Masahiro stood frozen, staring at David. "You…," he began, but paused to collect himself. "Boss, you’re joking, right?" He stepped closer to the table, clearly shocked by what he had just heard.
David clasped his hands on the table, shaking his head slightly. "Why would I joke about something like this?"
Masahiro ran his hand over his head, visibly trying to calm his growing frustration.
"Do you two know each other or something?" David asked, looking between Masahiro and Matthew.
Masahiro placed his hands on waist and shot David a look that said it all.
“Oh..." David finally caught on to the tension. "Can I ask you both to leave for a moment?" he said, directing his words to Melissa and Matthew.
"Of course," Melissa said, gathering her belongings. "Come on, Matthew."
Without a word, Matthew stood and followed her, his eyes briefly meeting Masahiro's in a tense, sidelong stare as they passed him. It was clear there was bad blood between them.
"We'll be right outside," Melissa gestured to the door, which she and Matthew exited, leaving David and Masahiro alone.
Once the door clicked shut, David leaned back in his chair. "Alright, where do you know him from?"
Masahiro didn’t hesitate. "I’m the one who arrested him!" he snapped, pointing to the door where Matthew had just left.
David raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "So what?"
Masahiro threw his hands in the air. "So what? I can’t be responsible for him! He’s liable to kill me."
David gave a small shrug. "I wouldn’t be too worried about that," he said calmly, sifting through some papers on his desk. "According to his file, he doesn’t have a history of violence, either before or during his time in prison."
Masahiro shook his head in disbelief. "Boss, I’m serious. I’m not in a position to take him under my wing."
David leaned back in his chair, a knowing look crossing his face. "Weren’t you the one who volunteered?"
"Because I didn’t know it was him!" Masahiro's voice was edged with frustration.
David waved off the objection. "He’s just another criminal. Forget that you arrested him and do your job."
Masahiro scoffed. "Is that even possible?"
David stood and placed a firm hand on Masahiro’s shoulder. "Listen. This is more than just some personal grudge. This is your chance to close a major case and cement your reputation in this department. You want to head up the drug trafficking unit, right? This is how you get there. Don’t let your feelings about this guy stand in your way."
Masahiro exhaled slowly. "Fine," he muttered. "I’ll do it."
"Good." David returned to his seat. "Now, let’s go over the plan."
Meanwhile, outside the office, Matthew sat beside Melissa, his elbows resting on his knees, deep in thought. 'Why him?' he wondered. 'Why did it have to be him?' He grimaced, feeling the weight of his past catching up with him.
Melissa noticed his distraction. "What’s on your mind?"
Matthew blinked, coming back to reality. "Nothing important."
She gave him a knowing look, but before she could probe further, her phone rang. "Sorry!" she said, stepping away to answer the call. "Hello?" she said as she walked off, leaving Matthew alone with his thoughts again.
A few minutes later, Melissa called back to him, still on the phone. "Matthew, I have to go. We’ll catch up later, okay?"
Matthew shot up, panic creeping into his voice. "Wait, what? You’re leaving me?"
Melissa turned back briefly, her tone businesslike. "The department head said you’re in good hands." She gave him a reassuring nod before disappearing down the hall.
Matthew sank back onto the bench, groaning. "She really just left me here alone…"
As if on cue, the office door swung open, and Masahiro stepped out. "Hey!" he called, catching Matthew's attention.
Matthew dropped his hands from his face and glared at Masahiro, their mutual disdain palpable.
"Sign this," Masahiro said, thrusting the cooperation contract toward him.
Matthew took the document and glanced at it, his expression dark. Masahiro handed him a pen without a word.
Matthew quickly signed the paper and handed both the document and pen back to Masahiro, their eyes locking in an unspoken standoff.
Masahiro didn’t break the stare as he took the contract and re-entered David’s office.
Matthew slumped back against the bench, muttering under his breath. "What a mess..."
Moments later, the door opened again, and Masahiro stepped out. "Come with me," he said, his voice low and commanding as he walked past.
Matthew stood and followed him, watching Masahiro closely. He couldn’t help but notice how the agent’s well-built frame filled out his brown turtleneck and the holster strapped across his chest. They descended the stairs in silence.
Outside, Masahiro led the way to a dark blue Mercedes. Without a word, he unlocked the car and got in. Matthew stood for a moment, unsure, until Masahiro rolled down the window. "Get in," he ordered.
Matthew opened the passenger door, slid in, and fastened his seatbelt at Masahiro’s sharp command. The silence in the car was suffocating as they drove off.
"Tsk!" Masahiro clicked his tongue in frustration as he drove, and Matthew glanced out the window, his mind swirling with doubt. 'This is going to be a disaster,' he thought grimly.
Masahiro cut the ignition, and the soft hum of the engine died."Get out!" Masahiro said sharply, already releasing his seatbelt to exit the car.Matthew followed wordlessly, his gaze flicking around as they made their way to the entrance of the building in front of them, a modern one ensconced in a quieter neighbourhood.As they entered, Matthew could not help but notice the interior: an immaculate lobby, with minimalistic decoration, and inlaid marble floors gleaming softly under reflected lights.They walked to the elevator and got inside; Masahiro clicked the fifth floor.Masahiro's arms were crossed, barely looking at Mattew, so the same for this one.Finally, the doors opened on the fifth floor; Masahiro headed down the hall, toward a door with a sleek black plaque wrote: ´501´.He unlocked it and went inside without waiting for Matthew to catch up.Matthew held back at the threshold, catching his breath as he took in Masahiro's apartment.It was neat, almost obsessively so; a pl
Masahiro´s hands gripped the steering wheel, while his eyes stayed on the road. Matthew sat beside him in the passenger seat-the air between them thick with unsaid words. The momentary silence in the car felt like the tip of a storm below the surface.Matthew saw Da Vinci's nightclub from the corner of his eye, a neon glow soft against the night.A flicker of relief washed over him. ´At least inside, I can get some distance from this cop. Just for a while, ´ he thought.Masahiro slowed the car, easing onto a secluded spot where he could keep a clear view of the entrance without drawing unnecessary attention to himself. He killed the engine; the soft hum of the car´s power died down. With a quiet sigh, he released his buckle."I’ll stay here, to do the surveillance," he said, his voice cold.Matthew did not say anything, just stepped out of the car and went towards the entrance of the club.Upon Matthew stepped inside, the pulsing beats of Da Vinci’s Nightclub enveloped him. The air wa
As Matthew and Masahiro enganged in a very and long kiss, the two low-level thugs stumbled in; their grins of carefree abandon quickly changed to bewilderment at the sight of an intimate scene unfolding before their very eyes.One of them, his voice ringing with a touch of brash confidence, suddenly exclaimed, "Get a room, you two!"The other, more subdued in temperament, shrugged and nonchalantly went back to pressing business."Right, like this is a place for romantic encounters," he muttered, adding a hearty chuckle to his words as he stepped forward to the sinks.Matthew didn't budge, he kept kissing Masahiro, hitching him a little bit closer still.Masahiro had felt Matthew's body heat against his and was torn between fascination and horror. The kiss had stayed as they struggled for balance, while the unique scent of Matthew was an intoxicating blend of danger and allure, demanding attention. Just as he leaned deeper into the kiss, the f
The only sound was the low hum of the car's engine, Masahiro clenching the steering wheel with unrelenting muscles as his mind whirled over all that happened tonight. He could feel tension simmered in his muscles, the adrenaline still high from the unexpected kiss from Matthew. Matthew, on the other hand, looked like he didn't give a damn about anything, sprawled casually in the passenger seat, eyes flicking lazily to the streetlights outside.Masahiro was still trying to wrap his head around everything that had happened. His mind was still running in circles between the mission and how Matthew had acted. It wasn't just a kiss, and Matthew's Masahiro needed to focus. They couldn't get distracted that time. He needed confirmation from David first before they could do anything else.He drew his cell phone out and dialed David's number, his fingers hovering for just a moment as he glanced at the road. The phone rang twice before David's voice came through, cool and to the point."Masahir
The cold, clinical air of the police station hit Masahiro like a slap in the face as he and Matthew stepped inside. The clacking of heels on the tiled floor and the hum of distant chatter surrounded them as they made their way toward the briefing room. Masahiro, his usual sharp suit pressed to perfection, led the way with his typical no-nonsense stride. Dressed in his attire that was a bit less formal, Matthew followed behind him casually. His demeanor was cool, yet his eyes moved around, showing the beginnings of unease. The two went in at exactly 9 AM. David sat at the head of the table, exuding more authority with his sharp gaze. Officer Reed was seated beside him, flipping through some files, while David's secretary stood by the projector, ready for any assistance."Morning," David said shortly, nodding at them to take a seat.Masahiro sat down, sitting as straight as possible. Matthew collapsed into the chair next to him and looked completely too comfortable for t
The undercover shop sat nestled on a quiet corner somewhere, with frosted glass that afforded full protection from outsider views. A simple wooden sign was attached above the door. It stated, in bold, no-nonsense letters: Incognito.The quiet smell of expensive leather and fresh cotton greeted Masahiro and Matthew as they stepped inside, intertwined with the soft hum of jazz music playing softly in the background. Refined, without being ostentatious-perfect to not stand out.A small woman, in her mid-thirties, with a sharp, fitted jacket, was standing behind the counter. Her gaze flicked from Masahiro to Matthew and back, then gave them a practiced once-over before she followed up with a smile that was both professional and warm."Good morning," she greeted them with a slight accent. The decisive air of command filtered into her voice: "You must be Payne and Smith. I have your measurements ready."Masahiro nodded and briefly glanced at Matth
The undercover job weighed between Masahiro and Matthew like an unwelcome third passenger. After leaving the shop, their next stop was Masahiro's apartment-the shared space they'd been forced into since the mission started. Masahiro parked with practiced precision outside the building. They took the elevator to the flat."Try not to mess up the place," Masahiro grumbled as he unlocked the door and stepped inside.Matthew gave a mock gasp. "Mess up your sacred temple of tidiness? Perish the thought.""You live here too, you know," Masahiro said, his eyes scanning the mess."I live here under duress," Matthew quipped, dropping onto the sofa. "You think I enjoy sharing space with you?Masahiro didn't answer him but instead walked toward the hallway closet and pulled out a shiny black suitcase. He took it into his bedroom without saying a word and left Matthew to his own thoughts."Suitcase in the hallway closet?" Matthew called after him. "What
Matthew stepped into the little guesthouse room, instantly filling the cramped space with his presence. He glanced around, taking in the outdated decor and the overwhelming sense of forced charm. The lace curtains, the floral wallpaper-it was like stepping into a time capsule, and not in a nostalgic way."Well," he muttered under his breath, "this is... cozy."Turning toward the bed, Matthew felt a laugh bubble up in his chest. It was a single bed. Barely large enough for one person, let alone two grown men.But what really stood out, what really caught Matthew's eye, was Masahiro, standing frozen in the doorway, eyes wide, a look of genuine horror written across his face."Are you kidding me?" Masahiro muttered, his gaze darting from the bed to the window to the walls. His hand rubbed at his forehead as if trying to make sense of the situation. "This… this can't be it."Matthew didn't say anything. He merely walked across the room, his backpack ki
Matthew trailed behind Masahiro like a shadow with better cheekbones.He wasn’t subtle.“I’m just saying,” he muttered under his breath as they moved down the hallway, “people don’t just get bruises like that unless they’re either in a fight… or a very specific kind of entanglement.”Masahiro didn’t respond.Matthew kept going anyway. “And judging by Clark’s energy? I’m betting on entanglement."“Drop it.”Matthew grinned. “Can’t. It’s too fun.”Before he could push further, the surgery doors swung open.A doctor stepped out—tall, late forties, the kind of exhausted that came from saving lives and drinking too much vending machine coffee. He peeled off his gloves and looked straight at Masahiro.“You must be Yumi’s cousin, right?”Masahiro gave a stiff nod. “I am.”The doctor sighed, tugging the mask down from his face. “He’s stable. The stab wound missed the kidney by a few millimeters. No damage to the spinal nerves or major arteries. A
Masahiro’s voice snapped through the line like ice.“Matthew and I are heading to Blackridge Medical. Arthur’s already en route.”Blackridge. Of course. Private, off-grid, high-security — the kind of place they used when they couldn’t risk reporters or internal leaks.Clark was already on his feet. The cold air hit his skin like a slap, but he moved on instinct. He yanked open the drawer beside the bed and grabbed the first pair of slacks he saw, fingers trembling only slightly.“I’m coming,” he said, already pulling off his pajama pants.Masahiro didn’t argue. Just, “Hurry,” before the line went dead.Clark tossed the phone onto the bed and ripped his t-shirt over his head, reaching for the pressed button-up folded from hours ago. His body ached — not from sleep, but from bruises still healing — but he pushed past it. He didn’t care. Not now.Clark stepped out, fully dressed — dark shirt tucked into tailored trousers, sleek shoes hitting the hardwood wit
Clark stepped out of the bathroom, hair still damp, glasses fogging slightly as he adjusted them with one hand. A loose t-shirt clung to his frame, baggy pajama pants hanging low on his hips, flip flops slapping lightly against the hardwood as he moved.The scent hit him before he reached the living room—rosemary, garlic, a hint of something sweet. His stomach, traitorous as ever, growled on cue.Adam was at the stove, shirtless, a tea towel slung over his shoulder. The muscles in his back shifted with each movement, smooth and effortless as he stirred something in a pan.Clark hovered at the edge of the room. “You cook like that and still act surprised people want to fuck you.”Adam didn’t turn. “You flirt like that and still wonder why you end up bruised.”Clark smirked, stepping further in. “Touché.”Adam plated without a word, setting two dishes on the table like it was routine. Like they weren’t still bruised from each other in all the wrong ways.Clark raised an eyebrow. “Settin
The low hum of the television filled the living room. Adam sat sprawled on the couch, one arm draped lazily over the backrest, remote balanced loosely in his hand. Some news anchor droned on about the latest scandal, but Adam barely glanced at the screen. The sunlight filtering through the windows cast a warm glow over the space, though the tension clinging to the room remained as cold as ever.Clark stood near the kitchen counter, arms crossed, his fingers drumming impatiently against his elbow. He was still in yesterday’s clothes—the wrinkled shirt barely buttoned, the trousers creased from hours spent tangled in bed. He’d rolled up the sleeves at some point, exposing pale forearms that still bore faint impressions of Adam’s grip. Every mark, every ache, gnawed at him."I need to go home," Clark said flatly.Adam didn’t even flinch. His eyes remained on the screen, the glow of the TV reflecting faintly against his dark skin. "No."Clark's jaw clenched. "I wasn’t as
The clock crawled past noon.Clark slouched on the leather couch, whiskey in hand. The ice had melted. He didn’t care. His shirt stuck to his skin, wrinkled and loose from the night before. He hadn’t changed. Hadn’t showered. The bruises on his neck were impossible to ignore. Dark splotches, some shaped like teeth. Others like fingers. A goddamn masterpiece, signed in pain.Adam, though? He looked like he’d just stepped out of a cologne advertising.Shirtless. Loose sweatpants slung low. Muscles on full display, carved deep beneath dark skin. The light caught every scar, every ripple. And those hands — Clark’s gaze kept catching on them. Rough, wide-knuckled, capable of wrecking anything. He knew that better than anyone now.The worst part? Adam wasn’t even trying.He moved through the kitchen like he owned the air. Coffee in one hand, the other lazily resting on the counter. Like nothing happened. Like Clark’s body wasn’t still a battlefield."You act like n
The air between them was suffocating.Clark’s eyes flashed, his bare chest still heaving as he jerked the sheets higher, though there was little point. The bruises were already visible—dark purple splotches along his neck, across his chest, down his sides. Some shaped like teeth. Others like fingers. He felt every mark. Every ache. And the soreness that ran deeper than his skin."You—" Clark’s voice cracked, still rough from sleep, from the night before. He swallowed. "You took advantage of me."Adam stood at the edge of the bed, already tugging his sweatpants back on. He didn’t flinch. Didn’t argue. Just pulled the waistband up with that same brute force that lingered in Clark’s bones."I'm just as horrified as you are," Adam muttered, his voice low, stripped of anything that resembled guilt. "I’m making breakfast.""Breakfast?" Clark's laugh was sharp. "You think I care about breakfast? You think eggs and coffee are going to make me forget that you—" His hand flew to the side of his
Adam woke to the sound of his phone vibrating.The dull hum buzzed somewhere on the nightstand, insistent and unforgiving. He ignored it at first, the weight of exhaustion still heavy. His body ached. Not the usual ache—not from fights or workouts or even a bad mattress. This was different. Deep. Lingering. And the sheets tangled around his legs, damp with sweat and something else —something worse. Then it hit him.Clark.Barely covered. Skin marred with darkened bruises and red marks that Adam’s hands—his hands—had left behind. The bite marks at the base of Clark’s neck. The faint outline of teeth against pale skin. The way his chest rose and fell, lips parted, a mess of tangled blond hair sprawled over the pillow. He looked ruined.Adam swallowed hard.`What the fuck did I do?’The memories clawed back like a slow burn. The rough kisses. The bruising grip. Clark’s gasping, stuttering pleas. The bed creaking beneath the relentle
The second bottle was already half empty.Clark’s glass dangled loosely between his fingers, half-forgotten. The amber burn had long since softened to something gentler. Warmer. It dulled the edges, smoothed out the cracks. But the fire inside him? That wasn’t from the scotch.It was from Adam.Barefoot, loose sweatpants slung low... he sprawled across the couch, the muscles in his chest and arms carved deep beneath dark skin. The light brown of his eyes gleamed under the dim lamplight, their sharpness dulled only slightly by the alcohol. Every now and then, Adam’s hand curled lazily around his glass, swirling the drink, his fingers broad and rough. Unbothered. Unapologetically masculine.And Clark? Clark was eating him alive.He wasn’t hiding it anymore.Why should he? The flush on his cheeks wasn’t just from the alcohol. The way his eyes lingered a second too long, traced the line of Adam’s collarbone, the slope of his shoulders—none of it was subtle. And A
Clark’s phone buzzed on the coffee table, vibrating against the glass. He glanced at the screen, Masahiro flashing in bold letters.He sighed, snatching it up. “Masahiro.”“Clark.” Masahiro’s voice was clipped, but not tense. “Good. You’re alive.”“Is that disappointment I hear?” Clark’s tone was effortlessly dry. “Or were you hoping I’d leave you with one less headache?”“We went to your place. It was empty.”“Yes, I’m aware. That’s generally the goal when one isn’t home.”“We heard about the gunfire.” Masahiro ignored the jab. “You alright?”Clark adjusted his glasses with precise, deliberate finesse. “Charmed, as always.”“And where are you?”Clark hesitated. He could practically hear the judgment loading.“Adam’s.”A pause. Just long enough to register the surprise without voicing it.“Of course you are.” Masahiro’s voice was too level. “And this decision was made with the full clarity of your legal genius?”“Obviously. Nothing