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Kim Seokjin is a great detective. He's always lost in his work, trying to solve crimes, finding clues. Discovering the truth. He loves unveiling murderers and solving disappearances. He has a reputation for being uptight and difficult to work with (or talk to), hyper-focusing on the work. He prefers it that way. He knows people don't really like him (his 'handsome' face be damned), and he isn't fond of them either.
He sometimes works with the police, if he deems them worthy. But he's stepped out of his bounds one too many times and the force is finally forced to assign him a partner from their end. To keep him in check. To keep an eye on him.
Taehyung is the only one willing to take the job. He's a rookie, brand new, and hasn't heard of Jin's reputation. He's eager to please his higher ups, to prove himself. He got into it really young, he's going to show them what he's worth.
At first, Jin thinks he's just a dumb kid, but Taehyung follows him to crime scenes anyways, because its his job and this is the first big responsibility they've given him. He doesn't mind that Jin is an ass. He puts up with the glares he's constantly getting from the detective. He does his best, not only for the police, but because he really is starting to respect the man and his work, and wants to be respected back.
And... Jin realises that he's really SMART. Taehyung follows his train of thought, understands his observations without much explanation. He reaches a point where he's grateful that the younger had been assigned to 'keep an eye' on him. (Yeah, that hadn't stayed secret for more than a minute). They play off each other's strengths well. Taehyung knowing a lot about medicine, and Jin relying on his logic and vast pool of knowledge to pull from.
Jin is having real fun for... possibly the first times in his life. Sure, he's always found figuring things out to be fun and interesting, and ever since he's started solving cases he's always had a good time, even on his own. But this is different, this leaves an exhilaration in his lungs that's completely inexplicable until... it suddenly isn't. He reaches a point of understanding. He's in love.
It's definitely taboo to be in love with another man. Jin, however, thinks it makes a lot of sense that he's a homosexual. Looking back, it was always easier to ignore his feelings if he simply threw himself into his work, because even though his obsession with work was 'wrong' and 'strange' it was still within the realm of being 'acceptable'.
His love for Taehyung was wrong, but everything that the other man did to his heart felt really right.
Taehyung notices, of course, when Jin starts to pay more attention to him. There is a shift, however gradual, from his focus on his cases to his focus on Taehyung.
And he doesn't hate it.
And maybe he doesn't really think about it too hard, because his life is filled with things he has to consider, constantly thinking. Always analysing. Then suddenly with Jin it's so simple and easy, very little thought and a lot of instinct. He doesn't even really realise what's happening to him until they'd just barely escaped a murderer, hidden in a dark alley, giggling and out of breath with shining eyes and Jin just pulls him in for a kiss without hesitation, like it's the most natural thing in the world.
And he's supposed to report strange things, he's supposed to tell his supervisors everything about what the older man does, make sure he's not withholding important information from the police. It's supposed to be his job to tell them. Everything. But. He doesn't tell them this. He won't tell them Kim Seokjin kissed him.
Because maybe he kissed right back.
They fall into such an easy rhythm. Jin is an attentive lover, and there's not a day that goes by where Taehyung isn't completely swept off his feet in one way or another. He shows his love back by helping Jin where he can. Visiting his flat to organise his case files (PROPERLY, not laid on the floor in supposedly 'organised heaps'), cooking food for him (because no, eating a loaf of bread for days on end isn't healthy) and stocking all of his supplies without question.
The time they spend together slowly grows longer and longer and Taehyung finds himself staying the night at Jin's more often than not. Nights. They're sometimes easy, relaxing. Sometimes they're filled with details and notes and maps with pushpins... and sometimes... it's filled with breathy moans and cautious touches, pleasure. Exhilaration.
Taehyung makes a mistake one night.
They're by the police station where Jin is waiting just outside for Taehyung to file his daily report. His kisses with Jin were just so natural, he sometimes forgot that he couldn't be seen by others. But the dark beside the building on a deserted street would be fine. It's always fine.
Except Namjoon follows him out, wanting to inform one of his best officers of a new lead on an old case...
And witnesses their kiss. Delicate and unmistakably loving.
"Taehyung?"
The young officer can't contain the panic that absolutely seizes his chest as he whips around to face his superior. And -- oh god. He's going to lose his job. He'll never get to kiss Jin again. He might be hanged for this. The fear must be plain on his face, because Namjoon's eyes flicker between him and Jin for the longest time before he finally asks the back to his place to discuss in private.
His place is uncomfortable and quiet and there's coffee in front of them, as if it could possibly break the tension. Taehyung's face is burning, anxiety in his gut. Jin is grasping his hand and neither of them can look their host in the eye.
"Is there something you want to tell me?" the head of police finally breaks the silence in the room and, of course, they want to do anything BUT tell him what they'd been doing, what they were feeling. But Namjoon has unending patience and is a good negotiator. He hadn't become head of police by being bad at his job, after all.
So he changes the topic, instead telling them about the new lead he has, and how much he looks forward to seeing the pair working on it together.
And Jin finally just leans forward, looking Namjoon in the eye and tells him; "Taehyung and I are in love, and would appreciate it if you kept our secret."
The room is quiet. Namjoon and Jin are staring at each other, Taehyung is squeezing Jin's hand harder than he probably should and --
"I can't lose my best detective and his partner, now can I?"
Taehyung sobs with relief, shoulders sagging. Jin gives Namjoon one of his rare smiles, his features relaxing.
"Thank you."
--
Kim Seokjin is a great detective. His ability to analyse a crime scene and correctly deduce situations is well known to the population. Kim Taehyung is his right hand man, you can never find one without the other, always ready to solve another mystery.
Sure, they never marry (despite the newspaper ever trying to change their bachelor statuses), but they are perfectly content to just live in their flat together, solving crimes. They have good friends. A good career. At least - that's their appearance to the public.
Good friends, partners in solving crime. Happy.
Well, maybe none of that is a lie. But they're also in love, doing what they dreamed of doing, being more cautious but never reducing their passion. Never holding back.
They wouldn't have it any other way.