Chapter Text
July 22
9:53 pm
It's another night shift at the gas station, like most days for Byungjae. He's currently ringing up a customer, bored out of his mind. Two bottle of Coca-Cola, and in a monotone voice, the cashier says. "That'll be $4.25."
As Byungjae shifted his focus, he say the glint of a gun in the customers hands. Now this situation was quite common in the gas station, and the gloomy boy quietly speed dialed 911, and then warned, "Sir, I need you put down-"
"P-PUT YOUR HANDS UP! OPEN UP THE CASH REGISTER AND GIVE ME ALL THE MONEY!" The customer held up a small piston and a large bag, and Byungjae sighed. Another petty robber with no skills or class. The cashier was going to knock the gun out of the customers hand and trap him (from self-defense classes and experiences like these), but before he could do that, someone already beat him to it.
Unknown to both Byungjae and the robber, there was another guy in the aisles. The guy skillfully swiped the gun from the robber by twisting his arm, and then turning him around to trap him between the counter and his own legs. The robber was now lowly facing Byungjae, the counter as a wall between them, and the new guy holding the robber in place from the back. The gun was on the floor, locked.
"I had it under control." Are the only words Byungjae says, only half serious. He definitely does not need a hero for that part of his life, he just calls the police so they can take the criminal away. The guy with puffed out hair, smiling dumbly, innocently said, "I know! I saw you call 911, so here I am!"
Byungjae did another once over, now taking in every detail. The guy looked like your typical college student. He wore a colorful hoodie that seemed to be swallowing him, his short stature making it seem even more so, and he looked cute despite being questioned.
"You're a cop?" The cashier asked, clearly not believing the young guy, who then whipped out a police badge. It was shiny and new and official. "Yeah, but off duty. I'm a rookie cop, names Haon!"
"Well thanks Haon, but I could've handled it. I guess I didn't need to call the police." Byungjae muttered, and the robber was still there, listening to their entire conversation held by Haons iron grip. "Ugh, we get it! You caught me, now can you let me at least switch into a more comfortable position? This isn’t exactly ideal…"
"Oh, sorry sir." Haon says, sincerely apologetic to the now criminal. The rookie cop and the robber look as if they're in a xxx scene. Watching attentively, Byungjae kicked the gun further away. "Don't worry about, I've got the gun."
"That's good, and do you have any string?" Haon asked, still holding the robbers hands behind his back. "I'll check in the back."
With the robber now tied to a chair, Byungjae is forced to small talk with Haon till the cops arrive. Luckily, Haon asks all the questions and tells him more than he ever inquires, or want to know. "You didn't tell me your name yet, what is it?"
"Byungjae."
So Byungjae, do you work here often? I'm sure you're used to all the petty crimes in the city since you have the police on speed Dial." Haon is beaming, totally invested in this conversation that Byungjae has literally said open word in.
"I work the evening shifts 6 days a week."
"Oh that's nice. Are you a student?" As Byungjae is watching Haon animatedly talk, he can only think of bright he glows like the sun. It's making the gloomy boy want to hide.
"Yep."
The rookie police officer pays no mind to Byungjae short answers, and continues talking brightly. "What's your major?"
"Music."
"That's so cool! If wasn't accepted in the police academy, my second choice was music. How old are you? I'm 21."
"I'm 21 too."
"Wow, we could've been attending the same classes!"
Byungjae can only nod, mouth now too parched and wanting to crawl into himself. An awkward silence fills the room, with the burglar tied to the chair. With no extra noise, Byungjae notices that Haon is a good couple inches shorter than him, and is certainly too positive for him.
"Oh, I forgot about my groceries! Do you think I could still pay for them?" Haon exclaimed, rushing to get his leftover basket of unpaid items by the aisle of magazines.
"I don't see why not," Byungjae replies in monotone, as they both meet at the cash register. A jug of milk, a bag of chips, a toothbrush, and two packs of strawberry gum.
The scene feels too casual for what just happened minutes ago, a plastic counter separating them as if they were strangers, but Byungjae pays no mind, and Haon doesn't comment either. Through the constant beeping of items, Byungjae thinks that they're really still strangers, because though they know each other's names, he'll just become another blank face in a sea of millions.
"That'll be $14.38."
"Thanks, Byungjae." The cop says, and at the same moment police cars pull up with Their lights blaringly bright. The now criminal was taken in by the police and the last he sees of Haon is him giving a toothy grin and waving a goodbye. Byungjae just awkwardly waved back, just a bit less enthusiastic.
The moon is shining beautifully as the police left, the havoc leaving with them. Another night at the gas station, Byungjae thinks to himself, and he continues to stare at nothingness till his eyes roll backwards.
-
July 29
1:42 am
The artificial lights are annoyingly bright as Byungjae is sitting behind the cash register. Legs up and eyes tired, only a couple people show up during the late night, so soon the boy started dozing off.
'Ding dong'
Startled, Byungjae woke up immediately, already used to the feeling of short sleep, and acting as if he wasn't napping on the job. Today's not a lucky day.
A tall guy dressed like he just walked out of a teachers meeting was grinning bittersweetly as he walked straight towards the sleepy boy, leaning on the counter. "Hey Byungjae, how you've been?"
"It's been okay, Rohan. " Byungjae said uninterested, clearly annoyed. The guy, Rohan, took a package of strawberry gum and chewed a piece. "I told you not to call me that."
"Ugh, don't worry, no one's here, mister Webster B." Byungjae said, rolling his eyes. "And stop taking store merchandise, we're running low in strawberry gum. That's a dollar to you."
Rohan tossed him the rest of the gum package. "Here, it's all yours, it's even your favorite flavor." Byungjae took it and put it back on the shelf, and then said. "So why are you really here? I thought I did my last job just fine."
"Yeah, you definitely did well, and that's why they're are asking for you again. The police seem to be cracking down on us, and that's where you come in." Rohan stated, though it was clear who had more power over who." Remember the deal? "
Lee Byungjae, roped into the assassin world just once, was now paying for it through various actions. Due to his clean slate and quiet nature, no one recognizes him, and being easy on the eyes was a plus. Usually it was just getting information by talking someone up, but it always left a bitter taste in his mouth. Knowing that you were responsible for someone's murder is now a feeling he's getting used to. It's either this, or his own life.
Groaning, Byungjae said in a low voice. "Mmm, who is it this time?"
"It's an officer we saw at our last meeting point. He seems quite new, so this should be easy." Rohan informed, and he never mentions names on tape for court and evidence, but they both know Byungjae will erase it anyway. "All we need you to do is be his friend, get him to trust you, and invite him to one of our parties. You know what happens next. "
Rohan took out a white pristine envelope from his suit jacket and gave it to the cashier. Byungjae reluctantly took the letter, already feeling sorry for the target. Rohan than spoke in a much softer tone. "You know, I wouldn't do this if I had a choice."
Byungjae just looked apprehensive, and sighed. "I know, but that's just how life works. Isn't it?" He gave Rohan a sick smile.
"You get a month, see you at the end of August."
The door clicked closed, and Byungjae fell fast asleep, the letter burning in his hand.