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City of the future, so the gigantic led billboards laid upon the exoskeletons of skyscrapers that once stood tall and proud said. Yeah right.
Mingyu scoffs, looking at at the fish on the poorly garnished ramen soup bowl and reflecting at his own misery.
Godamned two slices of fish. His job as an underground replicant retirer should give him a decent pay, since he was the remaining one in the capital. His colleagues either fled to another planet or were killed by their targets.
Two slices of the most rotten sea flesh he’s even seen in his despairing life. He wanted four. This dish could only be eaten in its full wretched glory if it had four slices of fish. Today had been a bad day and he only wanted a proper meal so he could have a little peace of mind.
The rain was pouring, city lights flickered over the only sketchy markets open at midnight, streets were filled with noise, filth and misery. The tall man sat at an outside balcony of a ruined food truck. A few strands of his long hair fell down his chiseled jaw and deep brown eyes. He was too handsome to be a Blade Runner.
He looked at the Counterman and holds up four fingers. The Counterman looked down at the two slices of fish. He looked at his client, not really comprehending why he was holding 4 fingers up, when he had two slices of fish on his plate. Could he count? He returned to his vegetable slicing.
The hunter huffed. "Hey! I want more fish!"
"We ran out of fish." - the owners says, cold toned, not even bothering to look at his customer.
Mingyu’s building anger and frustration finally fires in his abdomen. "How the fuck do you run out of fish and serve a dish like this? This ramen is only good if I eat four slices of fish, you shithead!"
The cook slammed his knife on the balcony and finally looked up. "Tough luck, champ! Go get your fucking fish somewhere else."- he yells.
In the middle of the heated argument, the loner feels a tap on his shoulder. He glances over his right side. A huge levitating robocop in uniform is looming behind him.
Mingyu feels another presence behind him so looks left. Ah, great. Another police officer, android-shaped too.
"You will be required to accompany me, sir." - says the first robot, in broken korean.
Mingyu doesn't understand. "Wait your turn, pal!" He turns back to his food.
The second officer insists: "If you do not comply with an official request, I will be obliged to exert my authority."
Mingyu deliberately ignores the two cops, lazily munching his already cold ramen. But the counterman doesn’t want the situation escalating to where he can't control it. He leans into the hunter and glares. If only the fire rising in his eyes could burn the insolent man eating before him.
"Get the hell out of here before you trash my truck! You’re going in!"
The man challenged his glare with his own stink-eye. "Well, tell them they got the wrong guy."
The robocop scoffs. "Wrong guy, my ass. You're known as the Boogeyman in every mean joint in town. The only Blade Runner alive around this part of the world.
The cook, witnessing everything, smirks. "The Boogeyman, huh?"
Mingyu slightly flinches at the word "Boogeyman," but goes on eating. Now, we all know that it's not a mistake, is it?
“Well,”- starts Mingyu -, “tell this gentleman that I am currently eating and I would not like to be disturbed while I am doing so.”
The robot addresses the counterman: "Please tell this notorious gentleman that I am acting as an emmissary from Captain Choi and Captain Choi has ordered me to bring Mr. Kim to the headquarters even if I have to present him to the Captain like a fucking nigiri.
The counterman sneers. "Keep on bitching and you’ll end up with the extra two slices of fish you wanted so much."
Mingyu just stares back.
An android hands lands on his shoulder. The hunter violently shruggs it off. "I am fully capable of going on my two feet, thank you very much."
He looks at the counterman, holding the ramen bowl. He drops a crumpled bill on the counter. "And I am taking this."
——————————————
Mingyu and his ramen bowl are now striding down a long golden corridor, the two police officers not too far behind, but still walking at a safe distance, possibly due to fear. The corridor has side entrances where they can see faceless bodies suspended inside of what seems a bubble full of a viscous liquid. It's like they’re trapped in an amniotic sac, waiting to be born. Born as what? Humans? New Replicants?
The corridor reaches to an end and of one the police officers points at Mingyu’s left, both androids leaving him to his fate. He turns and sees a large waiting room, decorated in golden tones. A long window covers one of the walls, letting the blinding amber light of a dying star flood the entire division. The room had sparse furniture - two long sofas with a glass coffee table between them and a dark wooden desk near the window site. There rested someone, standing nonchanlantly against the table, the sharpness of his fine silhouette contrasting with the night’s gleam.
As Mingyu walked nearer the human shape, he could sense a mysterious and very inviting calmness on the manly figure. The man had a lean figure and dressed in a very sober and elegant way. He shows taste and dignity.
He turned only his head.
“Kim Mingyu. The last Blade Runner walking on this soil.”
The figure that has spoken in such a gentle voice, now completely turns around and practically floats in Mingyu's direction, his body so light he is made of a modified and exquisite form of oxygen.
He extends his hand: “My name is Xu Minghao. Welcome to HYBE.”
Mingyu stops for a second and observes the man standing before him. The regular stern look that adorned his face throughout his misfortunate life makes room for a glint of curiosity on his eyes and a light smile on his lips. Such an angelic face. He wouldn’t mind coming here more often.
He shakes the raven haired man’s hand. His skin was soft compared to his, scarred and callous from all the misery he had to cause and witness.
“Kim Mingyu, like you said. I am very delighted to meet you.”
Minghao directs his hands towards one of the sofas. “Please."
They sit in opposite directions. Minghao crosses his legs, hands knitted into a fist over his things, his demeanour calm, seductive and elegant.
Mingyu takes something out of the pocket of his worn leather coat. “Mind if i smoke?”
“Not at all.”
He offered Minghao a cigarette. His dark angel came closer to this hand and took it between his lips. He stared at the hunter with cat-like sultry eyes, wanting for him to light it up. And so he did.
Mingyu studied him. He let his eyes trace his frame. And he had him memorised in a short period of time.
Puffs of blue synthetic tobacco smoke filled the room. There was a palpable tension in the air. They observed, feared and desired each other.
Minghao broke the silence.
“I’m sorry, but there was no other way to get you here without having you thinking you were being escorted by the police. Which is not entirely false. HYBE is a private intelligence service working for the government. ”
Mingyu listened attentively, sucking long smokey puffs out of his cigarette.
Minghao continues. “There’s been rumors of a new kind of Replicant. A far more developed one. In all aspects.”
Mingyu raised an eyebrow.
“We would like you to have your help on this matter.”
Mingyu would have snapped at any other person that wanted him involved on this case, but the growing curiosity on the other... human, or replicant, had kept his hostile temperament at bay.
He gently reminds Minghao instead. “You know I’m done with the Reps.”
“Mingyu… We know. But we know things. We know your life is at risk.”
He stood up, his long coat dancing around his legs while he walked towards the other and sat besides him. Mingyu simply observed.
Minghao moved in closer. “We can help you."
He didn't wait for an answer. Minghao lightly tapped the air and a screen came alive, showing contents of a crime folder, containing profiles of the possible new Replicants and their suspicious activities: the murder of humans around the area, the purchase of illegal chemicals and much more. The dark haired man guided Mingyu through the process.
The case on their hands seemed to be the worst that Mingyu has ever laid eyes upon. And he knew he was the best man to solve it. Well, shit. He couldn’t get out of this even if he wanted to, then.
“…Fine. Whatever.” Mingyu sighs, straightening his back and leaning over slightly to the coffee table to put the end of his cigarette into the empty ashtray. “I’ll need equipment. We can discuss pay later. ”
A sorrowful grimace on the Minghao’s face appeared for a fleeting moment before it was replaced with a twitch of relief.
“Thank you, Mingyu. We know you wanted a way out of this. But rest assured this is the last case you'll work on. As for the rest... we’ll help you on that.”
Mingyu knew he was dead the moment he would finish that lousy fish ramen and walk away from the food truck. He would have to leave, if he didn't expect to die at the hands of dozens of mercenaries, revengeful acquaintances and ungrateful superiors hunting his head down. Every second he was around this town put him and the ones around him in danger. He couldn’t do that.
However, Minghao.
Minghao seemed so unique and poignant. There were touches of loneliness, patience and so much more that it was hard to pin down. He had such a compelling aura around him, so powerful and inviting that Mingyu could close his eyes and feel him move across his skin.
“May I ask you a personal question?” Minghao questions, scooting closer, resting his head on his hand on the back of the sofa.
“What do you think of replicants?”
Mingyu leaned back against the sofa and laid his arm, dangerously close to where Minghao’s elbow rested.
“Replicants are like any other machine. They can be a benefit or a hazard. If it's a benefit, it's not a problem."
“Then why would you keep terminating them after being suspended?”
Mingyu breathed heavily.
“I’ve seen things Minghao. Things I know that not the most evil and fucked up human being could ever do. And I had to do something about it, even if I didn’t have the obligation to do so.”
Minghao knew what he felt like. Working at HYBE, he also had to deal with the root of all evils. The things they saw, the things they had to do…. They never go away. They linger on their thoughts until they decide to end them.
He shoots Mingyu an apologetic smile.
Mingyu noticed little details about the man facing him. He noticed how his almond shaped eyes housed brilliant irises, and the pupils contracting every time the conversation proceeded, to a deeper bond between them, something that held the promise of being more intimate in the future.
Still, he had to check. He had to know.
“Minghao, I’m going to ask you some questions, and I would like you to answer honestly.”
“Sure.”
Mingyu lit another cigarette.
“You are given a calfskin wallet for your birthday.”
Minghao adjusts in his seat and clasps both of his hands on his thighs.
“I wouldn’t accept it. I’d also report it to the police.”
Good, but still too early to tell, Mingyu thought.
“You meet a little boy. He shows you his butterfly collection, and a killing jar.”
Minghao remains calm. “I’d take him to the police.”
“You come across a full-page photo of a nude woman in a magazine.”
Minghao smiles at him. “I like men, Mingyu.”
Mingyu smirks. “Good to know. But can you answer the question?”
“You show the picture to your… husband. He likes it so much he hangs it on the wall.”
“I wouldn't let him.”
Mingyu flicks the ashes from the end of his almost-done cigarette into the ashtray. “Why not?”
There was an undercurrent of amusement in Minghao voice. “I am more than enough for him.”
The terminator smiles. “Thanks.”
“Mingyu, I know I am a Replicant. But I am the good kind. Are you okay with that?” A rather inconsequential inquiry, but an inquiry that held so much more meaning.
“I am, don't worry.” Mingyu says with a smile.
Both could feel a slight, tingly warmth surround them. Despite one of them not being able to achieve the sensation of human contact, there was definitely the presence of something blooming. Mingyu silently wondered how it felt to touch Minghao and how would the other feel being touched by him. Even if he didn't know human touch.
There was silence for a long moment,
“Have you ever retired a human?” Minghao asks.
Mingyu chuckles. “That is a very dangerous question, Minghao.”
“Off the record. You know I-I am intrigued by you Mingyu.” - the raven haired boy smiles. “You don’t strike me as a simple android killer.”
His hand reaches out to where Mingyu sat, gentle fingers showing black nails feathering through the sofa’s material, closer to the Blade Runner’s muscular thigh.
“I am sure there’s more to you.”
He smirks.
“Oh there is more to me, alright. Much more. Off the record.”