Zee's POV
The day began like any other. A fresh batch of evidence, more research, more leads to follow. The pressure of the case weighed heavily on both of them, but there was a quiet anticipation in the airâa feeling that they were on the verge of something big. The breakthrough they'd been working toward was finally within reach.
Zee had gone through the latest round of documents. Joong had been pulling strings, contacting sources, and tracking down even the smallest piece of the puzzle. And that morning, they'd hit it.
"Got it," Joong had said, his voice barely above a whisper as he tapped the screen of his laptop. "This is it. This is the account where all the money is being funneled into."
Zee's heart skipped a beat. They had spent days trying to pinpoint the location of the offshore account, and now it was right in front of themâsolid evidence.
"That's our smoking gun," Zee said, standing up from the couch. "If we tie this to Wichai, we've got them cornered."
Joong nodded, but his expression was cautious, eyes narrowed with the weight of the discovery. "We need to move fast. If anyone else figures this out, we'll be playing catch-up."
Zee agreed. "We'll need to report this to the authorities, get them involved. But we need to make sure we're not walking into a trap."
That was the problem. The closer they got to the truth, the more dangerous this case became.
But neither of them had any intention of backing down.
Later that afternoon, things took a turn.
Zee and Joong had tracked the location of the money to a warehouse in the industrial part of the city. It wasn't marked on any official maps, but it was where the money was being laundered, hidden away under the guise of legitimate business operations.
They had agreed to scout the area, make sure they weren't walking into a setup. They arrived at the warehouse just as the sun dipped below the horizon. The streets were quieter now, and a cool breeze began to stir in the air. Joong was already at the front, peering around the corner, checking for movement. Zee was right behind him, both of them crouched low, their eyes scanning every shadow.
"Nothing so far," Zee murmured, barely audible.
Joong nodded, but his eyes were darting around, almost hyper-aware. Zee could tell that something was off. It wasn't until they made their move to get closer that they heard it. A sudden rustling soundâfootsteps. Heavy ones. Zee froze, his pulse quickening. "Stay low," he whispered. But before they could retreat into the shadows, a flash of movement came from behind them. Three men, wearing dark hoodies and carrying what looked like baseball bats, emerged from the alley.
"Shit," Zee muttered under his breath, instinctively pulling Joong closer to him.
Joong's eyes widened as he glanced at Zee. "We're outnumbered."
Zee's grip tightened on his shoulder. "Don't move. We're staying hidden."
But the men were already closing in, their eyes scanning the area. It wasn't just a warning anymore. They were after them.
Without a second thought, Zee grabbed Joong by the arm and yanked him back toward the alley, intending to escape. But one of the men saw them.
"Hey!"
Zee cursed, pushing Joong ahead of him. "Run!"
Joong didn't need to be told twice. They both sprinted down the alley, adrenaline pumping through their veins, but the men were faster. One of them caught up with Joong and swung a bat, knocking him off balance.
"No!" Zee shouted, his heart leaping in his chest as Joong stumbled.
Before Joong could recover, the man raised the bat again, but Zee was quicker. He lunged forward, his body colliding with the man and sending him crashing to the ground. The other two rushed forward, but Zee fought back with everything he hadâhis fists flying, his body moving like instinct.
Joong was still struggling to get to his feet, his hand clutching his side, and Zee felt a wave of panic hit him. He couldn't lose himânot like this.
"Joong!" Zee shouted, turning his focus back to the attackers. But the men were relentless, each blow sending waves of fury through him. He couldn't stop fighting. He wouldn't.
It wasn't until Joong pushed himself to his feet, running toward Zee to help, that things finally shifted. The men hesitated, sensing they were no longer outnumbered, and they retreated into the shadows, muttering curses.
Zee was panting, his knuckles bleeding, but he didn't care. All he cared about was Joong.
"Are you alright?" Zee asked, his voice rough with worry.
Joong was doubled over, holding his side, but he nodded. "I'm fine. Justâjust a little winded."
Zee's heart was still racing, but relief surged through him. He reached out, gently lifting Joong's hand from his side. "Let me see."
Joong winced but allowed Zee to inspect the area. Zee's eyes narrowed when he saw the blood on Joong's shirt.
"You're hurt," Zee said, his tone suddenly sharp.
Joong grimaced, but his expression softened as he met Zee's gaze. "It's nothing serious. I'll be fine."
Zee wasn't having it. His protective instincts were on full alert. "No. You're not fine. We need to get you checked out."
Joong started to protest, but Zee was already pulling out his phone, dialing for a cab.
"I don't care what you think, Joong. We're going to the hospital," Zee said firmly.
Joong glanced at him, something unreadable flashing in his eyes. But then, he nodded, giving in to Zee's insistence. As they stood there, waiting for the cab, Zee couldn't shake the feeling of protectiveness that burned in his chest. The incident had shaken him more than he was willing to admitâseeing Joong in pain, his Joong. It triggered something deep inside him. Something he didn't want to acknowledge but couldn't ignore either. Joong was more than just a colleague now. Zee wasn't sure when things had shifted, but he knew, without a doubt, that he would do anything to protect Joong.
Joong's POV
The sharp sting in my side had faded into a dull ache, but it still nagged at me. I tried to brush it off, convince myself it was nothing serious. I'd been through worse, and I could handle it. But Zee wasn't hearing any of it.
I had to admit, part of me was grateful for his insistence.
When the fight broke out, everything had happened so fast. One minute, we were quietly working our way through the back alleys, the next we were running for our lives. I was used to being the one who handled things, but this time, Zee took control in a way that surprised me. He was quick, protective, and aggressiveâin a way that made my heart race more than the danger ever could.
I'd been thrown off balance when that man hit me. The bat had connected with my side, knocking the wind out of me for a moment. I struggled to stay upright, but I couldn't deny the overwhelming sense of vulnerability that took hold of me. The moment Zee pushed me out of harm's way, I'd known we were in this together.
But what I hadn't expected was how far Zee would go to protect me.
He didn't hesitate for a second to fight off the attackers. His punches were fast and precise, his fury evident in the way he moved. It was a side of him I hadn't seen beforeâthis raw, protective side that made my pulse spike. For the first time, I wasn't just a colleague to him. I was someone worth fighting for.
And, for whatever reason, that thought made my chest tighten.
Zee was now in full caretaker mode, pulling out his phone and calling a cab, completely dismissing my protests. I could argue until I was blue in the face, but I knew the stubbornness in his voice. He wasn't going to let this go. He wasn't going to let me go.
"Fine, fine," I grumbled, wincing as I moved to lean against the nearby wall. I let him make the call, my own thoughts spiraling. "But you're really overreacting, Zee. It's just a bruise."
He shot me a lookâone that was both irritated and worried. "A bruise? That's not a bruise, Joong. That's a damn injury. And we're getting it checked out."
He was still fuming, but there was an underlying concern in his tone that made it hard to argue any further. I sighed, rubbing my side. "I can't believe I'm letting you boss me around like this."
Zee let out a low chuckle, his smile soft but laced with concern. "You're lucky I care, or I'd just let you walk off and act like you're fine."
I couldn't help but smile back, despite the situation. Zee, with his tough exterior, had a way of showing his care that didn't always come in the form of words. It came in his actionsâin the way he always kept watch, in the way he protected me, even when I didn't ask for it.
We didn't speak much during the cab ride to the hospital. I leaned back against the seat, letting the cool air from the AC settle against my burning skin, while Zee kept his eyes fixed ahead, his jaw tense. The silence between us was comfortable, but there was a tension nowâone I couldn't ignore.
When we arrived at the hospital, Zee insisted on staying with me while the doctors checked me over. I tried to argue that it wasn't necessary, that I didn't want him to waste his time on something so trivial, but he wouldn't hear it.
"If you think I'm leaving you here alone after what just happened, you're crazy," he said, pushing me gently toward the entrance. "Sit tight. I'll be right here."
As the nurse called me in, I gave Zee one last glance. His face was unreadable, but his eyes betrayed the emotions he was trying to hideâhe was worried.
I wasn't sure what that meant, but it felt like more than just concern for a colleague.
The doctor took a look at my injuryâjust a bruised rib and a mild strain. Nothing serious, thankfully. Still, she recommended I stay off my feet for a while.
When I was finally cleared, I found Zee waiting for me in the waiting area. His posture relaxed a little when he saw I was okay, but his gaze was still intense.
I stepped forward, avoiding his eyes. "It's just a bruise. No need to treat me like I'm dying."
Zee looked at me, his voice steady but laced with a tinge of frustration. "You don't get it, do you? I was about to lose you, Joong."
I froze, the words hitting me like a punch to the gut. I'd heard Zee upset before, but this... this was different. His voice was almost rough, and there was a deep, raw emotion in his eyes. It was the first time I'd seen him vulnerable.
"Zeeâ" I started, but he shook his head, cutting me off.
"No. I'm serious. I don't want you to get hurt again. I can't lose you."
I felt a wave of heat rush to my face at his words, but I didn't know what to say. It was all so sudden. This wasn't just about the case anymore. This was about something deeper, something between the two of us that I didn't fully understand yet.
Zee let out a sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly as if he was trying to release the tension that had built up in him. "Let's just go home," he said quietly. "We'll deal with everything else tomorrow. But right now, you need to rest."
I nodded, feeling a strange sense of peace wash over me. It was a mix of relief and something else I couldn't quite put my finger on. All I knew was that I couldn't stop thinking about Zee's words, about how he cared for me in a way I hadn't realized until this moment.
As we walked out of the hospital, side by side, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were both on the edge of something new. Something that was no longer just about a case, but about us.