killer affection | jaywon

02

Loneliness had always been a companion to Park Jay. It clung to him in the quiet moments between the chaos, a persistent ache that he had long since accepted as part of who he was. Even surrounded by his closest friends: Heeseung, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki there was a void in Jay’s heart that never seemed to fill. It wasn’t that he didn’t care for them; on the contrary, they were the closest thing to family he had. But deep down, Jay knew that something was missing, something he couldn’t quite define.

Maybe it was love, though Jay would never admit it, even to himself. Love was a weakness, something his father had ripped out of him a long time ago. Yet, despite everything, that yearning gnawed at him, reminding him that no amount of power or control could ever fill that void.

The day he met the young assassin had been one of those days where the emptiness felt particularly suffocating. He had gone out alone, something he rarely did, seeking solace in the solitude of the night. But instead of the quiet he had sought, he found something or rather, someone unexpected.

Jay’s sharp instincts had immediately registered the presence of someone tailing him long before Jungwon revealed himself. What intrigued Jay wasn’t the fact that someone was following him that was nothing new but rather, it was the fact that this person had managed to do so without him noticing for what must have been days, maybe even weeks. That was no small feat.

When Jungwon finally stepped out from the shadows, Jay had been impressed by the boy’s boldness, though he kept his expression carefully neutral. There was something about Jungwon’s eyes, the way they held a mix of fury and determination, that made Jay pause. He recognized that look the hunger for revenge, the need to destroy. It was a reflection of the same darkness that lived within him.

Normally, Jay wouldn’t have hesitated. Anyone who dared to approach him like that, especially with such blatant intent, would have been dead before they could even think of reaching for a weapon. But this time was different. This time, Jay felt a spark of interest, a curiosity that he couldn’t quite shake off.

As Jungwon disappeared back into the night, Jay found himself smirking, replaying the brief encounter in his mind. The boy had guts, that was for sure. And if Jay’s instincts were right, which they usually were, this wasn’t the last he’d see of the young assassin. Jay wasn’t just curious he was intrigued, something that didn’t happen often.

Sitting in his office later that night, Jay leaned back in his chair, the smirk still playing on his lips. He couldn’t stop thinking about Jungwon how he’d managed to track Jay’s movements, the way he’d spoken with such conviction. It was rare for anyone to catch Jay’s attention like that, and the fact that Jungwon had done so without even trying made it all the more compelling.

As Jay pondered this, his right-hand man, Heeseung, stood nearby, watching him with a puzzled expression. Heeseung knew Jay better than anyone, and it wasn’t often that something threw him off balance like this.

“What’s got you so amused?” Heeseung finally asked, crossing his arms as he leaned against the desk. He wasn’t used to seeing Jay this... animated.

Jay glanced over at him, his smirk widening. “I met someone interesting tonight.”

Heeseung’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Interesting how? Like, ‘I’m going to shoot him in the head’ interesting, or...?”

Jay chuckled, a low, dark sound that sent a shiver down Heeseung’s spine. “No, not this time he’s different smart, determined he’s been watching me for a while, I think and he’s after something personal.”

Heeseung blinked, trying to process what he was hearing. “And you didn’t kill him?”

Jay shook his head. “No. I’m curious to see what he does next besides,” he added, almost as an afterthought, “I want to know his name.”