The next day is awkward, so Wooyoung avoids it by barely passing Yeosang a glance when giving his food and leaving silently.

Yeosang watches the door shut and sighs, frowning at the way Wooyoung is acting because of yesterday.

~

Going up the stairs, he sees his boss waiting for him, he silently pleads that he doesn't want anything.

"Let's talk"

Despite his fears, Wooyoung nods and his boss turns around, walking to his office, expecting him to follow... and he does.

The air is thick as they walk into the office. Wooyoung gulps as he is told to sit down, his boss taking a seat opposite him. He leans forward, placing his arms on the table and crosses them. "Tell me, what information do you have so far? What are you going to do next, we've had the prince for a while now".

Wooyoung blinks rapidly. So this is what the meeting is about. He needs to quickly think of something since he can't exactly tell his boss that they are planning to escape.

"Well" he starts, trying to sound confident but most likely failing. "Since he's been here for a long time and the price isn't getting any higher, I think it's time to hand him in".

He almost smacks himself in front of his boss. Why did I say that... if his boss agrees and takes Yeosang back, he'll still be stuck here while Yeosang is free.

But somehow the thought of Yeosang being free makes it worth being trapped here instead of him. He's been here longer anyway, he can handle it. 

But no. They had planned their escape together, they are supposed to do it together... he doesn't want to be alone again. Trapped.

His boss leans in his chair, placing a hand on his chin, deeply thinking about something supposedly. His eyebrows furrow but then something clicks as he raises them, smirking.

"I don't think the price is high enough yet..."

Wooyoung tries not to show his surprise. He doesn't want to give Yeosang in yet? Something about the look on his boss' face makes him uneasy.

"Let's go with plan B" Plan B? We haven't talked about a plan B...

"It will get us at least double of what they're offering. We send them a picture of the prince beat up or dying and force them to increase it. Then we'll give him. We might as well do it the bad way since we're bad guys" He looks excited and Wooyoung just wants to vomit.

I don't think you're a bad guy Yeosang's voice rings in his head.

"No!" Wooyoung shouts before he can stop himself, and immediately regrets it after seeing his boss's reaction.

"Why?"

And he means 'why are you disagreeing with me', not 'Why is it a bad idea'. He says it in a sinister tone that initiates Wooyoung's fight or flight mechanisms.

He gulps, wishing he could turn back in time and keep his damn mouth shut. But something tells him that even if he could travel time, he would still try and stop his boss.

He looks at Wooyoung threateningly, waiting for a response, his fists are curled, waiting for him to speak. He doesn't want to get beat again. Fortunately, Wooyoung has mastered the skill of making things up on the spot.

"It's just that ..." but he hasn't yet mastered the skill of telling them confidently. "You know how prickly les rois are, if we send a picture of the prince, I'm certain they will somehow find out and will know we have him. You know it will only go down from there, it's too messy in my opinion. Then they will have a grudge on us, it wouldn't be good for business". Wooyoung speaks with great speed and uncertainty despite his words making sense, so his plan unfortunately doesn't win his boss over.

"I don't care about that, once we get the money, no one can bother us. Plan B it is". He says with finality and stands up, telling Wooyoung to get lost.

"At least fake it!" Wooyoung stands up quickly, making his chair screech against the floor loudly.

It's just for the picture, don't do this to Yeosang. Wooyoung begs for his boss to listen to him. But he knows he made a mistake by yelling at him when he laughs. It's always bad when his boss laughs.

"Don't tell me... you aren't going soft aren't you? Even if it's for a photo why not get a little fun out of it when we have our own personal sparring dummy?" He laughs loudly but Wooyoung isn't impressed.

I'm just going to have to stop him myself. Wooyoung thinks, he can't let Yeosang get hurt again, not by anyone ever again.

He'll just have to play along with his boss for now then. If Wooyoung is one thing, it would be that he's cunning. He's got a natural skill for planning and undeniable luck which makes all his plans go smoothly.

"I'm not going soft, I just want to do the beating up... I'll take the picture too so you don't have to". Wooyoung straightens his shirt, trying his best to look serious.

But it seems like today, his boss isn't willing to put up with whatever bullshit he is trying to make up. His laugh is back, and Wooyoung wants to throw up right there and then.

"I don't think so Jung. You've been having fun all this time. Don't think I don't see your stupid grin whenever you come out of that room". He grabs his shirt and pulls him forward. "It's my turn now".

Wooyoung is pulled by his collar out of the office and across the hallway, dragged towards a room he is all too familiar with.

Where Wooyoung would take people and interrogate them, maybe leave them in there for a few days alone until they could finally cough up their money.

When his boss opens the door, Wooyoung drags his heels on the floor, trying hard to resist but it's no use as he's thrown into the room.

He hears three locks click then his boss's voice. "I'll let you out once I've got the picture, I'm sure you'll be dying to see it" another laugh, which gets quieter as he walks away.

This is bad. This is really bad. Wooyoung's heart pounds in fear. Yeosang doesn't know what's coming for him. He punches the metal door but knows it's no use.

He has to try anyway. He needs to save Yeosang. 

Yeosang needs me.