THE8 | Junhao | *EDITING*

FIFTEEN

| CHAPTER FIFTEEN |

Minghao's mouth is open as he stares at the white powder in curiosity, "So," he looks at the lab operator, "What type of drug is it?" He leans back up to stand straight, hands on his hips.

The scientist sighs, cocking her head to the side. she smacks her lips, "I'm not sure." She says, looking at Minghao, then the drugs, "The grains seem to have a glitter type look to them, it's almost translucent or something."

"Glitter?" Minghao's attention is caught, "That's neat. I wonder what it tastes like."

"Please," The woman laughs, pulling her mask back up to cover her mouth and nose, "Don't try any. I put it through a scan and it holds a severe amount of dangerous chemicals."

Minghao nods, "What would be the side effects?"

The woman pauses, humming, "Headaches, maybe. And/or drowsiness and the feeling of paralyzation in your limbs and throat." She sighs, concerned, "If anyone took this before you brought it here to me, they've probably suffocated themselves by now."

Minghao raises his brows, pursing his lips, "Damn." He looks at her, then the drug, "So you don't know the name of it yet? No full details?"

The scientist shakes her head in apology, "I'm sorry," She sighs, "I wish I could be of more help. I just have to run each couple of grains through a few more tests, and I'll try to get back to you."

Minghao nods, "Thank you, and do your best to find any sort of fingerprints as well. We need to find the chef behind the recipe."

The woman assures him she will do everything she can.

He leaves the basement after that, trotting up the stairs with a whistle. He hums as he opens the door, walking around the corner to make his way to his boss' office.

He arrives shortly after, knocking on the door three times, "Mr. Choi? It's me." He says, putting a hand on the knob, inviting himself inside.

Seungcheol looks up from his desk, glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, a pen in his hand, many stacks of paperwork piling on his desk.

"So," Seungcheol hums at the sight of the red haired. He tosses his pencil down after a moment, leaning back in his seat, "What have you got?"

"Not much." Minghao takes a seat, swinging his legs comfortably over the arm of the loveseat, "The people down there ran the grains through tests, and I asked about any updates on the drug today." Minghao starts, "They said they don't exactly know what the drug is called, but it's definitely dangerous."

Seungcheol nods slowly, eyes trailing.

"The woman said it looked like glitter."

Seungcheol's head cocks up, and his eyes are wide. Minghao looks at him, a bit weirded out by the sudden expression change.

"Something wrong?"

Seungcheol hesitates before shrugging it off, "It's nothing," He says, "I just swear I've heard someone speak of a glitter type drug before..." He writes something down.

Minghao's brows twist, "Who?"

"I'm not sure." Seungcheol hums, looking up, "I'll let you know as soon as the thought comes back to me."

Minghao looks over his boss before nodding slowly, still a bit weary of the situation. Nonetheless, he gets up out of the chair, bidding his boss a good day as he leaves the room.

He finds himself training not long later, his back rested against the metal pole as he pulls on the black bars, sweat trickling down his forehead as he strains at the strength of the weights.

"You're always in here." Jeonghan takes a seat on the bench next to him, untwisting the cap on a water bottle, "You'll be hulk by next year."

"I'm transferring stations tomorrow," Minghao breathes out, exercising heavily, "I need to be ready for anything... and I also need to shake off my nerves. This is fucking ridiculous."

Jeonghan snorts, "Nerves? You?"

"Yeah." Minghao pauses on the weights, looking at Jeonghan, "I've always hated presenting projects in school... This is kind of the same thing, yeah?" He huffs, "It's like I'm the new student."

Jeonghan chuckles, "I can't believe you're a cop."

"It's just temporary." Sweat glistens down Minghao's body as he resumes his workout, "I only need the job for a few more months... I'll be done soon."

"Why are you even taking the time to learn the authorities' way?" Jeonghan asks, "You're already powerful enough as it is. You could even kill me, somebody who has seven years of training over you."

Minghao snorts, "Cocky bitch."

"What'd you call me?" The blonde scoffs.

Minghao drops the weights, turning to Jeonghan. He clicks his tongue in amusement, "I called you a cocky bitch." He says in full volume, "What are you gonna do about it?"

Jeonghan tackles Minghao to the ground, ignoring the stickiness of their sweaty bodies as he tickles his sides, laughing at the boy's giggles and shouts of mercy.

Jeonghan eventually stops after a minute or two for the boy's sake, a laughing mess as he sits back, watching Minghao try to catch his breath, a hand on chest.

It gets quiet soon.

Jeonghan slumps his shoulders, looking at Minghao with a slight frown, "The8?"

Minghao lifts his head, "Yeah?"

Jeonghan closes his eyes for a second, sighing, "Be careful. Please?" Minghao's a bit taken aback at the blonde's sincerity, "You're..... You're one of my best friends, y'know?"

Minghao smiles, nodding in reassurance, "Don't worry." He nods, "I'll be fine." He tells him, "In and out, it'll be a quick job, I promise." He holds Jeonghan's wrist, "Don't worry."

Jeonghan nods, "Okay."