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If a person asked about the situation that occurred, the entire events leading up to this point would become discredited. No one would own up to what led to the incident, although it was quite funny to a single pair of men.
Or more particularly, it was hilarious to Han Yoojin, who had Peace back in his arms after a few hard weeks of no kitty-cat snuggles.
And a somewhat guilty Song Taewon sat beside Han Yoojin, every so often petting Peace’s head to remind himself that he didn’t do something that despicable, all things considered.
You see, things all started around a month and a half ago when Han Yoojin finally broke things off with his boyfriend. Yoo Joongki was not the best choice of boyfriends, but Han Yoojin needed a place to stay that had an actual roof, so he wasn’t completely opposed to splitting rent with a mediocre guy.
Except, things only got worse. Yoo Joongki turned into a total asshole once he thought that Han Yoojin would take anything without any complaints. He was completely untidy and would constantly invite his friends over with no pre-planning or approval.
Han Yoojin could put up with a lot, but Han Yoojin was also a person who didn’t like getting kicked down. He wasn’t going to stay with a person who didn’t respect him.
Han Yoojin had enough. Even if Yoo Joongki did help pay the rent and wasn’t totally bad in bed, Han Yoojin couldn’t handle waking up to Yoo Joongki’s face or his abhorrent personality. Honestly, he wasn’t abusive, just generally unpleasant and lazy.
Maybe it was easier to explain that Han Yoojin was bored.
Nothing fun or new happened once they settled down. Sure, surprising things happened, but those things always lead to fights. Han Yoojin wanted more than a relationship like that.
Han Yoojin also happened to find a kitten during the months that he was with Yoo Joongki.
The kitten had a strange genetic mutation which made its orange fur just a bit brighter than normal. Han Yoojin ended up naming that cat Peace, and completely fell in love with the fur ball. Peace was a great cat, and clearly cared for Han Yoojin just as much as Han Yoojin cared for it.
But the thing was this: Yoo Joongki also liked Peace. Not in an emotional way, where true feelings and attachments were made, but in the “I’ll post pictures of Peace on social media to get more likes.”
So when Han Yoojin broke things off and kicked Yoo Joongki out of his apartment, a few events went awry.
For one, Yoo Joongki dragged his feet. Han Yoojin worked two different jobs with overtime, and then had to come home and pack Yoo Joongki’s belongings so that he would just move out.
For another, Yoo Joongki said he lost his copy of the apartment keys. Han Yoojin was boiling, completely upset over the fact that he would have to pay the landlord to make another pair.
The final straw of Han Yoojin’s sanity was ripped away when he arrived home from work only to discover that Peace was missing.
For a few hours, Han Yoojin was terrified. He searched all over his apartment and even asked his neighbors if they had heard any sort of strange noises that could have possibly been Peace escaping out of a window or something.
One of his neighbors then told Han Yoojin that they saw his boyfriend in the hallway earlier that day walking out with a pet carrier.
Han Yoojin’s sanity snapped. The sheer gall that Yoo Joongki had to steal Peace away made him want to eviscerate Yoo Joongki on sight.
Except, Yoo Joongki wasn’t answering any calls or texts. Even threats weren’t getting through.
It was awful. Han Yoojin was ready to spill blood. Peace had somehow turned into his best friend. Without Peace, Han Yoojin had nothing holding him back from going nuclear. Not even Han Yoohyun’s calling him up and asking his hyung to calm down would be able to stop this.
Han Yoojin tracked down Yoo Joongki. He was back living with his parents. Han Yoojin didn’t do much research on them, but Yoo Joongki was a prick, so his parents must be as well.
Han Yoojin thought about just storming into the house — and really, why was this guy paying rent for a shitty shared apartment when his parents were clearly loaded? — but he was also logical enough to know that he couldn’t break into a nice neighborhood without consequences.
That didn’t stop Han Yoojin from plotting revenge, even if most of it was far-fetched. He would get Peace back, he assured himself.
He was practically addicted to checking Yoo Joongki’s social media pages, waiting impatiently for the next picture of Peace to be uploaded to know that Han Yoojin’s baby was safe and healthy. Peace was growing up so fast, he was going to bawl in public if he kept staring at the pictures.
Han Yoojin was giving up slowly as the weeks passed. He had no legal right to a stray kitten that he took in. If anything, Yoo Joongki had some high up connections, so it was obvious that any court would sway with what Yoo Joongki’s family wished.
Things changed when Han Yoojin was at the bar to drink his sorrows. He looked so stressed and awful that he was sent home early from work. It was quite something.
Han Yoojin decided to finally drink. He stopped a year ago once Han Yoohyun got back in contact with him, hoping to repair some of the damage that had been left behind. Han Yoojin wanted to put his best self forward if Han Yoohyun was going to as well, so Han Yoojin got sober.
He was about to break his sobriety when an unfamiliar but very buff and handsome man tapped him on the shoulder. Han Yoojin was startled, practically spilling his cup of alcohol onto his phone.
Han Yoojin yelped, pushing his phone away from himself to keep it at a safer distance. He couldn't get his phone repaired if it broke, so it had to stay in good shape. He needed his phone to keep track of Peace, after all.
Han Yoojin then remembered the gorgeous stranger. He turned back around, very carefully watching out for his cup of whiskey in order not to spill it over.
He met dark eyes, his heart skipping a beat. The man before him was quite nice on the eyes. It was hard not to swallow upon sight or let out a small groan of surprise.
Han Yoojin shook himself out of his stupor, then asked, “Uhm, may I help you?”
The man was silent. Han Yoojin didn’t mind that about the handsome person. His chest made up more than enough for anything wrong with his personality. Although, Han Yoojin would still like to know just who this man was.
And if he wasn’t a complete douche, then maybe…
The unfamiliar man’s cheeks slowly turned pink. He looked unsure for such a large man. Han Yoojin was a bit concerned. Did he feel okay? This was a bar, so maybe the stranger drank a little too much?
“I… You…” The sentences were never fully formed.
The beautiful man gestured to Han Yoojin. It made Han Yoojin frown, unsure of what the man was trying to point out. He turned around and then spotted his phone. His screen was still open to Peace’s newest uploaded picture.
Han Yoojin’s day brightened immensely. He lifted up his phone in a hurry, a rush of adrenaline and energy hitting him all at once.
He asked while showing off Peace’s photo, “Do you know this cat!? Or maybe that bastard Yoo Joongki!?”
He didn’t even hide how upset he was about the whole thing. Han Yoojin stood up, inching closer to the stranger. The handsome man backed away just slightly, his blush brightening further. What a strange guy. Maybe he’s anxious or excited to share his news with Han Yoojin?
Han Yoojin continued, “He stole my cat, so I’ve been plotting a way to get Peace back, but every plan I have is too…” Illegal, to put it frankly.
Han Yoojin blinked at the stranger, waiting for a response. Any lead or helpful hint would be amazing.
Han Yoojin was desperate. He couldn’t sleep without thinking about how Peace’s favorite toy was stuck under the couch after Peace accidentally batted it under there the night before the kidnapping.
“Uh…” The handsome stranger blinked repeatedly back, his eyebrows twitching uncomprehendingly. “I… I…”
The stranger’s eyes slowly lifted from Han Yoojin’s face to look at the phone’s display. There was a slow, very slow, uptake of recognition. The photo that Han Yoojin landed on was of Peace being held by Yoo Joongki in front of his house, likely taken by his friend or family.
There was a long pause, and then the stranger confirmed, “I do know of that man.”
“You do?” Han Yoojin felt a buzz of electricity run through his veins, his entire body.
The man awkwardly moved in his suit. He looked conflicted, even biting his bottom lip in consideration, before finally opening his mouth to say a confusing but invigorating thing.
“He’s my ex.”
“Ah… oh.” Han Yoojin felt his hope deflate instantly.
Well, at least he knew now why Yoo Joongki could fuck. He was with a handsome guy, so he had to make up for his mediocre looks with his repertoire in bed.
“So it’s like that, huh.” Han Yoojin would cry in his room later that night, he decided. From 9 P.M. to 11 P.M., he would allow himself to grieve the loss of Peace once and for all.
But then the gorgeous stranger continued, “I’ll message him and see if he’s willing to meet. Perhaps… it will lead us to his house and I’ll be able to bring your pet back to you.”
Han Yoojin blinked in confusion as he wondered if he needed to get his ears cleaned out.
Did… Did this man just offer to hit up an ex-boyfriend of his, go on a date of sorts, and then sleep with the guy just so that he could steal back Peace for Han Yoojin on his way out?
Han Yoojin fell in love, just a little, at the absurdity of being willing to commit crime for a person you didn’t even know. But he knew it was an outlandish plan, one that was likely not to work as well.
It would be rude to ask that of someone. Han Yoojin needed to turn down this offer made by this kind man.
“N–No. You…” Han Yoojin looked up to the stranger, feeling warmth in his chest for the first time in a while. “You shouldn’t have to do that. I’m fine. I appreciate the offer, of course, but I can’t ask that of you.”
The man shook his head. Han Yoojin tried to pay attention to the words the man said, but he was too busy ogling the protruding muscles in his neck— not to mention his chest, that glorious thing.
The man left behind his number and a promise to meet Han Yoojin soon. Han Yoojin was a little confused, and perhaps bewitched, as the handsome man strode out of the bar.
Han Yoojin went home, completely sober, with the image and voice of the unfamiliar man in his mind.
It was two days later when Han Yoojin arrived home to his apartment after his latest shift and found that same stranger, who he now knew as Song Taewon, holding an orange cat in his arms.
Song Taewon was not a person who often went out for drinks. He had other things to do with the little freetime he had due to how time consuming his job was. The government liked to load many things off onto him.
However, he had been told by Sung Hyunje that the bar was discreet and unpopular despite its good variety of drinks, so Song Taewon became interested. He had a day off, the first day off in a year, and attempted to relax.
The bar wasn’t as amazing as Sung Hyunje made it out to be, but the drinks were pleasant enough. It was nice that not many customers were around as well, since Song Taewon didn’t always want to be recognized or known as that one civil servant who went around arresting the worst of the worst.
Song Taewon was somewhat publicly known for arresting government officials, mob bosses, and white collar criminals all the same. He didn’t care who he was assigned, he would find a way to prove their guilt and make the world just a little bit safer.
He enjoyed the anonymity of just being another person at the bar.
He played a round of pool with an older woman who appeared to be a regular, though her friend had missed their meeting time so she needed someone else to play with her. And then the bartender made these amazing fried okra which made Song Taewon wonder if he should eat out more often.
However, Song Taewon’s entire day changed when he saw a man enter the bar. He was somewhat soaked from the rain outside but didn’t seem to care or even mind it.
The stranger, who he would learn was called Han Yoojin, was dressed in casual clothes and yet he looked beautiful as he sat down, swept back his dew-covered hair, and ordered a glass of whiskey on the rocks.
Song Taewon may have been high off of the idea of having some free time, or perhaps even a little buzzed, but he thought he may have the courage to ask someone out on a date. It had to be some sort of fate to end up like this, right?
Song Taewon called for the bartender. She looked amused as he asked, “Can I send him over a drink?” He gestured to Han Yoojin, who was too busy looking at his phone to notice them.
The bartender chuckled, and then replied, “I don’t do that here.” Song Taewon’s heart dropped. “But, why don’t you just walk on up to him and buy him a drink while over there? I’m sure he wouldn’t mind the company if you’re polite.”
The bartender then whiskered herself away, leaving Song Taewon on his own.
What was he supposed to do? Talk to Han Yoojin on his own???
That was, in fact, what Song Taewon ended up doing. It took him a long time to work up the courage, but he managed to walk over to Han Yoojin. He tapped the man on the shoulder, rehearsing his introduction in his head.
Before Song Taewon could speak, Han Yoojin turned around.
He seemed shocked to be talked to at the bar. Song Taewon’s nerves shot up through the roof. Now he was concerned that Han Yoojin was in a relationship, or maybe not interested at all!
But then Han Yoojin latched onto his phone. His eyes lit up with ferocity and hope.
It was hard for Song Taewon to look away from Han Yoojin’s expression, his wonderful face full of emotion and grace. Song Taewon’s breath was completely gone as his mind filled with the limitless images of Han Yoojin’s unforgettable face.
However, Song Taewon did manage to turn to where Han Yoojin was pointing. It was to his phone. Song Taewon didn’t understand what was happening until he remembered the situation. Han Yoojin was struggling with an ex-boyfriend who took his cat.
What a cruel thing to do to a person such as Han Yoojin.
Song Taewon couldn’t do much, in reality. Pet ownership was something unfamiliar to him and he wasn’t well-versed in the ways of the law concerning pet custody rights.
However, as Song Taewon inspected the photograph, he realized that he knew the house that Han Yoojin was showing in the background of the photo of his cat. That house was owned by business owners that Song Taewon had investigated in the past for tax fraud.
However, Song Taewon couldn’t just say that he could get Han Yoojin’s cat back out of the blue. The case was ongoing and always coming to a standstill. But… Song Taewon didn’t want Han Yoojin to suffer.
So Song Taewon lied. He said that he was an ex of whoever Han Yoojin was talking about, and he would obtain Peace the cat no matter what. He traded his contact information with Han Yoojin and began to plan accordingly instantly.
The case wasn’t cut and dry, so Song Taewon had to do this the hard way. He showed up at the house. Yoo Joongki answered. Song Taewon interrogated the man, and then said that any pets would be placed in better homes as the investigation continued. Yoo Joongki accepted it, likely because he understood that his family would be caught for their crimes eventually.
Song Taewon tracked down Han Yoojin through his phone number, discovered his address, and waited anxiously for the man to arrive home.
Han Yoojin walked into the hallway slowly. His eyes widened when he caught sight of Song Taewon. He trembled as Peace leapt out of Song Taewon’s arms and ran into his own.
Song Taewon hummed to himself, and then prepared to leave after reuniting Han Yoojin with his beloved pet.
Yet, things did not end there. Han Yoojin chuckled, a little loudly. He was bubbly all of a sudden, his personality bright. He was completely besotted looking, which was strange, since Song Taewon knew it was surely the other way around.
“What are you doing?” called out Han Yoojin. “Aren’t you coming inside?”
Song Taewon was a weak man when it came to Han Yoojin, so he agreed to enter the apartment. Peace meowed in Han Yoojin’s arms and everything appeared to settle down.
What a strange day.
(Song Taewon would deny any involvement he had in the case. He passed that off months ago, didn’t you know?)