Hook Up || Heejake

Chapter 1: A knife

The emergency room at National Police Hospital in Seoul hummed with frantic activity. Dr. Jaeyun Sim glanced at his watch, relief washing over him as he realized his shift was nearly over. He began gathering his belongings, eager to escape the chaos and sink into his comfortable bed at home.

Just as Jaeyun was about to clock out, a shrill alarm pierced the air. "Inspector down! Stab wound!"

Jaeyun's exhaustion evaporated instantly. He sprinted to prepare a treatment room, laying out suture kits, antiseptic, and bandages with practiced efficiency.

Moments later, the doors burst open. Inspector Heeseung Lee stumbled in, clutching his left arm. Blood seeped through his makeshift tourniquet – a shirt tied tightly above the wound. His white tank top was drenched with sweat, clinging to his muscular torso.

"Over here," Jaeyun called, gesturing to the prepared bed.

Heeseung grunted in acknowledgment, collapsing onto the crisp sheets. Up close, Jaeyun could see the inspector's jaw clenched in pain, a sheen of sweat glistening on his furrowed brow.

"I'm Dr. Sim," Jaeyun said, snapping on latex gloves. "I'll need to clean and examine the wound before stitching it up."

Heeseung nodded tersely.

Jaeyun worked quickly but gently, removing the makeshift tourniquet and cleaning away the blood. The cut was deep but had missed any major arteries.

"This will sting," Jaeyun warned, preparing a syringe of local anesthetic. He carefully administered several small injections around the wound site.

As the medication took effect, Jaeyun noticed Heeseung's shoulders gradually relaxing. The inspector's breathing slowed, some of the tension easing from his face.

"The worst is over," Jaeyun assured him, reaching for the suture kit. "I'll have you patched up in no time."

Jaeyun worked methodically, his hands steady as he began to suture the wound. The rhythmic in-and-out of the needle was almost meditative, a stark contrast to the bustling ER beyond the curtain.

"So, Inspector Lee," Jaeyun said, breaking the silence. "Mind telling me how you ended up in my ER tonight?"

Heeseung's dark eyes flicked to Jaeyun's face, then back to the ceiling. "Drug bust gone sideways. Perp had a knife we didn't know about."

Jaeyun nodded, tying off another stitch. "Occupational hazard, I suppose. You're lucky it wasn't worse."

A wry smile tugged at Heeseung's lips. "Tell that to my captain. He's going to have my hide for this."

As Jaeyun continued his work, he couldn't help but notice the defined muscles of Heeseung's arm, the way his tank top clung to his chest. He pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand.

"Almost done," Jaeyun murmured, starting the final few stitches. "You'll need to keep this dry for at least 48 hours. And no strenuous activity for at least a week."

Heeseung groaned. "A week? Doc, I can't be off duty that long."

Jaeyun tied off the last stitch and began applying a sterile dressing. "Doctor's orders, Inspector. Unless you want to end up right back here with a torn suture and an infection."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the air seemed to crackle with an unexpected tension. Jaeyun cleared his throat, breaking the connection.

"I'll, uh, write you a prescription for antibiotics and pain medication," he said, turning away to scribble on a notepad. "Make sure you finish the full course."

As Jaeyun handed over the prescription, their fingers brushed briefly. He felt a jolt of... something. Attraction? Curiosity? He couldn't quite place it.

"Thanks, Doc," Heeseung said, his voice softer than before. "I owe you one."

Jaeyun watched as the inspector stood, testing his arm gingerly. "Just doing my job," he replied. "Try to stay out of trouble, okay?"

Heeseung flashed a grin that made Jaeyun's heart skip a beat. "No promises, Doc. But maybe I'll see you around."

As Heeseung left the ER, Jaeyun found himself hoping that they would indeed meet again – preferably under less bloody circumstances.

Days passed uneventfully after Dr. Jaeyun Sim had stitched up Inspector Heeseung Lee's wound in the ER. One evening, Jaeyun found himself waiting at a deserted bus stop, the last bus seemingly delayed due to a strike by the drivers.

The sound of a motorbike approaching caught Jaeyun's attention, and to his surprise, it was Heeseung. "Dr. Sim, there's no bus today. The drivers are on strike," Heeseung informed him.

Perplexed by the situation, Jaeyun frowned. Heeseung smiled and offered to drop him off. He handed Jaeyun an extra helmet, and after a brief struggle with putting it on, they set off on the bike.

As they rode along the highway, Jaeyun unconsciously rested his chin on Heeseung's shoulder. Sensing Jaeyun's stress, Heeseung broke the silence. "Stressed?" he inquired.

Jaeyun's response was a barely audible murmur. "Mmh."

"I'm good at relieving stress," Heeseung smirked, breaking the tension.

Jaeyun, taken aback by the remark, directed Heeseung to turn left. Soon, they arrived at Jaeyun's house. Jaeyun removed the helmet, his hand grazing down Heeseung's arm. He got off the bike, mirroring Heeseung's smirk, and gestured for him to follow with a simple two-fingered gesture.

Inside Jaeyun's apartment, Jaeyun pinned Heeseung against the wall. "I need you, Heeseung," he said softly.

Heeseung leaned in closer, their faces inches apart. Jaeyun slowly turned his head, indicating his jaw. Heeseung responded by kissing his neck, eliciting a flutter of butterflies in Jaeyun's stomach.

After a moment of intimacy, Heeseung collapsed onto the bed, visibly drained. "How are you feeling?" he inquired.

"So good. You were good," Jaeyun replied, biting his lip.

"I've never done anything like this before," Heeseung confessed.

Jaeyun's surprise was evident. "Not even with girls?"

Heeseung hesitated. "Only in my imagination."

"Nevertheless, you were good," Jaeyun acknowledged.

"Can I take a shower in your bathroom?" Heeseung asked, changing the subject.