✯ company

@l taemin the query was out of the blue and captured ten off guard, gawping wide-eyed at taemin like a deer caught in headlights. for a split instant, the younger descried a vulnerable mien bedecked the elder male's phiz; natheless, as soon as it came, it went. curiosity brewed upon the sight, spirit of inquiry nagging his conscience on what the expression could haply connote; howbeit, the ex-hitman only swept those postulations away, in lieu of opting to indulge the other's inquiry.

"why? are you perhaps jealous, taemin?" ten probed with raillery, chaff comportment permeating the simper gilding his lips, crown canting to the side.

"if i have to be honest, i wouldn't say i miss him," avowed ten with a weary expiration, sinking back into his chair as he entwined his digits, reposing his clasped palms atop his lap. "i do worry for him. however, i wouldn't say i miss him. to tell you the truth, i don't even know how to feel."

a pregnant pause passed between the two in which ten twiddled his thumbs absentmindedly, his attention only diverting back to taemin after discerning the latter's gratitude, guileless smile embellishing his visage as he nodded. interest shimmered in umber orbs as ten harked taemin's reply, brightening upon hearing the answer to where the latter had traveled to. "i see. what was england like?"

a brow quirked in mirth as ten watched taemin contradicting his own words, merely shaking his head with an amused chuckle. "yes, that's a lunchbox," verified ten with a short dip of his pate, intrigue scintillating in his eyes as he questioned, "is this your first time receiving one?"

"garlic rice, egg rolls, stir-fried vegetables and teriyaki chicken," listed ten, unfurling a finger as he counted the dishes he put into the lunch box. tint suffused ten's cheek as he beamed, always happy to hear praise over his handiwork. "i hope it's up to your taste."

observing as taemin dug into his meal, ten questioned conversationally. "how is work so far? i hope it is not stressing you out too much."

@l ten 'Do you miss my father?'

The question rose up his throat like mercury in a hot summer, yet evaporated under adept grandiloquence which permitted nothing more than a palsy half-smile. Vigilant gaze fixated upon his companion's frame who seemed to revisit singular bygones smeared over this giant office space. There is a momentary slip in Taemin's composed lineaments, after he'd been a silent witness to such lecherous acts. Thankfully, unnoticed by Ten, the male governed his expression again. Or at least he'd hoped.

Taemin blinked twice, with his attention successfully landing on the lunch box deposited in front of him on the table-top occupying the small vacant area.

"Thank you for the kindness." He replied politely, closing the file he'd been holding to place it back on the pile. Taemin stole away, albeit briefly, from the warmth beheld in those familiar umber pools that had always searched for his father.

"It was...."a contemplative pause before Taemin reconnected their eyes,"....liberating." he muttered through his teeth. "Somewhere in England. I am sure father knew already."

After all, his father considered him nothing more than a useful family dog like the rest of his pets.

"I am hungry but I cannot waste my time eating." Contrary to his words, Taemin eagerly picked up the bag from the table and placed it on his lap. Dark orbs sparkling with excitement as he ped the bag to take out the lunch box.

"So this is a handmade lunchbox." He remarked unhinging the harness to extract the box from it's secure grasp. Taemin hadn't received one before in his life, since he was accustomed to solitary meals in a large dining table presented with gourmet dishes, even during his birthdays or other festive occasions.

"What did you make, Tenti?" The older male questioned removing the lid to reveal food that was partially familiar and the rest which he had never seen before. "This looks delicious."

@l taemin thin tiers tugged into an instinctive smile at the corners after apprehending the return, crossing the threshold into the boss' office and closing the door behind him. a quick browse around the room apprised ten that nothing much changed after the proprietary rights conveyance, in view of the fact the switch was only recent. familiarity blossomed within the ex-hitman's chest as recollections of the days he would linger here with the former chief executive officer flooded the forefront of his mind; though such reminiscence was quickly disregarded as ten shook his crown, ridding his perception of what was now considered gone.

bringing forth his attention to the male behind the desk, ten lifted the bag of lunch box to his chest, a spot within taemin's line of vision. "i brought you some food, thought you might be too engrossed in your work to remember to eat."

taking off from where he stood, ten came to a halt opposite of taemin, placing the carrier atop the work surface while avoiding the papers strewn across the veneer. curious umber gazed over the documents visible, only mildly concerned by the affairs typed on albino sheets, skimming over businesses he barely understood. detaching his focus from the contracts, he locked eyes with the elder male, table's edge digging into his side as he leaned his weight against it.

"how was it like studying abroad?" ten quizzed, arms crossing in front of his chest out of habit, bracing himself. "sir didn't say where you've went though. only informed me that you flown off to another continent." after being prompted by ten. the man didn't seem like he cared about explaining the missing presence in the mansion during ten's first visit after taemin was out of the country.

finally growing tired of staying upright, ten plopped down into a chair before the desk, resting his forearms on the surface before glancing to the untouched bag with a lunch box inside. "you should take a break and eat first. aren't you hungry yet?"

@l ten Yet, once again he'd regressed into the nascent vessel of an eight year old, under the surveillance of his father's callous orbs. Settled rigidly upon his sire's lap while cold hands clamped upon his small shoulders, slowly crawling around his throat, crushing his airway until he was left gasping for air.

"....you are different from that woman, Taemin. I have high hopes for you, my son..." The sinister voice waned off in the blackness.

No. There is a riotous upsurge of goosebumps upon revival of his consciousness, paranoia stricken rationale fluttered open when sleep abandoned him. However, it left a vivid imprint of his memory in his forebrain.

"That bastard will never leave me alone." the groggy voice uttered with obvious bitterness, slender digits running through disheveled black hair, gathered in a bunch to be tugged out of exacerbation. Upper body sprawled upon the disorganized pile of documents, the printed A4 papers crumpled beneath his chest scrunched when relieved off his weight.

Straightening his spine with lingering tardiness, he recoiled back onto ebony fauteuil de bureau. Hooking his index finger upon the tie knot, he loosened the silk noose until it was left hanging atop his sternum. The favourable countenance contorted in discomfort when dawdling sunlight through tall windows falls on his face, he is forced him to turn the other direction. His haggard appearance was contributed by the lack of sleep and food in his system, anxiety gnawing at his jovial disposition until what remained was a lifeless carcass detained with anemic walls of the corporate mononlith.

The knock upon the door interrupted his miserable ponderings, lifting his chin to acknowledge another individual's presence before the beginning of official hours. A saccharine voice followed after the disruption caught his attention, instantaneously. Taemin leaned forward, elbows propped on top of the table-top (well, the table could be hardly seen since it was covered with documents left open for inspection) while he nodded at the male.

Ah, of course. His father's pet.

Taemin was irked to addressed the male with the said title, but denying the reality would be a rather immature alternative to deal with things he found unsavory.

"Ah, it's nice to see you too, Tennie. Please come in."

@l taemin No one knew what happened. One day, the man was standing right there, chatting with others casually. The next, he was gone.

Ten had taken up the job some time after making Ray his responsibility. Although being a hitman allowed him a high remuneration, he soon came to realise it wouldn’t be enough to raise the child. It wasn’t as if all the money of a kill automatically goes to the hitman anyway — the price is high, but the assassin doing the dirty work only earns half of the emolument.

After taking Ray under his wings, he had to provide her proper shelter and other necessities such as sustenance, clothing and nappies — she was only two when he found her. The fees were much more than he imagined, plus he had to keep her a secret from the gang that time, so he ended up renting a flat where he could take care of the little girl. It was a miracle none of the members questioned his sudden request to live outside of the operation base; then again, the leader didn’t care so long as they were carrying out their necessary tasks.

The fact remained that Ten needed more money. He picked up odd jobs here and there, until he was scouted by a few strange men. He didn’t recognise them as anyone from other gangs, yet they were fishy enough to raise red flags. However, for the then younger, mildly desperate, highly curious, somewhat naive hitman, he decided it wouldn’t hurt to follow the strangers and see where they would take him. Anything for the money, he convinced himself.

And that was how he came to become Mr Lee’s pet.

Now though, with the man gone, Ten wasn’t sure how to react. He didn’t particularly dislike him, nor was he necessarily attached to the aged man. He was able to provide for Ray courtesy of him, and the extra cash he earned after finding a steady job as a tattooist allowed him to indulge his baby girl that tad bit more. With Mr Lee’s disappearance, it was neither a problem nor a miracle. Albeit, as someone who was considerably close to the man, he wasn’t as affected as he hoped.

Even so, Ten thought it might do him well to check up on Mr Lee’s son.

The ex-hitman always knew about Taemin, seen him a few times, whether in the missing CEO’s million dollar company or behind the closed doors of the man’s home. He recalled the son travelling abroad later on in life, though now with his sire missing, Ten figured the male would be back from wherever he was to take over the company. It was only natural.

He should pay the elder a visit.

Cut scene to Ten currently, walking down the familiar corridors of the Solomon Group building, smiling in greeting to the men and women he passed by, a lunch box held in one hand leisurely. He arrived to the boss’ office not long later, peeking through the narrow glass window to espy the male inside, perceiving Taemin doing paperwork behind his desk. Knocking on the wooden door, he waited for permission before entering, a friendly smile on his face as he nodded politely to the elder male.

“Hey, Taemin. It’s been a while.”