Chapter Text
People did not enjoy going to court, for fairly obvious reasons.
Jeon Jeongguk had bad experiences with court rooms as well; so he was no exemption to the rule. No stranger to passing through the large doors with a heavy stomach and a promise that life would be different once you left, no matter the verdict.
He could still remember the black and grey tiles one the floor. His legs had been still too short to reach them - his feet dangled at least a feet over them - when he first had to sit in one of them.
Being an agent made visits a frequent endeavour, but at the same time less personal and hurtful, than it used to be.
It didn’t make them any easier.
He was asked to take a seat in the witness stand now, had to describe and depict gruesome crime scenes while the victims families sat in the front row and listened to every word that left his mouth.
Had to let himself be questioned over and over again by prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Do you think… Is it possible, that…
Thousands of questions, groundless theories and infuriating accusations…
Mistakes that the police supposedly made, evidence that was hidden or the bravest ones that hinted at the possibility of him being bribed or blackmailed.
Which wasn’t too out of pocket, he assumed. Organized crime was a dangerous unit, even for a common police officer.
Barely anyone of his colleges chose that unit. It was mostly young men that ended up there. Unmarried men as too many wifes and children ended up missing a couple of fingers. Some even dead in a ditch.
It was easier for the single ones, ones that wanted to come far and had a lot of courage and the wish for quick success and adrenaline. The ones, that wanted to experience a tv show police life. Dangerous, fast and twisted.
In the end it was mostly frustrating. Waiting months for court decisions only for their witnesses to not show up for various reasons and for them to have to watch their perpetator walk right out of jail again.
Only to then go home after work, to an empty apartment and dinner ordered from a delivery app.
The court house he had to attend today had green tiles instead of black and white ones.
Some architect probably assumed that it would have a calming effect on everybody that had to walk through its halls; his design somewhat easing some of the pent-up stress and tension.
Even the restroom was green; floor, ceiling, doors.
The water from the faucet was ice cold - the government was definitely stinting money at the wrong places, as always - but today it wasn’t the worst thing that happened to him. He splashed the water into his face and sighed.
The coldness did indeed help clearing his rushing and noisy thoughts, at least a bit.
His hair was too long these days, and the now wettish strands in the front fell into his eyes. The old scar that cut through his eyebrow, seperating his brow into two not equally big parts, was the only thing that reminded him of his old self.
His neck was broader now, his hair longer. His face more mature and he didn´t wear his piercings or earrings anymore, he used to have at least a dozen of them. He grew into his face, into his nose especially.
But that damn scar, that was still the same.
Present as Past.
The one, that was still haunting him, to this very day.
Loud humming of voices and steps from the long hallways outside filling the courthouse bathroom, when the door got pushed open.
Jeongguk, froze when he saw sharp eyes and full lips.
Past really was haunting him today.
Hastily he straightened and ripped paper towels to dry his hands and face.
“I was just leaving.” He didn’t dare to look up again and to be faced with Park Jimin’s reflection once more.
He just got a soft hum in agreement and as he tided himself up, he heard the door fall back in its lock and boots click on the deep green tiles as the other made his way to one of the other wash basins.
Jeongguk adjusted the knot of his tie and dried his leather coat with a paper towel -droplets of water had gotten everywhere - quiet aggressively and in a hurry. He isn’t used to wear suits or anything else similarly formal. He felt like a clown whenever he got sent to court.
Park Jimin was a lawyer now. He probably wore suits every second of the day - maybe even to sleep.
He allowed himself a quick glance at the other man, to see him in the white button down and a grey vest and a tie with some bronzish, greenish and black pattern. He wore his blond hair longer and open and slicked back.
He looked just like the asshole that Jeongguks colleges described him to be.
A very expensive, busy and successful asshole.
“Is there anything you want to tell me, Agent Jeon?” Park Jimin asked with a sweet and patient voice.
He didn’t look up at Jeongguk, instead he closed the gauntlet of his shirt, eyebrows knitted together in concentration.
“Don`t you know? About today?” Jeongguk asked, throwing the towels into the trash.
His fingers were still pinkish from the cold water.
“Today”, The lawyer said, turning his wrist to get a good look on his big and golden watch.
Designer.
Jeongguk did not earn enough to know what the designer was called, but Jimin had always loved sparkly and golden things.
“Today is April 11th.”
Jeongguk huffed.
“You fucking know, that that’s not what I have asked you.”
With long steps he walked to the other side of the bathroom, pushing the doors to the stalls open; ensuring that they really were on their own.
“Have you not heard? Min Yoongi broke out of prison today.”
Park Jimin had crossed his arms and legs, leaning against the sink. Not been a single muscle in his face had moved.
So, he knew.
“My boss had me come in at five this morning. He questioned me." Jeongguk hissed.
"And now I got assigned to the task force, that has to get him back into prison. But you and me both know, that they did that just because they think that he will contact me.”
“So?” Park Jimin raised his eyebrow. “Even an absolute bonehead like Kang Daesung can count one and one together.
They know that you used to know him. Of course, they are going to ask questions.
They got you this job for this very reason.”
Jeongguk pushed his hair out of his face.
“Fuck.” The word was only a harsh breath of air.
“What about you? Do you know anything?”
“You are seriously asking me that? As an agent of the KNPA you are asking that a lawyer?
Agent Jeon, I think the people you are surrounding yourself with, have rubbed off on you.” Park Jimin laughed humorously.
“You really think I will tell you anything- in a public restroom nonetheless? I don’t even have to talk to you.”
Jeongguk rolled his eyes and crossed his arms as well. He was so much bigger than he used to be, now his arms were almost twice the size of Jimin’s, and he could easily tower over him. He stopped himself from doing just that.
He had heard enough stories about Park Jimin sueing people into debt for far less.
“I ask you as – a friend.”
“A friend?” Jimin repeated, shaking his head amused. “Now that is a new one, isn’t it?”
He hold up his right hand and counted on his fingers.
“What else is there to chose from?
Inmates?
One of the guys, you used to call up, when you wanted to get you dick wet?
Lovers?
But I have never thought that you would call me your friend. Wasn’t it you who always used to say that our connection was too special to be called a simple friendship?”
“Taehyungie”, corrected Jeongguk, lips pressed together tightly.
“Right.” Remembering him did hurt Jimin, Jeongguk could tell.
Jeongguk sighed again. “You really do know nothing about him?”
“Me? You think Min Yoongi asked me to get his ass out of prison?” Park Jimin asked. “You should know best that I, out of everyone, would never go the length to help Min Yoongi.”
His face grew even colder.
“He is a murderer- he deserved what he got.”
He turns to pick up his briefcase and jacket, and made his way to the exit.
“I know, that you have visited him in jail.”
Jeongguk called after him.
Park Jimin stopped, back facing him, shoulders tense.
“I had a chance to look into his file." Jeonggguk went on. "It’s not like a lot of people cared about him prior, and even less would have had the chance to see him. A lawyer though-“
Park Jimin turned around, face still emotionless, but there was something that reminded Jeongguk of his Jimin. The last bit of the memory of him shining through, glinting in his eyes.
“I have never visited Min Yoongi in jail, nor have I talked to anyone of you in the last ten years.
I have moved on, Jeongguk-ah.
I have a family now, one that I have to protect, and nothing is going to make me go back to the godforsaken life we used to live.”
The grip around the fabric of his jacket tightened and he straightened his shoulders.
“Min Yoongi made his choice, and he did not choose me.
In fact, he did not choose any one of us.
So, I tell you this one last time, Agent. Do not speak to me ever again.”