pairing ▹ kyungsoo x original character
genre ▹ mystery, suspense, angst, fluff, college!au, supernatural!au
word count ▹ it's a novella, so not too many but not too few
warnings ▹a different type of sadness, i guess?
a/n ▹ this was another work originally from wattpad that's created back in 2020. if you happen to see it there and think "hey, this moonstarsunflower copied again from wattpad!" well, technically, i am ZZlovesIceCreams from wattpad who moved to tumblr as moonstarsunflower. so yeah, this'll be the case for 2 more stories.
Synopsis:
"24th. December. 2000."
Do Kyungsoo is just a simple college student who works part-time at a local record store. His life is ordinary, peaceful, and sometimes boring.
Until he meets a girl who, not so surprisingly, turns his boring days into exciting ones.
But it isn't in the way he expected.
The girl is different—very different from the rest of the people he knows.
She isn't ordinary, or typical. Or even normal.
She is a mysterious being and Kyungsoo would have to dig deeper if he wants to know the truth about her.
Or rather, the truth about her disappearance.
or
an ordinary person gets involved in a supernatural mystery that he will never forget
➻ a very short note from ze author (do not skip)
❆
➻ Prologue
➻ Chapter I
➻ Chapter II
➻ Chapter III
➻ Chapter IV
➻ Chapter V
➻ Chapter VI
➻ Chapter VII
➻ Chapter VIII
➻ Chapter IX
➻ Chapter X
➻ Chapter XI
➻ Chapter XII
➻ Chapter XIII
➻ Epilogue
➻ Appendix A
➻ Appendix B
❆
Date Started: December 18, 2021 (Saturday)
Date Ended: January 1, 2022 (Saturday)
The atmosphere of the makeshift office was impending and tense, despite the good news that had been brought. With this line of work, dread and death always seemed to linger no matter how positive any outcomes were. Darkness encapsulated the two men, stood on opposite sides of an old mahogany desk, the only light from a streetlamp outside, shining through the bamboo blinds and casting uniform white streaks over the two mysterious faces.
Tao dumped his handgun onto the desk before pulling up a chair and sitting. A sigh escaped his lungs as he relaxed into the cushion beneath him, closing his eyes. Suho narrowed his eyes and stared Tao disapprovingly before taking his own seat in his large red velvet chaise, much grander than the dingy stool Tao sat upon.
“You could’ve at least cleaned up before you came,” muttered Suho, pulling a handkerchief from his suit pocket and wiping down the area around the gun Tao had set down, absorbing the droplets of blood mixed with gunpowder that had dripped off the handle. After, he tossed the stained fabric at Tao, who then began to wipe down his face, clearing away the evidence of his most recent job.
“I thought you might have wanted a souvenir,” replied Tao with a smirk, tossing the handkerchief back at Suho who caught the item in one swift movement.
“I might’ve wanted one if you’d stuck to the plan,” Suho growled, voice becoming stern as he sat himself down in his seat. “I told you not to engage them during the arms deal. Now we’ve possibly involved another gang in the battle, a reckless one too!”
Tao scoffed. “Those crackheads are as unorganised as they are stupid, they’re not a problem.”
Suho’s fists clenched, knuckles turning white, yet his face remained perfectly unchanged and seemingly calm, save for the bumbling rage flaring up in his eyes. “We’re supposed to be eliminating our enemies, not adding to them.”
Tao rose an eyebrow and gestured to the bloodied gun on the desk. “I’m fairly sure they’ve been eliminated.” Suho’s lips pursed together into a thin line, and he was ready to berate the younger, snarky man until Tao interjected with a chuckle.
“Don’t worry old man,” he laughed, causing Suho’s eyebrows to narrow at the nickname. “I stayed outside the warehouse and managed to get one of those crackheads into thinking I was from the other guys. I threatened him and he fired the first shot. They all basically did the work for me.”
“And the Caporegime?”
“He managed to get out of the shooting in a car but, a car’s never stopped me.”
“And the other clan.”
“All dead. Cypher will think that the druggies shot first for now, which will buy us time to take out everyone else in their clan before they realise that their Capo was taken out by someone with more…skill.” Tao’s lips curled upwards in self-praise at the end of his sentence.
Suho processed the information Tao had played out, the light streaming through the blinds landing over the wrinkles on his forehead as he frowned in concentration. He impatiently tapped his fingers on his desk before his face finally unravelled. He leaned back in his chair and placed an elbow on the velvet armrest, propping his head app with his palm while staring at Tao with an unreadable expression.
“You’re welcome,” gloated Tao. “My plan was better. And if that’s all I’ll leave now.” Tao rocked himself out of his chair and stood, straightening his bloodstained blazer before heading towards the door.
“Those “crackheads” you call, they’ll know they never shot first. And if anyone starts believing them then we’ll have a problem. This is why I don’t pay you to make the plans,” grumbled Suho, causing Tao to stop in the middle of the room.
“No. You pay me to do my job. And I’ve done it.”
“Still,” began Suho in a cryptic tone. “The job was rushed.” Suho paused before continuing, and only now did Tao realise, that he had been observing and inspecting him ever since he left the room. Suho's eyes had never left his body.
“Is there something else you have to do?” asked Suho. “Something else that requires your attention?”
“Of course not,” replied Tao nonchalantly.
“Then why so eager to leave?”
Tao felt himself freeze up for the first time. Somehow, something in his brain had subconsciously deemed something more important than his work. The tension only lasted less than half a second, but still, Tao’s head began to buzz at the feeling. A feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
“Is that a problem?” asked Tao, the smallest hint of defensiveness in his tone. However, it was enough to prompt Suho to circle out from behind his desk and slowly make his way towards Tao’s taller figure.
His head was tilted ever so slightly to one side, as if he was moving the blood to one side of his brain, allowing the analytical half to think. His eyes scanned over Tao, but his face remained unchanged. Despite Suho’s seemingly non-threatening good looks and polite mannerisms, he was still incredibly intimidating when he wanted to be.
Suho’s eyes met Tao’s, forcing the younger into an unbreakable gaze. “Remember, Jiangshi, this job, this life, isn’t an honourable one. People get hurt, and even if you try to run it will always find you. You can’t have anything to lose, or it will destroy both it and you.”
Tao’s ears rang at those words, and slithers of dread and content began to slowly trickle into his chest. He twitched at the unfamiliar feeling and played it off as an itch. “You talk too much,” he deadpanned, his cat-like eyes shooting daggers of contempt. “There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
Suso stepped closer to Tao, causing Tao’s defensive instincts to kick in. One of his feet moved behind the other, ready to spring into a fighting stance at any moment. “I may not be as good of a hitman as you are, Jiangshi,” began Suho, voice harmless yet threatening, “but I’m just as good a liar.”
Tao’s eyes narrowed and examined Suho’s posture. He wasn’t in any position to attack, so he straightened up and walked away from his boss. His half red hand found the door handle and twisted it open. “Goodbye old man,” he called from over his shoulder, not bothering to look directly at him. He was halfway through the doorway before Suho spoke again.
“Goodbye, Tao.”
Tao felt like a shard of ice had been shoved into his back, piercing through his lungs as they deflated with one large gasp. His eyes widened, and his hand gripped the door handle so tightly he could feel the flimsy metal beginning to dent under his strong grip.
No one but himself knew his true name, the exception being his parents, who were both dead, and…
Tao spun around with a great force, his eyes landing on what he finally began to properly realise, was the most powerful man in all of East Asia. He may not be the richest, have the most men or connections. But Suho was smart, cunning and unpredictable. It was the reason as to why he rose to power so quickly.
And now, Suho had secured his obedience.
Said man looked no different, his expression unchanged. Tao however, felt his anger beginning to break through his shock. He could’ve killed Suho now and he’d never be caught, but he knew better. He knew how messy Mafia wars could get, and he wasn’t invincible. Besides, Suho was paying his bills, and Tao still held some respect for him.
Tao shot Suho one last look of disdain before swiftly stepping through the doorway and slamming the door shut, the echo rumbling through his eardrums.
***
A loud banging awoke you from your slumber. Your eyes reluctantly opened as you rolled to the side to inspect the time displayed in your alarm clock through your blurred vision. It was almost 2am. Another round of hasty thumping sounded, causing you to groan and kick the sheets of your body before standing and making your way towards your front door.
Who could possibly be here at this time of night? You were used to getting emergency calls, but no one had ever shown up at your door. Cautiously, you checked the peephole and gasped at the sight. Although he was dressed in a plain black sweatshirt with the hood pulled up instead of his usual suit and tie, it was still undeniably Tao. He had his hands in the front pocket of his hoodie, and you could see the outline of his hands, clutching something thick and L shaped.
You swallowed and considered not answering, but you had encountered him enough now to feel less afraid around him. You unlocked the door and inched it open until his face came into view.
All of a sudden, his body was pushing yours backwards. The only thing stopping you from falling backwards were his strong arms which had wrapped around you tightly, pressing you against his chest.
“Thank God you’re okay,” he mumbled.
You stood there with your heart racing, hands clenched at your sides as you felt his gun pressing up against your stomach through his sweatshirt pocket, sending goosebumps through your skin. ‘What…what do you mean?” you stammered.
He leaned away from you and gripped your stiffened arms with his hands. “You need to leave. You’re in danger.”
You had trouble comprehending his statement, but the blood that was smeared on his cheek and the determination in his eyes were enough to send a wave of fear through your muscles. “What? Why?”
He released you and shut the door, locking it and pulling the chain across the doorway. Then, he removed his gun - black and shiny - from his pocket and pressed his back against the door, gaze falling on the window of your living room.
You squealed at the sight of the weapon. “Tao! What the hell are you doing?!”
“Someone knows who you are. Someone dangerous. They know you’re tied to me,” he answered in a hushed but icy voice.
You couldn’t believe what you were hearing. “But…but I’m not a threat to anyone! I work at the hospital for godssake!” You were borderline hysterical. The threat upon your life had sent adrenaline pumping through your veins, and you weren’t thinking when you ran up to Tao, gripping his shoulders and demanding for an explanation.
“What did you do?! Why does someone want to hurt me?!”
“I don’t know! I don’t know how he found out and I don’t know what he’s going to do.”
“Who is he?”
He breathed, ready to answer. But he stopped himself. “I can’t tell you that,” he said apologetically. “It’s better if you don’t know.”
“I want to know if someone’s trying to kill me!” You squeezed his biceps, eyes full of terror and worry.
“No one’s going to kill you!” he cried, arms returning to your shoulders. His loud outburst shocked you out of your hysteria, and you instead froze. “That’s why you have to leave. Come on, I’ll help you pack.” He let you go and ventured further into your apartment until he found your bedroom.
The buzz of uneasiness that was flowing through you seemed to settle slightly in the few minutes you were glued to the same spot by your door. Eventually, you found the will to walk back into your bedroom. You were met with the sight of one of your suitcases open on the floor, a ton of clothing with the hangers still attached spilling from the edges. Tao walked up to you and returned his hands to your shoulders, coaxing you to look back up at him.
“I can get you a new passport, birth certificate, anything you need to start a new life. But you have to go now.”
“But…I have nowhere to go,” you retorted, realising that your life was here, in this town, in this apartment. “I can’t leave.”
“You have to.”
“I can’t Tao!” you replied. “I have to stay here, at the hospital. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do and…I can’t start over again. I worked too hard to get here.” Tao’s jaw tightened at your words, his grip on your shoulders strengthening. “Just tell me who wants me dead.”
“He doesn’t want you dead I don’t think,” admitted Tao. “He just knows that you’re important to me.”
You blinked in slight confusion. “I’m important to you?”
Tao didn’t answer for a while. Instead, he licked his lips and sighed, looking down at the ground before returning his gaze to you. “It’s my fault,” he muttered, disheartened. “I never use the same doctor twice.”
Your mind flashed back to the many times you’d treated Tao at the hospital. “So, why am I different?”
“Because I like y-“ He stopped suddenly, cutting himself off. “What I mean is, you’re a good doctor. You genuinely cared about me. Most of the black market type doctors do a terrible job, and I know that going to proper hospitals was a risk but…I trust you.”
You nodded slowly, acknowledging his words. Your eyes flickered around the room as you processed the statement, a small smile spreading across your lips. “I’m a good doctor?”
He smirked. “The best.”
Some time passed in silence before Tao spoke up again.
“Alright, I get if you don’t want to leave, but that means I’ll have to protect you.”
‘What do you mean by that?”
“It means that I’m not leaving until I know no one’s coming tonight.”
“Oh.” You shuffled your feet as an awkward silence fell between the two of you. “Like, as in you won’t leave my room? Or this house? Or-“
“I could leave your room,” he stated, a slight hint of sarcasm in his voice. “But then someone could climb through the window and pull out a gun and-“
“Okay! Okay, you can stay here,” you interjected, scoffing at the cheeky smile that had appeared on Tao’s face. He strolled over to your desk and pulled the chair out until it was up against a wall between your window and your door. He sat himself down with his gun in his hand.
“Sorry for waking you up by the way. You can go back to sleep if you want,” he mumbled.
You took timid steps towards your bed and pulled away the covers. “It’s not like I can sleep now when someone wants me dead.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be here.”
It was then you wondered, why was Tao doing this for you? Yes, he said you were a good doctor, but there were a thousand better ones that could tend to him. Tao, a hitman with the most terrifying reputation, was sat in your bedroom, protecting you simply because he trusted you enough to patch him up when he was injured. Even if he was responsible for the threat upon your life, he was taking responsibility for it. Somehow, it warmed your heart. Maybe he wasn’t as heartless as his job made him out to be.
You found yourself tiptoeing back towards Tao and leaning down, your arms coming around his torso to embrace him. “Thank you,” you whispered. You could feel his heartbeat against your chest as his empty hand reached around you to mimic the gesture. You backed away and pressed a kiss to his jaw, expressing your gratitude, and you swore you felt him tense a little at your action.
Despite the danger that was seemingly resent, having Tao by your side, protecting you, was enough to calm your nerves, sending you into a peaceful slumber.
A/N: THIS WAS LITERALLY DONE AND SITTING IN MY DRAFTS FOR LIKE A MONTH I AM SO SORRY
Note: Stories which contain (M) beside them have mature contents and is for those users who are 18+, also read the trigger warnings before reading, if any.
Drabble Masterlist
Minseok:
Junmyeon:
Versace on the floor (M) (Smut, one shot)
A simple party leading you up to make sins with a man you just met.
You’re an actress married to Baekhyun with thousands and millions of your own fans too. So what happens when one of your fans turns into a psychopath stalker.
Jongdae:
Chanyeol:
Destiny (Mini Masterlist) (Angst, fluff)
A tragedy that completely changed your routes to your destiny.
Kyungsoo:
Jongin:
Fraudulent (Mini Masterlist) (Suspense, angst)
You’re a con-woman working with your team but what happens when you accidentally rob a different person who just shares a similar name with your to-be victim.
I had @trinitysroses read this for me a few hours ago and she had some very strong feelings about it, I can’t wait to hear what the rest of you think!
Prologue - Part One - Part Three - Part Four - Part Five - Part Six
Plot: Pretending that you don’t care about Sehun is easy.
Genre: Angst - CanonAU
Pairing: Sehun x Reader
Word Count: 1k
-
Reader
I slowly opened one eyelid, the sun assaulting me with its brightness. I wiped my face with the back of my hand and stood up quickly, with purpose. I was dizzier than I had anticipated, and I nearly slipped on the smooth wooden floor. I steadied myself and turned my focus to my current mission:
I need coffee. And eggs. And bacon. And probably another two hours of sleep.
I had stayed out too late the night before. What was supposed to be a simple night of karaoke, soju, and bulgogi had turned into a drunken morning spent stuffing my face with rice in a feeble attempt to rid myself of my budding hangover.
It didn’t work.
I turned the knob on my stove and lazily cracked a few eggs into the pan. Too many, out of habit. I was eating breakfast alone, and yet I still made enough eggs to feed not only myself, but Sehun, too.
Oh Sehun. It had been far too long since he had come barreling into my life like a tornado, destroying everything in his path. Well, maybe he didn’t destroy my life, but he sure did make a damn mess of it.
Nights with Sehun lead to early mornings spent making pancakes in the kitchen, giggling over steaming cups of coffee, pretending like any of this actually meant something. It didn’t mean anything. It never did.
I checked my phone, knowing I wouldn’t find what I was looking for there. I had an email for a 50% off sale at my favorite clothing store, a text from my mother that I should probably respond to.... but nothing from Sehun. Worry bubbled in my stomach, and I tried my best to bury it with each bite of eggs, each mouthful of bacon.
Why on earth should I be worried about Sehun? He sure as fuck never worried about me. I rolled my eyes, admonishing myself for feeling something towards this man, this person who didn’t care about me enough to text me... unless he wanted to fuck. He only texted me when he was drunk, or when he was worn out from endless days of dance practices and performances.
Pretending like I didn’t care about Sehun was actually very simple. All I had to do was remind myself how little he cared for me. I couldn’t count the number of times I had told Sehun about something that had been bothering me at work, or something that was going on in my family. I would speak quickly, as I always did when I was upset, sometimes pacing around my small apartment. I would look at him, and I always noticed the same thing.
He was fiddling with his phone, not even looking at the screen, and his eyes were glued to me. Glazed over, not actually focused on me or anything I had to say. I would call his name out loud, and he would look up, a faint blush on his cheeks, realizing he'd been caught in the act.
Like clockwork, his routine would start. He would drop his phone, wrap his arms around me, sneak kisses into my neck and apologize for not giving me his full attention. I would giggle at his fingers poking my soft spots, and he would say something casual, something smooth about "making it up to me" before he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, his childlike laughter ringing through the silent halls of my apartment as he led me to my bedroom.
I hadn't realized that I had stood up and was currently pacing around the room. My spinning, aching head called on me to sit down, and I flopped on my couch, bacon long forgotten.
Last night had been a mistake, a series of missteps that I would surely pay for eventually. I had gone out for drinks with my coworkers, and I had let it turn into something else. Hours spent pretending to listen to someone who thought I cared. I laughed at the right moments, I rested my head on his shoulder, I delicately brushed his arm with my fingers.
It was cruel.
It was everything I hated about Sehun wrapped up into intimate gestures that should have been reserved for someone who I liked, maybe even loved. But that someone didn't deserve my time. So last night, when I realized I had someone's full, undivided attention, I lept into it head first. I basked in the affection that was being poured over me so generously. When he kissed me, softly cupping my chin in his worn, rough hand, I let myself melt into his touch as I pushed every thought of Sehun out of my mind.
He didn't belong in my head, he had no place in my heart. He was too closed off to let me into his world, and I wouldn't let him into mine anymore. I couldn't.
My phone was ringing persistently, a blocked number. I ignored the call, too lost in my thoughts to pay any mind to a telemarketer. It rang again, and again. I finally answered and shouted into the speaker.
"What the hell do you WANT?" No one spoke, and the line was near silent, aside from a soft ticking noise in the background. A deep voice came booming from a speaker, sounding more like a robot than a real human being. "Check your mailbox immediately." My protests and shouts were met with a click, and I groaned in frustration. Who sends mail these days, anyway?
Inside my mailbox was a crisp, unmarked envelope. I opened it aggressively, tearing the envelope into pieces that fluttered to the ground. It wasn't a letter. It was a page torn from a journal, words and words written in a messy scrawl that I didn't recognize. On top of the pages was a post-it note.
The words on this note brought me crashing to my knees, skin scraping against the concrete, bile rising in my throat.
Prologue - Part One - Part Two - Part Four - Part Five - Part Six
Plot: Crumpled, torn pages of Sehun’s journal reveal more than you thought they would.
Genre: Angst/Suspense - CanonAU
Pairing: Sehun x Reader
Word Count: <1k
-
Sehun’s Journal
26 December 2014
I saw her again today.
I was at a ramen shop in Osaka, eating before we started packing for our flight home.
It was cold, and I was irritated when the door opened, letting the icy winter air inside. I turned, and there she was. She was walking in, laughing, tiny flakes from the fresh snowfall coating her hair.
She looked beautiful.
30 December 2014
I took her out last night.
We had barely spoken in high school, and we hadn’t seen each other since graduation, but the conversation last night flowed effortlessly. Like we had known each other for a lifetime. Everything she said was brilliant, and I halfway thought that I could listen to her talk about politics, the weather, anything, forever. She made me want to be an open book. For the first time in my life, I felt vulnerable. I knew in that moment that I couldn't fuck this up. I needed more from this than just one night. This was different.
But I fucked it up.
We drank wine, her cheeks were rosy and her lips were the color of the deep red that I swirled in my glass. I wanted to kiss her, wanted to taste the wine on her mouth. A kiss turned into a night, and a morning, and I didn't want to leave.
Now I'm sitting here, writing about how perfect she is instead of calling her like I should.
6 January 2015
I still haven't called her. I don't have a good excuse. I just... haven't done it. I could have called her last night, but I played video games with the guys instead. She called me today, but I got nervous, and I sent her to voicemail.
I was that guy. The guy who can’t handle anything deeper than small talk. The guy who fucks on the first date. The guy who never calls.
I've always been that person, and I don't know how to be anyone else.
14 February 2015
I called her today. The phone rang once, twice, three times. I hung up before she could pick up the phone, before I could hear her voice and cave in to what I really wanted.
I wanted her to answer, I wanted to talk to her for hours, days, years.
But I wouldn’t.
8 March 2015
Our new tour started yesterday. I should be excited, I should feel lucky, I should be happy to spend my year surrounded by fans that love us.
All I can think about are all of the nights I’m about to spend sleeping alone.
13 April 2015
Yesterday was my birthday. Junmyeon woke me up way too fucking early with a birthday cake, and all of the members sang to me.
I checked my phone in the afternoon, and she texted me immediately, as if she knew I was looking at my phone.
“Happy birthday, Sehun! I hope you enjoy your day! You deserve to have a great day.” Her words were followed by a string of cute emojis. I typed a reply, my finger hovering over the send button.
I got distracted by Chanyeol screaming from the kitchen, and the text went to my drafts, forgotten.
10 June 2015
I woke up in her apartment this morning.
She made me pancakes that taste like green tea, and I brewed a pot of strong, black coffee. We made small talk over our breakfast and I avoided her gaze. I couldn’t stand looking her straight in the eye, knowing that I had called her last night for all of the wrong reasons. Knowing that I had left her hanging for six months.
I called her last night because I craved her skin, her warmth, her hands wrapped around my waist, her nails digging into my shoulders. It had to be her.
I didn’t want conversation. I didn’t have the time.
7 July 2015
In some other world, in a world where I’m not famous, in a world where I have a real fucking life, things wouldn’t be like this.
I wouldn’t have spent the night with someone who didn’t care about anything but my money. I wouldn’t have taken shot after shot of soju until nothing mattered anymore.
I would spend the night with someone I actually give a shit about, someone who knows more about me than my net worth. I would be able to walk with her, hand in hand, to anywhere I fucking want.
We could go to the park, the movies, anywhere. We wouldn’t be harassed. I wouldn’t be followed. There wouldn’t be photos of us lingering in dark places online.
But that isn’t reality. It isn’t my world. I can’t have anyone in my world but myself.
20 October 2015
Jongdae thinks I’m crazy, Yixing thinks I need to relax, and Kyungsoo didn’t seem to think anything at all. But I swear, things have just been... weird lately.
None of my stuff has gone missing, but it’s never where I put it. Every time I leave the SM building, every time we drive away, I know we’re being followed. I keep seeing the same red car, everywhere.
The sky was pitch black by the time you had finished your shift, and the only light outside the hospital were the lamps on the streetlights scattered around the parking lot. You pulled your coat tighter around you as you stepped out onto the asphalt and away from the lights of the hospital. You checked your phone. 3:15 am. You sighed and accelerated your walking pace, desperate to get home as soon as possible so you could collapse onto your bed and get some well-deserved rest.
As you walked along the sidewalk, your figure was illuminated by the streetlights and then plunged into darkness at equal intervals. Usually, you felt quite safe walking home. Your neighbourhood wasn’t a bad place, but you felt your heartbeat quicken when you finally noticed the sound of shoes being scuffed against the ground, gradually getting louder from behind.
You were too scared to look behind. Dread filled your chest and your mind ran through every possible worse case scenario, only adding to your anxiety. Your footsteps quickened. Your fingers reached into your coat pocket, wrapping tightly around your phone. If you couldn’t call for help at least you had something solid to throw at anyone who intended to harm you. The scuffing noise drew closer, and you could sense the presence of a body approaching.
Goosebumps prickled your skin when you could hear the sound of breathing, and soon enough, an arm brushed against your own, making you gasp in shock. You watched as a tall figure appeared in your line of vision, dressed in camouflage pants and a black hoodie which was up, concealing its face. You let out a sigh of relief as the person passed by you and continued down the street.
“Just relax,” you told yourself. Your sleep deprived mind was playing tricks on you, and there was still another good 15 minutes before you reached your apartment. Spotting the convenience store that you always passed up ahead, you decided that it wouldn’t hurt to buy some cheap coffee or energy drink. You would probably fall asleep when you got home regardless, and the motion of drinking something should be enough to keep you focused.
You pushed open the door to the convenience store and a doorbell like noise sounded, alerting the register boy of your presence. The poor employee had been sleeping soundly, his head propped up on his arm until you arrived. You felt kind of bad. He sent you a mildly irritated glare as he scanned your bottled iced coffee. You gave him an apologetic smile, thanked him and paid before leaving.
As you stepped outside and continued down the street, you noticed a car had been parked on the side of the gutter. The front tires were turned and half the car had been driven up to the sidewalk. Whoever parked it must have done so in a rush. Then, you heard the banging of metal and hushed voices coming from the narrow alleyway you always passed. You figured it must be someone from the apartments overhead taking out their trash, but when you passed by, you were greeted with an unusual sight.
With the dim street lamps as your only source of light, you could make out two figures next to a dumpster, tossing in what looked like a mannequin. You couldn’t be sure though, you saw the object for a split second before it disappeared from sight. The two men grunted as they released the object, and it hit the bottom of the dumpster with a dull thud, rustling the garbage as it landed. They quietly shut the lid and turned to leave the alleyway, but then, they spotted you standing by the entrance.
The two men froze just as they had stepped into the light of the street lamp. You could see them more clearly now. Both adorned black trench coats and leather gloves. You couldn’t be sure, but from what you could see, they were most likely wearing suits deduced by the single perfect crease in each pant leg and the lustre of their shoes. Their outfits would’ve looked pristine and expensive if it weren’t for the dark stains on each of their coats as well as the dirt on their faces. Was it dirt? It looked more like…blood.
Oh no.
You tensed when you made the horrifying conclusion which did not go unnoticed by the two dangerous men standing in front of you. Your foot instinctively took one step back, and the two men glanced at each other with seemingly expressionless looks, but their eyes were filled with concern. One man looked back at you and reached into his pocket, and you saw the shape of a long, blocky object stretch the fabric of his coat. The second man’s eyes hardened, and he advanced towards you.
You backed away in fear just as he pulled the black gun - fitted with a silencer - into view. You were meaning to turn and run for your life, a scream ready to erupt from your throat, until a stiff body collided with your back. Whipping around, you noticed the hooded figure from earlier. HIs eyes were barely visible underneath his hood and the rest of his face was covered with a mask.
The scream worked its way up from your throat, but the sound was muffled from the hooded figure’s gloved hand. Another arm tightened around you, pressing you against the figure’s body. Fear and panic flooded your veins as you ride to wriggle your way out of his hold, but he was incredibly strong.
You saw him flick his head to the side, and you heard the footsteps of the two men as they walked around you, got into the badly parked car and drove away. You had stopped screaming and struggling at this point as you were busy trying to process this situation. Your answer was provided when the figure peeled back his hood, and two familiar cat-like eyes appeared in the dim light.
“You,” you breathed, both relief and apprehension lacing your voice. It was the mysterious blonde from before who always showed up with the most unusual and borderline fatal injuries. Although, you couldn’t call him the mysterious blonde anymore as his hair was now dyed an ashy black.
He tugged down his mask and it confirmed his identity. “You sure have a way of attracting dangerous people,” he stated, a hint of laughter in his voice.
“It’s not like I’m asking for it,” you replied stiffly.
A chuckle slipped past his lips. “I’ll have to keep an eye on you then. I can’t have my favourite doctor getting into any trouble with the mob.” As he said this, he tightened his hold, and you realised he still had his arms around you.
Blushing, you stepped away and slipped out of his hold. “So, are you some kind of…mafia boss?” you asked uncomfortably.
“No, I’m just a hitman. Nothing special,” he answered, a smirk resting on his face. You nodded, too anxious to ask any further questions.
This man was incredibly dangerous, and you were regretting ever helping him, but at the same time, you were glad that you did. This mysterious man was oddly intriguing, and you worried about him more than you’d care to admit. Somehow, your mind always wandered back to him, wondering if he had received any new injuries. As you thought, you shuffled your feet and let the silence envelope the two of you.
“I should go. But can you do me a favour?” he asked.
‘What is it?”
He took your hand and pressed a single gold coin into your palm. “The Cleaners will be coming any time now. Give this to them and say it’s from the Jiangshi.”
“Jiangshi. Is that your code name?”
He gave you a weird look. “I have quite the reputation you know,” he said monotonously. He suddenly leant forward so that his lips were just by your ear. “But for you, just call me Tao.” His name rang through your mind. “Now don’t go telling that to people,” he breathed, pulling back.
“Or you’ll kill me?”
He smiled. “No, but I’ll be disappointed. Tao adjusted his mask so that it covered his nose and mouth before pulling up his hood. “Goodnight Y/N,” he said before walking away.
Your eyes widened in slight surprise. “How do you know my name?” you asked aloud, but you heard him laugh before he disappeared into the shadows of the night without a trace.
You were left alone on the sidewalk, the early morning winds biting at your legs. You pulled your coat tighter around yourself and looked at the circular object in your hand. The coin was larger than normal currency, about an inch in diameter. There was some sort of sigil pressed into the gold consisting of a man holding a shield surrounded by olive leaves. The words Ex Unitate Vires decorated the top of the design. You flipped it over and depicted was a lion standing in front of a shield with the words Ens Causa Sui above. The coin felt heavy and of great value.
A van suddenly pulled up to the sidewalk and its engine shut off, but the headlights were left on. The words Joe’s Cleaning Company was printed on the side in large blue lettering. The door was slid open, and two men in white hazmat suits, each carrying a large duffle bag. Another man exited the driver’s seat. He looked old, in his early 60’s maybe. A Gatsby cap adorned his head, hiding silver strands of hair. The old man gave you a curt smile before you turned to look at the others.
Your jaw dropped in shock when the two men in hazmat suits pulled a body out of the dumpster and began wrapping the corpse in newspaper. One pulled out a roll of clingfilm, and the two worked together, tightly binding the body with the clear plastic until it resembled an ancient Egyptian mummy. They worked quickly, like they had done this a thousand times before. Soon enough, the body was carried into the can, and the dumpster was thoroughly cleaned with chemicals.
“Have you got our payment, love?” asked the old man with a smile, just as the hazmat men had finished packing away their equipment.
You held out the coin and dropped it into his outstretched hand. “It’s from the Jiangshi,” you said, remembering what Tao had told you to say.
The old man seemed to freeze at the name, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “Well, he’s been quite busy hasn’t he?” whispered that man, mostly to himself. He eventually snapped out of his trance and bowed to you, mumbling a goodbye before re-entering the van and driving away.
You stood there in a daze, trying your best to process the events of the night. It was too surreal for you to completely understand. Your mind swam with thoughts of Tao and what kind of world he was a part of, as well as how it involved you. Were you now part of this hidden, underground world?
By the time you reached your apartment, the sun was beginning to peek above the horizon, and your thoughts clouded together in a white haze before you passed out onto your bed.
A/N: This is for that one anon who loves the series enough to send me an ask telling me how excited they were for the next part. So here you go. See guys, I just need a lil bit of encouragement <3
And thank you to everyone who actually reads this series.
The air was cool and calm as it blew through the open window of the dark office. The only light source was a small lamp which buzzed with electricity, illuminating the two stern faces of each man sat either side of the mahogany desk.
“What do you need?” asked Tao nonchalantly, staring blankly at the man sat across from him in a velveteen chair.
“First of all, I should thank you again for taking assisting me the way you have,” said Suho.
“Just doing my job,” answered Tao.
“And now you have another.”
“Who do you want gone?”
“I heard you were injured on the last job,” interjected Suho. “I don’t want a sloppy job. I can’t have anything traced back to me, so you should rest if you need.” Suho, even though he was an intimidating and powerful man, still cared for the wellbeing of his men.
“Nothing I can’t handle,” replied Tao. “Who’s the target?”
Suho’s mouth twitched upwards in a smirk. “There’s a deal happening with goods stolen from me, I need you to take out the dealers and retrieve the goods.”
Tao’s eyebrows furrowed. “I’m a hitman, not a delivery boy,” he spat.
“I’ll double your pay,” stated Suho cooly. “Here’s the address,” he said before sliding a folded piece of paper across the desk.
Tao snatched the paper from the mahogany surface and stood. “Pleasure doing business with you,” he mumbled before sauntering out of the room.
***
At first you thought the ER was surprisingly empty tonight, there were only a few minor injuries that had been treated today. But that thought slowly dwindled away as you heard two ambulances rushing away from the hospital and later returning with four men who were badly beaten.
You assisted with one’s preparation into the operating theatre before your boss told you that your shift was over. You insisted that you stay to help treat one of the patients, but he convinced you that they were in a serious but stable condition and it was alright for you to leave.
You collected your things from your locker and headed towards the exit. You stepped through the doorway and nearly collided with a tall body. “Sorry,” you muttered, moving back and intending to step around the person.
The first thing you noticed was the blood, then, you noticed the expensive looking suit. You flicked your eyes up and made eye contact with the person through their blonde fringe. You recognised him immediately, and you backed away in apprehension. It was him.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he sighed with a slight smirk on his face.
“Then what do you want?” you asked cautiously. His presence radiated danger and mystery which struck fear into your being.
“Um…” he mumbled, gesturing to his bloodstained shirt. “I think it’s obvious what I want.”
“So it is your blood?” you thought out loud.
“Most of it,” he added with a shrug.
You shivered at the thought of what his job must require him to do. No doubt it was dengerous, but something told you that he was the danger to everyone else. However, you couldn’t turn away someone who was in need.
“Fine,” you sighed, holding open the door of the exit open. “I’ll help you.”
The mysterious blonde man nodded in appreciation and stepped through the doorway. You led him through the winding hallways of the hospital. He was careful to stay behind you, concealing the blood from any nurses or doctors who walked past. Luckily, the halls were mostly empty.
You took him to an empty treatment room and locked the door. You placed your handbag on the floor and took of your coat. You saw that the man had already sat himself down on the bed, waiting to be stitched up.
You quickly gathered your equipment and asked him where the wound was. He said it was on his back.
You sighed. “Did you want to take off your shirt and blazer or should I cut through it?” you asked, quite agitated. The man said nothing. He slid off the blazer and unbuttoned his white dress shirt, grunting in slight discomfort as he removed the garment from his torso.
You could now clearly see the wound. The knife had been sharp as there was a clean cut, but luckinly, it wasn’t too deep and the blood had clotted enough to stop the bleeding. You carefully washed and disinfected the gash before preparing the suture and beginning to close up the wound.
There was silence as you continued your precise work. Normally, you’d ask your patients if they were comfortable, but something told you that this man was perfectly fine. And judging by the several other scars that marked his back, he was quite used to this treatment. It saddened you, surprisingly, that this man was risking his life for what seemed like his job. You wondered if there was a reason why he had fallen into this dangerous line of work, whatever that was.
You finished with stitching him up and gently bandaged the area. You offered him some wet tissues so he could wipe the blood off his torso, arms and hands. He thanked you, which was surprising, and made his way to the sink to continue washing off the crimson stains.
You walked to the side of the room and disposed of your gloves. The man was still busy cleaning the blood off his skin, so you awkwardly stood in one spot, rocking back and forth from your heels to your toes. Your eyes trailed down his bare back, counting the many scars and bruises that decorated his body like a sort of grotesque abstract painting. The marks told a story, and you wondered what that was. Who was this man? What did he do? And most importantly, would he hurt you?
“Are you checking me out?” teased the blonde man, suddenly snapping you out of your thoughts. You refocused your gaze and saw the smirk on his face.
You scoffed. “No.” Looking down, you noticed the wound you had treated before, the one on the side of his stomach. “I told you last time to stay out of fights while that was healing,” you scolded, stepping forward while gesturing to the old gash. “Now it’s scarred.”
He shrugged and took a few steps closer to you. “Can’t help it I guess.”
He was standing right in front of you and you reached out a hand to hover over the old wound, not daring to actually touch him. “What’s the point of me stitching you up if you’ll just tear it,” you sighed.
The man laughed through his nose. “Sorry, I’ll try and keep this one together,” he promised, referring to the gash on his back that you had just sutured shut. “I do appreciate your help,” he mentioned. “And for keeping me off the record.” He raised his eyebrows as he spoke that part, asking if you’d actually kept your word about keeping him off all hospital records.
“You’d probably kill me if I didn’t,” you answered, your voice weakening at the realisation of the abilities this man must have.
He smiled with pursed lips. “I wouldn’t kill you,” he stated. “But, your life would change drastically, for the worse, and you’d never see me again.”
“Maybe the last part is a good thing,” you added. “You’re always hurt when I see you.”
“I wouldn’t like that,” he said, stepping closer to you. Your body tensed as he approached you, partly out of fear and partly out of embarrassment. He chuckled slightly at your reaction. “I’ll see you soon,” he stated, before slipping on his shirt and blazer. He was gone seconds after.
You exhaled and released the tension that had plagued your body ever since you laid your eyes on his face again. “Hopefully not,” you said to yourself. In all honestly, you kind of hated seeing someone as handsome as him getting hurt on a regular basis.
And you thought your job was exhausting.
A/N: Since I was asked so many times to update this, here is the update
The stench of antiseptic hit Tao’s nose as he slowly made his way into the emergency ward of the hospital, trying his best to keep his facial expressions from revealing the discomfort he was experiencing. He couldn't just go up to the front desk and be admitted as a regular patient, he needed to keep this on the down low. So, he stood by the double doors leading further into the hospital, waiting for someone to open it.
He faced the wall to conceal his wounded stomach and bloodied shirt whilst attempting to look natural. Everybody in the emergency ward was focused on their own misfortunes and paid no attention to him. A group of doctors suddenly pushed past him and opened the door, carrying an injured man on a wheelchair through the doors. Tao followed closely behind, making it seem like he was part of that party.
Tao had never been to this hospital, he had never been injured badly enough during his time working for his current boss, nor did he think he would ever need to be treated. But occasionally, he had misjudged some attacks. And he had definitely been in worse situations. He continued walking down the hallways, trying to find a room which should contain the things he needed. He passed one with a bed, and various tools were stacked on shelves. Tao glanced around the room fleetingly, the pain in his side obscuring his usual alert self. He hastily hobbled inside and shut the door before stumbling over to the shelves to locate some proper medical tools.
Tao had already grabbed some gauze and sailing solution before he heard the door creak open, and the sound of a very surprised doctor caused him to pause.
“What are you doing in here?”
***
You sleepily trudged down the white hallways of the hospital, eager to retrieve your belongings from your locker and make your way home after a tiring 22 hour shift. There were times when you really despised your job, the long hours was the main contributor.
However, at times, you loved your job. You suppose that the fulfilment of helping another human being was what kept you motivated. You smiled to yourself as you contemplated the few jobs you had today. They weren’t very significant, nothing life threatening, yet they still delivered the same satisfaction.
The sight of a tall man dressed in a fitted suit caught your eye as he entered one of the sickrooms, seemingly in a rush. You narrowed your eyes with curiosity and quickened your footsteps. The sound of plastic bottles being scattered on the linoleum floor increased in volume until you finally reached the door. You pushed it open and saw cotton and containers strewn about the counter and floor, causing you to speak up.
“What are you doing in here?”
The man froze in place, his back facing you. You saw the bloodied gauze in his hand and a tube of sailing in the other. The man slowly began to turn around. He flicked his almond shaped eyes to gaze into yours. His face was stern and threatening, yet something about his striking appearance made him oddly captivating. But the blood you spotted on his dress shirt pushed those thoughts to the back of your mind.
“Oh my…come sit here! Quickly!” you yelled, your need to assist those in need kicking in immediately. The man hesitated, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. You desperately gestured for him to sit on the bed placed by the adjacent wall and he slowly limped over, releasing muffled grunts with each step. You ran over to the shelves to find a pair of disposable gloves before returning to the injured man. “What’s the problem?” you demanded.
“Knife wound,” he answered, uncovering his hand from his bleeding side. You needed to inspect the wound, so you lifted up his dress shirt and found a negligently sealed stab wound secured with two staples.
“Did you do this?” you asked, referring to the staples. He nodded.
His handiwork was quite bad, and you couldn’t see how deep the wound was. You needed to remove the staples. You told the man to continue pressing against to wound to slow the bleeding as you retrieved the tools required. A staple remover, antiseptic wipes, gauze, large bandages and a syringe of anaesthetic. Unfortunately, you were having trouble finding the final item as you were in a state of panic.
“I don’t need an anaesthetic,” growled the man. “Just stitch me up.”
You glanced over and scanned his expression, which was quite stoic and serious, not the expression one would make after being stabbed in the gut. So you believed that he could take the pain. It was better than allowing him to bleed out any further.
You hurried back over and pushed his shirt out of the way, exposing the wound once again. You tried to wipe the area as gently as you could, cleaning the skin from the blood which stained it. The staple remover was carefully slid on top of the staples, and you removed them one by one.
You placed some cotton under the wound and took a syringe full of water to wash out the remaining blood inside the wound.
“How’s it looking doctor?” asked the man.
“It’s quite deep,” you replied. “But it doesn’t look like you’ll need surgery.”
The man breathed a sigh of relief as you prepared the suture. “You sure you don’t need anaesthetic?” you asked wearily. The man nodded to confirm. With his consent, you began stitching up the wound, piercing the skin with the suture and pulling it out with tweezers. The man voiced suppressed groans as you continued your work. You could feel his eyes on you, watching you intently as you expertly handled the suture.
When the gash was completely sealed, you wiped down the area with antiseptic one last time before securing gauze and cotton to his stomach with a large bandage and medical tape. The man seemed to be in a stable condition, and the panic slowly drained from your body. Now you could ask your questions.
“Why weren’t you escorted by a nurse?” you asked curiously.
“Does it matter?”
“Well, I would’ve had more help,” you stated. “The job would’ve been done quicker.”
He shrugged. “Anyway, thanks for stitching me up. I’ll leave now,” he said nonchalantly and stood up to leave.
“Wait! Were you even admitted at the front desk?” The man said nothing and continued his advance towards the door. “I’ll need you to fill out your patient details and you have to be properly discharged, I can’t just let you leave!” you scolded. This halted the man. He turned around to face you with a deadly expression on his face. He sauntered back up to you and towered over your smaller figure. He was undeniably intimidating.
“Listen,” he spoke darkly. “I work for a certain group of people that you definitely do not want to get involved with.” He opened the right side of his blazer, revealing a holster and a gun. “So, I’d appreciate it if I stayed off the grid. You get what I’m saying?”
The intensity of his brown eyes bore into your being, and you physically felt a chill run through your body. You gulped and nodded. “I won’t say anything, I promise.”
In a second, his personality seemed to change from deadly to smug as a smirk curled onto his lips. “Good. I’m glad you understand,” he spoke almost cheerfully. “Am I free to go?”
You chewed your bottom lip in anxiety. This blonde haired man terrified you, but your doctor instincts kicked in. “Just remember to keep the wound clean,” you began with a small, hushed voice. “Don’t get the bandage wet for at least 48 hours.”
He nodded once. “Got it. Is that all?”
“Try to limit movement, you should rest. And, try to stay out of fights,” you scolded with a weak voice.
He smirked again. “What if I can’t help it?”
“Then you’ll tear your stitches and it will hurt, a lot,” you answered, a hint of sass lacing your voice.
“It’s alright sweetie, I can handle it,” he replied cockily.
You sighed and told him to stay put as you retrieved a white bottle of pills from the cupboards below the shelf. “If you really can’t help it,” you began, “take two of these beforehand. It should reduce the pain.”
“Thanks,” he muttered as he graciously accepted the pills before turning to unlock the door and stepping halfway through. He looked back at you with the same serious expression as before, “Remember your promise, or there will be trouble.” You nodded obediently. “See you later then,” he added before disappearing down the hallway.
“Hopefully not,” you whispered to yourself.
A/N: I’m starting off slow but I promise things will get better. Just bear with me for a while!
