Emotional Detachment

How's your mind?

"Big, I need you to bug his apartment" Tankhun spoke as soon as Big entered the former's room.

"Excuse me? Sir." he blurted out, regaining his composure immediately after. Tankhun turned to him with a raised eyebrow

"Is there a problem with that?"

He wanted to say yes, as his stomach was churning around, but he couldn't. Why did Tankhun wish to know about his brother this badly? He didn't ask, he already knew why.

"No, Sir" he replied, looking down at the floor.

"How was he today?"

"Fine," he replied "Tired it seemed"

"Do you know why?" Big shook his head, "No" hoping Tankhun didn't notice his lie.

"Did he hurt you today?" and Big shook his head

"No sir"

"Sir, if I may ask"

"Why would you go as far as bugging his apartment? If he finds out, won't he hate you?"

"Me? No, Kim loves me" Tankhun chuckled "I raised him myself", a playful and smug grin on his face.

"Of course Sir" Big replied, looking down at the floor again. It was silent again for a while.

"How was he really today?"

"As I said Sir, tired"

"Your eyes are telling me you're hiding something" Big took a deep breath, trying to slow down his heart.

He didn't like this. If he said anything to Tankhun, Kim would come after his life.

"This is for his own best, believe me, he's going to get better, but I need to know so I can help him more" Big looked at Tankhun for a moment, then exhaled.

"He didn't hurt me" he calmly answered, and Tankhun leaned back in his seat, listening attentively

"He stopped himself before he did, so he's fine," he ended.

After that, he went directly to Arm for the tech needed to bug Kim's apartment.

How was he going to do it?

Why was he actually thinking of doing it?

He was so lost in his thoughts, he didn't even realize he had arrived at the armory until Arm waved a hand in his face.

"Big" he called out, and the latter turned to him, gathering himself while Arm watched with a worried look.

"I need equipment for bugging"

"Going out on a job?" he questioned "I thought you were grounded?" he asked, yet got up to find the equipment.

"I am," Big vaguely replied, heart beating out of his chest. He knew Arm could see the conflict inside, on his face, but maybe, if Big ignored it he would leave it alone.

Arm looked at him with a mix of confusion and curiosity, and though Big didn't want to elaborate, he caved in. Perhaps he wanted Arm to know, to talk him out of it, to tell him it's stupid and wrong.

"Tankhun needs me to bug someone's apartment"

"Oh, so he's still keeping you here" Big nodded somewhat "Yeah" he sighed, the truth pressing on in his throat, wanting to spill so he could get told off so that he's not alone in this.

"It's emotional neglect"

Kim didn't want to think about it, face all of it, but he couldn't stop it.