To Fracture a Heart ; Minsung

games of cat 'n' mouse

It was a brilliant day for Han Jisung. 

He had recently submitted his application for the esteemed position of a law enforcement officer at Selenighter Headquarters, one of the multiverse's greatest and strictest central hubs. Earth 6's pride and joy. Along with other things. 

To him, it was an honour to discover today that he had, indeed... been accepted. 

But, of course, he had predicted this outcome. Citizens of Earth 6 were cocky like that. So full of pride that not even the mightiest self-doubt could rupture them; they walked the land as if every inch of the earth was under their dominion. Most were yet to meet society's greatest nemesis. 

"I just knew I'd get in," Jisung's striding beside his best friend, Iris, his fingers combing through his freshly dyed locks of deep navy. They were headed straight for his first day at headquarters—where he'd be assigned his first case. 

"Of course, you're a rookie and you're already better than most of them there. I would know, I've seen it with my own eyes." 

Iris scoffs at the mere thought of them all. She had a place in the force as well and had started there a year before Jisung. She tells the same story of her 'pathetic colleagues' failing to meet her standards in a local bar every Friday evening, constantly swirling that Vodka Martini in one hand. Jisung finds it so very amusing. 

"Oh don't flatter me, Iris. You know I can't take compliments." He shakes her arm a little as they finally approach the building, its lofty glass façade and entrances creating a hospitable radiance tinged with a bronze glow. 

He stops before it. He doesn't know why his smile is fading. At the sight of the glazed-over floors and unusually large greenery, suddenly he doesn't feel so confident anymore. He feels small. And not due to the height of the edifice. 

Iris has carried on to head inside. Eventually, she turns back when she realises Jisung is no longer walking beside her. 

Jisung isn't used to such an overwhelming feeling. This feeling of fear, possible invalidation, possible failure—he couldn't bear it. It's Iris's slap to his back that snaps him out of it. 

She cocks an eyebrow at his odd behaviour. "What are you doing, Jisung? Come on, keep up." 

They venture in together. Jisung pulls his sleeves down to hide his trembling palms. He knows Iris wouldn't approve. 

"I'll take you straight to the chief. He'll give you your first case, and you'll start straight away. He's a 'no slacking' type of person, remember that.  I just know he'll adore you, Jisung." Iris explains, shoving her hands in her pockets. 

"Yes. I hope so." 

She glances at him. "You hope so? Don't be ridiculous. You know he will." 

Fine. "Of course." 

After a winding journey, they finally arrive at the sanctum of the chief constable; its' appearance like the rest of the place, except even brighter. Jisung has to squint a little. 

The chief constable is standing in the corner observing his double-sided tablet when they enter, muttering to himself. "That damned Zexade VII... fifteen more men missing—his doing, it seems—if only we had a face, or a name even..." 

Iris blinks at him. "Chief—?" 

The man jumps a little, startled by the sudden voice, which he turns towards. "Oh, Officer Iris! And this must be Jisung? My apologies, I was a little caught up in the Zexade VII case there..."