The days after the successful mission were spent carrying on with normal duties as if nothing had happened. It seemed that Dae-Hyun and his episodes of agonising and invisible pain were not topics of discussion. Everyone seemed to have deemed it something to not be talked about.

He wasn't in for a couple days and no one heard from him, not even Min Seol.

When he turned up back in the casino, everyone greeted him happily but as if he'd never really been away. Min Seol however sent him a worried expression as he approached her. He sent her a faint smile that didn't reach his usually cheerful and lively eyes. She picked up on it immediately.

"Hello." He greeted in a tired, croaky, and unusually quiet voice. He stopped in front of her and adjusted his cuff links on his suit shirt.

"Hey." She replied and observed his face. He looked pale and sick, his eyes drooping slightly, not seeming fully awake.

"You met him then." Dae-Hyun replied, trying to sound more alive than he actually was and failed. Min Seol went along with his fake positivity and hummed.

"Quite the visual I have to say." She commented. "Keep a grip on him Dae. Wouldn't be surprised if someone tried to snatch him for themselves." She joked and looked around the casino at the people gambling away money they probably didn't earn themselves.

"Oh people know not to mess with me." He stated in a threatening tone. He glanced around and groaned before rubbing his pale face. "Is it alright if I take a nap in your chair?" He asked. When he usually asks this he does aegyo or tries to make himself look even cuter, but this time he didn't even bother. Like he had no energy to muster to even attempt to do so.

Min Seol sighed and again regretted spending so much on her office chair. She just wanted good posture, but it also ended up being the comfiest seat in the casino. Dae-Hyun claiming it as his napping chair.

"Fine." She sighed and Dae-Hyun cheered quietly and hugged her. "Only because you're clearly ill." She added as Dae-Hyun pulled away. "Aren't you sleeping well at home, or wherever Leo took you?" She asked. Dae-Hyun frowned at her words quickly and tried to shake it off.

"He was sticking needles in me, which usually makes it hard to comfortably sleep. The cardiac monitors fucking beeping make me wish I had no fucking heartbeat for it to monitor. It was so annoying." He mumbled and rubbed his temples with his fingers gently. His skin looked so transparent and thin, Min Seol felt like if he pressed hard enough his fingers would break the delicate skin. "But at least I'm better now, aye? Can't complain." He muttered as he walked past her and headed to their office.

"Sleep well darlin'." She called after him, worry present in her voice. She may be a couple years younger than him, but she felt protective and motherly of him.

She tried to stop thinking about Dae-Hyun and his fucked up situation. She was failing until she saw Taeyang walking towards her.

"Hey Wolf?" She asked, more than greeted. Taeyang sent her a rushed smile before looking around. He stepped closer to her and leaned in slightly so he could talk in a hushed voice that only she could hear.

"We need to go to a negotiation." He stated. "One of our leading drugs importers is being difficult as he knows of our situation with The Nobodies. Zeno asked for you and me specifically to go with Zero and Perle." He explained.

"Why us? We've got nothing to do with the drugs side of things." She asked, confused slightly.

"Your job is to smooth talk, no? Use that." He prompted.

"Why are you going then?" She asked in a teasing tone.

"I'm quite the smooth talker as well I'll have you know." He chuckled, stepping back and started to walk backwards out the casino. "Come on, the two are meeting us there. We gotta walk." He hurried.

"But I'm in heels..." She grumbled to herself and started to follow Taeyang, who just laughed before turning around and walking properly.

"It's a hard life aye?" He teased, earning a playful hit on the chest by a sulking Min Seol.

_________

The two walked through the streets of Seoul and headed for the heart of the bustling city. The walk wasn't too long and Taeyang pretended it was his idea to not take a car. In reality, Ryota didn't want him to take it out as they needed the car for emergencies, and Sohee and Kai Ling took the only other one available to them.

Taeyang being who is is, he's always alert with his surroundings and there's never a moment when he's off guard. Now not being an acception.

He glanced behind him out of habit and someone caught his eye. Every time he glanced behind him, the stranger was always there.

"Someone's following us, and seems to be horrible at hiding it." He muttered to Min Seol. "Don't look or he'll be suspicious." He quickly stated as he saw Min Seol's head start to look over her shoulder. "You got weapons on you, just incase?" He asked.

"Of course." She said, finding his question quite ridiculous considering their situation.

"What does he want..?" Taeyang mumbled to himself as he saw the man's black hair appear in his peripheral vision. "Follow me." He stated and picked up his walking pace. Min Seol hummed in question but followed him closely anyway.

Taeyang led her to an alleyway that was wedged between two large restaurants. He took a sharp turn and hid around the corner of the 'T' shaped alley. He pressed his finger to his thick lips and looked at Min Seol, who just nodded in understanding.

The black haired follower hesitated before walking down the grimy alley. He approached the corner and was about to turn, but at that point Taeyang had balled his fist up and smashed the man across the cheekbone. The follower stumbled back and Taeyang grabbed him by his jacket, hauling him towards himself and turned, then pushed the man harshly against the concealed and crumbling brick wall.

"Why are you following us?" He questioned the man with a black mask covering half of his face. The man stayed quiet and his eyes glued onto Min Seol who was stood behind Taeyang.

Taeyang saw and frowned at the man he was questioning. Something about him seemed awfully familiar, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Do we know you?" He asked aggressively as his memory failed to recognise his face. The mans eyes flickered to Taeyang's and he raised his scarred eyebrow.

"You should." He remarked back. Taeyang could tell the man was smiling even though his lower face was covered by the black fabric.

"Cut the bullshit mystery front. Give me straight answers." Taeyang said through gritted teeth.

"I need to speak to her. Then I'll leave you two alone." He said, his tone light and void of nervousness. Taeyang didn't like it.

"Who are you-"

"Let him go." Min Seol interrupted. Taeyang frowned even deeper and looked over his shoulder at Min Seol who didn't look like she agrees with her own words. "I'll make sure he doesn't pull a fast one on us. We have places to be and this bickering won't get us anywhere." She added.

Taeyang glared back at the masked man and reluctantly dropped his arms and stepped back. The man nodded as he walked past towards Min Seol.

"If you wouldn't mind..." The man said in a snobby tone. "This conversation is for our ears only."

Taeyang shook his head and let out a laugh in disbelief. He tilted his head at the follower and bit the inside of his cheek.

"You're lucky I trust her, or you would be a dead man for speaking to me like that." He muttered before turning and walking down the alley, leaving the two alone.

The masked man turned and look at Min Seol, and grunted as he was hit with a hard slap across the face. He laughed in shock and his hand automatically went to his stinging cheek.

"How dare you come talk to me like this when I have a college with me." She spat into his face. "Do you know how much shit you could get me into right now?" She questioned, not expecting an answer.

"Ah, so you recognise me huh?" He chuckled and removed his mask, revealing his face. "Ah dear Sunny, I knew you wouldn't forget me." He said happily.

"Why are you here Minho?" She questioned angrily, she doesn't want to be talking to him as he's a physical reminder of her slight betrayal.

"I like you Sunny. You made sure I left your place alive. So I'm going to return the favour." He simply said.

"What do you mean?"

"You saved mine, so I'll give you information to maybe save your own. Seem fair?" He said.

"My life is at risk?" She questioned. She wasn't sure wether to feel scared or angry.

"All I'm going to say, is to keep those close to you even closer. Emotions in this line of work is nothing but ammunition for your enemy's to use against you. It's inevitable they'll use them, so don't give them a chance to." He explained with a faint smile on his lips. "We see everything." He added as he put his mask back on.

"I see." Was all she said to him. He winked at her and turned to walk out the alley.

"Good luck dear Sunny." He called as he turned the corners. He stepped out into the streets where he saw Taeyang leaning against a wall. He walked past him and couldn't bite his tongue. "The scars healing nicely." He commented and tapped his own cheekbone.

Taeyang frowned and watched as the man walked away with a slight limp.

He finally clocked who the guy was.

He felt like just getting out his pistol and shooting the guy in his other knee, but didn't. He somehow felt a slight bit of satisfaction at the fact he had given him a limp that he knew would never go away. The anger at the guy for scarring him however was just a little stronger, but he knew that shooting the guy may cause even more problems than solutions.

A minute later Min Seol walked out the alleyway and Taeyang nodded at her and started walking again. He didn't think asking about it would actually give him answers, so he didn't even bother.

The approached the building of the drug dealers they were to negotiate with and saw Sohee and Kai Ling hanging outside the entrance. Sohee looked over and spotted them, smiling immediately.

"Hey guys!" She called and waved as they approached.

"Hey." Taeyang replied.

"Let's get this over and done with." Kai Ling sighed. She was annoyed Ryota made the two join them as she thought of themselves as very capable of getting this done themselves.

They all walked into the very fancy looking building. The reception's walls and gleaming flooring were pristine white. The space was open and light, and the decor very minimalistic. Large floor-to-ceiling windows took up the entire front of the floor, showing everyone on the outside what was going on on the inside. It was as if the drug dealing building had nothing to hide.

They all took the transparent elevator to the top floor and Min Seol and Taeyang followed the two girls down a familiar route. Kai Ling glanced at the pair behind her.

"Remember, don't let them mess us about." Was the final thing she said before she pushed open the heavy double frosted glass doors, revealing a transparent long table. Five businessmen were seated at the end of the table, the one who Taeyang and Min Seol assumed was the boss sat at the head of the table.

"Welcome." He greeted, his voice deep, intimidating, yet friendly somehow. "Take a seat." He smiled, gesturing to the empty seats on the other side of the table.