Chapter Text
It was an out of body experience coming back to Seoul for Suri. It had been years since she was here and at the same time it felt like home again. It especially helped when she was greeted at the airport by a sea of men dressed in black suits who helped her with her bags as well as escorting her to the waiting dark tinted car that was parked outside the terminal building. She was in such a rush to leave Busan that she never even had the time to change out of her school uniform. Her short grey skirt that came up to her mid-thigh on her long legs and fluttered in the breeze and her upper half was covered in her white short sleeved school shirt with her name tag still attached. Her blazer was discarded many hours ago on the plane. She caught a few of the men in black looking at her in a less than innocent manner. Suri scoffed internally to herself. As if they would even be allowed to touch her knowing who her uncle is. Now uncle would be a stretch of a word used to describe Choi Mujin. She hadn’t seen him since she was a little girl and whilst she knew he was her father’s best friend and business partner (also using that word very loosely), she never could quite think of him as family.
From what her recollection of him could recall, he was a tall slim figured man with a sharp jawline and unreadable eyes. Despite his appearance, a young Kim Suri took a shine to Choi Mujin and as a child when he was visiting, would constantly sit on his lap whenever she could and had more than a few times, fell asleep in his warm arms. Her father would joke that she loved him at first sight and Suri as a child bordering on young teenager would protest profusely while trying to contain her blush.
It had been 7 years since Kim Suri and Choi Mujin had seen each other. He had been busy with building his empire known as Dongcheon and had seemed to have little time for her anymore but now her father’s hand has been forced and he had decided to send her away to Seoul. To her uncle.
Kim Suri eyed the men in black not dissimilar to her father’s own men in disinterest before stopping in front of one man who was standing in front of the back passenger door of the car waiting for her.
“Hello, I am Jung Taeju,” The man introduced himself with a bow “I am Choi Mujin’s right hand man if you need anything Miss Kim.” Taeju finished. Kim Suri raised an eyebrow unimpressed.
“I see my uncle is too busy to greet me himself.” Kim Suri commented in a cold detached tone. Jung Taeju lost his composure for a moment at the comment and the rest of the men shifted uncomfortably behind her although Kim Suri never bothered to turn around to see their expressions.
“He uh... was tied up a meeting so sent me to greet you.” Taeju lied with an ease that spoke volumes of how many years practice he has.
Kim Suri rolled her eyes, not bothering to retort to that excuse, before gesturing for the door of the car to be opened for her which Taeju did quickly and efficiently before closing it shut and getting in the driver’s seat of the car. Kim Suri watched as the rest of the men in black suits piled into their own cars with one minivan behind and one in front of their own car. Kim Suri looked out the window as she watched the city of Seoul go by with little interest. Taeju eyed the young girl from his mirror in silent humour. Oh she was going to give Choi Mujin a hard time.
The car eventually rolled to a stop outside the hotel Liber and Kim Suri stared out the window at how high the building went in awe. It seemed her uncle has been doing well in the last 7 years. Taeju jumped out the driver’s door and hastily opened Suri’s door for her before she hopped out of the car, still looking up at how high the building was, she reckoned it was at least 20 floors high.
“Follow me please Miss Kim.” Taeju broke her out of her daydream and quickly fell into step with Taeju through the lobby of the hotel and into the elevator waiting for them.
“Your uncle has requested that you stay with him in the penthouse suite.” Taeju commented before pressing the button for the penthouse. Kim Suri huffed in annoyance and crossed her arms. She had a bad feeling that she wouldn’t be able to do what she wanted to do without eyes everywhere. This is almost as bad as being back home. Taeju ignored her obvious displeasure at the information. Truth be told he wasn’t happy about the decision either. Business was conducted in the penthouse, and it was no place for a teenage girl to witness what happened between those walls.
The bell rung to announce the elevator had reached the desired floor and the doors opened out into a long red corridor which had a few of Choi Mujin’s bodyguards skulking about in.
Taeju opened the door to the penthouse to reveal a dark coloured room which was vastly big and at the centre of the room sat Choi Mujin’s dark wooden desk with the man of the hour sitting behind it casually, waiting.
“Ahjussi.” Kim Suri breathed quietly while laying eyes on the man that she hadn’t seen in 7 years. Taeju caught a small smile on the corner of his boss’ mouth before Taeju was hastily making a retreat from the room, sensing the intimate moment between the two. He last saw Choi Mujin slowly approaching the girl before the doors were closed and they were left alone.
“Was your meeting so important you couldn’t greet me at the airport?” Kim Suri asked, expressing her displeasure to hide her happiness at seeing Choi Mujin again.
“Life or death.” Choi Mujin replied walking towards the girl he only remembered as a quiet, sweet little thing. Obviously the 7 years apart had changed her. Kim Suri rolled her eyes at the cheesy answer knowing that in his and her father’s line of business it was literally that.
“You have grown up.” Choi Mujin commented while taking a moment to look at the girl, no woman, she has become.
“Well it has been 7 years.” Kim Suri retorted as Choi Mujin came to a stop in front of her, his height towering over her. Kim Suri eyed him curiously, he didn’t seem to have aged at all since she last saw him. His slim figure was still evident and his face void of wrinkles for a 40-year-old man.
“I know, I’m sorry I couldn’t come back to see you in those 7 years, but things here have been… complicated.” Mujin tried to placate her before reaching for her hand and bringing it up to his lips for a gentle kiss on the back. Kim Suri nearly gasped in surprise, but she held it in and kept her face void.
“I know, the business comes first.” Kim Suri repeats the words that her father drilled into her for years monotonously. Choi Mujin cracks a smile at the young woman which Kim Suri returns easily.
Kim Suri then suddenly places both hands on Choi Mujin’s face and steps closer to him so they are only a breath away, scrutinising his face. Choi Mujin freezes in place and tries to read Suri’s intention.
“You never seem to age; you look exactly as you did 7 years ago.” Suri commented quietly before meeting Choi Mujin’s eyes in an intense stare for several moments that seemed like hours before Choi Mujin’s face cracked into a wide grin, breaking the intimate moment between them. Choi Mujin places a lingering kiss on Suri’s head and wraps his arms around her tiny waist in a big hug. The move caught Suri by surprise, but she wasted no time in returning the gesture and burying her face where his neck and should join. A faint knock sounded but Suri ignored it, taking comfort in Choi Mujin’s embrace. Choi Mujin looked up from burying his face in her hair to see Taeju’s shocked expression from the slight opened door. Choi Mujin gestured with Taeju to wait there before easing out of the embrace with Suri.
“I have some business to attend to Suri. I have your bedroom all set up and all your things have been put in there already.” Choi Mujin told her, gently dismissing her. Suri nodded in understanding, turning around slightly to see Taeju waiting for Mujin, before stepping away from Mujin.
“Ok, try not to get blood on the white rug, if I was your housekeeper, I would kill you over that.” Kim Suri sassed in departure over her shoulder, knowing Mujin would be grinning over that comment. Taeju tried to compose his face over the surprise of casualness the young woman was with the boss.
Her short skirt flapped as she walked away, and Mujin struggled to keep his eyes up where they needed to be. Taeju pretended not to notice.
Chapter Text
Chapter 2
“Dinner is at 7pm” was the text Suri received at 6:30pm after unpacking her bags in her new room. Room would be an understatement as the it was vastly bigger than any room she had stayed in before including her own personal one back home. Suri changed out of her old school uniform, which she had been travelling in a fair proportion of the day, and into a comfortable short black dress that hugged her small figure. She threw her long dark hair into a high ponytail and set out for Mujin’s office, her small, heeled shoes clicking on the hard wood floors. Suri arrived at the big double wooden doors into Mujin’s office and nodded her head for the guard at the door to open them. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before doing as she asked. Suri sauntered into the room and Mujin and Taeju looked up from what they were discussing sitting on the sofa, when they heard Suri’s heels clicking on the floor.
“Suri,” Mujin greeted in surprise before looking down at his watch to see it was 7pm already. “Ah sorry, we lost track of time. Taeju we will have to discuss this further later.” Mujin announced surprising both Suri and Taeju. Suri never though he would choose her over work before and Taeju was surprised for the same reason.
“I promised dinner with Suri for her first night back.” Mujin explained to Taeju who silently gathered up the papers in understanding.
“I’ll get the car ready.” Taeju announced before making his way to leave the room. Taeju and Suri exchanged nods when they came face to face before passing each other.
“I just need to change quickly, and I’ll be right back.” Mujin told her before disappearing to where she believed his bedroom was. Suri nodded in understanding and finally was able to have a look around at his ‘office’ without being distracted. It was a dark room; a lot of dark cherry wood littered the furniture and floors. It gave off a dangerous vibe but also a lonely one too. Before Suri could analyse the room, further Mujin had returned in a new fresh suit. His blazer was black velvet and very formal and his shirt was now changed into a dark red burgundy with a black tie.
“Your tie is not straight.” Suri quietly told him. When Mujin raised his hands to correct, Suri softly battered them away and replaced them with her own. She was too fixated on fixing the tie to notice Mujin looking down at her with fondness in his eyes.
“You do know I have survived 7 years without you fixing my tie, Suri.” Mujin commented once she was done. He remembered when she was a little girl that climbed on his lap and constantly played with his tie and helped him ‘fix it’ and tie it.
Suri smirked in amusement with a hint of sadness. “Mmm, 7 years without me, I wonder how you did it.” Suri teased before stepping back from Mujin and gesturing for them to leave.
The unspoken tension between Mujin and Suri was at an all time high when they got in the elevator together. They watched each other from the corners of their eyes when the other wasn’t looking.
When they reached the lobby, Mujin placed his hand on the small of Suri’s back, guiding her through the vast lobby towards the exit exclusively for Mujin’s use, where his men in black suits and Taeju was waiting for them. Mujin pushed Taeju aside and opened the car door for Suri who immediately got in with a little help from Mujin. Mujin came around the other side of the car and joined her in the back and Taegu got into the driver’s seat. The rest of the men going to their own vehicles.
“Is the number of men you bring with us really necessary?” Suri asked breaking the silence in the car.
“Yes,” Mujin immediately answered, looking out of his window. Suri turned from her window to look at Mujin who eventually copied her when feeling her eyes on him. “My men will accompany you to and from school as well.” Suri scoffed at that notion.
“Great, why don’t you write gangster’s daughter on my forehead while you are at it?” Suri snarked.
“If anyone gives you trouble-“ Mujin started but was cut off.
“I can deal with my own issues myself.” Suri interrupted coldly.
“Ah yes I heard about that from your father.” Mujin told her cavalierly. Taeju was trying not to show how intrigued he was with the conversation between Kim Suri and his boss. They were both enigma’s standalone but when put together they were an even bigger box of unknown worms.
“I don’t wish to speak about my father.” Suri told Mujin who opened his mouth again to speak.
“Suri-“ Mujin tried again but was cut off by her sharp ‘no’ which he then accepted for now.
“Ok.” Mujin appeased while picking up her hand and placing a kiss on the back of it softly. Taeju averted his eyes at the intimate gesture that relaxed Suri’s previously tight body language.
“I want to train at the gym.” Suri exclaimed after a moment of silence. Mujin pushed out an audible deep breath.
“Ok but only if Taeju or I accompany you. I don’t trust the other men around you.” Mujin told her after a short period of silence. Mujin made eye contact with Taeju who nodded at the silent command.
“Fine, I’m surprised you agreed.” Suri commented with wide eyes.
“It’s a dangerous world and it wouldn’t hurt if you know how to defend yourself.” Mujin commented before lighting up his signature cigarette and taking a puff before it was snatched out of his hand by a smaller, more delicate one.
“And it wouldn’t happen to be more dangerous when you and father are who you are?” Suri asked with a knowing smirk while taking a puff of Mujin’s cigarette. By that time the car had pulled up outside the restaurant and Mujin and Suri continued to stare at each other, the smoke from the cigarette in Suri’s hand clouding the air. Mujin snatched the cigarette out of Suri’s hand and chucked it out of his car window.
“I promised your father I would protect you to the best of my abilities and that is what I will do Suri.” Mujin told her with his intense stare burrowing into her. Mujin quickly got out of the car and opened Suri’s car door while offering a hand to her to help her out. Suri stared at his hand for a moment and then moved her eyes to his dark ones. It looked like she was having an internal debate with herself, and it wasn’t clear which side was winning. Suri confidently placed her hand into his much bigger one. Mujin’s hand immediately dropped from Suri’s once she was out of the car but before Suri could think much more of everything, Mujin’s arm wrapped around her waist as he guided her into the waiting restaurant. Taeju watched the pair go with amused eyes. He had a feeling his boss was going to have an amusing stressful time going forward with Kim Suri in the picture.
--- Line Break---
The hostess of the Chinese restaurant immediately recognised Choi Mujin and ushered the pair to his waiting table which was situated in a secluded part of the restaurant away from other diners and their prying eyes. There was a hint of unease with the hostess when she saw the man she knew very well as dangerous with a young girl at his side.
“Would you like to order your drinks now Sir?” The hostess asked after seating the couple at Choi Mujin’s usual table where he conducted business meetings occasionally.
“Scotch,” Choi Mujin immediately ordered and then paused for a second “and soda for the girl.” He finished. Suri huffed in annoyance.
“Actually I think I would like a scotch too.” Suri sweetly told the host through gritted teeth.
“Don’t listen to her, she’s underage.” Choi Mujin said without looking up from his reading of the menu. Suri huffed again but didn’t say anything further. The hostess looked between the pair with a deer in headlights look before Choi Mujin raised his eyes to look at her with his cold stare. The hostess bowed and left with their drink orders.
“Do you like trying my patience Suri?” Mujin asked slowly, looking up from his menu and setting it down on the table.
“I don’t like being treated like a child.” Suri ironically exclaimed quite childishly with a pout. Mujin stared at her with his unreadable eyes for a few minutes. It made Suri want to squirm in her seat, but she withheld the urge, not wanting to give him the satisfaction. The stare was interrupted by the arrival of their drinks which Suri quietly thanked the waitress for.
“Kim Suri, do you know how many eyes are on me right now?” Mujin asked her after taking a sip out of his tumbler. Suri startled at the formal use of her name and line of questioning before shaking her head.
“That hostess that seated us? She’s an informant for the police and that couple over there by the window? They have been sneaking glances at us ever since we sat down at the table and judging by their dress sense, I reckon they are some type of law enforcement agent.” Mujin told the girl who looked surprised. Suri looked at the couple, trying to dissect who they are. Mujin did too and arrogantly waved at the couple when they turned around to stare at them again.
“The point I am making is that someone is always watching so when we are out in public, we will appear as the law-abiding citizens we are and that includes you, as an underage girl, not consuming alcohol in public where they will then have an excuse to bring me in for questioning.” Mujin explained to the girl. Suri stared at Mujin for a moment while he finished off his scotch with a hint of pride.
“You really did make a name for yourself and Dongcheon didn’t you?” Suri questioned with a bright smile. Mujin met Suri’s eyes with a soft chuckle before nodding in agreement.
“You can have a scotch when we get home. I’m not your father Suri.” Mujin told her before the hostess showed up to take their dinner order. Since Mujin’s outing of the hostess’ affiliation it made Suri look at her in a whole new light, she finally saw the face of a person who was so desperate for money that she would sell information regarding her customers.
“Actually I don’t think I would like to eat here, it smells fishy.” Suri declared with an upturned nose. Mujin smirked at her ‘stuck up’ attitude. The hostess’ mouth was open in shock, not sure on what to say.
“Ok, I know some place better.” Mujin acquiesced to Suri’s demand and set down some notes on the table. He then helped Suri up from her chair and put his hand on Suri’s lower back to guide her outside the restaurant and past the hostess but paused when he came face to face with her and slightly leant down to whisper in her ear quietly but not too quiet for Suri not to hear ‘give Cha Gi-ho my regards’. Suri smirked menacingly when the hostess’ face suddenly paled and she looked like she was going to pass out. Unfortunately Mujin led Suri away before she could see much else.
They got in the car in silence. Taeju didn’t say a word as to why they were out of the restaurant so quickly.
“I want Korean beef.” Suri declared, breaking up the silence. Mujin nodded at Taeju through the mirror and Taeju started the car.
Chapter Text
Chapter 3
“Yah, do I have to go to school?” Suri exclaimed with an exaggerated pout when she barged into Mujin’s office where he and Taeju were sitting down in the middle of discussion. Suri had changed into her school uniform which consisted of a short grey skirt like her old one, a short sleeved crisp white shirt with her name tag (her necktie untied for the time being) and she was carrying the dark blue blazer on her arm away from her body like a disease.
“Yes.” Mujin said when he looked up from the tablet Taeju handed to him. Taeju looked up and nodded at the girl in greeting. Mujin then huffed a breath when he took a second look at the young woman.
“Your skirt is too short.” Mujin commented in exasperation. Suri glared in annoyance.
“No it’s not. My legs are long, and I have a slim waist so I can’t get a bigger size skirt.” Suri explained. Mujin sighed at her explanation but decided to not bother getting into the details. He then rose from his seat and walked over to the girl who raised an eyebrow questioningly before his hands came up to her necktie to finish it.
“Are we taking it in turns now?” Suri snarked but let him continue his task. Mujin smirked but stayed silent.
“By now the police will be aware of your presence after last night. They will want to know who you are and your relation to me. If any approach you, don’t say a word and come straight home.” Mujin told her seriously before dropping his hands from her tie. Suri sighed but nodded in understanding.
“I’ll accompany you to your school today, Taeju prepare the car. Suri follow him, I’ll meet you down there in a minute.” Mujin told the two. Taeju nodded and bowed his head while Suri smiled a genuine smile at Mujin taking her to school her first day. Suri walked on ahead downstairs and just before Taeju left he heard Mujin softly say his name.
“Make sure the boys keep their eyes to themselves and that they know Suri is off limits to them.” Mujin told his right-hand man with unreadable eyes. Taeju nodded before leaving the room and he swore he heard his boss mutter ‘aish that girl is going to be the death of me’. Taeju smirked in amusement.
---Line Break---
The ride to school was done in silence. Suri wouldn’t admit it but she was nervous to a degree because she knew no-one and she had a feeling everyone was going to see her step out of the black Mercedes heavily tinted car and in her experience it wasn’t necessarily a good thing. The good part about it was no one ever gave her trouble (apart from ‘the incident’; they were too scared of her father. However that meant no one wanted to be her friend and everyone avoided her as much as they could.
“You will be fine, remember what I told you.” Mujin told her, breaking her out of her thoughts when they rolled to a stop outside the school gates. She could already see students stare at the ostentatious car, waiting for whoever to step out.
“God, I hate school.” Suri muttered, looking at all the kids loitering around the front in groups, most openly staring and pointing at the car.
“If anyone gives you trouble-“ Mujin started but Suri cut him off in a dramatic practiced monotone voice.
“You will deal with them.” Suri finished with a frown. She then heard Mujin chuckle and whipped her head around to look at him in surprise.
“Well I was going to say that you could always do what you did in your last school.” Mujin told her. Suri openly gaped in surprise before she saw the small smirk on Mujin’s face.
“Stop teasing me. Anyway that would draw attention to you and the organisation.” Suri retorted in a bored voice. Mujin smiled in a pleased manner.
“Good you are learning,” Mujin commented. Suri huffed in annoyance. “Looks like we have some friends watching us too.” Mujin pointed out. Suri frowned in surprise and looked where Mujin was looking at the black car occupied by two grown men who were obviously police.
“That was quick.” Suri commented in surprise.
“Word on the street travels fast,” Mujin told her. “That’s why my men will pick you up to and from school, It’s dangerous for you because of your relationship to me.” Mujin told her seriously.
“Ok, can we go to the gym after school?” Suri acquiesced to Mujin with wide eyes.
“Sure. Taeju.” Mujin wordlessly ordered and Taeju nodded getting out of the driver’s seat to open Mujin’s door which surprised Suri. She didn’t think he would want to be seen. Mujin stepped out of the car and with all eyes on him walked around to Suri’s door and opened it for her. Suri hesitated for a second before stepping out of the car, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone. Before Suri could take a step further, Mujin stopped her, cupped her cheeks with both hands and leant down to place a lingering kiss on her forehead in front of everyone. Suri froze in shock but tried to mask her face.
“I’m untouchable and now you are too.” Mujin explained to her. Suri then understood the gesture. He was letting everyone know, police, students, and anyone else that was watching that if you came after Kim Suri with ill intentions, Dongcheon would come after you. Suri’s face slowly morphed into a knowing smirk.
“I’ll see you after school.” Mujin told her before stepping aside and back into the black car. Suri watched the black car for a moment and finally understood that it wasn’t going to leave until she went through the gates of the school. Suri sighed and decided to start walking with the rest of the students parting for her in awe. Choi Mujin’s reputation does precede him after all.
---Line Break---
It was a long day at school for Kim Suri. Every teacher asked for her to introduce herself for her classes. She stated her name and that was it. That was everything she wanted the students to know about her. She only had several months before graduation anyway; it wasn’t worth it trying to make friends especially when she didn’t know who she could trust. After the day when Mujin pointed out the hostess of the restaurant as being an informer for the police, Suri was naturally suspicious of everyone. No one in this world seemed to have straight forward intentions anymore. She didn’t even need to try hard at avoiding everyone as everyone avoided her anyway after the display at the school gates. Even the teachers avoided calling on her in class. Yes, word did get around fast in Seoul.
As promised, a car was waiting to collect her at the end of the school day although it was just Taeju and a car behind full of guys waiting instead of Mujin.
“Miss Kim.” Taeju greeted her with a small bow of his head before he opened her door for her. Suri smiled tiredly.
“Just Suri is fine Jung Taeju.” Suri corrected him warmly, happy to see a familiar face rather than a nameless man in a black suit waiting for her.
“Very well, just Taeju is fine Suri.” Taeju countered with a smile that made him seem 10 years younger. Suri chuckled but nodded. Her chuckle was cut short when she noticed the car from this morning with the two male police still in the same spot, watching.
“Don’t worry about them, they can’t touch you.” Taeju said when he noticed what caught her attention.
“I’m not used to being watched this closely before.” Suri admitted before getting into the car. Taeju then proceed to get into the driver’s seat.
“Seoul is a dangerous place Suri and being associated with Choi Mujin makes it even more dangerous but don’t worry, someone will always be around to protect you.” Taeju explained, not wanting to scare the girl.
Suri nodded before muttering to herself “I’d rather be able to protect myself.” Taeju heard the remark and smiled briefly.
“That is why I’m taking you home to get changed and then we will head to the gym. Choi Mujin is meeting us there.” Taeju told the girl who met his eye in the mirror and smiled in delight for the first time today.
---Line break---
The gym was empty except for Mujin when Taeju and Suri arrived.
“Did you have a good day at school?” Mujin asked when he saw Suri enter in her sportswear of high waisted black leggings and a black sports bra which showed a sliver of mid-riff.
“Everyone avoided me like the plague.” Suri answered with a pout that wasn’t genuine. Mujin chuckled and Suri took the time to fully appreciate Mujin’s current form in black tracksuit bottoms with a white sleeveless sweat top that showed off his muscular arms.
“Don’t act like you don’t like it.” Mujin told her, not buying her act in the slightest. Suri smirked knowingly.
“Well being avoided does have it’s benefits,” Suri said before changing the subject “I think this is the most dressed down I have ever seen you.” Suri said with a raised eyebrow, making sure her eyes didn’t settle too long on his arms.
“You didn’t expect me to fight in a suit, did you?” Mujin retorted with a raised eyebrow. Of course Mujin has fought in a suit before but never at the gym.
“I’m fighting you?” Suri questioned in surprise, looking around the place for other people.
“Of course. Taeju wait outside please.” Mujin ordered. Taeju bowed and left the two in the gym.
Suri watched Mujin curiously as he beckoned her to come forward into the ring in the centre of the gym. Suri hesitated but followed his instruction. She wasn’t sure if she could fight Mujin, it didn’t seem right.
“Put your fists up,” Mujin told her “Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you... for now.” Mujin said with a smirk, bringing out Suri’s competitive side instantly.
“Ok, sure.” Suri nonchalantly agreed, raising her firsts to cover her face in a defensively position. Mujin moved quickly and in a blink of an eye swung his fist which Suri easily sidestepped and then swung a punch of her own that Mujin quickly blocked but just barely. Mujin raised an eyebrow questioningly.
“I’m not completely a beginner, Father taught me some things.” Suri explained with a shrug before she went to kick out Mujin’s legs which wobbled his balance but didn’t fell him. Mujin smirked, pleased, and then countered with a kick of his own that Suri just managed to avoid.
The dance went on for over half an hour before the pair collapsed on their backs on the mat next to each other, out of breath. Sweat covered each of their bodies and faces. Bruised ribs for Suri and a cut lip for Mujin was the result of an afternoon of fighting.
“You have good stamina.” Mujin complimented when his breath was almost back to normal.
“You do too… for an old man” Suri teased, turning over so she was propped up on her elbow, staring down at Mujin.
“Well this old man kicked your ass.” Mujin told her, mildly annoyed with her teasing but taking it in his stride. Suri pouted at the change of subject.
“Well you are a gang leader, and I am just an 18-year-old student.” Suri told him in an obvious tone pointedly.
“Student or not, I am going to teach you how to kick my ass.” Mujin told her which Suri grinned at before she rolled over on top of Mujin, her bent knees on either side of his hips before throwing her arms around his neck and pressing her face into his hot sweaty neck.
“Thank you, Mujin,” Suri whispered to him, during the awkward hug where Mujin froze before his big arms slowly came around to embracing Suri. And as quickly as the moment came, Mujin all of a sudden flipped Suri over onto her back, being careful to cradle her head with his hand, resting his body on top of hers. Suri blinked in confusion at the fast motion of Mujin’s face now being above hers. Her legs instinctively raised to coddle Mujin’s body between them.
“Rule number 1, never let your guard down.” Mujin taught her and Suri smirked naughtily when she realised the position they were in and what it would look like from an outside perspective.
“Is this the part where we wrestle?” Suri teased in a soft, sultry voice. Mujin eyed her with unreadable eyes before realising the position they were in and pushed himself off of her and back onto his feet. Suri chuckled in amusement but also hid her disappointment at the loss of his weight on top of her.
“There’s a limit to the amount of teasing I will accept Suri.” Mujin told her before offering a hand to help her up.
“Hmm and what happens if I go over that limit?” Suri asked confidently. Mujin opened his mouth to retort but they were interrupted by the entrance of Dongcheon boys piling in to start their training. A few of the boys gaped at seeing Kim Suri, the gym not known for any females to be present, before Mujin guided her out the door with a hand on the small of Suri’s back. The boys bowed in respect of Mujin when he passed through the small crowd. Mujin saw Suri had the audacity to wink at a boy who was looking particularly starstruck. Mujin tried to keep his smile off his face, but he had a feeling he failed at that. Suri was Suri, a unique creature that Mujin had not quite figured out yet. Although he knows one thing, Suri was right, 7 years was a long time to be apart from each other.
Chapter Text
Chapter 4
A month went by where Suri kept to the same schedule of school, of course accompanied by Mujin’s men (sometimes Taeju took her), studying for her final exams and training in the gym. Suri hadn’t heard from her father although she didn’t expect too. Things were complicated back home in Busan- the rival gang that popped up back there were giving her father some trouble- not that she would know- she specifically asked Mujin not to talk about her father and so far, he had kept to his word.
With the final exams quickly coming up, Suri had been attending late night extra study sessions, paid, and encouraged for by Mujin. He seemed to care more about her grades than her own father did. Mujin even cut down her hours in the gym with him to allow her to increase her study hours. It annoyed Suri but Mujin would not budge on this.
Suri didn’t mind studying and even made a couple of friends in her extracurricular classes, Park Tae-ri and Hong Min-Young. They attended a different high school than hers so whilst they knew about the black car and men in suits that always seemed to pick Suri up, they weren’t aware of her connection to Choi Mujin like the rest of the students from her school. It was refreshing that her friends didn’t know about the dark side of her life and that she knew they genuinely liked Suri for herself and not because they wanted anything from her and/ or Mujin.
Taeju more often than not made himself available to pick up Kim Suri from her classes, when his schedule allowed around Dongcheon obligations, having grown very fond of the girl. Suri seemed to bring a brightness back to Mujin’s life that wasn’t there for years, and it made Taeju happy to see.
It was one spring evening when Suri, Min-Young and Tae-Ri finished their after-school study session when Tae-Ri bounced on the balls of her feet with excess energy after sitting at a desk for most of the day.
“Gosh all this studying is going to kill me!” Tae-ri dramatically declared to the two quieter girls. Suri and Min-Young chuckled in amusement.
“There are many things that can kill you in this world, but studying isn’t one of them, Tae-ri.” Suri told the shorter girl.
“With all the hours we put in, do any of you actually feel like you’re ingesting the information?” Min-Young complained with a huff. Tae-ri huffed and shook her head. Suri watched the two completely different individuals with amusement. Tae-ri was louder and more spontaneous while Min-Young was quieter and more studious.
“I haven’t gone out anywhere in weeks because of my parents and their strict schedule they want me to follow, and I can’t take it anymore,” Tae-ri dramatically told her friends in usual flourish. “Hey, I know we should go to a karaoke bar!” Tae-ri announced. Suri raised her eyebrows in surprise. Min-Young stuttered after hearing the word ‘karaoke’.
“Oh no, I can’t-“ Min-Young started protesting before Tae-ri wrapped an arm around her friend’s shoulder in comfort.
“Oh come on, it will be fun, and we can get a private room so no one will see or hear us if we are really bad at it.” Tae-ri giggled, already excited. Min-Young hesitated a moment more before acquiescing to Tae-ri’s suggestion. Both girls then turned to look at Suri who had been quiet the whole time.
Suri was biting her lip, contemplating going or not. Suri knew without a doubt that Taeju and Mujin would not let her go if asked, not when there was a lot of police focus on Dongcheon at the moment after a body washed up from Han River with connections to the gang. Also there was the fact that Mujin’s men are waiting outside the studying establishment to pick her up. But… Suri really wanted to go out and enjoy herself. She never had friends back home and therefore she had never been to a karaoke place before. It was suffocating with the number of eyes watching her- friendly and not so friendly. She just wanted to be a teenage girl tonight and have fun.
“Ok, but we are going to have to go out the back door.” Suri told the waiting girls who gave a little shriek when they realised, they were all going out together.
Suri was almost disappointed at how easy it was to evade Mujin’s men waiting for her at the front. It brought safety concerns to her mind but for now, she was going to forget about it and enjoy her evening out.
Tae-ri dragged Suri and Min-Young to a busy high street in Gangnam after taking a couple of buses. The sky had gotten dark and all the fluorescent lights from the shop signs lit up the night sky and the street was bustling with people. Suri paused to take it all in in awe. This was not like the Seoul she knew. She was never allowed to come out at this time of night and never without an entourage of men watching her every move. Now no one was watching her, and she felt free to do whatever she wanted.
“Come on.” Tae-ri held both girls’ hands and dragged them up to large establishment also lit up in multiple coloured signs blaring ‘Karaoke’. Suri grinned when they entered. The place was teaming with different groups of people. There was a group of smart office professionals that looked like they had just finished work and needed to let off some steam- they were drinking heavily and laughing loudly. There were many different groups loitering around the lobby and Suri never felt so overwhelmed. The cigarette smoke, loud chatter and music distracted her from anything else.
Suri watched Tae-ri shouting over the music to the man behind the desk and reading her body language it wasn’t good, so Suri stepped closer with Min-Young to hear what was happening.
“I’m sorry we don’t have any available booths.” The man apologetically told the school girl. Tae-ri pouted in disappointment and Suri also felt a stab of disappointment. Suri wanted to Karaoke and relax.
“Hey, you girls can join us, we don’t mind.” A voice said from behind over the music. Suri turned around to see a group of 3 boys in their school uniforms, but not from Suri’s school, looking at the girls with interest. Suri was about to retort with a wicked rejection on her lips, but Tae-Ri’s voice interrupted her.
“Jae-min-ah!” Tae-ri shrieked before running to hug the boy that spoke for the group. “You are a life saver!” Tae-ri dramatically declared when letting go of the taller boy.
“Who’s your friend?” Jae-min asked Tae-ri with interest. Suri rolled her eyes at the group of boys’ obvious staring at her legs in her short school skirt.
“This is Kim Suri, she goes to our after school studying sessions.” Tae-ri introduced with a giggle while eyeing up one of the boys in the back who hadn’t spoken yet.
“This is Kang Jae-min, Ahn Lee-Suk and Song Gang-tae.” Tae-ri introduced to you. Min-Young, going to Tae-ri’s school as well, already knew the boys, and hit it off talking to the equally quiet Gang-tae.
“Your room is now ready.” The host at the Karaoke bar told the group, interrupting the introductions. The group nodded and proceeded to walk to the private booth allocated to them, with Suri trailing behind. Suri felt the vibration of her phone in her pocket and took it out quickly, pausing in following after the group. The flash of Mujin’s name caused Suri to pause and bite her lip hesitantly but a moment later Tae-ri was calling and waving for her to hurry up with the rest of the group waiting and Suri quickly declined the call and turned her phone off before putting it in her backpack and jogging to catch up to the group.
---Line Break---
Mujin stared at his phone after Suri rejected the call and then turned her phone off, for a moment longer than necessary, before looking up from his desk at Taeju who was standing in front of him to the side at attention and the 4 men who were meant to pick up Suri bent over in a bow of apology.
“Find her.” Mujin ordered through gritted teeth. The men and Taeju bowed together in sync before leaving Mujin alone.
---Line Break---
“Do you want a drink, Kim Suri?” Jae-min offered with a smile that Suri didn’t entirely trust.
“No.” Suri immediately answered, trying to ignore the boy next to her who sat a bit too close for comfort. Tae-ri was currently up singing her heart out with Ahn Lee-Suk at her side duetting with her.
“Come on, no one will know.” Jae-min coaxed gently while shifting a bit closer to her, pushing the half full glass of soju closer to her on the table. He had already had 2 drinks while the rest of the group had 1 drink each. They were surprised when Suri refused a drink with alcohol and instead ordered a coke.
“I said no.” Suri firmly told the boy, shifting away from him on the couch. Min-Young was too preoccupied with Gang-tae to notice much of what was going on around her. Their heads were together whispering to each other reminiscent of lovers that melted Suri’s heart a little at the couple they made. Unfortunately this left Suri with Jae-min that didn’t seem to understand the word ‘no’. He was handsome and tall but he seemed too controlling and he wasn’t someone she would like in the sense he was obviously angling for.
“Alright.” Jae-min said with a tipsy chuckle before lighting a cigarette and slouching back in his seat, as if he had no cares in the world. Suri envied the boy for that, Suri had many cares and the number one right now currently being how Mujin is handling her disappearance. It almost made her want to run out the doors to him but also, she was dreading the telling off she would get when she came home. Suri couldn’t help her staring at the door, waiting for Taeju or Mujin’s men to barge in and drag her out kicking and screaming.
“Yah, do you think you are too good for me or something?” Jae-min asked in a darker voice than before. Suri shifted uncomfortably on her seat at the change in atmosphere around Jae-min. Suri didn’t like where this evening was going and unfortunately her friends were too caught up in the other boys to notice what was going on around her. Suri moved to get up from her seat, not bothering to answer Jae-min back.
As soon as Suri got up, she felt a forceful shove on her shoulder, knocking her body against the wall behind her. Suri turned her head to see Jae-min too close to comfort and towering over her 5-foot 4 self.
“Yah, I asked you a question.” Jae-min said getting into Suri’ face and crowding her against the wall with his body.
“You don’t want to do this.” Suri told him in an almost bored tone. Jae-min narrowed his eyes in surprise at how unaffected the girl seemed. Normally when he did this to other girls, they would cower away from him in fear.
“I don’t want to do what? You still didn’t answer my question.” Jae-min said with a chuckle before raising his hand to caress Suri’s face before forcefully putting pressure, squeezing her cheeks. Suri smirked darkly, anger burning behind her eyes.
“Yes, I am too good for you.” Suri answered with a mocking smirk, wanting to anger Jae-min enough to give her a reason to hit him. Suri noticed that the rest of the group seemed too tipsy to give a care of what was going on between them at the back of the dark room.
Suri watched in delight as Jae-min’s eyes narrowed further and she could see the rage building behind them, on the edge of exploding.
“You bitch!” Jae-min called her before his hands moved to her neck and squeezed. Suri was ready for him and slipped her knife from her pocket into her hand and poised it at his stomach and applied enough pressure for him to pause and look down. They paused to look at each other in some kind of stalemate before the door to their private booth was forcefully slammed open.
Chapter Text
Chapter 5
Clear calls of ‘police’ were shouted from various officers. Suri and Jae-min were both surprised and unconsciously loosened their hands, Suri’s from her knife and Jae-min’s hands from her neck. After the 4 uniformed officers burst through, a plain clothed young detective followed in with his badge around his neck identifying himself. Suri saw an opportunity to get out of the situation she was in and decided to put her acting skills to good use.
“Officers! Help! He’s hurting me!” Suri cried out while discreetly hiding her knife in her skirt pocket. Jae-min snarled and squeezed her neck a moment more before reluctantly dropping his hand from her neck before officers started pulling him away from Suri. Suri’s face had tears running down as Jae-min was pulled away and then suddenly the plain clothed detective stepped in front of her and offered her a tissue to wipe her fake tears which she took gratefully before looking up at his face and freezing in surprise. It was one of the men that were watching her from their car outside her school.
“Are you alright?” The man asked and Suri saw from his name tag that he was called Jeon Pil-do.
“My neck hurts! Is it bruising?” Suri asked, playing innocent as she lifted her neck for the young detective to see.
“It looks fine, are you having trouble breathing?” Pil-do asked after examining her skin delicately. Suri shook her head at the question and noticed the officers escorting her friends outside the room. Pil-do sighed before taking a look around at the trashed room, with drink glasses everywhere and food excess littering the floor. Pil-do picked up a glass from the table and sniffed at it before putting it back down. Suri watched him with careful eyes.
“We had a report of underage drinking taking place at this establishment and judging from the smell of that glass, it was true.” Pil-do explained when he met Suri’s cautious eyes again, a sudden change from the almost hysterical girl a moment ago. It reminded Pil-do of who she was associated with.
“I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol. Breathalyse me if you wish.” Suri told the man confidently, finally realising the angle the police were going for. The detective’s nametag said he was from Narcotics, so what would he care about underage teenagers drinking? Suri knew this shake down was connected to Mujin and Dongcheon and not her. Pil-do smirked almost cockily.
“Unfortunately I will need to take you and your friends in, since you are minors, for questioning, and contact your guardians.” Pil-do told the girl. Suri narrowed her eyes before a smile grew on her face that almost made Pil-do uncomfortable.
“That’s great, I can press charges against Jae-min while I’m there for assault. Also can I call my uncle? He will be worried about me.” Suri told the man sweetly with dark eyes before he escorted her outside the bar that was being shut down by a load of officers to the protests of the clientele. Pil-do personally escorted her to his plain vehicle with flashing light attached to the roof, away from her friends who were being put in a people carrier marked police vehicle.
Suri turned her phone on with some reluctance and winced when she saw the number of missed calls from Taeju and Mujin. She knew Pil-do was watching her from his rear mirror and tried to compose her face before she clicked on Mujin’s name on her contact list. The phone was picked up instantly and there was silence for a moment on the other end until Suri decided to speak.
“Ahjussi, can you pick me up? The police are taking me to their station, Inchang Metropolitan.” Suri said, deliberately using ‘Ahjussi’ to let Mujin know she was being watched. There was silence on the other end for a moment which made Suri’s heart almost beat out of her chest, wondering if Mujin would leave her there after what she pulled today.
“I’m coming. Don’t say a word.” Mujin demanded in a cold voice before hanging up. Suri internally let out a sigh in relief that he was coming to save her and that he didn’t ask what had happened. Pil-do met her eyes with his in the mirror and Suri managed to put on a smile despite the nerves of riding in the back of the police car and how Mujin would be when she saw him.
It was a short drive to the police station and when they arrived there was a buzz about the place, excitement maybe(?) surrounded the station and the officers working there. There seemed to be a lot of them loitering in the lobby and she felt a lot of eyes on her when Pil-do escorted her through the crowd of people. Suri tried to avoid eye contact with any of them and followed Pil-do through the maze of corridors. Suri soon realised what was happening around here, they were waiting for Mujin. Suri noticed her friends and the boys were pulled in opposite directions, down another corridor. They were isolating her. Pil-do stopped outside a room called ‘interrogation 1’. Suri kept up her innocent act and bit her lip in nerves at the sight of the interrogation room which Pil-do noticed and softened his features slightly.
“Don’t worry, we are just putting you here for a few questions. All the other rooms are in use at the moment,” Pil-do told the young girl before nudging her into the room gently and gesturing for Suri to sit down “I’ll let you know when your Ahjussi arrives.” Pil-do said before leaving the girl alone.
Suri sighed before looking around at the empty room anxiously. The mirrored wall gave off weird vibes and she was sure there was someone behind there watching her. Suri slouched in the uncomfortable chair and nervously shook her leg with her arms crossed. Suri wasn’t alone long before the door opened again and Pil-do came in again with an older man with glasses, not her uncle. Suri frowned in annoyance. Where was Mujin?
“Hello Kim Suri. I am Cha Gi-ho.” The man introduced himself which confused Suri. Why were they here talking to her?
Suri didn’t say anything and frowned, showing her annoyance on her face.
“Is it alright if we ask you a few questions?” Cha Gi-ho continued on despite the girl’s silence.
“No, I won’t be saying anything until my Ahjussi gets here.” Suri told the pair with cold eyes that almost took Pil-do aback at the change in the girl.
“Kim Suri, we are just trying to find out what happened-“ Cha Gi-ho started before the door was forcefully opened again and Mujin strolled into the room with what seemed like not a care in the world.
“Cha Gi-ho, I hope you weren’t trying to question a minor without her guardian present. That would be… disappointing.” Mujin declared while he took stock of the two detectives facing Suri who was curling up on herself slightly on the other side of the table.
Suri eyes locked on Mujin, and she almost sighed in relief. He was dressed in his usual dark sharp suit and his hair was gelled to perfection on his head, not showing the worry of when he ran his hands through it hours earlier when he heard Suri was missing.
Mujin then sat down beside Suri and took a good look at the girl who seemed small compared to the three large men in the room. Mujin then spotted something out of the corner of his eye, and he raised Suri’s chin with his hand gently to reveal dark bruising starting to come out on her pale neck. Suri winced, starting to feel the painful bruising on her delicate skin. Suri saw Mujin’s eyes flash with rage at the sight before turning his burning eyes to the officer’s opposite them.
“Who dared to put their hands on her?” Mujin snarled that took Pil-do and Gi-ho aback at the anger on his otherwise normally calm face.
“When we arrived at the scene, a boy around Suri’s age had his hands around her neck.” Pil-do quickly explained, not wanting Mujin to conclude it was a police officers doing. Mujin looked back at Suri who nodded confirming the information.
“And where is the boy now? I hope you are charging him with assault for touching Suri.” Mujin told the detectives who quickly nodded.
“Yes, we have him in a holding cell along with the others who are waiting collection from their guardians.” Pil-do quickly confirmed and Mujin nodded in satisfaction.
“Seeing as my niece hasn’t done anything wrong, I assume I can now take her home.” Mujin told the pair, having enough of sitting in the room any longer. Mujin rose up from his chair and Suri copied him, wanting to leave as well.
“Wait. Kim Suri was caught in a room with other students at a karaoke bar where they illegally consumed alcohol. We have to question her.” Cha Gi-ho stopped Mujin and Suri from leaving with his words. Suri sighed in frustration.
“I told detective Pil-do at the bar that I didn’t drink anything and that he could breathalyse me if he wished.” Suri complained at the stalling from the officers. Mujin raised his eyebrows to Cha Gi-ho, daring him to come up with something else to stop them from leaving.
“I give you permission to breathalyse Kim Suri as her guardian and then after that there is nothing else for you to hold her for.” Mujin confidently told the detectives, trusting Suri to have kept her promise to not consume alcohol outside of the penthouse. Gi-ho huffed but then reluctantly motioned for Pil-do to breathalyse the girl who reluctantly complied.
“It’s clear.” Pil-do declared reluctantly when the results came back on the machine. Mujin smirked at the police arrogantly.
“I guess we can leave then?” Mujin asked while placing his hand on Suri’s back to lead her out. Cha Gi-ho nodded and stood up from the table along with Pil-do. Mujin paused in the doorway of the room before he left and Suri stopped too, waiting.
“Did you find any drugs at the scene by any chance?” Mujin asked in a completely out of the blue manner. Pil-do frowned at Mujin in confusion before replying with ‘no’.
“It’s funny. You both are in Narcotics so it seems strange that you would bother with an underage drinking case.” Mujin told them with a knowing smirk. Pil-do opened his mouth and closed it in a gaping fish gesture but Cha Gi-ho saved face.
“There were reports of drugs as well as underage drinking which is why we raided the place.” Cha Gi-ho said through gritted teeth. Mujin nodded with a smirk before finally leaving with his hand on Suri’s back in an almost protective manner. Suri noticed that none of the officers that littered the lobby would make eye contact with her or Mujin and they seemed to part like the red sea for them.
When they got outside the station the familiar black Mercedes was waiting for them with Taeju standing by the door expectantly.
Suri smiled at seeing Taeju’s familiar face and Taeju’s normally impenetrable face relaxed at seeing Suri although his eyebrows creased when he came across the bruising on her neck, but he kept silent and opened the car door for Suri who scooted over to make room for Mujin.
There was an uncomfortable silence in the car before Suri broke it.
“I’m sorry.” Suri whispered, not wanting to make eye contact with Mujin to see how angry he was at her.
“Why did you do it?” Mujin asked before lighting a smoke and opening his window.
“I had been studying so hard, I wanted to let off some steam and I didn’t think you would let me go if I asked.” Suri confessed, revealing the pressure on her shoulders that Mujin was oblivious to.
“How did you get away from the men?” Mujin asked while taking a puff of his smoke.
“I went out the back door.” Suri told him, looking out of her window.
“Taeju, add another car to Suri’s protection detail.” Mujin told the man who nodded at the order.
The car soon pulled up to the private entrance of Liber but Suri and Mujin made no move to leave the car yet. Suri hated that she knew she disappointed Mujin.
“I thought someone took you, Suri.” Mujin confessed quietly, voice threatening to crack. He then turned to lock eyes with the girl who looked up at Mujin, tears threatening to fall.
“I’m sorry Mujin. I promise I won’t do it again.” Suri promised before hesitantly moving closer to Mujin and reaching up to place a soft trembling kiss on his cheek in apology. Mujin caught sight of the bruising on her neck again when she pulled away from him and he barely was able to control his face before he gestured for one of his men waiting to open Suri’s door for her. Suri got the hint and left the car, turning back once over her shoulder to glance at Mujin and Taeju still in the car before entering the hotel and out of Mujin’s sight.
“Taeju, I want the CCTV from the karaoke bar. I want to know what went on tonight.” Mujin ordered.
Chapter Text
Chapter 6
Mujin was relaxing on his sofa with a glass of scotch in his hand while Taeju stood over the tv, inserting the disc from the cctv footage obtained from the Karaoke bar. Suri was in her room studying so Mujin knew he wouldn’t be interrupted when he watched the tape. Taeju finished fiddling with the tv and handed the remote over to his boss before taking his place, standing behind Muijn.
Mujin watched silently through the black and white tape, Taeju cringing inside after having already reviewed it to make sure it was the right tape for the right room Suri was in.
Taeju and Mujin saw Suri obviously moving away from the boy who looked drunk and how she repeatedly refused the drink being pushed towards her before suddenly the boy pushed Suri when she got up and wrapped his hands around her neck. Mujin’s fist tightened around his glass, his knuckles white from the pressure he was holding it in, before they then saw Suri take out her pocketknife and aim it at the boys abdomen and they smirked when the boy’s face dropped.
“That’s my girl.” Mujin whispered proudly with a smirk before finishing watching the tape where the police burst in, and Suri hid her knife away before she was spotted with it in her possession.
“Taeju, find the boy. I want to know everything about him and where he is right now.” Mujin sinisterly told his right-hand man. Taeju nodded dutifully and left Mujin alone to re-watch the tape.
--- Line Break---
“Suri.” Mujin called, hovering in the doorway of her bedroom where Suri laid on her bed with her laptop on and study papers spread out around her. Suri paused when she heard Mujin call her name.
“Is this the part where you tell me off now?” Suri asked seriously when she met Mujin’s eyes although she couldn’t see any visible anger on his face anymore.
“No,” Mujin told her with an accompanying shake of his head “This is where I tell you that I watched the tape and that you did the right thing when it came to that boy.” Mujin finished, walking further into her bedroom. Suri didn’t say anything for a moment, too surprised to come up with a usual witty comment of hers.
“You watched the cctv tape?” Suri questioned in confusion. “Why?” Suri further asked. Mujin twitched his nose, thinking about how to answer.
“Because I needed to see it. I am glad that you turned down the offer of the alcoholic drinks and that you defended yourself against the boy but please don’t disappear again without either myself or Taeju knowing where you are. I thought one of my enemies took you.” Mujin replied, surprised with how much he shared with Suri.
“I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.” Suri promised, not realising Mujin had jumped to conclusions of her being kidnapped.
“Good, now I want you to know that I am only pushing your studying because I want you to do better than me and your father combined. You could have a really great life away from this world.” Mujin told her, surprising Suri.
“I don’t want to have a life away from this world. This is where I belong.” Suri retorted with a frown. Mujin sighed uneasily.
“This is not where you belong, Suri. You deserve a better life than this and I’ll make sure you get it.” Mujin told the girl before walking away before Suri could argue with him.
Suri huffed in annoyance. Dongcheon is where she belongs, she thought to herself. Suri just needed to prove it to Mujin.
---Line Break---
The next day Mujin accompanied her to school although Suri had a feeling that he had ulterior motives for this other than just keeping an eye on her. Suri proved herself right when Taeju opened the door for Mujin to get out of the car. As usual Suri’s fellow students avoided eye contact with Mujin but still watched him from the corner of their eyes.
Suri watched Mujin walk over to the police car still sitting outside her school with Taeju following him 1 step behind. Suri edged forward so that she was only 5 feet away from the group.
The two police officers got out of their car at Mujin’s presence, one of them being Jeon Pil-do, the detective from last night. Jeon Pil-do briefly made eye contact with Suri before focusing his attention on Mujin.
“Gentlemen, don’t you think it’s a little… suspicious that you are perched outside a school full of young boys and girls day in day out? As a guardian to Kim Suri, a student here, I am letting you know that it does not reflect well on you.” Mujin told the two men. The two men gaped in surprise; unsure what Mujin was getting at.
“I assure you that we are not doing anything with nefarious intent-“ Jeon Pil-do stuttered to defend themselves.
“That may be the case, but I think the school governors and board would not be best pleased to hear that two grown men have been watching young underage boys and girls going to and from school every day, day in and day out.” Mujin painted the picture he wanted the men to understand.
Suri gaped at Mujin in surprise.
The men were shocked at what Mujin was implying and tried to defend themselves.
“Yah we are police officers on police business.” The other man with Pil-do retorted in anger.
“What police business do you have at a school?” Mujin asked with a wide grin, knowing that they wouldn’t be able to say it to his face.
“That is none of your business.” The other spitted immediately. Jeon Pil-do watched the calculating Mujin with narrowed eyes, realising what Mujin was doing.
“It is unfortunately, as from today I just became a member of the board of the school and when I bring this issue up to the rest of the members, expect an angry phone call from the chief of police.” Mujin said. Suri looked at Mujin’s back in surprise and even Taeju seemed caught off guard by the new information.
“You’ve become a member of the board?” Jeon Pil-do questioned incredulously.
“Yes, I’ve found recently that it should be my upmost concern to protect Kim Suri’s best interests and I believe being a member of the board will do this.” Mujin told them truthfully, leaving out that he liked the added power as well.
Jeon Pil-do looked at Mujin a moment more, not understanding why he cared so much about this Kim Suri, before deciding to cut their losses.
“Let’s go.” Jeon Pil-do told the other man, who looked surprised at Pil-do before complying. Suri waited until the unmarked police car was gone before shooting a confused look at Mujin, who turned around to face her.
“What?” Mujin asked with a raised eyebrow. Suri shook her head wordlessly, not even sure where to start, before leaving for the school gates without a word.
---Line Break---
Suri was back in the gym that night training and avoiding the whispers and eyes of the other men of Dongcheon already there. Mujin would be joining her a bit later on as he had business to attend to. As a result Taeju was with Suri, keeping an eye on her and the other men.
Suri and Taeju were sparring on the mat and despite the man’s quiet disposition, he was a good teacher. The pair were both sweating and aching in different places from the long session they had.
“Your upper cut is good, but you are going to need to increase your power otherwise it won’t do much damage.” Taeju commented after taking a hit. Kim Suri huffed in annoyance.
“I know, strength isn’t my strong point.” Suri replied back after signalling to the man for a break while she took a gulp of water. Taeju relaxed his arms and joined where she was leaning against, stealing her water bottle after she was done. Taeju smirked playfully when Suri put on an annoyed face before quietly laughing herself.
“You don’t eat enough.” Taeju commented while poking a skinny arm as reference.
“I eat plenty. I just have a high metabolism is all.” Suri retorted with a pout that Taeju smiled at affectionately.
“Where is Mujin? He was meant to be here by now.” Suri asked Taeju in worry. Taeju furrowed his eyebrows in thought.
“He may have been delayed, I’ll try and contact him.” Taeju told the girl and gave her a squeeze on her shoulder before walking off to find his phone.
When Taeju found his phone, he saw 3 missed calls from Mujin and a voicemail message. Taeju listened to the voicemail where Mujin in a shaky voice explaining he was wounded and was making his way back to Liber. Taeju didn’t think about much else than getting back to Liber and forgot about Suri. Suri watched Taeju like a hawk and when she saw Taeju running outside, she followed immediately after him and only just managed to slid into the passenger seat of the car before the engine started.
“Taeju what’s wrong? Is it Mujin?” Suri asked. Taeju wasted no time in starting the engine and speeding off, not caring if Suri was with him or not.
“He left me a voicemail and he is wounded and needs assistance back at Liber.” Taeju explained to the girl, not wanting to scare her. Suri sighed in worry and anger that someone would hurt Mujin.
“Put your seatbelt on.” Taeju ordered her after glancing at the girl again. Suri immediately complied as they began weaving through Seoul traffic back to Liber.
The drive wasn’t long with Taeju’s fast driving, and they were soon at the Liber hotel. Taeju called on the way what sounded like a doctor of some kind to come to see Mujin. It didn’t make much sense to Suri who was too worried about Mujin’s state to care. She just needed to see him.
The car was barely stopped before Suri flung her door open and ran out into the lobby, pushing the penthouse button repeatedly before the doors shut, she didn’t bother to wait for Taeju who was likely parking the car.
“Mujin!” Suri called when the elevator doors opened. She didn’t see any usual guard in sight like there normally was in the hallway. Suri jogged down the long red hallway and burst through the double walnut doors where she finally found the man.
Choi Mujin was sitting on the leather couch in a slouched position while his black shirt was unbuttoned and hanging off his torso, an already blood-stained bandage hastily rolled around his waist.
“Mujin!” Suri exclaimed surprising the man and causing him to look up with wide eyes. Suri skidded to a stop next to him and hovered uselessly over him, not knowing where to put her hands and finally deciding on cupping his cheeks, residue of blood on his neck and cheek not scaring Suri. She rubbed her thumbs over the apple of his cheeks, relaxing his body some.
“Are you ok? What happened?” Suri blurted out, making Mujin look into her eyes despite his tiredness from the blood loss.
“I’m fine, Suri.” Mujin told the girl, hiding the pain in his voice but not his face as he winced at a pull in his injured body when he shifted positions.
“No you are not. Taeju called for a doctor, he should be here soon.” Suri told Mujin who nodded in understanding. Suri didn’t want to lose contact from him, so she decided on stoking his hair whilst they waited for Taeju and the doctor. Mujin relaxed at Suri’s comforting touch and leaned into her who welcomed the proximity, closing his eyes in comfort. About 10 minutes later, Taeju barged into the room with an elderly gentleman behind him. Taeju didn’t even blink at the almost intimate sight the two of them made on the couch.
Suri looked up at Taeju and the doctor and made to move away from Mujin to give them some room to work but Mujin refused to let her completely go and settled for just holding her hand from a short distance while the doctor worked on peeling back the bloodied bandage to have a look at the wound. Suri peered round Taeju to see a deep knife wound still leaking blood, Suri winced at the sight. Mujin stoked Suri’s hand to get her attention on his face and not his torso. When their eyes made contact, Mujin shook his head slightly at her, urging her to not look.
“It didn’t nick any organs or arteries; you just need stitches. “ The doctor told Mujin who nodded in acceptance. Suri let out an internal sigh of relief, relieved that it didn’t look as serious as it looked.
Mujin’s hand squeezed hers every time a stitch went in and once the doctor was done, he had put in 8 stitches.
“He should probably be monitored for the next 24 hours by someone, and rest is essential for recovering faster.” The doctor told the small group before leaving the penthouse.
“I’ll keep an eye on him,” Suri told Taeju, not even wanting to debate the point. Mujin nearly rolled his eyes as if they weren’t already half shut, in tiredness from the blood loss.
“I’m not a child-“ Mujin started to say before Suri cut him off with a glare.
“No but you are injured, and you will rest like the doctor recommended,” Suri told him firmly before turning to face Taeju “We should move him into his bedroom, he needs to sleep.” Suri almost ordered with a serious face. Taeju nodded wordlessly before coming around to Mujin’s free side to hoist him up, careful of his wound.
“I do not need to sleep-“ Mujin protested however let Taeju stand him up from the couch. Suri huffed at Mujin’s weak protests; his eyes were already at risk of closing.
“Quiet Mujin.” Suri told him, not entertaining his ideas at all.
“Did she really just say that to me?” Mujin slurred to Taeju who was trying to keep his amusement off his face, and he just nodded to his boss. Taeju helped Mujin to his bedroom and sat him down on his massive king-sized bed with red satin sheets before standing up straight.
“Thank you Taeju, are you going to find the person who did this to him?” Suri asked curiously from the doorway. Mujin butted in before Taeju could reply.
“Don’t bother. He is at the bottom of the Han River by now.” Mujin slurred with a confident smirk. Suri rolled her eyes at him but couldn’t help a smile popping up at the side of her mouth. Suri nodded at Taeju who passed her, out of the bedroom. Suri soon after closed the bedroom door, leaving Mujin and Suri alone. Suri walked over to Mujin who was still sitting on the edge of the bed and began pulling his black shirt off of him gently, Mujin’s unsteady eyes unable to leave the young woman’s face, leaving the man shirtless with only his visible bandage showing wrapped around his waist, over his fresh stitches.
“Are you sleeping here?” Mujin asked when he saw Suri climbing onto his bed dressed in red satin sheets, still in her black sports bra and leggings from the gym, causing impure thoughts to litter his brain.
“How am I able to monitor you if I am not with you?” Suri sassed with a raised eyebrow.
“Come here.” Suri whispered a moment later when he hadn’t moved to lay on the bed next to her. Mujin carefully manoeuvred his body onto his back and moved up the bed so his head could rest on the pillow, but he winced at how uncomfortable it felt on his body.
Suri noticed and sat up and wordlessly made Mujin sit up so she could shuffle underneath him, so he was now laying on his back but resting on Suri’s body who was now cradling him, and his head rested on her chest, just below her chin. Suri then began to softly stroke his hair again, noticing earlier that it calmed him down.
“This feels like heaven.” Mujin whispered with closed, tired eyes. Suri smiled before planting a light kiss on his temple.
“Get some sleep Mujin. I’m not going anywhere.” Suri whispered back to the man who was now already there. Suri watched the sleeping man for a while longer before she let herself drop off into a deep slumber, relaxed by the movement of Mujin’s chest going up and down in rhythm.
Chapter Text
Mujin woke first in a daze; his face was nuzzled into warm soft flesh and the steady heartbeat underneath his ear relaxed him instantly despite not remembering much of last night other than the fight. Mujin shifted slightly in her loose embrace to see Suri’s still sleeping face above him. Mujin lightly smirked at Suri’s loosed jawed sleeping face before nature called and he carefully untangled his limbs from hers and made his way to the bathroom without waking Suri or antagonising his wound. Once Mujin was done, he hovered in the doorway of the bedroom again and watched Suri sleep for a moment longer, all events of last night now coming back to him and how Suri helped him. Mujin wondered what he did in another life to deserve to spend even a little time of it with her.
Mujin ultimately decided to let Suri sleep some more before he slowly shuffled away to the kitchen for his morning coffee, not bothering to put a shirt on and he had changed his trousers to some black joggers that sat low on his hips when he was in the bathroom.
“Mujin?” Suri questioned sleepily when wandering into the kitchen she had hardly stepped foot in since her arrival. Suri had interrupted Mujin sipping his expresso coffee while leaning against the counter instead of sitting down.
“Morning Suri. It’s still early, go back to bed.” Mujin replied in a soft tone he only reserved for her.
“Not if you are not coming back with me.” Suri protested, subtly taking in the breath-taking sight he made bare chested, and hair messed up from her running her fingers through it last night. Mujin cracked a smile at her stubbornness and tried to push out the warm feeling he felt when she said she wanted to be back in bed with him.
“How are you feeling? Have you taken your medication yet?” Suri asked walking over to the taller man who rolled his eyes.
“I’m fine Suri. I have survived much worse and no I will not be taking it, it makes my head all loopy when I need to be sharp.” Mujin replied before taking another sip from his cup. Suri frowned in annoyance.
“Why do you need to be sharp? You are not working when you are like this, Taeju can take care of business for now while you recover.” Suri told the man leaving no room from debate. Mujin scoffed with a smirk, amused at the small woman issuing him orders.
“Suri.” Mujin sighed when he noticed the genuine sadness and worry on her petite face. Suri moved closer to Mujin, not wanting to be very far away from him and now she was invading his space where they were almost chest to chest with each other. Mujin couldn’t move further back due to the kitchen counter behind him, not that he wanted to.
Suri met Mujin’s intense, and to others, hard eyes with deep set passion and love. Mujin’s head was tilted down due to their height difference whilst Suri was practically on her toes and after a hesitant second, Suri surged upwards to capture Mujin’s lips with hers, taking Mujin a little by surprise. Mujin shook off his surprise and quickly dominated the kiss, leading an unexperienced Suri through the motions with his lips. Suri’s hands quickly found Mujin’s soft hair and she tugged lightly at the long strands that were usually constrained with hair gel. Suri moaned at the indescribable feeling of Mujin’s lips, having not really kissed properly before in the past, the vibrations from her moan spurned Mujin on and he gently opened up her mouth so he could slip his tongue past into it, resulting in another moan from Suri and a quiet groan from Mujin at the feeling. Mujin then twisted them round and lightly picked up Suri to sit on the kitchen counter, so they were now at the perfect height to continue without neck ache from both sides. Mujin had one hand cupping the back of Suri’s head and the other wrapped around her waist, trapping her body against his. Suri had her legs opened on the counter, cradling Mujin’s body between her, not wanting even an inch of space between them. Mujin then moved his lips downwards, nibbling and licking and lightly biting at the soft unmarked flesh of Suri’s neck, causing the young woman to sigh in pleasure at the small scratches of Mujin’s facial hair and wondered what it would feel like on other parts of her body before Mujin abruptly pulled away from Suri, which caused her to whine in protest. Suri reluctantly opened her eyes to see Mujin trying to catch his breath from a couple of feet away with dark eyes.
“Suri we can’t,” Mujin told the confused woman who desperately wanted Mujin back in front of her, on her… “Your father…” Mujin started and then trailed off, trying to get his thoughts in order despite how fast his heart was racing because of this little woman.
“My father knows how I feel about you Mujin, ever since I was a little girl.” Suri told Mujin with pleading eyes, wanting him back on her. Mujin shook his head in hesitation.
“I can’t Suri. Not without speaking to your father and… God your underage!” Mujin exclaimed while cursing under his breath.
“Speak to him then! I know I want to be with you Choi Mujin.” Suri told the man with certainty. Mujin nodded slowly before moving towards the woman again and cupping her cheek with one hand which she immediately leaned into.
“Ok I will but right now I can’t be around you. You are too tempting to me right now.” Mujin told her truthfully and Suri couldn’t say she didn’t know the feeling.
“Ok, I need to go back to the gym anyway. I ran after Taeju when he took off without thinking last night and all my things are still there including my phone,” Suri told Mujin who nodded in understanding, risking his thumb to drop from her cheek to outline the shape of her lips for a moment before dropping his contact from her. Mujin nodded in acknowledgement as Suri made her way out of the kitchen, each step await from Mujin was agonising. Suri paused before she completely left the room.
“Remember, no work Mujin,” Suri told the fully grown man and Mujin affectionately smiled at her, not his usual smirk but an actual smile that lit up his face. “I mean it.” Suri said, driving her point home.
“Yes boss.” Mujin cheekily agreed which put a smile onto Suri’s face before she left him alone with his thoughts.
Suri went back to her bedroom and stepped into the shower, unable to stop thinking about her kiss with Mujin that set every part of her body on fire. When she was done, she put on some clean gym wear- another black sports bra and leggings with an oversized black hoodie falling from her small frame unzipped.
“Taeju.” Suri greeted the man who was handing some paperwork to Mujin in the main room where he was sitting on the couch now with a simple black t shirt on, shielding his bandage from view.
“Kim Suri.” Taeju formally greeted the girl in front of his body. Suri eyed the paperwork in Mujin’s hands with a raised eyebrow which Mujin caught.
“It’s just paperwork Suri, nothing strenuous at all.” Mujin told Suri with a teasing lilt and a small smile.
“Alright, I’ll allow it.” Suri teased back not having eyes for anyone but him. Taeju avoided eye contact with both of them and stared at a wall awkwardly.
“Thank you, boss.” Mujin retorted in amusement. Suri smirked at Mujin in happiness.
“I need to get to the gym. Are you busy here Taeju or can I get someone else to take me?” Suri changed the subject and addressed the man awkwardly standing there between the two almost lovers.
“I will need Taeju for a little longer.” Mujin answered for him “I’ll get Song Jong-Suk to take you.” Mujin told Suri who nodded in acceptance before leaving for downstairs and the car that should be awaiting her.
It was a quiet journey in the care to the gym. The guy at the front, like Taeju, wasn’t very talkative not like Suri was in any frame of mind to hold a conversation either, too absent minded about the recent events with Mujin to care much. Suri nodded at Song Jong-Suk in appreciation for the car ride when it stopped outside the gym and the man made no move to follow her in so she presumed he had orders to wait for her outside.
Suri walked through the familiar doors, not paying too much attention to the men already training inside although she could feel their eyes on her. Suri moved to where she put her bag down last night in a corner of the room and crouched down to pick it up along with the contents that were threatening to spill out due to the open zip. When she stood up, she froze when she felt a large presence behind her and slowly turned around to meet the dark eyes of a young man a few years older than her in gym wear.
“Hello little mouse.” The man greeted with a cocky smirk. Suri raised an eyebrow questioningly at his attempt to intimidate her.
“Little mouse?” Suri questioned out loud with a scoff and smirk that annoyed the man.
“Well you are so tiny and… fragile.” The man pressed, leaning into Suri’s personal space that made her uncomfortable. Suri could see a few of the men watching the exchange while the rest was trying to ignore them. Suri cursed herself for coming to the gym without Taeju and Mujin.
“Move.” Suri ordered the man, intending on leaving right that second.
“No I don’t think I will little mouse.” The man swiftly replied with a smirk. Suri smiled back at him mockingly before dropping her bag and kneeing the man in the crotch which he mostly avoided.
“That wasn’t very nice princess.” The man said while grabbing her hair to forcefully tilt her head back and slamming it against the wall next to her before anyone could stop him. Some of the men gaped in surprise and some smirked salaciously at the fight beginning to unfold. The knock to her head dazed Suri for a moment before she responded with an upper cut to the man’s chin that he was not expecting, this loosened his hand enough to get Suri’s hair out of his hold. Suri held her hands up to her face, expecting her opponent to react which he did with extreme force. He swung hard with his fist, but Suri ducked underneath it and responded with another fist to his chest which hardly did any damage and Suri cursed her lack of power that Taeju was warning her about yesterday. The man swung again for Suri using his whole-body weight which vastly outnumbered Suri’s own and Suri ducked again, causing the man to collide with the wall with force before Suri went on the offensive and kicked his legs out from underneath him and brought him to the ground, flat on his back. The man got a less powerfully fist through Suri’s defences which hit her cheek and set her back some before she regained control and climbed on top of the man while hitting out at his face in multiple bursts.
“You are right I am a princess, but do you want to know a secret?” Suri told the man with a heavy breathing voice. “I am Choi Mujin’s princess.” She declared to the man but also the whole gym as well who by now were all watching the altercation with mixed feelings. The man’s eyes widened at Suri’s words and then cowered away when a shadow fell on top of the two. Suri and the man looked up to see Choi Mujin staring down at the pair with intense dark eyes. Suri slowly climbed off the man with the aided help of Mujin’s hand which she quickly dropped in favour of picking up her discarded bag and phone from the corner of the room. When she went to pass Mujin who still did not utter a word, he stopped her with a hand to her wrist before he cupped the cheek where she took a hit, probably already bruising from the force behind it, and stroked his thumb gently over the apple of her cheek before dropping his hand altogether and nodding her towards the door out of the gym. Suri obeyed his silent command and stormed out, noticing none of the other men would make eye contact with her- whether it was in respect or fear- she couldn’t tell. Suri sat in the back of the car with Taeju in the driver’s seat and 20 minutes later Mujin joined Suri beside her. Taeju wordlessly offered a white handkerchief to Mujin over his should without turning around. Mujin wiped the majority of the blood off his hands with it before discarding it and reaching to wrap his hand around Suri’s hand on the centre seat as the car took off for Liber.
Chapter Text
When the pair plus Taeju arrived back at Liber, Taeju respectfully stayed in the car instead of following after the couple. Whether it was due to the rising tension in the air or if he had other things to do, Suri did not know.
Suri and Mujin were quiet when walking through the lobby into the elevator leading to the penthouse. Mujin wanted to keep hold of Suri’s hand but didn’t in case of any unwanted public attention was given to the pair. The tension was palpable between the two and only once the wooden doors closed to Mujin’s study/ main living area did Mujin leave Suri’s side to sit down behind his solid large desk. Suri watched Mujin for a moment as he seemed to be daydreaming before moving to pour him a whiskey in a clean tumbler glass from his decanter set. Suri walked over to Mujin slowly and offered him the tumbler after perching her bottom on the edge of his desk. Mujin turned his head to face Suri with unreadable eyes before in one movement he set the whiskey tumbler down on his desk and reached for Suri, pulling her onto his lap so her legs laid across his and her back was resting against one of his armrests on the chair. Mujin cupped Suri’s bruised cheek in one hand again gently, unable to break eye contact with her. Mujin’s other arm was wrapped around her waist, keeping her in place. Mujin then slowly moved his face closer to Suri’s before seeing the look in her eyes.
“I haven’t spoken to your father yet.” He said in a warning tone which Suri nodded in understanding at the unspoken boundaries Mujin had put up, before he was so close, they touched noses and Mujin softly rubbed his against hers in an incredibly intimate gesture. If the air wasn’t so serious and tense, Suri would have teased him about how much of a softy he is with her. Mujin then moved to bury his head in the crease of where Suri’s neck and shoulder join, inhaling Suri’s scent as a comfort. Suri took one hand and placed it on the back of Mujin’s head to keep him there before she started running her fingers through his hair just the way he liked it. Mujin exhaled loudly into Suri’s neck, not wanting to move anytime soon.
After a while, Suri’s arm was beginning to ache and she shifted position slightly, waking Mujin up from his relaxed doze and pulled back so he could see Suri’s face.
“You need to speak to my father,” Suri told the man softly but firmly “It’s torture being near you but not being able to touch you the way I want to.” She exclaimed while running a finger down his sharp jaw before lightly tracing his full lips with it before Mujin snatched it away within his hand.
“We are due to talk tonight. We’ll know tonight.” Mujin told her with fierce eyes, not knowing whether he is strong enough to give Suri up even if her father disapproved. Suri nodded in understanding before she pulled herself up from his lap.
“I need to study.” Suri explained to Mujin’s questioning eyes. Mujin nodded in understanding before Suri left Mujin alone with his thoughts and the pile of paperwork on his desk.
Hours later Mujin received the call notification on his laptop he was expecting from Kim Nam-Ju. He took a deep breath before answering the facetime call.
“Mujin!” Kim Nam-Ju exclaimed in greeting at seeing his old friend. Mujin smiled genuinely with a hint of nervousness.
“Nam-Ju!” Mujin exclaimed, noting how his old friend hadn’t aged much at all.
“Ah I haven’t seen your face in a long time. How do you look like you have stopped aging while my grey hairs get more prominent ay?” Nam-ju told Mujin who chuckled in response.
“Aish, why do you always say that huh?” Mujin replied with a wave of his hand.
“Because it’s true my friend. Although I suspect I know the reason,” Nam-Ju said, and Mujin leaned closer to the screen curiously. “It’s because you don’t have children.” Nam-Ju told him with a laugh that Mujin copied hesitantly.
“So how is Busan? Are you making progress?” Mujin asked curiously, knowing of the trouble brewing down there that caused Suri to be sent to him for safety.
“Of course, they are just a ragtag group that think they can take my business. I’m showing them whose boss around here.” Nam-Ju confidently replied with not a hint of worry.
“Good, good.” Mujin replied back, stalling the conversation. Nam-Ju sat back from his screen and took a moment to stare at his friend who seemed very uncomfortable and not how he usually acts.
“While you know I appreciate and like talking to you Mujin, is there a specific reason for this call my friend?” Nam-Ju asked inquisitively. Mujin’s eyes widened like a deer caught in headlights at how quick his best friend picked up on his behaviour.
“Is this call to do with Suri?” Nam-Ju asked causing Mujin to take a deep breath “Is she being a brat and you want to send her back home?” Nam-Ju asked but immediately Mujin almost shouted ‘No’ at that question.
“Then what is it?” Nam-Ju asked, starting to become concerned.
“It is about Suri.” Mujin confessed, trying to think about how to word their relationship.
“Aish, I knew it! I love her but she is a pain in my ass. I blame her mother you know.” Nam-Ju interrupted with a moan. Mujin smiled softly, knowing it is true that Suri is a pain, but she is his pain.
“She hasn’t had a mother for a while now so you can’t blame it on that Nam-Ju.” Mujin retorted with a teasing smile that brief put a pout on Nam-Ju’s face.
“What are you saying she got her annoying traits from me?” Nam-Ju asked with an offended face. Mujin smiled widely at that but didn’t say anything further to confirm or deny it.
“So what has she done now?” Nam-Ju asked after a moment of silence.
“She hasn’t done anything but I…” Mujin hesitated, not knowing where he was going with this.
“What is it?” Nam-Ju asked, concern now showing. Mujin wasn’t one to mince words and hesitate like he did just now.
“Suri has developed feelings for me.” Mujin blurted out, watching Nam-Ju’s reaction carefully. Nam-Ju froze for a short moment before he burst out laughing.
“Mujin, my friend, Suri has loved you since she was 8. You remember how she always came to you in the evening and would climb on your lap and ask you to read her a bedtime story?” Nam-Ju told Mujin. “It wouldn’t surprise me if she still loved you, you always were her favourite person to be with.” Nam-Ju told the man who looked surprised at Nam-Ju’s reaction. Mujin hesitated further for a second before he revealed the big shock.
“Nam-Ju, my friend, I have feelings for her too.” Mujin confessed softly.
Nam-Ju frowned and stared at Mujin through his screen with unreadable eyes.
“Have you touched her?” Nam-Ju asked seriously, now no traces of laughter in his voice.
“We shared a kiss yesterday, but I stopped it before it could go too far. I haven’t touched her indecently if that is what you are asking.” Mujin honestly replied. Nam-Ju sighed for a moment as he brought his hand up to rub his chin, thinking.
“Well, what are your intentions with her?” Nam-Ju asked with narrowed eyes.
“I think… I think I love her Nam-Ju. I’ve never loved anyone or anything before, but I think what I’m feeling is love. For her.” Mujin confessed to his oldest friend, not wanting him to turn against him. “And I want to give her everything, everything that she deserves in this world.” Mujin finished, making eye contact with his friend again.
“Ok.” Nam-Ju said confusing Mujin.
“Ok?” Mujin questioned. What is that supposed to mean?
“Well I should probably count my lucky stars that she has someone like you to love and look after her rather than some low-level drug dealing waste of space ay?” Nam-Ju told a surprised Mujin.
“So you approve?” Mujin questioned, needing to hear the words.
“Yes, do you wany my permission as well while you are at it for marrying her?” Nam-Ju teased causing Mujin to choke on air at the words.
“I’m just teasing my friend.” Nam-Ju said with a laugh at Mujin’s face that went bug eyed when the M word was mentioned.
“I do have some… ground rules if you will.” Nam-Ju said, changing the atmosphere from light-hearted to serious again as Nam-Ju straightened his face back to his usual business face.
“Of course.” Mujin acknowledged.
“Suri must finish high school and she must go to college.” Nam-Ju told him firstly.
“Yes, I know. I’ve been making her study hard for her exams and I’ve paid for her extra tutoring lessons after school.” Mujin told his friend to his surprise.
“Really? You didn’t need to do that; you’re not married yet. I’m still responsible for her. I’ll repay you the money you have spent.” Mujin barely winced this time at the M word he had so carefully avoided up until now with other partners.
“I don’t mind Nam-Ju. It was for Suri’s betterment.” Mujin told him.
“Even so, I still have my pride. I’ll repay you the money.” Nam-Ju told him in a non-nonsense tone. Mujin nodded, knowing Nam-Ju wouldn’t back down from this.
“If you get her pregnant, you have to marry her.” Nam-Ju told him with serious eyes.
“I understand.” Mujin said with a nod that Nam-Ju accepted. He has been best friends with Mujin since they were both 12 years old and they both had tough upbringings and he had never pictured his friend getting married at all. Maybe his daughter would change that.
“And my last request is… protect her always. Sometimes I worry about her heart being too soft for this world we live in.” Nam-Ju confessed with a sigh.
“I promise to protect her.” Mujin swore with confidence. He didn’t even need to say it, he was going to protect her anyway. She was his light in the dark, like a moth to a flame.
“Good. I’m glad you are taking good care of her. I know Suri and I didn’t leave each other on good terms but I had hoped she had settled in well in Seoul.” Nam-Ju told his friend.
“She is doing well here and has made a couple of friends from her tutoring sessions. The argument you had will soon blow over.” Mujin updated the man, Suri’s father.
“I’m not sure about that. She’s stubborn, just like her mother.” Nam-Ju said with a low chuckle. Mujin cracked a grin at that.
“I don’t know, I think her old man can be just as stubborn sometimes.” Mujin teased, causing a look of mock outrage on his friend’s face.
“Ya! I just gave you consent to be with my daughter, and you say that to me?!” Nam-Ju whined playfully.
Mujin chuckled at the theatrics his friend was putting on.
“It was good speaking with you Mujin and I really appreciate you came to me about Suri before taking your relationship further.” Nam-Ju said, beginning to say goodbye.
“Of course Nam-Ju. It was good to see and speak with you too. Take care in Busan, ok? Don’t underestimate low level players, that’s how I got stabbed last time.” Mujin told him seriously.
“I know. When I’m done cleaning up the city, I’ll come down and visit you and Suri.” Nam-Ju promised at which Mujin nodded to in acknowledgement.
“See you soon.” Nam-Ju parted with.
“See you soon.” Mujin quietly echoed the words before his screen went black.
Later that night, Mujin softly knocked on Suri’s half open door. He could see Suri laying down on her belly on the opposite end of the bed with open textbooks littering the rest of the space around her. Suri’s big glasses dwarfed her tiny face, Mujin wanted to laugh at the cute sight she made.
“Mujin.” Suri greeted in mild surprise. Suri had changed into her flannel pyjamas and put her hair into a high ponytail with a pink scrunchy and Mujin thought she looked very comfortable and adorable.
“How is your studying going?” Mujin asked, breaking the awkward air that now existed between them, not knowing where they stand with each other.
“Good, I’m almost done for the night,” Suri told him before really looking at Mujin, who seemed to be hesitating at the doorway. “Did you speak to my father?” Suri asked, picking up on a different vibe from Mujin she wasn’t used to before.
“Yes.” Mujin answered, keeping Suri in suspense. Suri assumed the worse after seeing Mujin being a bit standoffish.
“He didn’t approve?” Suri questioned with a wince, slowly taking off her big glasses to really look at Mujin’s face.
“No, he did approve, of us I mean.” Mujin clarified causing Suri confusion. Why was he acting like this with her when her father approved of their relationship?
“Then why don’t you look happy?” Suri asked worriedly, biting her lip out of habit. Suri didn’t know if she was going to like his answer.
“I am happy Suri,” Mujin told the young woman “I just…” Mujin hesitated, not knowing how to word his thoughts and feelings. “I don’t know how to act around you now.” Mujin explained to a confused Suri.
“What do you mean? Act like you normally do.” Suri replied with a frown. Mujin sighed with a shake of his head.
“I can’t go back to how I treated you before, it’s different now. Our… relationship is different now.” Mujin explained. “I was an authority figure and now I am… I don’t know what I am now to you.” Mujin told Suri.
“I feel like I’m too old to be someone’s boyfriend.” Mujin commented with a shrug of his shoulders.
“Mujin, you are my Jagiya. There is nothing else too it.” Suri told him sweetly but confidently with a smile. Noting how he still lingered in the doorway and had not stepped into her room. “And as for how to act… act like you normally would. With the love and respect that you always have shown me.” Suri told the older man.
Mujin looked at the younger woman in surprise at her words.
“Come sit with me,” Suri told the man and patted the bed with her hand “I’m almost done with this chapter and then I am all yours for the rest of the evening.” Suri explained, watching, and waiting for what Mujin would do. Mujin smiled softly and moved away from the doorway and further into Suri’s bedroom. Suri watched as he slowly removed his suit blazer and tie, placing them on a chair in the corner of her room before he sat on the edge of Suri’s bed and swung his legs over, so he rested his back against the headboard and upright pillow. Suri reached back and took one of his big hands in hers wordlessly, squeezing them occasionally, reminding the other they were still there.
Chapter Text
It was a surreal feeling for Mujin, waking up next to someone. He had of course had one night stands before, but they always left before he woke up or they did not spend the night. It was different with Suri. For one, they just slept in each other’s arms. Something Mujin was not familiar with. The next thing was, Mujin had the feeling he did not want to move for the rest of the day. The scent of her strawberry shampoo enticed Mujin into burying his nose and face into her hair and the curve of her neck. Mujin’s arms were wrapped around Suri’s waist from behind, spooning her smaller body against his. Not leaving an inch of room between them. One of Mujin’s hands was entwined with one of Suri’s, they had fell asleep like that last night and had woken up in the same position.
Mujin was awake a while, revelling in the feeling of Suri’s warm body cuddled into his. It was something he never expected. Suri was not what Mujin expected. She was like a hurricane that stormed into life again and turned it upside down. Not in a bad way but in a way that knocked Mujin aback and confused the hell out of him. Mujin had not seen Suri in 7 years and now he didn’t think he could live without her ever again.
Suri stirred in Mujin’s arms, her flannel pyjama top riding up a little at the movement, bearing a sliver of her flat stomach.
“Mujin.” Suri moaned sleepily while carefully turning her body around to face him, Mujin kept his arms around her but were now loosely cradling her back.
“You’re awake? How long have you been awake?” Suri asked blearily through sleepy eyes as she tried to focus on Mujin’s handsome face.
“Long enough. You looked so peaceful, and I didn’t want to wake you.” Mujin said softly, out of character for his normally icy demeaner. Suri smiled at ‘soft’ Mujin, a side only she knew of the man… and maybe Taeju.
“How are you feeling? Are you ok?” Suri asked, trying to lift his plain white t shirt to get a look at his bandage. Mujin stopped her hand with his. He didn’t think he could take her touching his bare chest whilst still lounging in bed with her.
“I’m fine.” Mujin answered, an all too familiar reply from him. Suri raised an eyebrow questioningly but let it go after seeing Mujin’s face free from any pain.
“Ok, I’ll see it later anyway. You are due for a change of bandage soon.” Suri told him, letting him know she was only dropping the subject for now.
Mujin nodded in acceptance silently before moving a hand up to brush a stray hair away from Suri’s face. Suri unconsciously held her breath at the lightest of touches Mujin gave her. His body was hot in temperature against hers and was nearly making her overheat but she had no intention of spending any time than necessary away from him. The pair looked at each other in the eyes, wondering where the other’s head was at as silence enveloped them.
Suri hesitantly made the first move as she slowly extended her head up to place a chaste kiss on Mujin’s lips. Mujin’s lips soon responded slowly, matching Suri’s lazy movements and guiding hers against his. The slow kiss lasted a few more minutes before they broke away from each other for air.
“Morning.” Suri told him with a shy smile.
“Good morning sweetheart.” Mujin replied, unconsciously licking his lips.
“Sweetheart? Is that my new nickname?” Suri questioned teasingly with a cheeky smile. Mujin shook his head, determined not to blush.
“It was going to be, but I don’t think you are very sweet right now.” Mujin retorted with a purse of his full lips before he turned his back to Suri. Suri giggled before she wrapped her arms around Mujin’s waist, hugging his back.
“I’m sorry Jagiya.” Suri apologised, placing open mouthed kisses on the skin she could reach on his neck and start of his shoulders, but the white t shirt covered the rest of his bronze skin. Mujin turned his head around to see Suri’s playful eyes staring back. Mujin smirked before quickly turning around and tackling Suri on the bed, her back bounced on the mattress before Mujin leaned over her small body with his, holding himself above her on his hands either side of her head.
“What was that sweetheart?” Mujin asked between him planting teasing short kisses on every spot that was accessible on Suri’s face and neck.
“Mujin!” Suri shrieked, enjoying his attentions and touches.
They were much too immersed with each other that they almost missed Mujin’s phone ringing and vibrating on the bedside table. They both paused in their motions, breathing heavily as they looked at the ringing phone simultaneously. Mujin sighed in exasperation but still moved off Suri to get it with sorry eyes for Suri.
“Yes?” Mujin answered the phone shortly.
“Ok,” Mujin said to whatever was spoken over the phone. “I’m with Suri.” Mujin then said before hanging up and looking back at Suri in sadness.
“I have got to go.” Mujin told the woman who pouted back in annoyance.
“I’m sorry Suri, it’s business.” Mujin apologised before crawling back over to her to plant a chaste kiss on her lips in goodbye.
“I know but you shouldn’t even be working. You’re hurt.” Suri protested weakly.
“I have had far worse done to me. I’m ok and I know I will heal in no time with having my own private nurse to help me.” Mujin teased her before pulling her into a deeper passionate kiss that Suri responded to instantaneously.
“I’ve got to go, Taeju is waiting for me.” Mujin explained before he went down the rabbit hole of kissing Suri until he suffocated from lack of air. Suri whined when his lips separated from hers before she nodded reluctantly. Mujin got up and brushed down his wrinkled sleepwear.
“By the way Suri, what you said to that man in the gym the other night was wrong. You are not my princess. You are my queen.” Mujin told the woman who smiled brightly at his words which Mujin mirrored before he opened her bedroom door to leave. They were both surprised to see Taeju waiting outside the room, opposite the door. Taeju looked surprised at seeing Mujin coming out of Suri’s in the early morning in sleepwear. Taeju could see Suri behind Mujin still lounging on her bed in her sleepwear and the bedsheets were clearly ruffled indicating two adults slept there last night.
“Sir,” Taeju greeted, trying to mask his emotions like usual but somehow finding it hard to this time “you said you were with Suri. I thought I would wait for you here.” Taeju explained without Mujin asking. Mujin nodded in understanding before making his way back to his own bedroom to shower and get dressed. Taeju sent a questioning look to Suri before following Mujin. Suri smiled reassuringly at Taeju which relaxed him some. Mujin may be his boss and has been for years, but Taeju had learned to care for the girl since she arrived here. As far as Taeju was concerned, Suri was his younger sister and he would protect her from anything, beyond what his job entailed and that included protecting her from Mujin if necessary.
“Suri! Kim Suri!” Suri had just got out of her car outside the school gates when she heard someone calling her name. Taeju was holding her door open for her and turned around to look at the face of the voice. Suri was taken aback to see it was Jae-min calling her name and he had a wide grin on his face although Suri could see the coldness in his eyes despite his cheerful smile, directed at her as if they were old friends.
“Jae-min.” Suri greeted cautiously and hesitantly, wondering what he was up to. The last time she saw him, he had his hands around her neck. Taeju watched Suri’s unreadable expression carefully, noting how she looked very cautiously. Taeju thought the young boy looked familiar, but he couldn’t put his finger on where he had seen him before.
“What are you doing here?” Suri questioned a little rudely but not caring and choosing to ignore Taeju’s curious face.
“I just felt like paying you a visit. I haven’t seen you in so long.” Jae-min innocently replied although Suri could sense something sinister lurking under the surface of his words. Suri cracked a small smile without any warmth when she noticed a few of the other students looking at the interaction with interest and whispering.
“Do you have a death wish?” Suri asked quietly so only Jae-min and Taeju could hear with a wide smile to throw others off what was being discussed. Taeju tensed at the sudden drop in tone from Suri. Jae-min took a small step toward Suri and Taeju shifted his weight, intending to defend Suri if necessary.
“Yes, but I think you do too. Did you think I would forget about our last interaction?” Jae-min questioned with a smirk.
“Why would I care if you forgot or not? You are pretty forgettable.” Suri taunted with a smirk and head tilt, sizing up the boy wearing another school’s uniform. He was tall but lanky and Suri did not find his presence threatening at all.
Suri saw the angry veins in his neck bulge as Jae-min struggled to contain his anger.
“I should have squeezed your neck harder until you begged me to let go.” Jae-min darkly threatened Suri.
“Yes, you should have but you didn’t. Big mistake,” Suri agreed with him with a nod. “Now it’s you who should watch your back. Taeju tensed up at the direction the conversation was going, and he was about to step in when the boy glanced at Taeju cautiously before quickly leaving.
“What was that?” Suri muttered to herself, confused as to why Jae-min approached her again. She thought she had seen the last of him.
“Is that the guy from the karaoke bar?” Taeju asked Suri but already knowing the answer. Suri nodded, watching the boy quickly leave the area with narrowed eyes. Suri saw Taeju also watching the now distant figure with calculating eyes.
“Don’t worry about it. He’s harmless.” Suri told Taeju, brushing off the encounter quickly. Taeju looked unconvinced but nodded in acquiesce. It didn’t stop Taeju from carefully watching Suri enter the school property from the car and waited even until the doors to the school closed. Something felt off to him about the young boy.
Taeju attempted to tell Mujin about the encounter outside the school, but the day was busier than usual for Mujin with meetings relating to the Liber and the possible acquisition of another hotel that they were currently in talks with. Mujin’s day consisted of travelling all around Seoul and listening to people talk for hours on end. Taeju requested to pick Suri up from school and Mujin didn’t think anything of the request. Mujin knew that Taeju and Suri had become close after time spent together in the gym. However because one of the last meetings of Mujin’s day was a not legal meeting with another rival drug supplier, Mujin took nearly all of the boys with him for protection as he didn’t have Taeju with him. This left Taeju and one other man as driver by themselves when it came to picking up Suri and dropping her off at her after school studying school.
“Good day Suri?” Taeju made small talk when Suri came storming into the car after school had ended.
“I hate school!” Suri moaned immediately after slamming the car door.
“Want to tell me about it?” Taeju asked. Suri eyed Taeju curiously. He had never asked about her day before. Suri hesitated for a moment before blabbing out the frustrating day she had.
“Some bitch a year below started a rumour that I had a nose job over break and that I’m apparently getting a boob job next because one is lopped sided.” Suri honestly told Taeju that subsequently choked on air at the unexpected news.
“Oh um well, girls can be mean.” Taeju replied awkwardly.
“I know that” Suri growled in annoyance “My problem is that it’s true to start with and I don’t understand why there is such a stigma around plastic surgery. If I want to get a boob job, I will damn well get one. Most k drama stars get plastic surgery anyway so why does it have to be a big deal. I honestly don’t understand our society sometimes.” Suri passionately ranted while Taeju silently wished he never asked Suri about her day.
“And my boobs are not lopped sided!” Suri finished her rant in exasperation.
“Can you please stop talking about your boobs?” Taeju asked meekly while trying not to turn around to face Suri. Suri smirked at how uncomfortable Taeju was.
“Why?” Suri asked innocently.
“Suri.” Taeju begged.
“Oh fine.” Suri acquiesced, folding her arms.
The car soon pulled up outside her after school college and Suri quickly gathered her bag with her books inside.
“Come out as soon as you are done. Choi Mujin said he will be taking you out to dinner tonight so you can’t be late.” Taeju instructed Suri who nodded with a bright smile in anticipation of the evening with her jagiya.
“Oh really? Where are we going?” Suri questioned with a grin. Taeju chuckled in amusement.
“It’s a surprise. I am not allowed to tell you more.” Taeju told the young woman who subsequently pouted but soon dropped the subject and left the car with a spring in her step, practically running to the doors of the college. Suri thought happily about the sooner she started her study classes, the sooner it can end, and Suri can be back home with Mujin.
Neither party saw the dark green tinted car parked two car lengths up watching and waiting.
Chapter Text
Taeju didn’t think much about the green car parked 5 metres away. He passed the hour away reading on his phone and occasionally looking out of the window to people watch in boredom. Whilst Taeju could say that he enjoyed Suri’s company, waiting for her to be done with her lessons was not the highlight of this week. Usually he would let the younger guys deal with it but a feeling he had wanted him to stay by Suri’s side. Maybe it was the appearance of this Jae-min character at her school. Something felt very off about him and more than just an entitled rich boy persona that he put on.
Once the hour was up, Taeju smiled as he watched Suri looking happier than he has ever seen her before joking around with her two girl friends as they exited the building along with the other students from the study college. Taeju didn’t see the men until it was too late. A motorbike zoomed up to the window on Taeju’s car and shot the driver point blank in the head, his blood splattering over Taeju’s face too. Taeju’s mind slowed down and his smiled was wiped off when he realised what was happening. Taeju ducked just in time, missing the motorbike’s next bullet, drew his own pistol in the blink of an eye and returned fire, shooting the motorcyclist dead. Taeju breathed heavily before checking the rearview mirror of the car to see where Suri was. Suri looked on in horror, frozen to her spot as she saw the blood splattering the windows of her car. She couldn’t see anything through the windows and feared the worst for Taeju. Her two friends like the other students were screaming and running away from the sidewalk. Suri couldn’t move her legs.
The noise from the fleeing screaming students was so loud that she didn’t hear car doors opening and men approaching her until they were right on top of her. Once she realised, then she screamed. But not for herself. She screamed Taeju’s name in fear for his life.
“Taeju!” Suri screamed, tears streaming down her face. A man on each side grabbed her arms, Suri didn’t put up much of a fight- she was in too much shock.
“Taeju!” Suri screamed, already mourning her brother. Suddenly the car door of her car was kicked open and a bloodied, but healthy Taeju emerged with his handgun shooting the men on each side of Suri with frightening accuracy. Unfortunately another two took their places and Taeju without cover from the flying bullets, took a bullet to the leg and went down. The men not holding Suri back, rushed over to the now wounded Taeju and kicked his gun out of his hand and pressed their pistol to his forehead. Taeju froze and Suri did too. Suri’s tears continued to roll down her cheeks with ease.
“Stop! Please!” Suri shouted, unable to bear the sight of Taeju dying in front of her. In her mind he had already died once today, she couldn’t bear for him to die again.
“Take him with us.” A voice ordered from the tinted car. Suri and Taeju glanced at the car with curiosity, the voice was familiar to them, but they couldn’t think of a name.
The men obeyed their master and pulled Taeju up onto his feet and dragged him towards the trunk of the car, he glanced into the car on his way past and pulled a face when he realised who was inside calling the shots. Suri was not too far behind and was being pulled into the back seat of the car instead. Suri glanced behind her with wide eyes and saw Taeju being lowered into the trunk of the car harshly. Once Suri saw that Taeju was relatively safe from being shot and left for dead, she turned around to face the front of the car and inaudibly gasped at Jae-min sitting in the front. The car soon started to move away from the now crime scene with speed.
“Jae-min” Suri whispered softly but the young man still heard and smiled at Suri’s sudden submissive demeanour now that he had her at a disadvantage.
“Hello Suri.” Jae-min smirked “We meet again.”
Suri looked hesitant but was determined to not show Jae-min how scared she was. Who is he? How could he do this?
“Who are you?” Suri asked, schooling her expression into her cold blank persona. Jae-min laughed humorously.
“Did you forget me so easily? We only saw each other last this morning.” Jae-min teased with a sinister glint in his voice. Suri stayed quiet and glared, not playing his games.
“I am someone with money and power. Word on the street is you are the same.” Jae-min vaguely explained.
“We are not the same.” Suri denied instantly with a small shake of her head. Jae-min’s smile melted off his face.
“No I suppose we are not.” He replied soberly while taking his time to look at Suri from her feet up to her face and back down again. He gaze lingered on her slim pale bare legs under her short skirt. Suri fought to contain her shudder and refused to look at Jae-min lest he get any other ideas.
“We are going to have some fun together Kim Suri.” Jae-min announced with a chuckle before turning around to face the front of the car. Suri shivered and decided to look out the windows of the car, this part of the city they were traveling through was not familiar to her. Suri placed her hand down where Taeju was in the trunk and sent hopes and prayers that he was not losing too much blood and that he would be ok. That they would be ok.
Mujin… Mujin wouldn’t know they were gone for a while because of his important meetings today. Jae-min really couldn’t have implemented his plan on a better day.
The car ride was not relatively long even with Seoul traffic slowing them down. They eventually came to what looked like an abandoned factory on the edge of the city. The gates already open to the complex. Rusting metal told the story of how production had stopped at the factory many years ago. Once the car came to a stop, Suri’s door was opened for her, and she was forcibly dragged out by one of Jae-min’s men. Suri didn’t miss that Taeju was also not very gentling hauled out of the trunk. Suri tried to get a good look at Taeju’s condition, but she was not given the chance with Jae-min’s goons tugging on her to move after and follow Jae-min who led the way into the main building on the site.
“Welcome home, Suri-ah!” Jae-min exclaimed with a cocky smirk. Suri looked at the mouldy dirty walls and turned her nose up at it in protest. Jae-min frowned at the blatant disrespect and quickly strolled over to her and grabbed her throat with one of his wide hands, controlling her head. He didn’t apply much pressure. Yet.
“Suri, what’s wrong?” Jae-min softly asked her in a deceivingly calm voice, applying more pressure to her throat but not enough to restrict her breathing. Jae-min’s hold on her throat soon turned into a caress as his fingers stroked her sensitive skin on her neck before slowing making their way down to the top of her chest. Suri’s shirt had blown a few buttons in the struggle and the tops of her shirt was now open but just enough to cover the tops of her heaving breasts. Suri’s eyes went wide when she realised his hand wasn’t going to stop and soon, he would be touching her there. Jae-min enjoyed seeing the unmistakable fear in her eyes for the first time since he met her. Suddenly a warning growl was heard from their left and they both turned their heads to see an in pain Taeju glaring at Jae-min with hatred. Jae-min chuckled and slowly removed his hands from Suri’s body.
“I forgot about you, Taeju wasn’t it?” Jae-min asked knowingly remembering how Suri screamed his name earlier. Taeju stayed quiet but expressed his anger through his eyes. “Does your wound hurt?” Jae-min innocently asked before poking his finger inside the bullet hole with a sudden sadistic smirk. Taeju gritted his teeth to hold in his groans of pain. “It looks like it hurts, Taeju.” Jae-min answered his own question. Taeju silently glowered at the younger man while breathing heavily through the pain. Suri wanted to cry out to leave him alone, but she knew Jae-min was sadistic enough to hurt Taeju more if he knew how much it angered and hurt Suri.
“Unfortunately, I am needed somewhere else right now.” Jae-min announced with an annoyed sigh after glancing at his high-end watch. Suri frowned at his strange behaviour. “I’ll be back later.” Jae-min said in farewell, watching as the men pushed the two hostages into the small windowless boiler cupboard and then locked the door.
“Half the payment will be made to your bank account today.” Suri and Taeju heard just before the door closed completely and blocked out the light. Suri scrambled to her feet, running her hands on the wall before she finally found the light switch.
“Taeju?” Suri whispered as soon as the lights came on and she could see how pale Taeju had become. The red blood contrasting his normally darker skin tone. Suri collapsed at Taeju’s side, shaking hands hovering uselessly over his body.
“What do I do?” Suri asked Taeju with silent tears running down her full cheeks. Taeju grunted in pain before he grasped one of Suri’s and held it to his wound.
“Put pressure here.” Taeju muttered. Suri followed his command without question. While holding Taeju, Suri took a moment to glance around the room they were placed in. It wasn’t anything special, a typical cupboard with some cleaning equipment. The boiler was making the pair hot and sweaty in the confined space. Sweat was beading on both their foreheads and Suri could feel her hair sticking to her scalp in an unpleasant way.
“When do you think Mujin will notice us missing?” Suri asked Taeju quietly after sitting in silence for a long while. Taeju had closed his eyes to preserve his energy. He frightened Suri when he did it, but he assured her he wasn’t dead yet.
“Soon.” Taeju replied faintly but with confidence. It was enough to fill Suri with hope.
--- Line Break---
Mujin had had a long day of meetings and was looking forward to coming home to Suri’s beautiful face. It was something he had never longed for before. Coming home to somebody. Mujin scoffed at the man he was before Suri came back into his life.
Mujin frowned when he saw all the lights still off in the apartment. Was she asleep already? Mujin checked his watch for the time. He was known for losing track of time. Mujin frowned again when he realised it was only 8pm. Not early enough for Suri to fall asleep yet. Mujin did visit Suri’s room to make sure and found it empty with no trace of the owner having been there since this morning when he gave her a kiss goodbye before leaving first.
Mujin pulled his mobile from his pocket, found Suri’s name in his contacts and rang her phone. The phone immediately was sent to voicemail. Mujin scrolled further down and pressed on Taeju’s name. Again the call went straight to voicemail. Both phones were off.
Mujin immediately knew something was very wrong. Suri not picking up her phone was not unusual. Taeju always had his phone on him and always picked up. Mujin’s gut churned with dread.
Mujin scrolled to another number in his phone and the call was picked up immediately.
“Jung Taeju and Kim Suri are missing. Find them.” Mujin said shortly before hanging up. Mujin turned around and sat down on the end of Suri’s double bed, his elbows on his knees and covering his face with both hands. He couldn’t believe this was happening. Again. Only this time he knew it was serious if Taeju wasn’t able to answer his phone. Was he dead? Were they both dead?
Mujin did not have to wait long before he received a call back.
“There was a shoot out in front of Kim Suri’s after school tuition classes. Shin Hye-Do is dead. There were witness reports of a man and young girl being put into a car. Alive.” The voice said over the phone. Mujin remained silent. Pondering the information. Suri and Taeju were alive, Mujin breathed a little easier at the news. Now Mujin knew he had to find them before they outlived their usefulness to whoever took them.
Mujin’s facial expression hardened, and his old self came back like an old friend. There would be no mercy once he found out who took them. Mujin summoned his men with a click of a button on his phone. No one was to rest until Suri and Taeju were back where they belonged.
Mujin decided to call Nam-Ju. Mujin wasn’t sure whether Suri’s kidnapping had anything to do with Nam-Ju’s business back in Busan.
“Mujin-ah!” Nam-Ju greeted when he picked up his phone. Mujin’s lip twitched, wanting to smile but in the circumstances couldn’t. Not when he had to tell his best friend that he failed to protect his daughter.
“Nam-Ju.” Mujin replied solemnly. There was sudden silence on the other end.
“What happened?” Nam-Ju asked tensely with an undercurrent of anger expecting the worst of news.
“Suri’s been taken along with my right-hand man.” Mujin confessed. Nam-Ju sighed on the other side of the phone.
“I am already on my way to Seoul. I sorted my business out in Busan. I was travelling to see you and Suri.” Nam-Ju informed Mujin. Mujin could hear Nam-Ju then talking to his driver in the background.
“I’m an hour away. I’ll be with you soon.” Nam-Ju told his old friend before hanging up. Mujin wanted to smash his phone against a wall but knew he needed it in case Suri contacted him. It was an insult to his pride that Nam-Ju was coming to help him get Suri back. In Mujin’s mind it shows that he is unable to protect Suri himself. Maybe she would be better off without him.
Nam-Ju arrived 20 minutes earlier than expected. Obviously sticking to the speed limits were optional once he received the call from Mujin about Suri.
“Nam-Ju.” Mujin greeted, hesitant on how to address the father of his partner.
“Mujin.” Nam-Ju without hesitation, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and pulling him into a manly hug.
“It’s not your fault, Mujin,” Nam-Ju quietly told Mujin in his ear before pulling back to look at his friend of many years. “As a father I want to be angry with you but as your friend, I know you would have done everything you could to prevent this.” Nam-Ju told the defeated man, slapping him lightly on the shoulder in solidarity. Mujin nodded, not really processing the words.
“What do we know so far?” Nam-Ju asked, eager to find Suri and distract Mujin with work.
“Suri was taken outside her after school classes. Her driver was shot dead and my second in command, Taeju took a bullet to the leg. They were both pulled into this dark green car.” Mujin showed Nam-Ju a copy of the CCTV footage he was able to obtain from a source he had in the police department that was also investigating the case.
“Any leads? Any suspects? Any threats?” Nam-Ju asked consecutively. Mujin shook his head, replaying the CCTV footage over and over again in his mind. Suri must have been so scared, the quality of the CCTV was not good enough to read facial expressions but he knew Suri would have been more scared for Taeju than herself.
Suddenly Nam-Ju’s mobile started ringing.
“It’s a Seoul number.” Nam-Ju curiously commented before answering it. Mujin looking on intently. Maybe the kidnapping did have something to do with Nam-Ju’s business?
“Kim Nam-Ju?” a familiar voice asked over the phone. Mujin rolled his eyes in exasperation. Did these guys ever stop? Mujin thought with annoyance.
“Yes. Speaking. Who is this?” Nam-Ju replied, noticing Mujin’s annoyance with curiosity.
“Cha Gi-ho from Narcotics at Inchang Metropolitan police station.” The man introduced himself.
“How can I help you Cha Gi-Ho?” Nam-Ju asked, humouring the man who clearly annoyed Mujin enough to roll his eyes.
“I am sorry to have to tell you this, but it appears your daughter, Kim Suri, was kidnapped 4 hours ago.” Cha Gi-Ho with a sympathetic voice said.
“I am aware although I am disappointed that I had to hear that from my friend instead of the police first.” Nam-Ju criticised sternly.
“I apologise Sir,” Cha Gi-Ho said with a head bow over the phone “Are you able to get to Seoul? I can brief you on the case in person.”
“I’m already here. Choi Mujin and I will be with you shortly.” Nam-Ju shortly told the man before hanging up. He didn’t hear Cha Gi-Ho splutter on the phone in surprise.
“A friend of yours?” Nam-Ju asked curiously.
Mujin shook his head. “An annoyance. Nothing more,” Mujin sighed and rubbed his temples, preparing himself for the trip to the police station “Careful around Cha Gi-Ho, he will try anything to get what he wants.”
Nam-Ju chucked in amusement. “And what does he want most?”
“Me. Behind bars.” Mujin replied truthfully, pouring himself and Nam-Ju a drink beforehand. They were going to need it.
Nam-Ju chuckled and sipped on his drink.
---Line Break---
“Suri?” Taeju said first when he opened his eyes.
“Taeju!” Suri exclaimed, squeezing his hand where it rested in hers and had been for hours. Suri was not a religious person, but she prayed to every god she knew that Taeju would open his eyes again and be ok.
“Are you ok?” Taeju asked with concern, not remembering whether she was hurt or not. Her appearance with bloodied clothes most likely from his bleeding did not fill him with much confidence.
“I’m fine Taeju. I’m more worried about you. I think the bleeding has stopped.” Suri nervously said. She was tired from keeping an eye on Taeju’s wound and breathing for what could only be hours but was determined not to fall asleep. Taeju needed to rest and regain his strength and Suri knew that she needed to stay awake for both of them.
“They are hired hands.” Taeju said with more strength than both.
“What?” Suri frowned, not following what Taeju was saying.
“The men with Jae-min. He paid them money.” Taeju clarified. Suri raised an eyebrow, wondering where Taeju was going with this.
“Ok. So what?” Suri questioned.
“It’s not another gang. It’s just Jae-min and his money,” Taeju said, feeling tired again “The men don’t know who they have taken. If they did, they wouldn’t have done it. Choi Mujin is the boogeyman that everyone fears in Seoul.”
Suri frowned. That was new information. Suri already knew Choi Mujin had a feared reputation but the boogeyman of Seoul? Suri didn’t have much time to ponder that before their door was harshly yanked open and daylight streamed in.
---Line Break---
“Kim Nam-Ju.” Cha Gi-Ho greeted and bowed to the man at the doors to the station . His junior, Jeon Pil-Do at his side copied him. Cha Gi-Ho saw his nemesis Choi Mujin at his side and reluctantly bowed again to him. Mujin smirked in amusement. Choi Mujin remembered the face of Jeon Pil-Do from before when they pulled Suri into the station for underage drinking.
“Cha Gi-Ho?” Nam-Ju questioned knowingly. Mujin and himself had collected themselves before leaving Libre. Not wanting to show the police any sign of weakness in their appearance. Their suits were sharply pressed, and their hair gelled to perfection away from their faces.
“Yes sir.” Cha Gi-Ho answered, before ushering the pair into the station. Everyone in the station seemed to be on edge with excitement as the pair entered the station. It was a sight to see, the top gang leaders of Seoul and Busan walking side by side together into a police station.
Cha Gi-Ho ushered the pair towards an interview room with Jeon Pil-Do bringing up the rear. Glancing between the two well dressed men with wary eyes. Nothing good could come from the girl’s kidnapping Jeon Pil-Do thought. The streets would run red with blood if the girl wasn’t found.
The pair got as comfortable as they could in the plastic chairs across the table from Cha Gi-Ho. Jeon Pil-Do leaned against the wall observing the group of men.
“I am very sorry to hear that your daughter has been taken.” Cha Gi-Ho started off humbly. Nam-Ju observed the slimy man across from him with reservation.
“Hmm. I am curious about why you are on the case Cha Gi-Ho. Didn’t you introduce yourself from being in the Narcotics department?” Nam-Ju questioned with faux innocence.
“Is business slow?” Mujin mocked Cha Gi-Ho with a knowing grin. Cha Gi-Ho’s face tensed, trying not to glare.
“Something like that.” Cha Gi-Ho replied with a hint of something else in his voice.
“Maybe we should update them on what we have so far on Kim Suri’s kidnapping, sir.” Jeon Pil-Do interrupted, averting any confrontation between the two men.
“Yes. We have footage from the kidnapping from the convenience store opposite the school showing Kim Suri being taken. The driver of her car was assassinated. There was a shoot out between Jung -Taeju and the unknown men.” Cha Gi-Ho explained while playing the same footage Mujin played for Nam-Ju earlier. Mujin turned away from the footage, not being able to watch Suri being taken again on the screen. He had already watched it 20 times over since he received it. Each time wondering what he could have done to prevent it and each time coming up blank.
“Do you know the owner of the vehicle?” Mujin asked leaning forward while watching the footage of Suri being dragged into the said car. “Anything on the bodies left behind?” Mujin asked with an intense stare. Cha Gil-Ho narrowed his eyes at how invested Mujin was. He had never seen Mujin like this before. Cha Gil-Ho had studied Mujin for many years, and this was new.
“The plates are fake. Probably switched before the kidnapping.” Jeon Pil-Do intervened. Nam-Ju hummed at that news. Professional job it was then.
“And the men?” Nam-Ju prompted while taking out his cigarette case and lighter, very calm for being the victim’s father. Cha Gil-Ho frowned at Nam-Ju’s attitude.
“Nobodies really. No gang connections. They all have done their military service and none of them were especially wealthy. No connections between them either.” Jeon Pil-Do answered and saw a look pass between Nam-Ju and Mujin. Cha Gil-Ho did not miss it either.
“Is that everything you have?” Mujin asked with a sigh, frustration leaking into his tone.
“Yes, for now. We will keep you updated when we gathering any more information,” Cha Gil-Ho said and eyed up Nam-Ju’s fidget with the lighter “If you want to smoke, you’ll have to go outside.”
“That’s fine. We will be leaving anyway,” Nam-Ju immediately replied, rising from his seat with Mujin a second behind. Cha Gil-Ho rose as well in respect. “I look forward to hearing from you soon detectives.” Nam-Ju said with a shallow nod of respect. Cha Gil-Ho and Jeon Pil-Do copied him. Mujin didn’t bother and just left.
“Kim Nam-Ju was not what I was expecting.” Jeon Pil-Do commented while watching the two most powerful gang leaders of Seoul and Busan walk away.
“Don’t be fooled with his politeness Pil-Do. He’s as bad as Choi Mujin. Maybe worse,” Cha Gil-Ho scoffed “I want two teams tailing both Nam-Ju and Mujin. They will probably stick together to find Suri but in case they do split off, I want them both covered.” Cha Gil-Ho ordered.
“Yes sir.” Jeon Pil-Do obeyed.
“So?” Mujin prompted when Nam-Ju and himself was settled safely in the back of the car and away from prying eyes and ears.
“The men have no gang connections.” Nam-Ju commented, intrigued.
“Hired guns.” Mujin mused while lighting up his cigarette. Nam-Ju copied him.
“Could your enemies have hired them to avoid suspicion falling on them?” Nam-Ju asked but already knowing the answer. Mujin shook his head.
“No, it’s not their style.” Mujin answered with certainty.
“It’s not related to Busan either,” Nam-Ju offered. “A personal vendetta? Against Suri?” Nam-Ju questioned. He knew Suri wasn’t the easiest person to get along with but enough to kidnap her?
Mujin frowned but couldn’t answer. Suri never mentioned having problems at school or otherwise. Not enough to be kidnapped over.
“If it is hired help, someone somewhere in this city knows where she is and who took her. I’ll get the word out and a reward for any information.” Mujin flexed his power over Seoul’s underworld.
“You would be opening yourself up to showing weakness.” Nam-Ju commented while side glancing at his old friend.
“Suri is not my weakness,” Mujin replied shaking his head “She’s my strength and I will get her back.” Mujin said with a hard undertone before flicking the butt of his cigarette outside the window of the car.
Chapter Text
“Suri!” Jae-min exclaimed with a smile “Sorry to have kept you here for long. That was not my intention.” Jae-min ignored Taeju who was glaring at the younger man.
“Come Suri.” Jae-min ordered gesturing with his hands for her to stand up and follow him. Suri hesitated, looking back at Taeju unsure of what to do.
Jae-min saw Suri looking at Taeju and his smile immediately dropped from his face.
“Suri.” Jae-min repeated with a steel undertone very recognisable to all occupants of the room. Taeju nodded at Suri to follow Jae-min. He knew that neither one of them had a choice in the matter. Jae-min was in charge for now and to keep Suri safe, they would have to follow his lead. For the time being.
“Don’t worry,” Jae-min ducked his head to speak softly in Suri’s ear. Suri restrained herself from shuddering away from his close proximity “Taeju will live. For now.” Jae-min promised. Suri looked at the boy she thought was just a harmless schoolboy. She couldn’t read him. His eyes were an intense chocolate brown with hints of green in them. Suri was kicking herself at how wrong she was about Jae-min. It turns out he wasn’t as harmless as she first thought.
Suri reluctantly followed Jae-min to another section of the abandoned factory. The makeshift sitting room was a lot nicer than the crummy boiler room she was previously in. The room was empty and full of debris but the deep red sofa that sat in the middle of the room in front of a makeshift fire looked very clean and new? Suri noticed on their walk that the number of men Jae-min had were significantly reduced in number. Suri only counted 6 men that she could see guarding Taeju and herself.
“Leave us.” Jae-min ordered the two men that were stood in the sitting room. The men shared a repulsive grin between themselves before leaving the two barely adults alone.
“I think we should cut to the chase Jae-min,” Suri started while eyeing up the new room with interest. There was even a decanter set in the room? “What do you want with me?” Suri asked, trying to act confident despite knowing she and Taeju were at his mercy. Suri desperately hoped Mujin would find them soon.
Jae-min smirked at Suri’s impatience. Jae-min calmly walked over to the table holding the decanter set and poured himself a glass of whiskey. Turning his back on Suri for a moment although keeping an eye out for her from his peripheral vision. Jae-min turned around and silently offered Suri a glass with a gesture. Suri frowned and then shook her head. The last thing she needed now was to lose her senses on alcohol after being kidnapped. Jae-min shrugged her shoulders and then carelessly flopped down on the sofa.
“Sit Suri.” Jae-min demanded while taking a sip from his glass. Suri hesitated and Jae-min saw this. Suri could see the annoyance build in his eyes and immediately perched herself down on the opposite end of the sofa, as far as she could get from Jae-min.
Jae-min chuckled in amusement at Suri’s sudden timidness and slid across the sofa so he was next to Suri, his thigh almost touching hers.
“What do you want?” Suri asked in a quieter voice. Jae-min reached up a hand to brush Suri’s hair back from her face. Suri wanted to flinch away from him but barely managed to control herself. Jae-min’s hand lingered around her face and he slid the tip of his finger down the side of her soft cheek.
“I want many things Suri,” Jae-min confessed, watching with glee how tense Suri’s body had become at his touch. That would not do.
“Did you think you could insult me the other week and get away with it?” Jae-min whispered, watching intently as Suri’s pupils widened in shock before his strong hand roughly grabbed Suri by the neck and squeezed. Hard. “Did you?” Jae-min repeated himself in a hard tone. Suri spluttered, trying to breath with the hand around her neck. She clawed at Jae-min’s hand in an attempt to free her throat from his brute strength. Jae-min chuckled and took a minute to enjoy the struggle in Suri’s eyes before letting go. Suri gasped collapsing from the sofa onto the floor, trying to get air down her deprived throat. Jae-min sighed looking down at the girl on the floor by his feet before taking another sip from his glass.
“Tell me Jae-min,” Suri gasped still sitting on the floor while trying to regain her breath “Do you know who I am?” Suri glared up at the enemy with malice.
“You Kim Suri are a spoiled little rich girl that needs to be taught a lesson.” Jae-min answered condescendingly with narrowed eyes, not liking how Suri wasn’t scared of him yet.
Suri scoffed under her breath in disbelief. He didn’t know who she was. Who she is associated with. Unbelievable.
Before Suri could tell him, wanting so badly to see the light die behind his eyes at realising his mistake, the sound of a heavy metal door opening invaded their ears. Heavy footsteps, just one pair, echoed as the person came closer to their room.
Jae-min looked surprised. As if he wasn’t expecting anyone. Jae-min grabbed Suri by the hair just in case and both teenagers looked towards the entrance door where the stranger would enter.
“Jae-min. There you are.” Exasperation clearly expressed.
A well-dressed older man in an expensive suit and shoes crossed the threshold of the room. The man spared a curious glance at the girl on her knees with red marks around her neck before focusing on the younger man. The man was well dressed enough for Suri to question who he was. She could already tell he was insanely wealthy.
“Father.” Jae-min greeted in surprise. Suri’s eyes widened. Father?
“I thought I would find you here. Up to no good again I suppose.” Jae-min’s father tutted with a head shake. Jae-min lowered his eyes slightly in shame before they hardened once again.
“I learnt from the best.” Jae-min replied with a smirk. The man’s eyes hardened, and his fist clenched in anger.
“Who’s the girl?” Jae-min’s father asked, glancing at the attractive girl who had not said a word.
“A nobody. She needed to be taught a lesson.” Jae-min answered, annoyed that his father may decide to interfere.
The older man chuckled dismissively, not caring or acting surprised at Jae-min’s actions. It caused Suri to wonder whether this was not the first time Jae-min had kidnapped a girl.
“My name is Kim Suri.” Suri told the man in defiance, hoping that would shine a light as to who she is and who her family is. Jae-min glared at the girl and backhanded her for talking. Suri was flung to the floor with the force, and she could feel her lip split and bloodied.
The older man narrowed his eyes at the name. It rang familiar in his mind.
“Who is she?” The man asked, having a sinking feeling about the latest girl Jae-min had kidnapped.
“Just some schoolgirl from Gangnam. She won’t be missed,” Jae-min confidently spoken. “I even have her bodyguard locked in the boiler room, slowly bleeding out.” Jae-min bragged while torturing Suri at the same time with his words.
“Bodyguard?” The older man asked, starting to now feel sick to his stomach. No ordinary girl had a bodyguard.
“Who are you?” The man demanded, sweat starting to build on his forehead. Suri chuckled darkly as the man was starting to catch on. Kim Suri is not a nobody nor an ordinary schoolgirl and how dare they assume as such.
Jae-min grabbed her chin forcefully, so the young girl looked up at them. Jae-min suddenly started to get a bad feeling about this too.
“You mean you want to know who my family is?” Suri played with the men coyly, suddenly having the advantage over them. Not physically but mentally. Suri was now messing with their minds.
“Stop playing girl and tell us.” The older man demanded, feeling really tempted to hit her himself but not before he knew who she is.
“They are going to kill you.” Suri chuckled menacingly, praying Mujin was not far away and was going to find her. She could play with these two until he arrives. Suri had faith that he will come for her.
“Aish this bitch.” Jae-min lost his temper and backhanded her again. Suri flew back onto the floor and hit her head quite hard. Suri blinked a few times to correct her vision. Did she blackout? She couldn’t remember. The next thing she knows, Jae-min and his father were lifting her weak body onto the couch in a lay down position while the two were arguing with each other beside her.
“Why did you do that? She was going to tell us!” Jae-min’s father demanded angrily. Suri’s vision was poor, but she could still hear everything around her.
“No, she wasn’t. She’s just playing with us. She’s not connected to anyone.” Jae-min dismissed, annoyed at the situation. His father was ruining his time with the young girl. He still had things he wanted to do with her.
Suri’s mouth was dry, but she tried to utter the words of who she wanted most. Jae-min’s father glanced at Suri who was mumbling nothing cohesive and leaned over her, trying to hear her. Suri strengthened her voice as much as possible so he could hear. And possibly wet his pants.
“Kim Nam-Ju. Choi Mujin.” Suri whispered with wide eyes at the father who heard her clearly. His complexion suddenly lost its colour.
“Choi Mujin?” Jae-min’s dad asked tentatively. Sweat accumulated heavily on his forehead.
“Did someone say my name?” A deadly voice asked from behind.
The three occupants of the room all turned round at the same time to see the boogeyman of Seoul, Choi Mujin standing in the doorway. Kim Nam-Ju was standing next to him, both were dressed in their usual sharp suits. More men stood behind them carrying an array of weapons including metal baseball bats that they were swinging around threateningly. Dried blood was already covering the weapons and Jae-min’s men were not to be seen and Kim Suri concluded that they were already taken care of already although Kim Suri didn’t hear anything to support that theory.
“Choi Mujin.” Jae-min’s father breathed nervously. Choi Mujin sauntered further into the room while clicking his lighter back and forth between this thumb and forefinger.
Choi Mujin paused and turned towards where Kim Suri was still laying on the sofa and took a long look at her condition. His eyes darkened when he saw the bruises already appearing on her delicate neck- handprints obvious. He also noted the blood slowly oozing down her forehead from her hairline. Her eyes were not very focused either- possibly a concussion.
“You took something from me.” Choi Mujin commented calmly despite the storm building up inside of him. How dare they lay a finger on her! Choi Mujin couldn’t keep his eyes off Suri, making it obvious to everyone in the room what was taken from him.
“We didn’t know,” Jae-min’s father exclaimed with desperation. Jae-min’s father collapsed to his knees, and he pulled Jae-min down with him. “We are sorry. We are sorry.” He repeated, hoping with a little bit of faith that they would be spared Choi Mujin’s wrath.
“What are you sorry about?” Mujin asked while lighting a cigar slowly. Jae-min’s father and son shared a confused look between them at the question. Suri chuckled under her breath. It looks like Mujin wants to play with his food before eating it.
“For taking the girl.” Jae-min’s father spoke for the two of them.
“Is that it?” Mujin asked in a disappointed voice while exhaling from a puff of his cigar. Jae-min’s father cringed, looking for the right answer.
“My son seems to have laid his hands on her. I apologise on his behalf.” Jae-min’s father replied while glaring at his son out of the corner of his eye.
Mujin hmphed in acknowledgement of the apology.
“Do you know who the girl is?” Mujin asked with hard eyes. She’s mine!
“Uh Kim Suri?” Jae-min answered cluelessly. Kim Nam Ju laughed in amusement. This waste of space didn’t even know who he had kidnapped.
“Kim Suri is Kim Nam Ju’s daughter,” Mujin revealed, nodding to the man at his side who glared at the pair with intense eyes. Jae-min’s father’s eyes widened comically. Everyone knew who Kim Nam Ju was. You didn’t have to live in Busan to know everything about what he had done and what his is capable of. “But the most important thing you need to know about Kim Suri is that she is my girlfriend.” Mujin declared darkly. The two men on their knees barely had time to digest that information before Mujin shot a signal to his men. The men with baseball bats immediately surrounded the two and began beating them. Mujin didn’t spare the violence a second glance as he walked over to Suri, his long legs closing the distance in no time at all.
“Suri-ah?” Mujin greeted hesitantly while running his eyes all over her body to see how hurt she was. Her eyes were unable to focus on Mujin’s face for long, her eyelids feeling heavy.
“Mujin.” Suri greeted with a lopsided grin with heavy eyes.
“Stay awake for me Suri-ah.” Mujin said, noticing the threat of her eyelids fluttering.
“Taeju—Taeju is locked in the boiler cupboard. You need to get him out. He’s lost a lot of blood.” Suri murmured trying to give Mujin all the important information before she blacked out. She could feel the darkness coming. Mujin nodded at a man standing by to find Taeju.
“Ok Jagi. Ok. Keep those eyes open for me.” Mujin almost pleaded, cupping Suri’s cheek gently. Kim Nam Ju watched from the sidelines, not wanting to interrupt the pair. It was the first time Kim Nam Ju was seeing his best friend and daughter together. He could see- hell anyone could see how much Mujin was in love with Suri. It was obvious from a long way away. Kim Nam Ju had mixed feelings about it. It was a lot to process.
Suri smiled lazily at Mujin’s face that looked worried. Why was he worried? They were together again. Suri didn’t even see her father standing the background. Her eyes were focused on her Mujin and nothing else. Suri swore she could hear police sirens getting louder. Maybe she was hallucinating? Maybe Mujin was not even here, and her head took a harder beating than she was aware of.
“I can hear sirens. You better get out of here.” Suri commented before the darkness came for her and her eyes shut.
“Suri! Suri!” Mujin cried out while lightly shaking her shoulders. Kim Nam Ju placed a hand on his best friend’s shoulder to calm him down.
“Let’s get her to a hospital, Mujin.” Mujin nodded on autopilot, and he scooped up Suri’s small body in his arms as if she weighed nothing. Mujin could feel something dropping down his cheek, but he didn’t care. Mujin turned around with Suri in his arms just as when Jeon Pil-do and Cha Gi-ho burst through the warehouse’s doors. The two policemen froze at the sight of the great and terrifying Choi Mujin carefully scooping up the schoolgirl in his arms with a tear running down his normally stoic face.
“We need a hospital.” Mujin, not caring that he was crying in front of the police who have been chasing him for years., exclaimed.
“Now wait a minute-“Cha Gi-ho tried to protest after taking a glance around the room and seeing two bloodied men on the ground not moving.
“Please.” Mujin said, disliking the taste of the word in his mouth but this was for Suri. Jeon Pil-do and Cha Gi-ho were not idiots and could clearly see the way Mujin was looking at the young girl and the gentle way he carried her. He was in love with her.
“Waiting for an ambulance will take too long. We will give you a police escort to the hospital.” Jeon Pil-do said with sadness at seeing the girl in the state she was- dried blood and bruises. It was the worst part of his job as a police officer. Seeing the aftermath of something that shouldn’t happen.
Cha Gil-ho gaped at what his junior proposed but didn’t protest. Taeju was soon brought out by one of Mujin’s men, he was leaning most of his body weight on the man. Dried blood covered his clothes, and his skin was soaked in sweat.
“Suri?” Taeju deliriously asked after. Wanting to see the young girl he was to protect.
“She’s here. She’s coming with you to the hospital.” Kim Nam Ju answered, Mujin in no fit state too. All his energy was poured onto Suri. That didn’t mean he wasn’t also concerned for Taeju, but he knew how tough he was.
“Let’s loaded them into the cars.” Mujin ordered. Suri and Mujin went into the back of one car while Kim Nam Ju and Taeju went into the back of the other. As promised, they had siren wailing police escort to the nearest hospital.
Time then sped by fast as Suri and Taeju were treated by the doctors and nurses under the careful watch of Choi Mujin and Kim Nam Ju. Cha Gi-ho and Jeon Pil-do also stayed behind to see what the verdict was with Suri and Taeju’s conditions.
Hours had passed and family was now allowed to visit. Choi Mujin sat down at Suri’s bedside, grasping her hand in his- she was still unconscious but was assured by the doctors that she is just resting and that she will wake up when she has recovered. Kim Nam-Ju watched the pair through the glass viewing wall with unreadable eyes. Kim Nam Ju suddenly felt the presence of others standing on either side of him. He glanced to his left and right and could see the police detectives, Cha Gi ho and Jeon Pil do also watching the pair.
“Well, I wasn’t expecting that,” Jeon Pil do comment. “What a couple of lovebirds.”
“Does it not bother you? Make you angry?” Cha Gi ho asked curiously to Kim Nam Ju who was watching his young daughter with his much older best friend.
“Why would it make me angry?” Kim Nam Ju asked calmly with a raised eyebrow at the detective who was obviously trying to get a rise out of him.
“It is your best friend who is much older than your young schoolgirl daughter.” Cha Gi ho pointed out the obvious with confusion.
“Who would I be able to trust with my daughter more than my best friend?” Kim Nam Ju asked with honesty.
“Yes, but still. Do you not think it is wrong?” Cha Gi ho asked with a frown.
“Mujin phoned me and was honest with me about his feelings and Suri’s feelings before anything happened between them. As for their age, Suri is an adult now. She can make her own decisions and she will not be swayed by anything. Stubborn thing she is. She gets that from her mother.” Kim Nam Ju chuckled at the end.
“Yes, because you are not stubborn at all are you?” a voice interrupted, and the three men saw Mujin quietly leaving the room where Suri was.
“Ya! Why do you always say that?” Kim Nam Ju retorted with underlying amusement.
“Because it’s true. We have been friends a long time.” Choi Mujin teased.
“What happened to Jae-min and his father?” Mujin asked the two detectives.
“They are to stand trial for kidnapping, assault and attempted murder,” Jeon Pil-do informed the gang leader. The irony. “We don’t expect them to be let out for a long time.”
“Thank you.” Mujin gave Jeon Pil do and Cha Gi ho a shallow bow of respect which surprised the pair as he had never bowed to them before.
“Don’t think we will go easy on you anymore Choi Mujin.” Cha Gi ho just had to comment before Choi Mujin left to return to Suri’s side- noticing her starting to twitch.
“I don’t expect you to.” Mujin turned around to reply with a smirk which surprised them all before he re-entered Suri’s room where Suri was starting to stir awake.
Kim Nam Ju chuckled and smirked in amusement. The three men watched as Mujin hovered over a now awake Suri and then started to plant soft kisses on her forehead before moving his kisses all over her face before meeting her lips with his. Suri giggled and tried to softly push the man away with little strength.
“Jeez Choi Mujin has gotten soft.” Cha Gi ho commented, his face screwing up at the lovey dovey display the feared gang leader was putting on.
“Ah I wouldn’t underestimate him detective.” Kim Nam Ju said with a chuckle.
Chapter Text
Epilogue
4 years later
Suri fiddled with her fingers nervously as she waited for her name to be called.
It was one of the most important days of her life. Suri moved from fiddling with her fingers to twisting her large diamond ring that fitted perfectly on her small finger. Suri smiled as she recalled her love, Mujin on one knee sliding the ring onto her finger a year ago.
Suri was so engrossed in the happy memory that she almost didn’t hear her name being called. The girl behind her nudged her softly with her elbow and Suri looked up to see expectant eyes on her. Suri smiled gently in apology before walking onto the stage. Suri smiled at the familiar face of her professor who was waiting for her. Suri shook his hand and gave a small bow to him in respect. Suri was then handed her diploma and she paused with her professor so her picture could be taken recording the moment of being handed her diploma for her degree. Suri looked out to the masses of people, friends and family of her class graduating and so course right there at the front was her family. Her dad Kim Nam Ju who she had long ago made up with, Jung Taeju who had fully recovered from his injuries from 4 years ago with a bit of help from physiotherapy. He had brought along his girlfriend, Lee Ri Ah who ironically was his physiotherapist. Her friends from extracurricular classes, Park Tae-ri and Hong Min-Young were also there to cheer her on, the three girls still close despite attending different universities. And then there was the love of her life, Choi Mujin standing and clapping his hands with a proud smile on his face. He hadn’t aged a day over the years. The past 4 years had been the best time of Suri’s life. She wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Once her picture was taken, Suri skipped down the steps and into Mujin’s waiting arms. They had a small moment together before Mujin soon let go of Suri so the rest of the group could congratulate her. Suri beamed in happiness and cuddled into Mujin’s side once everyone settled down. The family all sat down to resume watching the graduation. Suri sat down next to her fiancé and subtly moved Mujin’s hand, so it was now cupping her still flat stomach. Mujin glanced down at Suri and they shared knowing looks full of happiness. Mujin’s hand softly stroked her stomach tenderly and Suri kissed Mujin chastely, unable to hold back any longer. Mujin squeezed the other arm he had wrapped around Suri’s back tighter with affection. He was holding his whole world in his arms.
GAYDOSURTO (Guest) on Chapter 1 Wed 27 Jul 2022 02:40PM UTC
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