[Fic] Crimson Lies
Title: Crimson Lies
Pairing: KrisHun, former!KaiSoo, and other pairings if you squint
Rating: R
Genre: Angst, Crime!AU
Length: 8,299 w.
Warning(s): Character death, violence & gore
Summary: Love can leave you disoriented, but lust renders you blind.
A/N: Written for the goddess that is Bella.
Kris fears very little. He doesn't flinch in the face of danger, and that's fortunate, seeing as what he does for a living involves facing possible danger each and every day. He isn't scared of the dark, heights, spiders, or even dying. No, Kris fears one thing, and one thing only. He fears being alone. He's afraid of being alone, like other people are afraid of being stabbed. He detests the sensation of the emotion nibbling it's way through his chest to grab a hold of his heart and tear it out, plucking away at each of it's strings until he's a mess, a broken, alone mess. Kris doesn't mind solitude though, he cherishes the moments he has in quiet, working away at a case, free from his boyfriend's frequent complaints about things from dinner being low class to the bed being sticky.
But Kris hates being alone.
Kris can't handle not having someone to hold close, and spill all his worries out to. Someone beautiful, to look into their eyes, and tell them that he's thankful, he still has them after all this. Kris sees some horrific things through work. It's not every day, but all too often he'll end up standing over a mangled body, his partner consoling the lover while he examines the body for time of death, and suspected cause. Kris prefers his job of working with the dead body, than the live mess of streaking eyeliner. Kris doesn't like talking to the victim's surviving relatives, friends, or lovers. Especially the lovers.
He always stares in awe at how they're still breathing, how they still have the energy to answer questions after losing someone so close.
Jongdae tells Kris it's because with being in love, you have to understand that it can never last forever. Time passes, people move along, and the circumstances change, causing feelings to morph into different identities. Kris always scoffs at his partner when he says this, pointing out that Jongdae wouldn't know, he doesn't have someone he loves.
"Well, neither do you." Jongdae snaps one day, as he sets his latte back down on the cafe table, not even having taken a sip.
"That's not true, I have Sehun." Kris scowls, narrowing his already beady eyes.
Jongdae smirks, an angry chortle coming from his dry lips. "Exactly. You have Sehun. He's yours. You act like you own him, and that's not love."
Kris would have hit Jongdae across the face right then and there, but his dark chocolate mocha was too delicious to set down, frothy brown foam on the tip of his nose and he goes to retort. But before he can, Jongdae is laughing harder, tapping his nose.
"You got something there."
It's five am when Kris wakes up, his body covered in a cold sweat, and the room reeks of sweet love. He groans as the memories of a few hours earlier wash over him. His eyes slowly adjust to the dark, rolling over, and his naked body hits another one. This one is warm, this is one is Sehun.
"Not again, I'm still sore." He hears the boy whimper.
Kris smiles, pressing a tender kiss to Sehun's slender shoulder. "Okay, but only because I'm just as worn out. You made some really beautiful sounds tonight, baby." He teases, snaking his hands around Sehun's waist, and pulling his close.
The boy whines again, and suddenly Kris is thinking about Jongdae had said.
He's yours.
You act like you own him.
And that's not love.
Kris closed his lids, fingers sub consciously stroking the spinal ridges of Sehun's back. Who was Jongdae to tell him what was love, and what was not? Isn't love different for everyone? Jongdae has never been in love anyways, has he?
Sehun mewls.
"Shush, just sleep." Kris whispers, stuttering his strokes, and keeping his hands stationary.
This was his definition of love.
"This one is DOA, I'll need you to send Minseok over as soon as possible." Kris tells the chief of police, over receiver. He hears a fuzzy click, and assumes the man has hung up, and will be doing as he asks. If the victim is dead on arrival, Kris always gets Minseok to come right away. Minseok is a specialist, with anthropology, which means he'll be able to conclude how the victim died, almost immediately. Which is convenient, because when they're dead on arrival, there is only so much that could have already been tampered with.
Kris kneels down on the ground, tuning out Jongdae who is currently speaking soothing words to the boyfriend of the victim. He was a young boy of average height, attractive looks, and muscular build. His skin was perfect at first glance, and Kris was awestruck seeing how absolutely flawless this man was. He was soon struck out of his awe when he heard what his name was.
Kim Jongin.
The boy Sehun hadn't shut up about since he met him in a club last weekend. Kris had been furious, giving Sehun an intense punishment for leaving the house, to go to a club of all places, without even notifying him beforehand. Sehun had been too drunk for explanations when he stumbled in at two am that morning, and had forgotten the ordeal by the afternoon, so Kris never received a proper excuse. But, according to Sehun, Jongin was, and he quotes "his new best friend" and "he has a boyfriend so there is nothing to worry about." Kris was fine with a friend for Sehun, but if this boy had intentions otherwise, and was a cheater on the side, he'd be locking Sehun up, and possibly have to be working on a case for a murder committed by himself.
Kim Jongin, seemed less threatening now that he was bawling like a newborn baby, palms grasping at the brick walls in the alleyway. (The crime scene was as stereotypical as settings could get, according to Kris). Jongdae was stroking the boy's back now, shrugging his jacket off to drape over Jongin's quivering shoulders.
"I never got to even say goodbye." He sobbed.
Kris' chest began to ache. "Oh, look, Minseok is here already." He interrupts awkwardly, rubbing the nape of his neck as he shoots Jongdae a look of something halfway between pity and discomfort, then scrambles away to where Minseok's ride is pulling up.
Minseok was excessive. Kris was always jealous of how the man made medium wage, and spent it like he owned a money making machine. Who knows, maybe he does given all the stuff he does own. And everything is expensive. Everything is the most expensive of whatever the item is. His car is a gleaming black Porsche, so clean that Kris can see his own jaw dropped face in the door. Even after knowing and working alongside Minseok for years, he never got over how beautiful the things this man owns were. Kris draws his gaze up from the door to Minseok, who is finally stepping out of his car, flattening creases on his stunning grey suit, as he waves his chauffeur off.
"Good afternoon Mr. Wu, show me the body."
Kris tries to hide his envious glare, muttering phrases that go something like "well of course princess" and "I'm not stripping for you". He couldn't decide which one was more sarcastic for the current situation.
"He has died of suffocation." Minseok announces dramatically, his features painted a shade of grim. "Probably by a rope or coil of metal, more likely a rope because of the material burn marks here-" He is kneeling next to the body, pointing a glove protected finger at the crimson marks ruining the alabaster complexion of this man's neck. "-and here."
Minseok stands, brushing non existent dirt from his spotless sleeves, tearing the plastic gloves from his hands. "He was killed up to three hours ago. Does that sound about right?"
He's turned to Jongin now, asking him for confirmation that Kyungsoo was out around here at approximately four this afternoon. Kris taps his foot against the ground twice.
Jongdae pats the boy's shoulder, encouraging him to speak up and answer.
"Yes. He left the house to go for groceries and cleaning supplies at 3:30 or so, he would have walked by here on his way to the mall." Jongin jerked a thumb at the street.
"Mmm." Minseok hands his gloves to his assistant, Yixing obediently taking them and holding them behind his back.
"I'd like to examine the body a bit more, but in my lab where I have better tools." He states the obvious. "I'll hand the rest of the case back to you, Mr. Wu." Minseok takes Yixing's arm lightly before proceeding back to the car, shooing his assistant away when they reach the door. Yixing never rode with his boss, he had to take his equally shiny blue BMW.
Kris sighed.
"What did you say your boyfriend's name was, I do believe I didn't catch it."
"I never told you." Jongin looks up, his voice not disrespectful, but there is something about the way the way an almost smirk plays on his lips.
"The name."
"Soo. Do Kyungsoo."
Kris has to be at Minseok's lab for ten am sharp, tomorrow. He wants to go over evidence with Kris before they start interrogating close friends and such for information. Kris is not a morning person, and is less than pleased to have to spend tomorrow's morning with the pompous anthropologist. He twists the key of the door to his apartment he shares with Sehun, giving the door a frustrated kick open.
"I'm home." Kris grumbles, dropping the keys into a basket by the coat rack, tossing his jacket up onto a hook.
There is no answer.
"Sehun. I'm home." Kris' tone is firm, but his heart is panicky. It skips one beat, and then another when there still comes no reply.
"Sehun!" He shouts again. Without hesitation and much thought, Kris is running around the compact aparment, into the kitchen, around the dining table, through the couches, peeking into the bathroom, and finally coming to bust open the bedroom door.
Sehun is in bed. Sehun is sleeping.
Kris just about passes out right there or the floor, crumpling into a ball of relief, but he doesn't. Instead, he waits to pass out when he's stripped down to his boxers, in bed with his boyfriend, forehead nestled in a defined collarbone.
He's not an overprotective boyfriend. Or at least he likes to think he isn't. Kris isn't possessive exactly, and he tries his best not to coddle Sehun, but he is the jealous type, that he'll admit. He cringes at the mention of another man's name, watching as his lover's eyes twinkle as words of admiration towards this other person, spill from his lips. It's a habit of Kris' now, to silence Sehun with a kiss and a "you're mine" when he starts. Sehun will pout, and return the kiss, but it's always uncomfortable. Some days, Kris wonders if Sehun stays with him because he loves him, or just because he feels obligated.
Kris sits at the center table in Minseok's lab, watching curiously as the anthropologist bustles around, gathering papers and files before bringing them to slam down in front of Kris.
"In here, are all the information my team has collected about Jongin, his boyfriend, and a few other suspects."
"How did you get all this?" Kris questions sternly, picking up a file and withdrawing a page. On it is a photo of Jongin, and some records. "Wasn't this job supposed to be left for Jongdae and I?"
Minseok smirks. "Yes, well I thought it'd be easier for all of us, if I just went ahead and did it." He rounds the table, leaning against it as he picks up another envelope and pulls out a profile. "Let's get to work shall we? Here is the information on our first suspect."
Kris sets down Jongin's records to take a look at the one Minseok was holding up. It showed a fair skinned, blond boy, looking no less than twenty years old, but with a mature flair. His eyes scrolled down the page, collecting that this boy's name was Luhan, and he was a butler in the Do household.
"So they were rich." Kris ponders aloud.
"Not exactly." Minseok corrects him. "Do Kyungsoo," He motions to the man's dead body lying flat across another table at the end of the room, his face skeletal pale. Kris shudders. He didn't notice that when he came in, and intends to pretend he never did now. "He was wealthy. His parents have retired the manor he lived in, to him only recently. Kim Jongin lived with him. They had many servants."
Kris gnaws his lower lip in contemplation. "Okay, so he had many servants. Why are we focusing on Luhan if he had others..."
Minseok chuckles darkly before continuing. "Luhan is the only employee that knew Kyungsoo was going out that day. The only one who would have any reason to kill him on top of that, all the others were treated very well, paid well, and went home at the end of the day, content as could be."
"They would go home at the end of their work hours?"
"Yes," Minseok nodded. "All of the servants, except Luhan were permitted to leave the residence when they had completed their necessary work for the day. Luhan, as you've probably read, is a butler. He is always on duty. But with this laboring position, it also means that the estate would go to him if the owners perished for some reason, and there were no heirs."
"But Jongin is still around..."
"Not for much longer he won't be, if Luhan's plan is what our theory says." Minseok licks his lower lip, putting away Luhan's pages. "Or, possibly Jongin was having an affair with his butler, and by murdering his boyfriend, he'd be able to live peacefully in the comfort of the home with his mister."
Kris scoffs. "So, is that why you also have Jongin in the suspect pile."
"One of the reasons," Minseok replies slyly. "One of the few reasons. We have to keep Jongin close, so we can extract information from him, about Kyungsoo. But, we'd also like to keep him around, because he could have had reasons to kill."
"And what would these reasons be?"
"One, he was having an affair and wanted to estate to himself." Minseok says, counting on his fingers and he continues. "And two, he was fed up with Kyungsoo for reasons."
"These reasons being?"
"We're not sure, but we know he's hiding something just from interrogating him earlier this morning."
"You already interrogated him!" Kris rose from his seat, fists curled. Minseok pissed him off, and so did other people doing his job.
Minseok just batted his lashes at him innocently. "Yes, is there a problem with that?"
"You're always doing my job! Just keep to yourself and examine the dead bodies like you're supposed to! Stop meddling with things you shouldn't!"
Minseok remained unfazed. "I'm only trying to help you Kris." He pushed his shoulders back, placing his hands on Kris' forearms, making the taller shiver. "That's all. You don't need to thank me, I'd just like it if you'd appreciate it. We can discuss the rest of the suspects at a later date. How about tomorrow?" He rubbed Kris' shoulders momentarily, before his hands were pushed away.
"Fine. Tomorrow it is." Kris murmured, snatching his blazer off the chair before storming out of the lab.
"Ten again please!" Minseok called after him. "Don't be late!"
"He sounds like a real dick." Sehun mumbled with a mouthful of Alfredo pasta they'd ordered as take out from the family run Italian restaurant next door.
"He is." Kris said before shoving a forkful into his mouth. One of the things he loved about Sehun, was how he'd agree with him without hesitation. Not great when he wanted to know Sehun's own opinion on things, but just fine in times like this.
"I mean, it's your job, and he's just doing it for you."
You've said that same phrase seven times now, darling. Kris wants to say.
Dinner is over pretty quickly, and Kris finds himself sweltering under a blanket, Sehun curled up his in lap. Sehun's favorite tv show is playing on the screen. Sherlock.
"Why are we watching this again?" Kris asks, hastily being shushed with a hand to his face. Sehun nuzzles his mane of brown tresses into Kris's neck, the blankets pulled up past his chest.
Kris repeats his question only quieter this time. Sehun doesn't answer.
"Is this the type of stuff you do when you're working?" He finally replies, yawnly cutely.
Kris cracks a smile, running his hand through his boyfriend's soft hair. "Not exactly. Close though."
Sehun cranes his neck to look up at Kris. "This show reminds of you. That's why I watch it when you're gone."
"You're such a baby." Kris teases as he closes the space between their lips.
"You showed up." Minseok states, his arms crossed and a look of approval decorating his features.
"It is my job, isn't it?"
After four cups of tea each, and six more folders of possible suspects, they come to an agreement. Jongin, Luhan, and Kyungsoo's high school sweetheart turned college stalker, Baekhyun, were the only people worth their time.
"So what's his story? How'd he end up with the need to stalk Kyungsoo."
Minseok smiles, his eyes not leaving Baekhyun's photo. The man had delicate, feminine features, but those aspects were contrasted by dark circles beneath his eyes, and matted feces brown hair. "He dated Kyungsoo for all four years of high school, but then he was broken up with because Kyungsoo wanted to start fresh in college."
"That must of hurt." Kris mutters, looking at Baekhyun with something like sympathy.
"It must've, since he devoted the next four years of his life to stalking Kyungsoo. A couple break ins, and attempted sexual assaults later, Kyungsoo filed for a restraining order."
Kris laughs bitterly. "Only after four years of harassment?"
"Kyungsoo was a kind man, a near perfect man in fact. He wouldn't have wanted to ruin anyone's life unless he had no other option."
Kris heads home from the lab that night, files in hand to review for the full scale interrogation set for tomorrow afternoon. Minseok looks up at him, arms folded over his chest as he leans against the door frame.
"I really so enjoy working with you." His voice is timid, and shakes at the end.
Kris slows his pace at pulling on his jacket, his eyes crawling over the man standing in front of him. He's unsure of how to reply, unsure of what exactly his colleague meant, and what he felt was proper to reply with.
"Goodnight Minseok." Is what he decides on, turning to leave before he can catch a glimpse of a reaction.
The interrogation was to begin today. Kris had pulled on a sleek black suit, and opted for a bowtie instead of a tie on Sehun's request. He gave his lover a peck on the cheek, and a pat on the butt, before grabbing his briefcase that held his side of the evidence, and was out the door.
He hoped with everything he had to hope with that Minseok had not already gone ahead with the interrogation, and knew who the convicted was to be. Kris got off to this kind of excitement. He didn't want to let Minseok take that away from him.
"Good morning." He muttered, expressionless as he entered the young anthropologist's lab. Minseok greeted him with a chipper smile, and a paper cup of coffee shoved into his grasp.
"You'll be needing that." He says, pointing to the cup. "It's going to be a long day."
The whole ordeal is very old fashioned. The suspects, Kim Jongin, Lu Han, and Byun Baekhyun are made to wait in the main lab, while one of them is taken for interrogation. Minseok said he would watch the suspects, while Kris did the questioning. He made no arguments to that.
"Lu Han, come with me please." Kris waved a hand in the direction of the private room, which Minseok had already set up with a bright lamp, a desk, a chair, and nothing else.
Luhan obediently stands up, head hung and hands clasped. He follows Kris into the room, and before he can be instructed to take a seat, he does. Luhan's eyes appear to be wet. Whether this is from crying, chopping onions, or guilt, Kris doesn't know. But he's about to find out.
"So, Luhan, we'll start with some easy questions," Kris begins, flipping over the sheet where the questions are listed, before holding it behind his back. "Where were you at four pm on Tuesday, September 9th, 2013?"
Luhan takes a breath before answering.
"I was preparing dinner in the manor." His voice doesn't waver, but there is something rehearsed about it. At least to Kris.
"Are you sure? Isn't four, a little early to be starting dinner?"
Luhan's expression turns flustered, and his mouth gapes. A little early to be getting flustered. At least to Kris it is.
"I...it was a rather gourmet dinner, that needed a lot of prepping."
"Right," Kris' lips curl into a near sadistic smirk, as he leans his hands on the edge of the desk. "Because Do Kyungsoo was a very wealthy man, was he not? And if he were to die, you'd take it over, unless, he had a significant other that it could be given to. Which he did, which means you'd have no reason to kill, and you're innocent."
Luhan stares at him expectantly. So he knows there's a catch, does that imply the catch is what he's done? Kris thinks.
"But, if you were having an affair-"
"I wasn't!" Luhan screams, he's crying now.
"Let me finish, if you were having an affair with Kim Jongin, you'd receive the reward of the riches Kyungsoo left behind." Kris rounds the desk, looking down upon a sniffling, sniveling Luhan. "We don't suspect you committed the crime full on, we just think you might have played a part, or know information that could be vital to us."
Kris crouches down as the thought comes to him that he had never suspected any of this, it was all Minseok...
His attention snaps back to Luhan's streaked face. The boy doesn't say a word, and doesn't seem like he's going to.
"I've got to move on to the next suspect, but we're going to keep you around if there's anything you'd like to tell us, okay?"
Luhan nods, Kris stands, and ushers the blond butler out the door.
One down, two to go.
Byun Baekhyun was next. He seemed calm, far calmer than Luhan, this boy's eyes were dry. His lips were chapped, his eyes looked like they hadn't been cleaned of eyeliner in over a month, and yet fresh eyeliner had been applied each day, and Kris suspected this was true. His feces brown hair was matted in spots, and the boy made an attempt to run his hand through it, only for it to catch less than halfway in.
"Baekhyun, please take a seat." Kris commands, and the boy stands there, seemingly confused. "The chair, sit in it." Kris gives the chair a small kick, and Baekhyun blushes before plopping down in the seat, leaning back all nonchalantly. This made Kris the teensiest frustrated. He felt Baekhyun was going to be a defiant one, if he even had anything to tell.
"Why am I even here?" He asks boldly. "I mean, what reason would I have-"
Kris cuts him off with a slam on his hand onto the surface of the metal desk. "It's true, is it not, that you stalked Do Kyungsoo for four years in college, and in that time committed various break ins, and a few attempted assaults, a few of which were sexual."
"Erm, last time I checked, touching someone below the waist doesn't count as a sexual assault." Baekhyun smirks.
This boy had sass, and Kris was not in the mood for it.
"Yes, well our theory is that you have come back to finish Kyungsoo off for leaving you after high school, and leave Jongin miserable for stealing his heart from you."
Baekhyun almost laughs. Almost. "What a nice theory you have there, sounds like a side plot for some corny k-drama featuring Lee Jongsuk as the captivating murderer."
Kris doesn't laugh. He frowns. "That is our theory, and we'd like to keep you around for questioning."
"I didn't do it, man."
"Whether you did or not, you will have information about Kyungsoo, and even Jongin, that we will need."
Baekhyun'a face turns grim. There's a long silence before he opens his mouth. "Listen, there's one thing."
Kris waits for this, one thing.
"Jongin was a notorious cheater. And I don't mean, like a poker cheater, I mean, he had a history of having affairs with others while he had other lovers, only to crush them when he finally decided to leave and move on to the other."
Kris grins. "And that is to help us how?"
"Not you, but maybe to clear my name? I was only trying to protect Kyungsoo from Jongin, and-"
"And I guess you didn't have to. If you come up with anything of more importance, be sure to give us a call." Kris drops a card into a distraught Baekhyun's palm, before giving him a light shove out of the room.
Two down, one to go.
Jongin steps into the room, and suddenly Kris feels cold. Jongin is wiping silent tears from beneath his pretty lashes, as he makes his way to the chair, gracefully taking a seat. Lord, was he attractive.
"I really don't understand why I'm here..." Jongin mumbles, looking up at Kris with eyes even more damp than Luhan's had been.
"Well, then let me explain." Kris had a soft spot for this boy, because even though he hated him for impressing his Sehun, he sympathized with him for losing someone so close. Kris would die without Sehun. "You're here because we need information from you...and Minseok thinks you killed Kyungsoo."
"I'd never do that! How could someone think I'd do that? I loved him so much...he was my everything." The boy in the chair wailed.
It all sounded very cliche, and there was something not quite right.
"We were going to get married in the spring, why would anyone do this to me? We were going to have a family, and start a real life-"
Now it was getting annoyingly cliche.
"That's enough Jongin. You're dismissed." Kris says exasperatedly, waving a hand at Jongin to shoo him out.
Kris swears on his life, that has Jongin left, his hands curled into a small fist pump and there was a sly smile on his plush lips.
All the suspects had been through their first round of interrogation. They hadn't narrowed it down physically, but Kris knew he had to talk to Minseok. Immediately.
They sent all the suspects on their way, before Minseok locked the doors to the lab and turned to face Kris. The smaller male wiped his sweaty palms on his thighs and bit his lip.
"I think it's Jongin. I believe Jongin murdered Kyungsoo because he was having an affair with Luhan."
Kris' eyes widen, crossing his arms firmly over his chest and taking a step towards Minseok. "Why, and how can you be so sure of that? I was the one interrogating them, wouldn't you like to hear my thoughts?"
Minseok just smiles. "I'd love to hear your thoughts, but I have my own too. After all, I did ask them a load of questions while they were waiting to be asked others by you."
Kris groans, and runs a hand down his face. "What the fuck Minseok! That was my job! I should've known when you said you'd just wait with them."
"I'm only trying to help you. I just want to get through this case."
"That's what you always say." Kris' expression returns normal. "Well, what did you find out."
"Luhan seemed scared, like he knew something, but wasn't too keen on telling." Minseok says, after taking a sip of his iced coffee. They were at a cafe, Kris' favorite cafe. He didn't want to discuss this in the lab, it was too stuffy for him, and smelled too much like Minseok's signature musky vanilla cologne.
"Yes, he did." Kris hums, licking at the cream coating the surface of his mocha. He didn't mind all that much that Minseok knew some information too. He kens different things, seeing he had asked different questions, and it was nice to have two views on the subjects. He'd never tell the older man any of this though.
"I don't think Luhan killed Kyungsoo, but I do believe he played a part in it. Could he possibly be charged with second degree murder?" Minseok contemplates, awaiting a reply from Kris.
He takes a sip of his mocha, the scalding liquid sliding down his throat as he eyes the shop across the street. It's a video store. Maybe he'd pick up something to watch with Sehun after he'd finished his strictly work date with Minseok.
"Only if he planned it. And even then, possibly not. If he was the reason Jongin killed him, for example, if Jongin choked Kyungsoo in an alley because he wanted to be with Luhan and the money, and Luhan was unaware this was going on, then Luhan is completely innocent."
"Which would explain why he looked scared, and upset. He felt it was his fault, but was worried he'd be blamed for more than just provoking it unknowingly." Minseok finished.
Kris nodded, tapping his fingers against the cafe table. It was sticky with who knows what, and he quickly too ceased his drumming.
"But what did he say when you asked him about an affair?" Minseok suggested.
"He got defensive, and sounded desperate to prove he wasn't. If he in fact was, he is obviously ashamed of it. I don't think he played much of a part in Kyungsoo's death." Kris said.
Minseok bit his lip, licking it free of lingering coffee. "But we should keep him around for information."
"Of course."
"How about Baekhyun?"
"Mhm, Byun Baekhyun." Kris ran his finger around the edge of his cup. "He was snarky. No no, sassy is more like it."
Minseok almost snorts cold coffee out his nose. "He was like that with me too." His giddy smile is almost blinding, and Kris can't help but smile back.
"I don't believe he did it. It just doesn't make sense. I understand why he'd be jealous, but the final thing he said, made me believe him."
"Believe him? What was the final thing he said?"
Kris swallowed the remaining contents of his cup, setting his down on the plastic table. "He said, Jongin was a cheater. That he'd date one person, have an affair on the side, and then when he was done his fun, he'd crush the original person he was dating, and run off with his mister."
Minseok stabs at chunks of ice in the bottom of his cup with his straw. "Makes sense with out theory."
They remain silent for a bit, the sound of people chattering and cars zooming by the tall glass window they were sitting beside.
Finally, Minseok speaks again. "I think we may be trying too hard to blame this all on Jongin, I mean, everything seems to fit too easily."
"Minseok," Kris partly interupts. "When he left the room, I swear he fist pumped and smiled."
Minseok's eyes go wide and begin to gleam. "He did?"
Kris put a hand over his heart. "He did."
"I have an idea, it's going to be risky, but I think we should try it." Minseok grins. "Meet me back at the lab at 8:00 if you want to solve this case."
Kris pushes the door to his apartment open with his hip, being welcomed in by a needy hug from Sehun. The boy licks and bites kittenishly at Kris exposed neck, and he groans lowly as he sets down his briefcase and locks the door. Sehun's tugging his blazer off, and unwraveling his bowtie.
"Kris, ah, I've missed you, I need you." He mewls, grinding his slim hips against Kris', and he can feel the younger boy's hard member brush against his thigh.
He leans down to cup Sehun's face, kissing his full on, nibbling on his lower lip as his lover secure his arms around the taller's neck. They fondle each others mouths for a bit, Kris pushing Sehun up against the kitchen counter, so his back is arched. Hands begin to roam, nails raking down backs as lips suck intensely on unblemished skin.
"Fuck me Kris, I've even stretched myself for you..." Sehun moans, eyes half lidded, and the thought of Sehun with his fingers filling himself up crosses Kris' mind, and he gasps.
He's about to unzip Sehun's pants when his eyes catches a flashing green light. Kris snaps his head up to see the blinking clock on the stove. 7:55 it read. Fuck.
"Sehun, baby, I'm so sorry." He wraps his arms around his boyfriend's waist, and grabs his legs so he's holding him bridal style. He quickly carries him over to the sofa and lays him down. "I've got important business to do. I'll be back home soon. I'm so sorry, but I've got to go."
Sehun whines, and looks like he's on the brink of tears. Kris has seen too much crying today already, but he has to get to Minseok's or he could lose his job.
"I love you!" He calls as he fumbles with the lock of the door. Sehun is still moaning on the couch. If only he had just come straight home from the cafe, and not stopped to chat with Jongdae when he delivered the files to him at the office. The only good thing that came out of it, was wishing Jongdae congratulations. He had finally gotten himself a boyfriend. An older, but cute man by the name of Joonmyun. He seemed friendly, and happened to be an attorney at a family run law firm. Kris was mildly proud of Jongdae.
He rushed down the stairs instead of the elevator for no reason other than that the elevator was chock full when it opened. Kris nearly tripped over his own feet as he came down the last set of stairs and sprinted into the lower level garage parking lot. His hair was a mess courtesy of Sehun's hands, and his bowtie was hanging by a thread, his blazer disappeared, also thanks to Sehun's hands. He looked around wildly, digging into depths of his pockets and just about cried when he discovered he did not have his car keys.
"Hey, Kris!" He heard a familiar voice call, and with wild eyes he jogged over to the glittering black Porsche crawling it's way to him.
"Minseok! I'm sorry I'm late." He apologized as he climbed into the passenger seat.
"It's fine. I was coming to pick you up anyways, if we're going to do a stakeout, we're going to do it in style."
The black porsche did a surprisingly good job of stealthily sliding up to the curb in front of the large mansion that belonged to Kim Jongin now. Kris shifted his weight nervously, glancing over at his partner for the stakeout. He was taken aback by how calm Minseok seemed. His features were lax and his hands rested easily on the steering wheel. Kris shifted again in his seat.
"Shall we go?" Minseok asked, his voice piercing the silence.
"Shall we what?" Kris' head nearly hit the roof of the car. "I thought this was a stakeout."
"It is." Minseok replied, turning to face the taller man. "Now we must go inside."
"Stakeouts don't involve going inside. During stakeouts, you wait, in the saftey of the car, and watch." Kris informed the anthropologist.
"Yeah, but won't going inside be more fun?"
"Only if you want to get killed."
Minseok his head, giving Kris a condescending look. "I doubt he has a gun, silly."
Kris' entire being shook as they entered the building. It was as massive inside as it was outside, and he had no idea how Minseok possibly expected navigate the entire premises without tripping over something. Minseok seemed sure enough of himself though, that Kris decided against questioning it.
Minseok impressively picked the front door lock open with a paper clip he had brought along. Kris held the flashlight. He was then instructed to turn it off, in order to allow their eyes to adjust to the darkness, and make it easier for them to find whatever they happened to be looking for.
Kris wasn't exactly sure what they were looking for. Minseok said they were here on a stakeout, not knowing the true meaning of a stakeout. But based on how his partner used the word, he guessed Minseok was hoping to catch Jongin in the midst of the crime. Kris knew, and hoped, they weren't going to be catching him committing another murder, had he been the killer in the first place. Minseok, for all Kris knew, was hoping to find Jongin cornering Luhan against a wall and claiming his lips. Kris wasn't in the mood for anything more rated than that.
They slipped through the shadows, Kris marveling at how easily the short man in front of him contorted his body to swerve corners of antique tables topped with mirages or vases. His lips formed a smile involuntarily as he followed Minseok around the house, through what looked to be a kitchen, a living room, a peek in a laundry room and finally up a set of stairs. Kris gulped.
Minseok whipped around all too fast, subconsequently having to grab Kris' shoulders to steady the startled man. He pointed to a room that was glowed softly around the edges of the door. A light seemed to be on inside. Kris swallowed hard again. He really didn't want to see a naked Jongin or Luhan or both tonight. He felt it would be a violation to his boyfriend.
The two crept up to the door, side by side, and as Minseok's hand curled it's way around the doorknob, Kris' heart leapt into his throat. They had not discussed a plan for what they were going to do if Jongin and Luhan were in fact getting it on in that room.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash.
The clattering sounded similar to that of pots and pans hitting a tiled floor.
Without missing a beat, Minseok was scrambling down the stairs again, towards where the sound had come from. It took Kris a few extra seconds, allowing the sudden fear to subside before he raced on after Minseok. The two came skidding to a halt in front of the archway of the kitchen, face to face with Jongin's butler, Luhan.
"Wh-what are you doing here!" Luhan got out in a shriek before Minseok's hand was clamped down over the boy's mouth.
Kris looked from his partner to the butler's who eyes were wide as saucers, then back at his partner.
"What now?" He whispered hoarsely.
Minseok moved his other hand to settle in the crook of Luhan's neck, and Kris shuddered at how much the position resembled a neck snapping threat.
"We still have to find out what's behind that door." Minseok answered quietly. "You go up and see, I'll hold him here."
"I can't just go! What if he's got a gun?"
"Now's not the time to be immature, plus he killed his fiancé by strangling him, he doesn't own a gun." Minseok sounded very sure of himself.
It only hit Kris halfway up the stairs again that if Luhan was in the kitchen, Jongin was either alone in this room, or with...
He turned the knob slowly, every nerve in his body pulsating violently as he swung open the door, one hand on his gunless holster.
The sight that he saw once the door was completely opened, was enough to kill him without a tangible bullet.
Kris' face was as white as a ghost as Minseok pulled off of the curb.
"Won't you tell me what you saw?" His partner said as he pulled up to a red light. "I need to know, for evidence. We're going to need it soon, for I don't know how long they're going to let this break in go unheard of for. We're going to have to find some hard evidence as soon as possible."
Kris did not reply.
"Please." Minseok pushed.
"You really want to know?" Kris snapped, turning his body to face Minseok's.
His partner stole a sideways glance as he shifted gears. "Yes, I do Kris."
Silence fell upon them once again, but it lasted only a matter of seconds before Kris broke through it.
"He was fucking Sehun." He choked out.
Kris was on fire as he entered the apartment. He threw his briefcase into the wall, punching a whole through it afterwards. Minseok protests and words of comfort were drowned out by the blood boiling in his ears. Kris gave the wall a final kick before moving on to the kitchen island chairs.
"How could he, after all I've given him!" He yelled in anguish as he picked up a stool before slamming it back down into the floor, a small crack appearing in the tile.
"That fucking slut." Kris threw another punch, this time at a different wall before breaking into tears.
"I loved him so much..." He gets out between sobs. "I loved him so much..."
This is when all the things Jongdae had ever said to him about not actually loving Sehun, and just lusting him come rushing back. These words only anger Kris further, and he creates another hole in the wall.
"Kris, please." Minseok soothes, cautiously lifting his hands to rest on Kris' hunched shoulders. "Please, it's going to be okay, I understand how stressed you must-"
Kris was not in his right mind. He was so angry, but more than he was angry, he was afraid. His worst fear was being alone, was being without someone to wake up next to, without someone to fall asleep beside. So he flips around, and grabs Minseok's cheeks between his palms before pressing a reverent kiss to his soft lips.
Minseok did not protest, he only slung his arms over the taller's shoulders, and pulled him closer. Kris grins into the kiss, tugging on his partner's plump lower lip before the shorter pulls away.
"I'm sorry..."
"It's okay." Kris interupts the apology. It's not needed. He wants this. It's probably not the best decision right now, but what else does he have to lose. Minseok presses back and Kris likes how warm he feels against his body. The older male is comforting in the dead of this night, as Kris feels his heart still unwraveling.
Somehow, they make it to his bed that night. Bare chests rise and fall in rhythm, and the air smells like raw passion. Nothing like Sehun would smell like, Kris remarks. The silence is sweet. No whining. Just breathing, beginning to slowly even out.
Minseok broke it, as he has a habit of doing.
"I love you. I always have." He uttered breathlessly.
Kris' insides clench up. He pretends he's already asleep.
He wakes up. The room is giving off an eerie aura. The warm body that was curled into side what felt like only moments ago, had disappeared. Darkness consumes him, and Kris' eyes begin to burn from behind. The bed next to him dips and he feels familiar hands slide their way up his back. As familiar as they are, they are unwanted.
"Sehun." He growls, flipping the boy who approached him over onto his back on the bed. Sehun gasped, his head grazing the backboard. He winced audibly.
Something on the coast of anger overcame Kris and his mouth came down, teeth catching the pale skin of Sehun's collarbone. He sucked harshly until he was anything but content with the violent purple blossom forming on the beautiful canvas.
Kris could hear Sehun choking beneath him, his hands weren't doing anything to protest, but his crying made Kris pull back.
"Why did you do it?" He demands an answer, pulling the teary eyed boy into a seated position by the scruff of his shirt.
Sehun just cries harder. He may have been saying something, but all Kris could hear was fear and regret slipping from his past lover's lips.
"Tell me!"
Sehun's eyes opened wider, and Kris could see they were glowing. He looked destroyed. As if his soul was leaving him piece by piece and for a moment, Kris feels ashamed.
"I loved him." Sehun coughs.
Kris' chest seizes up, and he lets go of the younger boy's shirt.
"I thought you loved me." His voice sounds far smaller than he had been aiming for.
"I craved you." Comes the answer, without so much as a hesitation. "That's all."
Kris doesn't waste anymore time. There is nothing else he needs, or wants to hear. Nothing else he wants to do, to see, to feel.
"Get out of my apartment."
"You did the right thing." Jongdae says across the foam coating his hot drink. They're in the cafe they used to always go to, before this case took over Kris' spare time.
Kris nods, he knows. There was no way he was going to have allowed Sehun to stay living in his flat. No fucking way. But he didn't feel he did the right thing.
He's alone again.
Minseok is back at his lab right now probably, regretting allowing Kris to claim in last night, wishing he had never breathed the words he had, and been rejected so cowardly.
Kris is crumbling. He's breaking, but he's still got a case to close.
As he runs a calloused finger over the soft furry petal of a rose, he wonders if this was how he should be saying sorry. Kris has been regretting a lot of things lately.
Before he can change his mind, the door he's standing in front of swings open. Minseok's face reads "unamused".
"I'm sorry. About everything I should be sorry for." Kris settles for, extending his hand that's clutching a bouquet of orange roses. "These are a peace offering. I chose them because they're exotic, kind of like you."
He bites his tongue. He's acting like a fifteen year old school boy.
Minseok's breaks into a smile though, and accepts them happily before pulling Kris inside the lab.
"Thanks, but we don't have time to dwell. We need to apprehend Kim Jongin, and first, we have to prove him guilty."
Kris wishes he could face palm himself with his foot. "Shit."
Getting over someone is no walk in the park. It's a little easier when he's being bombarded with court cases and some inner demons.
Jongdae offers to get Kris a therapist, but he refuses the offer.
"I will appreciate the thought." He tells the man who's eyebrows are triple knotted in a concerned expression.
"Things will be okay." Jongdae whispered as Kris walked away.
They won the court case. Thanks to Minseok. Kris thinks things are getting easier.
It's hard losing someone in such a way. Losing someone to the world is different than death because when you lose someone to the world, they're still out there, and maybe they're smiling at someone else, maybe someone else is their world now. When someone is lost to death, they're gone for good. You can imagine that you were in the last breath they took, and move on with the satisfaction that at the time their world stopped, you were their love. Neither is good, losing someone is not a euphoric sort of event.
But Sehun isn't lost to either. No one will make the boy behind the bars smile again. That permanent frown runs too deep in the crevices of his pale complexion.
The killers are locked up, and away. Minseok, like he does with everything else in Kris' life, pulled ends together for him. It's one of the reasons Kris thinks maybe they could work.
"Are you sure you don't want to visit him?"
Minseok's face is bundled in a scarf. Kris thinks it looks cute, the wool nestled against his chubby cheeks. Very cute.
"I'm sure." Kris replies once he's finished admiring the elder's appearance. He reaches out a hand, hoping another one will find it. Ones does. Minseok's hand does.
"Well then, do you want to go get coffee or something?"
They didn't get coffee. They got the second season of Sherlock from the video store. Curled up on the couch, with Minseok in his lap, Kris felt the scene was all too familiar. It ached in his stomach, but the feeling of being alone hurts far more.
One of the men on the screen is shot down, falling into a puddle of his own blood. The red liquid seeps out from his back. It paints the concrete beneath him, and the camera zooms in on the deep bullet wound in the side of his head.
Kris doesn't even flinch.
"Aren't you glad that isn't what we do for a living?" Minseok chuckles.
Kris' smile is sincere as he leans in to connect their lips. "I'm glad."
- what is good writing
- i clearly wouldn't know
- im so sorry bella
- please don't hate me
- im a pussy ass nerd
Pairing: KrisHun, former!KaiSoo, and other pairings if you squint
Rating: R
Genre: Angst, Crime!AU
Length: 8,299 w.
Warning(s): Character death, violence & gore
Summary: Love can leave you disoriented, but lust renders you blind.
A/N: Written for the goddess that is Bella.
Kris fears very little. He doesn't flinch in the face of danger, and that's fortunate, seeing as what he does for a living involves facing possible danger each and every day. He isn't scared of the dark, heights, spiders, or even dying. No, Kris fears one thing, and one thing only. He fears being alone. He's afraid of being alone, like other people are afraid of being stabbed. He detests the sensation of the emotion nibbling it's way through his chest to grab a hold of his heart and tear it out, plucking away at each of it's strings until he's a mess, a broken, alone mess. Kris doesn't mind solitude though, he cherishes the moments he has in quiet, working away at a case, free from his boyfriend's frequent complaints about things from dinner being low class to the bed being sticky.
But Kris hates being alone.
Kris can't handle not having someone to hold close, and spill all his worries out to. Someone beautiful, to look into their eyes, and tell them that he's thankful, he still has them after all this. Kris sees some horrific things through work. It's not every day, but all too often he'll end up standing over a mangled body, his partner consoling the lover while he examines the body for time of death, and suspected cause. Kris prefers his job of working with the dead body, than the live mess of streaking eyeliner. Kris doesn't like talking to the victim's surviving relatives, friends, or lovers. Especially the lovers.
He always stares in awe at how they're still breathing, how they still have the energy to answer questions after losing someone so close.
Jongdae tells Kris it's because with being in love, you have to understand that it can never last forever. Time passes, people move along, and the circumstances change, causing feelings to morph into different identities. Kris always scoffs at his partner when he says this, pointing out that Jongdae wouldn't know, he doesn't have someone he loves.
"Well, neither do you." Jongdae snaps one day, as he sets his latte back down on the cafe table, not even having taken a sip.
"That's not true, I have Sehun." Kris scowls, narrowing his already beady eyes.
Jongdae smirks, an angry chortle coming from his dry lips. "Exactly. You have Sehun. He's yours. You act like you own him, and that's not love."
Kris would have hit Jongdae across the face right then and there, but his dark chocolate mocha was too delicious to set down, frothy brown foam on the tip of his nose and he goes to retort. But before he can, Jongdae is laughing harder, tapping his nose.
"You got something there."
It's five am when Kris wakes up, his body covered in a cold sweat, and the room reeks of sweet love. He groans as the memories of a few hours earlier wash over him. His eyes slowly adjust to the dark, rolling over, and his naked body hits another one. This one is warm, this is one is Sehun.
"Not again, I'm still sore." He hears the boy whimper.
Kris smiles, pressing a tender kiss to Sehun's slender shoulder. "Okay, but only because I'm just as worn out. You made some really beautiful sounds tonight, baby." He teases, snaking his hands around Sehun's waist, and pulling his close.
The boy whines again, and suddenly Kris is thinking about Jongdae had said.
He's yours.
You act like you own him.
And that's not love.
Kris closed his lids, fingers sub consciously stroking the spinal ridges of Sehun's back. Who was Jongdae to tell him what was love, and what was not? Isn't love different for everyone? Jongdae has never been in love anyways, has he?
Sehun mewls.
"Shush, just sleep." Kris whispers, stuttering his strokes, and keeping his hands stationary.
This was his definition of love.
"This one is DOA, I'll need you to send Minseok over as soon as possible." Kris tells the chief of police, over receiver. He hears a fuzzy click, and assumes the man has hung up, and will be doing as he asks. If the victim is dead on arrival, Kris always gets Minseok to come right away. Minseok is a specialist, with anthropology, which means he'll be able to conclude how the victim died, almost immediately. Which is convenient, because when they're dead on arrival, there is only so much that could have already been tampered with.
Kris kneels down on the ground, tuning out Jongdae who is currently speaking soothing words to the boyfriend of the victim. He was a young boy of average height, attractive looks, and muscular build. His skin was perfect at first glance, and Kris was awestruck seeing how absolutely flawless this man was. He was soon struck out of his awe when he heard what his name was.
Kim Jongin.
The boy Sehun hadn't shut up about since he met him in a club last weekend. Kris had been furious, giving Sehun an intense punishment for leaving the house, to go to a club of all places, without even notifying him beforehand. Sehun had been too drunk for explanations when he stumbled in at two am that morning, and had forgotten the ordeal by the afternoon, so Kris never received a proper excuse. But, according to Sehun, Jongin was, and he quotes "his new best friend" and "he has a boyfriend so there is nothing to worry about." Kris was fine with a friend for Sehun, but if this boy had intentions otherwise, and was a cheater on the side, he'd be locking Sehun up, and possibly have to be working on a case for a murder committed by himself.
Kim Jongin, seemed less threatening now that he was bawling like a newborn baby, palms grasping at the brick walls in the alleyway. (The crime scene was as stereotypical as settings could get, according to Kris). Jongdae was stroking the boy's back now, shrugging his jacket off to drape over Jongin's quivering shoulders.
"I never got to even say goodbye." He sobbed.
Kris' chest began to ache. "Oh, look, Minseok is here already." He interrupts awkwardly, rubbing the nape of his neck as he shoots Jongdae a look of something halfway between pity and discomfort, then scrambles away to where Minseok's ride is pulling up.
Minseok was excessive. Kris was always jealous of how the man made medium wage, and spent it like he owned a money making machine. Who knows, maybe he does given all the stuff he does own. And everything is expensive. Everything is the most expensive of whatever the item is. His car is a gleaming black Porsche, so clean that Kris can see his own jaw dropped face in the door. Even after knowing and working alongside Minseok for years, he never got over how beautiful the things this man owns were. Kris draws his gaze up from the door to Minseok, who is finally stepping out of his car, flattening creases on his stunning grey suit, as he waves his chauffeur off.
"Good afternoon Mr. Wu, show me the body."
Kris tries to hide his envious glare, muttering phrases that go something like "well of course princess" and "I'm not stripping for you". He couldn't decide which one was more sarcastic for the current situation.
"He has died of suffocation." Minseok announces dramatically, his features painted a shade of grim. "Probably by a rope or coil of metal, more likely a rope because of the material burn marks here-" He is kneeling next to the body, pointing a glove protected finger at the crimson marks ruining the alabaster complexion of this man's neck. "-and here."
Minseok stands, brushing non existent dirt from his spotless sleeves, tearing the plastic gloves from his hands. "He was killed up to three hours ago. Does that sound about right?"
He's turned to Jongin now, asking him for confirmation that Kyungsoo was out around here at approximately four this afternoon. Kris taps his foot against the ground twice.
Jongdae pats the boy's shoulder, encouraging him to speak up and answer.
"Yes. He left the house to go for groceries and cleaning supplies at 3:30 or so, he would have walked by here on his way to the mall." Jongin jerked a thumb at the street.
"Mmm." Minseok hands his gloves to his assistant, Yixing obediently taking them and holding them behind his back.
"I'd like to examine the body a bit more, but in my lab where I have better tools." He states the obvious. "I'll hand the rest of the case back to you, Mr. Wu." Minseok takes Yixing's arm lightly before proceeding back to the car, shooing his assistant away when they reach the door. Yixing never rode with his boss, he had to take his equally shiny blue BMW.
Kris sighed.
"What did you say your boyfriend's name was, I do believe I didn't catch it."
"I never told you." Jongin looks up, his voice not disrespectful, but there is something about the way the way an almost smirk plays on his lips.
"The name."
"Soo. Do Kyungsoo."
Kris has to be at Minseok's lab for ten am sharp, tomorrow. He wants to go over evidence with Kris before they start interrogating close friends and such for information. Kris is not a morning person, and is less than pleased to have to spend tomorrow's morning with the pompous anthropologist. He twists the key of the door to his apartment he shares with Sehun, giving the door a frustrated kick open.
"I'm home." Kris grumbles, dropping the keys into a basket by the coat rack, tossing his jacket up onto a hook.
There is no answer.
"Sehun. I'm home." Kris' tone is firm, but his heart is panicky. It skips one beat, and then another when there still comes no reply.
"Sehun!" He shouts again. Without hesitation and much thought, Kris is running around the compact aparment, into the kitchen, around the dining table, through the couches, peeking into the bathroom, and finally coming to bust open the bedroom door.
Sehun is in bed. Sehun is sleeping.
Kris just about passes out right there or the floor, crumpling into a ball of relief, but he doesn't. Instead, he waits to pass out when he's stripped down to his boxers, in bed with his boyfriend, forehead nestled in a defined collarbone.
He's not an overprotective boyfriend. Or at least he likes to think he isn't. Kris isn't possessive exactly, and he tries his best not to coddle Sehun, but he is the jealous type, that he'll admit. He cringes at the mention of another man's name, watching as his lover's eyes twinkle as words of admiration towards this other person, spill from his lips. It's a habit of Kris' now, to silence Sehun with a kiss and a "you're mine" when he starts. Sehun will pout, and return the kiss, but it's always uncomfortable. Some days, Kris wonders if Sehun stays with him because he loves him, or just because he feels obligated.
Kris sits at the center table in Minseok's lab, watching curiously as the anthropologist bustles around, gathering papers and files before bringing them to slam down in front of Kris.
"In here, are all the information my team has collected about Jongin, his boyfriend, and a few other suspects."
"How did you get all this?" Kris questions sternly, picking up a file and withdrawing a page. On it is a photo of Jongin, and some records. "Wasn't this job supposed to be left for Jongdae and I?"
Minseok smirks. "Yes, well I thought it'd be easier for all of us, if I just went ahead and did it." He rounds the table, leaning against it as he picks up another envelope and pulls out a profile. "Let's get to work shall we? Here is the information on our first suspect."
Kris sets down Jongin's records to take a look at the one Minseok was holding up. It showed a fair skinned, blond boy, looking no less than twenty years old, but with a mature flair. His eyes scrolled down the page, collecting that this boy's name was Luhan, and he was a butler in the Do household.
"So they were rich." Kris ponders aloud.
"Not exactly." Minseok corrects him. "Do Kyungsoo," He motions to the man's dead body lying flat across another table at the end of the room, his face skeletal pale. Kris shudders. He didn't notice that when he came in, and intends to pretend he never did now. "He was wealthy. His parents have retired the manor he lived in, to him only recently. Kim Jongin lived with him. They had many servants."
Kris gnaws his lower lip in contemplation. "Okay, so he had many servants. Why are we focusing on Luhan if he had others..."
Minseok chuckles darkly before continuing. "Luhan is the only employee that knew Kyungsoo was going out that day. The only one who would have any reason to kill him on top of that, all the others were treated very well, paid well, and went home at the end of the day, content as could be."
"They would go home at the end of their work hours?"
"Yes," Minseok nodded. "All of the servants, except Luhan were permitted to leave the residence when they had completed their necessary work for the day. Luhan, as you've probably read, is a butler. He is always on duty. But with this laboring position, it also means that the estate would go to him if the owners perished for some reason, and there were no heirs."
"But Jongin is still around..."
"Not for much longer he won't be, if Luhan's plan is what our theory says." Minseok licks his lower lip, putting away Luhan's pages. "Or, possibly Jongin was having an affair with his butler, and by murdering his boyfriend, he'd be able to live peacefully in the comfort of the home with his mister."
Kris scoffs. "So, is that why you also have Jongin in the suspect pile."
"One of the reasons," Minseok replies slyly. "One of the few reasons. We have to keep Jongin close, so we can extract information from him, about Kyungsoo. But, we'd also like to keep him around, because he could have had reasons to kill."
"And what would these reasons be?"
"One, he was having an affair and wanted to estate to himself." Minseok says, counting on his fingers and he continues. "And two, he was fed up with Kyungsoo for reasons."
"These reasons being?"
"We're not sure, but we know he's hiding something just from interrogating him earlier this morning."
"You already interrogated him!" Kris rose from his seat, fists curled. Minseok pissed him off, and so did other people doing his job.
Minseok just batted his lashes at him innocently. "Yes, is there a problem with that?"
"You're always doing my job! Just keep to yourself and examine the dead bodies like you're supposed to! Stop meddling with things you shouldn't!"
Minseok remained unfazed. "I'm only trying to help you Kris." He pushed his shoulders back, placing his hands on Kris' forearms, making the taller shiver. "That's all. You don't need to thank me, I'd just like it if you'd appreciate it. We can discuss the rest of the suspects at a later date. How about tomorrow?" He rubbed Kris' shoulders momentarily, before his hands were pushed away.
"Fine. Tomorrow it is." Kris murmured, snatching his blazer off the chair before storming out of the lab.
"Ten again please!" Minseok called after him. "Don't be late!"
"He sounds like a real dick." Sehun mumbled with a mouthful of Alfredo pasta they'd ordered as take out from the family run Italian restaurant next door.
"He is." Kris said before shoving a forkful into his mouth. One of the things he loved about Sehun, was how he'd agree with him without hesitation. Not great when he wanted to know Sehun's own opinion on things, but just fine in times like this.
"I mean, it's your job, and he's just doing it for you."
You've said that same phrase seven times now, darling. Kris wants to say.
Dinner is over pretty quickly, and Kris finds himself sweltering under a blanket, Sehun curled up his in lap. Sehun's favorite tv show is playing on the screen. Sherlock.
"Why are we watching this again?" Kris asks, hastily being shushed with a hand to his face. Sehun nuzzles his mane of brown tresses into Kris's neck, the blankets pulled up past his chest.
Kris repeats his question only quieter this time. Sehun doesn't answer.
"Is this the type of stuff you do when you're working?" He finally replies, yawnly cutely.
Kris cracks a smile, running his hand through his boyfriend's soft hair. "Not exactly. Close though."
Sehun cranes his neck to look up at Kris. "This show reminds of you. That's why I watch it when you're gone."
"You're such a baby." Kris teases as he closes the space between their lips.
"You showed up." Minseok states, his arms crossed and a look of approval decorating his features.
"It is my job, isn't it?"
After four cups of tea each, and six more folders of possible suspects, they come to an agreement. Jongin, Luhan, and Kyungsoo's high school sweetheart turned college stalker, Baekhyun, were the only people worth their time.
"So what's his story? How'd he end up with the need to stalk Kyungsoo."
Minseok smiles, his eyes not leaving Baekhyun's photo. The man had delicate, feminine features, but those aspects were contrasted by dark circles beneath his eyes, and matted feces brown hair. "He dated Kyungsoo for all four years of high school, but then he was broken up with because Kyungsoo wanted to start fresh in college."
"That must of hurt." Kris mutters, looking at Baekhyun with something like sympathy.
"It must've, since he devoted the next four years of his life to stalking Kyungsoo. A couple break ins, and attempted sexual assaults later, Kyungsoo filed for a restraining order."
Kris laughs bitterly. "Only after four years of harassment?"
"Kyungsoo was a kind man, a near perfect man in fact. He wouldn't have wanted to ruin anyone's life unless he had no other option."
Kris heads home from the lab that night, files in hand to review for the full scale interrogation set for tomorrow afternoon. Minseok looks up at him, arms folded over his chest as he leans against the door frame.
"I really so enjoy working with you." His voice is timid, and shakes at the end.
Kris slows his pace at pulling on his jacket, his eyes crawling over the man standing in front of him. He's unsure of how to reply, unsure of what exactly his colleague meant, and what he felt was proper to reply with.
"Goodnight Minseok." Is what he decides on, turning to leave before he can catch a glimpse of a reaction.
The interrogation was to begin today. Kris had pulled on a sleek black suit, and opted for a bowtie instead of a tie on Sehun's request. He gave his lover a peck on the cheek, and a pat on the butt, before grabbing his briefcase that held his side of the evidence, and was out the door.
He hoped with everything he had to hope with that Minseok had not already gone ahead with the interrogation, and knew who the convicted was to be. Kris got off to this kind of excitement. He didn't want to let Minseok take that away from him.
"Good morning." He muttered, expressionless as he entered the young anthropologist's lab. Minseok greeted him with a chipper smile, and a paper cup of coffee shoved into his grasp.
"You'll be needing that." He says, pointing to the cup. "It's going to be a long day."
The whole ordeal is very old fashioned. The suspects, Kim Jongin, Lu Han, and Byun Baekhyun are made to wait in the main lab, while one of them is taken for interrogation. Minseok said he would watch the suspects, while Kris did the questioning. He made no arguments to that.
"Lu Han, come with me please." Kris waved a hand in the direction of the private room, which Minseok had already set up with a bright lamp, a desk, a chair, and nothing else.
Luhan obediently stands up, head hung and hands clasped. He follows Kris into the room, and before he can be instructed to take a seat, he does. Luhan's eyes appear to be wet. Whether this is from crying, chopping onions, or guilt, Kris doesn't know. But he's about to find out.
"So, Luhan, we'll start with some easy questions," Kris begins, flipping over the sheet where the questions are listed, before holding it behind his back. "Where were you at four pm on Tuesday, September 9th, 2013?"
Luhan takes a breath before answering.
"I was preparing dinner in the manor." His voice doesn't waver, but there is something rehearsed about it. At least to Kris.
"Are you sure? Isn't four, a little early to be starting dinner?"
Luhan's expression turns flustered, and his mouth gapes. A little early to be getting flustered. At least to Kris it is.
"I...it was a rather gourmet dinner, that needed a lot of prepping."
"Right," Kris' lips curl into a near sadistic smirk, as he leans his hands on the edge of the desk. "Because Do Kyungsoo was a very wealthy man, was he not? And if he were to die, you'd take it over, unless, he had a significant other that it could be given to. Which he did, which means you'd have no reason to kill, and you're innocent."
Luhan stares at him expectantly. So he knows there's a catch, does that imply the catch is what he's done? Kris thinks.
"But, if you were having an affair-"
"I wasn't!" Luhan screams, he's crying now.
"Let me finish, if you were having an affair with Kim Jongin, you'd receive the reward of the riches Kyungsoo left behind." Kris rounds the desk, looking down upon a sniffling, sniveling Luhan. "We don't suspect you committed the crime full on, we just think you might have played a part, or know information that could be vital to us."
Kris crouches down as the thought comes to him that he had never suspected any of this, it was all Minseok...
His attention snaps back to Luhan's streaked face. The boy doesn't say a word, and doesn't seem like he's going to.
"I've got to move on to the next suspect, but we're going to keep you around if there's anything you'd like to tell us, okay?"
Luhan nods, Kris stands, and ushers the blond butler out the door.
One down, two to go.
Byun Baekhyun was next. He seemed calm, far calmer than Luhan, this boy's eyes were dry. His lips were chapped, his eyes looked like they hadn't been cleaned of eyeliner in over a month, and yet fresh eyeliner had been applied each day, and Kris suspected this was true. His feces brown hair was matted in spots, and the boy made an attempt to run his hand through it, only for it to catch less than halfway in.
"Baekhyun, please take a seat." Kris commands, and the boy stands there, seemingly confused. "The chair, sit in it." Kris gives the chair a small kick, and Baekhyun blushes before plopping down in the seat, leaning back all nonchalantly. This made Kris the teensiest frustrated. He felt Baekhyun was going to be a defiant one, if he even had anything to tell.
"Why am I even here?" He asks boldly. "I mean, what reason would I have-"
Kris cuts him off with a slam on his hand onto the surface of the metal desk. "It's true, is it not, that you stalked Do Kyungsoo for four years in college, and in that time committed various break ins, and a few attempted assaults, a few of which were sexual."
"Erm, last time I checked, touching someone below the waist doesn't count as a sexual assault." Baekhyun smirks.
This boy had sass, and Kris was not in the mood for it.
"Yes, well our theory is that you have come back to finish Kyungsoo off for leaving you after high school, and leave Jongin miserable for stealing his heart from you."
Baekhyun almost laughs. Almost. "What a nice theory you have there, sounds like a side plot for some corny k-drama featuring Lee Jongsuk as the captivating murderer."
Kris doesn't laugh. He frowns. "That is our theory, and we'd like to keep you around for questioning."
"I didn't do it, man."
"Whether you did or not, you will have information about Kyungsoo, and even Jongin, that we will need."
Baekhyun'a face turns grim. There's a long silence before he opens his mouth. "Listen, there's one thing."
Kris waits for this, one thing.
"Jongin was a notorious cheater. And I don't mean, like a poker cheater, I mean, he had a history of having affairs with others while he had other lovers, only to crush them when he finally decided to leave and move on to the other."
Kris grins. "And that is to help us how?"
"Not you, but maybe to clear my name? I was only trying to protect Kyungsoo from Jongin, and-"
"And I guess you didn't have to. If you come up with anything of more importance, be sure to give us a call." Kris drops a card into a distraught Baekhyun's palm, before giving him a light shove out of the room.
Two down, one to go.
Jongin steps into the room, and suddenly Kris feels cold. Jongin is wiping silent tears from beneath his pretty lashes, as he makes his way to the chair, gracefully taking a seat. Lord, was he attractive.
"I really don't understand why I'm here..." Jongin mumbles, looking up at Kris with eyes even more damp than Luhan's had been.
"Well, then let me explain." Kris had a soft spot for this boy, because even though he hated him for impressing his Sehun, he sympathized with him for losing someone so close. Kris would die without Sehun. "You're here because we need information from you...and Minseok thinks you killed Kyungsoo."
"I'd never do that! How could someone think I'd do that? I loved him so much...he was my everything." The boy in the chair wailed.
It all sounded very cliche, and there was something not quite right.
"We were going to get married in the spring, why would anyone do this to me? We were going to have a family, and start a real life-"
Now it was getting annoyingly cliche.
"That's enough Jongin. You're dismissed." Kris says exasperatedly, waving a hand at Jongin to shoo him out.
Kris swears on his life, that has Jongin left, his hands curled into a small fist pump and there was a sly smile on his plush lips.
All the suspects had been through their first round of interrogation. They hadn't narrowed it down physically, but Kris knew he had to talk to Minseok. Immediately.
They sent all the suspects on their way, before Minseok locked the doors to the lab and turned to face Kris. The smaller male wiped his sweaty palms on his thighs and bit his lip.
"I think it's Jongin. I believe Jongin murdered Kyungsoo because he was having an affair with Luhan."
Kris' eyes widen, crossing his arms firmly over his chest and taking a step towards Minseok. "Why, and how can you be so sure of that? I was the one interrogating them, wouldn't you like to hear my thoughts?"
Minseok just smiles. "I'd love to hear your thoughts, but I have my own too. After all, I did ask them a load of questions while they were waiting to be asked others by you."
Kris groans, and runs a hand down his face. "What the fuck Minseok! That was my job! I should've known when you said you'd just wait with them."
"I'm only trying to help you. I just want to get through this case."
"That's what you always say." Kris' expression returns normal. "Well, what did you find out."
"Luhan seemed scared, like he knew something, but wasn't too keen on telling." Minseok says, after taking a sip of his iced coffee. They were at a cafe, Kris' favorite cafe. He didn't want to discuss this in the lab, it was too stuffy for him, and smelled too much like Minseok's signature musky vanilla cologne.
"Yes, he did." Kris hums, licking at the cream coating the surface of his mocha. He didn't mind all that much that Minseok knew some information too. He kens different things, seeing he had asked different questions, and it was nice to have two views on the subjects. He'd never tell the older man any of this though.
"I don't think Luhan killed Kyungsoo, but I do believe he played a part in it. Could he possibly be charged with second degree murder?" Minseok contemplates, awaiting a reply from Kris.
He takes a sip of his mocha, the scalding liquid sliding down his throat as he eyes the shop across the street. It's a video store. Maybe he'd pick up something to watch with Sehun after he'd finished his strictly work date with Minseok.
"Only if he planned it. And even then, possibly not. If he was the reason Jongin killed him, for example, if Jongin choked Kyungsoo in an alley because he wanted to be with Luhan and the money, and Luhan was unaware this was going on, then Luhan is completely innocent."
"Which would explain why he looked scared, and upset. He felt it was his fault, but was worried he'd be blamed for more than just provoking it unknowingly." Minseok finished.
Kris nodded, tapping his fingers against the cafe table. It was sticky with who knows what, and he quickly too ceased his drumming.
"But what did he say when you asked him about an affair?" Minseok suggested.
"He got defensive, and sounded desperate to prove he wasn't. If he in fact was, he is obviously ashamed of it. I don't think he played much of a part in Kyungsoo's death." Kris said.
Minseok bit his lip, licking it free of lingering coffee. "But we should keep him around for information."
"Of course."
"How about Baekhyun?"
"Mhm, Byun Baekhyun." Kris ran his finger around the edge of his cup. "He was snarky. No no, sassy is more like it."
Minseok almost snorts cold coffee out his nose. "He was like that with me too." His giddy smile is almost blinding, and Kris can't help but smile back.
"I don't believe he did it. It just doesn't make sense. I understand why he'd be jealous, but the final thing he said, made me believe him."
"Believe him? What was the final thing he said?"
Kris swallowed the remaining contents of his cup, setting his down on the plastic table. "He said, Jongin was a cheater. That he'd date one person, have an affair on the side, and then when he was done his fun, he'd crush the original person he was dating, and run off with his mister."
Minseok stabs at chunks of ice in the bottom of his cup with his straw. "Makes sense with out theory."
They remain silent for a bit, the sound of people chattering and cars zooming by the tall glass window they were sitting beside.
Finally, Minseok speaks again. "I think we may be trying too hard to blame this all on Jongin, I mean, everything seems to fit too easily."
"Minseok," Kris partly interupts. "When he left the room, I swear he fist pumped and smiled."
Minseok's eyes go wide and begin to gleam. "He did?"
Kris put a hand over his heart. "He did."
"I have an idea, it's going to be risky, but I think we should try it." Minseok grins. "Meet me back at the lab at 8:00 if you want to solve this case."
Kris pushes the door to his apartment open with his hip, being welcomed in by a needy hug from Sehun. The boy licks and bites kittenishly at Kris exposed neck, and he groans lowly as he sets down his briefcase and locks the door. Sehun's tugging his blazer off, and unwraveling his bowtie.
"Kris, ah, I've missed you, I need you." He mewls, grinding his slim hips against Kris', and he can feel the younger boy's hard member brush against his thigh.
He leans down to cup Sehun's face, kissing his full on, nibbling on his lower lip as his lover secure his arms around the taller's neck. They fondle each others mouths for a bit, Kris pushing Sehun up against the kitchen counter, so his back is arched. Hands begin to roam, nails raking down backs as lips suck intensely on unblemished skin.
"Fuck me Kris, I've even stretched myself for you..." Sehun moans, eyes half lidded, and the thought of Sehun with his fingers filling himself up crosses Kris' mind, and he gasps.
He's about to unzip Sehun's pants when his eyes catches a flashing green light. Kris snaps his head up to see the blinking clock on the stove. 7:55 it read. Fuck.
"Sehun, baby, I'm so sorry." He wraps his arms around his boyfriend's waist, and grabs his legs so he's holding him bridal style. He quickly carries him over to the sofa and lays him down. "I've got important business to do. I'll be back home soon. I'm so sorry, but I've got to go."
Sehun whines, and looks like he's on the brink of tears. Kris has seen too much crying today already, but he has to get to Minseok's or he could lose his job.
"I love you!" He calls as he fumbles with the lock of the door. Sehun is still moaning on the couch. If only he had just come straight home from the cafe, and not stopped to chat with Jongdae when he delivered the files to him at the office. The only good thing that came out of it, was wishing Jongdae congratulations. He had finally gotten himself a boyfriend. An older, but cute man by the name of Joonmyun. He seemed friendly, and happened to be an attorney at a family run law firm. Kris was mildly proud of Jongdae.
He rushed down the stairs instead of the elevator for no reason other than that the elevator was chock full when it opened. Kris nearly tripped over his own feet as he came down the last set of stairs and sprinted into the lower level garage parking lot. His hair was a mess courtesy of Sehun's hands, and his bowtie was hanging by a thread, his blazer disappeared, also thanks to Sehun's hands. He looked around wildly, digging into depths of his pockets and just about cried when he discovered he did not have his car keys.
"Hey, Kris!" He heard a familiar voice call, and with wild eyes he jogged over to the glittering black Porsche crawling it's way to him.
"Minseok! I'm sorry I'm late." He apologized as he climbed into the passenger seat.
"It's fine. I was coming to pick you up anyways, if we're going to do a stakeout, we're going to do it in style."
The black porsche did a surprisingly good job of stealthily sliding up to the curb in front of the large mansion that belonged to Kim Jongin now. Kris shifted his weight nervously, glancing over at his partner for the stakeout. He was taken aback by how calm Minseok seemed. His features were lax and his hands rested easily on the steering wheel. Kris shifted again in his seat.
"Shall we go?" Minseok asked, his voice piercing the silence.
"Shall we what?" Kris' head nearly hit the roof of the car. "I thought this was a stakeout."
"It is." Minseok replied, turning to face the taller man. "Now we must go inside."
"Stakeouts don't involve going inside. During stakeouts, you wait, in the saftey of the car, and watch." Kris informed the anthropologist.
"Yeah, but won't going inside be more fun?"
"Only if you want to get killed."
Minseok his head, giving Kris a condescending look. "I doubt he has a gun, silly."
Kris' entire being shook as they entered the building. It was as massive inside as it was outside, and he had no idea how Minseok possibly expected navigate the entire premises without tripping over something. Minseok seemed sure enough of himself though, that Kris decided against questioning it.
Minseok impressively picked the front door lock open with a paper clip he had brought along. Kris held the flashlight. He was then instructed to turn it off, in order to allow their eyes to adjust to the darkness, and make it easier for them to find whatever they happened to be looking for.
Kris wasn't exactly sure what they were looking for. Minseok said they were here on a stakeout, not knowing the true meaning of a stakeout. But based on how his partner used the word, he guessed Minseok was hoping to catch Jongin in the midst of the crime. Kris knew, and hoped, they weren't going to be catching him committing another murder, had he been the killer in the first place. Minseok, for all Kris knew, was hoping to find Jongin cornering Luhan against a wall and claiming his lips. Kris wasn't in the mood for anything more rated than that.
They slipped through the shadows, Kris marveling at how easily the short man in front of him contorted his body to swerve corners of antique tables topped with mirages or vases. His lips formed a smile involuntarily as he followed Minseok around the house, through what looked to be a kitchen, a living room, a peek in a laundry room and finally up a set of stairs. Kris gulped.
Minseok whipped around all too fast, subconsequently having to grab Kris' shoulders to steady the startled man. He pointed to a room that was glowed softly around the edges of the door. A light seemed to be on inside. Kris swallowed hard again. He really didn't want to see a naked Jongin or Luhan or both tonight. He felt it would be a violation to his boyfriend.
The two crept up to the door, side by side, and as Minseok's hand curled it's way around the doorknob, Kris' heart leapt into his throat. They had not discussed a plan for what they were going to do if Jongin and Luhan were in fact getting it on in that room.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash.
The clattering sounded similar to that of pots and pans hitting a tiled floor.
Without missing a beat, Minseok was scrambling down the stairs again, towards where the sound had come from. It took Kris a few extra seconds, allowing the sudden fear to subside before he raced on after Minseok. The two came skidding to a halt in front of the archway of the kitchen, face to face with Jongin's butler, Luhan.
"Wh-what are you doing here!" Luhan got out in a shriek before Minseok's hand was clamped down over the boy's mouth.
Kris looked from his partner to the butler's who eyes were wide as saucers, then back at his partner.
"What now?" He whispered hoarsely.
Minseok moved his other hand to settle in the crook of Luhan's neck, and Kris shuddered at how much the position resembled a neck snapping threat.
"We still have to find out what's behind that door." Minseok answered quietly. "You go up and see, I'll hold him here."
"I can't just go! What if he's got a gun?"
"Now's not the time to be immature, plus he killed his fiancé by strangling him, he doesn't own a gun." Minseok sounded very sure of himself.
It only hit Kris halfway up the stairs again that if Luhan was in the kitchen, Jongin was either alone in this room, or with...
He turned the knob slowly, every nerve in his body pulsating violently as he swung open the door, one hand on his gunless holster.
The sight that he saw once the door was completely opened, was enough to kill him without a tangible bullet.
Kris' face was as white as a ghost as Minseok pulled off of the curb.
"Won't you tell me what you saw?" His partner said as he pulled up to a red light. "I need to know, for evidence. We're going to need it soon, for I don't know how long they're going to let this break in go unheard of for. We're going to have to find some hard evidence as soon as possible."
Kris did not reply.
"Please." Minseok pushed.
"You really want to know?" Kris snapped, turning his body to face Minseok's.
His partner stole a sideways glance as he shifted gears. "Yes, I do Kris."
Silence fell upon them once again, but it lasted only a matter of seconds before Kris broke through it.
"He was fucking Sehun." He choked out.
Kris was on fire as he entered the apartment. He threw his briefcase into the wall, punching a whole through it afterwards. Minseok protests and words of comfort were drowned out by the blood boiling in his ears. Kris gave the wall a final kick before moving on to the kitchen island chairs.
"How could he, after all I've given him!" He yelled in anguish as he picked up a stool before slamming it back down into the floor, a small crack appearing in the tile.
"That fucking slut." Kris threw another punch, this time at a different wall before breaking into tears.
"I loved him so much..." He gets out between sobs. "I loved him so much..."
This is when all the things Jongdae had ever said to him about not actually loving Sehun, and just lusting him come rushing back. These words only anger Kris further, and he creates another hole in the wall.
"Kris, please." Minseok soothes, cautiously lifting his hands to rest on Kris' hunched shoulders. "Please, it's going to be okay, I understand how stressed you must-"
Kris was not in his right mind. He was so angry, but more than he was angry, he was afraid. His worst fear was being alone, was being without someone to wake up next to, without someone to fall asleep beside. So he flips around, and grabs Minseok's cheeks between his palms before pressing a reverent kiss to his soft lips.
Minseok did not protest, he only slung his arms over the taller's shoulders, and pulled him closer. Kris grins into the kiss, tugging on his partner's plump lower lip before the shorter pulls away.
"I'm sorry..."
"It's okay." Kris interupts the apology. It's not needed. He wants this. It's probably not the best decision right now, but what else does he have to lose. Minseok presses back and Kris likes how warm he feels against his body. The older male is comforting in the dead of this night, as Kris feels his heart still unwraveling.
Somehow, they make it to his bed that night. Bare chests rise and fall in rhythm, and the air smells like raw passion. Nothing like Sehun would smell like, Kris remarks. The silence is sweet. No whining. Just breathing, beginning to slowly even out.
Minseok broke it, as he has a habit of doing.
"I love you. I always have." He uttered breathlessly.
Kris' insides clench up. He pretends he's already asleep.
He wakes up. The room is giving off an eerie aura. The warm body that was curled into side what felt like only moments ago, had disappeared. Darkness consumes him, and Kris' eyes begin to burn from behind. The bed next to him dips and he feels familiar hands slide their way up his back. As familiar as they are, they are unwanted.
"Sehun." He growls, flipping the boy who approached him over onto his back on the bed. Sehun gasped, his head grazing the backboard. He winced audibly.
Something on the coast of anger overcame Kris and his mouth came down, teeth catching the pale skin of Sehun's collarbone. He sucked harshly until he was anything but content with the violent purple blossom forming on the beautiful canvas.
Kris could hear Sehun choking beneath him, his hands weren't doing anything to protest, but his crying made Kris pull back.
"Why did you do it?" He demands an answer, pulling the teary eyed boy into a seated position by the scruff of his shirt.
Sehun just cries harder. He may have been saying something, but all Kris could hear was fear and regret slipping from his past lover's lips.
"Tell me!"
Sehun's eyes opened wider, and Kris could see they were glowing. He looked destroyed. As if his soul was leaving him piece by piece and for a moment, Kris feels ashamed.
"I loved him." Sehun coughs.
Kris' chest seizes up, and he lets go of the younger boy's shirt.
"I thought you loved me." His voice sounds far smaller than he had been aiming for.
"I craved you." Comes the answer, without so much as a hesitation. "That's all."
Kris doesn't waste anymore time. There is nothing else he needs, or wants to hear. Nothing else he wants to do, to see, to feel.
"Get out of my apartment."
"You did the right thing." Jongdae says across the foam coating his hot drink. They're in the cafe they used to always go to, before this case took over Kris' spare time.
Kris nods, he knows. There was no way he was going to have allowed Sehun to stay living in his flat. No fucking way. But he didn't feel he did the right thing.
He's alone again.
Minseok is back at his lab right now probably, regretting allowing Kris to claim in last night, wishing he had never breathed the words he had, and been rejected so cowardly.
Kris is crumbling. He's breaking, but he's still got a case to close.
As he runs a calloused finger over the soft furry petal of a rose, he wonders if this was how he should be saying sorry. Kris has been regretting a lot of things lately.
Before he can change his mind, the door he's standing in front of swings open. Minseok's face reads "unamused".
"I'm sorry. About everything I should be sorry for." Kris settles for, extending his hand that's clutching a bouquet of orange roses. "These are a peace offering. I chose them because they're exotic, kind of like you."
He bites his tongue. He's acting like a fifteen year old school boy.
Minseok's breaks into a smile though, and accepts them happily before pulling Kris inside the lab.
"Thanks, but we don't have time to dwell. We need to apprehend Kim Jongin, and first, we have to prove him guilty."
Kris wishes he could face palm himself with his foot. "Shit."
Getting over someone is no walk in the park. It's a little easier when he's being bombarded with court cases and some inner demons.
Jongdae offers to get Kris a therapist, but he refuses the offer.
"I will appreciate the thought." He tells the man who's eyebrows are triple knotted in a concerned expression.
"Things will be okay." Jongdae whispered as Kris walked away.
They won the court case. Thanks to Minseok. Kris thinks things are getting easier.
It's hard losing someone in such a way. Losing someone to the world is different than death because when you lose someone to the world, they're still out there, and maybe they're smiling at someone else, maybe someone else is their world now. When someone is lost to death, they're gone for good. You can imagine that you were in the last breath they took, and move on with the satisfaction that at the time their world stopped, you were their love. Neither is good, losing someone is not a euphoric sort of event.
But Sehun isn't lost to either. No one will make the boy behind the bars smile again. That permanent frown runs too deep in the crevices of his pale complexion.
The killers are locked up, and away. Minseok, like he does with everything else in Kris' life, pulled ends together for him. It's one of the reasons Kris thinks maybe they could work.
"Are you sure you don't want to visit him?"
Minseok's face is bundled in a scarf. Kris thinks it looks cute, the wool nestled against his chubby cheeks. Very cute.
"I'm sure." Kris replies once he's finished admiring the elder's appearance. He reaches out a hand, hoping another one will find it. Ones does. Minseok's hand does.
"Well then, do you want to go get coffee or something?"
They didn't get coffee. They got the second season of Sherlock from the video store. Curled up on the couch, with Minseok in his lap, Kris felt the scene was all too familiar. It ached in his stomach, but the feeling of being alone hurts far more.
One of the men on the screen is shot down, falling into a puddle of his own blood. The red liquid seeps out from his back. It paints the concrete beneath him, and the camera zooms in on the deep bullet wound in the side of his head.
Kris doesn't even flinch.
"Aren't you glad that isn't what we do for a living?" Minseok chuckles.
Kris' smile is sincere as he leans in to connect their lips. "I'm glad."
- what is good writing
- i clearly wouldn't know
- im so sorry bella
- please don't hate me
- im a pussy ass nerd