Two months after the last chapter

Saeran was following a potential new initiate. He was young, in his late teens, and living a troubled life. A perfect candidate for Mint Eye. Saeran had first noticed him pickpocketing multiple people without them ever knowing. Saeran had followed him in the beginning because of idle curiosity and boredom. After following the boy home, Saeran had realized the situation the boy was in. He lived with an abusive father, who made the boy come home with money every night for the father's alcohol. Finding himself intrigued, Saeran had Saeyoung look into it. Saeyoung learned that the boy's name was Yeong Jun, and had uncovered that the mother had left when Yeong was young. She had tried to legally take the child with her, but the father had managed to keep parenting rights.

Long story short, the boy was perfect for Paradise.

Saeran planned to take the boy with him today. He had followed him long enough to know his patterns throughout each day.

"Luciel, do you still have eyes on him?" he asked through his ear-piece.

Saeran had had Saeyoung hack into the street cameras so as to make sure not to spook the Yeong.

"Yes. Although it would be a lot easier if I was closer to your location, you know."

"I know. However, neither the Savior nor I want you anywhere other than at our base. We know you are trained as an agent, Luciel."

"Like I would do anything with MC's welfare on the line."

Saeran huffed. "You are both more trouble than you're worth."

"...the kid is hitting a right down the next street."

Saeran continued following the Yeong, keeping far enough away so he wouldn't suspect Saeran but also close enough so Saeran wouldn't lose the boy in the crowd.

"Ok, now he is going down to that dead end."

Every day, Yeong went down an alley to eat whatever he had managed to scrounge up throughout the day, thinking it was a safe place to eat without anybody to bother him. He was wrong.

Saeran smirked. "Good. Send in our men."

Dead silence.

"Luciel?"

Still no answer.

"Luciel, so help me I will make sure that MC-"

"Alright, fine! I'm sending them in now."

Saeran looked to verify, and sure enough spotted his men heading down the alley.

"Excellent, 707. Do not let that happen again."

This time the silence on the other end was expected.

Moving on, Saeran stationed himself at the beginning of the alleyway. He waited long enough for the two men to rough up the boy and get him scared out of his wits, but not incoherent. Listening in, he heard Yeong's cries begin to have a hopeless pitch to them. Now is the time. Saeran ran in, as if he were a innocent third party rushing in to help. "Back off! Get off him!" Saeran yelled. However, the men had been informed that this would happen, and how to act. "What'cha gonna do about it?" one of them asked roughly.

Saeran smiled slightly, and saw the man flinch despite knowing what would happen next. Good, you should be scared.

"Oh, I'm just going to do this!" Saeran swung, full on to the jaw. That hadn't been in the memo. Saeran was supposed to just nick him.

Staggering back, the man hissed in pain. Glaring, he swung back, although he was careful to not actually hit Saeran. He knew the consequences of that happening.

Saeran dodged easily, just by tilting backwards slightly. He punched again, swinging an uppercut. However, this time he made sure to only clip the other guy. If he knocked him out, it would be bothersome to help the guy out of there later.

Saeran's "opponent" fell back, staggering from the surprisingly powerful blow.

Saeran glared at him balefully. "Leave the boy alone, scum."

Silently, the men started backing away down the alley. After a few steps, they turned and ran.

Saeran turned to the boy, Yeong. "Are you alright?"

Yeong nodded shakily. "I'll be alright. Thank you for helping me, sir. I don't know what would have happened if you didn't come along."

Nothing. They would have left after five more minutes. "God knows. I'm just glad I heard what was happening."

"Sir," he said, bowing "Sir, if there is any way I can help you, I will. I don't amount to much, but if you ever need me for anything, I will be wherever you need me to be. To do whatever you need me to do."

Saeran look at the boy in surprise. That was unexpected. "Just like that? You would trust me so easily?"

"Sir, I've been beaten up many times. No one has ever come to help me before. I have yelled and begged for someone, anyone to come and help me so many times. And yet you are the first. In a world full of cruel people, why wouldn't I trust someone so kind?" he asked, eyes full of sincerity.

Saeran heard the echo of his own sincerity, long ago when he still trusted. 'I trust you, Saeyoung.'
Saeran gripped the boy's shoulder suddenly, surprising himself just as much as the boy.

"Don't. Don't trust anyone, boy. Like you said, this world is full of cruel people. One kind act can conceal doubtful intent. Kindness means nothing."

Yeong gazed back at Saeran, surprisingly calm about the situation. "I can trust you, sir. A bad person would be an idiot to say something like that."

Saeran just stood there, dumbfounded for the first time in a long while. After a few seconds he let go of Yeong's shoulder, shaking his head. Naive child. You have no idea.

"C'mon kid. Let's go," Saeran snapped.

"Where are we going?"

"To get you something to eat."

"But sir, I have a perfectly good lunch. I'll just eat that and I'll be fin-" Saeran cut him off by grabbing the tiny bag of food Yeong had scrabbled together and ripped it. And then stomped on it. Turning away, he then proceeded back out the alley without a word. Yeong stared at the remnants of his lunch in absolute shock. He looked at the back of Saeran's receding form, then at his food and back again. He shrugged, and then trotted to catch up with Saeran. No reason to deny free food.

Saeran led him to a burger joint and promptly ordered Yeong a Double Bacon Cheeseburger with a drink and fries. "So, kid. What's your story? What on earth is a teenager doing getting beat up in an alley?" Saeran asked. He already knew pretty much everything he needed to know about Yeong, but it wouldn't do to tell him that.

Yeong hesitated. "I just...no reason. I just wanted to have my lunch there. No idea why those guys beat me up."

"Sure, that's all. A what, fourteen-fifteen year old kid with a ziplock baggie half full of five different sorts of food, hiding in an alley. By himself, no friends or family. Why on earth would someone like that have a story?" Saeran said, dryly.

Yeong said nothing, looking down at the table silently. After staring at him for a few seconds, Saeran sighed. "Kid, you can tell me anything. I won't hur-"

"Here is your order, sir!" a waitress interrupted him, setting the food down on the table.

"Thank you," Saeran said politely, even though he was inwardly seething.

Yeong stared at the food hungrily. Saeran nodded at it. "Go on, eat. I didn't buy it for you to just look at it."

Grabbing it, Yeong nearly tore into it. Saeran watched in silence, deciding to continue his conversation at a more opportune time. He knew from experience that when you are literally starving, talking is the last thing you want to be concentrating on.

After Yeong finished eating, Saeran silently payed for the meal. And then got up, saying nothing except a "C'mon kid."

Making sure the boy was following him, Saeran made his way to his favorite place in the city. He gave a brief look up at the sky, noting it was a rather clear day. Perfect for where he was going. How am I supposed to get this kid to come with me? Savior doesn't like to have us force people into Paradise unless there is no other option. He sighed and shook his head, then straightened up when he realized Yeong was looking at him.

After a little bit more walking, they arrived at their destination. A big park, with a hill in the middle of it. Saeran headed to the hill, climbing to the top and sitting on the bench there. Looking at Yeong, he patted the seat next to him, motioning for him to sit down. Yeong hesitated, and then sat down.

"I like coming here to wind down. Especially after something like that fight earlier. Something about looking at the clouds is just amazing," Saeran said, relaxing against the bench.

Yeong smiled slightly. "Do you have a lot of days like today?"

"More or less," Saeran replied, smirking. Then he frowned. "Kid-"

"Yeong," the boy said suddenly. "My name is Yeong Jun."

Oh yeah. I'm not supposed to know his name. At least I didn't give it away. "And my name is Saeran Choi. Nice to meet you officially, Yeong," Saeran smiled, holding out his hand. Yeong tentatively shook it, smiling back shyly.

They passed a few more moments in silence, Saeran looking up at the clouds and Yeong looking down at his feet.

"Saeran?" Yeong said quietly.

"Yes?

"You asked about my story. I didn't tell you because...it's not great. It's terrible. And I didn't want you to think I'm weak."

Saeran breathed a quiet sigh of relief. This is going to be easier than I thought. "I wouldn't think you are weak. What if I told you that I had an abusive mother that blackmailed my father into giving her money? All because I was his baggage?"

"You did? How did you get free of her?"

This is it. "I had a person save me from that hell hole. My Savior. She took me to a place free of pain, fear and suffering. Everyone is happy there. She gave me a life, and then gave me a purpose. My purpose is to help people like me, people like you. I am now a guide, instead of slave to my own pain. And I would really like to guide you there as well, Yeong."

"Really? But why did you pick me?"

"Because I could see that you are like me. You have the same eyes I had back then," Saeran replied.

"And you would really take me with you? Even though you don't know anything about me?" Yeong asked, incredulous.

"Definitely. The question is...would you be willing to come with me?" Saeran asked carefully. He didn't want to scare the boy, but he also needed his consent. That was why he "saved" Yeong from getting beat up, so that Saeran would be viewed as a hero figure. The fact that nobody had ever helped Yeong out in that regard was perfect. It put Saeran as not only a hero in Yeong's eyes, but also as his only friend in the world.

However, he saw a slight hesitation in the boy's eyes. "Remember, this is the only chance I'll be able to offer this...home to you. For that is exactly what it will be. Your first home."

That worked. He could see that the fact that this will be Yeong's only chance at a normal life eased any doubts in the boy's mind. As every child does, he just wanted a home. Somewhere he could be accepted and loved.

And Saeran once again felt the guilt. Only this time it wasn't a twinge. It completely and utterly engulfed him. Trying to shake it off, he got up. Extending his hand, he offered it to Yeong.

"Are you ready to come with me, brother?"

With shining eyes, Yeong took his hand. What Yeong had said earlier echoed in Saeran's mind. 'Why wouldn't I trust someone so kind?'

"This is wrong," Saeyoung's voice came suddenly and unexpectedly over the earpiece.

And for once, Saeran didn't argue with him.

~~~

Dang. This chapter was so hard to write. For the entire month, I only got about 500 words in. And finally, I wrote the last 1500 words in the last couple of nights. Goodness. My poor brain. Hopefully there aren't too many mistakes, and I hope to God that there aren't any plot-holes. I almost forgot to have Yeong introduce himself, and Saeran was just saying his name like it was the most normal thing in the world to just already know everything there was to know about the kid. Anyway, thank you all for being patient! If you wanna vote, that would be awesome. If you wanna comment, I will definitely answer any and all questions you might have about the story. 

Thank you all for reading!

~Firball