"...why the fuck did you offer him a job?"
Cale was in disbelief. His brother was definitely one of those people who had a million things going on in their brain but never quite figured out how to communicate with others what exactly those machinations were in a matter that made sense to anyone but himself.
It was actually one of the areas wherein Roksu and Alver wound up being a perfect match. Alver was one of the very few people out there who seemed to understand what the fuck was going on inside of his head.
Except for in this instance, even Alver looked off-put and confused. Cale felt rather justified in getting agitated when even Alver couldn't understand Roksu's insanity.
Roksu was entirely unflustered as he cut fruit at Cale's bedside, offering a slice of apple on a toothpick for his injured brother. "I think it's a good idea to keep a close eye on him."
"Guards can do that. From jail. Where he belongs." Cale snapped, chomping down on the apple and grumbling to himself.
"But you said that you didn't want to see him again." Roksu pointed out. "The legal process for prosecuting assault is lengthy."
"So what, I should see him at my house?!" Cale asked, completely lost.
"He won't work at the house. I'll use him as my personal bodyguard for outings." Roksu said.
"You don't use a bodyguard." Cale pointed out, smelling something fishy in the air.
"You also don't go out much." Alver pointed out.
Roksu shrugged and Cale sighed, laying back on his bed with a groan. "If you're doing this because we're 'soulmates' or whatever, don't. I know you're happily in love with your stupid soulmate," Cale gave Alver a look. "But some of us don't fucking want to be tied down to that bullshit."
"Don't worry." Roksu said calmly, offering him another apple slice. "I don't approve of a relationship between you two at all. In fact, if he ever lays a hand on you again, the consequences will be grim." He said the threat as lightly as he might talk about the weather and it struck the pair with him, not for the first time, that Roksu Henituse could be rather scary in his own way. "There were extenuating circumstances in this instance but if he proves to be a threat to you, that's when my grace reaches its limit."
Cale sighed. Alver had nodded along, his expression morphing to one of understanding and now he was the only one left in the dark.
What bullshit this was. Cale sighed. "Fine, whatever. It's not that deep. Just promise you'll keep the fucker out of my face."
"That was always my intention."
The rest of the hospital visit progressed similarly tense. Cale still had plenty of digesting to do about a soul mate as disgusting as that, Alver being generally concerned and running errands to help out, and Roksu with a plan formulating inside of his complicated little brain.
It was a relief when the rest of the family arrived. Even better when they were able to discharge Cale and take him home.
–
Choi Han was deeply uncomfortable.
True to his word, there had been no criminal charges pressed against him and a representative from the Henituse family even came to pick him up from the police station.
A week, some training, and some contract negotiation later, Choi Han waited outside of the Henituse estate dressed in a suit that they had provided for him and a paycheck that caused him to feel legitimately suspicious over what the hell was going on.
After having time to think it out, he felt that there must be an ulterior motive behind his hiring. He just couldn't imagine what it was and he wasn't fortunate enough in his life to have the luxury of turning down the opportunity.
He comforted himself with the knowledge that if it did indeed get dangerous, he could probably fight his way out of it and escape.
He wasn't so sure when Roksu Henituse finally exited out of the front door, looking just as unreadably stoic as Choi Han remembered and dressed like the ridiculously rich bastard he was.
There was something about the look in his eyes that made Choi Han feel like escape was futile. He didn't do or say anything threatening but there was a certain menace to him that left Choi Han ill at ease.
He opened the door for Roksu like he'd been trained to do and felt a certain amount of relief when the chilly young master entered the care.
Choi Han couldn't quite grasp why but his eyes seemed intent on following Roksu's every move for reasons that were apparently unrelated to caution or even protection.
Roksu Henituse drew in his eyes in an inexplicable way that he couldn't hope to explain.
Perhaps he was just still suffering from hyper vigilance. That was at least Choi Han's measly explanation for it as he slid into the driver's seat. He already knew how to drive due to his life experiences but he had actually never been able to acquire a license before. The connections of the Henituse family apparently helped to fill that gap quickly.
In Choi Han's opinion they weren't just treating him well, it was ridiculous. He'd never received this much luxury in his whole life.
It says a lot about Choi Han's whole life that he was merely offered the standard pay for the position and basic training and support to do his job appropriately and legally.
"Where would you like to go, sir?" Choi Han asked levelly, keeping his eyes on the world beyond the windshield. If he wasn't careful, he'd find himself peeking at Roksu through the rearview mirror.
"This address." Roksu said cryptically, leaning forward to input it into the GPS from the backseat.
Choi Han stiffened in place. The space between them had shrunk rather suddenly and he was somewhere between a fight or flight response and an invasive thought about how Roksu smelled.
Good. He smelled good. Choi Han would expect nothing less from the young master of a powerful and rich family. It'd be weirder if he smelled bad.
So why did Choi Han notice at all? He couldn't explain it. But by the time Roksu had finished and returned to his seat, Choi Han had memorized the scent.
Wordlessly, he followed the GPS instruction through the busy streets and did everything in his power to ignore Roksu.
Maybe it was because he was identical to his brother.
Cale had definitely made an impression on Choi Han, although purely in a negative way, and perhaps he was just wary of Roksu due to that foul man.
But he didn't think about Cale when he saw Roksu. In fact, the more he observed Roksu, the more he noticed every little difference. The most obvious being that Roksu's hair was longer and his face was blank but there were other little things. Roksu's hair was less wavy, his clothes were more subdued, his face was...
Choi Han caught himself staring at a stop light and returned his attention to the road.
No. It wasn't because he saw Cale in Roksu. He just felt drawn into his gravity. He just couldn't understand why he was.
When they arrived at the destination, Choi Han opened the door wordlessly and watched as Roksu met with the third man from the hospital room that he hadn't been able to speak with.
Choi Han recognized him now as Roksu's fiance, having been instructed to memorize the faces of all of Roksu's friends and acquaintances as well as their connection to Roksu in order to ensure he could do his job properly.
There was something about knowing their relationship that made him uncomfortable though. Choi Han didn't show it, but he felt a squirming emotion in the pit of his stomach when he witnessed them hug as a greeting. Alver's eyes flashed up to Choi Han before whispering something to Roksu.
Unfortunately for them, Choi Han's hearing was really good.
"...are you sure about keeping him around?" Alver's whisper was clearly coated with concern.
Roksu glanced at Choi Han before looking back to Alver. "Don't worry about it."
Alver sighed and rolled his eyes, escorting Roksu towards the house with Choi Han following after them at the appropriate distance. "I will worry about it. One of these days your crazy plans are going to bite you in the ass."
"There's nothing complicated about this, hyung." Roksu said. "All I intend to do is to keep him nearby."
"Yes, yes. Friends close, enemies closer." Alver said with a sigh.
Choi Han felt a tangled mess in his gut at the words. That made sense and understanding his employer's nebulous motivations ought to comfort him. He was obviously an enemy to the Henituse household after he'd attacked Cale, no matter what his reasons were. That was the whole reason he thought it was strange they offered him a job to begin with.
But some part of him hated it. He didn't want to be defined as Roksu's enemy. He couldn't say what it was that he wanted but just... anything but that.
'Maybe I'm just feeling grateful...' It was the best any employer had treated him and at a juncture where his life was well and truly going to fall apart. Roksu's passing pity had very possibly saved his life and he didn't want to be considered the enemy of his benefactor.
"It's not quite that." Roksu replied and Choi Han nearly tripped, desperately catching himself as quietly as possible to avoid attracting their attention. He didn't want either of them to know how good his hearing really was.
There was still potential danger in this arrangement and Choi Han had no intention of being caught in a trap he could have avoided by keeping his true skill level concealed.
Choi Han had learned with great pains how to be crafty, at least in certain ways, over the course of his long and painful life.
"What is it then?" Alver asked, voice full of genuine curiosity. Choi Han shared his sentiments.
Unfortunately they arrived at the room they'd been heading towards and Roksu's quiet voice was muffled by the sound of the door opening and the chatter of the men in the room beyond.
Choi Han stood silently amongst other bodyguards as the business meeting took place. He only understood a quarter of what was going on but from what he did grasp, he was able to understand that everyone had the table had a high regard for Roksu's opinion. Whenever a new suggestion was brought forth, eyes would naturally dart towards him as though awaiting a verdict and there was palpable relief whenever Roksu approved of something.
It caused Choi Han to feel a certain amount of relief. He wasn't the only one who couldn't help but watch Roksu. Perhaps it was just the man's natural charisma that had attracted Choi Han's attention.
When it was over, he silently guided Roksu back to the car with Alver making conversation with him along the way over the contents of the meeting. The pair of them were in a world all their own that Choi Han couldn't have invaded or understood.
Perhaps that's what made them soulmates. Choi Han scowled at the word. Cale had entirely bittered him on the concept in one fell swoop but here were two soulmates that appeared as though they suited one another perfectly.
That familiar squirming feeling was crushing his stomach everytime they got too close though. Choi Han realized he didn't like it at all.
It was probably because it was his responsibility to protect Roksu. Anyone coming near his charge was a potential danger and therefore, he ought to tense up. He was just loyal to his job. If nothing else, if this job wasn't some twisted trap, Choi Han hoped to be able to hold onto it at least for long enough to get out of debt.
"...a word with him."
"That's fine."
Choi Han focused again on the conversation as the pair turned to look at him. Roksu waved a casual hand back at them, heading towards the car on his own. "Take your time."
Choi Han was now face to face with Alver with absolutely no idea what to do or say. The man had a friendly smile on his face but Choi Han's cynicism didn't trust it.
Lots of people smiled before they hurt you.
"My name is Alver Crossman." He held out a hand. "We'll be seeing each other a lot in the future. It's nice to meet you."
Choi Han shook his hand cautiously. "Choi Han." He said shortly. He really didn't know how to handle these people. They were too different from all the people he'd known up until now.
"I just had a few questions for you, if that's alright?"
Choi Han nodded and felt just a bit unbalanced by the conversation. Alver was, as the file Choi Han had memorized informed him, well above Choi Han on the social ladder and entirely too 'good' to be talking to someone like him with such consideration.
"Great." Alver said, his smile as bright as the sun. Despite Choi Han's misgivings, he couldn't help but feel as though this man was likable. "Please feel free not to answer any questions that make you feel uncomfortable."
"What would you like to know?" Choi Han asked, feeling more and more unbalanced the more Alver offered him basic kindness and respect. He would have been more comfortable with barked demands.
He was even more confused when he heard Alver's questions, but he answered them dutifully to the best of his ability.