Pretty Flower AU
Because I will probably never write this as an actual fic, here's a ficlet idea you can riff on if you want:
AU in which Joowon goes undercover at a massage parlour himself, instead of using Lee Geum-Hwa as bait.
Except with his big square frame and strong hands and attention to detail, he's genuinely good at being an actual masseuse, and he quickly develops a following of people who want his help working out their little kinks (shut up).
That suits Joowon just fine - holding down a full time slot at 물망초 allows him to screen all the regular customers, especially the one that comes in every week and fits the perpetrator's profile to a T. He always asks for Joowon and lays on his table grimacing and joking through the rigorous paces Joowon puts him through for his bad leg. He's politely friendly with all the women -- too carefully polite, Joowon thinks, and bides his time till his suspect slips up.
"You're going to a massage parlour, hyung?" Jihoon squeaks, nearly drowned out by Jiwa's disapproving "Dongsik-ah."
"Aigoo, it's nothing like that, everyone calm down," Dongsik grumbles and nearly burns his tongue on the slice of meat Jaeyi flips onto his plate. She serves him a saccharine smile, and he repeats, "It's nothing like that! They've got someone who does nearly professional chiropractic work and charges next to nothing. Half of Munju goes to him."
"Him - !" Jihoon yelps and then, "Um, i mean, good for you, hyung. I'm happy for yo- ah!"
Jiwa unsticks her sharp elbow from her brother's ribs. "I'm sure it's none of our business," she concludes. "They're hardworking citizens that need a livelihood to survive, just like the rest of us."
"I'm really not - !" Dongsik gives up and downs the rest of his soju.
Sure, Han Joowon is exactly his type, and that voice, fuck, but Lee Dongsik would be a fool to risk losing those magic hands that have allowed him to sleep through the night without incident for months now. He can't even remember the last time he's had to refill his prescription.
That is to say, he has mixed feelings on the day Han Joowon rears back from where he's got Dongsik pinned on his table (shut up), reaches into the back of his jacket for a pistol, and storms the room across the hall.
"Police! You're under arrest!" Inspector Han Joowon shouts, and there's Lee Dongsik's godsend, gone.
Dongsik climbs into his jeans and emerges to find Han Joowon blocking the door against the other employees at the parlour. Over his shoulder, Dongsik sees a familiar face - Kang Jinmook, who Dongsik's family was well acquainted with up until Jinmook was arrested on charges of stalking and attempted murder of his wife and was sentenced to twenty years in jail. Piece of shit must have got out this year and gone back to his old ways, with a vengeance.
Han Joowon surveys the angry, terrified faces of the women who took him in when he was fresh on assignment, laughed gently at his awkwardness and included him in ladies' night out, who tirelessly scoured the streets in their scant off-hours for their missing friend. Joowon clears his throat and tells them, "Ladies, you cannot assault a suspect in custody, even if he is guilty, while a police officer is present."
And then he leaves the scene, walks back into his own room, and shuts the door. A collective shout rises on the other side, drowning out Jinmook's feeble pleas for mercy. Han Joowon flips on the radio and maxes out the volume. "Apologies, Lee Dongsik-ssi. Shall we continue?"
Dongsik barks out a laugh at this cheeky young prince. "So I guess you'll be tendering your resignation here immediately."
"I go where I'm assigned."
"Hm-m. I don't suppose you make house calls." Dongsik mentally slaps himself on the forehead. "That wasn't a line. Really. It's just my luck that ... you know you could get a second career as a physical therapist." He doubles back. "Shit. That wasn't a line either, I promise."
"It could be," Inspector Han suggests.
"You're right. I apologize. I should have been more clear."
"No. I mean ... " Han Joowon reaches out to fix where Dongsik's hastily donned jeans have rucked up the line of his shirt. "It could be a line. If you wanted it to be one."
...
"Wow," Jihoon goggles. "Good for you, hyung."
Han Joowon sits perched on his chair next to Dongsik, his perfect posture belying his discomfort. Back in his usual semi-formal, muted attire, he looks more severe and handsome than ever.
"Inspector Han," Jiwa interrupts loudly over the sound of sizzling meat. "I'm glad to see Seoul Metropolitan form a productive collaboration with violent crimes in Munju."
"I'm glad the perpetrator was brought to justice," Han Joowon replies dutifully. "Manyang is a nice town. I'm sorry it had to experience such a tragedy."
Oh Jiwa accepts these condolences with queenly poise. "And when do you plan on resuming your usual duties in the city?"
"Manyang is a nice town," Han Joowon repeats. His hand finds the top of Lee Dongsik's thigh - his good one - underneath the table and squeezes. "I was thinking of sticking around here for a while, if I could find accommodation."
"I can think of a few places that might take you in," Dongsik murmurs under his breath, and it's worth Jiwa's elbow when Joowon ducks his head and offers up a tiny, genuine smile.
"Ahjussi, I can always pack this food to go," Jaeyi threatens him, waving the tongs under his nose. "If you and your physical therapist need some time alone."
"Oh no, Jaeyi-yah," Dongsik replies cheerfully. "You know, I come from a long line of gardeners. When one has the luck to come upon such a pretty flower, you have to show it off."
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