Finale [1/2]
Title: Finale [1/2]
Author: FloweryMisha
Pairing: Sope, slight!VKook
Warning: BoyxBoy Love. Enough said.
Summary: When a string of murders take place in his town, Hoseok believes it’s the work of one person.
Author’s Note: This is taken from one of the episodes of Criminal Minds. As always, I’m a failure and rusty…I hope you enjoy this one ;;;; and please, no translations allowed!!
Hoseok jerked awake when his phone vibrated strongly on the nightstand.
Sitting up, the black-haired male let out a soft grunt as he grabbed his phone. He knew who it was without even so much glancing at the screen.
Hoseok rubbed his temple as he glanced at the clock, eyes still half closed.
4:15 AM.
The sun hadn’t even rise yet and already one missed call from Taehyung.
A case this early…
Hoseok stayed still for a few moments. His gaze lingered to the pretty male who was still sound asleep beside him. His fingers automatically went to the other male’s forehead, wanting to brush the bangs aside, but stopped halfway.
He didn’t want to wake him up.
Hoseok shifted his weight carefully from the bed. He was only a few steps away from the bathroom when a hoarse voice called him out.
“Babe…?”
The said male paused to look at his spouse. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up.”
“You know I wouldn’t mind you waking me up… You have to go now? Is it a new case?”
“I will not leave you so early in the morning if it weren’t for a case. I’m just gonna take a quick shower before I go.” Hoseok gave Yoongi a fond stare. “I promise to be very quiet. Now go back to sleep.”
“Be careful,” Yoongi mumbled sleepily. “Say hi to Taehyung for me. And don’t forget to kiss me before you go.”
“But what if I wake you up…?” Hoseok peeked from the bathroom when there was no answer. Clearly Yoongi had fallen back to deep slumber. “I’ll just do what you ask, then, baby.”
***
“Good morning, officer.”
“Early morning, Detective Jung.”
“Way too early, ” Hoseok smiled at the police officer who was guarding the police line. He looked around for Taehyung and tried to stifle a yawn. He failed. “Has Detective Kim arrived?”
“Oi, Hyung. Over here.”
Hoseok nodded politely at the policeman and headed towards Taehyung. “Good morning. It’s been a while since you called me this early in the morning.”
“It’s been a long time, in fact. I hope my phone call didn’t wake Yoongi-hyung up.”
“No, it did not,” Hoseok frowned as he noticed the dark circles under Taehyung’s eyes. “Did you even sleep?”
Taehyung didn’t answer.
“Don’t tell me…another fight with Jungkook?” Hoseok thanked the CSI agent who offered him a pair of surgical gloves. “Taehyung, why don’t you propose to him already?”
“Because I’m not brave like you,” Taehyung responded as he put on his gloves.
“What does it have to do with braveness? If you think Jungkook’s the one, then make him yours immediately. Put a ring on it.”
“What’s this talking about a ring in this early morning?” Jimin, the medical examiner piped up as he nudged Taehyung. “Hmm, I’m assuming it’s your love life since Hoseok-hyung’s already married.”
“Can we just focus on the body first please?” Taehyung grunted as he ignored the high-five between Jimin and Hoseok. “I definitely need coffee…”
The playful atmosphere between them dissipated as they walked closer to the crime scene.
Hoseok grimaced.
Even though he was a detective, it was still hard to see a dead body. It would always be a mystery why it was so easy for human to take the life of another.
Hoseok’s heart skipped a beat upon seeing the victim. He didn’t know what, but somehow it reminded him of Yoongi. It could be the victim’s hair. It could be the lips-dammit, stop it, Hoseok. Focus. Get back to work. The detective mentally scolded himself and examined more.
The victim’s lifeless body was neatly placed in the alley, hidden behind a dumpster. He was sitting on the ground with his back against the dirty wall. His hands were tied with a cable tie, and on his palms, there was…
“A tongue?”
Hoseok leveled himself with the victim and he opened the victim’s mouth with a finger.
“It’s his alright…”
“Would you mind, Hyung?”
Hoseok stood up and stepped aside to give space to Jimin.
“Cause of death seemed to be strangulation,” Jimin said after a few moments of examining, showing the mark on the victim’s neck to both Hoseok and Taehyung. “His condition is consistent with asphyxiation.” The device on his hand beeped. “Liver temp suggested that he died around ten and midnight.”
Hoseok motioned the victim's neck once again. “It seems to be from a wire-pretty easy to buy in the hardware stores.”
“Don’t we all hope at times like these, the killer used something customized so it’s easier to track down?” Taehyung narrowed his eyes. “By the way, Jimin, what’s that on his face?”
“Hmm?”
“There seems to be some sort of residue…”
The medical examiner noticed what Taehyung was talking about. He swabbed the victim’s face with a cotton bud and carefully inserting it into an evidence bag. “Nice eye, Taehyung.”
“For someone who’s caffeine-deprived? No, it’s just shiny it hurt my eyes.”
Jimin shook his head in amusement. "You can have all the coffee you need when we get back. The residue, it appears to be…glue.”
“Glue?”
“Yeah…there are some on his hands too.” Jimin grabbed the victim’s hands, frowning. “Strange.” The blond-haired male slowly placing them into the original position. “They were placed like this before…”
“Why did the hands have to be glued to his face?” Hoseok mimicked the way the hands were glued together to the face and stared at Taehyung. “If my hands are like this, what do you think I’m doing?”
Taehyung brought his hands to his mouth, copying the older male. “Like this?”
“Why are you copying me?”
Jimin shook his head in amusement. “Almost five in the morning and I’m so amused by you two.”
“It’s like someone wants the victim to be quiet,” Taehyung continued, ignoring Jimin. “But cutting the tongue? Perhaps he said something he wasn’t supposed to say?”
“…a rat?”
“…you think he was related to the mob? Wait, is there even a mob in this small town?”
“That’s what we need to find out. Do you have his ID?”
“His wallet is missing. They’re still canvassing the neighborhood.”
“Well,” Jimin said as he placed his evidence bag aside and pulled himself up. “If you guys are done, I’ll bring this John Doe with me to the morgue.” He then looked around, clearly searching for someone before shaking his head. “Dammit, I know I shouldn’t have accepted that intern. First day of work and he hasn’t even showed up. I bet he’s still sleeping his ass off.”
“An intern? After all this time?” Taehyung raised his brows. “Why do you need one anyway?”
“I’m tired of talking to the dead ones.”
“But you have us!”
Taehyung earned a sarcastic laugh as Jimin walked away.
“My point exactly.”
***
Taehyung ran the victim’s prints through the system, but got no hits-which meant the victim was not a criminal.
He then ran the facial recognition against missing persons, and a result popped up on the screen.
Yang Yoseob.
They then called the person who had reported him missing, who turned out to be the boyfriend, Yoon Doojoon. The male’s expression turned sour the moment they informed him the news, and he broke into tears.
The last thing Doojoon said to Yoseob was that he was disappointed in him-they were clearly having a fight. Yoseob left the apartment, crying, and Doojoon stormed off to a friend’s house, drowning himself with alcohol. He went back the next morning with the worst hangover ever, and that was when he realized Yoseob hadn’t returned and that his phone was turned off.
Doojoon couldn’t think of someone who would want to hurt Yoseob. The deceased didn’t seem to have any connection to the mob whatsoever… He also came from a middle-class, regular loving family.
To rule him out, they asked for his whereabouts the night before, and Doojoon answered that he had gone out with his friends, celebrating one of the friend’s birthday. Taehyung made a note to check it out, and told him that he was free to go.
Doojoon’s expression was so heartbreaking when he asked if he could see Yoseob, but since Jimin wasn’t done with the autopsy, they couldn’t allow it. Taehyung gave Doojoon his word, he would inform him the moment they could release the body.
Hoseok couldn’t even imagine what Doojoon was feeling. If something ever happened to Yoongi…he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself. Hoseok gave Taehyung a look when he said,
“Go call Jungkook and apologize.”
When Taehyung returned from his short trip with two cups of coffee and a much better mood, Hoseok smiled.
“Autopsy report for the Yin-Yang couple?”
Fortunately, Taehyung was still in a good mood, or else the cup of coffee in his hand would’ve flown to the male who just walked in with a manila folder in his hand. “And who the hell are you?”
“That’s us, thank you,” Hoseok managed to intercept the folder and looked at the male with a smile. “You must be the new intern Jimin was talking about.”
He nodded. “My name is Choi Yeonjun.”
Hoseok was still smiling. “I’m Hoseok, and this is Taehyung. I’m sorry, have we met before?”
“If you say this to every handsome person you meet as a pick-up line, Detective, I’d say it’s not working.”
A vein popped on Taehyung’s forehead as he stood up. “Oi!!”
Hoseok’s smile faltered as Yeonjun turned around to leave the room. He laughed awkwardly and shook his head at Taehyung. “Wow, what an attitude…”
“Kids these days got no manners! We ought to teach them one!” Taehyung grunted angrily. “He even called us Yin-Yang couple on the first day of work! You should be angry, Hyung!”
“Can’t say that’s his fault, Jimin must’ve told him that. Besides, that’s what everyone calls us in this office,” Hoseok placed the file on his table. “Because I’m always smiling and you’re always…” He flashed a grin when Taehyung gave him his death glare. “There, that’s the look I’m talking about. Why don’t we just read the report together?”
Taehyung mumbled something along the way that Hoseok shouldn’t be so kind-hearted at all times and shook his head. “Why don’t you read it and just tell me the summary, Hyung?”
Hoseok rolled his eyes, it was obvious that Taehyung disliked paperwork. He didn’t understand why-Jimin’s report had always been neat and easy to read. The older of the two then began reading with his lips slightly parted.
Two minutes later, Hoseok closed the folder.
“What’s the result, Hyung?”
“Just like Jimin had said, Yoseob was strangled to death. Tox screen result was normal…nothing unordinary. Which means…the killer likely came from behind, surprising Yoseob, and then choking him to death. Also, the tongue was cut postmortem.”
“Hmm. I get the strangulation, Hyung. But why cut the tongue?”
“I’m still with the theory that he said something he shouldn’t have. And that’s the killer’s way of saying no rat should live.”
“But this is South Korea, not Spain. Or South America.”
“He could be someone’s CI-the whole rat thing.”
Taehyung eyed Hoseok lazily. “He could’ve said something mean and offended someone-not necessarily a mob thing, Hyung."
"Not going to rule anything out. In the meantime, don’t forget to check Doojoon’s alibi.”
“Yeah, yeah…everyone is a suspect until proven otherwise. I’ll go now then.”
“That’s not how you say it,” Hoseok laughed. “But alright.”
***
Hoseob was still feeling restless of the fact that Yoseob looked similar to Yoongi on a first glance.
It was not related to the case, of course. He didn’t want to be the first one to say it, since Taehyung and Jimin didn’t seem to notice the similarity. Besides, joking about it would be too cruel.
Doojoon’s alibi held up.
Taehyung still wasn’t down with the mob theory, so they left it at that.
At least for now.
Hoseok spent the last ten minutes outside their apartment, trying to calm down. Every time Yoseob’s pale face and Doojoon’s miserable expression flashed in his head, he winced in pain.
Relax, I know it’s bad to think like this, but it’s not Jung Yoongi who died.
Your husband is safe and sound inside.
You just gotta stop the fear.
Hoseok finally stepped into the apartment after enchanting the lyrics from one of his favorite songs. It helped him calm down a little bit, now he just hoped he would be able to mask it. Hoseok always tried not to bring his work home, but sometimes it was just too hard, especially with cases like these.
“Babe, I’m home.”
Yoongi returned his greeting excitedly, but it died a bit upon seeing his husband’s expression. Hoseok’s smile didn’t reach his eyes, which was easily noticeable, since he was always the cheerful one between the two.
Hoseok’s inner strength crumbled upon seeing Yoongi. He dropped everything he was holding before pulling his beloved spouse into his arms.
“Hoseok-ah?” Yoongi sounded worried. “Are you alright? Rough case…?”
Hoseok almost couldn’t handle the feeling of putting himself in Doojoon’s shoes, how the latter wouldn’t be able to hold Yoseob like this anymore. If he lost Yoongi…he definitely would’ve lost his mind.
A smile was etched across Hoseok’s face as he pulled away. It was a bit forced, but he was starting to feel better, being so close to Yoongi like this.
“Kind of…but what was it that you were about to say?”
“Ah…it can wait…” Yoongi hesitated. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I’ll be fine. Now tell me,” Hoseok’s eyes softened. “What is it?”
The excitement returned to Yoongi’s face as he broke into a wide smile. “Well…I just received a feedback from the BH Entertainment and they say they want to use my songs! They’re going to give it to a newcomer, her debut’s probably in a month or two…”
Hoseok’s uneasiness disappeared right away. “Babe, that’s awesome!”
“I know right?” Yoongi laughed as Hoseok pulled him into his arms for the second time. “I’m so happy! Also, I’m feeling so nervous, since I don’t know if people are going to accept my songs or not-”
“Nonsense, all of your songs are wonderful. No argument there.”
“But it’s hip-hop.”
“So? There are people who love hiphop, Yoongi-baby.” Hoseok rolled his eyes. “Should we go out and celebrate?”
Yoongi shook his head. “No, it’s not necessary…I know you’re busy, and you’ve got a lot on your mind right now.”
“Babe, you’re more important right now. If you want, I can just-”
“Jung Hoseok, I said it’s not necessary. Besides, I still need to review the contract and copyrights and everything… I’m not sure who to ask.”
“Taehyung’s brother-in-law is a lawyer in Seoul right? I can ask for his number if you want.”
“Ah, that’d be very nice, thank you~”
Hoseok merely watched as Yoongi hummed happily and headed towards the kitchen. The realization and guilt came over him just a second later. “Do you need to go to Seoul? I can arrange something if you need it…”
The smile Yoongi sent him was a warm, sincere one. “I know it’s not a good time for you right now, and I don’t want to go without you… I already asked them to send everything by email, it’s a digital era anyway. So don’t worry about it, babe.”
Hoseok pressed his lips together into a thin line, still unable to hide that he was feeling guilty. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
“I know you will, I’ll make sure you do,” Yoongi said with his hands on his hips. “Now go take a shower so we can eat.”
“Are you sure? We can still go out…”
“Just eat me after dinner,” Yoongi winked teasingly. “That is, if you’re not full yet.”
Hoseok’s dominant side came to life and he lunged forward without thinking, eliciting a shriek from the pretty male.
“Take a shower first, babe!!”
***
The first time they met, it was at a music café.
Yoongi used to do solo performance twice a week for the money. Although his love ran deeply for hip hop, for the sake of the money, he had to sing pop and ballad instead. Most of the regulars came to the café to watch him sing, and Hoseok just happened to tag along one night.
He knew it was love at first sight.
Hoseok fell in love with Yoongi’s voice, and his smile, and his eyes, and his everything. Fortunately Jungkook-whose status was just a crush to Taehyung back then-was teaching at the same music school as Yoongi and introduced them.
Yoongi seemed a bit shocked at how different they were on their first date. The pretty male was quiet and kept to himself, while Hoseok was the total opposite, all smiling, laughing and not to mention, very loud. But perhaps it was why they clicked. Because they needed each other, even if they weren’t the same type of person.
Hoseok was Yoongi’s hope and energy, and Yoongi was Hoseok’s…one word couldn’t even begin to describe what the detective was feeling, but to put it simply, Yoongi was Hoseok’s everything.
It didn’t take Hoseok a long time to propose. After three and half months of dating, he popped the question, which Yoongi accepted without hesitation.
It wasn’t actually Yoongi’s dream to be a singer, he preferred to be the man behind the scene. His real talent lied in his passion for songwriting. After settling down with Hoseok, Yoongi stopped singing at the café, and started writing songs and sending them to music companies in Seoul. If it hadn’t been for their marriage, Yoongi probably would’ve gone to the capital city and become a producer instead, but the older of the two never made a big deal about it.
Hoseok wished he could wrap the case soon so that he could take a few days off to accompany Yoongi to Seoul if it was needed.
Unfortunately, he got nowhere with the case.
As if to make it worse, another body turned up around two weeks later.
The body was found in another alley, a few blocks from the last crime scene.
Hoseok got the call in the morning when he was having breakfast. It made him lost his appetite, but it hurt him even more knowing that he wouldn’t be able to travel anywhere soon.
Yoongi didn’t say anything, but he could tell from his spouse’s expression that he was somewhat…dejected. Or nonchalant. Sometimes he couldn’t even tell.
Hoseok felt a headache coming.
The last case was a dead end, and now they got another.
“Hey, sorry I’m late,” Hoseok said the moment he arrived at the crime scene. Taehyung, Jimin and Yeonjun were already there. “Who called it in?”
“A homeless man,” Taehyung motioned the person near the police line, talking to a police officer. “He thought the man was asleep, and he said he planned to just ‘borrow’ his wallet. Imagine his surprise when he walked closer.”
“I see… Compared to last time, it’s much quieter here. Abandoned buildings?”
“Yes, but I doubt it’s the same killer, Hyung. The victim was shot to death this time.”
“Really? Could be a mugging gone wrong.”
“But they didn’t take the wallet. And the money’s still intact.”
“Hmm. Did you find the gun?”
“They’re still canvassing the neighborhood.”
Hoseok frowned. “Hm…”
“Earth to Yin-Yang couple. Can I bring him to the morgue now?” Jimin waved his hands to them with a cute pout. “I feel a bit hurt that you guys always talk like I’m not around.”
“Ah, sorry, Jimin-ah,” Hoseok smiled apologetically. “It’s just a habit. Of course, you may bring him to the morgue.”
“I get it, though. You guys are the Detectives, while I’m only the sidekick.” Jimin made a face. “Wait, sidekick’s not even close. I’m more of a supporting character. Yeonjun-ah, grab the body bag please.”
Yeonjun, who had been silent the whole time that Hoseok even forgot the male was there, took the said item from the ambulance. When he walked by Hoseok, he sent the latter a menacing glare.
Hoseok noticed the vein that popped on Taehyung’s forehead and grabbed the younger male’s arm with a headshake (“But Hyung!”). He was the last of them to arrive at the crime scene, so he hadn’t taken a good look at the victim.
When Yeonjun put the body in the body bag, Hoseok almost choked on nothing.
It must be just his imagination because for a second, it looked like Yoongi.
Hoseok shut his eyes for a few seconds. The moment he opened them, the body bag had been zipped close, and a very wincing Taehyung was beside him. Hoseok grabbed whatever was nearby-which happened to be Taehyung, with his nails sunk into the latter’s skin.
“Hyung? It hurts.”
“Sorry.”
“Are you alright?”
“Not really. Headaches,” Hoseok lied. Not exactly a lie, though. His head must be hurt since he was imagining things. “Let’s go back to the station, then.”
***
The victim’s name was Kang Daniel.
Kang Daniel had no family, but his forwarding address was his friend’s house, an Ong Seungwo.
Ong Seungwo came into the station, sharing the same information with Yoon Doojoon; nothing useful. Last thing he knew was that Daniel broke up with his model girlfriend the week before, who happened to cheat on him. Daniel was totally bummed by the event and they hadn’t talked to each other ever since. As far as Seungwo knew, the victim never had a beef with anyone-he was well liked by friends and colleagues.
Hoseok sighed heavily.
Nothing connected the two victims other than the fact that they were placed in a dark, secluded alley. They didn’t go to the same school, they worked at different companies, it appeared they didn’t cross paths anywhere. The fact that they both had a fight with their lovers or had been dumped before could just be a coincidence. Both victims didn’t seem to share about it to their social medias either.
Hoseok kept it to himself, but there was something about the two cases that made him believe they were related.
The male wandered into the morgue, lost in thoughts. He just stood there in the corner, watching Jimin work on Daniel’s body.
Hoseok squinted his eyes to get a thorough look. It was a bit difficult since the deceased’s skull was split open at the moment, but no. Daniel didn’t look like Yoongi. It must’ve been just his imagination.
I probably feel very guilty so that I start imagining Yoongi’s face everywhere.
It was not until five minutes later that Jimin started to realize he wasn’t alone in the room.
“I thought you were a ghost,” Jimin said without looking up. He was still in the middle of weighing the victim’s brain-what was left of it, anyway. “But if you’re waiting for a result, I’m not done with the autopsy, Hyung.”
“Don’t mind me, carry on.”
Jimin smiled, continuing his work. Hoseok also continued to watch the younger male, observing Jimin measuring and examining the brain.
From the first glance, anyone would know that Jimin was a kind person. Unlike Hoseok who was full of smile, Jimin’s face radiated warmth and kindness-and don’t even doubt it when he smiled. Sometimes Hoseok wondered why Jimin was still single, but he didn’t want to probe further. It wasn’t his business.
“The living speaks, Hyung. The dead doesn’t.”
Hoseok softly chuckled. “Sorry. I was just…thinking. Where’s that intern of yours?”
“Yeonjun? I sent him to Jisoo-noona with the blood sample.”
“I see…by the way, do you have any idea why your intern hates me so much?”
“He does?”
“Yeah. He glares at me most of the time…and he never talks.”
“I think he does that to everyone, Hyung. Not just you.”
“Really?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I don’t know, he only seems to glare at me and not Taehyung… I wonder what I’ve done wrong.”
Jimin gave him sideways glance. “Is it that time of the month? Why are you sensitive like this? I assure you, Hyung, it’s nothing.”
“Really?”
The medical examiner nodded and waved his hand dismissively. “Okay, time’s up. I need my quiet moments back. Get back to Taehyung now.”
Hoseok laughed, holding his hands up in defeat. “Alright, I’m going…”
***
When the results were out and they hit another dead end, Hoseok decided to call it a day.
He actually didn’t want to go home yet, but Taehyung kind of forced him to go home and rest.
(“Sometimes I think this job doesn’t suit you, Hyung. It drains your cheerful personality.”)
But this was the first time in forever, and Taehyung certainly noticed it. All this time, all the killings they’ve faced never really drained Hoseok like this. Strangulation and then cutting the tongue seemed…personal. It took time, it took planning. It wasn’t a spontaneous killing.
The killings were premeditated.
And the fact that Hoseok kept imagining Yoongi’s face just made it worse.
Hoseok spent a really long time in the bathroom.
Not because he was constipated, but because he was thinking-something he often did lately.
Kang Daniel’s tox screen result was normal. Based on the trajectory of the bullet, he was shot from close range. After strangling Daniel to death, the killer shot his head. Which didn’t make any sense. Why shoot him, knowing that he was dead already?
An overkill?
Taehyung was still with the theory that the two crimes weren’t related. But the strangulation must mean they were related, right?
If, if Daniel wasn’t the work of the same killer, then fine, but what if, if he was?
Hoseok strongly shook his head.
No, don’t go there yet.
He scratched his head in frustration.
“Babe? Are you done?”
The black-haired male quickly snapped out of his reveries when Yoongi peeked from the door. He smiled at his spouse’s reflection in the mirror.
“You’re taking quite a while. Adoring yourself in the mirror?”
“Sorry, love. I’ll be done after this.”
Yoongi returned his smile, but it quickly dissipated. “Babe, that’s lotion, not toothpaste!”
Hoseok spat immediately. He laughed it off awkwardly, mumbling how tired he was, but Yoongi’s expression showed that he didn’t buy it. Hoseok acted like nothing happened and continued brushing his teeth, this time with the real toothpaste.
Yoongi was already in bed when Hoseok turned the lights off. The older of the two waited until his husband was comfortable under the blanket and snuggled closer. Yoongi searched for his hand before intertwining their fingers tightly.
Hoseok could feel the questions that were coming. Dear God. He wouldn’t know what to answer if Yoongi started asking. Was he alright? No, he wasn’t. Should he lie? He shouldn’t. But he better-he didn’t want Yoongi to be worried.
“Babe?”
“Yes, dear...?”
“I love you. Always remember that.”
Hoseok’s heart swelled with pride and a slight hint of sadness. Of all the things he could say to him, he chose that one. Sometimes Hoseok didn’t think he ever deserved Yoongi, the pretty male was too kind. But there they were, living together, as husbands-and hopefully, happily ever after.
I know.
I’ll remember.
The fact that Hoseok loved him so much more, was the only reply he could muster as he pulled Yoongi closer.
[2]