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Hyunsoo was fucked.
There was no better way to describe his situation. To say it was bad would be an understatement. It would be a damn miracle if he made it out unscathed.
He knew he shouldn't piss off gangsters in general, and he certainly shouldn't do it on an undercover assignment. It was dangerous.
But it was too late to regret the past.
Besides, even when he was being chased by at least a dozen brutal and ruthless criminals, he was still convinced he was right. Breaking someone's jaw was an appropriate response to unwanted ass-grabbing.
Especially when it was Hyunsoo's ass that was grabbed.
Unfortunately, all of this happened in a shady club, in front of underlings of the perverted gangster who had groped Hyunsoo. None of them seemed to support Hyunsoo's views that it was not okay. Or wasn't brave enough to speak up.
And to curry favor with their boss, they decided to teach Hyunsoo a lesson.
Hyunsoo might have been hot-headed, but he wasn't stupid. He fought well, but he couldn't take on all of them. He hated running away, but he was pretty good at estimating his chances.
These bastards significantly outnumbered him and were truly capable of anything, and with his current, well, undercover ID, he really should be more careful.
There were more of them. They were bigger. They had weapons.
Meanwhile, he was alone, without backup, because everyone was absolutely certain nothing would happen. He didn't even have a wire! Hyunsoo had just gone there to look around! A simple, preliminary reconnaissance! Nothing should have happened!
And what's worse, he wasn't dressed very comfortably.
He had no idea why Chun had thought it was a good idea to dress him in a shoulder-length wig, a tight red dress, black tights, and high-heeled ankle boots so he could infiltrate a club affiliated with a small gang. Honestly, Hyunsoo himself thought he looked ridiculous, but it had been clear for a while now that Captain Chun was more and more desperate for a case breakthrough.
He only agreed because that damn woman had once again played her strongest card. She'd promised to help his ill mom. Of course, Hyunsoo had agreed.
Unfortunately, it soon became clear how stupid it all actually was.
He could barely run! The heels weren't high, but they were still uncomfortable and unstable! His dress was very short and rode up as he sprinted down the street! He was actually grateful for the tights, otherwise, his butt (the same one who suffered pervert grabbing it not so long ago) would be out. And the hair from that damn wig was getting in his eyes. How that thing was still on his head was a mystery!
But he had to run. There was no other option.
He still heard the angry mob behind him. There was no way he would stop. He couldn’t. These bastards were furious and bloodthirsty. There was no way to resolve this peacefully. Too late for explanations.
He didn't even want to think about what they could do to him. A beating was one thing, but they still thought he was a woman. It could get worse. Hyunsoo hadn't been to many crime scenes since he started working for the police, but what he had seen was enough.
What if they found out he was a man? What if they found out that a guy in a disguise had caught the leader's eye?
He wouldn't die quickly.
Embarrassed gangsters got brutal.
That's why he couldn't fall into their hands.
His goal was to get somewhere with more people. They wouldn't be so confident in a crowd. He could lose them among strangers. Dark alleys weren't safe. Unfortunately, this filthy club was far from the city center, and the narrow streets leading to it seemed endless. Not to mention the area was eerily deserted.
No one would even notice his scream.
He had to get to safety.
Even though he was already at his limit, he couldn't stop. He felt pain in his thighs and feet, but he forced himself to run faster. He knew that one of the main streets was right around the corner. He could hear the noise of cars. He saw the lights of bright neons. He just had to get there.
He was so focused on this thought that he didn't even consider that someone might suddenly emerge from the side alley. And that was exactly what happened.
Hyunsoo had no chance of stopping. He tried, but he was running too fast.
He slammed straight into the man, sending them both crashing to the ground.
Hyunsoo wanted to cry.
His fall was almost completely broken by the stranger beneath him. He miraculously landed on a warm body, and his face ended up nestled against the man's neck. He could smell cologne and cigarettes. Blessing in disguise, considering everything.
The man was less lucky. He had taken Hyunsoo's entire weight on himself upon the crash, which, confirmed by his groans and cursing in pain, certainly wasn't pleasant. And Hyunsoo continuing to lie on top of him wasn't helping matters.
Besides, there was no time for that.
Hyunsoo had to keep going.
He felt bad about slamming into the man, but couldn't stop for too long. He rose to look in the direction he had come running from. He couldn't see them, but he could hear angry insults. They were still after him.
Ignoring the man, he quickly stood up.
He was a bit wobbly on his legs and out of breath, but that wasn’t going to stop him.
He needed to get out of there.
He needed to get to the main road.
But the world seemed to be against him that night because just as he was about to start running again, he lost his footing and fell on his arms and knees.
He felt a sharp pain as his skin met the asphalt alley.
It fucking hurt.
He reminded himself that he didn’t have time for that.
He forced his body to get up to renew his escape.
Just a bit more.
He took a step forward and stumbled.
Something was off.
He looked down at his boots.
The right one was flatter than the left one.
The fucking heel broke.
Fuck.
He couldn't run like that.
Fuck.
He needed to hide.
FUCK.
He frantically began to look around, but there was no fucking where!
The screams and steps were getting so much louder.
His heart was beating like crazy.
He was fucking terrified.
They could kill him.
They could-
Who would take care of his mom if he died?
He needed to move.
He needed to do SOMETHING.
He felt a strong grip on his wrist, and before he realized what was happening, he was forced to turn around.
But instead of some angry criminal, he saw the man he crushed with.
The man was older, possibly in his 40s, maybe 50s. His hair looked gelled, but a few strands fell across his forehead, most likely from an accident. He had a neatly trimmed beard and wore an expensive suit that now looked a bit dirty. In the hand that hadn't stopped Hyunsoo from running away, he held a lit cigarette. Hyunsoo had no idea how he hadn't dropped it during the fall, but there was something else about him.
More specifically, Hyunsoo couldn't shake the feeling that he knew him.
He also knew he should have apologized, but he really didn't have time.
He had to go.
He tried to pull his hand away, but the man's grip was strong and unrelenting.
Hyunsoo was ready to shout at the man, because now wasn't the time, and if he needed to make amends for ruining his clothes, he would deal with it BUT LATER, not when his life was on the line, not when-
“DON’T YOU DARE TO RUN, BITCH!”
The shout made Hyunsoo freeze.
He looked over the older man's shoulder and saw that the wild mob of at least twenty men was already very close. There was no way he could escape them now. And what was worse, he pulled an innocent passerby into it.
Hyunsoo had fucked up.
And all he could do was curse.
He was still being held by the wrist, but at this point, Hyunsoo was far more concerned about the gangsters who had finally caught up with him. They were panting and gasping for breath, but they began to spread, blocking the whole narrow street. They hadn't yet moved to grab him, but they were grinning as if they'd already won.
The perverted gangster whom Hyusnoo punched earlier in the club emerged forward.
“Thank you for the help, sir,” he said uncaringly, smiling too wide towards Hyunsoo, “Give her to us. This bitch owes me something.”
Hyunsoo didn’t owe him a shit. Dude touched and got punched. Exchange complete.
But there was no way he could convince the gangsters he was right.
He also knew the best option for the older man was to do what the pervert had said. They were outnumbered. If the older man wanted to save himself, he would have to sacrifice Hyunsoo. They would let him go with a pat on the back, thanking him for his help.
It was the best option for the man.
And the worst for Hyunsoo.
But as a police officer, Hyunsoo should be protecting civilians.
This guy was innocent in all of this.
Even if Hyunsoo fell into their hands, he wasn't going to give up without a fight. He wasn't sure how long he could hold out, and he certainly didn't have a chance of defeating them all, but it was better than giving in and being led to slaughter. Besides, Hyunsoo really wanted to punch that pervert again.
Perhaps it was because of the rushing emotions caused by the gravity of the situation that it took Hyunsoo so long to realize something was wrong. Or more precisely, the older man's behavior in this situation was very weird.
Normally, people would be scared. They would run, beg for their lives, or try to bargain. But this man didn't even turn to look at the criminals. He was in the presence of a crowd ready for violence, but he seemed completely unconcerned. As if this were just another evening for him.
Instead, all his focus was on Hyunsoo's hand in his grip.
Hyunsoo also looked down.
His hand was grazed. And bleeding.
He checked his other hand. A similar state.
He probably didn't feel any pain because of the adrenaline. But now wasn't the time to worry about that. The situation was about to get worse, and the older man didn't seem to realize it. Maybe it was the shock of the fall. Hyunsoo also began to suspect a concussion. The man must have hit his head against the pavement during a fall.
When he looked up to check if the man was able to escape when Hyunsoo distracted the gangsters, his gaze met the older man's, and he froze.
There was just something in the man's gaze, something so overwhelmingly captivating. It demanded attention. Hyunsoo had no idea what to do about it. How to escape it. The whole situation was already surreal, but it only got worse when the man, completely ignoring the situation behind him, smiled reassuringly.
Hyusnoo was so surprised that he could just look as the older man finally turned to the gangsters.
And then Hyunsoo was in for another surprise.
Because upon seeing the man's face, each of the men who were about to beat the living shit out of him just a second ago took a step back.
They all seemed absolutely terrified.
"Mr. Han!" the groper shouted, bowing at the waist, "We didn't expect you here!"
The rest of his men also bowed their heads, whether in respect or fear, unclear. Perhaps a mixture of both.
"I'm just passing by," the man said, completely unbothered, flicking ash from his cigarette.
And that was it. He didn't say anything more.
None of the gangsters dared to question him further. They just stood there, waiting for ‘Mr. Han’ to do something. To decide how the situation should develop. But the man really wasn't in a hurry to do so.
It was obvious that these gangsters and the older man knew each other. What was worse, even though the older man was alone, he was clearly intimidating to them. This meant that he not only had some connections to the criminal world, but even worse, likely held a very high position in some illegal organisation.
Which meant that when push came to shove, he'd side with the gangsters against Hyunsoo.
Fuck.
Hyusnoo at least hoped Chun would pay for his funeral.
If they found his body.
He was so fucked.
Finally, the perverted gangster, who apparently was a spokesperson for the group, found his voice.
“Mr. Han, give this bitch to us!”
The older man took a slow drag of his cigarette, eyeing the gangster carefully. It was very theatrical, but it exerted pressure, and the older man was surely aware of it. Exhaling the smoke, he tilted his head slightly, like a curious child.
"She did it?" he asked, making a vague gesture with his cigarette near his left eye.
Only then did Hyunsoo notice that the pervert's eye was red and swollen. Hyunsoo’s punch had landed. That gave him some satisfaction for a short moment.
The gangster reluctantly confirmed, and Mr. Han began to laugh.
That sound surprised Hyunsoo. Not only because it was definitely not a moment for laughter, but also because the sound was unusual. Very distinctive, yet quite pleasant. Hyunsoo got a bit lost in that. At least so much so that it caught him off guard when Mr. Han turned to him.
“What did he do?” the man asked Hyunsoo, suddenly serious. As if he truly wanted to know if it was justified. Like a judge at a trial, pondering the verdict. For some reason, it gave Hyunsoo hope.
He shrugged, then softened his tone.
He was finally playing his part.
“He touched where he shouldn’t have.”
The older man stared at him for a moment longer. His gaze was calculating and piercing, but Hyunsoo didn’t look away. Even if he was sure that the man would figure he was a fake any minute.
That didn't happen.
“I see,” declared the older man finally. His hold on Hyunsoo’s wrist became gentler as he again turned towards the gangsters, “Leave.”
The whole alley became dead quiet.
“What?” the pervert gangster asked dumbly.
“I said leave,” repeated the older man slowly, “Beautiful lady turned you down and clearly doesn't want to spend more time in your company. Be gone.”
Each word was spoken in an incredibly pleasant and friendly tone, but Hyunsoo still felt a chill run down his spine. And those words weren't even directed at him.
This man was dangerous. Far more dangerous than the gangsters Hyunsoo was fleeing from. It was obvious, as no one even tried to contradict him. And so everyone, with their leader in front, simply walked away.
Hyunsoo was impressed, but he also knew he shouldn't let his guard down. He should get away as quickly as possible. He didn't know why the older man had decided to help him. He doubted it was some altruistic motive.
At least Hyunsoo had a better chance with just one opponent. Also the man seemed more rational, so maybe they could make a deal.
“Are you okay?”
At the question, Hyunsoo glanced at the older man and saw him staring at him. He was intimidating, but he had just saved Hyunsoo's life. Hyunsoo didn't trust him, but he knew how to be polite. He slowly pulled his hand away from the man's hold and took a step back, bowing slightly.
“Thank you for the help.”
“Don’t mention it,” the man waved his hand like it was nothing. He also didn't move closer, respecting the distance Hyunsoo put between them. Hyunsoo gave him a tight smile and fixed his hair. The wig still held on, but he knew it was a mess. He could only hope it didn’t look very unnatural.
But the older man seemed more focused on Hyunsoo’s legs.
Hyunsoo looked down.
And of course, his knees were in the same condition as his hands. The black tights he was wearing were ripped, and the scratches were bleeding. And he still only had one heel.
Not thinking much, he took the left boot off and, using a bit of strength, broke the other heel. He would look ridiculous, but at least he could walk. Next time, Chun could at least buy him proper equipment.
He cursed silently. There wouldn't be a next time. He wouldn't agree to this again.
As he put his shoe back on, and fixed his dress he saw the older man looking at him, amused.
That man really looked familiar. Hyunsoo was almost sure he had seen him somewhere. He just couldn’t place where. And he wasn’t going to dig into it now. This whole situation wasn't the right time to think about it. He really needed to get going. He just wanted to go home.
He looked around and saw his bag lying nearby. He didn't even realize he'd lost it. It had probably happened during the crash. He was about to go get it, but the older man was faster. He picked it up, along with the other heel that had broken off Hyunsoo's shoe earlier that was lying nearby.
He slowly walked over to Hyunsoo and handed him both items.
His hands were big.
“You should get that checked out,” suggested the man, nodding towards Hyunsoo’s hands and legs, “Is there someone to pick you up or do you want me to call you a taxi?”
“I can handle myself,” answered Hyunsoo sharply, quickly taking his items from the other man. Perhaps it came off as a bit rude, so he quickly bowed again, saying, "Thank you again for your help."
The man wanted to say something but Hyunsoo beat him to it.
"I have to get going."
He expected to be stopped but the man only smiled gently.
“Of course. Stay safe.”
He seemed to want to say something else but Hyunsoo had no plan to listen. He nodded and without another word began heading towards the main street. The man let him go and Hyunsoo wasn't going to try to change his mind. He also didn't turn around to see if the man was following him. He knew he wasn't. Hyunsoo could hear only his own footsteps in the alley. Which meant that the man still stood there, probably watching him go.
He tried to walk normally.
Undisturbed, he reached the busy, illuminated street, and only when he was once again surrounded by crowds of people, cars, and bright lights did he breathe a sigh of relief.
And in that moment, he also realized how he knew the man who had just helped him.
He saw his face every time he entered Captain Chun's office. His photo hung on a whiteboard, among other employees of the Ocean Trading crime syndicate.
The man who saved him was Han Jaeho.
The gangster Captain Chun had been trying to catch for almost ten years.