Chapter Text
Manhattan, New York
Seungcheol strode through the lobby doors of an upscale high rise in the heart of the city. The occasional well-dressed tenant passed by him, idly going about their business. "I'm in." He said lowly into his earpiece. "It's a nice place. It's got that sterile laptop selling vibe. But it's nice." He paused to wait for a response. "Jihoon, do you copy?"
There was a brief burst of static followed by the familiar voice of his best friend and his literal partner in crime. "Read you loud and clear, Seungcheol. Welcome to Hebert Tower. 50 stories of luxury apartments and home to our mark. She should be making an appearance any minute now so keep your eyes peeled. I'm right out front on my motorcycle if you need a daring rescue."
"I think I'll be just fine." Seungcheol said as he spotted their target. "Heads up, I've got eyes on the mark."
He watched as a stern elegantly dressed woman walked out of the elevator and strode up to the guard at the front desk, snapping to get his attention. "Hey, you. Look alive. I don't pay your salary so that you can slack off and drink free coffee."
The guard frowned. "You don't give us free coffee."
"What was that?" She asked angrily. "Did you just tell me how to run my building? I don't need to hear every schmuck mouth off with an opinion. This isn't open mic night."
"Y-yes, ma'am! Sorry, ma'am!"
The woman scoffed and headed for the door, almost ramming Seungcheol's shoulder in the process. "A real winner." He grumbled.
"Eleanor Hebert." Jihoon said. "Corrupt pharmatech billionaire and weapons grade bitch. Off for her nightly massage appointment right on schedule. Now that she's gone, at this time of night we've got five guards on rotating patrol throughout the building, one stationed at the front desk. We'll need to somehow get access to his computer."
Seungcheol nodded. "Leave that to me. I'll distract him. Wish me luck." He strode casually up to the guard.
The guard cast him a quick look and suddenly sat up straight. "I would have opened the door for you if I saw you coming! H-how can I help you?"
"You look like you could use a break." Seungcheol said enticingly. "I know that look. That 'my boss is an asshole, and I am completely done with this day' look."
"That obvious?" The guard said with a slight laugh.
"I mean, you work for Eleanor Hebert." Seungcheol said. "A rich, entitled boss has gotta be the worst kind."
The guard scowled. "It's unbelievable. You know she doesn't even let us do coffee runs? There's a café two doors down!"
Seungcheol shook his head. "That's insane. Fuck her. You should go right now."
"You know what? I should." The guard jumped to his feet. "Fuck her!" He strode out the door with proud purpose.
A smirk formed on Seungcheol's face. "Almost too easy." Waiting until the lobby was empty, Seungcheol swung around the front desk and accessed the guard's computer. "Alright, Jihoon. In position. Disabling the security alarms on the roof now."
"Perfect! If my memory serves, security cams on the south side of the penthouse level are set to go dark for a system reset. Precisely during a gap in the guard rotation schedule. Clockwork."
"You remember all that?" Seungcheol asked in disbelief. "That's amazing. How the hell do you do that?"
"Natural talent? Years of practice? I also take my vitamins."
With a few clicks, the alarm on the roof was disabled. "Roof is clear. Soonyoung, you're up!"
A sigh of relief came over Seungcheol's earpiece. "It's about time! It's freezing up here! Breaching the air duct system now. I'll be in Hebert's apartment faster than you can say B and E."
Seungcheol headed into the elevator and pressed the button for the penthouse level. "Good, because I'm on my way up. Hope you're just as fast at placing those explosives."
"Trust me, you do not want to rush me." Soonyoung laughed. "C-4 placement is an art. Too little and we risk raising alarm for no reason. Too much and we, you know, take the building down."
"Thanks for the heads up." Seungcheol said.
"Alright, I'm in the place." Soonyoung informed them. "Hebert's safe is exactly where Jihoon said it would be. Setting the charges now." He paused. "You sure you don't want me to demolish her building? Or at least her living room? It's not too late."
Seungcheol shook his head. "You scare me, you know that?"
"Weird, you sound like all my exes."
"I can still hear you." Jihoon said flatly. "I know you're not flirting with Seungcheol right in front of me."
Soonyoung gave an offended gasp. "I can't turn off this natural charm. But don't take my word for it. Seungcheol, why don’t you set this boy straight?"
Seungcheol rolled his eyes. "Settle down you two. I love all you degenerates equally. The last thing I'm gonna do is play favorites with you two."
Jihoon laughed. "Ever the diplomat. Looks like we gotta put this on hold, Soonyoung."
"Alright, I can take a hint." Soonyoung sighed dramatically. "But I'm gonna pull into the lead one day, you just watch."
A new voice suddenly rang out over the radio. "Um, hi. I'm still here. Don't we have a job to do? Hebert's vehicle has left and all's clear in the back alley if anyone wanted to know."
"Stay cool, Mason." Jihoon said. "You're not a two-bit criminal anymore. You're with us. You'll be at least three bit in no time."
Mason let out a flat laugh. "I'd better be. I'm tired of people talking about me like I'm supporting cast all these years. Seungcheol's the mastermind. Jihoon's the genius. Soonyoung is the explosives prodigy. Oh, and Mason's here too! I'm not gonna botch this just because you guys were fucking around. My reputation's on the line."
"You'd have to have a reputation first." Soonyoung retorted.
"Relax, Mason." Seungcheol rolled his eyes. "We're professionals. Act like it. I don’t tolerate infighting in my crews."
"Right. I got it."
"If everyone plays their part, you'll make a name for yourself in no time, Mason." Seungcheol assured him. "Alright, team. Where are we?"
Soonyoung was the first to respond. "Charges are set, baby!"
"I'm in place." Jihoon said. "Say the word."
"On my count." Seungcheol said. "Three…two…one…hit it!"
Within seconds, the sound of a minor explosion was ringing through, covered up very quickly by Jihoon's motorcycle giving an earth-shaking roar that set off a cacophony of wailing car alarms. "Like music."
"Looks like all eyes are on Jihoon's distraction." Mason said. "As expected."
Seungcheol stepped off the elevator. "Soonyoung, I'm on the penthouse level. Knock, knock."
The door to Eleanor's apartment swung open and Soonyoung greeted him with a smile. "Come on in. I left some heavy lifting for you."
Seungcheol followed Soonyoung deeper into the lavish apartment and straight to an office where the smell of smoke still hung thick in the air. Behind a desk, a massive safe embedded in the wall gaped open, revealing neat bundles of cash, stacks of gold bars, and the largest diamond Seungcheol had ever seen. Seungcheol took the glittering gem in his hand. "Hell of a rainy-day fund."
Soonyoung shook his head in disgust. "Of course she keeps a vault of treasure like Scrooge Goddamn McDuck."
"She also grossly overcharges sick patients for meds." Seungcheol added on. "If you needed more reason to hate her."
As Seungcheol and Soonyoung began loading the contents of the safe into a duffel bag, Mason called out over the radio. "Uh, guys? We've maybe got a problem. Hebert is back in the building."
Seungcheol and Soonyoung met each other's wide-eyed gaze. "What?"
"Mason, you were supposed to be monitoring her!"
"I was! And now I'm monitoring her screaming at security. Looks like she knows something's up!"
Jihoon let out a noise of frustration. "Our timetable just got significantly altered. Seungcheol, what's the call?"
"We got what we came for." Seungcheol said. "We split up and meet at a rendezvous point. Jihoon, you got something?"
"I've set up a safehouse hidden away. Sending y'all the coordinates."
Seungcheol nodded to Soonyoung. "Take the fire escape as planned."
"What about you?" Soonyoung asked. "How are you getting out of here?"
"A diversion." Seungcheol smirked. "What kind of thief would I be if I left without a little panache?"
Soonyoung grinned. "What's your play?"
"The fire alarm." Seungcheol said. "With a little finesse, I'm strolling right out the front door."
"Sounds like you've got something up your sleeve." Jihoon mused.
Seungcheol chuckled. "Always do." He rushed out to the hallway with duffle bag in hand and Soonyoung in tow.
"Don't be a hero." Soonyoung said. "See you when we're richer." With a salute, he turned and ran as Seungcheol made his way toward the elevator.
Seungcheol was almost there when the elevator doors slid open and Eleanor strode out, flanked by two security guards. "What do I even pay you for? Someone trips a silent alarm, and you haven't even gone up to check out my apartment?"
"I stepped out to grab some coffee--which I paid for myself, by the way. Then all of a sudden some guy on a motorcycle was causing a disturbance outside!"
"My foot is gonna cause a disturbance in your unemployed ass if someone has touched any of my property!"
Seungcheol ducked behind a corner, reached for the fire alarm lever on the wall, and yanked it down. The alarm wailed, echoing throughout the whole building. Soon every door on the floor opened as curious, panicked tenants flooded into the halls. "What the hell is going on?" Eleanor asked angrily.
Hidden amongst the crowd, Seungcheol shouted over the rabble, "False alarm! That lady with the guards pulled the lever!"
The crowd turned accusing eyes toward Eleanor then flocked around her, shouting angry obscenities. "What? Who said that? That's ridiculous!" The tenants closed in tightly around her, sneering and scolding.
"The fire alarm is not a toy, Ms. Hebert!" Seungcheol smiled as he casually pushed past a livid, oblivious Eleanor. He slid into the elevator and slammed the button, closing the doors.
Soon enough, he was rushing out to the street, darting around the corner with searching eyes. The sound of sirens already approached in the distance. "Security's on high alert. No doubt this party's about to be crashed."
Jihoon zoomed up on his motorcycle, engine rumbling. "Need a lift?"
Seungcheol grinned. "Only if I'm driving."
"And what makes you think I'm gonna let you do that?" Jihoon scoffed.
"Maybe the million-dollar diamond in my bag." Seungcheol said.
Jihoon clicked his tongue. "Fair point." He scooted back, making room for Seungcheol in the front. Seungcheol revved the engine and sped off.
Later, they pulled over on a quiet nondescript street in Brooklyn. "We're clear." Jihoon said. "Quick thinking back there."
Nearby, Soonyoung stepped out of his getaway car, barely containing his grin. "Cutting it close there, huh?"
The sound of another car door shutting sounded from not far away as Mason climbed out of his own car. "He's right. That was too close. You at least got the take, right?"
"Of course we've got it." Jihoon said. "With Seungcheol at the helm? Wasn't worried for a second."
Mason's eyes lit up. "This is amazing! Can I see?"
Seungcheol handed Mason the bag, and mason smiled as he opened it and looked inside. "It's all right there. The nest egg Hebert's been hoarding from all her corrupt dealings. By this time tomorrow, we'll all be free and clear and ridiculously rich. It's all right there in the bag."
"Perfect." Mason's expression shifted. "The police will be eating out of my hand when I give this over to them."
Seungcheol felt his blood run cold. "What are you talking about? Mason, what did you do?"
"Exactly what you said I would." Mason said. "I'm making a name for myself."
The blue and red lights of blaring sirens and approaching police cars crescendoed all around them. Patrol cars sped into view from all directions, screeching to a halt to form a tight ring around their vehicles. "Mason, you went to the cops?" Soonyoung asked incredulously.
"You're damn right I did." Mason smirked. "You always did teach me to have a backup plan, Seungcheol."
Seungcheol glared at Mason, heart pounding in his chest. "Why?"
Mason shrugged. "After all those years living in your shadows, a two-bit forger, making fake IDs, doing the grunt work, never getting the recognition I deserved, no more. With the deal I've cut, I'm gonna be the man who caught three of the greatest thieves in the world."
"You haven't even thought this through." Seungcheol said. "Do you even know what your next step is?"
"Of course I do." Mason snapped. "Stop talking to me like some rookie. I parlay this deal into fame, glory, I come out of this looking like an expert. A hero. Does that sound like someone who hasn't thought it through?"
Seungcheol raised an eyebrow. "I just wanted you to blab about your plan, you idiot."
Mason huffed in frustration. "Always working some angle."
Seungcheol, Jihoon, and Soonyoung stood back-to-back, searching desperately for a way out. "You don't have to do this." Seungcheol said.
"It's already done." Mason said. "Who do you think tipped off Hebert?"
Jihoon glared at him. "You're going down for this. You hear me? I am going to completely take you apart."
"I'd say you're a little too short on time for that." Mason said. "All that's left is to turn yourselves in." He sauntered over to the police barrier as the cops shouted orders for them to surrender. "Admit it. I've beaten you. I've outsmarted the great Seungcheol."
Seungcheol glowered. "We're not beaten yet. Jihoon, give me our best route out of here."
"It's not looking good." Jihoon said. "With police response time and patrol patterns, reinforcements will be here in seconds. We're not getting out of here without some sort of cover."
"Then it's a good thing Seungcheol told me to have a plan for everything." Soonyoung nodded at his car where a block of C-4 was pinned to the undercarriage. "See? I listen sometimes." He revealed the detonator in his palm.
Jihoon frowned. "Wait-"
Soonyoung cut him off. "I can stall them. It'll give you two enough time to get out of here." Jihoon opened his mouth again, but Soonyoung didn't let him speak. "I know you've done the math in your head, Jihoon. We're not all making it out. Take Seungcheol and run. I'll keep them occupied."
"You'll get caught and locked up." Seungcheol said.
"Eh." Soonyoung shrugged. "You'll figure something out. Unlike Mason, I actually trust you, Seungcheol."
Seungcheol tried to argue but Jihoon shook his head. "Sorry, boss. He's right. I'm getting you out of here." Seungcheol hesitated for just a moment. As the police closed in all around them, Jihoon urged Seungcheol onto the motorcycle. Seungcheol took the driver's position and revved it to life. He choked the throttle and sped away.
Looking over his shoulder, Seungcheol saw Soonyoung lift the detonator switch as the police closed in on him. "Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals!"
The entire scene flashed with light as a thunderous fireball blossomed from Soonyoung's getaway car. The cops were thrown into a panic, giving Seungcheol and Jihoon the opening they needed to escape. Before long, they were zooming down city side streets, the lights and sounds of Mason's trap fading in the distance. "Don't worry, Seungcheol." Jihoon said over the wind. "We make it out, we lay low, we live to fight another day."
"You're damn right we're going to fight." Seungcheol said. "We won't stop until Mason pays for this."