai was rifling through the kitchen cabinets when her hand came into contact with something hard and heavy.
Standing on her tiptoes, she carefully pulled a rather small cast iron skillet out of the pantry. Staring at its glossy black finish for a moment, Zai tested its weight in her hands before giving it a practice swing.
She set it in the corner by the window before muttering absently to herself.
"I can't believe I'm doing this..."
Day 10 - 01:52 PM
POV: ZEN Mode
Zen had been pacing around his apartment for at least two hours. After logging off of the chat, he decided to exercise in hopes that it would help him work off some of his nervous energy. Once that failed to work, he took a cold shower. Then he tried cooking himself something, but realized that he didn't have any groceries. Now he was wearing a line in his carpet as he moved back and forth across the plush surface, his mind and heart churning with worry over Zai.
He knew that she'd told him to leave Seven alone so that he could focus on trying to regain control of the security system, but he couldn't just stand around waiting while everyone else worked to keep her safe. Even Jaehee had vanished after sending Zen a quick call telling him that she was with Jumin and V and that he should expect some of Jumin's bodyguards to arrive at his house sooner or later.
Almost growling with stress, Zen made up his mind and grabbed his helmet off the table and rushed out the door to the garage. Jumping onto his motorcycle, he revved the engine before speeding off to Seven's house.
Day 10 - 02:19 PM
POV: 707 Mode
Seven was working overdrive at his station with Yoosung watching tensely behind him. He'd been focused on his screen of code, and even though he was hungry beyond belief, he hadn't torn his eyes away for more than a second in order to respond to something Yoosung had said or to check the RFA chat for any important updates. Squinting at the command lines and executables he'd written, he was nearly launched out of his seat with surprise as both he and Yoosung were startled from their work at the rapid banging coming from the front door.
Quickly switching to his outdoor camera feed, Seven's eyes almost popped out of his head as he realized just who was standing outside of his house.
"Zen!? What's he doing here!?" Yoosung said the words before he could but Seven was still stunned. Hadn't Zai warned him to stay away?
"Yoosung..?"
"I'm on it!" Seven watched the younger man climb out of his chair to let Zen in, and Seven allowed himself a moment to feel a rush of affection for the blond. Yoosung had been nothing but supportive these past few hours, and even though he was hard pressed to succeed in his retaking of the security system, his adorable boyfriend had done everything and more to keep Seven focused and in control of the situation. Returning to his typing, he could hear Zen's voice even from where he was sitting.
"Look, if there's anything I can do it help."
"We really appreciate your concern, Zen, but Luciel needs to focus! If you really wanna help, I guess you could go to the convenience store and grab some lunch? We haven't eaten in forever."
"Sure, yeah, I can do that. You'll leave the door unlocked?"
"Mhm! I'll tell everyone you're with us too so that Jumin's bodyguards won't go to your house. No sense in guarding the place if you're not there."
"Kay, I'll be back in a few."
"Drive safe!"
Seven could hear Yoosung's quick footsteps, and a small grin appeared on his face as he felt slender arms wrap around his shoulders.
"...Luciel?"
He let his head fall back so he could press a hasty kiss to Yoosung's cheek before refocusing on his work.
"Thanks for distracting Zen for me, cutie! I think I'm almost done. Any big distractions and I might have lost the upper hand, nice work!" He knew if he looked back right now, he'd see a bright red blush appear on his boyfriend's cheeks.
"It's no problem. I know how hard it is to do what you're doing, and I know Zen means well, but he has to learn that he can't do everything at once." There was both concern and exhaustion in Yoosung's voice, and Seven promised himself a vacation after this was all over. Maybe he'd take Yoosung to the beach?
There was a loud beeping noise and Seven almost slammed his hands into the keyboard with excitement as he realized...
"I did it!" Yoosung whooped with joy and nearly fell out of his chair as he and Seven realized that Zai was finally safe from a possible death by explosion.
Squinting at his screen, Seven put in a few commands to try and fix the security problem that prevented RFA members from entering or exiting the apartment, when he realized something was wrong.
"Wait...I don't have control over the security system...It's just disabled the bomb."
"What? Isn't that a good thing?" Trying to stop his hands from shaking, Seven ran a diagnostics program before turning around in his chair to face Yoosung.
"I mean, yeah, the bomb won't activate anymore, but now there's nothing stopping anyone from entering the apartment. Zai is essentially defenseless at this point." He swallowed nervously. "Good thing Zen isn't here or he'd probably run over there right now..."
Seven and Yoosung locked eyes for a moment.
"Luciel we have to tell them."
"Yeah, you're right." He spun the chair around again and reached for his phone.
707 has joined the chat room.
/ Jumin Han: Luciel. Any updates on the situation? /
/ 707: Hahaha...about that... /
Yoosung has joined the chat room.
/ Yoosung : Seven managed to get control back for the security system, but... /
/ 707: I just deactivated it. Something is stopping me from turning it back on and giving RFA members access. /
/ 707: There's nothing protecting Rika's apartment right now. /
/ Jumin Han: What? That means we should send someone to pick up Zai, correct? /
/ 707: Yeah, that'd probably be a good idea, but it would involve giving out the address to Rika's apartment... /
/ 707: V is with you right? /
/ 707: Ask him what he thinks. /
/ Jumin Han: I'm not sure if this is the time to ask such things, but I shall try. /
Jumin Han has left the chat room.
Zai has joined the chat room.
/ Zai: Seven, Yoosung... /
/ Yoosung : Zai! Good news! Someone might come to get you soon! /
/ Zai: Um, yeah...About that. /
/ Zai: I know Zen is probably at your place, or he's going to be there soon. /
/ 707: What!? How would you know? /
/ Zai: Please, I know Zen. He's so impulsive, it'd be pretty endearing if it wasn't such a dangerous trait to have. /
Seven narrowed his eyes at the screen. Zai had been acting weirdly all day. She seemed much too calm for someone whose life was currently under multiple threats.
/ 707: Is there anything you want us to tell him? /
/ Zai: Something like that. /
/ Zai: I need you two to stop him from leaving your house, Seven. /
/ 707: Whoa, what?! /
/ Yoosung : Are you being serious, Zai?! /
/ Zai: As a heart attack. /
/ 707: I don't understand. Do you even want to be rescued? /
/ Zai: That isn't important right now Seven. /
/ Zai: Please listen to me when I say that it is extremely important that you keep Zen from coming here. /
/ Zai: In fact, my life may depend on you not letting him get to the apartment. /
/ Zai: I don't care what you have to do, just make sure he stays away, okay? /
/ Yoosung : You're scaring me, Zai! What's going on with you?;;;;/
/ Zai: I'm fine, Yoosung ^^ Believe me when I say that. /
/ 707: You're very calm right now. Do you really trust us that much? /
/ Zai: I trust the RFA with my life, Seven. /
/ Zai: But right now I need you all to trust me. /
/ Zai: Make sure Zen doesn't come to the apartment for me. /
/ Zai: I can handle myself. /
/ 707: ...If you're certain. /
/ Yoosung : Luciel!? You can't be agreeing to this! /
/ Yoosung : The hacker might break into the apartment at any moment now that the security system is disabled! /
/ 707: I know, but if Zai believes that she'll be fine, then we just have to believe in her too. /
/ Zai: Thank you, Seven ^^ /
/ Zai: Also, if it isn't too much trouble, maybe send him to Jaehee's? She might be more help in calming him down. /
/ Zai: Talk to you soon~ /
Zai has left the chat room.
Staring at the last text Zai sent, Seven absently wondered if she was better at keeping secrets than he was.
Day 10 - 03:41 PM
POV: ZEN Mode
Zen arrived back at Seven's house later than expected with what may very well have been the entire convenience store inside the plastic bags that were hanging off his arms like ornaments. Jumin's bodyguards littered the outside of the building and gave him just enough room to pass by them and enter the house.
"Zen, you're back! You, uh, got a lot of stuff there."
"Yeah I didn't know what I should get so I pretty much grabbed everything in sight."
"Oh...well I guess you can set that down over here." Yoosung led Zen into the kitchen. On the way there, he saw Seven sitting in front of his monitors, furiously typing a response to someone on his phone.
"Hey! Did you get control of the security system back?" Seven's head snapped up so fast that Zen was a little worried that he'd hurt his neck, but he wasn't expecting the flash of terror he'd seen in the other man's eyes.
"Hahahah...yeah...I got it back..but there's still one teeny problem left.."
"Well? What is it?"
"I can't turn the security back on. Rika's apartment is basically..defenseless right now."
"WHAT!?" Suddenly, Yoosung was back in the room, pulling on Zen's arm urgently.
"Zen! Why don't you help me fix lunch? We're all starving, and you know how people act on empty stomachs!"
"Not now, Yoosung! I have to go get Zai!"
"No, wait, you can't!" Yoosung pulled so hard on the back of Zen's jacket that he almost fell forward onto his face when he turned around to run towards the door. "Zen you can't leave!"
"Why not!?"
"You just can't!"
At this point, Seven put his phone down and stood up before walking over to the two and looking Zen right in the eyes.
"You can't go to her apartment because Zai told us herself that she doesn't want you to go."
Zen stilled and felt a coldness begin to grow within his chest.
"W-why would she...why would she say that...?" Seven glanced down at his feet.
"She said something about you being too impulsive. Anyways, I still haven't heard back from Jumin and V about whether or not we should reveal the apartment's address. So why don't you just sit tight and help Yoosung cook instead of fretting?"
The room's atmosphere was charged with tension as Zen's mind was filled with a whirlwind of thoughts. Zai didn't want him to come save her. Didn't she trust him? Had he done something that would make her choose between staying in an undefended apartment as opposed to him going to get her? He was so absorbed in his own head that he didn't hear Seven calling his name until the other man snapped his fingers in his face.
"Hey! Now isn't the time to be getting into a pity party! If you really want to be useful, you can make lunch!"
"...Yeah...ok." He straightened up and let himself be pulled along by Yoosung, who had subtly turned around and mouthed 'Call Jaehee' at Seven before returning his focus towards encouraging the stunned man into the kitchen and explaining how to chop vegetables. In the back of his mind, Zen thought about Zai and realized that even though he loved her and felt like he knew her well, she was ultimately still a stranger on the outside.
Day 10 - 05:41 PM
POV: Yoosung Mode
Yoosung was beyond nervous. The entire household was currently tense beyond belief. Jaehee had arrived at Seven's house a little after four, and everyone had been waiting on word from V and Jumin before proceeding. However, it was almost two hours afterward with no news. He and Zen had made food, but very little of it had been eaten, and now there was nothing left to do except just hold on and hope for the best.
"Zai hasn't been online in a while...do you think she's okay?" Yoosung was sitting next to Seven in his own chair, legs crossed and fingers in constant motion. The gravity of the situation was making him so anxious that he'd started unconsciously mimicking LOLOL combo patterns while he bounced his leg up and down.
"I'm sure she's fine." Seven hadn't stopped typing ever since Jaehee had gotten there, his eyes were fixed on the screens and his hands had been in constant motion for several hours. Yoosung was worried about his boyfriend's mental state. If something happened...
He'd been about to ask whether or not there had been any updates from Jumin and V when several of Seven's screens started flashing at once.
"What? Luciel? What's going on?"
Seven suddenly stood, fingers flying across the keyboard faster than Yoosung had ever seen them before. "It's...Something's wrong! Really wrong! My cameras! They're not working right!"
The panic in his voice put Yoosung on edge, and then both Zen and Jaehee were standing too.
"Seven what's going on!?"
"Is something wrong with the apartment?"
"I-I don't know! The cameras all activated but they aren't angled properly! It's like someone mov-" Seven froze, a look of sheer terror on his face as he grabbed his phone and all but threw it at Yoosung, while screaming, "CALL JUMIN NOW!" Scrambling to hold onto the device, Yoosung dialed the familiar number while Seven typed forcefully, both Jaehee and Zen looking on with fear.
"..Hello? Jumin? I don't really know what's happening but Luciel seems really freaked out- Ah!" The phone was snatched out of his hands by Seven.
"Jumin you have to send bodyguards to Rika's apartment right now!"
"What? I thought we weren't supposed to give out the location-"
"That doesn't matter anymore! Someone has to go!"
"Fine, fine. Give me the address and I'll send someone over." Seven rattled off a string of words and numbers.
"Just hurry, please!" He hung up without giving him time to respond.
Zen was now openly panicking and Jaehee was doing all she could to keep him from losing it completely.
"Seven you have to tell us what's wrong!? Is Zai okay!?"
"Hahaha...I don't know! I don't know! The cameras aren't working! I can't see anything in the apartment, and there's no one outside!"
Yoosung's gaze flickered between his friends and his boyfriend. How was he supposed to keep everyone together? While Zen was being held by Jaehee, he moved over to stand in front of Seven.
"W-wha, Yoosung? Get out of the way I have to focus!"
"Hold on a second, Luciel." He put his hands on his boyfriend's shoulders and brought their faces close together. Yoosung pressed a gentle kiss to Seven's lips before pulling away. "If you lose your head now, you won't be able to concentrate, and you'll make mistakes. So calm down, okay? We need you to be thinking clearly right now." Doing his best to keep his voice steady, he watched as the light came back to Seven's eyes.
"...You're right, Yoosung. Alright! I've got it. Now please move aside cutie, I have work to do."
Yoosung nodded and got out of Seven's way. Looking over to his friends, he realized that Zen now had his head between his knees, with Jaehee using one hand to rub his back. Her other hand was holding on to her glasses, but Yoosung could see the tension in her grip, and wondered if she'd snap the frames.
At an almost inaudible level, he whispered out a plea.
"Zai, I don't think we understand you as well as we thought we do, but please...don't do anything reckless..."
Day 10 - 07:22 PM
POV: Jaehee Mode
If Jaehee had said that she wasn't upset about the situation she'd have been lying to the extreme. She was currently without her glasses, having broken the frames in half a little less than half an hour ago. Some time after Seven had sent out the alert to Jumin, all his screens had started flashing red. At the moment, she hadn't been able to comprehend what was happening. There was shouting, and then he was shoving all of his electronics off the desk and screaming. Yoosung had done his best to try and calm the other boy down through his own hysterics. Now the two were huddled together on the kitchen floor, wrapped up in one of Seven's oversized jackets. As for her and Zen...
Looking over to the man sitting at her side, Jaehee tried not to give in to the crushing weight surrounding her chest as she folded their hands together.
"...Zen?" His head was bowed, but she could still see a sliver of red peeking out between silver threads.
"Jaehee... do you think...we misjudged her?"
"No."
"Why not?" She pondered for a moment, taking the time to focus on how Zen's hand felt in hers, while the absent of the other was palpable as her other palm clutched at the sofa's fabric covering.
"I believe that Zai had her own issues on the inside," She could feel the tears starting to collect in her eyes. "But I think she focused so much on helping us that she forgot to care about herself."
Now doing her best not to start outright sobbing, she didn't notice when Zen moved to wrap his arms around her torso.
"It's never going to feel complete again, is it?" She could sense the moisture starting to soak through her jacket. Jaehee returned his embrace, then hiccuped once, twice, and the tears started flowing in earnest.
"No...No it won't..."
Day 10 - 08:58 PM
POV: V Mode
By the time Jumin returned to the room, it was late, and V was getting nervous. He'd received no updates from Seven's house, and judging by the dead expression on his lover's face, the news couldn't be good.
"Jumin...Jumin, what's happened?" He waited until the man was within arms reach before grasping at his wrist. "Jumin, please." If there was one thing he was expecting from Jumin, it wasn't the sudden hug. Although it was pleasant, he still couldn't help the sensation of foreboding that the other man exuded. The two of them simply stood, embracing loosely, before Jumin let his head fall against V's shoulder.
"The apartment...is gone, Jihyun."
"Gone? What do you mean gone?" His bewilderment must have been obvious because Jumin pulled away from his arms to look him in the eyes, eyes which were getting worse at seeing the world around them each day.
"I mean...the apartment where Zai was staying," He was avoiding her name now? "It's completely gone. Obliterated. My bodyguards arrived there a couple hours ago to find them already putting out the fire. I'm...I'm sorry."
V thought he was standing straight, but he could feel the world tilting. Then Jumin was holding his head in his lap and looking into his eyes with concern painted on his face.
"Jihyun! Are you okay? You nearly fainted..."
"I failed them...I failed her."
"What? Now you're speaking in tongues too."
"Jumin you don't understand," V pressed a hand against his eyes until dots bloomed behind his eyelids. "She trusted me...I told her that she'd be safe there. I thought...I thought that things could finally go back to how they were before Rika..." Suddenly his breaths were coming out in pants and sobs and he could feel himself being enveloped in Jumin's arms as he let out all the feelings he'd been containing since the death of his fiancee.
"I should have told them everything from the start! Maybe then Zai wouldn't be-"
"No, don't go there." When he looked up, Jumin's gaze was more intense than he'd remembered.
"Don't blame yourself for this. We all made mistakes, you more so than others, but we've all contributed to this occurrence and now we'll have to live with it. None of this self-pity nonsense." Picking himself up off the floor and brushing off his pants and jacket, Jumin reached down to pull V up into his arms once more.
"This has been..a terrible turn of events, but I will tell you right now, that you and I are going to continue to live. If not for ourselves, then for everyone else. We cannot afford to lose hope." Swallowing his fears, V let himself relax into Jumin's hold.
"What will we tell the other members?"
"The truth. Like we should have, a long time ago."
"And if they hate me for it?"
"Well then, at least you'll have me."
In spite of himself, V let out a gentle laugh.
"Thank you."