NEO CULTURE TECHNOLOGY
MAD CITY BASE
10:03 PM, MONDAY

"Just a quick little reminder for you, Kei." Hendery began as they waited for the vast metal gates of the garage to fully open.

"What?"

"The executives can be really really scary when they're angry. And if it's Doyoung we're talking about? Hah- don't even get me started." Hendery shook his head, thinking back to the times whenever their consigliere wasn't in his best mood. "Yeah- I just hope you wont die in there."

Keiko raised a brow in amusement, leaning towards the mafia's sniper, "Hmm? What was that? Henderson said he didn't want me to die?" A teasing grin crept up her lips.

Hendery scoffed, lightly pushing her face away from his, "Shut up. I'm just warning you."

"I won't die," she uttered, looking out the tinted windows to see Doyoung impatiently waiting with his hands on the sides of his waist; tapping his foot relentlessly onto the ground. "Maybe. At least- not yet."

As soon as the car got parked, Keiko hopped out, meeting the consigliere's icy cold glare. Doyoung crossed his arms in front of his chest before saying, "Keiko. Taeyong's office. Now." Afterward, he turned to his back, leaving the garage immediately.

"Keiko-chan, you're in trouble." Yuta said making the girl glance at him, seeing the Japanese mechanic on his usual spot, tinkering with a few machines.

"Wow- tell me something I don't know next time."

"Yun Keiko." They heard Doyoung speak out loud from a distance.

"Don't anger him more, idiot." Hendery muttered and pushed her towards the doorway.

Keiko silently followed the male as he lead her to the familiar office. The dimly lit room, a bit cold, and dead silent. As the polished brown doors opened, revealing the Underboss who smiled sweetly at her. "Cherrie."

"Jaehyun." He pats the top of her head before walking past them, allowing entrance to Taeyong's office. Once they were inside, Doyoung waited for the door to close before speaking, "Are you out of your fucking mind!?"

Keiko lightly flinched, not expecting the sudden raise of volume. Doyoung sighed harshly, walking towards the Boss who sat quietly while doing his work. He pulled out a chair before gesturing her to sit down, to which she did.

"Well?" Doyoung's eyes landed on the blue-haired mafia boss.

Taeyong peered up from his work, gazing over at the girl who sat there. "No need to shout at her, Doyoung."

"It was necessary." Doyoung retorted, darting his attention onto Keiko. "You are a fucking target – anyone could've killed you there and then, Keiko! Don't you understand how dangerous it is? Aren't you afraid to die!?"

Keiko shot a look at Doyoung, "Oh- so it's my fault? If I died, it's my fault? So what if I died? Why do you care?"

"Because—"

"Because you need me? Because you're not done using me? Because if I were to be gone Taeyong would probably lose to his father and might even lose everything as well? Is that it? Doyoung, I am afraid to die – I am afraid of every one of you." Keiko cuts him off, eye brows furrowed as she took a deep breath.

"But even I am afraid, I can't just mope around and believe it's the end for me. Just because you won the gamble doesn't automatically mean you won my life."

"It's the rules. You belong to the mafia." Doyoung stated in a voice filled with authority; full and almost controlling.

"I do not belong to anyone but myself." She replied, using the same tone Doyoung used on her.
"Not to the Mikami's nor the Mafia."

Taeyong cleared his throat, knocking his knuckles onto his wooden desk before eyeing both of them. "You don't have to fight in front of me, you know."

"Keiko, I know it had been hard for you – don't even think about talking back to me – but you have to at least understand that you can't just go out whether you want to." Taeyong told her, standing up from his seat, "Even though we practically allowed you to." He added.

"You're risking your own life here."

"And Doyoung, Keiko is right. Even if we 'own' her whole life, she still had her own willpower. We have no idea what she thinks of, plans to do, or her next move is." Taeyong then looked over at Doyoung who avoided his gaze by lowering his head. "That's our disadvantage."

Doyoung took a deep breath, running his fingers through his dark hair before tilting his head back, "Whatever- I'm leaving. Bye." he spat and hastily left the office, leaving Keiko still there.

"What did you and Hendery do?" Taeyong questioned simply, taking a seat back down.

Keiko hummed, "We went shopping, almost shoplifted, ate at a fast food chain, hmm- oh and spent the rest wasting money on tokens to play arcade games." a smile crept up her face as she listed all of the things they did for the day.

Taeyong noticed that smile and unknowingly smiled as well, "Guess you had fun, hmm?"

"Absolutely! I swear- there was no one following us or anything. But guess what!"

"What?" Taeyong raised an eyebrow.

"I mostly won over Henderson in numerous games." she grinned and looked up at the ceiling, getting in a more comfortable sitting position. "Man, not gonna lie, I had fun with Hendery who practically hates my guts."

"That's good, I'm glad you had fun, Keiko."

Keiko cocked an eyebrow up, looking back at Taeyong, "Are you smiling?"

Lightly flinching at her exclaim, his smile got washed away quickly, now replaced with that tedious, stoic look he carried everywhere. "No."

Keiko narrowed her eyes at him before shrugging, standing up from her seat, "Got anything else to say? I'm kinda tired."

Taeyong stared at her for a few seconds, remembering what Kun had told him yesterday.

Family

"Keiko,"

"Mhm?"

"I- Never mind. Go ahead, get some rest."

Keiko knitted her eyebrows together in confusion, knowing the mafioso had hesitated. "Are you sure?"

Taeyong nodded, going back behind his desk to resume his work. "Yes. Now go."

Keiko nodded and sluggishly walked away, every step felt like time was slowing down for Taeyong. The heavy steps she took one at a time made him sigh out loud.

As soon as she left, he leaned back onto his office chair, dialing the young boy he had been meaning to talk to. "Hyung? Are you okay? Do you want something—"

"I'm fine, Jisung. Thank you for asking." he chuckled before his gaze fell steady onto the framed picture settled on top of his desk. The photograph held lots of memories- the twenty-one boys either smiling or goofing around as it was taken.

"Okay, what's wrong? I heard Keiko went to your office."

"I just-" he sighed deeply, "I have a plan."

"What? What do you mean by you have plan?"

"Jeno will fill you in on the details. Just- go with it. Okay?"

"Okay..."

—
hmm plan you say? :0
i finally figured how to get jeno and keiko interactions :')

btw, i published a mark lee grim reaper au 👀
cause mark lee be marking his name in my heart now