The next day dawned gray and overcast, mirroring Niki's mood as he walked into the precinct. He felt an unsettling mix of anticipation and apprehension swirling inside him. The case of the black roses weighed heavily on his mind, and he couldn't shake the feeling that Sunoo was connected to it somehow—yet he had no idea how.
As he settled at his desk, Niki caught Jae's eye from across the room. His partner approached, a concerned expression etched on his face. “You okay, Niki? You seem a little… distracted.”
Niki shrugged, forcing a smile. “Just thinking about the case.”
“Right. That case. It’s been a tough one. But you’ve got to take care of yourself, too,” Jae said, leaning against Niki’s desk. “You know how these things can weigh on you.”
“I know,” Niki replied, his mind drifting to Sunoo. The more he got to know him, the more he felt that there were layers to the man that were begging to be unraveled. “I’ll be fine. Just… trying to figure it out.”
Jae studied him for a moment. “You mean figure out why you keep daydreaming about your ‘mysterious friend’?”
Niki chuckled, but the heat rose to his cheeks. “It’s not like that.”
“Sure it’s not. Just remember, though, sometimes it’s easy to get swept up in something that might not be what it seems,” Jae warned lightly, though Niki could sense a deeper concern.
“Thanks for the advice, Mom,” Niki teased, but the truth of Jae’s words lingered in the back of his mind.
---
Later That Evening
After a long day of chasing leads and following up on witness statements, Niki found himself at the café once more, excitement thrumming through him. He entered, scanning the room until his eyes landed on Sunoo, who sat at their usual table, engrossed in a book. Sunoo looked up as Niki approached, a genuine smile breaking across his face that lit up the dim café.
“Hey, detective,” Sunoo greeted, his voice smooth and inviting. “You look like you’ve been through a war zone.”
Niki chuckled, shaking his head. “Just the usual chaos. You seem more at peace.”
Sunoo shrugged, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. “Sometimes a good book is all you need to escape reality.”
“Mind if I join you?” Niki asked, sliding into the seat across from Sunoo.
“Please do,” Sunoo replied, placing the book aside. “I was just thinking about our last conversation. It’s nice to have someone who isn’t afraid of the shadows.”
Niki leaned in closer, intrigued. “Maybe it’s because I see a light within those shadows.”
Sunoo’s expression softened, his gaze locking onto Niki’s with an intensity that made his heart race. “You have an interesting way of looking at things. Most people avoid the dark.”
“Maybe they’re afraid of what they might find,” Niki countered, his voice dropping slightly. “But I’m not afraid. I want to know you, Sunoo. All of you.”
Sunoo’s smile faltered for a moment, a flicker of something more profound crossing his features—fear, perhaps, or sadness. “You say that, but sometimes knowing too much can bring pain.”
“Pain can lead to understanding,” Niki replied, his heart aching at the vulnerability he sensed in Sunoo. “And understanding can bring healing.”
Sunoo regarded him, and for a moment, Niki thought he might finally see behind the mask. “You have a lot of faith in people, Niki. That can be dangerous.”
