jinx

For the first time in your career, having a baby face seems to have finally paid off. Sure, you were only freshly 21, but stress ages people fast! Months and months of chasing tails finally got you a lead on the slippery local thug you were assigned to. You wove between people in the crowd, hoodie up, trying not to blow your cover before you were even “in”, occasionally bumping shoulders with a disgruntled teenager, which is its own issue, but not relevant to your assignment.

Upon making your way near the front of the line, you took off your hoodie, tossing it somewhere haphazardly. You fixed your hair and your posture, checked yourself out in a pocket mirror you “borrowed” from an unknowing colleague in the office. You knew that above all else, to get into a club like this, you had to look your absolute best.

You slid your wallet out of your pocket, putting the mirror back in its place in the process. You fidgeted briefly as the bouncers let the last few people in front of you enter the club. They looked you over once before letting you pass too.

‘I didn’t even need the fake ID? Do these bastards know how much paperwork I had to fill out to get this?’

You smiled and thanked them regardless. After all, professionals have to keep their composure right? You snaked between tables until you found one that felt off. Like seemingly everyone else in the club, the people sitting there definitely looked young, but the air was thick with a palpable tension. You knew better than not trusting your intuition right now.

Two men, seemingly around age 20. One blond, the other raven-haired, not that he exactly mattered right now. Both were decked out in designer suits with tacky monograms head to toe, pouring expensive booze like the night’s never ending.

No wonder there were women all over them.

As eager as you want to be, you unfortunately know at least a little bit better than to dive into this situation head first. No, you have to isolate him.

You ordered rounds on rounds of drinks to their table, making sure you specified they were for his companion. Maybe if you pressured him to drink more you could get him to go to the restroom?

It was one of the stupidest ideas you’ve had to date, and you definitely knew it, making you all the more shocked when it actually worked.

As soon as the taller of the two was out of sight, you made your way to their table, sliding into place right next to him. You definitely overshot it and ended up way closer than you would’ve liked, but you decided it would be best to try to use it to your advantage.

“Have you been enjoying the drinks?” You asked coyly, batting your lashes at him innocently.

“Weren’t those for Gun?” He asked with a raised brow and a pout.

You paused for a second, somehow not anticipating that question.

“Would you be mad if I said it was to get you alone?” You asked with a little wink. “What’s your name?”

“You’re a bold one aren’t you?” He asked with a wide, smug grin. “You can just call me Goo, kay?”

And that’s how you met him. Kim Joongoo, the number one suspect on your radar. That was about a month ago, and you’d definitely be lying if you claimed that you haven’t met up several times since that night, but he’s as much of a sucker for flattery as you are for blonds.

You’ve been pacing around the office for the past 20 minutes, clearly deep in thought. Your colleagues just assumed it was about the case, which isn’t entirely incorrect, but it’s definitely dishonest in its own right. You watched them all drone away on their little tasks, trying to make sense of your own thoughts right now.

You knew it was more or less hopeless. You knew you wouldn’t figure it out. You told yourself that you’d sleep on it, but you knew that wouldn’t get you any further. Your issue wasn’t one you wanted to face. Facing it is giving it power.

You shook your head, a feeble attempt to physically remove the thoughts from your head before sulking your way out of the office for some fresh air. You squinted as the sunlight hit your eyes, reminding you of his hair. An unwelcome sensation arose in your chest, you flicked your forehead to deter it and went back inside.

‘Good God.’

Days and nights blurred between your visits like minutes into hours. You honestly couldn’t remember the last time you felt this way, all you knew is that you didn’t want to feel it now. You know, Goo is shockingly tender with you despite his boisterous personality. So much so that you didn’t catch yourself leaning on his arm most of the time. At least not until it was far too late.

You almost speak. Almost. It’s so like you to get lost in the moment though. You don’t want to give anything away, so you bite back words and avoid eye contact. The less you say, the better. Even so, a part of you thinks that maybe he knows.

You watched youtube shorts on your phone, probably the least dignified thing you’ve ever done in your entire life, but God knows you need the distraction. He watched them over your shoulder too, infinitely more entertained than you, and it was almost endearing in a sad, brainrotted sort of way.

Before you knew it, you were back home. Alone with that unease that creeps up your spine when you think about him. Every thought in that seemingly empty brain of yours, completely and utterly consumed by the guy you’re supposed to be arresting.

You knew it would only be a few days until you were supposed to see him again. You knew if you didn’t tell him about your job first, he’d find out eventually. You laid, motionless with a headache, wondering where you went wrong in life to be where you are now. Even then, it doesn’t matter what caused it. You’re here now and you need to fix this before you’re in too deep. Or at least any deeper than you already are.

Another week of pacing around work and considerations toward picking up smoking passed by in what felt like only a few hours, and you were back on his couch, right up against him. You watched him play some shitty mobile game that he installed from one of those ragebait advertisements.

“Hey man,” You started. The words slipped out of your mouth before you could even consider what you were saying.

He died in his little game and shot you an accusatory glare.

“You broke my concentration,” he whined.

“I’m a cop. I figured I should probably tell you…” you trailed off, clearly unsure of how to handle this topic.

He narrowed his eyes with a smug expression, just as devilish as always.

“You think I didn’t figure that out already, Y/N?” He asked with a laugh. “I’m kinda hurt, do you really think I’m that slow?”

A blush makes its way to your face with ease as you stammer and try to come up with an explanation. You wonder what gave it away, how it was so obvious to him, why he didn’t push you away anyways.

“You really knew already?” You mumbled in disbelief. “What… why did you keep meeting me?”

“Can I be blunt with you Y/N?” He asks with that stupid grin that always seems to make your heart rate spike.

You nod in approval, looking up at him with clear anticipation in your eyes. You really are an open book.

“I know you won’t arrest me,” he said flatly. “We both have something to gain here, you know.”

You narrow your eyes. Your expression was so skeptical that it could honestly make anyone question their own innocence.

“Are you trying to bribe me right now?” you ask, nudging his ribs in gentle disapproval.

“Whaaaat? Me? Never,” he said sarcastically.

“That might be the worst crime you’ve actually committed in my presence,” you said, shaking your head.

You rested your head on his shoulder again. You absolutely shouldn’t have done it, but you absolutely couldn’t stop yourself either. You looked at him with eyes still skeptical, the gears in your head turning with so much intensity that you wouldn’t be shocked if he could hear them.

You didn’t speak though. You knew that nothing you said would really fill the silence in any satisfactory way.

You glanced at the time on his phone, sighing and rising to your feet when you realized it was well past midnight.

“Leaving already Rookie?” He asked with a grin.

“It’s past midnight. I have to be in the office in 5 hours,” you moped. “And don’t call me that…”

There weren’t really any further pleasantries exchanged between the two of you. The silence grew a little too awkward for that.

Upon arriving home, you flopped onto your couch, not even bothering to get to the bedroom. Everything was just so strange, and you couldn’t help but feel drained.

You massaged your temples, staring up at your ceiling in utter exhaustion. A part of you wonders why you’re staying, but the rest of you knows the truth. It was something you’d never admit to yourself, but the sleep deprivation was beginning to wear down on your resolve.

You may or may not have the smallest inkling of a crush.

Referring to it as a crush alone was more than enough to make you immediately cringe. You’re supposed to be an adult. You’re supposed to be better than that.

You did manage to get some sleep that night, though it wasn’t particularly restful, nor was it long enough for your liking. You walked into the office looking like the living dead, a few colleagues glanced apologetically, others asked if you were sick, but you knew that it wasn’t the case.

Lovesick on the other hand? Maybe.

It’s been a long time since you’ve felt so stupid, and something is telling you it’ll be a long time before you revert to your defaults.

You’re snapped out of your thoughts by a loud notification on your phone.

‘Oh fuck, I forgot to turn off my ringer,’ you thought, reaching casually for the device.

You expected it to be something stupid, like a notice that your package shipped or something of the sort, but much to your shock it was a text from Joongoo. Perplexed, you unlock your phone and scan over it with more urgency than you’d admit to having.

“Hey Rookie 🩷 I thought this would be useful to you”

Your eyes narrowed dangerously as you looked over the attached image, immediately recognizing the person from one of the wanted posters plastered around Seoul. You wrote with a speed that even the most proficient typists would have trouble besting.

“ugh, stop calling me that. also, wtf where is that??”

“he’s in gangbuk lol… you better get to him before god dog handles it for you”

You huffed, setting down your phone with a bit of a pout. You really hoped this wouldn’t be some wild goose chase.

“If he’s not there when I get there I’m going to kill you 💢” you texted back playfully.

You rose to your feet, shoving your arms into the sleeves of your windbreaker without much regard for it. You speed walk out of the office and into your car, booking it straight to Gangbuk.

You’re snapped out of your thoughts by a loud notification on your phone.

‘Oh fuck, I forgot to turn off my ringer,’ you thought, reaching casually for the device. 

You expected it to be something stupid, like a notice that your package shipped or something of the sort, but much to your shock it was a text from Joongoo. Perplexed, you unlock your phone and scan over it with more urgency than you’d admit to having. 

“Hey rookie, I thought this would be useful for you.”

Your eyes narrowed dangerously as you looked over the attached image, immediately recognizing the person from one of the wanted posters plastered around Seoul. 

“ugh, stop calling me that. also, wtf where is that??”

“he’s in gangbuk lol.  you better get to him before god dog handles it for you.”

You huffed, setting down your phone with a bit of a pout. You really hoped this wouldn’t be some wild goose chase. 

“If he’s not there when I get there I’m going to kill you,” you texted back playfully. 

You rose to your feet, shoving your arms into the sleeves of your windbreaker without much regard for it. You speed walk out of the office and into your car, booking it straight to Gangbuk.

You pulled off on some random side street, whipping out your phone again. 

“Goo.”

No reply.

“Joongoo.”

No luck. 

“KIM JOONGOO ANSWER ME.”

Your heart was hammering out of your chest, and you breathed a HEAVY sigh of relief when he finally read your messages.

“I’m here in Gangbuk, where was that photo taken???”

“Do you remember that Chinese restaurant we went to? It’s like right there.”

Lightbulbs went off in your head and you perked up nearly instantly. You tossed your phone into the passenger seat before peeling out towards the restaurant you had been to only a few weeks prior.

You drove around the general vicinity, worrying for a minute that maybe you showed up too late until you pulled around the corner and spotted him instantly. 

You threw your car into park and set your jacket in the passenger seat, deciding that pursuit by foot would be your best bet. You know, element of surprise? You stalked not more than ten feet away, but you’re a real professional.

Once you were sure you were alone and in an advantageous position, you finally made your presence known.

“Lim Sang-chul,” You called out with a smug voice now that he was cornered. “You’re under arrest.”

The man flinched, but you were quick to pin his body against the wall, swiftly clicking a set of handcuffs closed around his wrists. Your heart hammered with a mix of pride and guilt, it was exhilarating. You definitely knew better than taking this “tip” from Goo, but you also knew that nobody needed to know how you got the culprit either.

You walked him back to your car and grabbed your phone, calling your supervisor to inform him of your little catch. He dispatched an actual police vehicle to handle it from there.

Upon arrival, a few of your coworkers came to greet you enthusiastically. There were a few high-fives exchanged before two of the guys went to actually get your suspect loaded into the car.

“How’d you even catch him? We’ve been looking for him for weeks!” Your third coworker asked in awe.

You paused for a beat before responding.

“Uh, just intuition I guess,” you said with a meek grin.

They made quick work of packing him up, they told you they’d see you back at the office, and then they drove off.

You sat in silence, fidgeting with anything you could get your hands on. You probably should’ve told your supervisor about the tip. You knew that you were on a slippery slope, but you were addicted. Pure adrenaline rushed through your veins, and God was it intoxicating. You were already regarded as a prodigy, it was no stretch to say that you were good, but Goo made you even better.

You took a deep sigh before climbing back to your car. The second you sat, you got another notification on your phone.

“Did you get the job done? :P”

“What the hell were you thinking???” You shot back. “Are you trying to get me audited or something?”

“Oh come on, I’m just doing you a favor. Live a little”

By this point, you were so annoyed that a vein visibly bulged in your forehead, you locked your phone and went back to your office to sort out the paperwork.

You’d think all that frustration you built up through out the day would’ve been enough to keep you from meeting Goo that night. Unfortunately, it’s quite the opposite. Emotions rarely operate by any logical standard.

In fact, you were so eager to see him that you were practically breaking down the door to his penthouse.

“God, Y/N, it’s not even seven pm yet,” Goo whined as he opened the door.

“What is wrong with you?” You huffed, arms crossed indignantly. “I could’ve lost my job if that got out. Does that even register to you??”

You had no clue if you wanted to kill or kiss him. Probably both if you were honest with yourself.

“Oh, by the way,” He interrupts you while walking away. “I got you a little something.”

Don’t get it wrong, you were still fuming, but you piped down for the moment.

“Tada,” He says as he comes back into view. “I hope it’s to your taste.”

He hands you a watch, and your eyes narrow even further. You recognized the brand at the very least. Your father’s was similar. He said it was for ‘special occasions’, which usually diplomatic events.

“This is way too much, I can’t accept it,” you stammered with a nervous smile, handing it back to him with both hands.

“I insist,” He said with a charming grin. “It’s just a congratulatory gift, nothing more.”

You paused, because really, you knew better. You knew that there had to have been a string attached somewhere, then it finally clicked. He sent you after that guy on purpose.

“I know you’re trying to bribe me,” you scoffed with crossed arms. “I’m not that stupid, I know you led me to that guy on purpose. This must be that benefit you mentioned, huh?”

A wide grin manifested on his face, he looked proud.

“There’s my little detective, I knew you’d figure it out,” He said in a sing-song tone. “But that’s still not why I’m giving you this. It really is just a little gift. It’s a hand-me-down, nothing special, so don’t sweat it.”

He took your hand in his and secured the watch on your wrist, pausing to admire it. His hand lingered for quite some time, but you certainly weren’t going to complain.

He didn’t let go until he was pouring two glasses of champagne. He held one up for you, which you declined.

“Thank you, but I still have to drive home tonight,” you said with a bashful expression, still pondering the greater implication that was now physically attached to your wrist.

“You sure?” He purred. “I can have someone else drive you, you know?”

You pouted.

“Well then how would I get to work without my car?”

“I could have someone drive you there too,” he said like it was the perfect solution.

“And you don’t think that would raise suspicion?” You giggled. “You’re pretty horrible at the whole laying low thing.”

He placed a hand over his heart with an expression of exaggerated offense.

“Who, me?”

“Well yeah, who else would I be talking to right now?”

“Okay you MIGHT win this time… but it won’t happen again,” he stated like it was nothing, but the stupid blush on his cheeks gave it all away. He huffed and turned around. “But we should do dinner tomorrow, yeah?”

The sound you made was somewhere between a scoff and a laugh, it was hard to pinpoint. You didn’t know if you could even pretend to be upset anymore since it was becoming pretty obvious that he was being sincere.

“If you insist…” you said with a goofy grin.

That night made it even harder to go to work than usual. You woke up that morning with dread in the pit of your stomach, but you didn’t really have a choice but to endure it.

You caught yourself subconsciously tugging the sleeve of your windbreaker over the watch every so often, and every time you checked the time, it was a brutal reminder of that little seed of corruption that you planted.

You wanted to take your mind off of everything, so you packed your belongings in hopes of going for a stroll, giving your watch one last glance before standing up.

“Oh, Y/N, I was just looking for you!” Your supervisor interrupted. “Congratulations on yesterday’s catch! Come meet me in my office, I have something to discuss with you.”

Your blood ran cold, and a stray bead of sweat rolled down your cheek, but you nodded.

“Of course,” you said with a 90° bow.

You were both silent. The walk seemed impossibly slow, and that anxiety just built higher and higher with each step. You snapped out of it when your boss opened the door, gesturing for you to enter his office.

“Take a seat, make yourself comfortable,” he said with a smile.

You nodded, taking a seat and waiting for him to do the same.

“So, Y/N…” He started, pulling out his chair before settling in. “Do you know why I brought you here?”

You shifted uncomfortably for a split second, tugging your sleeve over your “gift” again, mentally cursing Goo for even considering giving it to you.

“No sir,” you replied.

His smile grew as he pulled a neatly stacked set of papers from one of his filing cabinets. He stapled it and slid it across the desk for you to read.

“Myself and the others have been thinking, and we’re all thoroughly impressed with your performance,” he said.

You skimmed the document with wide eyes and a nervous smile.

“We would like to make you Detective II, if that’s something you’d be interested in,” he said, putting away a few other documents as you read. “Of course it does come with a pay increase.”

“Are you sure?” You asked with a faux humbleness. “I’ve only worked here for a little over a year…”

A hearty laugh erupted from deep in his chest.

“You really are your father’s child,” He commented. “Of course I’m sure. You’ve more than proven yourself. If you stay on this trajectory, you’ll rise the ranks in no time.”

You were giddy with a mix of anxiety and adrenaline as you made your way back to your desk. You seated yourself and fidgeted with the watch for a second before your familiar text tone resonated in the air. You unlocked your phone, just to see it was a video from Goo.

“Are you seriously sending me tiktoks while I’m at work?”

“Maybe”

“Well…” you typed out and hit send. “I just got a promotion. Detective II, you’re actually a terrible influence.”

“Only II? We gotta work on that lol. Don’t forget about dinner tonight either, okay?”

You scoffed.

“We didn’t even agree on a place yet”

“Don’t worry about that, just meet me at my place”

“Only if you’re paying,” you replied, grinning as you sent it.

You finished your paperwork as fast as you could manage, fidgeting with your pen as you wrote. You’d never admit it, but the truth is that you were excited. For the first time since you caught feelings, it felt like you were finally doing something about it.

You stood in front of your locker somewhat casually, just having retrieved your last few belongings. You checked the time again, opting to use your phone instead of the watch so you wouldn’t have to be reminded of your own corruption.

‘4:30 PM, not bad,’ you thought to yourself as you slipped it back into your pockets.

You hit the remote start button on your car key, a routine that became muscle memory a long time ago. You walked out to your car, stretching your arms in front of you as you did so. You put your phone in your cupholder. It was a bad habit you carried over from your first car.

You left the parking garage, just like you do any other day. You made your way up the familiar road and onto the highway, watching as the birds flew over the Han River. You rolled your windows down, enjoying that summer breeze that you had always been oh so fond of.

The air became slightly crisp by the time you arrived at Goo’s penthouse, you zipped your windbreaker before getting out of the car. You shot him a quick text, just to inform him that you had arrived and were heading upstairs.

“God, you’re wearing THAT? Isn’t it like 100% polyester?” He asked with a horrified expression when you walked in wearing your beat up blazer.

“What’s wrong with it? I just got off work, I didn’t have time to grab anything nicer,” you huffed.

Without missing a beat he took off his own blazer and tossed it at you. It was beautiful and expensive, just like everything else he wore. The charcoal grey color didn’t seem like much, but the tag inside was enough to make your modest self frown.

“For the love of God, Y/N, please keep it if it means you don’t wear that rag again,” He said, adjusting his glasses. “It was a little small for me anyways.”

You complied, taking off your windbreaker and folding it neatly. You set it on the arm of the couch and proceeded to slide your arms into the silk-lined sleeves.

“I’ll wear it today, but I couldn’t possibly keep it,” you insisted humbly.

“Keep it, trash it, give it away, frankly I don’t care,” he lied. “But it does look great on you.”

He stood behind you, adjusting the blazer and smoothing out the fabric on your shoulders. He even went as far as wrapping his arms around your waist to fasten the buttons, which obviously turned your face bright red.

“Matches that watch of yours too,” he said.

You scoffed, seeing as you could practically hear that stupid smirk on his face while he spoke.

“You are so fucking annoying,” you teased, nudging his ribs.

You turned to face him, a stupid and sheepish grin on your face. The blazer fit pretty decently, but the metaphorical weight of the garment just felt so out of place on your skin.

“You really think this is okay?” You asked? gesturing to the fabric that draped over your work clothes.

He paused and looked you over in what the untrained eye would interpret as careful consideration, but you knew him better than that.

“Only the best for my secret friend,” he concluded with a dismissive flick of the wrist. “We gotta make sure you look the part, yeah?”

You thought about it for a second before nodding in agreement. It was funny in a way. This was probably the first time that either of you really acknowledged the little dynamic that you had formed. You obviously weren’t stupid, you knew that he had something serious to gain from you taking that guy down the other day. You try not to think about it.

He started to guide you out to his car, occasionally glancing at you.

“Come to think of it, we should probably get you some new shoes too, yeah?” He asked with what sounded like a sweet voice, but you assumed he had an ulterior motive.

“You’re taking it too far,” you responded flatly as you climbed into his passenger seat, crossing your legs swiftly.

You zoned out, fidgeting with the watch again, though you avoided looking directly at it. Goo climbed into the driver’s seat, which was quick to bring you back into reality.

“Are you ready?” He asked with a grin as he turned the key in the ignition.

He threw the car into reverse, and as if on queue, your phone started ringing. You took it out of your pocket and your face when white.

“Park again now. Stay right here until I text you,” you said, flying out of the car as fast as you could manage.

“Detective L/N,” you answered the phone, walking to your car and tossing the blazer in the trunk.

“Hello Y/N, I’m glad you answered the phone,” your supervisor said cheerily. “We just got an anonymous tip on Kim Joongoo’s location, and I want you to lead the raid. You think you can do that?”

You bit your lip harshly, but ultimately knew you had to agree.

“Yes sir. Send me the location, I’ll be there ASAP,” you said with a stern voice.

You unlocked your car, getting your walkie talkie out of the passenger seat.

“Excellent, you really are my star employee,” he said with an audible grin before hanging up.

‘Thank God I’m the detective assigned to this case.’

You made your way back to Joongoo, you looked at him with narrow eyes and a serious expression. You gestures him to roll down his window. When he finally complied, you held your hand in front of him.

“House key. Don’t ask questions, just hand it over.”

He smirked. Despite always acting like a fool, he wasn’t entirely stupid. He more or less figured out what was happening. He dropped the key into your palm.

“What’s your plan Rookie?” he asked with a dangerous tone of voice.

“Wait and see,” you said with a grin, walking off with the key.

You knew there was too much evidence of two people left behind in that penthouse, too much evidence of you. You slid on your gloves, quickly opening the door and locking it behind you. You grabbed your ratty and well-worn windbreaker off the arm of the couch and slid it on.

You took a moment to look in the mirror, feeling less like a detective and more like you were wearing a costume. You held back a sigh, opting to finish the task at hand before indulging in your little pity party.

You grabbed an old grocery bag off his counter, cramming all the champagne bottle and all of the glassware from earlier into it, and tying it off neatly in case any odors seeped out.

Your gloved hands made quick work of unlocking the door, you really did make it look 10 times easier than it was. You set the bag in your trunk along side that several thousand dollar blazer and your spare tire, grimacing at the scene before recollecting yourself.

You texted Goo, telling him to leave through the east exit as soon as he saw your car again. You quickly climbed into your car and peeled out of the parking garage.

You drove out maybe four or five miles before pulling an illegal U-turn.

“Detective L/N approaching site, I have eyes on a suspicious vehicle exiting through the west lot. I’m blocking the east side with my vehicle. Divert units to all other sides. Over.” you spoke into your walkie talkie, your voice was cold and calculated.

You entered the East side, and just as planned, Goo’s vehicle peels out just in the nick of time. You smiled, briefly unable to hide your exhilaration. You collected yourself, tossing the key under your seat and shoving your gloves in your pocket before stepping out of the vehicle.

You walked with confidence, approaching your Sergeant and the police that were speaking to him. You combed your hands through your hair, feigning exhaustion.

“Do we still have eyes on the suspect?” You asked, stepping into the circle.

“They haven’t radioed in an update in a minute, but either way, we can at least investigate the penthouse.

“Good thinking,” you responded to the officer, checking the time casually.

“Nice watch, Y/N,” your supervisor commented, patting your shoulder. “Promotion gift?”

“Ah this old thing? I guess you could call it that,” you chuckled. “It’s a hand-me-down from my father. He said it’ll make me look more ‘professional.”

“Well it’s in excellent condition,” he said, looking at it up close. “I was thinking of getting one with my holiday bonus, the ‘ol ball ‘n’ chain refused. Says I’m not interested in ‘em enough to be spending that much.”

You grinned awkwardly, internally cursing yourself for being so careless. If he knew a little more than that, it could’ve been dangerous.

“Well everyone, let’s head up there, yeah?” He said, patting your shoulder again.

The lot of you made your way up the staircase, which was admittedly foreign as you would usually take the elevator. On the bright side, your thighs were only slightly burning when you reached the top floor.

You and the Sergeant stood off to the side while the officers picked the lock, flicking on the lights as they entered.

You slipped the gloves out of your pocket and over your hands, proceeding to grab your flashlight from your other pocket. You shone it around like muscle memory, looking for details that you knew no longer existed.

“Look here,” you said. “There’s no dust here. He was definitely here recently.”

Everyone gathered around the table, looking closely at the clean spot.

“Wow, he’s a real professional, he didn’t leave a trace!” One of the officers exclaimed.

You smirked internally, knowing that you were the one responsible for destroying all of the evidence.

“Sergeant Hong, this is officer Jaymin. Come in.”

The walkie-talkie on the Sergeant’s hip was loud and jarring, instantly drawing attention. He clumsily unclipped it, raising it to his face.

“I’m here officer. Over.”

You’d think after such a long and lustrous career that he would be better at using that thing.

“We lost the suspect. Over.”

The officers around you looked between you and the Sergeant, chattering quietly to themselves. You narrowed your eyes, feigning confusion.

“That’ll be it for the night. Return to the station boys. Over.”

He clipped the walkie-talkie back to his belt solemnly before looking back up at you.

“Good work Y/N. Thank you for participating, even though you were fresh off the clock. We really appreciate it.”

You bowed a full 90 degrees, looking prim and proper. Not so much as a hair out of place.

“Of course, Sergeant. It’s all a part of the job.”

He patted your shoulder for a third time that night, a habit that was beginning to piss you off.

“Go home and get some rest, Detective.”

You stood at full height again, placing your flashlight and gloves in your pockets before heading out to your car. You unlocked it and slid into the seat, taking out your phone and shooting Goo a text.

“Now you DEFINITELY owe me dinner.”

“So we’re still on?”

“Yeah, send an address. I’ll be there as soon as I can, okay?”

He complied, sending an address, which you keyed it into your GPS before driving off. You still shook from adrenaline, from the minute you got in the car until the moment you stepped out of it. You took off your wind breaker, opting to wear the blazer after all. You grabbed Goo’s key from underneath your seat and handed your car key to the valet.

“Hello, do you have a reservation?” The hostess asked with a smile.

“I’m here to meet a friend, the reservation should be for Kim Joongoo?”

She nodded and began leading you to his table, you put your blazer on, buttoning it as you walked. It felt like home. You thanked your hostess before sitting across the table from Goo, who looked as good as ever.

“I think these are yours,” you said with a sly grin, handing him the house key from across the table.

“You’re fucking crazy,” he said with a genuine laugh. “I knew I had the right idea keeping you around.”

You rolled your eyes, kicking his leg under the table.

“Oh please,” you scoffed. “It was easy.”

“I think you just made it look easy,” he commented, pouring you a glass from the fresh bottle of champagne he ordered while waiting for your arrival.

“Maybe a little. In any case, it’s done. You should probably stay at my place for the time being,” you said, pouring yourself a glass.

The champagne bubbled in your glass. You hate champagne, but you figured this was something worth celebrating, so you took a long sip. Your nose scrunched up instantly. You set the glass down and sighed.

“It never gets easier,” you remarked with a pout. “Anyways, I’ve never been here. What’s good on the menu?”

Goo laughed at your antics, and you crossed your arms indignantly.

“Just get something. If you don’t like it we’ll just order you something else,” he said while swirling his champagne.

You were no expert, but you were pretty sure that’s not something you’re supposed to do with champagne.

The server came around, taking your orders. The next two hours were a blur of clinking glasses, appetizers, and at least two rounds of entries, but you and Goo were sharing off your plates so you easily lost count.

“I get why they called you a prodigy,” he remarked, the carefree mask momentarily slipping and revealing that he actually does have a brain. “How did you even think of pulling a stunt like that?”

“I don’t know,” you said, taking a small bite of your sirloin. “It just comes naturally if that makes sense. It’s hard to explain.”

“That badge is holding you back more than you’d ever know,” he laughed.

“Don’t flatter me, Joongoo,” You said, flicking your wrist dismissively.

“I’m serious, Y/N. You might be my biggest trump card yet,” he said with his signature smile.

“Oh come on, I’m not that scary. Surely you have more impressive secret friends.”

You waved your server over. You admired the way the platinum on your wrist caught the light, glistening like nothing you’ve ever seen before. requesting water instead, because it would take an act of God to get you to have another sip of that horrible concoction.

“Physically maybe, but if we add all of their IQ’s together we’d be lucky if it was even room temperature,” he laughed again. “Even then, Samuel would probably be carrying most of that.”

“Well that’s a bit mean,” you said, resting your cheek on your palm.

You sat there, watching diligently as the server came around with the bill. Goo didn’t even bother reading it, much to your surprise. He just handed her a card and sent her on her way.

“It’s like money doesn’t even exist to you,” you hummed, tapping your fingers on the table restlessly.

“Money only matters when you don’t have any,” he said flippantly.

It’s like his entire existence was an insult. He didn’t even bother looking at the receipt. He signed it and put his card back in his wallet and stood up like nothing even happened.

“Well Rookie, are you coming?” He asked with a grin, looking down at you.

“Ugh, I already told you to stop calling me that,” you groaned as you stood up.

You smoothed the wrinkles out of your lap and walked beside him.

“You know, we should probably see if there’s somewhere better to store your car… it’s a little much, yeah?”

He blinked cluelessly, he clearly hadn’t even considered that it might’ve been out of the ordinary. He paused to consider it while the two of you approached the valet.

“Yeah, you’re probably onto something. Hold on let me ask Samuel.”

He took out his phone and typed up a message to who you presumed was Samuel. In the meantime, you collected both sets of keys.

“Did he respond?” You asked, putting his car key in his pocket in a casual display of intimacy.

“Yeah, he complained a little, but ultimately agreed,” he said. “I’ll send you the address, think you can pick me up?”

You pulled out your phone, checking the address in your GPS app.

“Dude,” you said in mild horror. “This is like an hour long drive, you better at least buy my gas.”

“Yeah yeah whatever, I’ll do it, just pick me up,” he whined.

You scowled and grumbled, but you didn’t think it sounded too bad. I mean, when else would you get close proximity like this?

You stepped out, the cold air nipped at your nose. Your car was easier to spot than ever, it was the only Nissan in a sea of Maseratis and Corvettes. You didn’t even know there were that many luxury vehicles in all of Seoul, let alone at one restaurant.

You seated yourself, pulling up the GPS again before making your way all the way out to Hannam-dong. You enjoyed the drive more than you would ever admit. Your windows were down, and you basked in the cool breeze. You finally had time to listen to your favorite playlist, and the traffic conditions were pretty good since it was so late at night. You probably made it there in record time.

You parked in front of this ‘Samuel’ guy’s apartment complex, waiting awkwardly until you finally saw Goo’s car. You were curious what kind of person Samuel was, and even more curious what his relationship with Goo was like, but you would never admit it.

You watched as his vehicle entered the gates to the apartment, and slowly disappeared around the bend. You counted the seconds until his return like a sad dog. You never knew you had the capacity to behave this way.

You were snapped out of your thoughts by your passenger door opening. Goo climbed in, and your car dipped a little under the weight. He sighed softly and adjusted the seat.

“You look exhausted,” he commented, looking you over with careful consideration. “Samuel says hi, by the way.”

“Yeah?” You asked curiously. “What’s he like?”

“Total loose cannon, you should probably avoid him if I’m being honest.”

You couldn’t help but laugh, like really laugh. It feels like it’d been forever since you could just have a moment like that. He smiled too, but something felt different. There wasn’t any gloating or sarcasm behind it.

“You think so? Even more than you?” you teased, nudging him a little.

“Welllll. Maybe. I don’t think I’m that bad,” he remarked as the two of you fell into a comfortable silence.

The music played quietly, filling the air between you with a sort of melancholy that was hard to describe. He played with the watch on your wrist, and you watched him in your peripheral.

“Do you ever get tired of it?” you asked, speaking before you had the thought to stop yourself.

“The running? Or the lying?” he answered, his voice was uncharacteristically soft.

You could tell he was dead tired, even if he didn’t say it outright.

“Both.”

Neither of you spoke for what felt like minutes, but it couldn’t have been more than a few seconds.

“Sometimes,” he said, resting his head on your shoulder.

Your entire body tensed up for a second, not really used to the feeling. Usually it’s the other way around.

“Don’t fall asleep yet, we’re almost there,” you hummed.

“Thank God,” he murmured, stretching his arms before returning his attention to the watch.

His hands were warm, a lot warmer than your skin was at least, making you keenly aware of every time his fingers brushed against your skin. It was quiet for far too long, and that wasn’t exactly like him. You glanced at him, more worried than you’d ever say out loud.

“Where do we go from here, Kim Joongoo?” You asked, nipping your lip nervously.

He laughed, though it was quiet.

“Back to work, what else?” He asked, looking up at you with a gaze that you were all too familiar with.

He was creating distance, building up his walls again, it was clear that he scared himself with all the vulnerability. It scared you too.

You pulled into your assigned spot, shifting the car into park before sighing deeply. You looked up at the upholstered ceiling, throat bobbing as you swallowed your thoughts physically. You undid your seatbelt and climbed out of the car, relieved to stretch your legs. You pulled your keys out of your pocket, waiting for Goo to come out too.

“It’s not much,” you said, leading him to the front door of your quaint little townhome. “But you’ll be safe here.”

It was a little awkward to have him walking behind you instead of next to or in front of you. You fumbled with your key before finally managing to unlock the door. There were a few stacks of case files littered across your living room. You tossed your badge, flashlight, and gloves on top of it before falling against your loveseat.

Goo stretched and cracked his neck, mimicking you by falling against your couch.

“Living like this doesn’t suit you, does it?” he teased.

“I don’t know man, I like the simplicity,” you responded.

Now that you were home, the adrenaline high was starting to wear off, and reality set in fast. Your heart was hammering against your ribcage with the force of a freight train.

“I don’t know if I can ever go back to that,” you said with a wry laugh.

You stood up again, stretching and cracking your back. Back to work. Those words echoed in your head clearer than day. You hated to admit it, but you knew he was right. As long as you and him continued down this path, the work would never end.

You took off your blazer, draping it over the arm of the loveseat. You rolled up your sleeves and stepped out to the car. You popped the trunk and collected your little bag of evidence, bringing it inside and setting it on the kitchen counter. You glimpsed back into the living room, watching Goo flip through his own case file like it was a gossip article.

“They really don’t know anything, huh?” he asked with a hearty laugh. Business as usual with him.

“Of course they don’t,” you said. “I’m the lead detective for your case.”

His eyes widened in delight, he set the manila folder back down and looked at you directly.

“You’re a horrible cop,” he said with a huge grin.

“Thanks to your horrible influence,” you shot back, flipping him off playfully.

You opened the bag, taking out the glassware and setting it in your sink. You also happened to pour the bottle of champagne down the drain before peeling the label and placing it back in the bag. You washed the glasses meticulously, ensuring not so much as a finger print was left.

“Hey, careful with those, they’re crystal!” Goo called from the living room, which he was now wandering about and snooping in.

“You’re lucky I didn’t just throw them away,” you scoffed, drying them with a microfiber.

You turned your attention back to the bag, which now contained nothing but an empty, unlabeled bottle.

“It’s gonna get really loud for a second,” you warned as you started to hit the bag against your granite countertop, crushing the glass methodically.

It was really still after that, far too quiet for your liking. The room felt heavy with tension. You sighed. It all felt stupid, but unsettlingly metaphorical to you.

“You’re good at that,” he noted, breaking the tension. “Most people would’ve thrown it in the dumpster and hoped for the best.”

“Hope isn’t a plan,” you responded, standing on your tippy toes to reach the mortar and pestle that you kept on the top shelf. “I like to think I’m a little more clever than that.”

You tossed your glass chunks in and begun grinding them into a fine powder, stretching and massaging your wrist every now and then. It was more strenuous than you expected.

You watched him flip through photos of you and your buddies from the police academy. The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on you. You watched him peruse through your squeaky clean, upper middle class past, all while you were in the midst of sanitizing his criminal present.

“Having fun?” You asked teasingly.

He flinched, you guessed that he didn’t notice you were watching.

“Only a little.”

“Good, because I’m done over here,” you said, pouring the fine dust that used to be a champagne bottle into your trashcan. “I guess I should show you to the guest bedroom now.”

You led him to your short and narrow staircase, you couldn’t hold the laugh that bubbled in your chest when he had to bend his knees to avoid hitting his head. It was a perfect example of bringing a bull into a china shop.

You guided him through the hall, showing him to the bathroom and both bedrooms.

“This one’s yours for the time being,” you said, opening the door to a plainly decorated room. Inside there was just a TV, a bed, and a single poster on the wall.

He considered it closely, sitting on the mattress to test it. He didn’t say anything because beggars can’t be choosers.

“There’s some clothes in the closet that you can sleep in. I haven’t done laundry this week, so it’s not much,” you added.

He approached the closet and opened it gingerly. There was maybe two pairs of old pajama pants and a few of your tshirts from the academy.

“You really want me to wear this?” he laughed, holding the shirt up against his frame. “Is this not stolen valor?”

“Stolen valor only applies to the military, dork,” You grinned. “If you’d rather get your suit all wrinkled, that’s on you.”

You stepped out, clicking the door closed behind you. You rested on the doorframe and sighed.