Veteran

3

Hope you enjoy this story

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I made it home, and my keys jingle as I unlock my door. The first day was very interesting, I placed my backpack down and exhaustedly walk into the kitchen. I know it's only like 8 pm, but the blood flow that I had from the fight, wore me out.

I fixed myself dinner, eating alone and in my thoughts, trying to determine if Seok is questioning me and my methods or if he is doubting me. I grabbed my folder and went to my room, I didn't quite understand the prior calls. I had the recordings, I showered real fast though.

I sat down at my desk, after the shower, plugging in my earbuds. I hit play and noted any background noises, word plays, and emotions. I replayed it about twenty times, making sure the same noises and stuff were still the same and if I missed anything.

I made annotations in the margins about the noises that I questioned more than the others. It just didn't sit well with me, when she says "help, he has a gun," she does sound truly terrified but the background noise was something moving.

But her voice never truly trembled or jumped when a bump happened. I pulled the earbuds out feeling like my ears were bleeding, the number of times I replayed it, and how long I did. I stared at my phone; at 1 am, I am gonna be so late tomorrow, I set my alarms and went on to bed.

*seok pov*

It's 1 am, I should be asleep but I've been watching Jin's MMA fights. It's truly fascinating how he can navigate through the ring and throw hits and give it back just as quickly and equally as painful.

I clicked on an interview, "Jin-Ho," one reporter called his name, he turned and met with the person behind the camera. But his eyes weren't matching his face. "What made this match better than the last?" The guy questioned, "it's more of a challenge," he answered steadily.

But I could tell he wanted to leave, he was fighting the urge to not be rude. What is making him wanna leave the interview? "Jin, when will you return- sorry, actually, when is your next fight?" My eyes widen, the first sentence was spoken so quickly but I caught it. "Not sure, I have to go," he walked away.

What did the guy mean by "when will you return?" I turned my laptop off, it was 2 am now and I need sleep. We have to go to Jeju Island. But that bugged me.

*jin pov*

My alarm kept going off, I sat up and turned it off. I ran through my house, threw on black slacks, and a button-up shirt, and just pretty much skipped breakfast. My hair wasn't properly done, but I was two minutes late. I drove my bike like I was running for my life.

I pulled into the department and apologized to Seok. We then went through the process of getting to Jeju and getting the husband. We then found the wife, she was still alive but needed the hospital. It was very quick and I felt better about it being quick for her sake.

*back from Jeju*

I was in my office filing the report and all that paperwork. My eyes scanned the screen when my door opened and Seok walked in. "Sorry I didn't knock, but I wanted to talk," he closed my door. This is strange, I nodded and placed down the paper.

My attention goes to his neatly kept self like he didn't run late then here's me, a mess. "I wanna apologize in advance," my eyes widen, what does he mean? "I know it shouldn't be my place, and we have only known each other two days and this day ain't even over with," he keeps stalling, what has he done that I should be worried about?

Questions like that are running in my head. "Okay, spit it out," he coughed and I watched. "There was an interview two years ago," I slowly started to put it together, and I paled. I knew he noticed, he was choosing his words carefully. "Who was that reporter?" I let out my breath I didn't know I was holding, my hand was sweating on the paperwork.

"Ah, the reporter," I say, I ran my hand through my hair, my messy hair even messier now. "Ex-boyfriend," my eyes widen and I sunk back into the chair I had just given my secret out. "Shit!" I say as I cover my mouth and my eyes like saucers. "Don't worry, Jin! It won't change a thing," Seok said waving his hands frantically. "So, your ex?" I sighed, leaning forward to prop my arms on my desk.

I stared at Seok, "yeah, my ex, my controlling ex," I say, I saw anger flash into his face. "That's why I went into MMA maybe it keep me busy, then it didn't work and when I got offered this job I was like my way out," I say softly my eyes barely meeting Seok. "So I quickly came to Korea," I motioned in the general area.

When chan came bursting into the office, "here's a case," he handed Seok the one nearest to the door, the file. Then left, he opened it and began to read off the report. "Two males, 30 and 45 years old," I listened and took mental notes. "Argument over land," he closed the file, "let's go," we both left my office.

*at the location*

Seok took lead to the question, while the other guy stood angrily. Unaware of me watching, he turned his back on me. His shirt was tucked in and my eyes widen, he had a gun in his waistband. "Seok, Seok," I say calmly, his eyes scanned me, and I pointed. "Gun," that's when the guy reached for it.

I ran and tackled him, grabbing the gun out of his reach. He got arrested for the attempt of threatening bodily harm and having a weapon on his person. I like quick cases, Seok decided to file it this time. My stomach was eating itself. I walked down the road to the cafe for our lunch.

I knocked on his door "come in," I hummed "not enough hands," I heard his chair quickly move and he opened the door. I walked in and we ate lunch and chatted about life and hobbies. He went to college for hair and beauty, then came close to graduating and had change of heart. Then went into law and now he is here.

"I have my own hair stylist," I joked since he is my partner in sense of work and possibly a friend. That is pending. I cleaned up our mess, all while, Seok was finishing up the final touches to the paperwork.

It wasn't much left to do, so I said my goodbyes and went home early. I cleaned my bike, I gotta fill up tomorrow after work. I tossed my keys and bag down, marched up to my room, and changed after my shower. I did some house chores and made sure things were nearly placed.

*later that night*

I was lazy for the rest of the evening, I stared at my laptop screen as I wind down. I set my alarms for the morning, I laid them on the nightstand.