Bang Bang (He Shot Me Down) - Chapter Two
Title:Bang Bang (He Shot Me Down)
Rating:PG-13
Pairing/Focus:jinki/kibum
Summary: Jinki is a justice-driven detective. Kibum is a thief with too many secrets. Can he bury them for the sake of their relationship? Or will it tear them apart?
A windowless, white van marked with the curling black letters of Choi Art Gallery pulled unassumingly out of the back warehouse, turning onto the main road and disappearing from sight. Behind it, the warehouse garage door shut and locked down tightly. And finally, finally he could take that stuffy face mask off.
"It is getting far too hot out for this stupid outfit."
The man next to him pulled his mask off as well, and long, milk tea-colored locks tumbled out gently. It was almost enough to make him jealous. Almost. But he did ruffle a hand through his own black strands, just to make sure none were sticking out awkwardly.
"This stupid outfit is what keeps you from getting caught."
The pair of them turned to leave the garage, both eager to shed the clothing regardless.
"What keeps me from getting caught is actually doing things according to plan," his sharp eyes flicked to his pretty partner, but the young man just shrugged with his lovely smile.
"We got the job done, so what if there was a small mess? You're way isn't the only way, Key."
"No," he conceded, swiping a keycard to open a door into a small locker room. "But it's the right way."
Taemin laughed at that, opening one of the lockers and tossing his head mask inside before he started to strip away the rest of his clothing. Three lockers away from him, Kibum moved to do the same.
"You weren't complaining much when you left that cute message."
"The damage was already done."
"Oh c'mon, umma. We did a good job, and I really enjoyed working with you tonight." Kibum puffed at the kid's cute act. "So what if we didn't do things your way? We did them our way."
Kibum was more than wise to Taemin's personality, and despite the plan not going, well, according to plan, it still went. He was right, job done.
"Next time, our way is going to be a hell of a lot cleaner, got it?" he pulled a pair of distressed jeans out of the locker and tugged them on.
"Yes sir," the barely-an-adult man saluted him, in the process of pulling his hair back into a loose ponytail.
"So how did you do it?" Kibum finally asked, buttoning up his shirt.
"Do what? Oh, break the case?"
"It was bullet-proof, how in hell did you shatter it with two hits of a hand hammer?"
Taemin grinned and pulled the small hammer out of his locker, "I had it made." He showed off the head of the hammer where something sparkled in the electric lighting of the room. Kibum's eyes widened.
"Is that-"
"Twenty carats."
"Holy hell, Taem. That-"
The kid was grinning again, touching the hammer fondly, "is my new best friend."
Kibum finally looked away long enough to get his sneaker out of his locker, "is a huge waste of a huge diamond."
"It made our night go faster."
Kibum sighed but didn't argue his friend's strangeness. Honestly, using such a gorgeous diamond in a hammer.
"Welp, I'm off. See you later?" Taemin was already completely dressed, bag slung over his shoulder.
"Yeah, later," Kibum hummed, sitting down to pull his shoes on. "Get home safe."
"I will, umma," the kid's laugh echoed after the door shut behind him, leaving Kibum to himself. A yawn forced it's way up his throat, and with his own bag pulled securely over his shoulder, he left the locker room, as well. In the elevator, his turned his phone back on, smiling at the text waiting for him.
From: Jinki
I hope you slept very well and have a great day at work! Don't let Heechul get you down! ;)
Kibum chuckled at the winky face, then tapped out a similar reply. Even though he already knew what kind of day at work his boyfriend was going to have. And with that thought came a small, sad sigh, and a small, sad frown. A frown that stayed on his face as he left the building, waving to the security guards on his way out. It stayed on the bus ride to his apartment, and in the end, it stayed on his second bus ride to a completely different apartment complex. All the way up to the third floor, where he knelt down to pick the lock and let himself in.
It wasn' t as nice as his own apartment, but Kibum definitely liked it more. Even if Jinki did have some of the ugliest furniture he'd ever had the displeasure to lay eyes on. It was so warm and inviting, homey. Comforting in a way Kibum would never admit, just like the man who lived there.
Kibum tutted as he removed his sneakers by the door, and hung his bag up. Unfortunately, the man who lived there wasn't always the tidiest person. He'd really been looking forward to a good, hard nap after the night's lift, but there was no way in hell he'd be able to get comfortable knowing his surroundings were in such a state. So, with a sigh, he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. Clearing the garbage and empty take-out containers, doing the dishes and vacuuming, starting the laundry and dusting took him over an hour. But it was well worth it in the end. Everything looked and smelled much better. The only part of the apartment he left untouched was the desk in the corner of the living room, hidden under messy stacks of files and books and photos. Kibum knew better than to touch that.
Satisfied, he finally flopped ungracefully onto the full-sized mattress in the bedroom, breathing in deep once his face was squished into the pillows. And finally, his small, sad frown lifted into a content smile.
When Kim Kibum was a child, watching the world in innocent wonderment, the Fairy Lady told him colorful stories about enchantment and chivalry and everlasting love. Warm and fluttering and constant through every dark corner of life. And every time he tumbled, or fell, he would tell himself to get back up. That he had to keep going, because every step he took would bring him one step closer to a love like the prince and princesses of legend. And he truly believed. Of course the natural wear of the world, tarnished that golden ideal with every passing year, but deep in his heart, he never stopped believing that he'd one day meet his very own chivalrous prince.
And he hadn't been wrong. Getting interviewed at a crime scene was the single best thing that had ever happened to him.
Kibum's eyes opened as he wiggled up more on the bed, shimmying out of his pants and shirt and crawling under the navy blue comforter. The last thing he saw before closing his eyes was his own smiling face, coupled with a grin far brighter than his own.
Whimsical chiming woke Kibum up with a start, jerking a bit as his eyes shot open. But they closed again quickly with a groan. Reaching blindly through the covers, he located his dinging mobile, opening up the text as soon as he saw who it was from.
From: Jinki
I really hope your day is going better than mine.
And Kibum was frowning again, this time leaning more on a pout. His poor baby.
To: Jinki
If 'boring as usual' is better.
Outside the window, the sun was already on the other side of the sky, and the digital alarm clock next to the bed sang out 4:49PM in glowing green. His phone chimed again.
From: Jinki
Boring is much better, I'm glad you're bored.
To: Jinki
Oh, you're glad, are you?
Kibum already knew Jinki still wasn't going to be coming home for a few hours, the first 48 were always crucial. And while he couldn't help alleviate his boyfriend's stress, he could at least have a hot meal waiting for him when he did eventually wander through the door.
From: Jinki
Very :)
To: Jinki
Weirdo
From: Jinki
Cutie
The streets were dark as Jinki pulled into the parking deck next to his complex, full moon hanging high in the sky. His tired feet carried the tired rest of him up three flights of stairs, and he barely managed to get his key in the lock, being a bit distracted by a jaw-cracking yawn. However, where he expected to be entering the same dark entryway he always came home to, there were a few things rather obviously out of place. Like the lights being on for one, and sweet sound of sizzling followed very closely by a rather heavenly aroma.
"Kibum?"
"Oh, so you're not dead."
He found the petite man in his kitchen, standing at the stove with an apron on, very attentive to his cooking. But he did spare a glance back, and that sly smile drained the exhaustion from Jinki's body on the spot.
".....Is that chicken?"
Kibum laughed, turning back to his duties, unminding when a pair of arms slipped around his waist. "Only the best for my diligent detective."
Jinki couldn't help the grin that stretched across his face, burying it against a warm neck, "Is this my shirt?"
"Not anymore."
It was his turn to chuckle, pressing a soft kiss to pale skin.
"You're too good to me."
"Tell me something I don't know."
"Or you could tell me something I don't know, like how you got in to my apartment."
"Oh yeah," Kibum, turned off the stove when he'd finished transferring the well-cooked poultry to a separate plate. He turned against his boyfriend and promptly smacked the back of his head.
"Ah-!"
"That was for leaving your door unlocked, again. Which, I remind you again, is not safe."
Jinki pouted, rubbing the attacked spot, "but I didn't leave it unlocked."
"So, you distinctly remember locking it this morning?"
He thought about it a minute. This morning was a long time ago. And he'd been in a hurry when Jonghyun called him about the break-in at the museum. He met Kibum's eyes uncertainly.
"Yes?"
"Liar," those pretty brown orbs rolled in their sockets.
"I'm sorry."
Kibum sighed and looked at every inch of his face, probably finding every stress-line. His expression softened into the gentle smile that had stolen Jinki's heart 8 months ago.
"Just try to remember from now on. I worry about you. Constantly."
"I know," Jinki said softly, bringing their faces closer together, tips of their noses barely brushing. "I promise I will."
"You better."
Jinki hummed when his lips pressed to a pair much softer than his own, tension from the day starting to melt from his shoulders. And when small hands slid up his arms and shoulders, every muscle they passed over started to relax. "Mmmmissed you all day."
"Did you?" Kibum smiled wider, kissing the man again. Hands fell to hold his hips, pulling their bodies closer.
"God, yes."
"That bad?"
Jinki smiled, resting their foreheads together, "you have no idea."
"Well," Kibum brushed his fingers over what looked like hastily shaved stubble, "go sit down on the couch, take off your tie, I'll make you a plate, and you can tell me all about it while you eat. If you can, if not then I'll wear your ear off talking about mine. Okay?"
"Yes. Good."
"Good."
Jinki devoured food like no one Kibum had ever seen. Originally, he always tried to cook extra so his boyfriend would have something to take in for lunch at work. But, especially on days like these, not a single bite was left for saving. Kibum ate his portion, Jinki ate the rest. And between bites of chicken, he relayed his entire day.
Only what he could; of course, there were details about the case he couldn't say to anyone not working it. But by now, Kibum knew all about the Ghost Thief case. Especially since it was the case that brought them together. And Jinki was dead-set determined on solving it, for him.
"So, you finally caught them on video but you still don't have any leads?" Jinki hadn't mentioned the fact that there'd been two people caught on the video. But he nodded, finishing off his second plate.
"The visual of the robbery taking place was literally the only clue we have. The scene was still clean, no traces left behind. But the lab is trying to work out how they were able to deactivate the alarm on just one case without triggering any more alarms. Or any of the alarms on the way in or out, for that matter."
Kibum, who had long since finished eating, lightly rested his chin in his open palm, lips puffing out in thought. Jinki was a sucker for that look, he loved watching the man try to help him figure this shit out. Kibum was actually very clever, and more than once had talking things out with him helped Jinki realize things about cases he'd never realized before. A non-subjective, outside look on the matter. It was one of Kibum's many, invaluable traits.
But this time, all he got was a sigh and sad eyes.
"I'm sorry, baby, but this case is too complicated for me."
"Well, that makes two of us," Jinki finally set his plate aside, giving a stretch and scooching closer on the couch. "I can, however, think of something else a lot less complicated that the two of us definitely understand." He wiggled his eyebrows seductively, arm coming to rest of the slender man's shoulders, corner of his lips lifting in a smirk.
Kibum perked a groomed eyebrow, unable to swallow a rather unattractive snort, "sleeping? Since you have to be back at the precinct in, like, 5 hours and you're going to need all the rest you can get?"
"I can nap in Jjong's office, plus I can drink lots and lots of coffee," Jinki was leaning in closer even as his boyfriend leaned away. "And I'm not sure when I'm going to be able to see you in the next couple of days. But you're here right now, and I'm here right now, and you're wearing one of my t-shirts, and we have five hours, and you look so fucking beautiful today."
He closed the distance between their mouths before Kibum could really have another input about it. Fingers were sifting into his hair, and Jinki's mouth was so warm and he smelled like paper, cigarette smoke and the cologne Kibum had gotten him for his birthday and who was he kidding. He wanted Jinki to get his rest, but he wanted this even more.
A hand slid up his thigh when he turned more into the man, arms sliding over his shoulders as their mouths melded together, the kiss growing more heated by the second. When that same hand trailed between his thighs to cup at his groin, Kibum gave a soft groan of want, hips bucking up slightly into the touch as he broke the kiss.
"Bedroom," he breathed against wet lips. And that's all the consent Jinki needed, stopping whatever he was doing and lifting the man from the couch, bridal-style.
They borderline stumbled into the bed, despite how Kibum had cleaned earlier, but that was far from his mind. A lot closer was the shirt he was pulling off over his head, scooching back on the bed and trying to slide out of his jeans. His eyes were on Jinki the whole time, on the chest being revealed from under that button-up. And as soon as he was done with himself, Kibum gladly helped rid his boyfriend of his clothing.
It wasn't slow and romantic, they didn't have the time. But every brush of skin was like molten pleasure, their nerves alive and hungry for each other, eyes blown black in lust. Every touch meant something very dear, and Kibum craved every promise Jinki's lips pressed against his skin.
His breathing hitched when cold fingers slid inside of him, but hot kisses and slick tongues sent his moans out clear. He urged his partner and Jinki chuckled at his impatience, but it was worth it to hear the small, breathy moan of his name when the man finally pressed inside.
"Kibum-"
"Oh~god, just move."
Never in his life had he ached for someone so much, yearned for every touch and smile and stupid laugh. Just to hear his name fall from someone else's lips.
"Bummie."
In his world of shadows and secrets and distrusting men, he'd managed to find a light not only radiant, but reliable. Constant, like the stories from when he was a kid.
"Fuck-baby I-"
"Jinki!"
All fireworks and heat and pleasure and warmth. Never in his life had Kibum felt so whole, even after a lifetime of looking. He'd found his happy ending. Jinki was, without a doubt, the bright and shining prince of his story. Kibum also knew, without a doubt,
"I love you..."
that he, himself, was not the princess.
"...I love you, too."
And, he didn't care.
It was a hollow, shrill beep, exactly three of them. And Kibum hated it more than anything in the world. He paused in the middle of neatly stacking warm pancakes, slight eyes narrowing even more on his phone. The device sat unassumingly next to the coffee machine, lock screen beckoning him with a new message.
"It's barely been 24 hours, what in hell could he want?" he muttered darkly to himself, scoffing when he snatched the thing off the counter.
1 New Message
From: that dick
The Lock. 8 o'clock. 9/10.
What?!
"Morning, babe."
Kibum whipped around, then relaxed with a smile. Jinki was not a morning person, if the ruffled hair, slumped posture, and glued together eyes were any indication. In fact, it was a downright miracle he was standing upright.
"Hey, good morning, I was about to come get you," he urged his heart to stop pounding, locking his phone again and putting it down.
"The smell got me up," even half asleep and wobbling into a bar stool, his smile was still brighter than the sun breaking over the horizon. Kibum couldn't help smiling back.
"You'll have to eat fast, it's already almost 7," he placed the pancakes in front of the sleepy man, leaning in to kiss his forehead. "And I got called in today, so I gotta go home and change."
"Mmkay," Jinki pulled him down for a kiss on the lips, light and chaste. "Thank you, for the food."
"You're welcome. Work hard today," Kibum answered back softly, pressing one more warm kiss to those lips. "Catch the bad guys."
Kibum barely even said good morning to anyone he passed as he entered the art gallery, footsteps hurried. Three swipes of his passcard and an elevator ride down into the depths of hell later, all that reserved anger that had been building up since he left his boyfriend's apartment exploded as sharply as the doors he slammed open.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!!"
In a cushy chair, behind an impressive oak desk, the ever-trim and refined Choi Minho raised but a single brow.
"Good morning, Key. You're looking lovely, as always."
"Shove it, frog-face," Kibum seethed, stomping across the room. A light, amused chuckle informed him of Taemin's presence in the room as well. "It has barely been 24 hours, what in fuck's name could be so important that you have to call us in again?"
He made it to the desk, resisting the urge to slam his fists down upon it. It wasn't necessary to do so, he knew Minho could read his agitation in every corner of his high cheekbones and slitted eyes. But his expression never changed, long fingers idly brushing a stray piece of black hair back from his stupid smirking face.
"I would have thought you'd be pleased, Key. You're only two lifts away from fulfilling your debt. The sooner you finish your business with me, the sooner you can bury your alter-ego in such a dark, forgotten place that your snooping boyfriend will never find it, correct?" Minho, pushed a file across the desk towards him.
"He's a detective, not snoopy. There's a difference," Kibum grumbled, not even looking at the file.
"Is there?"
"Yes."
Minho's smirk grew into a grin, and he shrugged it off, much to Kibum's added annoyance. "In any case, we have a very short window of opportunity for this particular item. And it will be easier to do if the police are busy scrambling over the last one. They won't see it coming."
Taemin observed the stare-down between his best friend and his boss with ill-hidden amusement. Finally, Kibum snatched the file off the desk and plopped down next to the kid, flipping it open. It took less than a minute for his eyes to widen in shock.
"Are you out of your goddamn mind?"
"You'll be lifting it today."
Again, he asked, "are you out of your goddamn mind??"
"Problem?"
"You mean, aside from it being impossible under the best of circumstances, you want me to lift this within the next 24 hours? With zero time to work out a plan??"
"The next 12 hours, actually. Less than," Taemin finally chimed in with a smile. And Kibum looked at him like he was off his rocker, too.
"Like I said," Minho leaned back in his chair, "very small window of opportunity."
"I'm not fucking doing this, find someone else," Kibum said very firmly, closing the file and tossing it on the coffee table.
"Hey, don't say that, umma," Taemin put his arm around the sour man, shrugging him closer. "I've got this one all figured out, already. I just need your quick fingers."
Oh god, this was Taemin's plan. He looked at the younger man, still not convinced of the probability of this ever, ever working. But Minho was right, he was so close to being finished with all of this. And maybe Taemin's plan would actually be good. That was a very hopeful thought, but he could give the guy the benefit of a doubt, right?
"....There's gonna be a mess, isn't there?"
Rating:PG-13
Pairing/Focus:jinki/kibum
Summary: Jinki is a justice-driven detective. Kibum is a thief with too many secrets. Can he bury them for the sake of their relationship? Or will it tear them apart?
A windowless, white van marked with the curling black letters of Choi Art Gallery pulled unassumingly out of the back warehouse, turning onto the main road and disappearing from sight. Behind it, the warehouse garage door shut and locked down tightly. And finally, finally he could take that stuffy face mask off.
"It is getting far too hot out for this stupid outfit."
The man next to him pulled his mask off as well, and long, milk tea-colored locks tumbled out gently. It was almost enough to make him jealous. Almost. But he did ruffle a hand through his own black strands, just to make sure none were sticking out awkwardly.
"This stupid outfit is what keeps you from getting caught."
The pair of them turned to leave the garage, both eager to shed the clothing regardless.
"What keeps me from getting caught is actually doing things according to plan," his sharp eyes flicked to his pretty partner, but the young man just shrugged with his lovely smile.
"We got the job done, so what if there was a small mess? You're way isn't the only way, Key."
"No," he conceded, swiping a keycard to open a door into a small locker room. "But it's the right way."
Taemin laughed at that, opening one of the lockers and tossing his head mask inside before he started to strip away the rest of his clothing. Three lockers away from him, Kibum moved to do the same.
"You weren't complaining much when you left that cute message."
"The damage was already done."
"Oh c'mon, umma. We did a good job, and I really enjoyed working with you tonight." Kibum puffed at the kid's cute act. "So what if we didn't do things your way? We did them our way."
Kibum was more than wise to Taemin's personality, and despite the plan not going, well, according to plan, it still went. He was right, job done.
"Next time, our way is going to be a hell of a lot cleaner, got it?" he pulled a pair of distressed jeans out of the locker and tugged them on.
"Yes sir," the barely-an-adult man saluted him, in the process of pulling his hair back into a loose ponytail.
"So how did you do it?" Kibum finally asked, buttoning up his shirt.
"Do what? Oh, break the case?"
"It was bullet-proof, how in hell did you shatter it with two hits of a hand hammer?"
Taemin grinned and pulled the small hammer out of his locker, "I had it made." He showed off the head of the hammer where something sparkled in the electric lighting of the room. Kibum's eyes widened.
"Is that-"
"Twenty carats."
"Holy hell, Taem. That-"
The kid was grinning again, touching the hammer fondly, "is my new best friend."
Kibum finally looked away long enough to get his sneaker out of his locker, "is a huge waste of a huge diamond."
"It made our night go faster."
Kibum sighed but didn't argue his friend's strangeness. Honestly, using such a gorgeous diamond in a hammer.
"Welp, I'm off. See you later?" Taemin was already completely dressed, bag slung over his shoulder.
"Yeah, later," Kibum hummed, sitting down to pull his shoes on. "Get home safe."
"I will, umma," the kid's laugh echoed after the door shut behind him, leaving Kibum to himself. A yawn forced it's way up his throat, and with his own bag pulled securely over his shoulder, he left the locker room, as well. In the elevator, his turned his phone back on, smiling at the text waiting for him.
From: Jinki
I hope you slept very well and have a great day at work! Don't let Heechul get you down! ;)
Kibum chuckled at the winky face, then tapped out a similar reply. Even though he already knew what kind of day at work his boyfriend was going to have. And with that thought came a small, sad sigh, and a small, sad frown. A frown that stayed on his face as he left the building, waving to the security guards on his way out. It stayed on the bus ride to his apartment, and in the end, it stayed on his second bus ride to a completely different apartment complex. All the way up to the third floor, where he knelt down to pick the lock and let himself in.
It wasn' t as nice as his own apartment, but Kibum definitely liked it more. Even if Jinki did have some of the ugliest furniture he'd ever had the displeasure to lay eyes on. It was so warm and inviting, homey. Comforting in a way Kibum would never admit, just like the man who lived there.
Kibum tutted as he removed his sneakers by the door, and hung his bag up. Unfortunately, the man who lived there wasn't always the tidiest person. He'd really been looking forward to a good, hard nap after the night's lift, but there was no way in hell he'd be able to get comfortable knowing his surroundings were in such a state. So, with a sigh, he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. Clearing the garbage and empty take-out containers, doing the dishes and vacuuming, starting the laundry and dusting took him over an hour. But it was well worth it in the end. Everything looked and smelled much better. The only part of the apartment he left untouched was the desk in the corner of the living room, hidden under messy stacks of files and books and photos. Kibum knew better than to touch that.
Satisfied, he finally flopped ungracefully onto the full-sized mattress in the bedroom, breathing in deep once his face was squished into the pillows. And finally, his small, sad frown lifted into a content smile.
When Kim Kibum was a child, watching the world in innocent wonderment, the Fairy Lady told him colorful stories about enchantment and chivalry and everlasting love. Warm and fluttering and constant through every dark corner of life. And every time he tumbled, or fell, he would tell himself to get back up. That he had to keep going, because every step he took would bring him one step closer to a love like the prince and princesses of legend. And he truly believed. Of course the natural wear of the world, tarnished that golden ideal with every passing year, but deep in his heart, he never stopped believing that he'd one day meet his very own chivalrous prince.
And he hadn't been wrong. Getting interviewed at a crime scene was the single best thing that had ever happened to him.
Kibum's eyes opened as he wiggled up more on the bed, shimmying out of his pants and shirt and crawling under the navy blue comforter. The last thing he saw before closing his eyes was his own smiling face, coupled with a grin far brighter than his own.
Whimsical chiming woke Kibum up with a start, jerking a bit as his eyes shot open. But they closed again quickly with a groan. Reaching blindly through the covers, he located his dinging mobile, opening up the text as soon as he saw who it was from.
From: Jinki
I really hope your day is going better than mine.
And Kibum was frowning again, this time leaning more on a pout. His poor baby.
To: Jinki
If 'boring as usual' is better.
Outside the window, the sun was already on the other side of the sky, and the digital alarm clock next to the bed sang out 4:49PM in glowing green. His phone chimed again.
From: Jinki
Boring is much better, I'm glad you're bored.
To: Jinki
Oh, you're glad, are you?
Kibum already knew Jinki still wasn't going to be coming home for a few hours, the first 48 were always crucial. And while he couldn't help alleviate his boyfriend's stress, he could at least have a hot meal waiting for him when he did eventually wander through the door.
From: Jinki
Very :)
To: Jinki
Weirdo
From: Jinki
Cutie
The streets were dark as Jinki pulled into the parking deck next to his complex, full moon hanging high in the sky. His tired feet carried the tired rest of him up three flights of stairs, and he barely managed to get his key in the lock, being a bit distracted by a jaw-cracking yawn. However, where he expected to be entering the same dark entryway he always came home to, there were a few things rather obviously out of place. Like the lights being on for one, and sweet sound of sizzling followed very closely by a rather heavenly aroma.
"Kibum?"
"Oh, so you're not dead."
He found the petite man in his kitchen, standing at the stove with an apron on, very attentive to his cooking. But he did spare a glance back, and that sly smile drained the exhaustion from Jinki's body on the spot.
".....Is that chicken?"
Kibum laughed, turning back to his duties, unminding when a pair of arms slipped around his waist. "Only the best for my diligent detective."
Jinki couldn't help the grin that stretched across his face, burying it against a warm neck, "Is this my shirt?"
"Not anymore."
It was his turn to chuckle, pressing a soft kiss to pale skin.
"You're too good to me."
"Tell me something I don't know."
"Or you could tell me something I don't know, like how you got in to my apartment."
"Oh yeah," Kibum, turned off the stove when he'd finished transferring the well-cooked poultry to a separate plate. He turned against his boyfriend and promptly smacked the back of his head.
"Ah-!"
"That was for leaving your door unlocked, again. Which, I remind you again, is not safe."
Jinki pouted, rubbing the attacked spot, "but I didn't leave it unlocked."
"So, you distinctly remember locking it this morning?"
He thought about it a minute. This morning was a long time ago. And he'd been in a hurry when Jonghyun called him about the break-in at the museum. He met Kibum's eyes uncertainly.
"Yes?"
"Liar," those pretty brown orbs rolled in their sockets.
"I'm sorry."
Kibum sighed and looked at every inch of his face, probably finding every stress-line. His expression softened into the gentle smile that had stolen Jinki's heart 8 months ago.
"Just try to remember from now on. I worry about you. Constantly."
"I know," Jinki said softly, bringing their faces closer together, tips of their noses barely brushing. "I promise I will."
"You better."
Jinki hummed when his lips pressed to a pair much softer than his own, tension from the day starting to melt from his shoulders. And when small hands slid up his arms and shoulders, every muscle they passed over started to relax. "Mmmmissed you all day."
"Did you?" Kibum smiled wider, kissing the man again. Hands fell to hold his hips, pulling their bodies closer.
"God, yes."
"That bad?"
Jinki smiled, resting their foreheads together, "you have no idea."
"Well," Kibum brushed his fingers over what looked like hastily shaved stubble, "go sit down on the couch, take off your tie, I'll make you a plate, and you can tell me all about it while you eat. If you can, if not then I'll wear your ear off talking about mine. Okay?"
"Yes. Good."
"Good."
Jinki devoured food like no one Kibum had ever seen. Originally, he always tried to cook extra so his boyfriend would have something to take in for lunch at work. But, especially on days like these, not a single bite was left for saving. Kibum ate his portion, Jinki ate the rest. And between bites of chicken, he relayed his entire day.
Only what he could; of course, there were details about the case he couldn't say to anyone not working it. But by now, Kibum knew all about the Ghost Thief case. Especially since it was the case that brought them together. And Jinki was dead-set determined on solving it, for him.
"So, you finally caught them on video but you still don't have any leads?" Jinki hadn't mentioned the fact that there'd been two people caught on the video. But he nodded, finishing off his second plate.
"The visual of the robbery taking place was literally the only clue we have. The scene was still clean, no traces left behind. But the lab is trying to work out how they were able to deactivate the alarm on just one case without triggering any more alarms. Or any of the alarms on the way in or out, for that matter."
Kibum, who had long since finished eating, lightly rested his chin in his open palm, lips puffing out in thought. Jinki was a sucker for that look, he loved watching the man try to help him figure this shit out. Kibum was actually very clever, and more than once had talking things out with him helped Jinki realize things about cases he'd never realized before. A non-subjective, outside look on the matter. It was one of Kibum's many, invaluable traits.
But this time, all he got was a sigh and sad eyes.
"I'm sorry, baby, but this case is too complicated for me."
"Well, that makes two of us," Jinki finally set his plate aside, giving a stretch and scooching closer on the couch. "I can, however, think of something else a lot less complicated that the two of us definitely understand." He wiggled his eyebrows seductively, arm coming to rest of the slender man's shoulders, corner of his lips lifting in a smirk.
Kibum perked a groomed eyebrow, unable to swallow a rather unattractive snort, "sleeping? Since you have to be back at the precinct in, like, 5 hours and you're going to need all the rest you can get?"
"I can nap in Jjong's office, plus I can drink lots and lots of coffee," Jinki was leaning in closer even as his boyfriend leaned away. "And I'm not sure when I'm going to be able to see you in the next couple of days. But you're here right now, and I'm here right now, and you're wearing one of my t-shirts, and we have five hours, and you look so fucking beautiful today."
He closed the distance between their mouths before Kibum could really have another input about it. Fingers were sifting into his hair, and Jinki's mouth was so warm and he smelled like paper, cigarette smoke and the cologne Kibum had gotten him for his birthday and who was he kidding. He wanted Jinki to get his rest, but he wanted this even more.
A hand slid up his thigh when he turned more into the man, arms sliding over his shoulders as their mouths melded together, the kiss growing more heated by the second. When that same hand trailed between his thighs to cup at his groin, Kibum gave a soft groan of want, hips bucking up slightly into the touch as he broke the kiss.
"Bedroom," he breathed against wet lips. And that's all the consent Jinki needed, stopping whatever he was doing and lifting the man from the couch, bridal-style.
They borderline stumbled into the bed, despite how Kibum had cleaned earlier, but that was far from his mind. A lot closer was the shirt he was pulling off over his head, scooching back on the bed and trying to slide out of his jeans. His eyes were on Jinki the whole time, on the chest being revealed from under that button-up. And as soon as he was done with himself, Kibum gladly helped rid his boyfriend of his clothing.
It wasn't slow and romantic, they didn't have the time. But every brush of skin was like molten pleasure, their nerves alive and hungry for each other, eyes blown black in lust. Every touch meant something very dear, and Kibum craved every promise Jinki's lips pressed against his skin.
His breathing hitched when cold fingers slid inside of him, but hot kisses and slick tongues sent his moans out clear. He urged his partner and Jinki chuckled at his impatience, but it was worth it to hear the small, breathy moan of his name when the man finally pressed inside.
"Kibum-"
"Oh~god, just move."
Never in his life had he ached for someone so much, yearned for every touch and smile and stupid laugh. Just to hear his name fall from someone else's lips.
"Bummie."
In his world of shadows and secrets and distrusting men, he'd managed to find a light not only radiant, but reliable. Constant, like the stories from when he was a kid.
"Fuck-baby I-"
"Jinki!"
All fireworks and heat and pleasure and warmth. Never in his life had Kibum felt so whole, even after a lifetime of looking. He'd found his happy ending. Jinki was, without a doubt, the bright and shining prince of his story. Kibum also knew, without a doubt,
"I love you..."
that he, himself, was not the princess.
"...I love you, too."
And, he didn't care.
It was a hollow, shrill beep, exactly three of them. And Kibum hated it more than anything in the world. He paused in the middle of neatly stacking warm pancakes, slight eyes narrowing even more on his phone. The device sat unassumingly next to the coffee machine, lock screen beckoning him with a new message.
"It's barely been 24 hours, what in hell could he want?" he muttered darkly to himself, scoffing when he snatched the thing off the counter.
1 New Message
From: that dick
The Lock. 8 o'clock. 9/10.
What?!
"Morning, babe."
Kibum whipped around, then relaxed with a smile. Jinki was not a morning person, if the ruffled hair, slumped posture, and glued together eyes were any indication. In fact, it was a downright miracle he was standing upright.
"Hey, good morning, I was about to come get you," he urged his heart to stop pounding, locking his phone again and putting it down.
"The smell got me up," even half asleep and wobbling into a bar stool, his smile was still brighter than the sun breaking over the horizon. Kibum couldn't help smiling back.
"You'll have to eat fast, it's already almost 7," he placed the pancakes in front of the sleepy man, leaning in to kiss his forehead. "And I got called in today, so I gotta go home and change."
"Mmkay," Jinki pulled him down for a kiss on the lips, light and chaste. "Thank you, for the food."
"You're welcome. Work hard today," Kibum answered back softly, pressing one more warm kiss to those lips. "Catch the bad guys."
Kibum barely even said good morning to anyone he passed as he entered the art gallery, footsteps hurried. Three swipes of his passcard and an elevator ride down into the depths of hell later, all that reserved anger that had been building up since he left his boyfriend's apartment exploded as sharply as the doors he slammed open.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!!"
In a cushy chair, behind an impressive oak desk, the ever-trim and refined Choi Minho raised but a single brow.
"Good morning, Key. You're looking lovely, as always."
"Shove it, frog-face," Kibum seethed, stomping across the room. A light, amused chuckle informed him of Taemin's presence in the room as well. "It has barely been 24 hours, what in fuck's name could be so important that you have to call us in again?"
He made it to the desk, resisting the urge to slam his fists down upon it. It wasn't necessary to do so, he knew Minho could read his agitation in every corner of his high cheekbones and slitted eyes. But his expression never changed, long fingers idly brushing a stray piece of black hair back from his stupid smirking face.
"I would have thought you'd be pleased, Key. You're only two lifts away from fulfilling your debt. The sooner you finish your business with me, the sooner you can bury your alter-ego in such a dark, forgotten place that your snooping boyfriend will never find it, correct?" Minho, pushed a file across the desk towards him.
"He's a detective, not snoopy. There's a difference," Kibum grumbled, not even looking at the file.
"Is there?"
"Yes."
Minho's smirk grew into a grin, and he shrugged it off, much to Kibum's added annoyance. "In any case, we have a very short window of opportunity for this particular item. And it will be easier to do if the police are busy scrambling over the last one. They won't see it coming."
Taemin observed the stare-down between his best friend and his boss with ill-hidden amusement. Finally, Kibum snatched the file off the desk and plopped down next to the kid, flipping it open. It took less than a minute for his eyes to widen in shock.
"Are you out of your goddamn mind?"
"You'll be lifting it today."
Again, he asked, "are you out of your goddamn mind??"
"Problem?"
"You mean, aside from it being impossible under the best of circumstances, you want me to lift this within the next 24 hours? With zero time to work out a plan??"
"The next 12 hours, actually. Less than," Taemin finally chimed in with a smile. And Kibum looked at him like he was off his rocker, too.
"Like I said," Minho leaned back in his chair, "very small window of opportunity."
"I'm not fucking doing this, find someone else," Kibum said very firmly, closing the file and tossing it on the coffee table.
"Hey, don't say that, umma," Taemin put his arm around the sour man, shrugging him closer. "I've got this one all figured out, already. I just need your quick fingers."
Oh god, this was Taemin's plan. He looked at the younger man, still not convinced of the probability of this ever, ever working. But Minho was right, he was so close to being finished with all of this. And maybe Taemin's plan would actually be good. That was a very hopeful thought, but he could give the guy the benefit of a doubt, right?
"....There's gonna be a mess, isn't there?"