A message from Kara had dinged in later that night, close to three in the morning.

"Heard you were over. Sorry we couldn't talk, I was sorting something out! Next time we can hang!"

I was glad to know she was alright, but I was skeptical.
Was it actually even her messaging me? I suppose I would never know.
Last time I saw her at their house she was withering, and I really hoped it wasn't like last time.

I assumed it wasn't, saying she clearly went there willingly.
I was never really sure.

When I woke up it was practically noon, and Ji Woo still hadn't returned.
Of course not.
I was used to this regime by now, so I just left the house, to go do my own shopping.

I also wanted to get Kara something, since she didn't get to finish shopping last time.
It was the least I could do, anyway.
It may have been my fault she was a prisoner to her own home, so I should try make up for it.

"Really, that's what you want me to do?" Kara asked, sitting in Bang Chan's office.
"Yes, that's correct. You were working on an information mission were you not? I want you to continue. If they ask where you were, use Y/N. Say you turned your phone off or whatever." Bang Chan explained.
"I told you, infiltrating again might be a little bit hard, but if I make up a sap story about everything, they should take me back. Jimin seems to like me around." She chuckled dryly.

"Take a separate car, and we'll see you there." He smiled. "I trusted you. I know the others don't, but I always had my faith in you."

"Thank you, Chan. It means a lot to me."

"Is this my formal goodbye? I'm assuming you won't want me to talk to you after this..." She asked.

"No, you can't. If you need to, call the business phone from a different phone, not your own. This also means you can't see Felix. I found out he was talking to you and that. I know you guys are like a thing-"

"We are not." Kara said bluntly. "Just friends, okay? That's all, and nothing more."
Bang Chan just laughed.
"Yeah, sure, but yeah. Cut ties with us until they start getting skeptical. Of course if you need help, we're here."

He stood up and gave her a hug.
"Good luck, Kara."

"Okay come on let's go! Jimin, Jungkook, Yoongi Hyung, come on." Namjoon called out, as he waited by the door patiently.

They all bounded down the stairs, one person at a time.

Jimin came last, pulling a bag over his shoulder.
Namjoon raised his eyebrow.
"Don't worry, I don't have a bomb or anything. It's for incase Kara shows up. She's gone off the radar."

"Of course. Let's go, we're already going to be late."

So they left, and arrived at the building in time.
As they made their way to their reserved meeting room, Bang Chan and a few of his teammates were waiting outside.

Lee Know, Gabs, Felix and Bang Chan were there.
Jimin looked around eagerly for Kara, but alas, she wasn't there.

They filed in, all taking to their designated sides of the table.
The door clicked open before someone could lock it, as Kara walked in, and made her way to the end of the table, equally distanced from BTS and Stray Kids.

"I'm sorry I'm late. Let's begin, yes?" She smiled.

"Of course." Namjoon said, looking to Bang Chan.

"I propose a truce."

Bang Chan just looked at him.
"Why's that?"

"We both have a common goal, do we not? Working together would make it a lot easier." Namjoon explained.
"Then we would be able to share resources-"

"You mean use us, Namjoon." Gabs scoffed, glancing at Kara.
She was just listening attentively. Gabs had been told on the way here what she was doing, and she felt bad for getting angry at her.
Well, only slightly bad.

"I didn't mean it like that." He said.

"The mission has been going on for months now. Why don't we just get it over and done with already?" Namjoon asked.

"I done trust you. We don't trust you. That's why." Bang Chan scoffed.

"You trusted us enough to come here." Jimin said, tilting his head.

"Only to have to listen to your bullshit." Felix scoffed, glaring at Jimin with disgust.

Namjoon shrugged. "Just think about it. Now, Jimin, Jungkook, Yoongi Hyung, can you leave? Kara, Gabs, Felix and Lee Know need to leave to. I want to speak leaders one on one."

Gabs grunted as she stood up, leaving the room, Kara close behind her.
They all stood out in the hall for awhile, Kara staying away from both groups of people.

"Is anyone hungry? I'll go get something from the vending machine. I saw one on our way here." Felix asked, glancing slightly at Kara.
She shook her head. Like Bang Chan told her, she had to stay away from him.

"Sure, get me whatever's there. Thanks Felix." Gabs said as she waved him off.

"They're taking a long time." Kara mumbled. "I hope everything's alright.
She hated the fact the room was soundproofed.
She wanted to know her leader, her friend, was okay.

"What did you do with Kara last night? She vanished from our protection." Namjoon asked.
"We didn't do anything. Why does it matter to you? If you rescued her to 'free' her, monitoring where she stayed the night does not help." Bang Chan said, narrowing his eyes.

"You know if we truce, I won't tell her the little secret that's keeping you all connected." Namjoon grinned.
"You promised you wouldn't tell her anything until we were ready and the mission was over." Bang Chan said, a chill shivering down his spine.

"I'm sure Jimin's been hinting at it. He quite likes her, so I'm sure he'll want her to stay." Namjoon smirked.
"Look- keep Kara for all I care. Use her as an asset, whatever. Just don't tell her, please." Bang Chan said, half begging as he looked into his eyes.

"Oh don't worry." He smiled. "The secret is safe with me."

When the door finally opened, Bang Chan just glanced at his team.
"Let's go. We just sorted some trade business. But it's over now. Come on." He said, walking off as they followed.
He didn't even spare a glance at Kara, leaving her as Namjoon walked out the room.

"Where were you last night, if you don't mind me asking?" Namjoon asked.
"I was sorting something out. If you're asking if I went to them, I didn't." Kara responded simply.

"That wasn't our main worry, we're not like that." Jimin grinned, walking over to Kara.
"I've got something for you." He said, fumbling in his bag.
Kara just watched, slightly confused.
That's when he pulled out a velvet box, clicking it open.
It was a silver necklace, encased in diamonds as it's charm twisted into webs, a diamond spider encrusted in the middle.

"Jimin that looks extremely expensive." Kara started.
"Kara, we have been in the game for a lot longer than you. A few thousands isn't that much." He said, placing the box in her hands.
"It's up to you when you want to wear it, but you told me you liked spiders, but not when they're in your room. I do listen."

"Thank you." She said, looking down at the box, before she hugged him awkwardly.
He hugged her back graciously, and she swore she could feel him smiling.

He wasn't acting?

"What size would Kara be?" I whispered, glancing over racks of dresses.
"I could call Felix, or Hyunjin- literally any of her friends. But maybe she hasn't told them? I would stop by, but there is no way they'll let me just go and look at her clothes."

She sighed, as she called Hyunjin.

"Yes Y/N? How can I help you- how are you by the way?" He asked.
"I'm okay, thank you. I was wondering if you know what size Kara is. I'm buying her some clothes." I asked.

"Uh Felix would probably know, but he's busy. Just get her a larger size, she likes bigger clothes. Dresses though, she usually goes bang on her size. Just get what you think she is, she won't be offended."

"Okay, well thank you." I said, as I hung up on him.
That was helpful.

I bought her a dress anyway, one that I thought she would like.
It was simple, a dark shade of red wrapped in cloths of glossy black, with long sleeves.
It was on sale due to a rip down the side, but I could fix that.
It was the least I could do, anyway.

When I got home, I got to sewing straight away, easily fixing the gaping hole.
"Perfect- now where is she?" I whispered.

I could see that she wasn't active, so there was no point in messaging her, but I did anyway.

It took two hours for me to get a response.

"Yeah I'm not with the boys. I'm with Jimin. Do you want me to stop by?"

"That'll be perfect. See you soon."