You Call Me Monster

Xiumin watched the guards saunter back into the police station, sipping steaming cups of coffee. Too risky, he decided. The main entrance was too exposed for undercover work. I'll have to find something else. He was sitting at an outdoor cafe across the street, nursing his own coffee. He watched people come and go for a bit, ignoring the bitter wind blowing against his back.
A man in green coveralls caught his eye and Xiumin watched him disappear through the side of the building. He sat up in his chair, his interest piqued. He tossed a few won onto the table and got up, sliding his hands into his jacket pockets. He crossed the street and followed the man’s path around the building.

He noticed cameras on the station roof and kept his head down, glancing at the door as he walked by. It was plain and unassuming, with a card reader blinking next to the handle. Xiumin continued down out of the camera's view before turning back, pulling his hood up this time. He glanced over just as someone was coming out, another man in coveralls.

Must be a janitor, Xiumin realized, continuing briskly down the sidewalk. Maybe I can work with this.

A quick peek around the corner confirmed that the man was heading Xiumin’s way. Xiumin took a deep breath, then barreled around the corner at full speed, colliding with the man. “Watch where you’re going!” the man spluttered, shoving away from Xiumin angrily. Xiumin bowed. “My apologies,” he murmured, allowing the man to stomp away. Xiumin straightened up, sliding the man’s card key into his pocket as he headed the other way. One problem solved. Now all I need is a disguise.

He went to his car parked a few blocks away from the station and unlocked the trunk. The trunk was filled with company jackets, branded hats, wigs and all kinds of props. Xiumin shed his winter coat, shivering as he set it down. He selected a blue windbreaker with an electrical company’s logo embroidered on the back, zipping it up quickly. A blue hat went on top of a nondescript black wig, and Xiumin was suddenly an average electrician. He slammed the trunk closed, pausing only to grab a tool bag out of the backseat before heading back to the station. This time he approached like he owned the place, taking care not to reveal his face as he swiped the card. The card reader blinked green and he heard the lock click. He quickly stepped inside, keeping his head down.

He was in a maintenance closet, barely lit by a few dying light bulbs. He swiftly took in his surroundings, spotting a pile of janitor uniforms in a barrel by the door. He shed his electrician’s jacket and pulled out a pair of coveralls that reeked of bleach. He put them on anyway, grimacing as the chemical smell hit him. He stuffed his clothes behind a stack of boxes, making a mental note so he could find them again. He grabbed a mop and bucket and, with a deep breath, opened the door.

He was in a small hallway, better lit than the closet and momentarily deserted. He pulled the door closed behind him and headed off down the hallway. He entered the lobby, keeping his head down as he scanned the room. The entrance to the lower levels was guarded by two burly officers, hands clasped professionally behind their backs.

Looks like getting to Kai isn’t an option, he thought glumly, continuing on. I just hope the others are still here.


* * * * * *


Chen swallowed the last of his food, setting the tray aside gently. It had been hours since Kai’s arrest, but he couldn’t risk showing any interest in it. Asking questions would cast suspicion on him and Chanyeol, and that wasn’t a chance he could take. Surely the others know by now, he thought, pulling his knees to his chest. He knew that Sehun would have a plan, but with Kai awaiting sentencing and Nari still missing there were many moving parts. For the first time in his life, Chen began to doubt whether they could make it. If they don’t release us by tonight, they’ll have to charge us with something, he thought. If all three of us get discovered, there’s no way the others can help us.


* * * * * *


Chanyeol stared at the ceiling, replaying the last twenty-four hours over and over in his mind. Nari was taken...we made a plan...I drove the car...Lay shot the guards...I ran down the stairs...I found Nari...we ran up the stairs...the lights went out...the fighting started...the loading bay blew up...the police came...we were arrested...we were questioned...Kai was convicted...we’re probably next...Nari was taken…

He turned onto his side, the metal bench creaking slightly under him. He watched Chen stare at his knees, lost in his own thoughts. He had never seen Chen so dejected before. We’re definitely next, he thought grimly.

A janitor came into view, mopping the floor methodically as he went. Chanyeol watched him dully, despair creeping into his spirit. The janitor banged his mop into the metal bars, making a loud thud. He kept doing it as he cleaned, the noise grating on Chanyeol’s nerves.

“Can you stop banging?” he demanded, sitting up. The janitor ignored him, continuing to slam his mop into the bars. “Are you deaf?” Chanyeol continued, getting up and coming over to the bars.

“Chanyeol!” Chen hissed, coming over to his own bars.

Chanyeol ignored him and folded his arms. “I said, are you-”

The janitor looked up and Chanyeol stopped mid-sentence, his heart plummeting to his feet. “Xiu?” he whispered. Xiumin nodded, winking at him under the black wig he wore. Chanyeol looked up at Chen, unable to form words. Xiumin barely shook his head, continuing to mop as he pulled something out of his pocket. With a deft motion he tossed it through the bars, never looking up from his work. It was a folded piece of paper and Chanyeol quickly caught it, tucking it into his pocket. “Thanks,” he whispered, wishing he could ask the dozens of questions swirling around his brain. Xiumin smiled at him and turned away, making his way over to Chen’s cell. Chanyeol watched Chen have the same shocked reaction and receive his own paper. Xiumin quietly continued on his way, disappearing around the corner.

After determining there were no guards coming, Chanyeol slipped the paper out of his pocket and began reading.

Nari is home safe. We have a plan. Be ready tonight. We’re coming for you.

Chanyeol sat back on the bench heavily, trying to assimilate the huge message behind the tiny note. She’s safe! he thought gratefully, a small weight suddenly lifted off of his shoulders. He looked over at Chen and saw him wipe his eyes, his note open in his hand. We must have gotten the same news, he thought happily. He felt a glimmer of hope and stowed the note away again. They’re coming for us.


* * * * * *


D.O waited in the car, blowing on his hands softly. The others were due back at any moment, hopefully with good things to report. He had been tasked with getting a message to Kai, but he was too well guarded. I hope Xiumin had more success than I did, he thought gloomily. The passenger door opened and Xiumin slid into the seat. “I found them,” he said, pulling a wig off of his head. He pulled down the visor and opened the mirror, running his fingers through his blonde hair where the wig had flattened it. “They’re still in holding cells. They’ve got a few more hours before the police either have to charge them or release them.”

“If they were going to be released it would’ve happened by now,” D.O said shortly. “We have to assume they’re going to be tried and convicted just like Kai.”

The back door opened and Suho climbed in, snow sloughing off of him. “Any luck?”

“Yeah,” Xiumin said.

“No,” D.O sighed.

“You didn't get to Kai?” Xiumin asked, disappointment in his voice.

“There's too many guards,” D.O said defensively.

“It's okay,” Suho said, raising a conciliatory hand. “Kai always thinks on his feet. Once he figures out what's going on, he'll be fine.”

Xiumin took off his windbreaker awkwardly, the car restricting his movements. “Why are you covered in snow? There hasn't been any since this morning.”

Suho grimaced. “I was looking for exits from the station when a snowplow came around the corner and plastered me.” He shivered. “By the way, did you see Baekhyun this morning?”

“Yeah, he was hitting the bottle pretty hard,” Xiumin said, buttoning his winter coat snugly.

D.O snorted. “Yeah, you weren't the only one plastered, Suho,” he said quietly. He saw Xiumin give Suho a look in the mirror. “What?” he snapped.

“You’ve been kind of hard on him lately,” Xiumin said, pulling on a pair of gloves.

“You know he took Tao’s death really hard…” Suho began.

“He’s not the only one that lost Tao!” D.O snapped. “And yet we’re all supposed to baby him?!”

“Everyone grieves in their own way,” Xiumin said gently.

They rode back to the hideout in silence, D.O gripping the steering wheel tightly. Baekhyun just needs to man up, he thought as they got out. They entered the hideout and found the others gathered around Lay’s couch, deep in conversation. “Well?” Sehun called, standing up.

Xiumin nodded. “I got to Chen and Chanyeol. They looked okay, just a little bruised from the fighting last night.”

Sehun looked at D.O. “Kai?” he asked. D.O shook his head. “Too many guards.”

“What about you, Suho?” Sehun asked.

“I found three maintenance entrances around the station,” Suho replied, unzipping his jacket. “I think there might even be a skylight on the roof. It’s just a matter of getting to it. The guard shifts change every six hours, and there doesn’t seem to be as many staff during the night.”

Sehun nodded. “You all did well,” he said, turning back to the others. D.O saw Nari standing by a whiteboard, making notes next to a simply drawn schematic. “Suho, can you show me exactly where those entrances were?” she asked, glancing up at him. Suho joined her by the whiteboard, sketching in his findings.

D.O left and headed to the bathroom, the thought of a hot shower to good to ignore. He heard retching sounds as he approached and groaned quietly. “Baek?” he asked, knocking on the door.

“What?” came the irritable reply.

D.O felt the familiar frustration well up and was just about to yell at him, when he remembered what the others had said in the car. “Are you okay?” he asked. Seriously? You’re asking if he’s okay? he thought to himself incredulously.

He heard the toilet flush. “What do you want, D.O?”

D.O tried the handle and, finding it unlocked, opened the door. Baekhyun was huddled by the toilet, cradling his stomach. D.O felt supremely awkward, but entered the bathroom anyway. “Xiumin said you were drinking again,” he said, sitting on the edge of the bathtub. Baekhyun sighed. “So?”

“Why?”

Baekhyun snorted. “Since when do you care?”

D.O shrugged. “I just...wondered.” He took in Baekhyun’s stained shirt and greasy hair. “You should shower.”

“If I stand up I’ll die,” Baekhyun said flatly.

D.O rolled his eyes and stood up again. “Always so dramatic,” he said, extending a hand. Baekhyun gave him a suspicious look, but accepted his help. He stood up and a queer look crossed his face. “Oh no,” he groaned, turning back to the toilet. He dry heaved for a couple minutes, bracing himself against the toilet. D.O didn’t know what to do, finally shoving his hands into his pockets as Baekhyun finished and flushed the toilet again. “Go ahead,” he said, going to the sink.

“Go ahead and what?”

Baekhyun rummaged through the medicine cabinet. “Go ahead and give whatever angry lecture you’ve got.” He pulled out a bottle of mouthwash and took a large swig, swishing his mouth before spitting into the sink. He’s lost a lot of weight, D.O realized, seeing Baekhyun’s shoulder blades poking out under his T-shirt. “Well?” Baekhyun asked, putting the mouthwash back.

D.O remembered himself. “If you wanna drink and vomit and waste away, fine. I know you’ve been falling apart for a while, but now we need you to be okay again. Chen and Chanyeol and Kai need you to be okay again.”

Baekhyun leaned against the sink, the light casting stark shadows on his face. “Why do you suddenly care?” he asked. D.O thought for a moment. Why do I care? He wondered. He looked back up at Baekhyun. “We’ve already lost three of us,” he said quietly. “I don’t want to lose any more.”

He left the bathroom before Baekhyun could reply, an odd mix of emotions churning inside him. He felt teary and grimaced. Great, now I’m turning into Chanyeol, he thought wryly. He heard the shower turn on and he gave a little smile. Maybe I got through to him.

Notes

Hey guys! Sorry it's been a while since I updated, I got sidetracked with my other fanfic lol. I'll try to update more regularly. Hope you enjoyed this update!