Chapter Text
It was approaching the final stretches of May, just a few days away from the sweltering summer season that always came down upon the vibrant city of Seoul. Kim Seokjin was sitting at his cubicle, dressed in a loose white button-up and khakis, dyed hair styled neatly, once in a while fanning himself lazily with an old paper pamphlet. His gaze drifted out the office’s open window, out at the streets below, where people bustled to and fro from the streets, already dressed as though it was summer.
May was always one of Seokjin’s most favorite times of year. It wasn't quite as hot as summertime was, but it was no longer as cold as winter either. Even better— it was a time of new beginnings, the start of a new season, and the catalyst to the cycle of life. He always looked forward to the things that might happen in May. Last year he'd earned his reputation as the town's best detective due to solving an exceptionally difficult case. This year he was more than determined to keep that reputation.
There was a small, hardly audible cough coming from outside the door of his office. Seokjin looked up in surprise. It was only seven in the morning. It couldn’t be one of his coworkers. They usually barged in here like they owned the damn place. Even so, clients didn't usually come knocking on his door at this hour, but Seokjin was here to help them, no matter what time they came, regardless. He picked himself off his chair and rushed to open the door.
The door creaked open to reveal a young man, his short brown hair tousled and messy, facial features angular and striking. Seokjin tried to suppress his surprise. The man was wearing a long black coat buttoned up to his neck despite the temperature being far too warm to wear an overcoat of any sort. His bangs almost covered his narrowed dark eyes that flitted around the small office, signifying his nervousness.
"Welcome to the Bangtan Detective Agency. Is there anything I can assist you with?" Seokjin inquired in a professional voice, stepping away from the door and gesturing for the man to join him on the couch. He cast Seokjin a quick glance before hurriedly rushing over to sit down as Seokjin began to prepare two cups of coffee.
"I'd like to have you investigate a murder for me," the man added in a hurried voice after thanking Seokjin for the warm beverage.
"Murder?" Seokjin repeated, his surprise returning. Usually he looked into cases of theft and other things amung the sort. Murder was always rare. He cleared his throat, getting over his initial shock and then slowly asked, "Well, of course I'd be happy to help you. As you may know, I'm Kim Seokjin. What might your name be?"
"Kim Namjoon," came the tart reply. The man still seemed not to have gotten over his initial nervousness, fidgeting once in a while in his seat.
"So what kind of case is this?" Seokjin asked, sipping his coffee. He always put milk and sugar in his coffee. He found he liked the sweet taste. He observed that his client didn't touch his cup.
"Someone that I… knew... died recently, and I speculate that they might've been murdered," Namjoon admitted hesitantly, eyes downcast.
"Why not go to the police then?" Seokjin asked, a frown pinching at the corners of his mouth.
Namjoon looked a little troubled. He mumbled, "Well, I don't really trust the police, and I heard you were the best detective in town, Seokjin-ssi."
"Please, call me hyung," Seokjin stressed. He was slightly honored that Namjoon would choose him over the police, but that only made sure that he had to work even harder to make sure he solved Namjoon’s case.
"So you will take the case?" Namjoon asked gingerly as if he was afraid Seokjin would reject it.
"Of course. That's what the agency's here for. When would you like us to start investigating?"
Namjoon was about to reply when a loud shout echoed through the building complex. Hoseok was yelling, "Hyung! Where the fuck did you put my stash of ice cream?"
Seokjin snapped his head towards the door out of annoyance. Out of all his days to make an outburst, he chose this day? A moment later, Hoseok burst through the door, an equally annoyed expression mirrored on his face. Still dressed in a baggy sweatshirt and pants, his hair a mess, Seokjin could tell he had just gotten out of bed.
"Hoseok!" Seokjin hissed, glowered at him, scowl plastered across his face. "Can't you see we have a client? And how the hell do I know where you put your ice cream?"
A look of confusion spread on Hoseok’s face as he glanced in Namjoon’s direction. He frowned and said, "Hyung, I know you love chatting with your imaginary friends, but that's still not an excuse for hiding my food!"
"Ha? What are you talking about?" Seokjin asked, glancing over at Namjoon. Immediately, his eyes widened in shock.
The man had vanished without a word, leaving behind nothing but a warm, untouched cup of coffee, wisps of steam still trailing from the dark liquid and out the open window.
///
Namjoon cursed his bad luck. He had finally managed to secure a meeting alone with the famous detective Kim Seokjin, only to have it ruined by his coworker in the agency. Any person was fine, to tell the truth. Anyone could have taken his case and solved it for him, but not this time. No one could help him solve his case but Kim Seokjin, and he’d just completely botched that chance.
The streets were crowded during this time of day. Of course, no one even bothered to spare him a sideways glance when he jumped out the window and landed in the busy street. Then again, he'd gotten used to being ignored by the general public by now. He just needed someone that possessed the following two traits: the ability to solve his case and the ability to notice him. Unfortunately, Seokjin had been the only person he’d known to possess both.
Namjoon ducked under a grove of trees and found himself in a park. Children were running about, chasing each other while their parents watched on. It struck him as odd that everyone seemed to crowd in such a small place on the weekends. He could almost see him and his sister as little kids, running about just as cheerfully as the children in the park were right now.
He unconsciously lifted his collar up over his mouth again, lowering his head as some people passed. They couldn't see him, for sure, but he was still wary of them. Just any of those innocent looking people who were bustling about could be a killer. Perhaps the killer.
"Boo!" someone shouted, making Namjoon jump involuntarily. It was only a child, laughing as he found his friend hiding under a nearby park bench. Namjoon winced when the kid who was hiding shuddered in surprise and hit his head on the bench. That'd happened too many times to him as a kid, so much that his sister even stopped laughing when it happened as if she was truly worried about his well-being.
He shuffled along the sidewalk, passing people, wandering about the park. He wasn't looking for anyone in particular. He just wanted to waste some time before he attempted to start solving the murder himself. Namjoon didn't think the detective would help him after what had happened. That didn't really matter. He wasn't letting that crime go unpunished.
After what seemed like forever, he wandered back into the streets, slightly annoyed by the enormous hoards of people. Just why did people like going outside all at once on the weekends? His heart clenched at the thought of his old room— entirely isolated with the exception of the quiet whirl of air conditioning. He'd pick that a million times over this.
Suddenly, his vision caught a flash of pink. He jerked his head towards the man who possessed that beautiful hair color. There was no doubt about it. It was the one and only Kim Seokjin, the only person who could possibly help him. But he'd already shamed himself in front of him for running away just because Hoseok had intruded in. He couldn't ask for his help now.
Namjoon withdrew from his thoughts and returned to reality. Something was bothering him. He glanced at Seokjin again. The detective was staring at him intently, his dark eyes burning with a fierce passion, morphing into unfiltered curiosity. Namjoon gave a start and stumbled backwards, alarm flitting through his whole body.
He'd seen him. He just had to see him. Namjoon gulped as he watched him push through the crowd, waving goodbye to his friends. He was heading for him.
Without another thought, Namjoon ran for it. He suddenly didn't want to meet up with the detective. He wished he'd never disturbed Seokjin earlier in the morning. Namjoon regretted getting him involved.
See what you've done? A voice hissed in the back of his head, biting and angry. You’ll just make more of a fool of yourself.
Namjoon ground his teeth together and ran faster, trying to lose the detective, who was now hot on his heels. Just why was he chasing him? He wished he’d just stop. After all, he really didn't need, much less want, anything else to lessen his chances of getting his wish granted.
///
Seokjin was glad he had put on sweatpants and sneakers before heading out with Hoseok and Chaeyoung to get lunch. Damn, his client (he vaguely remembered that his name was Kim Namjoon) could run fast. What was stranger yet was that he seemed unhindered by the crowd of people blocking his way. He just seemed to run straight through them, while Seokjin had to push through all the people, shouting half-hearted apologies along the way.
He didn't really know why he was chasing Namjoon, as a matter of fact. Maybe it was because he felt like he had to solve every case that his clients brought to him. Maybe it was just because their private meeting had been ruined by an ice cream-deprived Hoseok, who had so ignorantly blamed him for stealing his breakfast even though it was right there in the fridge, and he wanted to make it up to Namjoon.
Namjoon took a left into an alleyway, his coat trailing behind him. Seokjin was already panting. Just how did he manage to run so fast even with that heavy coat? Seokjin slipped into the alley behind him. Namjoon was just ahead, blending well into the darkness if it wasn't for the flash of light hitting his sneakers. With the absence of people, Seokjin sped up for the last sprint. This was the first real-life application of his strict workout regimen.
Namjoon cast him a backwards glance. He couldn't understand how the detective not only hadn't given up, he'd even sped up so that he was just a few paces behind him. He considered suddenly stopping in his tracks but decided against it. It wouldn't help him anyways. For a split second, he realized he could just duck into the buildings beside him. Good idea actually. He should’ve done that ages ago.
Just at that moment, Seokjin leapt forward to grab onto Namjoon’s wrist. Namjoon yelped out a curse in surprise and tumbled backwards, landing on the ground.
Seokjin just stared at him in horror, looking from Namjoon to his hand. It hadn't been an illusion. He was a hundred percent sure that just then, his own hand had passed through Namjoon’s arm, overcoat and everything.
"Y-You…" Seokjin stammered, for once unable to organize his thoughts. He experienced this kind of craziness on a daily basis, but the shock was a bit too much for him to handle at the moment.
Namjoon sat frozen on the ground, his mouth slightly open out of shame and fear. He'd been lucky enough to find out that the great detective could see him, but his luck ended there. This definitely had not been in his agenda.
Finally, Seokjin let out a deep breath and asked, "You're a ghost, aren't you?"
Namjoon cringed at the words. It’s been so long yet they were still harsh to hear. He muttered, "That doesn't matter."
"Then why were you running away from me before?" Seokjin asked, holding his hand out to help Namjoon up before remembering that his very action contradicted his assumption.
Namjoon slowly got up and replied, "With all due respect, I decided I no longer need your help."
"That's not a very good reason," Seokjin argued. "Human or ghost, I'll always help my clients. The fact that you came to me must mean that you need something, right? That's why you couldn't go to the police."
Namjoon just stared at the ground, beginning to inch backwards into the alley. Seokjin noticed his retreat and added, "I'd be happy to help you. I'd just like you to tell me what you actually want to learn the truth about."
Namjoon stopped and truly looked at him. Seokjin’s eyes were still burning brightly even in the dark alley, full of determination and kindness and everything else he didn't have. Namjoon didn't know what to do. If he let him help, something bad might happen again, someone else might get hurt and it’ll be all his fault. If he didn't, who knew how long it'd be before he found out the truth.
After a long silence, Namjoon sighed deeply and stuck his hands into his coat pockets. He looked Seokjin dead in the eye and said, "Fine then, hyung, I'd like you to investigate the truth behind my death."