Joong's POV
Joong leaned back in his seat, watching with mild irritation as Zee casually pulled out his wallet.
"I told you I'd split the bill," Joong muttered, arms crossed as Zee handed his card to the cashier.
Zee smirked. "And I decided not to listen."
Joong scoffed. "That's unfair."
Zee shrugged. "Call it an early celebration for cracking the case wide open."
Joong narrowed his eyes. "Still."
Zee chuckled, tucking his card away as he grabbed the receipt. "Don't worry. You can pay next time."
Joong blinked. Next time? He wasn't sure why that made his stomach do something weird, but he ignored it. Instead, he glanced at the street outside, then casually said, "Well, if you're buying dinner, I'm picking dessert."
Zee raised an eyebrow. "Dessert?"
Joong smirked. "Yeah. Ice cream."
Zee stared at him for a beat before chuckling. "Did not expect that from you."
Joong shrugged. "What? I like ice cream."
Zee shook his head, amused. "Alright, fine. Lead the way."
Zee's POV
The small ice cream shop Joong had led them to was surprisingly homey, tucked between a late-night bakery and a bookstore. It had that nostalgic feelâhandwritten menus, colorful toppings, and an old-school charm that didn't match Joong's usual composed and competitive demeanor.
But Zee was starting to learn that Joong was full of surprises.
They got their ordersâJoong with a simple vanilla and caramel mix, Zee opting for dark chocolate with a drizzle of espresso sauce.
"You're such a cliché," Zee teased, eyeing Joong's plain choice.
Joong smirked. "Says the guy who basically ordered bitter-on-bitter."
Zee chuckled, shaking his head as they stepped outside with their cups. The air was cooler now, the city alive with night-time energy.
They stood near the sidewalk, casually eating, when a group of drunk guys stumbled out of a nearby bar. Loud. Sloppy. Annoying.
Zee didn't pay them any mindâuntil one of them did.
"Hey, handsome," a voice slurred from behind him.
Zee didn't react at first, too busy finishing a spoonful of his ice cream. He figured it was just a passing comment. But then the guy, a little too unsteady on his feet, stepped closer.
"You look like fun," the drunk man grinned, eyes lazily scanning Zee. His friends snickered behind him.
Zee sighed inwardly. Of course. He wasn't worriedâhe could handle himself. He had dealt with worse. But before he could even react, a shadow shifted beside him.
Joong.
His normally relaxed stance had changedâshoulders squared, gaze sharp. His expression wasn't angry, but there was a quiet warning in his eyes.
"Walk away," Joong said coolly, his voice carrying a weight that cut through the drunken haze.
The guy blinked, swaying slightly. "Whoa, relax, man. Just making conversationâ"
Joong's gaze didn't waver. "I said walk away."
There was no need to raise his voice. The authority in his tone was enough. The drunk guy hesitated, glancing between Joong and Zee, before muttering something under his breath and stumbling back to his friends.
Zee raised an eyebrow as he took another bite of ice cream. "Didn't know you were the protective type."
Joong huffed, scooping up his own bite. "Didn't think I'd have to be."
Zee smirked. "I could've handled that, you know."
Joong rolled his eyes. "I know. But it was faster this way."
Zee let out a low chuckle, glancing at him in amusement. Joong, despite his sharp tongue and cool demeanor, had just stepped in for him. Not because Zee needed it, but because he wanted to. And for some reason, that felt... different. Not unwelcome. Justâdifferent.
Zee smirked. "Next time, I'll protect you."
Joong snorted. "We'll see about that."
They finished their ice cream under the city lights, the night stretching on, both of them realizingâthis wasn't just a case anymore.