Lines We Cross ||Front Man x Reader||

The night air was cold, the hum of the city fading into the distance as Y/N sat across from Jun-ho in the dimly lit café. Her coffee sat untouched, a thin wisp of steam curling upward. Jun-ho's gaze bore into her, his jaw tight and his hands clasped on the table between them. He didn't look convinced, not one fucking bit.

"You're kidding, right?" he finally said, his voice low but firm. "You can't seriously be thinking about going alone."

Y/N rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair with a sigh. She crossed her arms, her words were sharp. "I'm not thinking about it, Jun-ho. I'm doing it. This is the best lead we've had in months. I'm not blowing it by showing up with a goddamn parade of cops."

"A parade?" he repeated, incredulous. "You're talking about backup. You know, people who can actually save your ass if things go sideways. Or have you forgotten what happened to the last investigator who got too close?"

That hit a nerve. Y/N's jaw tightened for a fraction of a second before she shrugged it off. "I'm not them," she said, in her tone icy. "I've spent months following this trail. Every detail matches up. The timing, the logistics, the goddamn whispers in back alleys. This isn't some half-assed lead—this is it."

Jun-ho leaned forward, lowering his voice further. "And if it's not? If it's another dead end or, worse, a trap? What then? You just disappear, and we're left scrambling to figure out what happened to you. That's not a risk I'm willing to take, Y/N."

Her lips twitched into a faint smirk. "Didn't know you cared so much."

"Don't," he snapped, his tone laced with frustration. "Don't fucking deflect. You know I'm right."

"What I know," she said evenly, "is that we don't have time to waste. If we wait, if we so much as hesitate, we'll miss our chance. The games are starting soon, and if this lead is legit, I can confirm the location and get us in before it's too late. But if it's not..." She shrugged, her tone casual despite the weight of her words. "Then it's better for one person to come back empty-handed than an entire squad making fools of themselves."

"You say that like you're guaranteed to come back," Jun-ho muttered, his dark eyes narrowing. "Do you even hear yourself? You're walking into the lion's den with nothing but a fucking flashlight and a hunch."

"I have more than a hunch," Y/N shot back, her voice rising slightly before she reined it in. "Look, I'm not saying this isn't dangerous. I'm not stupid. But this is what I signed up for. And it's what you signed up for too, so don't start preaching to me about risks now."

Jun-ho sat back, running a hand through his hair. He looked like he wanted to punch something, maybe the wall or maybe her. "You're fucking impossible, you know that?"

"And you're fucking dramatic," she retorted with a smirk. "Look, I'll be fine. I'll scope it out, confirm the location, and then call you in. You'll have the whole damn cavalry ready to storm the place before anyone even knows I was there."

"And what if they do know?" he pressed. "What if they catch you?"

For a moment, Y/N didn't answer. She stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then she leaned forward, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "Then I'll make sure you have what you need to bring them down. Even if it costs me."

"Fuck that," Jun-ho said immediately. "You're not some disposable pawn in this. You're a damn good investigator, Y/N, but you're not invincible."

"I don't have to be," she said simply, standing up and grabbing her coat. "I just have to be good enough to get in and out before they realize what's happening."

Jun-ho stood as well, blocking her path. "At least let me come with you," he said, his voice softer now, almost pleading. "We can cover more ground together, and if something goes wrong..."

She placed a hand on his arm, stopping him mid-sentence. "If something goes wrong, I don't want you there. You've got too much to lose, Jun-ho. I'll call you as soon as I have confirmation. I promise."

He didn't move, his eyes searching hers for any sign of doubt. Finally, he stepped aside, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "You better keep that promise," he muttered. "Because if you don't, I'm coming after you myself."

Y/N smirked, her sarcastic humor flickering through. "I'd expect nothing less." With that, she slipped out the door, leaving Jun-ho alone in the dim light of the café.

He watched her go, a sinking feeling settling in his gut. No matter how confident she seemed, he couldn't shake the thought that this might be the last time he saw her. And if she was wrong, if this was a trap... he'd have hell to pay.

But for now, all he could do was wait and hope that she was as good as she claimed to be.