"I vote in favour too."

After debating for a while, Hoseok affirmed with a subtle smile. 

"Dude why even— she'll only bring trouble!" Seokjin huffed.

"I change my vote to in favour." 

"Park Jimin!" Seokjin huffed again as the mentioned male switched seats and sat beside Namjoon. 

"You all have comically lost your minds." The youngest muttered, arrogance lacing over his tone. 

"Don't you think you're being a little too bratty today?" Yoongi accused.

"I think the fuck not," Seokjin stood up. "We've been together since the start of B.C, and after 8 whole years, you randomly add a new member? That too a total newbie? If you wanted someone new in this team, why not scout someone who has already been working in the agency? If you're forgetting, we are the aces around here. Everyone has their eyes on us. One slip, and you can say goodbye to your reputation, Kim."

"Hyung," Namjoon sighed. "Can you not trust me at all, even after 8 years?"

"I'm disappointed in you, agent K-02. I hope you open your eyes and get out of your demeanour." Seokjin ended the conversation before walking away to his room. With the last shake of his head, Jungkook followed too.

"I hope you're sure about this, hyung. There's no turning back." Jimin put a hand over the latter's shoulder before giving it a light squeeze. He silently beckoned Hoseok and Taehyung to follow him, which they agreed to wordlessly.

Just like that, the mighty team Bulletproof was split internally because of one girl, who was in deep slumber— oblivious to the chaos she had caused.

Is it worth it?— Namjoon had questioned himself countlessly. What was the answer, you may ask? The once solid affirmative answer that the boy's mind possessed, had been covered with a blanket of doubt. He wholeheartedly believed that she would be useful for the team. But now? Now he was unsure whether or not it had been the best choice. He was unsure why he was letting his team fall apart, why he was rooting for a girl he met an hour back, and why on earth he was going against his teammates who were definitely much more important than some Lee Ruan. He began doubting his abilities and responsibilities as a team leader.

He sat glued to his spot, drowning himself in his insecurities. Gathering a fistful of his blonde hair, he forced his eyes shut. 

"Hey, you okay?" A groggy voice brought him back from his craze. Ashlyn was startled to see his state as he looked up. He wasn't crying, but it didn't mean he wouldn't start soon. The tip of his nose had become red, hair a bit messy, his eyes slightly glossy. She hastily sat down beside him and pulled him into a hug, which to be honest, might've been a bit aggressive.

"W-What are you doing, miss Lee?" He croaked out, his hands hanging mid-air awkwardly.

"Shut up and hug me," She said, still quite taken aback. Hands moving slowly, he finally hugged her back. He started calming down partially by taking deep breathes, and partially because of the soothing circles, that Ash was rubbing on his back. 

Until Jungkook walked in.

"Wow, am I interrupting something?" He scoffed loudly. Namjoon made an effort to pull back, but Ash didn't let him. To Jungkook, the pair looked like they were having some sort of affair; whereas to Ash, Namjoon looked like someone who could use a hug. She glared at Jungkook, who scoffed one again before exiting the scene. Namjoon, who had unknowingly clenched the material of Ashlyn's shirt, pulled back successfully this time.

"Wanna go for a walk?" She suggested.

"That would be appreciated." He wiped his runny nose.

They left the apartment, and Jungkook watched. "Hyung was... crying?" He trailed off, eyes lingering on the main door. He scurried back into his room as Jimin and Yoongi invaded his vision.

"Where did he go?" Yoongi looked in the kitchen that was connected to their living room.

"His shoes are gone," Jimin eyed the shoe rack beside the main door. "Maybe he went out for some air?"

"Beats me. I'm going for a nap, if you find him, wake me up." He announced before going into his and Seokjin's shared room. Jimin lingered on his spot a minute longer staring at the door with a blank expression, before going into his room. 

When Seokjin saw Yoongi walking in, he groaned and looked away. Yoongi merrily ignored the latter and into dreamland. Jimin, on the other hand, was interrupted while taking a shower.

"Hey, can I stay in your room for a while? The new girl's asleep in mine," Hoseok shouted from outside the bathroom door.

"What's wrong with Namjoon hyung's bed?" Jimin yelled back.

"You do realize that it's still the same room and she's a girl? Besides, you have a spare bed!"

"Ugh, whatever!" His voice was laced with annoyance.

Hoseok chuckled while laying down and wrapping himself in the comforter. After sparring with a handful of candidates, everyone was equally tired. Their body and mind both were sore, which wasn't exactly in favour of Ashlyn. Being as bold as a person can be, the reality of living with seven adult men was yet to hit her. Her sore body was sabotaging her mind— alongside her thirst for revenge of course. Her mind was busy hiding her confused and annoyed facial expressions from a red-eyed Namjoon, who hadn't uttered a single word after they started walking. She just couldn't wrap her head around why she was there, walking with a crying man; when she clearly wanted to sleep.

After another 10 minutes of walking without a destination, Ash gave up and opened her mouth. 

"You better now?"

"Loads. Thanks for the walk,"

"Gladly." She forced a clearly fake smile, but Namjoon didn't need to know that. She beckoned him to return and he nodded.

"You're not gonna ask why was I crying?"

"Nah. Not interested. I'm cool with helping you stop— ehm— feel better, I mean," She corrected, hoping he didn't get offended. She wasn't ready to deal with another breakdown, she just wanted to sleep. Namjoon didn't say anything in return and continued their way back to the apartment silently. 

"I'll rest in the living room. I figured you're roommates with the auburn hair; your coat from the face-off was on the spare bed," She said as Namjoon took off his shoes and wore house-slippers.

"Good eye." He muttered in fluent English. "Although I don't mind you using our room until you get your code name," He offered.

"Oh, you speak English?" She responded in fluent English too.

"Yeah, although mine isn't good as yours. You lived in Sydney, while I self-studied."

Ashlyn's inner eye twitched.

"Don't sweat it, it's equally good. So when do I get my code name?" She covered up smoothly.

"I am not sure. The committee decides that. But I hope it'll be soon." 

"Oh." She stated. "Anyways, I'll stick to the living room sofa. Not like the beds are bad, but I prefer the sofa." Namjoon didn't argue, instead, he brought her a pillow and a blanket. She flashed him a smile— a genuine one— and he returned it. Namjoon left for his room, and Ash was asleep in no time.

Jimin watched them both from the kitchen. He was there for some water when they both came back. He inspected Ashlyn, then Namjoon. Something was wrong. His eyebrows were knitted together as he absent-mindedly put the water bottle back in the fridge. Once he made sure Ash was asleep, he went back to his room. He turned his laptop on, careful to not wake Hoseok up. 

He logged into the portal of Black Crystals' classified information, which in other words were private information on the other agents who worked there. Higher-ups and team Bulletproof had the access to it. He skimmed through thousands of folders and hundreds of categories until he found one named 'New agents [2021]'. His eyes searched for a specific folder and lit up when he found it.

"Lee Ruan, 21, Korean blood, studied in Harvard for 4 years, stayed more than half of her life in the capital of Australia," He studied. "Something's off. What's missing?" He shut his laptop and went to his bed. "Faking a Harvard acceptance letter and certificate wouldn't be possible, the watermark's on point. Heck, the whole resumè is on point. What is missing?" He shifted on his bed. Forcing his eyes shut, he wracked his brain. As if the wheels in his brain turned, he bolted his eyes open and sat up straight.

"Her accent. It's not Australian."

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

A/N NOTE:

This was a filler chapter. What do you think, will Jimin abandon his thoughts or will he grow the seeds of his suspicion?

HAPPY READING!

To be continued...