Chapter Text
Hanbin stepped into the tree-lined alley, his black boots crunching against the gravel. The residence was large, but not as large as he would have expected for an ambassador. The building at the heart of the garden looked ancient enough to have a history, and recent enough to not stick out from the rest of the neighborhood. The only clues pointing towards the family living there being more than upper middle class were the information plaque next to the wrought-iron gate, and a luxury car poorly parked in front of the garage. As Hanbin reached the car, he checked his reflection in the red shimmery paint, flattening his suit and brushing back his black hair. He wanted to give a good first impression, after all.
It wasn’t hard for him to hide how nervous he was. The Hanbin on the car glared at him, his resting face as cold and intimidating as usual. It had been an issue most of his life, but this time, his mildly aggressive but serious aura had played to his advantage. He was professional, he was an adult, and he was going to nail this first day.
Hanbin walked up the few steps leading to the front door, adjusted his black leather gloves, and knocked on the door, his back straight. After a few seconds, a young woman opened up with a smile.
“Hello, I’m the new recruit, Sung Hanbin. Mister Zhang asked for my presence today.”
Her smile widened at Hanbin’s name despite his monotone voice, and she invited him in, informing him that she would let the ambassador know of his arrival. Hanbin lingered in the entrance hall, waiting for his new boss to show up. He had been very lucky to get this job. Sure, he passed his safety studies with flying colors, mastered multiple martial arts, had the right to bear arms and multiple letters of recommendation. But there were quite simply more people wanting to be a bodyguard than people needing one, and an entry level position was hard to obtain.
So when his interview with the ambassador resulted in a job offer, he immediately signed the contract. That kind of opportunity wouldn’t present itself again, and Hanbin was perfectly aware of how replaceable he was, for example with one the dozen of other applicants that came for the job interview that day.
Mister Zhang appeared in the hallway, with his suit opened in an effort to seem casual and his bald head shining under the overhead lights. He opened his arms wide with a welcoming smile, seeming genuine, but Hanbin could recognize the practiced professionalism in the way he moved.
“Sung Hanbin! It’s so good to see you again! Come in, please, follow me. Did you find the address easily?”
“Hello, sir. Yes, the instructions were very clear,” he politely smiled, following his boss deeper into the house.
“That’s good, that’s good. After the introductions, I'll give you your schedule, as we agreed. Naturally, we will sometimes have more flexible requirements, but my secretary should have everything ready for you when needed. I’ve also ordered your in-ear set, it should arrive before next week.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
The house was also smaller than he expected, but the paintings on the walls were originals, the rug was probably worth more than his rent, and the wooden floor had recently been polished. Discreet signs betraying how well-off they were, and Hanbin, as a private bodyguard, was one of those luxury products too. There were a lot of blind spots in the house, and no easy way to reach an exit. From what he saw outside, most of the rooms had windows, so that could be the easier escape route if push came to shove. Otherwise, the security seemed good, with cameras hidden in corners and even one in a potted plant. Hanbin wondered if he would be let in the security room to get a feel for the visual coverage of the house. Probably not. The Zhang family had trusted home guards, and Hanbin wasn’t one of them.
His host lightly knocked on a door before opening it, leading them into a white living room filled with modern furniture and lined with a bay window. There was a young man sitting at the bar, working on a laptop before he looked up at them. The son of the ambassador. Noticing the unknown man behind his father, he quickly got on his feet to properly greet the newcomer.
Hanbin already knew a lot about Zhang Hao, given the personal file he was given a few days earlier, but seeing him in person was different. He was tall, taller than Hanbin, with blonde hair and a soft face. His clothes were neutral, in shades of gray and brown, but elegant nonetheless. This mature style contrasted with his slightly naive look, his mouth half-opened in surprise and his big eyes inspecting Hanbin just like he was doing to him. Come to think of it, Hanbin’s sister was watching a drama where the second love interest kind of looked like him.
“Hao, your bodyguard is here,” announced his father as he reached for the guest. “I know it’s going to take a minute for you to adjust, but given the current situation, I’m sure you will appreciate the added security.”
“Hello” said Hanbin with a polite bow. “My name is Sung Hanbin. At your service, sir.”
Slowly, a smile bloomed on Hao’s face, and instead of answering, he walked closer to offer up his hand.
“Hi! I gotta say, I was really scared that I would end up getting trailed by some old gentleman, because that would’ve been pretty uncomfortable… But we look like we’re about the same age? That means we could be friends! Please talk comfortably with me, it would be strange otherwise.”
Hanbin shook his extended hand, Hao’s long fingers closing around his glove, and he realized three things at the same time. First, Hao blushed and smiled a bit too much. It was subtle, but a trained eye could notice it, and Hanbin had been very well trained. Second, that same training allowed him to notice at the corner of his eye Mister Zhang stiffening up at the interaction. He didn’t approve of their casual, friendly behavior, and it showed. Third, if they had been in another situation and Hao happened to ask him out on a date, Hanbin would’ve said yes. Hao’s smile had something so honest, so warm, he felt attracted to his radiant aura like a moth to the moon.
So, in that instant, he decided that to keep his job he had to be firm with his desires. Snuffing out a spark was a lot easier than fighting a raging fire. Hanbin pulled his hand back, a bit harshly, and Hao’s smile dimmed, just like the bodyguard’s barely appearing feelings for him. Mister Zhang relaxed.
“Ah, Hao, he’s a professional, don’t put him in such an embarrassing position! He isn’t here to become your friend, I am paying him to keep you safe. He might be young, but I expect you to treat him with respect like any of our employees.”
Hao looked at his father, then searched for a confirmation in Hanbin’s gaze, an answer, anything. With his best impassable “security agent” face, Hanbin was a wall, and the emotions on Hao’s face shifted subtly. Confusion. Frustration. Sadness.
Determination.
“Please accept my apologies,” Hao finally said. “I didn’t mean to start off on the wrong foot.”
“No harm done, sir,” simply replied Hanbin.
The mood was a lot less comfortable than when they walked in, but his boss seemed satisfied. Good. Hanbin really couldn’t allow to get fired from his first job for inappropriate relations with a client.
He had worked too hard to ruin it all.
***
Hanbin was satisfied with his schedule. Contrary to his expectations, Hao didn’t go out a lot. Hanbin only had to accompany him to college, wait for him in the back of the lecture hall or at a respectful distance from his lunch table, and then take him home. To save money, his boss had also hired him as a personal driver. Hanbin wasn’t going to complain about an increase in his salary to slide from the passenger seat to the driver one.
At first, Hao had tried to integrate him into his circle of friends. It started by attempting to bring Hanbin to his lunch table instead of letting him look from a distance. When that failed, Hao tried to introduce his fellow students in the car drive to and from home, explaining their majors and personalities. Every time, Hanbin declined politely, explaining that he was working, and had to stay focused. Gradually, Hao’s attempts stopped, but he continued to ask him personal questions.
Hanbin had been surprised that Hao persisted in trying to connect with him after his father's disapproval, especially after observing him for those few weeks. Zhang Hao was applied, obedient, polite, intelligent, and if he dared to say it, even a little bit stuck-up. He wasn’t the kind of guy that would protest after being told no. Or at least, that was the impression he gave.
Clearly, that impression was wrong.
“You're already walking next to me on campus, what does it change that I'm sitting next to you here?”
Hanbin looked into the rear-view mirror, discovering a pouting Hao. He had begged him to get in the front seat, Hanbin had refused. A terrible affront, if he was to believe his client.
“I'm your driver, and you're the passenger, Hao. This is how it works.”
This was the only thing he allowed Hao to have; not calling him sir. In private. Hanbin had sworn to not get closer to him, but such a minor change for their mutual comfort was a safe move.
“It's not a proper answer. Give me the real reason.”
“Do you know why the front passenger seat is called the death seat?”
“Yes, I am aware of the statistics. But also, I feel like a child, or that you're my taxi.”
“I am your taxi. Your father paid for it.”
“My former driver let me sit next to her.”
“It's a pity she's not the one behind the wheel anymore, then.”
Hao rolled his eyes, falling back on the back seat. If Hanbin had never seen him before, he could easily believe that he was a spoiled, privileged kid throwing a tantrum. But Hanbin had seen Hao offer up his favorite place in the auditorium to an elderly person returning to their studies, and carry the bag of a friend on crutches, and pay for the coffee of at least a dozen people complaining that they had no change in front of the vending machine, and give up when a girl at the library refused to make less noise despite his polite request. It seemed that the only moment Hao was acting that way was with him. After a beat of silence only disturbed by the purring of the engine, Hao resumed the conversation, staring at the car’s roof.
“I don't understand why you're so strict about security measures. I know, I know, it's your job, and all that, and I respect it, really. But... I'm not in danger. I have nightmares about failing my finals, not being assassinated.”
Hanbin put on the turn signal to the left, his gloved hands pulling on the steering wheel to take a turn. It was a good thing he could focus on the road during these discussions. His instincts told him Hao could break his composure much more easily if they were face to face.
“You have a risky position.”
“Because my father is an ambassador? When I was a child, sure,” he protested. “I could get kidnapped for money, all of those things. And I never complained about the bodyguard I had with me at the time, even though he was much more invasive than you. But now, specifically, what am I risking? To have some guy throw me on his shoulder during lunch and sprint with me to his car? If someone wants to get a political message across, they're going to target my father, not me.”
Hanbin remained stoic, driving up the street leading to the university’s parking lot. Hao sighed, rubbing his eyes.
“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply that your presence was useless. What I meant to say is that I think you can sit next to me without it being a matter of life or death. Please?”
Hanbin parked the car, cut off the engine. They remained silent for a few seconds, then he turned on his seat to look at his client directly. Hao looked a little pitiful, and Hanbin bit the inside of his cheek. It was difficult to justify anything while looking at that face. He should’ve trusted his gut feeling and protected himself from the power of his pout.
“Why do you insist so much?” he finally asked, and it was clear that they weren’t just talking about where to sit anymore.
Hao was biting his nail, a sign of nervousness, but he managed to maintain their eye contact.
“Because I want you to see me like a human, not like a customer.”
“Do you think I don't see you as a human?”
Hao lowered his eyes.
“I think you're trying to, yes.”
Hanbin took the hit without blinking, his guts twisting. He couldn’t deny it, because it was exactly his plan; to keep Hao at an arm's length, turn him into the abstract notion of an object that he could treat without the risk of compromising his work. But Hao was a real person, and it wasn't right for Hanbin to treat him like he wasn’t either. A balance had to be struck between respect and professionalism.
Hanbin breathed slowly through his nose, turning around to get out of the car.
“You can sit next to me on the way back. I still won't eat lunch with you, so don't ask me to.”
And as Hanbin opened the door for him, he noticed a light that he couldn’t ignore in Hao's gaze. Something similar to hope, or gratitude. Something that shouldn't give Hanbin that warm feeling now filling his chest.
Hanbin allowed Hao to have him talk casually, and to sit at the front during their car rides.
And that was all.