Safe (Lost memory) - Part I
Title: Safe (Lost Memory)
Pairing: Sehun/Kai
Rating: G
Summary: He always carries a gun. He probably carries a code. He has never wanted to protect a man all his life. Until he is lost. Who is he protecting? And who is he protecting him from?
A/N: This fic is inspired by a Japanese drama and a Hollywood film, mixing the two concepts and letting them fall into one story. I just don't really know...
The city is busy and full of the buzzing and shuffling of the people in a hurry to get to their workplace. The rings of their mobile phones droning on and on, mixed with the horns of the cars forced in full stop to give way to the rushing passersby. The night is painted with the gleaming citylights accompanied by the stars that scattered everywhere in the evening sky. This is Kai's hometown that he had come home to after a few years of training and gaining experience in America. This is the usual scenario that the ordinary people of Seoul has every night. However, while everyone is dashing for work, Kai, on the other hand, is in an abandoned warehouse, among with his newly met colleagues, surrounding the place with his gun in hand ready to fire in case the biggest underground syndicate the governemant has long been after comes out of one of their target exits.
"Agent Park, to the other side, bring 4 men." He commanded through his radio. He raised a hand to signal the rest of his men to hold their fire and to wait.
Kai brought the gun closer to his face as he leaned on the concrete wall. He paused.
Kai is an elite cop from the United States, sent back to his native land to help and complete his assignment. A mission to track down the infamous underground syndicate that had been said to be working with a big time Japanese drug dealing party. As a professionally skilled cop from the big city of America, he has been assigned as the head of the leading group of force the government has provided for the case. He is respected, looked up to, and adored by everyone from the police department. But to him, all the praises are nothing. Work is work, and that's all he cares for.
"Bring more back up." He shouted at the handheld radio piece as he signaled his men to come forward and attack. In a flash of white, sounds of shots came from everywhere. Explosives and such rained at different sides. A small van sped up fast from the inside and the police force targeted the said vehicle, but to no avail, because it was running at a very high speed. Kai shouted at the nearby cops to come after it while he kept shooting the rest of the cars coming out of the warehouse. He successfully aimed at the tire of one of the black heavy tinted car running at a different direction. It stopped to a crash and had turned into a mess. Kai called for more backup as he chased the rest of the escaping group.
After an hour of operation, the police force was left disappointed as the syndicate has slipped past them at the last minute. He cursed and kicked the ground as he watched the last car disappear from view. Watching his colleagues, he commanded for first aid in order to treat his wounded men.
"Agent Kim, sir." Park Chanyeol was stuffing his gun back into his belt. "Kai." He called. Kai turned to him.
"We have found one group at the other side. Looks like the men inside had died from the crash." Chanyeol ushered him to where the said men were and he remembers it was the car he had shot earlier.
"Have you checked?" He asked in a calm but ordering tone.
Chanyeol nodded. "We can take another look."
They walked to the car to double check. Kai put out his gun and wore his searching gloves. Chanyeol opened the door and there were only three people in it, the driver and two passengers. All of which have hit their heads from the crash.
Kai clicked his tongue. They could have used one as their witness or spyf. "Have you searched the place?"
"Yes. No sign of any of them." Chanyeol was explaining when a movement from the other side of the car took Kai's attention. He immediately pulled out his gun and slowly walked over to the suspicious target. Chanyeol followed him, gun in his hand.
Slowly, a figure of a boy, almost the same age as Kai, or maybe younger, walked out of the shadows. His hair disheveled, his eyes unfocused, and his clothes in a mess. His hands were tied together in front of him. He limply took a few more steps forward before finally collapsing on the hard concrete pavement.
Chanyeol immediately called for help from his radio. Someone is alive. And they could use him to track the bad guys down.
Kai bent down and knelt in one knee to examine the face of the fallen boy. He has a fair skin, a small mouth, and a scratch on his cheek. He reached out for his hands that were tied by a rope.
Chanyeol bent down too. "He's a diamond."
•
A diamond. That's their local police term for someone who has been used by the syndicate to serve them for a certain thing, with or without consent, most of the time without. And usually, a diamond is a smart type, has the ability to remember and memorize a series of codes. They have heard that the underground syndicate is facing a dilemma against the Japanese drug dealers about the money they have kept from them amounting to roughly $2M. The diamond must have have the key to the safe that has the money kept by the syndicate. And Kai sees this as a big opportunity. They will be looking for their diamond, no matter what. And he has him. He can use him as bait to get to them.
But there was one problem.
Kai came back to the hospital early the next morning to check on the boy they have admitted the last night. The diamond. That's when he realized what the problem was.
"What's wrong with him?" He asked the doctor in a business tone as she guided him in to his ward.
"We asked him his name last night when he gained back consciousness." She explained gently, almost the opposite as how Kai speaks. "He said he's Sehun."
Kai didn't look like he is surprised. "So he's ok? That's good then."
The doctor shook her head patiently. "The problem is... that's all he could remember."
They reached Sehun and he looked fine outwardly, very well to be honest. But he had that confused look when he saw Kai and the look of helplessness.
"He's physically fine now, though?" Kai questioned.
"Physically, yes. But he's still not well." The doctor advised.
"I'm getting him out today." Kai took out his wallet.
"But the patient needs to be under observation. Sir." She added.
"The patient is well now. Just losing a few memories, but he can walk, talk, and can live like any ordinary man. I'm taking him out." He pulled out his license and showed the doctor.
"Excuse me, sir. With all due respect--"
"I need him for this case I'm holding. Respect the officer of the law." He cut her before he finally left through the door.
Sehun didn't know anything.
•
Kai drove him and Sehun to a rented apartment. He had chosen this especially because according to him, it was low profile and not easily spotted. If he wanted to keep the diamond safe, he would not decorate him with lots of police guards and fancy security or else he will be attracting the syndicate more. Instead, he chose himself to take guard on Sehun. Easy and simple.
He clicked on the switch after he has opened the door to Sehun's new apartment. "You'll be staying here for the meantime." He carried Sehun's luggage inside, he had shopped for him. It may be out of his character, but even though Kai is a work-centered person, he is a warm person and is the best family guy.
"Uh, excuse me." Sehun's voice was quite low for his pretty face that it caught Kai slightly off guard. But who was he to expect when his colleague Park Chanyeol is the best example of voices don't always go with faces concept.
Kai looked at him.
"May I know what's your name, sir?" Sehun looked scared for a bit. Kai definitely understood how this boy had become a diamond. Either they just threatened to punch him or just simply talked him to it. He looks the type to just curl and obey.
"Kai." He said coldly as he repositioned Sehun's luggage at the side. "By the way, you must be tired to hear what I have to say. So just get enough sleep for today and I'll quickly brief you tomorrow about what's happening."
He checked the windows, the locks of the doors before reappearing in the room where he found Sehun in the same exact spot he had been in minutes ago. "And also, you lost your memory. So don't be surprised if you don't remember anything." He was sure the doctor had warned him to not just openly tell Sehun of his state because it might give him a shock. But he shrugged it off, it's best if he says it on the spot.
Sehun looks like he found out about it earlier anyway.
"I'll just be in the next room." Kai knocked on the wall to explain further that the next room is just on the other side of the wall. "Get a good sleep so you can remember everything fast." If he regains back his memories, it'd be easier to tell where the hideout of the syndicate is, or what are their other plans.
"Am I sleeping alone?" Sehun asked even before Kai got out of the door.
Kai paused before turning around to face him.
"I don't babysit."
"I don't trust anyone." Sehun said. It is true. He just randomly got picked up by a guy with a gun from the hospital, giving him orders to sleep, and is not even remotely showing any sign of concern towards him, if not for his work. There's also the fact that he doesn't remember anything apart from his name.
"I'm a cop. I don't trust you too. Who knows you could be a part of the syn---" He stopped himself. Prying open the topic to him won't do any good to the rate of his recovery, as the doctor has said. He didn't want that so he just shut his mouth and opened it again. "Just go to sleep. Nothing will jump on you as long as I'm in the next room. If you get past this one night unscathed then you will understand. Go to bed and lock your doors." Without another word, he had gone. Sehun was left to ponder on himself, which he just hopelessly took to sleep.
Sehun is still confused the next day. Kai has knocked on his door at 6am sharp and he took 3 more minutes before he finally opened up for him. In which he found an unhappy Kai holding out a bag of fresh meat and salad behind it.
"I'm cooking." Kai immediately entered and locked the door, shoving Sehun aside. "I don't think you know how to cook, or do you remember how?"
"I think I can manage." Said the skinnier of the two.
"Then you can cook for your lunch and dinner later." He settled the ingredients by the sink and started slicing what seemed to be fresh tomatoes and lettuce. He worked quickly on the small kitchen, folding his sleeves up to his elbows, sporting an apron to complete the look. Before Sehun could finally speak, he had finished his breakfast. Mostly with a lot of urging by Kai, who didn't take any saying he prefers the coffee in the office.
"So what really happened to me?" He's been trying so hard to remember the previous night but all he had was... nothing.
"Am I a criminal? A witness? Because if I'm not, I don't think I'd be guarded by a cop. What did I do?" That's one point Kai had taken note of Sehun, he's straightforward.
"That's the problem. We've confirmed nothing so far, because obviously the answer should come from you." He sat opposite Sehun. "But don't worry, no matter what you are before your accident, we'll be on your side for now. Besides, we think you're a diamond."
"A diamond?"
"They're individuals used by the syndicate to work for them, whether they like it or not."
"A syndicate. You think I work for a syndicate?"
"We don't think. We know." Kai corrected him impatiently.
"How did you find me?"
"You were with them. You basically rode in one of their cars, and we got you. The ones you rode with are all dead. We found you tied up and weak. We believe you're a diamond, forced to keep their secret."
"Secret?" Sehun couldn't believe he's part of a syndicate, whether he was forced to or not. He didn't seem like he would be one, but then his memory is almost as good as nothing so he could only rely on Kai's information.
"Tell me, is there anything you remember about your skill? Like, are you good with codes?" Kai leaned in closer, suddenly interested.
"Codes?" All he has done so far is repeat whatever Kai was saying and it irks him, how he cannot understand any of it. He curses his state mentally.
"I don't think you'll remember anyway." Kai gave it up, knowing that it's pushing him too far. "So far, that's all I can tell you."
"There's more?" Sehun stood when Kai stood too. He's been putting his coat back on.
"Ah yeah. You're practically the hot subject right now. The syndicate must be looking for you, so lock the door. And remember, ask who it is first before opening the door. Even if you know it's me. Apart from that, nothing to worry about." He awkwardly patted Sehun behind his back to give him an encouragement. He basically just told him that his life is on the line, and one click of the door for the wrong person will make him lose it.
Yep, Sehun told himself, nothing to worry about.
•
The first few days, Sehun didn't mind being locked up in his little apartment. He spent his time trying to remember, sometimes causing him to have minor headaches, but he just sleeps them away. Kai is away during the day because he stays in his office, talking and planning with his co-officers, tracking down the whereabouts of the undeground syndicate. They're still currently working on it. He'll appear outside Sehun's door every night, sometimes holding the door handle still so Sehun can't open it when he forgets to ask who it is. He said it's for good saftey measure.
"Hey."
Sehun has been used to calling him that rather than Kai, or Agent Kim. Kai acts as if he doesn't mind. Sehun found it hard to break the wall between them at first, but slowly he learned that the way around the wall is to just obey whatever he tells him to do. Which he has done all this time. To Kai, he thought he need not to be casual with his subject. He thought their relationship can just go on as a cop and a helpless victim, but Sehun's straightforwardness and sometimes aggressiveness made him think differently. Sehun sometimes just innocently opens up his thoughts to Kai, like when in the evening when he visits him and helps him with his dinner, he'd say how he thinks Kai's undershirt doesn't match his coat, or sometimes tells him that his perfume is too strong to be appreciated. He also commented once that Kai has a toothpaste stain on his cheek naturally. That made him think that his desired status of being a police officer to an ordinary client doesn't apply to their situation. And so he just lets Sehun be as natural as he is towards Kai, no formalities, like how right now he calls him 'hey'.
"Hm?" He answers while he busily cooks fish for dinner. Sehun took his time before speaking again.
"You know I've been in here for quite awhile now." He started, picking out his words carefully. "And I'm a bit bored." He tried to sound casual. "Maybe I can go out tomorrow and get some fresh air and--"
"No." Kai responded with his back still on Sehun, currently flipping over the fish.
"Why not?" Sehun pouted, crossing his arms. He didn't even let him finish.
"You'll be asking for an early death."
"I've been here for two weeks. Nothing has happened. I don't think going tomorrow will hurt--"
"And you want something to happen tomorrow?" Kai turned the stove off, he finished his salmon pretty well.
"I'll disguise myself." Sehun promised with hopeful eyes.
"Who are you kidding." Kai put a filled plate in front of Sehun. "They will know it's you. It's not safe to go alone."
"Then come with me." He is starting to get impatient. He has been nice to Kai all throughout, and now that he's asking him for a favor, he couldn't give it. He thinks it's unfair.
"I have work." Kai pushed the plate towards him to signal him to start eating. Sehun took a fork grudginly and side-eyed him.
"Do you want me to rot in here?" He bit on his spoon a little bit roughly.
"Too bad that's not gonna happen very soon."
"You're evil." He chewed on his fish like it's the thing he hate the most.
"You're not allowed to go out. And also, what has happened to the progress of your memory recovery?" He checked on him, like he always does everyday.
"Nothing. I can't remember anything." Sehun answered sulkily. And then an idea pops into his mind. "Maybe. Maybe there are things that I'm close to remembering."
Kai's face lit up. "Then?"
Sehun scrunched up his face to make him look like he's thinking very hard. "But..." He squinted his eyes as if it's almost there but. "But I think I'd finally get them back when I get exposed to the environment outside."
Kai frowned. "Nice try."
Sehun slumped his shoulders. "It might really help me. Let me go out."
"No." Kai stood. He considered it for a bit. If it will act as a catalyst to his recovery, he would let him. But his safety is on the line. And what's important right now is to keep him alive.
"Evil."Sehun muttered under his breath.
"Don't forget to try again today. I'll lock your door. Go to sleep right after." He left through the door without saying any goodbye.
"Wicked evil full of himself cop." Sehun uttered when the door closed.
Kai has prepared for bed. He sat by his desk and started adjusting the speakers connected next to his laptop. He tuned in the volume a little bit higher, and Sehun's voice came on.
"Ugh." He sounded irritated. He usually does that when he's trying to remember. Kai has installed spy mics in his room the night before they moved in. In that way he can monitor how he's coping, it also serves as an alarm if ever something happens in the next room.
"I. don't. remember. anything." Comes his voice in the speaker. Kai ran his fingers on his thumb. It's been two weeks and he's showing no hint of recovery. He worries it might take him a year or more, which doesn't really go well with his plans. Kai's ambition is to be one of the best cops in the US. He's close to achieving that, but he could never completely attain it if he's stuck in Korea guarding someone who can't remember anything but his name. He wants to finish this mission soon so he can go back to America and fulfil his dream.
Kai lied his back on his bed when Sehun has decided to call it a night and go to bed. He folded his arms above his head and waited for sleep to come. He closed his eyes when he heard Sehun's voice from the speakers.
"You are my sunshine my only sunshine..."
He was singing himself to sleep. Kai sat up and listened closely.
"You make me happy when skies are grey..."
"You'll never know dear how much I love you..." He joins in and sings with him.
"Please don't take my sunshine away." Kai was surprised he knows the lyrics to the song too. He recalled the title and searched it up on his laptop.
The song was created during his generation. There's no doubt Sehun is almost of the same age as his. Kai took note of it. Sehun might be unaware of it, but it meant one thing. He's starting to remember something.
•
"Can you sing You Are My Sunshine one more time?" Kai demanded when Sehun finished eating. Sehun looked up with a confused face.
"Huh?"
"You know, 'you are my sunshine my only sunshine'?" He sang a line. "You were singing it last night."
Sehun racks hi brain for the tune and lyrics. He hummed the song.
"Ah." He exclaimed when the lyrics came pouring into him. And then he realized something. "You were listening?" He looked around the room. "You wiretapped me?"
Kai just shrugged.
"Are there any cameras around too?" He is absolutely freaking out.
"I didn't go that far." Kai said nonchalantly.
"You invaded my privacy!" He pointed at Kai.
"It's for your safety." The accused calmly pointed out.
"I can't live a normal life here." Sehun threw his arms all over, giving a speech dramatically. "First I'm kept like I'm in prison. And the guy says I'm not a criminal." He avoided saying Kai's name.
Kai rolls his eyes.
"And then I have spywares all over my house. I am being watched!" Sehun ended in a high note. "Or heard." He amended his last sentence.
This is another trait that Kai knows of Sehun. He tends to whine.
"Forget your drama. Just continue with what you're doing. You're doing fine." He stands up from his seat to get going.
"What doing fine?" Sehun stops and looks at him in question.
"You didn't know you knew the song until now." The cop said while he buttoned his coat.
"Oh." Sehun understood. The memory is there, it just needs a little pushing.
▬
The diamond term does not exist irl.
This is bound to get boring. Just trying it out.
If you can guess this Japanese drama, you can have Sehun. Haha.