I'd Take A Bullet For You

Fight For You

The balmy evening breeze carries the overpowering smell of petroleum, smoke, and seawater as Ri Jeong Hyeok stealthily makes his way in the dark shadows casted by the huge warehouse said to be the hideout of the suspects. He had received an anonymous tip yesterday about a transaction happening at the shipping dock that night involving not only drugs but kidnapped women as well. The suspects have reportedly branched out from mere drug trafficking to human trafficking, and the case has become even more complicated than it already was.

He needs to find evidence first before the NIS can take over, but the suspects have been disappearing on them like smoke. Without a shred of evidence, they are left to solve the case for the time being, and Jeong Hyeok hates the sight of the old folder left in the unsolved pile on his desk. His sharp eyes scan the number of guards manning the entrance, and he once again checks the weapons he had strapped on his body. Two spare guns under his jacket and a knife hidden against his ankle. He takes a deep breath.

But before he can move out of his hiding place, there is a light tap on his shoulder that causes him to whirl around and point his gun at his potential assailant on instinct. He cannot see who it is under the black cap but whoever it is had the right mind to raise both hands in surrender. Jeong Hyeok uses his gun to knock the cap off, causing her long hair to tumble down in waves. His mind goes blank the moment Yoon Seri lifts her bright eyes to meet his. She silently holds up an earpiece and a gun silencer like she would a peace offering, and he accepts them with a frown.

"What are you doing here?" he asks even though he might already know the answer. She snatches her cap off the ground and twists her hair back up easily, and he feels his blood pressure rising at her display of nonchalance. You shouldn't be here is his thought as his eyes warily scan their perimeter for potential threats. "I don't remember calling for backup yet."

"I am not your backup. I'm your partner," she clarifies proudly, and his eyes begin to see red. "Captain Pyo finally listened to me and gave me permission to be a part of this case. And before you get mad at him, just know that I cornered him into this. He really didn't have much of a choice."

Pyo Chi Su is a close friend of his and has long since been a confidant about his affections for Yoon Seri. At first, he thought it was a hilarious joke that Jeong Hyeok was pulling on him. Then when the older man realized that he was serious, he began spewing black propaganda about Seri that only made him laugh and fall for her even more. Only a madwoman will put up with a boss who treats her the way Chi Su does. Though the captain is still in the dark about their romantic relationship, he knew for certain that Jeong Hyeok does not work well distracted. So, why the hell did he give into her wishes?

"Stop looking at me like that," Seri snaps in annoyance. "I have the same right to be here as you do."

Jeong Hyeok gives into his anger, the only emotion he is willing to act upon other than the fear creeping into his chest, and hisses, "I thought we talked about this. You know how I feel about you taking up dangerous missions."

"You talked," she points out smartly and immediately ticks him off. "I was too busy being angry to listen to what you have to say."

He sharply exhales, trying his best to keep his volume down. "Seri, now is not the time. I'm serious. After what happened in Daegu –."

"Are you seriously bringing that up right now?" she cuts him off frostily. What happened last year is still a sensitive topic for both of them and bringing it up as an excuse to rattle her is a low blow especially by his standards. He immediately feels apologetic, and she sighs after seeing the look on his face. "Look, I know you're worried. I am, too. But we have to try separating personal with business if we are going to work together or else it'll be Daegu all over again. You have to trust me."