⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

Junho's steps were heavy with disappointment as he descended the narrow stairwell toward the front of the building. He hated the sinking weight in his gut, the frustration of yet another dead end. It wasn't even surprising anymore. Everyone he spoke to was the same. They went to the police in terror, desperate to be heard, to be saved. And then, just as quickly, they retracted their statements.

Even Seong Gi-hun had denied him answers when he'd gone to see him earlier that evening. The man had seen something, but just like Eun-kyung, he had folded in on himself, unwilling or unable to speak.

Junho clenched his jaw as he stepped into the lobby. He was no closer to finding the truth about his brother's disappearance, and yet, that damned card was the only link between all of them. Every time he called the number on it, the line went dead.

When he stepped outside, he opened his umbrella under the awning, in preparation for the rain that was still coming down hard, thick sheets of water turning the pavement slick with reflections of neon and headlights. But what caught his eye wasn't the rain—it was the lone figure crouched just beyond the shelter, fully exposed to the weeping sky.

He had recognized her upstairs, but now, he took a longer moment to study her. He knew her better than she knew him. She was all Eun-kyung could ramble about if he happened to be there during her visits with his mother, but he had only just put a face to the name last week.

However, the composed, neatly put-together woman from the marine biology presentation was nowhere to be seen. In her place was a bedraggled-looking creature who looked like she'd been dragged from a storm drain, soaked through and shivering. Her hair had come loose in tangled strands, clinging to her face and neck. Her faded sweatshirt seemed useless against the cold, but she wasn't shielding herself. She wasn't even trying to escape the downpour. Instead, her face was tilted up toward the sky, eyes tightly shut, lips parted just slightly as if drinking in the sensation of the storm itself. She had the look of someone accustomed to drowning.

Something about it unsettled him, and yet, he found her striking even in ruin, like something once polished now left out to erode in the elements.

The notion startled him.

Junho found himself moving before he realized it, stepping just far enough so that the edge of his umbrella stretched over her, while he remained shaded under the awning. The gesture was instinctive, but she didn't notice him. He could hear her shallow breaths over the rain, and so he let her be for a few moments longer.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

A low, persistent buzzing pulled Mirae from her stupor, and she blinked, sluggishly fishing her phone from her pocket with fingers stiff from the cold. She barely noticed that the rain no longer pelted down on her, and without glancing at the caller ID, she raised the device to her ear.

"Hello?"

From the other end, her grandfather's familiar voice crackled through the speaker—thin, feeble, and, oddly enough, gleeful. "Mirae-yah," he crooned, his words slurred. "They're all coming back. I told you they'd come back. We're all going back."

Mirae let out an exhausted sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Grandfather... are you drunk? You sound drunk. You know what your doctors said about alcohol and your diet in general. Where are you?"

"Oh, don't nag," the old man huffed dismissively. "I just had a little something. A snack, that's all."

"Where are you?"

"You would've liked it, you and Minhyuk both." He meandered, drifting away from the question entirely. "We used to get it all the time when you were younger, remember? With the little toothpicks? Ahh, those were the days..."

"Grandfather. Focus. Tell me where you are."

"I just had a snack with a friend."

"What friend?"

"Seong Gi-hun."

"I don't know who that is. Did he pick you up from the house?"

"It was something simple, something good," he continued as if she hadn't spoken. "You always liked the sweet ones, didn't you? Your brother too, though he pretended otherwise." He let out a wheezy laugh. "He thought I didn't notice when he stole the last piece, but I always knew."

"Grandfather..."

"They're all coming back," he murmured again in a singsong lilt. "They always do, you know. You'll see soon enough. We are all going back."

Mirae gritted her teeth and tried again, more gently this time. "Where are you right now? Are you alone? Is your friend still with you?"

"Ah." A beat of silence. "Can't reach Minhyuk."

"Minhyuk isn't here," she disclosed carefully. "You know he didn't come back with us."

Her brother was still on the island, in preparation for their inevitable return, but the old man often forgot such details.

With an offhanded hum, her grandfather mused, "Ahh, wait, don't bother him. He must be with that girl of his. The pretty one."

"There's only ever been one, but no, he's not with her."

"Yes, yes. That one. A fine girl. I wonder... will we be getting a wedding after all?"

"Grandfather—"

"Not right away, of course. We're all busy this week, obviously, but perhaps in a few months? Hm? Enough time to plan something lavish."

Mirae rolled her eyes, glancing at her sodden shoes and searching for divine patience. "Grandfather, I really—"

"I'll have to speak with Minhyuk," he interrupted again. "There's nothing more important than a strong foundation, you know. A man must settle down, and build something lasting. I do wonder... would they prefer something small? Or grand? We must invite all our clients, of course."

"Could you first please tell me where you are?"

"I suppose it depends on her, though. Women like these things, don't they? Maybe your mother might help for Minhyuk's sake."

If Mirae didn't feel like weeping at the mention of her mother, she might have scoffed. Her grandfather's memory seemed worse than usual today, but she wasn't going to spoil his delusions of grandeur.

"Grandfather, can you please focus."

"Mm, yes, yes, of course," he mumbled. Then, after a pause, "You really should marry soon, too, Mirae-yah. You're not getting any younger."

"Now is seriously not the time."

"But you always were a difficult one, weren't you? Never took an interest in the boys I try to introduce you to. Too practical, like your father."

Too much like her father.

Mirae resisted the urge to hurl her phone across the parking lot.

"Oh, but I understand. No use in forcing these things. They happen when they happen." The man's voice softened into something almost wistful. "Your father was the same way. And yet... when he finally chose, he chose with all his heart."

There was nothing about her father's marriage that indicated he had a heart, but she wasn't going to point that out.

"Do you want me to get someone else to pick you up?" she asked.

"No. I want you to come. Don't send anyone else, or I won't go with them."

Mirae cursed aloud. Oh Il-woo was stubborn as a mule on his best days, but when he got like this—rambling, half-drunken, impossible to reason with—he was unbearable. And yet, she couldn't just leave him like this, wherever he was, babbling to himself about snacks and games and weddings that would never take place.

"Fine," she bit out. "But you have to tell me where you are."

A muffled noise on the other end, the sound of rustling, a distant clatter. Finally, he spoke again. "Convenience store," he divulged vaguely. "The one on... ah, what street was it?"

She waited, but he didn't elaborate. "Which convenience store? Grandfather, think. You need to tell me where exactly."

A long sigh. "Hold on... Ah! Yes, it's..." He rattled off a name, and Mirae groaned. That location was nowhere near their family home. What the hell was he doing all the way out there? And how had he even gotten there in the first place? Where was his chauffeur?

"Listen to me, please," she began. "Stay where you are. Don't move. Don't follow anyone else, and for the love of god, stay indoors until I get there, or you'll catch a cold."

"Oh, stop worrying," he chided. "Come have a drink with me. And a snack. Just like old times."

Mirae was too tired to argue. Worry coiled like a vice in her chest, and dismay burned at the back of her throat. How was she supposed to find him with only his half-coherent directions? She hadn't even brought her car. The rain was relentless, and she had no idea how long it would take her to get to him.

"I'm on my way. Just please, stay where you are," she begged, stuffing the phone back into her pocket.

As she pushed herself upright, she nearly collided with someone, barely managing to catch herself before she crashed into the man standing right behind her. Another obscenity lingered on the tip of her tongue, but before she could spit it out, she froze.

It was the officer from earlier. His umbrella still hovered over her, shielding her from the rain. Their faces were so close she could see the fine lines of his furrowed brow and the flicker of recognition in his dark eyes.

She scowled at their proximity, hastily stepping out from under the shade and into the downpour once more. With a single curt apology, she strode off, not sparing him a second glance. However, she barely had time to register the figure moving after her before Junho called out behind her.

"Can I help you?" she demanded flatly, her patience already worn thin.

"No," he replied. "But I can help you."

"Doubtful."

She quickened her pace across the lot, but he matched her stride effortlessly. Annoyance flared up in her, but she tamped it down. This was not the time for unnecessary distractions.

"Look, sir," she sighed, "I'm in a rush. I apologize for the scene you must have had to witness up there." She hazarded a glance toward Eun-kyung's apartment building before shaking her head. "But I really have to go now."

"I can give you a ride," Junho offered.

Mirae actually laughed at that, a low, humourless sound. "You don't even know where I'm headed."

The man shrugged as if that were the least of his concerns. "Yes, well, I'm assuming you'll tell me."

"And I'm assuming you'll want something in return? People always do."

"Not everyone does something in exchange for something else. It's called basic human decency."

"Basic human decency. What a concept."

"One you might be unfamiliar with, I take it?" Junho pressed on, undeterred. "It's a dangerous time of night for a woman to be out and about alone."

At that, Mirae nearly snickered again—this time in real amusement. If only he knew. Of all the horrors she had seen, of all the dangers she had faced, the darkened streets of the city were the least of her worries. But he seemed sincere enough, and she weighed his offer in her head. Getting to her grandfather quickly was more important than indulging her pride.

She exhaled, biting down the part of her that hated accepting assistance. "Alright... if it wouldn't be too much of a bother." She hesitated before adding, "I need to... find someone. Please."

Junho's lips quirked, his amusement evident. The way she forced out the politeness like it physically pained her made her look like she'd swallowed a lemon.

"Alright then." He stepped forward and shifted his umbrella back over her head. "Let's go."

He did not give her another moment to retract the request, already steering her toward his car with an ease that irritated her. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. This was going to be a long drive.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

The car ride was quiet at first, the only sound the rhythmic patter of rain against the windshield. Mirae was soaked to the bone, her damp clothes clinging uncomfortably to her skin, and despite the heater being on full blast, she felt cold.

She was mildly surprised that when she told Junho the odd name of the convenience store she had managed to decipher from her grandfather's ramblings, he already knew of it. Well, that at least saved her the bother of a scavenger hunt across the city.

Junho, for his part, hadn't asked any follow-up questions, much to her relief. He simply drove, hands steady on the wheel, eyes fixed on the road ahead. That was until they reached a red light.

Mirae heard the rustle of something being pulled from his jacket pocket, and when she turned her head, she balked.

A single card, marked with a circle, triangle, and square.

"Have you seen this before? Maybe among Eun-kyung's belongings?"

Mirae had. But not among her friend's things.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"I am."

Junho glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, the red traffic light outside casting long shadows over her face. She was lying. He forced himself to ease the tension that had built in his shoulders. It was clear he wasn't going to get anything out of her. He could keep pushing, but she was stubborn, and he had a feeling she'd sooner throw herself out of the moving car than give him a straight answer.

She hadn't asked for his help, and she seemed like the kind of person who would rather chew glass than admit she needed it. But at the end of the day, it was his duty as a police officer to ensure the safety of citizens, even when they were ill-tempered. It was horribly late, and the city wasn't kind to lone wanderers, least of all to women in the dead of night. His conscience wouldn't let him leave her to fend for herself in this weather.

He also couldn't ignore what she might know. He knew she and Eun-kyung were close. Or at least, they had been. She had to have seen the card before. Maybe she had more answers than she was willing to give. If he could just get them out of her, he might be one step closer to figuring out what Eun-kyung and Gi-hun were hiding. One step closer to finding out what the hell was going on. One step closer to finding his brother.

Junho tightened his grip on the wheel, stealing another glance at the woman beside him. Her gaze was fixed outside the window, and she looked lost in thought. It wasn't a drifting, absentminded kind of lost, but the deliberate kind, like she was trying to be anywhere but here.

"Did she ever mention anything strange to you?" he probed again. "A game, maybe? Something... unconventional?"

"No."

"What about any disappearances? Mass graves?"

"No."

She was a terrible liar. And yet, she was determined to stonewall him.

The traffic light turned green, and Junho tore his eyes away, practically strangling the wheel as he hit the gas. An irrational part of him wanted to slam the brakes and toss her out of the car. Another dead end. Another person withholding answers. He was running out of leads, out of time. His brother was out there and she knew something, he was sure of it.

But before he could call her out and voice the growing displeasure simmering in his chest, she spoke again.

"I'd drop it if I were you," she advised, devoid of irritation now. Just quiet. Resigned. 

"Lucky for you, you're not me," Junho sneered. 

"Lucky me," Mirae deadpanned.

"So you do know something."

"I never said I did. I'm just telling you to be careful."

"Why?"

Why indeed.

She didn't know why she bothered to warn him. Maybe because he had done her a favour by driving her, and she hated owing people. Or maybe it was something else entirely. Maybe he just seemed too good a person to die in that awful place that swallowed even the best of them.

She hoped he'd abandon the line of questioning, but he wasn't done.

"You know, for someone who claims not to know anything, you're being awfully defensive," he said, side-eyeing her as he switched lanes.

"Defensive? No. I'm just exhausted. It's been a long day, and now I have to go collect my drunk grandfather from God knows where." Mirae crossed her arms. "The last thing I need is some detective harassing me about things I don't know."

"You do know," Junho argued. "People don't warn others to 'be careful' unless there's something to be careful about."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"I think I do. Do you honestly think you're helping by keeping quiet? You're not. You're just letting whoever's behind this keep getting away with it."

"And what exactly do you think I know? Enlighten me."

Junho's patience was thinning. "Eun-kyung came to me three days ago. She was hysterical, and tried to report something but then backed out, just like every other person who's gotten involved in this. They're all scared. And now you're sitting here, telling me to drop it." His demeanour darkened. "Why?"

"Because there are things bigger than you, detective."

"So you admit it? There is something."

Mirae groaned, throwing her head back against the seat. "For fuck's sake. Is this what you do? Badger people until they tell you what you want to hear?"

"If that's what it takes. You're hiding something. You and Eun-kyung both."

"And what of it?"

"Look. I'm not asking you to confess to a crime. I just want the truth. People are disappearing. People are dying, according to some. And I know Eun-kyung—"

"You don't know Eun-kyung!" Mirae interjected defensively. "You don't know what she's been through, what she's had to do to survive. So don't act like you do."

"You're right. I don't," he amended. "But I do know people don't warn others unless they've seen something horrific that they don't want to talk about."

"I'm not talking because there's nothing to talk about."

"Right. Just like Eun-kyung 'misremembered' things because she was tired?"

"What exactly do you think you're going to do, Officer Hwang?" Mirae inquired coldly. "Let's say something is going on. Let's say there is something to be scared of. What then? You think you, alone, are going to take down some grand conspiracy?"

Se didn't know why she goaded him, but it was difficult to resist. He was just a naive moron who thought he could change things, but would only get himself killed. 

Junho glanced at her, and there was something fierce in her gaze, something that made his stomach twist.

"If I have to," he replied simply.

"Then you're an idiot."

"Yeah, well, I've been called worse."

Mirae stared at him for a long moment, then turned away, looking back out at the rain. She didn't call him an idiot again.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

The car rolled to a stop outside the convenience store. Mirae immediately spotted her grandfather sitting inside, hunched over a plastic table, crunching into raw Ramyeon straight from the packet like some kind of delinquent teenager. She winced.

Of course, he was eating it dry.

He looked the part too. Gone was his usual impeccable suit, replaced by a ratty hoodie that sagged off his thin frame. She had never seen him in something so ordinary, and it was jarring,

She barely waited for the car to settle before she reached for the door handle, eager to escape the suffocating tension. But in her haste, her hand snagged on some hidden sharp edge, slicing a shallow gash along the side of her index finger. A sharp sting flared through her skin, and she hissed, swiping the blood against the fabric of her pants as she tried to make a quick exit.

Before she could, Junho's fingers closed around her wrist.

She jerked in reflex, but his grip wasn't forceful, just firm enough to keep her from bolting. Mirae shot him a glare, prepared to tell him to mind his own damn business, but he was already digging through the glove compartment with his free hand, and a second later, he pulled out a box of bandages.

Without a word, he tore one open, peeled the backing off with practiced ease, and wrapped it snugly around her wound. His fingers were steady and efficient like he had done this a hundred times before, and Mirae, for once, was at a loss for words.

"There," he declared, smoothing the edges of the bandage with his thumb before finally letting go. "Even though you've been entirely unhelpful, I can't let you leave my car with an infection."

"It wasn't going to—"

"Is that how people are expressing gratitude these days?"

Mirae swallowed whatever sharp retort had been poised on the tip of her tongue. Instead, she muttered a stiff, barely audible, "Thank you," before yanking the door open and disappearing into the convenience store without looking back.

Junho drummed his fingers against the box of bandages, before shaking his head.

"You're not welcome," he announced to no one in particular, before finally letting his irritation get the better of him and pulling away from the curb.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

A/N: Huzzah real Mirae/Junho interactions. I need to lock in and start updating this fic regularly, I promise I will try my best. I have it all planned out, the procrastination gremlins just make it very hard to focus. As usual, the validation monkey in me would love to hear y'all's thoughts on the chapter, so leave a comment, please and thanks!!