Hoseok
We returned back to the mansion where I tried to hurry Cherry towards Jin’s infirmary. She groaned in pain and I slowed down my pace.
‘Sorry. Am I moving too quick?’ I asked but she shook her head. Her face was a mess, with blood covering the side of her face. Her shoulder wound was still bleeding although not as much as before while the shallow one on her chest had stopped bleeding all together. ‘Are you sure?’ I asked her again.
‘I’m sure. I’m just a bit tired but I can handle it Hoseok,’ she said and I nodded. We reached Jin’s infirmary and I opened the door, not bothering to knock, which caused Jin to turn around.
‘You’re here,’ he said as I led Cherry to the bed. ‘Aish, what happened?’ he asked worriedly and I sighed.
‘We got attacked at the hospital. Myung and Logan are okay. So are Namjoon and I, but Cherry has a knife wound to her shoulder and chest,’ I explained in one breath.
‘You know I can talk for myself,’ she said with a playful smile.
‘Whatever,’ I replied, shaking my head as I walked towards the sink and started washing my hands.
‘The one on my chest isn’t that bad. The shoulder one might need stitches,’ she explained. I frowned at her words. I did not like the fact she got hurt even though I knew that in our line of “work” getting hurt is inevitable.
Before Jin could reply, the door opened and I turned to see a worried Yeonjun running in. ‘Noona are you okay?’ he asked to which she rolled her eyes.
‘I’m fine,’ she said as he approached her. He turned to Jin almost as if he was not convinced and I could not help but smile. He looked so worried and although I felt worried too, it was kind of cute seeing her little brother like this.
‘She’ll be okay Yeonjun,’ Jin said as Yeonjun nodded before he turned back to Cherry.
‘You have to be careful noona. I don’t like seeing you being in this room,’ Yeonjun mumbled with a pout. She looked at him and I saw her trying to stifle her laughter. Well, that was a move in the right direction. Hopefully, those two can start building a relationship just like and Cherry are doing.
‘Do you really want to do something for me?’ she asked and he nodded as he looked back at her. ‘Do you still know how to make pancakes?’ she said.
His smile grew wide as he nodded. ‘Of course I do. I… I never forgot how to. I’ll go make you some,’ he said and she nodded.
I observed her as she watched him leave, the small smile growing on her face. Jin and I both exchanged a look as Jin walked next to her, holding the first aid box, ready to stich her up. I walked next to them as I sat on the edge of the bed, next to her.
‘Is there a story with the pancakes that you would like to share?’ I probed. She sighed but did not lose her smile.
‘When we were young, Yeonjun and I used to bond a lot over cooking, especially sweet treats. We used to make pancakes every Saturday morning,’ she said before she sighed again. ‘But that was a long, long, time ago,’ she said as she looked back at Jin. ‘What’s the diagnosis doctor?’ she asked, a clear indication that the topic was no longer to be discussed.
‘Well first off, I need you to take of your shirt,’ Jin said, eyebrow raised. She smiled as she went to take off her shirt but winced with the movement.
‘Here, I’ll help you,’ I offered as I started to help slowly, making sure to not hurt her in the process.
I managed to remove her bloody shirt. The wound on her shoulder looked messy and I was sure it was going to require stitches. I hated that she ended up getting hurt like this. If only I was quicker.
I sighed as my eyes fell on the wound on her chest. My fingers traced on the wound as I tried to wipe at the blood there but it seemed to only smudge it more. She did not wince or even flinch at my touch and I rested my finger against it.
I heard her let out a little laugh and I looked at her. Her hand went up to my own chest and she smiled. ‘We’re going to have matching scars,’ she said as she left her hand there.
‘Yeah, we will,’ I said as I focused back to her chest. I could feel the steady rhythm of her heart under my palm. I looked back at her and smiled sadly. ‘Still, I’d rather you do not get any more scars Cherry,’ I said.
‘I don’t mind these scars Hoseok,’ she responded. I knew what she meant. These scars she got voluntarily – in order to protect people she cared about unlike the ones on her back that were forced on her as punishment.
‘Shall we start with the stitches?’ Jin asked as he came close to us. We both dropped our hands as she turned to look at him and nodded. ‘This will sting a bit but I need to clean it,’ he advised.
‘Oh I’ve dealt with worse doc,’ she said with a wink. I smiled even though I hated that sentences with every fibre of my being. The funny thing was – I did not know why I hated it.
Cherry
*Two days later*
Things have been calm for the past two days. There was no hint of any trouble and no word of Rosa but all of us knew that she would not stop.
‘Just because we haven’t heard anything, it does not mean she will stop. We have to be prepared for anything,’ Namjoon said.
‘I agree. We cannot afford another sneak attack on us like what happened at the hospital,’ Jungkook said.
‘And we all know what Rosa is capable of. We see what she did to Cherry who was an old friend and what she did to Chin-Hae,’ Hoseok said.
I nodded as I recalled how yesterday, the news had talked about a dead body found in the Han River. His body had been beaten pretty bad and he had whiplash marks on his back. His throat had been slit and his body was thrown over the bridge.
Allegedly, the cops had no clues about who had done it but I knew Namjoon had already talked to the Chief of Police who often worked closely with Bangtan. It seemed the police were also looking for Rosa. They would pin his murder on her – well, they would be right.
‘Rosa,’ I began as everyone turned to look at me. ‘She’s gone insane. You have to understand, the things that we go through as Scarlets are the stuff of nightmare. She lost whatever point of sanity she had left when she was forced to watch her lover be tortured and killed in front of her,’ I explained.
‘That would make any sane person snap,’ Taehyung said as he played with his gun. He looked lost in thought as he did.
‘And we all know that being crazy does not mean stupid,’ Jimin said as he bit his lower lip. ‘That makes her even more dangerous,’ he added.
‘Some part of me thinks that when Cherry refused to help her, it made her even crazier. Like more determined to end Bangtan,’ Yoongi said.
‘Are you blaming me Mr. Min?’ I asked, half a smirk on my face. He rolled his eyes at me.
‘No, Cherry, I’m not,’ Yoongi said. ‘I’m just saying that right now we’re public enemy number one for her.’
‘She knows Bangtan is one of the biggest players in this world. She thinks if she can take over Bangtan, she’ll actually have a shot at Lady Scarlet,’ Jin explained.
‘It still wouldn’t work,’ I said, shaking my head. ‘Lady Scarlet, she’s smart. She’s the smartest person I know and the best fighter I know. Rosa can go guns blazing but the only way to really win is facing Lady Scarlet face on – one on one,’ I explained.
‘Why? What would that achieve? If she eliminates all of them, she’d get her revenge,’ Namjoon commented.
‘Yes, and she would have the biggest target on her back too,’ I said. ‘Look, we might be a league of assassins but there is some sort of honour between us. She does this, and they will turn on her. She defeats Lady Scarlet, she takes over. See how that would be better?’ I asked.
‘That’s why she wanted you, didn’t see? It wasn’t just about Bangtan. She wanted you to face Lady Scarlet,’ Taehyung commented and I shrugged.
‘I’m one of the best fighters in the Scarlets ring. Better than Rosa but not better than Lady Scarlet. If I ever faced her, there is a high chance of me ending up dead within the first two minutes,’ I admitted.
‘Well, let’s hope we will never have to find out,’ Jungkook said.
‘Right now, we need to focus on Rosa and locating her. We need to stop her from whatever she is doing. I want my wife and son to be safe,’ Namjoon said.
‘I may have an idea but I’m not sure you’re going to like it,’ Yoongi said. Namjoon nodded, signalling him to go on ahead. ‘Do you remember Sergei?’ he asked.
‘The Russian-Korean mobster?’ Namjoon asked and Yoongi nodded.
‘That man is trouble,’ Jin said, clearly getting on edge. I wasn’t surprised.
Sergei was known in the underworld as the Master of Information and power. He ran underground fighting rings and prostitution rings along with drug rounds. Word had it he dabbled in other illegal stuff like money laundering, weapon trafficking and God knows what else.
‘I know but I also know he is a man who has information on everything and everyone. He has informants everywhere,’ Yoongi retaliated.
‘He always demands a price for his information and more often than not, it’s not money,’ Jimin commented.
‘I think we should go for it. He wouldn’t dare go against us anyways,’ Taehyung said.
‘I agree. He knows Bangtan can end him. I say we go meet him, see what he asks for and move on from there,’ Jungkook said, almost seemingly excited.
‘Time is of the asset and the quicker we get information, the better,’ Hoseok added and Namjoon nodded.
‘Then we go tonight,’ Namjoon said. ‘Cherry, I want you to stay with Myung,’ he added.
‘With all due respect Namjoon, I am worth with you,’ I said. ‘Yeonjun and Soobin and the rest of the junior section can run detail here but I can help if things get ugly,’ I argued.
‘Cherry, your shoulder is still healing. You shouldn’t exert yourself,’ Hoseok was quick to respond.
‘I can fight with one good arm Hoseok. Don’t worry about me,’ I said with a slight smile.
‘I’m not worried. I just think it’s stupid you’d go for a fight when you’re not one hundred percent,’ he said with a scoff but I could see he was nervous. Not worried! Ha! What a joke.
‘Hoseok, she might be right,’ Taehyung said as he looked at me and then Namjoon. ‘Hyung, Yeonjun is good at what he does. He can protect your family well. If you’re worried, I can lead the team with Sergei and you can stay with your family,’ Taehyung offered.
‘I’m supposed to be the leader and not just a boss who sends his people, his family to do his bidding for him Tae,’ Namjoon said but he sounded torn.
‘You’re not sending us. We’re offering,’ Jimin was quick to respond.
‘Besides, nobody is going to blame you for wanting to stay with your family after they were attacked in the hospital,’ Jin said.
‘I got this hyung. Trust me,’ Taehyung said and Namjoon finally nodded, relenting.
‘Fine. But I want to be on comms all the time. I want to make sure you’re okay,’ he said. I smiled, glad that least he had no trouble expressing his emotions.
‘We’ll be fine. We’ve got Domina Umbra on our side, right?’ Yoongi said with a wink which seemed to ease the tension.
‘Right. Whoever causes trouble will eat the steel of my blade,’ I said as I pretended to be very serious which only broke the tension completely. Everyone smiled or chuckled and I found myself smiling.
I realized how much I felt like I belonged here. I was no longer going out to kill out of fear or being forced. No, now it was about protecting Bangtan.
I recalled Hoseok’s words to me when I had woken up after being tortured by Taeil; ‘You’ll have a family here Cherry. We got you,’ he had said. I smiled, realizing he was right. I did find my family here.
We see more bonding time between Hoseok and Cherry as they had their little scene (almost as if they were oblivious to Jin being there hehe). We see her being part of the conversations that are taking place - as if she was an old member of Bangtan. We see Hoseok and Cherry not always agreeing but now being more teasing and more respectful about it (doesn't mean they won't have fights). We see a little more the Scarlet world through Cherry's words about the chain of command as well. We also see Namjoon placing his family as his priority. I look forward to your thoughts as always. I wish you a good week ahead. - Tae's Misfit.
"I never thought love was worth fighting for but then I looked into your eyes and I was ready for war."