Warnings: violence, foul language.
When Daechul stepped into the corridor, it was already nighttime. His men, previously ensuring that tomorrow's operation went smooth, were scarce. The man wiped sweat from his brow and decided to head outside for a quick smoke. His job was far from done.
The air was crisp and chill. Damp grass glistened in the moonlight, and its fresh smell soon reached Daechul's nostrils. He took a deep breath and fished cigarettes out of his jeans pocket.
The only sound that could be heard outside was the chirping of cycads, and his calm, collected puffs of smoke.
Daechul was frustrated. The perpetrator was completely silent. The only sounds that left his quirked mouth were short, gasping chuckles, that only added more flame to Daechul's already thin temper.
However, Daechul was as stubborn as he was impatient, so the head of the Hyun mafia will certainly make the thief speak and wipe his arrogant smirk from that boyish face.
As he released the last exhale of nicotine, Daechul heard quiet footsteps coming to his right.
"Smoking is bad for your health, you know".
Daechul chuckled and smashed the cigarette into the concrete. Ilsung always was a health freak.
"I guess I don't care enough to stop", he looked at his friend with a smile.
Ilsung kept his gaze straightforward and his face blank from any emotion.
"It was eye opening. Watching you in that basement. In Seoul, I always thought of you as collected and stoic. In reality, you are more aggressive and cruel. You work with your fists, not with your brain."
"I'm sorry I lied, Ilsung. I was worried that this knowledge will be dangerous to you all, so I kept my mouth shut. I consider you my friends, not just colleagues, that's why I thought that I should protect you," Daechul confessed, watching Ilsung's reaction.
Ilsung sighed and turned his head to face his friend.
"It's okay. I think I understand you know. That doesn't mean that I agree with this… career path that you took, but I will be by your side as additional support, if you will let me."
Daechul laughed, his eyes crinkling due to his huge smile.
"Of course, now that you all know everything, it would be smart to keep each other close. I can feel war brewing. I will need your big brain and calculations," both men laughed.
"You better make that prick talk, then".
/\/\/\
When Daechul and his three friends got to Wons' house, it was already almost four in the morning. Daechul hoped to get at least an hour of sleep before he had to get ready for an important drug transportation, happening and five o'clock sharp.
Flashbacks of a very tiring interrogation ran through everyone's minds.
"Who sent you?"
Silence. Harsh blow to the jaw. Blood.
"Your name?"
Silence. Kick to the ribs. Metal chair flying backwards with a harsh thud.
"I'm gonna ask you nicely one last time. If you choose to keep silent, I will have some more fun until you speak."
Silence.
"Who. Sent. You."
Silence. Menacing chuckle.
"Alright. Kimoon, bring that fucker over here. Maybe some tools will make him talk."
"On it, boss."
Jingle of metal on metal.
"Answer, or those pliers are gonna get rid of your nails."
Exhale. Silence.
"Who are you?"
Silence.
Blood curdling scream.
"Speak or I'm chopping your fingers next."
Silence.
Agonizing cry.
"Alright, alright, I'll tell you!"
Satisfied smirk.
"Speak."
/\/\/\
That night, everyone learned that the boy's name was Jung Goreum and that he was nineteen. He was recruited by a small gang, by the name Kim. The gang leader was Kim Chungee. According to Goreum, Chungee was obsessed with plans to take over Hyun gang and kill its heir. The theft was supposed to work as a distraction as the perpetrators show up at Hyun's mansion to take the family as hostages. However, Chungee did not know that Daechul's gang was contacted by Jongil, which in turn caused the man to get back to Busan and sort that out.
Goreum didn't tell them anything else, because he claimed that he was only a minor minion in the Kim gang, and told as little as possible.
Eunsang promised to lock him up, and told everyone to go home.
Daechul was absolutely infuriated, when it dawned on him, that right now his whole family could be dead, if it weren't for Jongil and his perfect timing.
After the boy's confession, Kangmin told everyone how Goreum was found. Apparently, there isn't much to tell. Previously, the employees thought that whoever got that far in the building, had to be a worker. However, as it was found out, Goreum seduced one of the higher ups and stole her entry card while she was sleeping, and that way he was able to enter the building. Jung purposely tried to snuck in CEO's quarters and was ultimately caught by the janitor, not recognizing him as an employee.
The rest is history.
/\/\/\
After helping all three of his Seoul friends to find their rooms, Daechul retreated to his own, in hopes to fall asleep for a bit.
Sadly, his mind was racing, refusing to let him rest. After turning in his bed a couple of times, Daechul sat up, found his sweatpants, and left his room to fix himself a quick drink consisting of water and ice.
However, as the man rounded the corner after going down the stairs, he found out he wasn't the only one unable to fall asleep.
Minsoo was casually eating ice cream and humming at the taste. He was sitting on the dining table, swinging his pale legs back and forth while licking his spoon clean. The man was wearing an oversized sweater and some loose fitting shorts, showing his bare skin. The lights were turned off, only the moon dimly illuminating the space.
Daechul awkwardly cleared his throat and turned to the massive fridge for his drink.
Minsoo snapped his head up in surprise. Seeing Daechul's bare upper body his cheeks involuntarily turned rosy.
"Um, hi, Daechul. Can't sleep?"
Daechul found a chilled water bottle and closed the fridge. He debated on immediately going back to his room, but decided against it, thinking that it would seem impolite.
So he sat down on one of the bar stools and uncapped the bottle.
"Yeah. I'm exhausted, but my mind just doesn't shut up. What about you?"
Minsoo smiled in sympathy.
"Well, I'm pretty much always having trouble resting. It's my mind and body both, I guess," he shrugged his shoulders and took another bite of his snack.
Daechul drank almost half a bottle to quench his thirst.
He nodded to signal that he's listening.
Minsoo paused, but ultimately decided to ask.
"You came back pretty late. Were you working on something?"
Daechul bit his lip. Distinctly, he remembered Kimoon telling him that Minsoo was clueless in all this, and to keep it that way.
So, he had to come up with something really quick, or Minsoo would get suspicious.
He respected Kimoon's decision to resist telling his brother any of their business, because knowledge could always lead to trouble and danger, and nobody wanted their loved ones to go through that. That's why it was better to keep silent on matters like this. Some things are better left unsaid.
Although, if he got the correct picture of Minsoo's character, he doubted the boy would be kept in dark for long. Daechul was almost certain that Minsoo was too curious for his own good, hence his question.
Despite all of that, he had to lie.
"Uh, no. Me and the boys actually came back from one of the clubs. Three of my coworkers from Seoul came to visit, so we figured he had to spend some time getting to know each other. I and Kimoon didn't drink because we were supposed to drive everyone home, but the rest had a lot of fun."
Minsoo slowly nodded, but fortunately to Daechul, bought the explanation.
"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed your night."
Daechul smiled.
Minsoo hooped from his previous spot, closed the lid of the tub and put it back into the freezer.
Daechul's eyes never strained from the boy's slim figure. He quickly averted his gaze when Minsoo turned to look at him with a smile.
"Well, I'm going to bed. Good night".
"Good night, Minsoo".
What the hell was that, Daechul you horny bastard.
/\/\/\
The next morning, when the sun was barely out, Daechul and his friends drove to the warehouse.
As expected, his men were already there, doing some last minute work or drinking coffee while waiting for the truck with drugs to show up.
"Minsoo told me some funny shit this morning," mentioned Kimoon while observing the road for the shipment.
"Well, you told me he doesn't know anything, so I had to lie, Moon," casually said Daechul and lit up a cigarette.
Right at that moment, Jinwoo saw the truck approaching, while the two men were talking.
"Guys, it's here".
Daechul cursed and threw away his half touched nicotine stick.
"Let's do some work, boys".