Pinwheel

30. Paranoia

Guess who's birthday is today??? That's right, I'm 18!!!!
Anyway, 🤡

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Joshua stood in front of the cabin. His hands clammy, sweating furiously. He didn't know what his fate held behind those closed doors.

Seungcheol had called him to his cabin first thing in the morning. He had just stepped foot in the building and Seokmin was rushing over to guide him to the man's cabin. He felt anxious and nervous, he had never felt like that when going to Seungcheol's cabin but this time it was different. He was hiding something huge from the blond and that made him feel incredibly guilty.

He knocks twice before a faint 'come in' was heard from the other side.

The air inside the cabin was strangely chilly, making Joshua shiver. Was it really the air in the cabin or was it Joshua's anxiety working it's way up his spine.

"Joshua, I have some news for you."

Seungcheol's tone was unusual. Almost feeling strange to the brunette. As if Seungcheol was mocking him.

"Yes?"

"You're off the Yoon Jeonghan case." Seungcheol set the book in his hand back in the bookcase he was standing next to.

"What?" Joshua's eyes widened, his face going pale.

"I'm giving you a week off duty. Take it as a mini vacation." Seungcheol walked away from the bookshelf and towards the brunette.

"But why? I don't need it."

Joshua felt his insides churning with dread.

"You seemed tired in the recent investigations and I cannot afford having a, let's say, 'lacking' team on this case." Seungcheol smiled, a menacing smile, a mocking one that filled Joshua with worry.

"I can assure you I won't lack off. I wasn't tired but if you want I can put extra effort on the team, just don't take me off the case."

He internally begged the blond to just let him be.

"You seem a little too eager to be on this case." The officer raised a brow, his hands folded behind his back.

"No, it's just, I, this is a crucial case and I, being one of the senior officers, am supposed to take charge over it along with you." Joshua held his head up. Eyes never wavering as Seungcheol's dark eyes stared right through him.

"I don't want to hear anything else about this. You're off the case and that's final." Seungcheol sighed, walking away from the brunette and towards his desk.

"Seungcheol, why are you doing this?" Now he was just desperate to be on the case. He can't not know what's going on in Jeonghan's case.

"Because I care for you!" The senior slammed his hands against the desk, startling Joshua who jumped slightly at the sudden action. "You don't care about yourself but I do! And I won't let anything happen to you!"

"I do care about myself! What do you even mean?"

"Fine. Tell me then, are you and that mafia really nothing?"

Joshua couldn't think of what to do. He was stuck. Between his own feelings and his responsibility.

"Yes, we're nothing."

"Don't make me laugh, Joshua." Seungcheol scoffed, guiding a hand through his hair. "You're a bad liar."

"I'm not lying-"

"I saw you, yesterday. With him."

Now, that got Joshua. His face going pale, his heart skipped a beat at the blond's words.