#52 Diamonds in Your Eyes {1/3}
Title: Diamonds in Your Eyes
Prompt: #52
Rating: R
Length: ~21500 words
Summary: Things change when Kai, the best assassin in EXO’s organization, is ordered to kidnap college student Oh Sehun.
Warning(s): ex-member Luhan,[trigger warnings]violence, blood, rape
Notes: I loved this prompt, but halfway into it, the whole plot turned out different from what I thought of initially. I doubt this is what the OP had in mind, but I do hope it is worth the reading time.
"Are you sure you want to watch?" Luhan asks.
Jongin shrugs. He is curious, that is why he is heading towards the basement where Diamond Boy is brought to each time they try to make him cry. It sounds cruel, and it surely is cruel if things go the way Jongin imagines. He doesn't even need Luhan to tell him to know how gruesome the sight will be, but Luhan tells him anyway. He fills him in on details, telling how the boy is always talked to by two people, one playing the nice man, the other the bad one.
Good cop, bad cop, Jongin thinks. That method is old. One will try to lure him with kind words, while the other threatens him, though both have the same goal: they want the boy's tears. The boy? Some poor being going by the name of Oh Sehun. The poor being that Jongin has captured for Suho and the whole organization behind the notorious mafia gang.
"It's horrible, really," Luhan says and wrinkles his nose. "You shouldn't go there and watch. They always threaten him and beat him, even the one that's supposed to play the good person. He looks terrified, the poor boy. I wish they wouldn't hurt him. He doesn't deserve this."
Jongin doesn't know what to retort without sounding harsh, possibly insulting the other. After all, they are part of the mafia - violence and brute force are the norm here. Luhan should be accustomed to that already, and just because their victim has a pretty face it doesn't mean that people will go easier on him. If anything, it just worsens the whole situation. A lot of their men have the sadistic urge to taint and break everything good and nice. Sehun should be glad that he hadn’t been raped so far, but who knows what might happen in a few days’ time when Junmyeon doesn’t get what he wants.
But well, they do go easy on him, Jongin think, as he watches the scene unfolding behind a glass wall, not different from any other investigation room they show in so many detective and police series. The glass wall looks like a wall to the ones inside the room, but for the ones standing outside like Jongin, it is glass. He can see exactly what the two men are doing to the boy, and so far, they are only yelling at him. Sehun has eyes brimming with tears already. Jongin supposes that with just a bit more the boy will break. He will cry, even when it is obvious that he is doing his best to hold his tears back.
Luhan beside him stiffens and pulls a grimace before he turns to go away, rambling in quiet mutters under his breath, something along the line of if I was him I would rather die than cooperate and give them what they wish, and Jongin wonders what Junmyeon would think of that.
Luhan is one of the few members here that have not given up on ideals and morals yet. Luhan refuses to take care of cases involving civilians; he doesn’t wish to hurt innocent people. It leaves Jongin wondering if his morals will lead Luhan to betray Junmyeon one day. Will he? Would he switch sides and fight alongside the police? But if there was the possibility he could, Junmyeon wouldn’t have taken him in, would he?
A small outcry leads Jongin's attention back to the boy. Jongin is not quite sure where they have hit him as he is tied and can’t even clutch on the place he had been hit, but with the pain - Sehun's old bruises haven't healed completely yet but they are giving him more - the boy can't hold back his tears any more.
Jongin watches with fascination as clear liquid rolls down Sehun's cheeks, reaching his jawline where they depart, transforming into crystals in mid-air. They just go from clear liquid into a solid form, not looking like tear drops at all when they hit the ground with a quiet clink, their size different each but the color is the same: they are a deep, velvety red, almost blood red, and they look nothing like tears. No man could tell the difference between this kind of crystals and the ones found in nature. And yet, despite gathering those crystals, both of Sehun's torturers seem to get only angrier. They start to yell at him again, they slap him, they kick him. That is when Jongin turns away, too.
He thinks he understands Luhan a bit, because what he has seen is quite disgusting. Those two who are in charge of Sehun today - it is always different people every day Luhan has told him - are just searching for reasons to beat him up. Jongin knows that look, that kind of glint in their eyes. It is sadism that shows when one is given power and permission to relieve all pent up stress. To them, Sehun is just a punching bag. They forget their mission to make Sehun either speak up or make him cry diamonds instead of those rubies that are - at least that is what Junmyeon has told him - not worth much.
What really makes Jongin feel sick to the gut though, is the knowledge that he has been the one bringing Sehun here. He is the one to blame for all the pain inflicted on an innocent person, and even if he is nowhere close to being as good and righteous as Luhan is, he still feels bad. He has never wanted to get good people involved, least of all get some kid involved. Sehun is just a kid to him, a mere child in his eyes, and the child buried deep inside Jongin protests.
He has never thought the day would come that he would start to doubt his decisions. All decisions are made by Junmyeon, so Jongin has never had to bother thinking. He just needs to execute, and execute he does, but usually missions targeting the corrupt in high ranks like officials and politicians. He has never gotten a case like Sehun’s, but that is understandable. Sehun is different. He is special. He is the Diamond Boy.
Three months ago, Jongin was being given a special mission. Back then he found it laughable. EXO's greatest assassin and the boss's right hand man was being given the task to capture some nameless person, when Jongin was used to break into areas with top security, taking hostage of millionaires and all the other rich and supposedly powerful in this world. Nameless in the sense of not famous, not known to the public as someone with power or money because this boy was just fresh out of high school, a freshman in college and nothing more. No affiliation to any institution or big corporation of some sorts. Just a student. It has made Jongin snort.
"Kai," Junmyeon frowns. "Don't laugh. It's a serious matter. I want that boy. Oh Sehun. Capture him, but don't hurt him. I want him still living and breathing. He’ll be a valuable addition to our family."
Junmyeon hands him a folder and Jongin looks through the pictures with interest. A very innocent looking civilian. Boyish features, tall, lanky stature, pristine skin. He looks like one of those skinny ulzzangs one finds everywhere on the internet nowadays, an idol in training, a rookie maybe, but apart from that, Jongin can't think of a reason that might make this boy somewhat influential, and a glance at the gathered data in his profile affirms his impression. Sehun is just a college student with a boring major. Linguistics, really? With a focus on German. Jongin thinks back to his German classes in high school and cringes.
"Why?" The younger one asks and sits down on Junmyeon's desk. If they weren't brothers, Junmyeon - better known as Suho, EXO's head and Jongin's boss - would have punished him with a week of torture for that, but alas, the big brother has a soft spot for his baby brother, more so when Jongin is also one of his most talented and loyal men. Blood is thicker than water after all.
"We have some proof that he is capable of making more money than all the men you killed so far. Read the data sheet," Junmyeon says.
"Can't you tell me, hyung? I'm too lazy to read.” Jongin yawns to proof his point. He has always hated reading. After all it requires to sit down and be still, while Jongin was more of the active type, a lover of sports and simply moving around. Even now, as adult, his legs are swinging when he sits down, unable to keep them still.
"Of course you'd be," Junmyeon chuckles - a rare thing when his face is usually stoic and somehow intimidating, but here, just between the two of them, Junmyeon still shows bits of his childhood self, the caring and loving big brother. The gaze he gives Jongin now is the same, too.
"Remember the jeweler who always had the finest goods? We checked his suppliers and found out an interesting thing. It is none other than Oh Sehun who supplies him with the finest diamonds. I want you to bring the boy here, alive and in one piece.”
“Really now?” Jongin asks. He can’t imagine how that boy might be able to get his fingers on goods like that. Does he secretly own a diamond mine? But that would still not be interesting to Junmyeon who could get his hands on any other provider for jewelry. Why would he want to buy crystals and stones either way? As far as Jongin knows, his brother is not one to dress pompously, and as far as luxury went, he just needed a comfy bed and a clean bathroom with a huge bathtub for relaxing baths. “But why this boy and not another provider?”
“Rumors say his tears turn into jewels, and now imagine how much more money that boy will bring us than most of the business we’re doing now. On top of that, it’s not even risky. The boy just needs to cooperate with us, give us a few tears a day, and everyone will be happy. The police wouldn’t have any proof of illegal activities."
For a moment, all Jongin does is staring blankly. He is unimpressed. Or rather, he doesn't quite believe his brother. It is ridiculous. The jeweler they were threatening must have spun a story for them, just so he could save his ass. But then again, Junmyeon was not dumb. He wouldn't let anyone fool him, right?
"How'd you know it's the truth? It’s like having supernatural powers, I don’t believe that is possible."
"I know," Junmyeon says. "But we've observed him for a while and he brought a handful of the clearest diamonds I have ever seen in my life. Even if his tears don't turn into diamonds, he still knows how to access diamonds and get them for us easily. I want him, Jongin, so go get him."
And with how final Junmyeon’s words are, Jongin has no choice but to obey. Brother or not, Junmyeon is still the boss, and Jongin knows that there is a lot that Junmyeon tolerates because they are related by blood, but there are also greater expectations and responsibilities when it comes to carrying out missions. Jongin, more than anyone else, has to show absolute loyalty.
“Okay.”
“You may go now,” Junmyeon says, the smile gone when there is a knock at the door. He is in business mode now, and so Jongin’s demeanor changes to fit accordingly.
“Yes, sir.”
Junmyeon waves him off. But as Jongin walks out of the room, he hears Junmyeon speaking up again.
“And remember to bring him here, alive and unharmed. It would be preferable if he cooperates.”
Alive and unharmed, what a joke. Jongin has seen people on the brink of death with livelier eyes than Oh Sehun’s and if blue and purple bruises don’t count as being harmed or injured, only then Sehun would be considered unharmed now. Jongin cringes just at the thought of Sehun being in the investigation room in their basement. The boy looks so pale and cranky it’s a miracle that he is still alive after what they have done to him.
Jongin gets a lot less information than he expects. To carry out his mission, he has thought he would be given more knowledge on the target, but except for the few snapshots of Oh Sehun and some basic information that one could retrieve within a few minutes, just by logging into official databanks - if one knows how to break into them, that is - he has gotten nothing. And that is if you count all the assumptions made, too, mainly consisting of weird theories and rumors of how Oh Sehun was able to bring a handful of diamonds every few months.
The official data is most probably provided by Kyungsoo, and yet the amount of information Jongin gets from the data sheet is not enough for him to plan a mission. While it helps that he knows how Sehun looks like, how old and tall he is and where he goes to school, Jongin still has to find out other things, like Sehun's schedules and his habits. Does he go clubbing and partying at night or does he spend most of his time studying in the library? Is there any place he frequents other than school and home? Who are his friends and does he spend a lot of time with them?
If he knew all of that beforehand, planning his mission would be so much easier. He wouldn’t have to observe Sehun for long enough to pick up the routine in Sehun’s everyday life, just so he can pinpoint a perfect time to kidnap the boy. And since he is not supposed to harm Sehun physically in any way. To bring the boy as hostage with no scratches or bruises anywhere makes the whole mission a lot more difficult for Jongin who specializes in getting people killed.
As far as Jongin knows, Junmyeon has planned to offer the boy to work for them, and in return Sehun would be protected and would be cared for. A good deal for both sides, but not so attractive if Sehun mistrusts them, so Jongin has to be careful and do his best to lure Sehun in. If possible, getting Sehun to agree to come with him would be the best way.
Jongin sighs. It is his fifth day following the boy around, and while Junmyeon has told him to take his time - as long as Sehun is brought to him within the next three months, it would be fine - Jongin knows that his brother is getting impatient, although Junmyeon knows perfectly well how difficult it will be to convince - or capture - Sehun. After all, Jongin is Kai, a ruthless killer and not a smooth talker.
So far, Jongin has found out that Sehun spends a lot of his time alone at home, on campus or at the library, and while that makes him an easy target since not many people seem to pay attention to him, it is still difficult for Jongin to work out a plan. He has spontaneously tried to approach Sehun, trying to befriend him and get close to him, but Jongin could tell that Sehun was suspicious. There was a friendly smile plastered over Sehun’s face, but he cut Jongin short each time and apologized, hurrying away as fast as possible.
It is not only Jongin who fails at approaching Sehun though. Sehun has quite a number of admirers, both male and female ones, but none of the people confessing to him were successful. Sehun keeps a barrier around himself and Jongin can only conclude that it must be because of his ability. If his tears didn't turn into expensive crystals, he wouldn't have to fear fake friends that might only use him.
But is he really able to do that? Turn tears into expensive crystals worth thousands and ten thousands? Jongin has never seen Sehun sad before. In fact, he doesn't see any expression on Sehun's face, except for the bored one. Sehun is good at keeping his poker face, and that, too, is probably a measure to protect himself. If he cries, everyone will know about his secret, and everyone would fight to be friends with him, only for their own benefits. Like Junmyeon, he thinks, but then again, Junmyeon is the head of a mafia family and not some saint. Jongin isn't a saint either, and that is why he listens to his older brother. He keeps following Sehun around for another two, three weeks.
He never gets to see a proof. Sehun doesn't cry ever, not even a tear because of exhaustion or a tear slipping because he is sleepy and yawns. In the end, it doesn't matter. Junmyeon is urging him to capture the boy, so Jongin executes. He doesn't care if the boy can't get Junmyeon the diamonds his brother believes he can produce. All Jongin wants is to finish this task so he can go on more exciting missions. He misses the action, the feeling of adrenaline pumping through his veins, the excitement, the thrill. Watching Sehun is boring.
The only reason why Jongin has not acted so far is because Junmyeon has said that he is supposed to bring Sehun without harming the other, as Junmyeon keeps emphasizing, and that is not a thing Jongin is specialized in. He is an assassin, good with knifes but even better as sniper. He is explosive and destructive, leaving a mess wherever he goes. It is rare that someone comes out unscathed, but in his line of work it’s not necessary to pay attention to any possible losses, no matter which side. If one of their members dies on a mission, that simply means they are too weak for their organization.
Jongin being this strict and harsh doesn’t mean he can’t work in a team though, and to capture Sehun, he actually wishes there was another person to help him. Sehun isn't the easiest to handle after all. He needs to be good with words, persuasive, luring the other in somehow, but Jongin is not Luhan - and he is still not quite sure why Junmyeon is so adamant about him getting Sehun. Wouldn't Luhan be better suited for this task? Luhan with his innocent face and sweet words. He would be able to persuade Sehun to tag along and hear Junmyeon out; he would be able to make Sehun agree, just with a flutter of eyelashes and a quirky smile. Jongin is done trying to convince Junmyeon though. It’s no use when his brother is stubborn.
Nothing goes as planned. Well, not as Plan A at least. Jongin has done his best to be charming and convincing, to get Sehun to follow him. And how he wishes Sehun would be pliant, but the boy is not.
They are in a cafe. Sehun is a regular here and as always he is sitting at the table in the back corner of the room. Jongin is just two tables away, keeping watch on the boy. Sehun is immersed in a book, most probably his textbook. Jongin knows Sehun is a diligent student.
Jongin decides to approach him after a while, light steps and a bright smile, a cup of boba milk tea in his hand.
"Hi," he greets and Sehun looks up, gaze blank.
"May I help you?" Sehun asks, eyeing him with suspicion. They know each other of course, not by name, but Jongin has tried to talk to Sehun several times in the past.
"For you," Jongin says, placing the cup on the table, careful to avoid the textbooks and notes strewn all over it.
"Thank you, but you shouldn't waste your drink or money on me. I’m not interested, Jongin," Sehun replies courtly, getting up and packing his materials. Jongin should have foreseen that, he should have known that no matter how much time passed, Sehun would still be wary of him. Yet, he has hoped the other would make it easy for him. Jongin was civil and nice in his approach, wasn’t he? He really hoped he wouldn’t have to use any violence on the poor boy but it seems impossible now.
"Please accept it. You're cute, so I wanted to treat you to some bubble tea, that’s all," Jongin adds hastily, turning the cup so Sehun could see the memo attached to it, a number jotted down within a few seconds, along with a messy Call me sometime =). A pretext of course, because that number is not Jongin's real number. He just needs to get Sehun drink the milk tea that was infused with sleeping pills.
“I don’t expect anything in return. I’d be happy if you just accepted this drink,” he says, but realizes that Sehun has seen through him already. The mistrust is obvious, from the glare and the tensed stance. The boy just shakes his head, muttering a quiet thank you before he walks past Jongin with hurried steps, the milk tea left behind. Jongin abandons the drink, too, in favor of following his target.
Plan B is a lot different from his initial plan A. It is also a plan Jongin has hoped he wouldn’t actually have to execute, but with Junmyeon asking about his progress every day, Jongin gets antsy, too. He hasn’t planned on ambushing Sehun, but that seems like the only way to actually capture Sehun. The boy is far too careful and suspicious to befriend and lull into a false sense of security, least of all by a person like Jongin. And that means Jongin has to operate closer to his usual line of work, excluding the death and injuries he usually brings.
It is dark outside. Jongin is lucky, because usually Sehun doesn’t leave his apartment around this time. He is always mindful of his environment and it is either fear of the dark or fear of what might be lurking in the dark that probably keeps the boy at home. Whatever reason it is, Sehun is leaving the house around 9PM is a lucky chance Jongin won’t pass.
The darkness gives Jongin enough chances to wait around the corner, and despite the dim light of the street lamps, still bright enough for everyone to make out Jongin’s face, the assassin does not hesitate to tackle Sehun in the gentlest way he can, a tissue with chloroform pressed against the boy’s nose. There is not enough time to react and scream for help. The only reaction Jongin sees are the eyes widening in surprise and shock before the boy’s muscles give in. If it wasn’t for Jongin’s strong grip around the other’s waist, Sehun would have face planted into the dirt.
“Sweet dreams,” Jongin whispers. “I’m sorry we had to do it this way, but it’s not my fault you did not want to cooperate. The least you could have done was allowing me to bring you to HQ so Suho could make a proposal.”
He knows that expression. Jongin has seen it before, in the short second Sehun was still conscious, mind clear, before he fell unconscious due to the chemicals. It is a look of fear, but now that he is facing the boy for the first time after he has been captured, the look of horror has multiplied in intensity by tenfolds.
"Ah," Jongin says, smiling at the bound boy. Sehun is sitting on the same chair in the basement, hands cuffed together and legs tied to the chair by the ankles. It's not necessary, Jongin thinks. Sehun looks defeated; he can’t detect any will to fight, and even if it was still there, the boy is too scrawny and weak to fight with the mafia.
"Sehun, right? I'm sorry I scared you the last time we met."
Sehun doesn't even look his way, but that's alright. Just that one brief moment of eye contact the moment Jongin entered the cellar was enough. He doesn't need to frighten the boy more, a mere kid in his eyes. Sehun might be impressively tall, but he is thin, frail, and most of all he is innocent. Jongin feels slightly bad for bringing him here and involve him into mafia politics, but if it is the boss's order, if it is his brother's order, then Jongin can't disobey.
There is silence between them. Jongin is not even sure why he has come here to visit Sehun. He hasn't even talked to Junmyeon about it. It was his spontaneous decision to walk by and say hello to the boy. It might be the guilt eating away at him. He has never been a fan of involving civilians even if he is ruthless, always trying to minimize the danger and damage posed to the public. It's just other organizations and corrupt people that he targets, and only those affiliated to them should be dragged into the mess. But not Sehun, a mere child, barely out of high school. A kid who had his whole life and all wonderful options and opportunities open until Jongin came along and took all of that away.
Sehun looks sad, scared, hurt. It tugs at Jongin’s heart strings. He has never been able to see kids being scared or hurt and the way Sehun sits there reminds Jongin a lot of unpleasant childhood memories. It makes him feel worse about the whole situation when he can see a bit of himself in the boy sitting there.
"You see," he starts again, voice surprisingly soft. "There is no need for you to be kept here. There would be no need to cuff you and lock you here if you would just cooperate."
There is no reaction from the boy, except for the light twitch in his fingers. Jongin deems it enough of a response; he just wants the boy to listen and come to his senses. All the violence here would not be necessary if Sehun just did what Junmyeon asked of him, but right now Sehun is boycotting them. In Jongin’s eyes it’s just stupid, especially with all the offers Junmyeon has made, the benefits Junmyeon is willing to give in return for a few clear tears turning into diamonds. When he compares all the things Junmyeon has listed, willing to get for Sehun, the boy’s refusal seems just stupid.
"We wouldn't need to hurt you if you would just cooperate and give us what we ask from you. In return, you will be treated to everything you could ever dream of. You would be protected, too. You would be part of the family. Doesn't that sound nice?" He asks, but no reply is given. Jongin chuckles.
"You do like it the hard way, huh? Do you think we like to hurt pretty kids like you? Don't make it hard for us," Jongin says. He walks closer and tilts Sehun's face up, surprised at the little spark in those eyes. They are not brimming with tears, but they are still expressive right now. Sehun is shooting him a fierce glare that amuses Jongin a lot.
Jongin lets his other hand brush over bruised skin, noting the way Sehun shivers at the touch, thin lips trembling when he runs a thumb over them.
"You're really cute, you know? That wasn't a lie. Luhan is right. Cute boys like you shouldn't get hurt like that."
"Then let me go," Sehun speaks up for the first time, a mere whisper but loud enough for Jongin to hear. Jongin pulls back and smiles. Sehun isn’t dropping his gaze. He is still staring at Jongin’s face.
"I'm not the boss, so I don’t know if that is possible. I doubt the boss will let you go though. You were given a few options. Cooperate and give us crystal clear diamonds or else we will have to keep you here until you agree. You know the results that will come with every option, so why don’t you choose something more beneficial for both sides?"
It is still the same look of fear painted across Sehun's face, but slowly it morphs into something else. There is rage, too, and hopelessness, helplessness even. It is an all too familiar mix of feelings that makes Jongin uncomfortable, yet he can’t look away; he needs to appear strong.
"Do you really think I can control this?” Sehun hisses. “It's not a choice when I can't choose. It never was."
Jongin blinks, stunned at the outburst, but it reminds him of a talk he had earlier that week.
"Hyung," Jongin greets. He just enters, not bothering to knock at the door. It's not like Junmyeon would yell at him for that. He is the right hand man and the younger brother and that turns him into the ultimate confident. There is nothing that Junmyeon keeps secret from him, or at least that is what Jongin thinks and what Junmyeon's actions prove.
"Ah, Kai, you're back," Junmyeon says and smiles, but it is just a mere quirk of lips. It's not a happy smile that reaches his eyes, the one Jongin remembers from early childhood days.
"Am I interrupting something?" Jongin asks, eyeing Luhan. Luhan is their informant mainly, using his sweet looks to deceive people and lure all information he wants and needs to feed them to Junmyeon. He is rarely at the headquarters, simply for the reason that he has to stay lowkey. No one should associate him with EXO or else he would have to retire from work. Luhan being here means that something big must have happened.
"Just business talk," Luhan replies courtly.
"More like curiosity driving him here," Junmyeon scoffs. "He's using business as an excuse to take a look at our Diamond Boy."
"Diamond Boy," Jongin repeats. "You mean that lanky kid you made me kidnap?"
"Exactly," Luhan says with a wide grin. "People say he's really pretty. Well, was. Or still is, but you can't see much of that because a certain Mister has ordered to beat him up on a regular basis." At that Luhan glares at Junmyeon who just rolls his eyes.
"You should get rid of your obsession with pretty boys," the boss says, but just like Jongin, Luhan enjoys immunity, too, so he just laughs without fear of being punished. There is a lot that he can do and say without Junmyeon punishing him. After all, the harmless looking man is a person vital to their organization and very valuable to Junmyeon. He has also been the one to teach Jongin a lot about survival when Junmyeon had been too busy to establish his leadership within EXO. Difficult times, but Jongin looks back at those memories with fondness.
"I'll think about it," Luhan says. "But really, could you tell your men not to touch his face."
"That's usually what makes him cry," Junmyeon shrugs.
"So it's true his tears turn into diamonds?" Jongin quips in then.
"Yes. But that goddamn boy keeps sabotaging us. He's been giving us dirty diamonds only, the unclear ones that don't sell so well, or other, colored crystals. He's purposely doing that, defying us, although we've offered him a happy life among us if he just keeps crying those pretty diamonds for us."
Jongin hums, although he doesn't quite understand why the boy wouldn't make a deal with them. He has been captured, so of course he knows that there is no way out, which is why he should try to make the best of it. Cooperating with EXO isn't half as bad as people would expect. They are quite civil, as long as one obeys and abides by all their rules.
"Such a foolish boy," Junmyeon sighs.
"Are you sure that he can control his tears and what kind of crystals they turn into?" Luhan asks then. "What if he's not getting enough nutrition? What if he needs a special kind of food to produce those? There is a high possibility that he can't fully control his talent. It might be dependent on external circumstances."
“Let me try.”
Junmyeon looks up, not blinking, but Jongin can read the confusion from his face. Jongin’s words were rather vague.
“Try what?” Junmyeon asks, leaning back against his chair. His stance is relaxed, mild interest showing in the way he looks at Jongin, but also in the way his hands are pressed together by his fingertips. It is a habit Jongin doesn’t like for it reminds him too much of their father, but maybe that gesture is a symbol of power and dominance, too. Maybe that is why Junmyeon is in charge of the whole organization instead of sharing power with his younger brother.
“Diamond Boy. I want to try a few things to make him cry. An experiment, so to say.”
Junmyeon raises his eyebrows.
“How dangerous are your experiments? Will they kill him?”
Jongin shakes his head. “No. I was thinking about Luhan’s words. What if he really can’t help it? Just like a plant you want to harvest, maybe you need to tend to him in a special way. Nutrition, the amount of water, sunshine, temperature… external factors that can be influenced. I want to test and see what might be those factors that might have an effect on the quality of our fruits.”
“And what makes you want to try yourself? You could order our people to do it and tell you the results,” Junmyeon replies, a little smile on his face. Jongin can’t quite interpret what his brother might be thinking, but he also doesn’t know why he wants to face Sehun and give a try by himself either. Is it because he has been talking to Oh Sehun? Or is it because he is pitying the poor boy, wanting to give Sehun a chance at a violence free life because he is sure no one else in this organization - except for Luhan - feels empathy?
“Not sure,” he replies truthfully as always. “I just feel like I should.”
“Alright,” Junmyeon tells him. “I don’t have any other tasks for you right now anyways. Tell everyone you’re in charge of Diamond Boy starting today.”
“Yes, sir,” Jongin replies, grinning at his brother. Junmyeon dismisses him with a chuckle and a wave of his hand.
The easiest way to get the goods they want from Sehun is to ask the boy. Surely, Sehun must know when he earns diamonds instead of those other jewels, right? Even if he can’t help it, like he said, he must still know what influences his ability, right? Unfortunately, asking Sehun doesn’t help Jongin in any way because the boy is stubborn. Sehun refuses to talk to him, his face tear stricken, but his lips shut tight, not allowing any sound to leave. Jongin is not even threatening him, yet there are tears falling, running down in pretty tracks before they turn into gems in mid-air. This time they look brown and greyish, dark shades that are almost black. They are ugly and Jongin is sure they are of even lesser value than he ones Sehun has given them so far. Why aren’t the gems reddish in tone like the ones Sehun has produced so far?
With a sigh Jongin goes through the list of possible factors that might influence the quality of those stones.
It can’t be the food, since Sehun has been fed with different food every day. Junmyeon himself has ordered for Sehun to eat healthily, and if the boy doesn’t eat, then he is forced to eat. Three meals a day and enough water to keep him hydrated. So if it’s not the food, then what is it?
Could it be the method to make Sehun cry? Is it about why Sehun cries? It is the only thing Jongin could think of, apart from the boy’s condition. If it is not about physical health, then it must be about mental health. To confirm his conclusion, he sends two of their men to take care of Sehun while he is watching from outside, just to confirm his theory.
It looks just as cruel as last time. Jongin wants to look away, but he can’t. He has to observe instead, trying to figure out what the difference between the tears Sehun sheds in front of him and the tears Sehun sheds in front of others is.
In no time, those two men get Sehun crying. Those tears turn into the regular jewels of reddish brown, some dusted with black and grey specks. It has to do with who makes him cry. Or maybe how they make him cry? The place they hit?
Jongin keeps observing, and despite the reason being obvious, he needs some time to figure out. Only when he stares at Sehun's eyes for a while it dawns on him. Sehun’s look is different. When facing those other men, the boy doesn't show any expression, except for the physical pain that comes with every hit and every kick. With Jongin though, there is this look of fear and terror in his eyes. But why? Jongin has never laid a hand on him ever. He is not the one to paint bruises on pale skin. He only kidnapped Sehun, he had never beat Sehun in a pulp like this.
Knowing - or at least suspecting - the reason for the obvious difference in color and quality of Sehun's stones, he calls those two men back, not needing them to hurt their Diamond Boy any further. He goes straight to Junmyeon's office after that to report his observations and explain his conclusion.
He finds Luhan sitting there - Luhan has been frequenting headquarters more often lately, especially the boss's room - with Junmyeon, the two in midst of a heated discussion. Jongin doesn't hear a word and if he does, he pretends he has never heard it. Selective hearing. There is no need to remember everything if it is information not intended to be in his knowledge.
"Kai," Junmyeon says, his face a blank. Luhan, too, takes on a more neutral expression, though Jongin can sense him brooding behind that calm demeanor.
"I came here to report on Oh Sehun. I am pretty sure it is about the method used on him. He has a different expression when he gave me those dark greyish stones instead of the blood red ones. Seems like he produces dark greyish ones when he is scared and red ones when he is in pain."
"See!" Luhan exclaims then. "I told you hurting him was the wrong way to go! Let him work with us on his free will and he will provide us with the nice goods."
"Quiet," Junmyeon hisses and gets up. There is a light smile on his face, and now he looks like a proud father more than ever. Jongin hates that look, hates how much it reminds him of their father, how much it reminds him of his past - working off his ass just to get a little praise and the command to continue work.
"Kai, I think you should continue working with Oh Sehun then. Find out when our precious boy turns into Diamond Boy. No one else shall intervene."
"Wouldn't Luhan be more suitable for that job?" Jongin asks, eyeing the other male in the room. Right now, Sehun is terrified of him, and he is sure that Sehun doesn't have any negative feelings towards Luhan. Luhan is good at talking and he looks friendly, too. There is a reason why Luhan is mainly an informant and not an assassin, and that is his people skills. Not to mention that Jongin is short-tempered at times. If he loses patience and snaps at the poor boy, all progress - if there is some - will be gone.
"I could do that," Luhan quips in with a grin. "I could make him talk and feel at ease. I can convince him to work with us and for us."
"No," Junmyeon says, voice cold. "I told Kai to work on this, so Kai will do it. Are you both questioning my authority?"
"Of course not," Jongin replies quickly. He bows and chances a glance at Luhan, unsure what to do to ease the tension. Something must be going on between the two of them, and most probably it is not a fight over work only.
"I'll take my leave then," he mumbles when there is no response, and exits the room, leaving those two to settle their quarrel in private.
One | Two | Three
Prompt: #52
Rating: R
Length: ~21500 words
Summary: Things change when Kai, the best assassin in EXO’s organization, is ordered to kidnap college student Oh Sehun.
Warning(s): ex-member Luhan,[trigger warnings]violence, blood, rape
Notes: I loved this prompt, but halfway into it, the whole plot turned out different from what I thought of initially. I doubt this is what the OP had in mind, but I do hope it is worth the reading time.
"Are you sure you want to watch?" Luhan asks.
Jongin shrugs. He is curious, that is why he is heading towards the basement where Diamond Boy is brought to each time they try to make him cry. It sounds cruel, and it surely is cruel if things go the way Jongin imagines. He doesn't even need Luhan to tell him to know how gruesome the sight will be, but Luhan tells him anyway. He fills him in on details, telling how the boy is always talked to by two people, one playing the nice man, the other the bad one.
Good cop, bad cop, Jongin thinks. That method is old. One will try to lure him with kind words, while the other threatens him, though both have the same goal: they want the boy's tears. The boy? Some poor being going by the name of Oh Sehun. The poor being that Jongin has captured for Suho and the whole organization behind the notorious mafia gang.
"It's horrible, really," Luhan says and wrinkles his nose. "You shouldn't go there and watch. They always threaten him and beat him, even the one that's supposed to play the good person. He looks terrified, the poor boy. I wish they wouldn't hurt him. He doesn't deserve this."
Jongin doesn't know what to retort without sounding harsh, possibly insulting the other. After all, they are part of the mafia - violence and brute force are the norm here. Luhan should be accustomed to that already, and just because their victim has a pretty face it doesn't mean that people will go easier on him. If anything, it just worsens the whole situation. A lot of their men have the sadistic urge to taint and break everything good and nice. Sehun should be glad that he hadn’t been raped so far, but who knows what might happen in a few days’ time when Junmyeon doesn’t get what he wants.
But well, they do go easy on him, Jongin think, as he watches the scene unfolding behind a glass wall, not different from any other investigation room they show in so many detective and police series. The glass wall looks like a wall to the ones inside the room, but for the ones standing outside like Jongin, it is glass. He can see exactly what the two men are doing to the boy, and so far, they are only yelling at him. Sehun has eyes brimming with tears already. Jongin supposes that with just a bit more the boy will break. He will cry, even when it is obvious that he is doing his best to hold his tears back.
Luhan beside him stiffens and pulls a grimace before he turns to go away, rambling in quiet mutters under his breath, something along the line of if I was him I would rather die than cooperate and give them what they wish, and Jongin wonders what Junmyeon would think of that.
Luhan is one of the few members here that have not given up on ideals and morals yet. Luhan refuses to take care of cases involving civilians; he doesn’t wish to hurt innocent people. It leaves Jongin wondering if his morals will lead Luhan to betray Junmyeon one day. Will he? Would he switch sides and fight alongside the police? But if there was the possibility he could, Junmyeon wouldn’t have taken him in, would he?
A small outcry leads Jongin's attention back to the boy. Jongin is not quite sure where they have hit him as he is tied and can’t even clutch on the place he had been hit, but with the pain - Sehun's old bruises haven't healed completely yet but they are giving him more - the boy can't hold back his tears any more.
Jongin watches with fascination as clear liquid rolls down Sehun's cheeks, reaching his jawline where they depart, transforming into crystals in mid-air. They just go from clear liquid into a solid form, not looking like tear drops at all when they hit the ground with a quiet clink, their size different each but the color is the same: they are a deep, velvety red, almost blood red, and they look nothing like tears. No man could tell the difference between this kind of crystals and the ones found in nature. And yet, despite gathering those crystals, both of Sehun's torturers seem to get only angrier. They start to yell at him again, they slap him, they kick him. That is when Jongin turns away, too.
He thinks he understands Luhan a bit, because what he has seen is quite disgusting. Those two who are in charge of Sehun today - it is always different people every day Luhan has told him - are just searching for reasons to beat him up. Jongin knows that look, that kind of glint in their eyes. It is sadism that shows when one is given power and permission to relieve all pent up stress. To them, Sehun is just a punching bag. They forget their mission to make Sehun either speak up or make him cry diamonds instead of those rubies that are - at least that is what Junmyeon has told him - not worth much.
What really makes Jongin feel sick to the gut though, is the knowledge that he has been the one bringing Sehun here. He is the one to blame for all the pain inflicted on an innocent person, and even if he is nowhere close to being as good and righteous as Luhan is, he still feels bad. He has never wanted to get good people involved, least of all get some kid involved. Sehun is just a kid to him, a mere child in his eyes, and the child buried deep inside Jongin protests.
He has never thought the day would come that he would start to doubt his decisions. All decisions are made by Junmyeon, so Jongin has never had to bother thinking. He just needs to execute, and execute he does, but usually missions targeting the corrupt in high ranks like officials and politicians. He has never gotten a case like Sehun’s, but that is understandable. Sehun is different. He is special. He is the Diamond Boy.
Three months ago, Jongin was being given a special mission. Back then he found it laughable. EXO's greatest assassin and the boss's right hand man was being given the task to capture some nameless person, when Jongin was used to break into areas with top security, taking hostage of millionaires and all the other rich and supposedly powerful in this world. Nameless in the sense of not famous, not known to the public as someone with power or money because this boy was just fresh out of high school, a freshman in college and nothing more. No affiliation to any institution or big corporation of some sorts. Just a student. It has made Jongin snort.
"Kai," Junmyeon frowns. "Don't laugh. It's a serious matter. I want that boy. Oh Sehun. Capture him, but don't hurt him. I want him still living and breathing. He’ll be a valuable addition to our family."
Junmyeon hands him a folder and Jongin looks through the pictures with interest. A very innocent looking civilian. Boyish features, tall, lanky stature, pristine skin. He looks like one of those skinny ulzzangs one finds everywhere on the internet nowadays, an idol in training, a rookie maybe, but apart from that, Jongin can't think of a reason that might make this boy somewhat influential, and a glance at the gathered data in his profile affirms his impression. Sehun is just a college student with a boring major. Linguistics, really? With a focus on German. Jongin thinks back to his German classes in high school and cringes.
"Why?" The younger one asks and sits down on Junmyeon's desk. If they weren't brothers, Junmyeon - better known as Suho, EXO's head and Jongin's boss - would have punished him with a week of torture for that, but alas, the big brother has a soft spot for his baby brother, more so when Jongin is also one of his most talented and loyal men. Blood is thicker than water after all.
"We have some proof that he is capable of making more money than all the men you killed so far. Read the data sheet," Junmyeon says.
"Can't you tell me, hyung? I'm too lazy to read.” Jongin yawns to proof his point. He has always hated reading. After all it requires to sit down and be still, while Jongin was more of the active type, a lover of sports and simply moving around. Even now, as adult, his legs are swinging when he sits down, unable to keep them still.
"Of course you'd be," Junmyeon chuckles - a rare thing when his face is usually stoic and somehow intimidating, but here, just between the two of them, Junmyeon still shows bits of his childhood self, the caring and loving big brother. The gaze he gives Jongin now is the same, too.
"Remember the jeweler who always had the finest goods? We checked his suppliers and found out an interesting thing. It is none other than Oh Sehun who supplies him with the finest diamonds. I want you to bring the boy here, alive and in one piece.”
“Really now?” Jongin asks. He can’t imagine how that boy might be able to get his fingers on goods like that. Does he secretly own a diamond mine? But that would still not be interesting to Junmyeon who could get his hands on any other provider for jewelry. Why would he want to buy crystals and stones either way? As far as Jongin knows, his brother is not one to dress pompously, and as far as luxury went, he just needed a comfy bed and a clean bathroom with a huge bathtub for relaxing baths. “But why this boy and not another provider?”
“Rumors say his tears turn into jewels, and now imagine how much more money that boy will bring us than most of the business we’re doing now. On top of that, it’s not even risky. The boy just needs to cooperate with us, give us a few tears a day, and everyone will be happy. The police wouldn’t have any proof of illegal activities."
For a moment, all Jongin does is staring blankly. He is unimpressed. Or rather, he doesn't quite believe his brother. It is ridiculous. The jeweler they were threatening must have spun a story for them, just so he could save his ass. But then again, Junmyeon was not dumb. He wouldn't let anyone fool him, right?
"How'd you know it's the truth? It’s like having supernatural powers, I don’t believe that is possible."
"I know," Junmyeon says. "But we've observed him for a while and he brought a handful of the clearest diamonds I have ever seen in my life. Even if his tears don't turn into diamonds, he still knows how to access diamonds and get them for us easily. I want him, Jongin, so go get him."
And with how final Junmyeon’s words are, Jongin has no choice but to obey. Brother or not, Junmyeon is still the boss, and Jongin knows that there is a lot that Junmyeon tolerates because they are related by blood, but there are also greater expectations and responsibilities when it comes to carrying out missions. Jongin, more than anyone else, has to show absolute loyalty.
“Okay.”
“You may go now,” Junmyeon says, the smile gone when there is a knock at the door. He is in business mode now, and so Jongin’s demeanor changes to fit accordingly.
“Yes, sir.”
Junmyeon waves him off. But as Jongin walks out of the room, he hears Junmyeon speaking up again.
“And remember to bring him here, alive and unharmed. It would be preferable if he cooperates.”
Alive and unharmed, what a joke. Jongin has seen people on the brink of death with livelier eyes than Oh Sehun’s and if blue and purple bruises don’t count as being harmed or injured, only then Sehun would be considered unharmed now. Jongin cringes just at the thought of Sehun being in the investigation room in their basement. The boy looks so pale and cranky it’s a miracle that he is still alive after what they have done to him.
Jongin gets a lot less information than he expects. To carry out his mission, he has thought he would be given more knowledge on the target, but except for the few snapshots of Oh Sehun and some basic information that one could retrieve within a few minutes, just by logging into official databanks - if one knows how to break into them, that is - he has gotten nothing. And that is if you count all the assumptions made, too, mainly consisting of weird theories and rumors of how Oh Sehun was able to bring a handful of diamonds every few months.
The official data is most probably provided by Kyungsoo, and yet the amount of information Jongin gets from the data sheet is not enough for him to plan a mission. While it helps that he knows how Sehun looks like, how old and tall he is and where he goes to school, Jongin still has to find out other things, like Sehun's schedules and his habits. Does he go clubbing and partying at night or does he spend most of his time studying in the library? Is there any place he frequents other than school and home? Who are his friends and does he spend a lot of time with them?
If he knew all of that beforehand, planning his mission would be so much easier. He wouldn’t have to observe Sehun for long enough to pick up the routine in Sehun’s everyday life, just so he can pinpoint a perfect time to kidnap the boy. And since he is not supposed to harm Sehun physically in any way. To bring the boy as hostage with no scratches or bruises anywhere makes the whole mission a lot more difficult for Jongin who specializes in getting people killed.
As far as Jongin knows, Junmyeon has planned to offer the boy to work for them, and in return Sehun would be protected and would be cared for. A good deal for both sides, but not so attractive if Sehun mistrusts them, so Jongin has to be careful and do his best to lure Sehun in. If possible, getting Sehun to agree to come with him would be the best way.
Jongin sighs. It is his fifth day following the boy around, and while Junmyeon has told him to take his time - as long as Sehun is brought to him within the next three months, it would be fine - Jongin knows that his brother is getting impatient, although Junmyeon knows perfectly well how difficult it will be to convince - or capture - Sehun. After all, Jongin is Kai, a ruthless killer and not a smooth talker.
So far, Jongin has found out that Sehun spends a lot of his time alone at home, on campus or at the library, and while that makes him an easy target since not many people seem to pay attention to him, it is still difficult for Jongin to work out a plan. He has spontaneously tried to approach Sehun, trying to befriend him and get close to him, but Jongin could tell that Sehun was suspicious. There was a friendly smile plastered over Sehun’s face, but he cut Jongin short each time and apologized, hurrying away as fast as possible.
It is not only Jongin who fails at approaching Sehun though. Sehun has quite a number of admirers, both male and female ones, but none of the people confessing to him were successful. Sehun keeps a barrier around himself and Jongin can only conclude that it must be because of his ability. If his tears didn't turn into expensive crystals, he wouldn't have to fear fake friends that might only use him.
But is he really able to do that? Turn tears into expensive crystals worth thousands and ten thousands? Jongin has never seen Sehun sad before. In fact, he doesn't see any expression on Sehun's face, except for the bored one. Sehun is good at keeping his poker face, and that, too, is probably a measure to protect himself. If he cries, everyone will know about his secret, and everyone would fight to be friends with him, only for their own benefits. Like Junmyeon, he thinks, but then again, Junmyeon is the head of a mafia family and not some saint. Jongin isn't a saint either, and that is why he listens to his older brother. He keeps following Sehun around for another two, three weeks.
He never gets to see a proof. Sehun doesn't cry ever, not even a tear because of exhaustion or a tear slipping because he is sleepy and yawns. In the end, it doesn't matter. Junmyeon is urging him to capture the boy, so Jongin executes. He doesn't care if the boy can't get Junmyeon the diamonds his brother believes he can produce. All Jongin wants is to finish this task so he can go on more exciting missions. He misses the action, the feeling of adrenaline pumping through his veins, the excitement, the thrill. Watching Sehun is boring.
The only reason why Jongin has not acted so far is because Junmyeon has said that he is supposed to bring Sehun without harming the other, as Junmyeon keeps emphasizing, and that is not a thing Jongin is specialized in. He is an assassin, good with knifes but even better as sniper. He is explosive and destructive, leaving a mess wherever he goes. It is rare that someone comes out unscathed, but in his line of work it’s not necessary to pay attention to any possible losses, no matter which side. If one of their members dies on a mission, that simply means they are too weak for their organization.
Jongin being this strict and harsh doesn’t mean he can’t work in a team though, and to capture Sehun, he actually wishes there was another person to help him. Sehun isn't the easiest to handle after all. He needs to be good with words, persuasive, luring the other in somehow, but Jongin is not Luhan - and he is still not quite sure why Junmyeon is so adamant about him getting Sehun. Wouldn't Luhan be better suited for this task? Luhan with his innocent face and sweet words. He would be able to persuade Sehun to tag along and hear Junmyeon out; he would be able to make Sehun agree, just with a flutter of eyelashes and a quirky smile. Jongin is done trying to convince Junmyeon though. It’s no use when his brother is stubborn.
Nothing goes as planned. Well, not as Plan A at least. Jongin has done his best to be charming and convincing, to get Sehun to follow him. And how he wishes Sehun would be pliant, but the boy is not.
They are in a cafe. Sehun is a regular here and as always he is sitting at the table in the back corner of the room. Jongin is just two tables away, keeping watch on the boy. Sehun is immersed in a book, most probably his textbook. Jongin knows Sehun is a diligent student.
Jongin decides to approach him after a while, light steps and a bright smile, a cup of boba milk tea in his hand.
"Hi," he greets and Sehun looks up, gaze blank.
"May I help you?" Sehun asks, eyeing him with suspicion. They know each other of course, not by name, but Jongin has tried to talk to Sehun several times in the past.
"For you," Jongin says, placing the cup on the table, careful to avoid the textbooks and notes strewn all over it.
"Thank you, but you shouldn't waste your drink or money on me. I’m not interested, Jongin," Sehun replies courtly, getting up and packing his materials. Jongin should have foreseen that, he should have known that no matter how much time passed, Sehun would still be wary of him. Yet, he has hoped the other would make it easy for him. Jongin was civil and nice in his approach, wasn’t he? He really hoped he wouldn’t have to use any violence on the poor boy but it seems impossible now.
"Please accept it. You're cute, so I wanted to treat you to some bubble tea, that’s all," Jongin adds hastily, turning the cup so Sehun could see the memo attached to it, a number jotted down within a few seconds, along with a messy Call me sometime =). A pretext of course, because that number is not Jongin's real number. He just needs to get Sehun drink the milk tea that was infused with sleeping pills.
“I don’t expect anything in return. I’d be happy if you just accepted this drink,” he says, but realizes that Sehun has seen through him already. The mistrust is obvious, from the glare and the tensed stance. The boy just shakes his head, muttering a quiet thank you before he walks past Jongin with hurried steps, the milk tea left behind. Jongin abandons the drink, too, in favor of following his target.
Plan B is a lot different from his initial plan A. It is also a plan Jongin has hoped he wouldn’t actually have to execute, but with Junmyeon asking about his progress every day, Jongin gets antsy, too. He hasn’t planned on ambushing Sehun, but that seems like the only way to actually capture Sehun. The boy is far too careful and suspicious to befriend and lull into a false sense of security, least of all by a person like Jongin. And that means Jongin has to operate closer to his usual line of work, excluding the death and injuries he usually brings.
It is dark outside. Jongin is lucky, because usually Sehun doesn’t leave his apartment around this time. He is always mindful of his environment and it is either fear of the dark or fear of what might be lurking in the dark that probably keeps the boy at home. Whatever reason it is, Sehun is leaving the house around 9PM is a lucky chance Jongin won’t pass.
The darkness gives Jongin enough chances to wait around the corner, and despite the dim light of the street lamps, still bright enough for everyone to make out Jongin’s face, the assassin does not hesitate to tackle Sehun in the gentlest way he can, a tissue with chloroform pressed against the boy’s nose. There is not enough time to react and scream for help. The only reaction Jongin sees are the eyes widening in surprise and shock before the boy’s muscles give in. If it wasn’t for Jongin’s strong grip around the other’s waist, Sehun would have face planted into the dirt.
“Sweet dreams,” Jongin whispers. “I’m sorry we had to do it this way, but it’s not my fault you did not want to cooperate. The least you could have done was allowing me to bring you to HQ so Suho could make a proposal.”
He knows that expression. Jongin has seen it before, in the short second Sehun was still conscious, mind clear, before he fell unconscious due to the chemicals. It is a look of fear, but now that he is facing the boy for the first time after he has been captured, the look of horror has multiplied in intensity by tenfolds.
"Ah," Jongin says, smiling at the bound boy. Sehun is sitting on the same chair in the basement, hands cuffed together and legs tied to the chair by the ankles. It's not necessary, Jongin thinks. Sehun looks defeated; he can’t detect any will to fight, and even if it was still there, the boy is too scrawny and weak to fight with the mafia.
"Sehun, right? I'm sorry I scared you the last time we met."
Sehun doesn't even look his way, but that's alright. Just that one brief moment of eye contact the moment Jongin entered the cellar was enough. He doesn't need to frighten the boy more, a mere kid in his eyes. Sehun might be impressively tall, but he is thin, frail, and most of all he is innocent. Jongin feels slightly bad for bringing him here and involve him into mafia politics, but if it is the boss's order, if it is his brother's order, then Jongin can't disobey.
There is silence between them. Jongin is not even sure why he has come here to visit Sehun. He hasn't even talked to Junmyeon about it. It was his spontaneous decision to walk by and say hello to the boy. It might be the guilt eating away at him. He has never been a fan of involving civilians even if he is ruthless, always trying to minimize the danger and damage posed to the public. It's just other organizations and corrupt people that he targets, and only those affiliated to them should be dragged into the mess. But not Sehun, a mere child, barely out of high school. A kid who had his whole life and all wonderful options and opportunities open until Jongin came along and took all of that away.
Sehun looks sad, scared, hurt. It tugs at Jongin’s heart strings. He has never been able to see kids being scared or hurt and the way Sehun sits there reminds Jongin a lot of unpleasant childhood memories. It makes him feel worse about the whole situation when he can see a bit of himself in the boy sitting there.
"You see," he starts again, voice surprisingly soft. "There is no need for you to be kept here. There would be no need to cuff you and lock you here if you would just cooperate."
There is no reaction from the boy, except for the light twitch in his fingers. Jongin deems it enough of a response; he just wants the boy to listen and come to his senses. All the violence here would not be necessary if Sehun just did what Junmyeon asked of him, but right now Sehun is boycotting them. In Jongin’s eyes it’s just stupid, especially with all the offers Junmyeon has made, the benefits Junmyeon is willing to give in return for a few clear tears turning into diamonds. When he compares all the things Junmyeon has listed, willing to get for Sehun, the boy’s refusal seems just stupid.
"We wouldn't need to hurt you if you would just cooperate and give us what we ask from you. In return, you will be treated to everything you could ever dream of. You would be protected, too. You would be part of the family. Doesn't that sound nice?" He asks, but no reply is given. Jongin chuckles.
"You do like it the hard way, huh? Do you think we like to hurt pretty kids like you? Don't make it hard for us," Jongin says. He walks closer and tilts Sehun's face up, surprised at the little spark in those eyes. They are not brimming with tears, but they are still expressive right now. Sehun is shooting him a fierce glare that amuses Jongin a lot.
Jongin lets his other hand brush over bruised skin, noting the way Sehun shivers at the touch, thin lips trembling when he runs a thumb over them.
"You're really cute, you know? That wasn't a lie. Luhan is right. Cute boys like you shouldn't get hurt like that."
"Then let me go," Sehun speaks up for the first time, a mere whisper but loud enough for Jongin to hear. Jongin pulls back and smiles. Sehun isn’t dropping his gaze. He is still staring at Jongin’s face.
"I'm not the boss, so I don’t know if that is possible. I doubt the boss will let you go though. You were given a few options. Cooperate and give us crystal clear diamonds or else we will have to keep you here until you agree. You know the results that will come with every option, so why don’t you choose something more beneficial for both sides?"
It is still the same look of fear painted across Sehun's face, but slowly it morphs into something else. There is rage, too, and hopelessness, helplessness even. It is an all too familiar mix of feelings that makes Jongin uncomfortable, yet he can’t look away; he needs to appear strong.
"Do you really think I can control this?” Sehun hisses. “It's not a choice when I can't choose. It never was."
Jongin blinks, stunned at the outburst, but it reminds him of a talk he had earlier that week.
"Hyung," Jongin greets. He just enters, not bothering to knock at the door. It's not like Junmyeon would yell at him for that. He is the right hand man and the younger brother and that turns him into the ultimate confident. There is nothing that Junmyeon keeps secret from him, or at least that is what Jongin thinks and what Junmyeon's actions prove.
"Ah, Kai, you're back," Junmyeon says and smiles, but it is just a mere quirk of lips. It's not a happy smile that reaches his eyes, the one Jongin remembers from early childhood days.
"Am I interrupting something?" Jongin asks, eyeing Luhan. Luhan is their informant mainly, using his sweet looks to deceive people and lure all information he wants and needs to feed them to Junmyeon. He is rarely at the headquarters, simply for the reason that he has to stay lowkey. No one should associate him with EXO or else he would have to retire from work. Luhan being here means that something big must have happened.
"Just business talk," Luhan replies courtly.
"More like curiosity driving him here," Junmyeon scoffs. "He's using business as an excuse to take a look at our Diamond Boy."
"Diamond Boy," Jongin repeats. "You mean that lanky kid you made me kidnap?"
"Exactly," Luhan says with a wide grin. "People say he's really pretty. Well, was. Or still is, but you can't see much of that because a certain Mister has ordered to beat him up on a regular basis." At that Luhan glares at Junmyeon who just rolls his eyes.
"You should get rid of your obsession with pretty boys," the boss says, but just like Jongin, Luhan enjoys immunity, too, so he just laughs without fear of being punished. There is a lot that he can do and say without Junmyeon punishing him. After all, the harmless looking man is a person vital to their organization and very valuable to Junmyeon. He has also been the one to teach Jongin a lot about survival when Junmyeon had been too busy to establish his leadership within EXO. Difficult times, but Jongin looks back at those memories with fondness.
"I'll think about it," Luhan says. "But really, could you tell your men not to touch his face."
"That's usually what makes him cry," Junmyeon shrugs.
"So it's true his tears turn into diamonds?" Jongin quips in then.
"Yes. But that goddamn boy keeps sabotaging us. He's been giving us dirty diamonds only, the unclear ones that don't sell so well, or other, colored crystals. He's purposely doing that, defying us, although we've offered him a happy life among us if he just keeps crying those pretty diamonds for us."
Jongin hums, although he doesn't quite understand why the boy wouldn't make a deal with them. He has been captured, so of course he knows that there is no way out, which is why he should try to make the best of it. Cooperating with EXO isn't half as bad as people would expect. They are quite civil, as long as one obeys and abides by all their rules.
"Such a foolish boy," Junmyeon sighs.
"Are you sure that he can control his tears and what kind of crystals they turn into?" Luhan asks then. "What if he's not getting enough nutrition? What if he needs a special kind of food to produce those? There is a high possibility that he can't fully control his talent. It might be dependent on external circumstances."
“Let me try.”
Junmyeon looks up, not blinking, but Jongin can read the confusion from his face. Jongin’s words were rather vague.
“Try what?” Junmyeon asks, leaning back against his chair. His stance is relaxed, mild interest showing in the way he looks at Jongin, but also in the way his hands are pressed together by his fingertips. It is a habit Jongin doesn’t like for it reminds him too much of their father, but maybe that gesture is a symbol of power and dominance, too. Maybe that is why Junmyeon is in charge of the whole organization instead of sharing power with his younger brother.
“Diamond Boy. I want to try a few things to make him cry. An experiment, so to say.”
Junmyeon raises his eyebrows.
“How dangerous are your experiments? Will they kill him?”
Jongin shakes his head. “No. I was thinking about Luhan’s words. What if he really can’t help it? Just like a plant you want to harvest, maybe you need to tend to him in a special way. Nutrition, the amount of water, sunshine, temperature… external factors that can be influenced. I want to test and see what might be those factors that might have an effect on the quality of our fruits.”
“And what makes you want to try yourself? You could order our people to do it and tell you the results,” Junmyeon replies, a little smile on his face. Jongin can’t quite interpret what his brother might be thinking, but he also doesn’t know why he wants to face Sehun and give a try by himself either. Is it because he has been talking to Oh Sehun? Or is it because he is pitying the poor boy, wanting to give Sehun a chance at a violence free life because he is sure no one else in this organization - except for Luhan - feels empathy?
“Not sure,” he replies truthfully as always. “I just feel like I should.”
“Alright,” Junmyeon tells him. “I don’t have any other tasks for you right now anyways. Tell everyone you’re in charge of Diamond Boy starting today.”
“Yes, sir,” Jongin replies, grinning at his brother. Junmyeon dismisses him with a chuckle and a wave of his hand.
The easiest way to get the goods they want from Sehun is to ask the boy. Surely, Sehun must know when he earns diamonds instead of those other jewels, right? Even if he can’t help it, like he said, he must still know what influences his ability, right? Unfortunately, asking Sehun doesn’t help Jongin in any way because the boy is stubborn. Sehun refuses to talk to him, his face tear stricken, but his lips shut tight, not allowing any sound to leave. Jongin is not even threatening him, yet there are tears falling, running down in pretty tracks before they turn into gems in mid-air. This time they look brown and greyish, dark shades that are almost black. They are ugly and Jongin is sure they are of even lesser value than he ones Sehun has given them so far. Why aren’t the gems reddish in tone like the ones Sehun has produced so far?
With a sigh Jongin goes through the list of possible factors that might influence the quality of those stones.
It can’t be the food, since Sehun has been fed with different food every day. Junmyeon himself has ordered for Sehun to eat healthily, and if the boy doesn’t eat, then he is forced to eat. Three meals a day and enough water to keep him hydrated. So if it’s not the food, then what is it?
Could it be the method to make Sehun cry? Is it about why Sehun cries? It is the only thing Jongin could think of, apart from the boy’s condition. If it is not about physical health, then it must be about mental health. To confirm his conclusion, he sends two of their men to take care of Sehun while he is watching from outside, just to confirm his theory.
It looks just as cruel as last time. Jongin wants to look away, but he can’t. He has to observe instead, trying to figure out what the difference between the tears Sehun sheds in front of him and the tears Sehun sheds in front of others is.
In no time, those two men get Sehun crying. Those tears turn into the regular jewels of reddish brown, some dusted with black and grey specks. It has to do with who makes him cry. Or maybe how they make him cry? The place they hit?
Jongin keeps observing, and despite the reason being obvious, he needs some time to figure out. Only when he stares at Sehun's eyes for a while it dawns on him. Sehun’s look is different. When facing those other men, the boy doesn't show any expression, except for the physical pain that comes with every hit and every kick. With Jongin though, there is this look of fear and terror in his eyes. But why? Jongin has never laid a hand on him ever. He is not the one to paint bruises on pale skin. He only kidnapped Sehun, he had never beat Sehun in a pulp like this.
Knowing - or at least suspecting - the reason for the obvious difference in color and quality of Sehun's stones, he calls those two men back, not needing them to hurt their Diamond Boy any further. He goes straight to Junmyeon's office after that to report his observations and explain his conclusion.
He finds Luhan sitting there - Luhan has been frequenting headquarters more often lately, especially the boss's room - with Junmyeon, the two in midst of a heated discussion. Jongin doesn't hear a word and if he does, he pretends he has never heard it. Selective hearing. There is no need to remember everything if it is information not intended to be in his knowledge.
"Kai," Junmyeon says, his face a blank. Luhan, too, takes on a more neutral expression, though Jongin can sense him brooding behind that calm demeanor.
"I came here to report on Oh Sehun. I am pretty sure it is about the method used on him. He has a different expression when he gave me those dark greyish stones instead of the blood red ones. Seems like he produces dark greyish ones when he is scared and red ones when he is in pain."
"See!" Luhan exclaims then. "I told you hurting him was the wrong way to go! Let him work with us on his free will and he will provide us with the nice goods."
"Quiet," Junmyeon hisses and gets up. There is a light smile on his face, and now he looks like a proud father more than ever. Jongin hates that look, hates how much it reminds him of their father, how much it reminds him of his past - working off his ass just to get a little praise and the command to continue work.
"Kai, I think you should continue working with Oh Sehun then. Find out when our precious boy turns into Diamond Boy. No one else shall intervene."
"Wouldn't Luhan be more suitable for that job?" Jongin asks, eyeing the other male in the room. Right now, Sehun is terrified of him, and he is sure that Sehun doesn't have any negative feelings towards Luhan. Luhan is good at talking and he looks friendly, too. There is a reason why Luhan is mainly an informant and not an assassin, and that is his people skills. Not to mention that Jongin is short-tempered at times. If he loses patience and snaps at the poor boy, all progress - if there is some - will be gone.
"I could do that," Luhan quips in with a grin. "I could make him talk and feel at ease. I can convince him to work with us and for us."
"No," Junmyeon says, voice cold. "I told Kai to work on this, so Kai will do it. Are you both questioning my authority?"
"Of course not," Jongin replies quickly. He bows and chances a glance at Luhan, unsure what to do to ease the tension. Something must be going on between the two of them, and most probably it is not a fight over work only.
"I'll take my leave then," he mumbles when there is no response, and exits the room, leaving those two to settle their quarrel in private.
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