Chapter Text
“We’re going to the jail,” Professor Kim announces to the team of interns.
“Just visiting, right?” Hyunjin asks nervously.
“Yes, Mr. Hwang. Visiting our client, Lee Minho. You see, he apparently seems to have trouble trusting me, and refuses to give an alibi. As there is a significant amount of evidence against him... we need that alibi. Seungmin, you’re in charge. Let’s see what you’ve learned.”
“Yes, sir.”
They take two cars to the jail. Professor Kim, Chan and Changbin in one, and Hyunjin, Seungmin, and Jeongin in the other. They reconvene outside the jail, and Changbin scoffs at Hyunjin’s boring navy colored blazer and white shirt.
“Where’d your fashion sense go, twink?”
“Don’t argue,” Professor Kim says before Hyunjin can retort. “We have business to attend to. Lee Minho will be here soon.”
“Actually, Professor,” Hyunjin says. “Before I came here, I was—“
“Not now, Mr. Hwang. He’s here.” He points to the doorway leading into the courtyard that they are currently sitting in.
“Ah, Mr. Kim,” says Lee Minho. “If you’re back about the plea deal—“
“Seungmin,” Professor Kim says. “Take care of this.”
Seungmin steps forward with a pleasant smile. “Hello, Mr. Lee Minho. I’m Kim Seungmin, your co-counsel. Not related to my professor, the last name is complete coincidence— the four interns with me are the cream of the crop at Harvard law. We’d like to discuss your case and go over some choices. We just want to free you as soon as possible so you can bring your message back to your fans.”
Minho’s frown turns into a subtle smile. “Good. That’s all I want.” He takes a seat across from Seungmin. “This ought to be easy then.”
Seungmin nods. “I only ask for your cooperation. I’ve been briefed on your meeting with my professor, and there is a significant amount of evidence against you... so, in order to free you, the jury will need to have an alibi.”
Minho frowns, sucking his lip between his teeth. “I can’t tell it.”
Even though Seungmin was told this would happen, the answer still surprises him. “Even though it could save you?” he counters.
“Yes,” Minho says, folding his hands in his lap. “If you put me on the stand, I’ll be forced to lie, and no one wants that.”
“Well,” Chan cuts in. “If you won’t give up the alibi, you should accept a plea bargain.”
Minho stares at him as if Chan just said that unicorns are real. “I won’t admit to something that I didn’t do.”
Chan tenses. “With a plea bargain, you’d get out in a couple of years. Four, at most. Doesn’t that sound reasonable?”
Minho looks really angry now. “No, it doesn’t sound reasonable for me to serve time for my roommate’s murderer.”
“Well,” says Jeongin hesitantly. It’s the first time Hyunjin has ever heard him speak. “There aren’t really a lot of options.”
Minho stands up. “You know what? I need a legal team that knows I’m innocent. Get out of here, all of you.”
“Minnie,” Hyunjin whispers. “I have an idea. Can I talk to him alone?”
Seungmin sighs. “Hyunjin, I don’t think he’s a criminal, but it’s still dangerous to leave you by yourself in a jail.”
“Trust me, Minnie.”
“Alright,” Seungmin agrees. To everyone, he says, “Let’s have a brief meeting elsewhere.”
They start to follow him, but Jeongin asks. “Isn’t Hyunjin-hyung coming?”
“I’ll catch up with you,” Hyunjin says with a smile.
Minho looks at Hyunjin skeptically once they’re alone. “What do you want?” He looks on the verge of tears.
“Well,” Hyunjin starts softly. “Incidentally, I’m a big fan of yours. You were the former president of the Delta Nu fraternity. You started the Danceracha Studio in Las Vegas. I used to take your classes!”
Minho’s face brightens. “Really?”
Hyunjin nods, offering his hand to shake. “I’m Hwang Hyunjin.”
Minho smiles genuinely. “Thank goodness there’s someone on this legal team who understands me.”
“I believe you, hyung,” Hyunjin says. “Can I call you ‘hyung’? Anyway, I will fight with everything I have to clear your good name. You need to get back out there inspiring people like you inspired me.” He sighs. “But that involves an alibi.”
Minho takes a step back. “I really can’t.”
“Why not?”
“You don’t understand, Hyunjin.”
“Everyone has their secrets,” Hyunjin promises him. “I denied using skin lightening cream forever.”
Minho gapes at him. “This is far beyond... Hyunjin. My secret, if it gets out I’ll be disgraced, and I’ll loose my fitness empire that I’ve worked so hard for. That means everything to me.” He sits back down, looking Hyunjin in the eyes. “If I tell you, you have to swear not to tell anyone else.”
Hyunjin nods solemnly. “Cross my heart, hope to die, eat a thousand needles if I lie.”
Minho links their pinkies. “Alright, here it is. The day my roommate was murdered, I wasn’t in the apartment because...”
“Because?” Hyunjin prompts.
“I had...” he mumbles something incoherent.
“What, hyung? I can’t hear—”
“A liposuction!” Minho says, looking distraught. “Minimally invasive, outpatient lipo... I was supposed to appear on a TV program and I just thought... well it doesn’t matter now.”
The guard comes outside to take Minho back inside.
“You can’t tell anyone, Hyunjin” Minho reminds him. “You swore! My followers are depending on me.”
Hyunjin nods. “Your secret is safe with me, hyung.” He makes his way out to where the rest of the team is waiting expectantly.
“So?” Seungmin says. “Any luck?”
“I got the alibi,” Hyunjin tells them, straightening his jacket.
“You’re kidding,” Chan grumbles.
“What is it?” Professor Kim asks him.
Hyunjin purses his lips. “I can’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
“Because I promised Minho-hyung I wouldn’t tell anyone,” Hyunjin says. “But don’t worry. It really wasn’t hyung?”
“‘Hyung’?” Seungmin asks, mostly to himself.
The rest of them just stare at Hyunjin in angry, stunned silence.
“If you think about it,” Hyunjin starts nervously. “Minho-hyung makes a living from exercise, exercise gives you endorphins, and endorphins make you happy.” He plasters on his best winning smile. “Happy people aren’t murderers.”
“Seungmin!” Professor Kim barks, looking angrier than usual. “A word, please.”
Hyunjin watches Seungmin follow Professor Kim around the corner, and no sooner are they out of sight when Chan and Changbin converge on him like a pair of angry vultures coming to feast on a dead body.
“Are you serious?” Changbin says with a harsh glare. “If you don’t give up the alibi, we’re going to lose this case.”
Hyunjin wills himself to relax and stand his ground. “Well, then I guess we’re not very good lawyers now, are we?”
Changbin screams in frustration. “You useless fucking twink!”
“Princess,” Chan cuts in. “Hyunjin,” he corrects himself hastily upon a downright murderous look from Changbin. Chan clears his throat. “Professor Kim wants that alibi. He needs to win this case. If you just give it to him, you’re looking at a guaranteed law career.”
“I promised Minho-hyung,” Hyunjin repeats. “I gave him my word.”
“Who cares?” Chan practically yells.
“‘Who cares?’” Hyunjin echoes in disbelief. “ I care. Minho-hyung cares. “I’m not just going to—“
“Oh, just shut up,” Chan says with a sneer.
Jeongin looks away, clearly not wanting to get involved.
Hyunjin glares at Chan. “Just because I have human decency.”
“I said, ‘shut up’,” Chan snaps.
“Seungmin,” says Professor Kim.
Seungmin winces at how condescending he sounds. “Yes, sir?”
“I gave you simple instructions: to lead this team, and to get me the alibi. So far, you have done neither of those things.” He pats Seungmin’s shoulder. “Do better.” He walks back over to the rest of the team. “Let’s go. The field trip is over. We need to get back to work. Chan, Changbin, Jeongin, we’re going back to my office. Seungmin, I’ll leave you to talk some sense into our resident beauty guru. Take the rest of the day off. I can’t deal with either of you right now. Come back when you look and act like lawyers.”
Changbin snickers.
Seungmin looks more angry than Hyunjin has ever seen him, watching the rest of the group walk away.
Hyunjin feels vaguely intimidated. He’s never seen Seungmin like this before. “Minnie, I’m sorry—“ he tries.
“I don’t need you to be sorry,” Seungmin snaps at him. “I need you to tell me the alibi!”
Hyunjin bites his lip. “You know I can’t do that. I gave Minho-hyung my word. Come on Minnie. Having an alibi isn’t the only way to free hyung.”
Seungmin glares. “It would help a whole fucking lot.”
Hyunjin takes his hands. “Just hear me out. We can do this the right way, without turning our backs on Minho-hyung.”
Seungmin pulls his hands away. “I’m not turning my back on him, I’m trying to free him!”
“But you’re not,” Hyunjin says sadly. “All you care about is impressing Professor Kim.”
Seungmin hesitates for a fraction of a second. “Well, he is my boss. This case is determining my whole career, Hyunjin. You don’t understand.”
“I do understand,” Hyunjin tells him. “And I want you to succeed too.”
“Then—“
“But I won’t let you do it by jeopardizing our client’s trust and our humanity?”
Seungmin frowns. “Well, when you say it like that... I guess you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right, you butthead.”
Seungmin’s expression turns from anger to bewilderment. “No one has called me ‘butthead’ since the fifth grade.”
“Not to your face,” Hyunjin snickers. “I’m too pure for real cursing.”
“You’re not pure, Hyunjin. Half the school thinks you’re a whore. I only know better because I’m the only person you ever have over at your apartment.”
“They think I’m a whore?” Hyunjin asks.
“People stop me in the hallway to ask if you’re single. And to ask if we’re... doing it.”
“You know what, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Seungmin laughs, the smile returning to his face. “Why do you always have to be right?”
Hyunjin shrugs, grinning. “I just am.” He pauses. “But Minnie, if you want another suggestion...”