"Thank you Doctor, I appreciate it." Hongjoong said gently before hanging up the phone. He let out a long sigh, then dragged his hand over his face. "What a mess..."

It had been a long time since he'd seen any kind of action like that, and he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel a sadistic thrill watching all those Pack members die, but he had experienced something today he never thought he would.

Genuine fear.

And not for himself either.

Watching these people who had forced themselves into his life fight for their own like that... for whatever reason it hadn't been easy. And as much as he didn't want to admit it, Seonghwa had been amazing. Especially since that was probably his first fight against the Pack since leaving.

Now everything would be different since both San and Yunho were injured. Could they afford to wait until both were healed before attacking? It would be extremely difficult if they did, today was their official announcement against the Pack that there was a group out there willing to stand up to them.

Mercer had to be fuming right now.

The thought made Hongjoong grin and let out a dark chuckle. Oh how he wished he could see it.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts and he turned to see the man he had been debating selling for money leaning against the doorway. "Good driving today." Seonghwa said.

"Good shooting." Hongjoong leapt up to sit on his desk and smirked. "I'm surprised you didn't chicken out like the coward I know you are."

He watched as Seonghwa ground his teeth together and shook his head. "I'm not interested in doing this with you, Hongjoong. I know we have a history, but I think today just proved that I'm willing to fight for you and Mingi. I have no interest in being in charge, I don't want to lead, I just want to create a safe further for me. And for Wooyoung."

Hongjoong arched an eyebrow. "You have a way with words, I'll give you that." He jumped off his desk and  walked forward to hold out his hand for Seonghwa to shake. "Truce?"

The older smiled and shook it. "Thank you. Did you get ahold of anyone to help?"

"Yes, a friend of mine, Dr. Kim, is going to come by. He will use the secret tunnel so we don't need to worry about anyone watching him. No one knows about that entrance except for you guys and my most trusted contacts."

"Good. I think I have them stable, but I have no idea if what I did will really help or not. I only have the basic medical training provided to the Pack plus what little I had looked up on my own." Seonghwa's eyes dropped and his head fell forward a little. "I just hope it was enough." He added in a whisper.

In that moment, Hongjoong was surprised when he felt the urge to comfort Seonghwa. It was something he had never expected to feel for the older and his first reaction was to feel disgusted. But he pushed through it and reached up a shaking hand to pay Seonghwa's shoulder. "I'm sure you saved his life."

Seonghwa gave him a tight lipped, grateful smile."You might want to go check on Mingi. He's taking today pretty rough."

Hongjoong twisted his lips to the side. He knew exactly why Seonghwa was telling him to do this and he didn't know if he liked it. The fact The fact that it was pretty much expected that he and Mingi should get together didn't sit right with him.

But... seeing Mingi fighting today...

With a disgruntled sigh, Hongjoong walked past Seonghwa and started searching for Mingi. He had an idea.

He found him in the infirmary still, sitting in the corner with his knees drawn up to his chest and his head resting against them. Both Yunho and San had been transferred to beds and had several wires attached to them to monitor their vitals.

"Are you ok?"

"Are you ok?" Hongjoong asked softly, crouching in front of the thief. He didn't get an answer, not even a shake of the head. "Mingi?"

The thief's shoulders started to shake and there's was a muffled sniff.

"This wasn't your fault." Hongjoong reached out slowly and awkwardly patted Mingi's leg. He was torn between feeling bad and wanting to judge the thief for being pathetic.

At that thought, Hongjoong remembered something his father had told him a long time ago... It was ok to be vulnerable.

"You fought really well today. If it wasn't for you getting us out of here, they probably wouldn't have made it."

Mingi slowly lifted his head up and looked at Hongjoong with wide, tear filled eyes. They had yet to spill over, but it looked like they were close.

"It's ok. One of my friends is going to come by and look at them. They are going to be ok." Hongjoong tilted his head a little and bit his lip. "And... you really did do well today. I'm... I'm impressed." He felt a slight blush creep into his cheeks and mentally cursed himself.

But Mingi didn't seem to notice. He turned his head to the side and whispered, "Thank you, and... I'm sorry." He paused for several long seconds then continued speaking with a shaking voice. "I'm sorry for getting you involved in this... I'm sorry for everything..."

Something in Hongjoong snapped and he stood up quickly. "I can't believe I fell for a sniveling little crybaby." He growled. Mingi's head jerked to the side and his mouth opened just a little. "This is worse than just being pathetic! Shit happens. They knew the risk. I know all the risks! I've been fighting the damn Pack for years now. If I didn't want you here I would have thrown your ass to the curb a long time ago, so don't you dare go acting like a weak apology or feeling sorry for yourself is going to fix anything! What did I ever see in you? You're weak!"

Hongjoong spun on his heels and quickly stormed out of the room.

Seconds later, a hand grabbed his wrist and yanked him back. Mingi pinned him to the wall with his hands planted on either side of Hongjoong's head. His entire body caged Hongjoong in and he felt himself shiver, although that didn't take away from the vicious glare he gave the thief.

"Get away from me." He growled.

"No." Mingi's voice was deeper than normal. Hongjoong gulped and had to fight to keep his façade up. "No, I won't. You're right, maybe I am having a moment of weakness, but I am not pathetic and I am tired of you looking down on me! I know you're not the same Hongjoong I fell in love with. You're an awful, horrid human being and your father would be ashamed of how you treat others."

Rage boiled over in Hongjoong and he roared while shoving Mingi away from him. "How DARE you! You don't get to speak of my father like you know him!"

"I don't need to know him to know how much you love him." Mingi balled his hands into fists. They shook at his side. "I could easily overpower you and just take what I want if I so desired." He added darkly."

Hongjoong felt his stomach flip at the thought. He'd never had someone come onto him like this before and he didn't know what to make of it. If he was being honest... it excited him a little. "Yeah right. I'm faster then you. I don't think you have it in you. Your story makes it sound like you're some night in shining armor who swept me away, but I would NEVER fall for the likes of you!"

Mingi looked like he was torn between running away and something else. They both stood there for a long moment just staring at each other.

Hongjoong almost thought his idea had failed, but then Mingi rushed forward and pinned him to the wall once more. Only this time he had managed to grab both of Hongjoong's wrists without him noticing. They were now pinned above his head. "Let go of me!"

The thief didn't give him an answer. Instead he dipped his head down and slammed their lips together. Mingi let out a groan and pressed harder, trying to take more of Hongjoong in. And... Hongjoong moaned as well.

The sound surprised him almost as much as the kiss.

But for whatever sick, twisted reason, Hongjoong liked having Mingi overpower him like this.

He opened his mouth at the first pass of Mingi's tongue and he used his own to try and fight for some sort of dominance. As soon as he did, though, Mingi growled and pulled back.

"No." He said, then the pulled Hongjoong away from the wall and down toward Hongjoong's bedroom.

How he had figured out where it was, Hongjoong had no idea, but he wouldn't argue. Especially not with the heat within him rising with each passing second.

His idea had worked.

He knew Mingi would need a distraction to get out of his head, just as he knew Mingi would blame himself for the others getting hurt.

In his days watching the thief, Hongjoong had realized that Mingi had a big, compassionate heart that was slowly crumbling away because of the circumstances. But he didn't let that stop him from doing everything he could to help the others.

The first time Mingi had seen Wooyoung and broken down, Hongjoong had already felt something stirring within him.

It was the same thing his father would have done. Or at least, that's what Hongjoong believed.

And today, seeing Mingi throw himself into the thick of gunfire to help protect San... it was incredible.

He was willing to give Mingi a chance. But he wouldn't let that stop him from having a little fun too.

When they reached Hongjoong's room, Mingi pulled him inside by his wrists and flung him around while turning to close and lock the door, never letting go of the older's wrists.

The he whipped Hongjoong around to press him against the door, hands above his head once more, and claimed his mouth in a hungry kiss. Teeth were added this time. Hongjoong couldn't help but whimper then Mingi tugged at his bottom lip, nibbling at it until it was swollen and red.

"I'll show you what it is you've been missing." The thief hissed. He finally released Hongjoong's hand only to clutch his shirt in both fists and proceeded to rip it open in one, smooth motion.

"Fuck that was hot." Hongjoong gasped and grabbed the back of Mingi's neck to pull him into another kiss. They only broke it for a second so that Mingi could pull his shirt over his head.

They pressed their bare chests together as their hands scrambled to find any kind of purchase to help with the need spilling out from within them.

For Mingi that ended up being Hongjoong's hair. He fisted it and used that to yank the older's head to the side, all so he could attack his neck and shoulder with violent, teeth and tongue filled kisses.

It paralyzed Hongjoong for a moment. All he could do was take it, especially when Mingi used his other arm to surround Hongjoong's entire, lithe body and crush him against his own chest.

This placed Hongjoong's hand in a very good place, however, and he used that to his advantage. He wiggled it just enough so that he could palm Mingi's length and he squeezed, hard.

Mingi groaned and jumped in place, but he didn't stop he assault on Hongjoong's neck.

"So are you going to fuck me against the door or be a gentleman about this? Or am I going to fuck you?" Hongjoong said with a moan.

"Like hell you are." Mingi's voice went straight through Hongjoong and he felt his length getting harder than it already was.

He let out a small yelp when he was pulled away from the door and thrown onto his bed. The bedspread bunched up around him as he backed onto it. He almost felt like he was backing away out of fear because of the absolutely predatory look Mingi was giving him right now.

Yet he loved it.

They both worked to yank the rest of their clothes off, throwing them around the room and not even caring when something was knocked off Hongjoong's desk, because in the next second Mingi was engulfing Hongjoong and pressing him into the bed.

Their legs twisted together as Mingi worked to spread Hongjoong's wider, trying to full take control. Hongjoong raked his fingers down the thief's back in response and loved the way he could feel each muscle ripple at his touch.

He'd had his flings before, trying to fulfill his desires. But this... this had unlocked something carnal within him and he was dying for more.

"Hurry up already." Hongjoong couldn't keep the whine out of his voice when he spoke.

Mingi lifted his head up and smirked before backing up a little. He rose up on his knees and slipped his hands under Hongjoong's ass to lift him off the bed.

The older scrambled a little when he suddenly found that the only piece of him left on the bed was his shoulders and head. Mingi had lifted him almost entirely off the bed and placed his legs over his shoulders so that now he had full access to Hongjoong's entrance.

He didn't waste a moment before he started lapping at it greedily. The feeling had Hongjoong squirming and arching his back, but there was no where for him to go. If Mingi wanted to, he could stand up and lift Hongjoong completely off the bed.

His breathing kept getting faster and faster the more Mingi continued. The thief started slowing working his tongue past the tight ring of muscle, and while he did, he snaked one hand around the stroke Hongjoong's length.

It was all so overwhelming. Hongjoong lifted a hand up and tried to grab onto something and he was surprised when he felt Mingi's fingers slot in between his own. His eyes flew open and he felt himself flush when he noticed Mingi staring at him while continuing his administrations.

Then he felt it.

Some kind of electric shock ran through Hongjoong's body and he squeezed Mingi's hand in response.

After another minute or so, Mingi let go of the older's length so he could use that hand to start working Hongjoong open. His long fingers twisted inside Hongjoong and rubbed against his walls, filling him so nicely that Hongjoong couldn't help but whimper and gasp.

"To think you wanted to fuck me." Mingi purred, pumping three fingers in and out of Hongjoong. "You would have missed out on all of this."

"Sh-Shut up." Hongjoong whined. He tried to pull his hand away but Mingi just laughed and squeezed harder.

"That's right. Tell me how good I make you feel." Mingi spread his fingers out and Hongjoong felt his eyes roll into the back of his head. He waited another minute before asking softly, "Lube?"

Hongjoong let his free hand flop over his head with his finger pointing at his nightstand.

Mingi leaned forward, making Hongjoong whimper when he was bent in half, and pulled open the drawer to rummage around in it to pull out the bottle of lube.

He squirted some onto Hongjoong's entrance and continued to thrust his fingers in, getting him fully ready.

Which was needed, because Hongjoong wasn't sure if he'd been with anyone so big before.

He shivered when he wet sounds of Mingi stroking his own length started to fill the room. Mingi then dropped his hand so he could grab Hongjoong's hips with both hands and line up his length. Hongjoong could feel his back arching and he wrapped his legs around Mingi's waist to give him something to ground himself.

Then he was stretched deliciously as Mingi entered him. Even his three fingers hadn't opened him up enough. It felt amazing, especially when Mingi scrapped past his prostate.

When he was fully seated, they both sat there and panted for several seconds. Mingi adjusted his grip on Hongjoong, still keeping him off the bed, and sucked in a breath before slowly pulling and and pushing back in.

It didn't take long before he started getting faster and faster. At one point he had to bed Hongjoong in half again so he could brace his arms against the bed. His hot breath danced over Hongjoong's skin, prompting him to grab the back of Mingi's neck and pull him in for a kiss.

Their lips slotted together perfectly and worked back and forth while Mingi continued his thrusts. But those started to falter and Mingi's head dropped to rest in the crook of Hongjoong's neck. He wrapped his arms around the older to hold him tight.

Hongjoong wormed one hand between them to stroke himself while his other one wrapped around Mingi's shoulders. He found himself leaving open mouthed kisses along Mingi's neck and shoulder in between his panting.

With one final hard thrust, Mingi emptied himself inside the older. Hongjoong reached his climax a few strokes later and sprayed their stomach.

Mingi slowly pulled out and allowed Hongjoong to unfold and lay flat before laying so that he was still halfway on top of him.

He felt like he was on cloud nine. This had to have been the best sex he's ever had.

Until...

Mingi was slowly tightening his grip on Hongjoong and his shoulders were shaking. And there was definitely something hot and wet dripping into his skin.

Hongjoong moved his hand from Mingi's back to cup the back of Mingi's head. He twisted his nimble fingers in Mingi's red hair. "Was it that bad?" He asked with a teasing tone, but when Mingi didn't answer, Hongjoong tilted his head to the side and glanced down his nose at him. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"N-Nothing." Mingi sniffed and shook his head. "It was p-perfect."

Hongjoong smiled and kissed the side of Mingi's head. "My plan worked." He whispered.

"What plan?" Mingi said between sniffs.

"To distract you and get your mind off things that are out of your control. You've carried the weight of this world on your shoulders, almost literally, and you need to stop."

"So... did this mean anything to you?" Mingi lifted his head up slowly.

Hongjoong answered him by pressing their lips together. "Yes. Seeing you today... god I've never seen anything like it. I may be an ass in this life, but-"

"You're my ass." Mingi said and hugged him once again. "Thank you, Joong."

"Joong." The older whispered. He had never had a nickname before and it made his heart race. "I don't know what's going to come of our future, but I'm not the Hongjoong you knew."

"I know."

"But I'm willing to give this a chance." He added with a low voice. "You've... grown on me." 

"I knew I would." Mingi chuckled and started kissing along Hongjoong's collarbone. "God, Joong..." His voice started to shake as he spoke, "I've wanted this... for so long now. I missed you so much."

For the first time since his dad died, Hongjoong felt his heart break a little. He wished he could return Mingi's feelings on this. He wished he could understand the kind of pain Mingi had to be going through. He wished... He wished he could remember too.

But he didn't... and that was his curse he must live with now. Just like Mingi had to live with remembering.

Nothing would change that.

All they could do was work on being strong for each other. And even before tonight, Hongjoong had accepted that this was what he wanted to do.

He continued to stroke the back of Mingi's head until he could tell that the thief was on the brink of sleep. Mingi was still sprawled on top of him, so he wasn't going anywhere any time soon. And he didn't mind. It was nice having someone in his bed with him that didn't need to leave right away.

It was nice... feeling loved.