"hey, chief."
seungcheol looks up, his round rimmed glasses going askew as he wipes a hand over his face. he was forcing his eyes open, scanning documents and typing them into his laptop, sending them to the main station. he's halfway through writing a report about the car crash accident in block seventeen that occurred three days ago, they were able to avoid much bigger casualties and saved the mother and her child out. leaning back a bit, his ass already hurts from being cramped in a tiny office, and the chair was uncomfortable, it squeaks every time he leans back.
hansol peaks through the door way, a cup of coffee in his hand, making his way in. the older tries to reach for it, but fails as it was pulled away. the youngest pointing at the six cups of coffee on his desk. "chief, you should go home."
the mention of 'home' made him glance at his watch, it was nearing eleven in the evening. his neck hurts from hunching and sleep seems to lull him, but when he glanced at the unfinished document in his laptop, he says otherwise. waving a hand at hansol, he continues typing, "i still have to finish this."
"you've been working nonstop, chief. mingyu hyung is about to blast in here and pull you out if you don't stop."
as if on cue, mingyu pops by the doorway, bumping hansol on his back to get through, grinning from ear to ear.
"yo, s.coups."
seungcheol sighs, feeling his head throb at the noise his coworker is making. "how many times do i have to tell you to stop calling me that?"
"but where's the fun in that?"
he cackles as hansol snorts at their childish antics.
seungcheol regrets his life choices sometimes.
the nicknames happened when they went out for a drug raid years ago, as to not get caught by the gang who sells the illegal stuff. the worse part is that it was his idea to make nicknames, rumbling excitedly about how they feel like spies. it was him, soonyoung, and another police officer, who doesn't work there anymore did the job. the names were supposed to be kept secret since he's embarrassed by it, but soonyoung was drunk, decided to go down the memory lane and told mingyu, seokmin and hansol.
now, mingyu calls him that from time to time, especially when they talk using the transmitter radio. hansol doesn't tease him though, which he was grateful but he knows the kid is dying to do so.
"shut up or i'm adding more paper work for you to do."
that instantly shuts the younger up, pouting in his direction. "but, hyung."
"no buts." he points a finger at him, then is about to proceed in typing when his laptop gets snatched. seungcheol glares.
mingyu raises it up so he wouldn't reach, "hyung, your shifts over. go home."
"work won't do itself, mingyu."
he tries to tackle the other, mingyu was quick and passes it to hansol, who dashes out of the room instantly. seungcheol heaves an annoyed sigh, glaring but with no heat in it. he knows mingyu means well, always the one to look after them, but work is important.
"go home, hyung. get some sleep. you need it."
the older was about to argue back, when seokmin pipes up, a coat on his hand and his laptop on the other. "mingyu's right, chief. you were even here last monday."
"that's because i have a job."
"hyung, mondays are your day offs." seokmin points out, and he clamps his mouth shut because it was true. seungcheol nods at them, taking the coat from the younger and shrugs it on. shutting his laptop down, he hears them cheer from behind.
somehow, his coworkers made it a game on who can convince him to go home and force sleep into his system. he smiles fondly at it.
walking their way to the main entrance, he glances back at them. soonyoung gapes at him, looks at his watch, then at him. hansol sits idly, flashing him an apologetic grin, the older gives him a thumbs up and waves at them as he holds the handle open.
"oh, right." seungcheol looks back at them, they all raise a brow at anticipation. "i expect those reports tomorrow morning."
the collective groan he hears made him laugh and closes the door. stepping out, the wind was cool against his skin, as he inhales the nightly aroma it gives. he thinks of taking the police car, since his thighs feel sore from sitting all down but go against it.
its been a while since he had taken a walk.
his place was only two blocks away, a thirty minute walk. the stars were shining brightly tonight, only a handful of cars passing by. there was no rush so he takes a left turn and walks around the park to clear his mind.
seungcheol's lying if that's the reason.
he just doesn't want to go.
that's why he stalls to stay at the station a little longer than intended. even with work piling in his desk, he wasn't alone. hansol knocks and gives him coffee. soonyoung asking him to go patrolling with him as he recalls their academy years. seokmin sits down and tells him jokes. mingyu packs a spare lunch for him.
whenever they tell him to go home, he badly wants to say them that he is already there.
the station became his home.
it fills the empty void in his heart, being with them completes his day.
when he reaches his apartment, he can feel the tiredness in his bones, screaming at him to lay down on his bed. it was a small rundown, two storey apartment owned by a nice old lady. the place was comfortable and the rent was cheap, and his neighbors were nice.
trudging his way up the second floor, each step heavier than the first. his hand purchases the key out of his pocket, when the door besides him opens, the landlady smiles when she sees him.
"i though you were gonna stay at the station again."
seungcheol chuckles at that, "they forced me to go and rest."
"then go inside and sleep, seungcheol-ah." her voice was soft and gentle, like how a mother would talk to a child in her bed, as she tucks them to bed. the latter bids him a good night and gets inside.
kicking his shoes by the doorway, he doesn't bother on turning the lights on. throwing the coat on the couch, and shrugging off his uniform. he pulls out a shirt and sleeps with his boxers instead. he's too tired to take a shower.
the silence was suffocating, as he stares at his ceiling. it reminds him why he doesn't want to go back to his apartment.
he's alone.
and he hates it.
the downfall of his work is that crime happens twenty four-seven, there's no time for relationships nor hook-ups, he doesn't bother with either. whenever they ask him to go clubbing, he avoids it. love is a waste of time to him. changho calls him sometimes, the older was busy with his work even more, but visits once in a while to nag seungcheol that— "you're not young anymore. when will you settle and find someone nice?"
nope. he'd probably die single.
turning to the other side, he wills his eyes to close. drowning in another dreamless state.
