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"Lee Seokmin, you are the bane of my existence."
"So you're telling me that I'm in your mind 24/7?"
...
The special crimes unit of Seoul was a highly coveted, highly respected team. Led by Jeonghan, the team had never failed a case. That was, until...
"Who the fuck are you?" The leader hissed, blood leaking from his busted lip, panting heavily. He was on the floor, slumped against the wall, palm slick with his own blood. The brunette looked up at the perpetuator through his eyelashes, any pretence of the earlier teasing now gone.
The man looked down at him, his features shadowed. The city lights caressing his defined facial structure as it bled in through the glass windows of the high rise they were in. His amber eyes did not blink as Jeonghan's blood spread across marble.
"Lee Seokmin. Remember the name, Jeonghan. Maybe this would serve as a lesson to mind your own fucking business. I was wondering when you would drop the act." His voice rumbled, the baritone echoing off the walls, reverberating in Jeonghan's skull long after the words ended. The wounded wondered if his husband would be mad at him for missing date night.
The older's vision blurred at the edges. He glared at the man through his eyelashes, refusing to look up at him. "You will never succeed, Seokmin. Soon enough, you will slip. You will be bleeding out alone, and I will be there." He spat, his voice scratchy.
The aforementioned just stayed there, his hands behind his back. He kicked Jeonghan's stomach, making him puke blood. He crouched a little before pulling the brunette's hair, making him look at him. "Mind your words, leader. I decide who bleeds here." The taller growled, before breaking into a chilling smile.
...
"Hong Jisoo, right? Follow me."
The maple-haired officer had a radiant smile, his excitement palpable as he was shown to his desk. He bounced on his heels, trying his best to bite back a stupid grin and match the solemn mood of his coworkers.
"That's the Summa cum laude student?"
"Apparently so. He studied criminal psychology in the U.S." People muttered, leering at Jisoo, who smiled at everyone.
"He's too bright. D'you think he could handle this?"
"Fuck no. Even Yoon could not. This one is the personification of cotton candy. That Seokmin bastard will eat him up."
"Poor kid."
Jisoo bit his inner cheek, before bowing down to his senior, Kwon Soonyoung, who was his teammate at the department of special crimes. "Thank you, Mr Kwon! I will work hard and try my best to not disappoint you or the department." His voice blared. Soonyoung, caught off guard tried his best to mask the scare he got from the outburst.
"Oh, um.. okay." Soonyoung said, nodding his head in response to Jisoo's ninety degree bow. "You don't have to act so formal. Please stop bowing." Soonyoung whispered, cringing at the new officer's antics. In reality, the department did not have any one who smiled so often. It unsettled him, and yet made him feel pity for the new addition.
...
"I hope you're aware that you're not a permanent addition here. You will be tested first." Jeonghan said, his voice matter-of-fact. The brunette came back to the department after a month of recuperating in the hospital. He clocked into work despite the protests of his very traumatised husband, promising to come home early. Seungcheol had not stopped hovering since he was discharged.
"Yes, Mr. Yoon. I will try my best to exceed your expectations." The youth said, holding his hands together in front of Jeonghan's desk, after the latter had called on him.
"I don't want you to try. I want you to do it. That's it. In our department, there is no space for trying. One mistake, you're done." Jisoo knew that he was not a part of the force from the get-go. He knew he needed to do his best and land the job. He had to. "Okay, sir."
"Good. Now go along with Seungkwan. It's your first task." Jeonghan said, before turning back to his computer. He winced a little, the stitches still pulling at his skin.
...
"So, Mr. Hong, " Seungkwan started, his eyes fixed on the road, his hands were on the steering wheel, yet his mind was somewhere else. "Tell me about yourself."
Jisoo told Seungkwan about himself, the fact that he was born in Korea and went out for studies. He told his senior that it was his lifelong dream to become a police officer.
"Hmm... I see..." Seungkwan said, worrying his lip. He was concerned for the safety of the new addition. The nature of their job was highly unsafe. One wrong step, one wrong glance and it could cost a life. He didn't understand why someone like Jisoo would choose this. "I hope you know what you're walking into." He said softly, turning his head to glance at Jisoo, who stared ahead.
Jisoo bit his inner cheek hard enough to taste copper. He sighed through his nose, before smiling the same way he did at the others. "Yes. I do, Mr Boo. You do not have to concern yourself with me, really." He said, still not looking at the other.
"Okay. I'm just looking out for you. I'm sure you noticed the stares. Don't mind them. It's been a while since someone smiled in that building."
...
They reached the site, the afternoon sun painting the streets and buildings in a yellow tint. The sky was blue and nimbus clouds were lazily passing by. It was supposed to be cozy and comfortable. The scene they went to made it anything but.
It was a robbery at a convenience store. The criminal had slashed the cashier's throat, blood splattered everywhere. The putrid stench of blood crept into Seungkwan's lungs and locked it in a cruel embrace. Despite his obvious unease, he decided to stay brave for his Junior. He looked behind him and the maple head was not found. He widened his eyes at the sight in front of him.
Hong Jisoo was already wearing his gloves and knelt in front of the puddle of blood, touching the substance and feeling the texture and clotting stage. He raised his head, looking toward a section of the store. He walked toward that section, his gaze focused.
"What- Where are you going, Mr.Hong?" Seungkwan stuttered, following the man with intrigue.
The man then proceeded to open the door to the storage room, and immediately went still, his eyes darting everywhere. Slowly, his shoulders dropped, and his lips moulded into a smirk. He let out a scoff of laughter, turned to his senior and said, "The guy did not run."
He nodded toward a shelf, which seemed to be in place, however, the dust, which was on every other shelf, was displaced. The vent above it had no screws attached. Seungkwan widened his eyes, taking it in before looking at Jisoo with an incredulous expression.
Hong "Cotton Candy" Jisoo was standing there, in the middle of a bloody crime scene with the same radiant smile. Except, his eyes were not.
From here onwards, Seungkwan and the rest of the department would learn that the peppy and bubbly newbie did not melt, he cut. Jisoo retained his characteristic giggle and fluttery voice, and kept a permanent position in the department. His cold precision on the field echoed in the department, ringing in their ears even after Jisoo clocked out.
...
"The man's name is Lee Seokmin," Kwon Soonyoung instructed, in the meeting room. It had been two months and Jisoo had proven himself more than he needed to. They decided that he was ready to take on the case which was unresolved, that of the mass-scale weapon laundering which was operated by Lee Seokmin.
"The officers who will be working on the case are the same ones who were there on the previous one, except we will be having a new addition." He looked at Jisoo, who bowed his head at everyone. "Hong Jisoo will also be working on it with us. Though our leader will not be on field, due to his sustained injuries, he will be helping with majority of the desk-work. We will also be having advocate Choi Seungcheol on deck, to keep it constitutional." He glanced sideways at their leader, who looked away.
The meeting concluded, with people patting Jisoo's back, some congratulating him, while some wanted to see him fail, jealousy clouding their judgement. The man, however, continued remaining in his seat, his lips slowly coming down from their smile. "Jisoo, do you have any question?" Soonyoung asked, picking up the files from the table.
"This Lee Seokmin, he's more of a threat than we made him to be. Aren't I right? Then why are we not taking this as serious as we need to? Is it because we're scared, or because we are okay with letting this go unsolved?" He questioned, his words penetrating the wall and the skulls of Soonyoung and Jeonghan, who stood up from his chair, gripping the table for support.
"You are questioning far beyond what is necessary for now. As for your question, Mr Hong, we are simply doing our duty, and that answer should suffice." Jeonghan concluded, his words rougher than he intended. He continued walking, his limp seemed to have gotten much better than before.
"Don't mind him, he's traumatised." Soonyoung started, giving Jisoo a slight smile. "He just does not want any more casualties. I'm sure you get it." He said, leaving the room, after Jeonghan.
Jisoo sighed, keeping his head down. "No. I don't." He whispered, his smile now gone from his face.
...
Seokmin stands with his back faced towards the door, gazing down at the city through his cabin's windows. He looks back and smiles, his eyes dark.
"Hello, Mr Hong. Take a seat."
Jisoo entered his office, his smile still on his face, and as captivating as ever. He sat across Seokmin, crossing his legs. "Hello, Mr Lee."
"What would you like to drink? Tea? Coffee? Whiskey? Though I assume someone as dazzling as you would only require the best wine I ha-"
"Let's talk, Mr Lee." Jisoo interrupted, his eyes now fixed on Seokmin's whose head was tilted in a calculating gaze.
"Water it is, then." Seokmin said, before slowly taking leisurely steps and sitting across him, his elbows resting on the arm rest of his chair. "May I know the reason behind you gracing me with your kind visit?"
Jisoo's grin widened. "You're quite the flatterer, Mister Lee. I actually am quite charmed. Last time I met someone as dashing was when I was a student in The States. I'm sure you know of it, since you have been keeping tabs on the department ever since your encounter with Jeonghan."
"Oh," Seokmin chuckled darkly. "You're funny too, huh. I am a busy man, Mr Hong. Though I would love to know about you, I sadly don't. Would you like me to learn about you?"
"For someone as clever as you are, I'm sure you know the exact purpose of my visit, Mr Lee. Let's talk business. Let's talk about your business, in particular. It seems to be doing well."
"Ah yes, a straightforward man. I like that. Indeed, my construction business has been going well recently. We signed a contract with a leasing company just last month, in fact. Why do you ask so?" He asked, his eyes fixed on Jisoo's as he took a sip of his water bottle.
"Your other business, I meant. Mass weaponry isn't a good feat to anyone's image, especially one as...impactful as yours. Let's not play games anymore. I know what you've been doing, and I know that you attacked Yoon Jeonghan." Jisoo answered, his fingers interlocked with each other as he rested his hand on the table. His expression hardened. Though he kept his grin, his eyes. were now dark and dared the man opposite him to continue acting oblivious.
"If something illegal is what you've come here in search for, I'm afraid this is the wrong place to begin your investigation, officer." Seokmin chided, leaning forward now, his elbows on the table as he continued gazing at Jisoo, taking in every detail.
"I know. I know that your place of operations is not 'here'. It's in Busan, isn't it? I assume that to conduct the transport of such instruments of war, you would need a port, where you can easily haul items from Korea to other nations without anyone blinking an eye." The man replied, not batting an eye. "You know why? because there is a port linked to your name in Busan. Want to try acting innocent again?"
Seokmin then grinned widely, his eyes glinting with mirth. "You're good, huh. Jeonghan's puppet, I assume. The department is a glorified prison with a pathetic hierarchy. It's amusing to see that the prisoners are playing their part rather enthusiastically."
Jisoo looked down, chuckling. He leaned forward. tilting his head, mirroring Seokmin's action. "Words. I assume that's what keeps you from falling. Makes me wonder exactly what would give you a loss of words."
Seokmin also leaned in, until they both were looking directly into each other's eyes, cognac meeting cinnamon. "I'm quite the extrovert, I'm sorry, darling."
Jisoo continued staring at him, his eyes scanning his features. From Seokmin's deep, earthy eyes, up to his eyebrows, to his defined cheekbones and finally landing on his lips. He got up, taking his bag, before smiling at Seokmin again, like they were not drowning in each other a moment ago.
"Well, that will be all. Thank you for giving me your time, Mister Lee." He bowed his head, before looking at the raven-haired man with an intensity in his eyes that betrayed the gentle smile gracing his lips.
"Alright. Good luck for your...enterprise, Mister Hong." The other said, also grinning at him. "Surely, Jeonghan knows what he's doing. Especially who falls at the end." Jisoo pauses at the door, his hand flinching at the door. He glances near the door, where he noticed a rusty blood stain on the wall.
"Yoon was attacked."
"That man does not hesitate."
"Are you sure you want to take up the job?"
He turns his head, just looking at Seokmin before leaving.
Seokmin watches him leave, his grin slipping off. The city lights behind him flickered, as his eyes were fixed on the spot Jisoo was before. The sound of traffic muffled through the windows. He takes out his phone, calling a familiar contact.
...
"Mingyu, give me the files on Hong Jisoo."
"Seokmin, I gave you everything we had on him when he joined."
"I don't care. Search for more. What makes him tick. What makes him flinch.
What makes him bleed. I want everything."
"Okay."
"Prepare a flight to Busan."
"What- Okay."
...
Jisoo walked across the hallway, his boots clacking over the marble floors. he rain his hand through his hair, his features tense as he took out his phone.
...
"Seungkwan, tell Jeonghan that we need to go to Busan. Now."
"Did he confirm it?"
"Yes."
"How did you figure it out?"
"I have a knack for these things."
"Alright."
...
The chase begins.