At Gunpoint 5/10
Title: At Gunpoint 5/10
Pairing: Jonghyun/Key
Genre: AU
Rating: PG for this chapter
Summary: When Jonghyun earns himself a break, Minho giving up with a sigh, the first thing he does is turn his mobile on.
A/N: Favourite chapter so far, for some reason. I just really loved writing it :] Enjoy!
When Jonghyun earns himself a break, Minho giving up with a sigh, the first thing he does is turn his mobile on.
Drawing back the curtains only a bit, he tilts the device in his other hand, to prevent the sun from reflecting on his touch screen. Now, he's definitely not rich, but he's well-off enough. He knows how to save money in order to provide himself with the best, and that's still moderate. If there's anything he's never lacked in, that's technology and reliable guns.
His thumb dials a phone number, useful enough to be familiar, and confidential enough to feel distant. His contacts list is empty, but his memory's never failed him.
The rhythmic beeping that follows only lasts for a few beats before a well-known voice, deep but relaxed answers the call.
"And he's alive!" the other exclaims over the roaring of cars and impatient horns, and Jonghyun makes a face while looking over the hotel's garden. He knows he's been absent, all right.
"Unfunny, Jinki," he replies, but he's pretty sure the half-smile on his face can be detected in his tone. "Hey, I need your help," he says.
The other lets out a happy, long-drawn oh, before continuing, "Yeah, I'm just fine, so kind of you to ask!" Jonghyun chuckles as he hears him walk. "Bastard, I know where we stand, but it wouldn't hurt dropping a line every once in a while," Jinki says almost in complain, but Jonghyun knows the nature behind the words. He's serious indeed, but still light-hearted.
To be frank, he doesn't think it would hurt either. Ever since he started this whole thing, his life has been hectic. Well, not as hectic as it has been ever-changing. He never stays in one place and never lingers around long enough to form any kind of relationship. He doesn't even have a home. He lives in hotels, motels, cars and even flimsy flats, anything affordable and decent enough. Most of his weapons are divided into safe deposit boxes in numerous banks all over South Korea, and the only clothes he has are the ones he always carries around in his sac voyage. The only vehicle he owns is his bike, and all others are rent.
And socially? He can say Jinki is the closest to a friend he's ever had. They're standing on the fine line between a purely business-oriented relationship and a friendship, and Jonghyun feels comfortable with that. Jinki is reliable as a provider and, quite honestly, fun to be around.
"Well, if you shut it and listen to me for a bit, you'll be delighted you did," Jonghyun says, quite unable to keep a straight face, and resumes at Jinki's complying. "You're back in town, right?"
"Yeah, just arrived yester-" there's a screech, a horn and some distant swearing, mixed with Jinki's continuous I'm sorrys. "Holy crap, I almost got run over," Jonghyun hears after a bit and actually laughs, letting go of the curtains and falling onto his bed. Extremely typical.
"Right, just try to keep yourself alive, okay," he tells him, laughter subsiding quickly. "Anyway, I need you," he says, not missing Jinki's panted everybody needs me. "I want some potassium chloride as soon as possible."
The other makes a sound. "Knowing you, enough to be fatal?"
"Yeah, it better," he rubs at his left eye. "We're talking about a fully grown adult male, here, so make sure to measure correctly," he says, and the other hums. He prays to God Jinki's actually paying attention to him. "When do you think you'll be able to deliver?" he asks after a beat.
"Today, even. I'm sure I've got some in stock. Hey, you're- you are in Seoul, right?" he makes sure, and Jonghyun notices the background noise seems to fade out.
He hums positively in response and stretches.
"Oh, okay, yeah, we can do it, then," he hears Jinki say while some of his bones pop. "So, where you at?" he asks.
Jonghyun smiles and looks around at that. "You wouldn't believe."
+
Jonghyun keeps back a sigh when he's being told to take a Caesar Salad with extra croutons to Kibum's room.
The thing is- no, there is no thing. He just needs to keep his stuff straight, get over with the job and leave. That's how it's always been done and that's how it needs to stay. However, only now does he realise why travelling all over the country is good for him, for what he does. Because when random faces become actual people in his mind, it can only turn out bad. Getting emotionally attached only interferes with business.
End of discussion.
He pushes the tray out of the elevator for possibly the millionth time today -okay, exaggeration- and knocks on the door. After more than a week of this, he doesn't even need to listen to Kibum say it's unlocked to go in. He announces his arrival and just trolleys his way in.
When he sees him, sitting indian-style on the edge of the mattress, clearly looking at him, he tries not to pay attention. Just does everything as usual; food on the foot of the bed.
"Take me with you," he hears him say, evenly as possible, and pauses his actions for a fraction of a second. He's seventy percent sure it went unnoticed.
He doesn't reply.
"That thing you do; I want in," Kibum says, following his every move, and raises his eyebrows when Jonghyun turns his eyes upwards to look at him. "I'm not stupid, I can follow orders and I'm agile and thankfully smart enough to do stuff."
"You don't want that," he responds, shortly and seriously, and Kibum's mouth flies open again, but Jonghyun straightens his back, full attention on him now. "You have no reason to want it."
"There's nothing else for me, not here, not anywhere," his neck muscles tense, but his voice is still calm and collected. "You took it away, so it's only logical you give me something back in return," he challenges.
Jonghyun snorts. "Your reasoning is impressibly stupid," he says and leans down again, resuming his task. "If every person I came across said that-"
"But they didn't."
"You don't have what it takes," he says, throwing another reason in the mix, even though he knows he's most probably lying.
"You don't know that," he replies, and Jonghyun can see his fists clenching on his lap, even though he thinks Kibum's trying to hide it.
He finishes setting everything up and stands up fully again, getting ready to leave. "It's obvious. And I also don't want you with me, anyway." If that doesn't do it, nothing will.
And it does. Because Kibum shuts up, still looking at him intensely, but clearly baffled. Good. He sees the other's lips tighten before he turns around and leaves.
"Tip on the table in the hall?" he asks, already walking away. He doesn't hear a reply.
He takes the money and leaves, shutting the door behind him.
Surprises are not always pleasant, but he makes do.
+
He stops working at around eight. It takes him a quarter to change clothes and wash his hands and face, and two minutes later the room telephone rings. Taemin's voice informs him of someone waiting for him downstairs. He thanks him and hangs up, giving himself a moment to wonder why the other's still working. It takes a while to realise it's Saturday. Taemin always works the night shift on Saturdays.
And then he's in the lift, reaching the lobby about a minute and a half later.
Jinki's in fancier-than-casual clothing, yet the backpack he's been wearing since he was probably a high schooler is still on his back. What's up with that guy. Currently, he's thrown himself all over the counter, elbow on its surface and palm under his chin, leaning a bit too close for comfort. Taemin's eyes flash worriedly at Jonghyun for a bit, a mixture of surprise and awkwardness in there.
"Yeah, you come over here now," he says the moment he reaches the desk, hand coming around Jinki's arm and pulling. Taemin smiles uncertainly before his attention is grabbed by some woman in a mini black dress. Jinki looks disappointed.
"Hey, the kid was being cute to me," he whispers in Jonghyun's ear once they're far away enough, and Jonghyun raises an eyebrow at him. "Sure, at first I thought it was a girl but still."
"Jesus Christ," he rolls his eyes while calling for the elevator, the middle one this time, and smiles.
"No, seriously, I think he likes me," he replies, eyes focusing everywhere while looking around, and steps into the elevator with a one-second delay.
"He likes everybody," Jonghyun fixes him with a plain stare, and Jinki emits a high-pitched sound that may or may not mean he gives up. He sees him look down while his hands grab the straps of his backpack, and before he even knows it, they reach the eleventh floor.
"Man, not too shabby," Jinki says the moment they get out, and they both know that's an understatement. He walks a step behind Jonghyun, being led to the latter's room, eyes still drinking in everything there is to see.
Seconds later, the door is closed and Jonghyun is about to say Got what I asked you for?, when Jinki dumps his bag on top of the mattress and turns to him with a raised hand that shuts him up.
He looks serious.
"Think we could get us some chicken up in here?"
→ previous. next.
Pairing: Jonghyun/Key
Genre: AU
Rating: PG for this chapter
Summary: When Jonghyun earns himself a break, Minho giving up with a sigh, the first thing he does is turn his mobile on.
A/N: Favourite chapter so far, for some reason. I just really loved writing it :] Enjoy!
When Jonghyun earns himself a break, Minho giving up with a sigh, the first thing he does is turn his mobile on.
Drawing back the curtains only a bit, he tilts the device in his other hand, to prevent the sun from reflecting on his touch screen. Now, he's definitely not rich, but he's well-off enough. He knows how to save money in order to provide himself with the best, and that's still moderate. If there's anything he's never lacked in, that's technology and reliable guns.
His thumb dials a phone number, useful enough to be familiar, and confidential enough to feel distant. His contacts list is empty, but his memory's never failed him.
The rhythmic beeping that follows only lasts for a few beats before a well-known voice, deep but relaxed answers the call.
"And he's alive!" the other exclaims over the roaring of cars and impatient horns, and Jonghyun makes a face while looking over the hotel's garden. He knows he's been absent, all right.
"Unfunny, Jinki," he replies, but he's pretty sure the half-smile on his face can be detected in his tone. "Hey, I need your help," he says.
The other lets out a happy, long-drawn oh, before continuing, "Yeah, I'm just fine, so kind of you to ask!" Jonghyun chuckles as he hears him walk. "Bastard, I know where we stand, but it wouldn't hurt dropping a line every once in a while," Jinki says almost in complain, but Jonghyun knows the nature behind the words. He's serious indeed, but still light-hearted.
To be frank, he doesn't think it would hurt either. Ever since he started this whole thing, his life has been hectic. Well, not as hectic as it has been ever-changing. He never stays in one place and never lingers around long enough to form any kind of relationship. He doesn't even have a home. He lives in hotels, motels, cars and even flimsy flats, anything affordable and decent enough. Most of his weapons are divided into safe deposit boxes in numerous banks all over South Korea, and the only clothes he has are the ones he always carries around in his sac voyage. The only vehicle he owns is his bike, and all others are rent.
And socially? He can say Jinki is the closest to a friend he's ever had. They're standing on the fine line between a purely business-oriented relationship and a friendship, and Jonghyun feels comfortable with that. Jinki is reliable as a provider and, quite honestly, fun to be around.
"Well, if you shut it and listen to me for a bit, you'll be delighted you did," Jonghyun says, quite unable to keep a straight face, and resumes at Jinki's complying. "You're back in town, right?"
"Yeah, just arrived yester-" there's a screech, a horn and some distant swearing, mixed with Jinki's continuous I'm sorrys. "Holy crap, I almost got run over," Jonghyun hears after a bit and actually laughs, letting go of the curtains and falling onto his bed. Extremely typical.
"Right, just try to keep yourself alive, okay," he tells him, laughter subsiding quickly. "Anyway, I need you," he says, not missing Jinki's panted everybody needs me. "I want some potassium chloride as soon as possible."
The other makes a sound. "Knowing you, enough to be fatal?"
"Yeah, it better," he rubs at his left eye. "We're talking about a fully grown adult male, here, so make sure to measure correctly," he says, and the other hums. He prays to God Jinki's actually paying attention to him. "When do you think you'll be able to deliver?" he asks after a beat.
"Today, even. I'm sure I've got some in stock. Hey, you're- you are in Seoul, right?" he makes sure, and Jonghyun notices the background noise seems to fade out.
He hums positively in response and stretches.
"Oh, okay, yeah, we can do it, then," he hears Jinki say while some of his bones pop. "So, where you at?" he asks.
Jonghyun smiles and looks around at that. "You wouldn't believe."
+
Jonghyun keeps back a sigh when he's being told to take a Caesar Salad with extra croutons to Kibum's room.
The thing is- no, there is no thing. He just needs to keep his stuff straight, get over with the job and leave. That's how it's always been done and that's how it needs to stay. However, only now does he realise why travelling all over the country is good for him, for what he does. Because when random faces become actual people in his mind, it can only turn out bad. Getting emotionally attached only interferes with business.
End of discussion.
He pushes the tray out of the elevator for possibly the millionth time today -okay, exaggeration- and knocks on the door. After more than a week of this, he doesn't even need to listen to Kibum say it's unlocked to go in. He announces his arrival and just trolleys his way in.
When he sees him, sitting indian-style on the edge of the mattress, clearly looking at him, he tries not to pay attention. Just does everything as usual; food on the foot of the bed.
"Take me with you," he hears him say, evenly as possible, and pauses his actions for a fraction of a second. He's seventy percent sure it went unnoticed.
He doesn't reply.
"That thing you do; I want in," Kibum says, following his every move, and raises his eyebrows when Jonghyun turns his eyes upwards to look at him. "I'm not stupid, I can follow orders and I'm agile and thankfully smart enough to do stuff."
"You don't want that," he responds, shortly and seriously, and Kibum's mouth flies open again, but Jonghyun straightens his back, full attention on him now. "You have no reason to want it."
"There's nothing else for me, not here, not anywhere," his neck muscles tense, but his voice is still calm and collected. "You took it away, so it's only logical you give me something back in return," he challenges.
Jonghyun snorts. "Your reasoning is impressibly stupid," he says and leans down again, resuming his task. "If every person I came across said that-"
"But they didn't."
"You don't have what it takes," he says, throwing another reason in the mix, even though he knows he's most probably lying.
"You don't know that," he replies, and Jonghyun can see his fists clenching on his lap, even though he thinks Kibum's trying to hide it.
He finishes setting everything up and stands up fully again, getting ready to leave. "It's obvious. And I also don't want you with me, anyway." If that doesn't do it, nothing will.
And it does. Because Kibum shuts up, still looking at him intensely, but clearly baffled. Good. He sees the other's lips tighten before he turns around and leaves.
"Tip on the table in the hall?" he asks, already walking away. He doesn't hear a reply.
He takes the money and leaves, shutting the door behind him.
Surprises are not always pleasant, but he makes do.
+
He stops working at around eight. It takes him a quarter to change clothes and wash his hands and face, and two minutes later the room telephone rings. Taemin's voice informs him of someone waiting for him downstairs. He thanks him and hangs up, giving himself a moment to wonder why the other's still working. It takes a while to realise it's Saturday. Taemin always works the night shift on Saturdays.
And then he's in the lift, reaching the lobby about a minute and a half later.
Jinki's in fancier-than-casual clothing, yet the backpack he's been wearing since he was probably a high schooler is still on his back. What's up with that guy. Currently, he's thrown himself all over the counter, elbow on its surface and palm under his chin, leaning a bit too close for comfort. Taemin's eyes flash worriedly at Jonghyun for a bit, a mixture of surprise and awkwardness in there.
"Yeah, you come over here now," he says the moment he reaches the desk, hand coming around Jinki's arm and pulling. Taemin smiles uncertainly before his attention is grabbed by some woman in a mini black dress. Jinki looks disappointed.
"Hey, the kid was being cute to me," he whispers in Jonghyun's ear once they're far away enough, and Jonghyun raises an eyebrow at him. "Sure, at first I thought it was a girl but still."
"Jesus Christ," he rolls his eyes while calling for the elevator, the middle one this time, and smiles.
"No, seriously, I think he likes me," he replies, eyes focusing everywhere while looking around, and steps into the elevator with a one-second delay.
"He likes everybody," Jonghyun fixes him with a plain stare, and Jinki emits a high-pitched sound that may or may not mean he gives up. He sees him look down while his hands grab the straps of his backpack, and before he even knows it, they reach the eleventh floor.
"Man, not too shabby," Jinki says the moment they get out, and they both know that's an understatement. He walks a step behind Jonghyun, being led to the latter's room, eyes still drinking in everything there is to see.
Seconds later, the door is closed and Jonghyun is about to say Got what I asked you for?, when Jinki dumps his bag on top of the mattress and turns to him with a raised hand that shuts him up.
He looks serious.
"Think we could get us some chicken up in here?"
→ previous. next.