Chapter Text
She had been too lax and now, he had managed to get her alone.
“Step away, Mo-sshi,” she requested, her voice hard.
He moved a step nearer.
“If you come any nearer, I will not be responsible for what happens to you,” she threatened in all seriousness.
“I can’t help it, Detective Kang. Your attraction is magnetic,” he drawled, a small smirk on his lips. He bent forwards to whisper, “What I wish to say to you is not fit for public consumption, Detective Kang.”
“Then don’t speak. I have no wish to listen to your dirty words,” she turned to leave but his arm shot out to block her.
“Remove yourself,” she said as she glared at him.
“Be patient, Detective Kang. I will move away after having my say,” he assured her.
He inclined his head next to her ear, his breath hot and ticklish.
“You smell delicious, Detective Kang. Senior-Inspector Kang is one lucky woman. As are you. Do you think the both of you are willing to share? I am offering myself,” he said.
His words caused her brows to crinkle together. Did she hear him right? He must be out of his mind.
“I am not sure you know what you are saying, Mo-sshi. Now, step away. This is my last warning,” she warned.
He finally seemed to take her seriously and stood up straight again, though he still did not move away. Her patience was running on very thin ice but he was not a man whom one could easily offend without serious consequences.
More importantly, she loved her current job and position, and knew that Kwon Joo would be disappointed if she let her temper got the better of her. She had been doing so well as of late too.
Not to mention her fist was as yet reluctant to land on the face of Choi Yoon’s doppelgänger. Features which bore a striking resemblance to the boy her mother and years later, the same man she had saved. A man who had a special place in her heart.
If the smirk on that face was not as contemptible as it was, she was actually more inclined to caress it. She had missed them both.
Now that she had moved further away, opportunities to meet up had become even less. This reminded her that she needed to schedule time off to go back for a visit.
The many baby photos of Hwa Pyeong's son was a useful barometer for the passage of time. She had better go and hug her “nephew” before he learned to run.
She shook her head slightly. She was reminiscing while a big bad was in front of her. Unfortunately, even with the mountain of issues she had with him, seeing him frequently reminded her of her “family” and a tendency to slide into sentimentality.
“Go find yourself some willing playmates. We are not interested in your lewd games. Don’t come near us again,” she stated plainly.
“That seems impossible for me, Detective Kang. I can’t seem to help myself. Not one day passes where I can get by without laying my eyes on you. Or the equally lovely Senior-Inspector Kang,” he revealed without any sense of shame or irony.
A vague sense of unease trickled into her mind. This man was clearly unhinged and obsessed. Escalation seemed eminent and even their positions in the police force might not protect them.
Her experiences with Park Hong Joo had taught her valuable, if bitter lessons. While she doubted Mo Tae Gu had Park Il Do or a similar malevolent supernatural entity helping him, he had advantages even more powerful, just like Park Hong Joo.
She needed to leave. They were alone, isolated from the crowd. While she would not hesitate to take him on, there was no point in acting rashly when the circumstances did not demand it. Especially not now, when she finally had a stake in her own life, a semblance of personal happiness. She no longer had nothing to lose.
“That’s your problem, Mo-sshi,” she dismissed him and turned around to walk away.
“I know all about that priest of yours, Detective Kang. I don’t mind being a substitute,” he unabashedly offered.
She stopped for a beat, not turning around but simply said, “You don’t know anything at all, Mo-sshi, and it will stay that way.”
She began walking again but not even two steps forward, he followed, demanding, “Don’t leave!” She felt him reaching for her and reflexively, turned and swung her fist.
When the flesh of her knuckles met hard jaw, the force and pain jarred her as well. She saw him stagger back, a hand going to his jaw. A cut appeared on his lower lip, a rivulet of blood staining the blooming bruise.
“Don’t touch me, you creep,” she hissed through gritted teeth.
He stared at her but his next reaction flabbergasted her, increasing her concerns.
A grin formed on his lips and he looked gleeful, “You packed a mean, impressive punch, Detective Kang.”
He chuckled as he stroked his swelling jaw and appeared amused by some new discovery, “Why am I not surprised? And you know what, Detective Kang?”
She looked upon him in alarm, unsettled, but his next words brought with them dread, “I am aroused right now.”
Not quite understanding his off tangent, she blinked a few times until their meaning sunk in. She then turned and fled, not giving him a backward glance. This time, he did not go after her but his low chortle followed until she went out of earshot.
They had an extremely pressing problem on their hands.