The next several hours were some of the longest of Mingi's life. Or that's what it felt like at least.

His eyes stung with how hard he was trying to focus on the letters and numbers in front of him. He'd gone over the inventory several times now, searching for anything else that could help them.

He couldn't help but think they were insane. A full frontal attack against the biggest mafia in the area? It was an impossible mission...

But that fear went away as soon as Hongjoong appeared by his side and placed a hand on his arm. "Take a break, Mingi."

"We can't, you know that."

"Yes, you can. I'm going to have everyone take a break here soon. We all need to rest before this happens."

Mingi locked eyes with him and lifted a hand up to cup his cheek. The older gave a crooked smile and leaned into the touch. "Can we really afford to?"

"We can't afford not to. If we do this sleep deprived, then we are our own worst enemy. I've got something we can take that will put everyone under for six hours exactly. It's a deep sleep so we will be able to fully recharge." Hongjoong pulled a small bottle of pills out of his pocket. "I use them when I've gone too long without sleep, so I know they work."

Mingi felt a warmth fill his chest as tears came to his eyes. A wide smile tore across his face.

"What?" Hongjoong asked, narrowing his eyes.

"It's just... You used to do the same thing, only it was a sleeping serum that you'd inject into yourself to make sure you slept." Mingi whispered, running his fingers through Hongjoong's hair. "Sometimes I had to make you do it to yourself, and you'd put up as much of a fight as you could with your cute little pout you'd like to get when we were alone."

"That doesn't sound like me at all." Hongjoong growled. He tried to step away from Mingi, but the thief cupped the back of his head and brought him in for a kiss instead.

Their lips molded together in perfect harmony. Hongjoong wrapped his arms around Mingi's neck and pressed himself against the thief's body.

Neither one of them wanted to say it, but Mingi knew there was a hint of farewell in the kiss. Farewell, longing, hope, fear... all of it.

There was no saying what was going to happen them once they put Yunho's plan into motion. Too much was uncertain... Too many things could go wrong.

Mingi grasped Hongjoong's waste and lifted him up to sit him on the table next to them. The older immediately wrapped his legs around Mingi to keep him close. "Min..." He whispered against the thief's lips.

"Joongie..." Mingi started placing kisses along Hongjoong's jaw. "I love you." He felt Hongjoong tense at his words and quickly pulled away. "I- I'm sorry..."

"It's ok." Hongjoong said, lifting a hand up to place it on the younger's chest. His eyes watched the way his fingers splayed open wide. "I don't... I don't know what I feel yet. I'm sorry."

"No." Mingi shook his head quickly. "I don't expect anything from you. I just needed to say it... just in case." His heart clenched at the thought hanging in the air.

Instead of saying anything else, Hongjoong simply turned his head to rest it against Mingi's shoulder and the two of them stayed there for several long minutes. It was some of the happiest moments of Mingi's life in this world. He would stand here forever with Hongjoong if he could, with his cheek resting on top of the older's head and their bodies pressed as close together as possible.

He hoped the others were taking some time for themselves too. They would all need it.

The chance to say goodbye.

"We should get the pills to the others. I'll call Namjoon. He will come look over us while we sleep." Hongjoong's voice was barely above a murmur, and all Mingi could do was nod. "Then take me to bed. I want to spend this time in your arms."

.

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.

Yeosang looked down at the pill in his hand for a second before closing his fingers around it. Even when clenching his fist he couldn't stop it from shaking.

The fear and worry he had for Jongho's safety was getting harder and harder to control. It made him sick to his stomach...

But he had faith in Yunho's plan. It was solid and there were a lot of elements that would give them an advantage.

He just prayed they would get there in time.

Yet another warm tear rolled down his cheek, following the path laid out by all its predecessors. Ever since he had returned to his private room, Yeosang hadn't been able to stop crying.

All those years... potentially lost because of one silly fight that wall of pride kept from being solved.

How could he be so foolish?

"P-Please stay strong, my love." Yeosang whimpered. "I'm c-coming for you."

He laid back on the bed and curled into a little ball, debating on if he really should take the pill or not. He knew Hongjoong was right, they all needed to rest. It could be the last opportunity they got for several days to come depending on what happened.

And if he slept it would be less time worrying about Jongho's safety.

Jongho...

Yeosang whimpered again and forced his eyes closed, scrunching them until he saw red. Then he brought the pill to his mouth and slowly pushed it in so he could dry swallow it.

Jongho wouldn't want him to lay here and mourn. Hell, if he was here Yeosang knew Jongho would force him into bed himself. It wouldn't be the first time.

The pill worked fast. Yeosang could already feel himself slipping away. He reached out to grab Jongho's pillow and pressed his nose to it. It smelled exactly him, as if he had been laying there just moments ago. He liked the woodsy smells, so subtle but so... Jongho.

Yeosang let himself slip away with the smallest of smiles on his face.

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.

"Are you sure about this?" San whispered. He opened his eyes to study Yunho's face.

They were both laying on their sides, their hospital beds now joined together, facing each other and pressed as close to each other as possible.

Their fingers were intertwined in front of their chests and their foreheads were connected.

For this moment, they were one.

"No. But what other choice do we have, Sannie?" The older whispered back. His thumb slowly drifted over San's knuckles. "We can't let Jongho suffer at Mercer's hands, and the longer that bastard is allowed to be left alive... I can't even begin to imagine what he is already trying to make."

Yunho watched as San closed his eyes once more and bit his lip. He didn't know if he could voice what his worst fear was. There was this sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach... one that told him that Mercer was planning something.

If everything Mingi had to say held true, then Mercer wasn't going to give up now that Seonghwa had left him again.

The car accident was a sign of that too. Yunho believed it was his way to try and get San back under his control. The hit had been timed so precisely that San had come away dazed and with the perfect amount of injuries to make him immobile.

Yunho wouldn't be surprised if Mercer was keeping an eye out for Wooyoung and Seonghwa too, so the fact that Wooyoung had been able to go out to search for Jongho was a miracle.

"Just stay by my side." He kept his voice low, trying to be soothing. San's anxiety was rolling off him in waves. "Here." Yunho held up the pills Mingi had dropped off. "Do you need water?"

"No."

They both swallowed their pill and Yunho wrapped an arm around San's waist to hold onto him. "I'll see you in a few hours. It's going to be ok. I love you, Sannie."

The younger moaned and muttered, "Mmmmmou tooo..."

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Seonghwa watched from where he was leaning in his corner as Wooyoung's leg bounced and bounced and bounced and bounced.

Wooyoung was sitting on their bed, one leg bouncing, while picking at his lip and staring at the wall without bouncing.

They had gone over Yunho's plan again and again, but it was like Wooyoung just couldn't grasp what needed to happen.

And Seonghwa knew why.

Any plan they came up with meant having to face Wooyoung's worst nightmare again. It was inevitable, they knew that since they had agreed to fight the Pack.

Seonghwa was nervous about it as well, but after seeing Wooyoung on his hands and knees in the hallway, he was determined to stay strong and be Wooyoung's anchor.

"Wooyoung."

The younger's leg stopped for about five seconds before it started bouncing again.

"Wooyoung, please tell me what is on your mind."

"Everything needs to be perfect."

Seonghwa pursed his lips. There had to be something he could say or do to help Wooyoung relax... "Wooyoung we've already been over it. You're only going to stress yourself out. Maybe you should just sit it out."

"No, no, no, no, no. I won't sit it out!" Wooyoung shook his head and brought his hands up to fist his hair. "I can't! I have to face this! I have to!" A single tear rolled from each, wide, terrified eye.

He couldn't take it any more. Seonghwa hurried forward and knelt in front of him while lifting his hands to cup his cheeks. "Woo, honey, I need you to breathe. You're not making me feel any better when it come to you joining us. Please breathe."

The younger finally made eye contact with him and froze. "Hwa..."

"What can I do to help you?" Seonghwa whispered. All of his focus was on the man in front of him. He took in every movement, bat of the eyelash, shallow inhale of air. He would do whatever it took to help Wooyoung through this.

"I-" The younger closed his eyes and leaned forward until his forehead was pressed against Seonghwa's shoulder. "I just need you by my side. Please don't leave me. Please."

"Never." Seonghwa choked out. He turned his head and started kissing the side of Wooyoung's head over and over. "I will stay by your side as much as I can."

"Seonghwa?" Wooyoung sat up again. "Make me forget, even for now. Make me feel loved."

Their lips connected in an instant. Seonghwa cupped the back of Wooyoung's head and helped lower him down while licking into his mouth greedily.

Their hands wandered aimlessly over each other's body, stripping clothes off and throwing them across the room.

Moans and gasps followed nips and kisses. Each one sent a new rush of fire through Seonghwa's veins. He couldn't get enough of the amazing person beneath him, and once they defeated his father, Seonghwa made a silent vow to take Wooyoung wherever he wanted to go.

When they were finally connected in every way possible, Seonghwa kept his thrusts long and slow, wanting to feel everything.

Wooyoung started crying as soon as it happened, but that didn't stop him from returning each of Seonghwa's kisses or dragging his nails down Seonghwa's back.

If this was the final time they'd get, Seonghwa couldn't have asked for it to be any better.

Words of love were exchanged whenever possible, long after they hit their peaks and even while taking the pills to help them sleep.

And sleep they would, tangled up in the blankets and wrapped in each other's arms. For this small amount of time, they could forget about the worries on the other side of their bedroom door.

For now, the only two people that existed were Seonghwa and Wooyoung.

But tomorrow, everything would change.

Tomorrow, the fighting would begin.