➴ threads。

@wi hajoon. Mingyu stiffened when he heard the familiar voice, his muscles tensing instinctively. The potluck's lively ambiance suddenly felt oppressive as he turned to face Detective Wi, a man whose presence was both a reminder of his past and a potential threat to his future. He forced a smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Detective Wi," Mingyu acknowledged with a nod, his voice steady but guarded. "Yeah, it's been a while."

The mention of catching up somewhere more private made Mingyu's heart race. He didn't trust the friendly demeanor, especially not with the weight of the badge behind it. But Mingyu was no fool. He knew when to play along, especially if it could lead to an opportunity.

Mingyu forced a chuckle, though it sounded strained. "Sure, why not?" he glanced around one last time, noting the exits, the crowd density. "I've got some time."

They reached a quieter area behind a cluster of trees, the vibrant colors and joyful sounds of the potluck now muted. Mingyu swallowed hard, trying to steady his nerves. He couldn't afford to get tangled up in anything that might jeopardize his chances of a clean record, especially now that he was trying to help his sister. She was the one good thing in his life, the reason he wanted to stay on the straight and narrow. He turned to face Wi, forcing himself to meet the detective's gaze. The man's friendly smile remained, but the unsettling intensity in his eyes set Mingyu on edge.

"Alright, Detective," Mingyu began, his voice trembling slightly despite his efforts to appear calm. "What’s this about? I haven't done anything wrong."

There was a subtle edge to his voice, a reminder that he wasn't just a pawn to be moved around. He had his own stakes in this game, and he needed to make sure whatever Wi was about to propose wouldn't drag him back down.

@kim mingyu. The potluck was in full swing with citizens all around the city mingling in one place. An abundance of food only continued to fill up the tables, which were decorated with great care in balloons and banners. The sound of children laughing and running as the aroma of smoked meats and baked goods came together from different directions of the venue, and the sweltering midsummer heat had it so people were gathered around booths with lemonade and soft-serve ice cream. Detective Wi patrolled through the lively painting, a grand smile spread on his lips as he greeted citizens to his left and right, ensuring everyone was safely beating the heat. Although he was in citizen clothing, Hajoon displayed his badge visibly on his waist, making sure to make his presence known should there be an emergency. Despite the easygoing atmosphere, his eyes were constantly scanning the area for any danger, ever vigilant as always.

Patrolling the potluck was his captain's idea of forcing Hajoon to take his mind off his ongoing investigations and enjoy himself, but he couldn't help as his mind kept drifting away to one particular case that had been driving him mad. There had been a new organization that seemed to appear out of nowhere in the city's underground recently and it was bigger than just the city alone. Hajoon had an idea of who he was dealing with, but, without evidence that this was within his jurisdiction, there was nothing he could do. He needed someone on the inside, someone who could infiltrate the organization and provide the necessary evidence for a warrant.

Just as he pondered this operation, he spotted a familiar face in the crowd. Kim Mingyu, if he recalled his name correctly. He was a man Hajoon had put in jail years ago. It was a pain in the to write the report for this guy and the trial was memorably ridiculous. The man had been a decent person who made wrong decisions for all the right reasons. And just then, Detective Wi had an intrusive thought. Mingyu could be the answer to Hajoon's dilemma. He could feel his body twitch as he approached the felon. His instincts were telling him it was a bad idea, but Detective Wi wasn't a man known for good decisions.

Hajoon approached Mingyu with a friendly smile and a head nod, "What's up, man?" Although his tone was casual, he kept a sharp eye on the other man's visage, taking note of any minute change in his expression. Hajoon didn't want to be ignored, so he called attention to his police badge with his eyes, making sure to meet his gaze with Mingyu before glancing down at his waist. "It's been a few years since we last saw each other, right?" He laughed with a wide grin and put his arm around Mingyu's shoulder like an old friend, "I was thinking maybe we could catch up, you wanna come with me somewhere we can talk more freely?" Though Hajoon's lips spread in friendly smile, there was an unnerving sense of threat in his eyes as the smile lingered, as if he were catching a mouse in a trap.