Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The Hunt Begind

The rain pounded against the windshield with fury, matching the wild beat of Jimmy's heart inside his chest. His jaw was clenched, fingers gripping the steering wheel, eyes locked on that dark silhouette running into the alley. He had found him. After months of chasing a ghost, Jimmy finally had Sea Tawinan within reach.

Sea didn't run like a desperate man. No. He moved with the grace of someone who knew he was irresistible even in flight. His white shirt was soaked, clinging to his skin, tracing every line of his back and the tattoo disappearing under the fabric. He turned his head for a second, and even from a distance, Jimmy could see that smile-the same arrogant smile that had haunted his every dream.

Jimmy hit the gas, skidding at the end of the street before kicking open the car door. No sirens, no backup. Just him and his prey.
-Got you, bastard -he muttered before charging after him.

Sea heard the heavy footsteps closing in, and instead of fear, he laughed. A low, teasing sound that echoed off the wet walls.
-Coming for me, detective? -he called out, never stopping his run.

Jimmy caught him at the next corner, slamming him against the wall with the full weight of his body. Their hot breath mixed, and Sea held his gaze with shameless defiance.
-I knew you liked chasing me -Sea whispered, his lips dangerously close to Jimmy's.

Jimmy's hand wrapped around his throat-not tight, just enough to remind him who was in control.
-Shut up. Don't play with me.
-What if I want to play with you? -Sea arched against him, hips brushing Jimmy's, and that damn spark exploded between them.

The rain kept falling, soaking them both, chilling their skin while the fire between their bodies was just starting to burn.

Chapter Text

The rain kept falling on them, but Jimmy didn’t feel cold. All he could feel was the heat of Sea’s body against his, the broken breaths mixing with his own, and those damned eyes glowing with defiance.

—So, what now, detective? —Sea whispered, lips barely apart from his—. Are you going to arrest me… or kiss me?

Jimmy clenched his jaw, fingers still wrapped around Sea’s throat. He wanted to scream at him, punch the wall, or shove him to the ground and slap on the cuffs. But his fingers trembled—and not with anger. With desire. Pure, raw, sickening desire.

—Shut up —he growled—. Everything that comes out of your mouth is poison.
—What if you like being poisoned by me? —Sea smiled, and that smile was the final straw.

Jimmy kissed him. It wasn’t soft or romantic. It was rage, hunger, everything he’d been suppressing for months. Sea kissed back just as fiercely, biting Jimmy’s lower lip until he groaned through his teeth.

He spun Sea around, slamming him against the wet wall. His hands roamed down Sea’s body, gripping his hips, fingers digging in hard enough to bruise.
—Do you know how many nights I thought about this? —Jimmy whispered in Sea’s ear, grinding his erection against the perfect curve of his ass—. You cocky little murderer.

—And what did you think about, detective? —Sea arched his back, pushing his hips back into Jimmy—. Did you think about catching me… or fucking me?

Jimmy slid a hand under Sea’s soaked shirt, feeling the cold, trembling skin beneath his fingers. He moved up to Sea’s chest, pinching one nipple between his fingers. Sea writhed against the wall, gasping softly.
—I thought about breaking you —Jimmy confessed, biting his ear—. Making you pay for every damn corpse you left behind.

Sea smiled.
—Do it, detective. Break me… if you can.

That was the final invitation. Without thinking, Jimmy cuffed him, wrists locked in cold metal, face pressed to the wall. And even cuffed, Sea didn’t stop smiling.

—I hate you so much —Jimmy whispered, sliding his fingers between the waistband and Sea’s damp skin.
—Then hate me harder —Sea panted—. I want to feel every drop of that hate.

And that night, under the rain, somewhere between the line of justice and desire, the detective and his killer broke the most important law of all: never fall for your enemy.

Chapter Text

The cuffs jingled softly every time Sea moved his wrists against the metal. He was trapped, cheek pressed to the cold, wet wall, but there was no fear in his eyes. Just that damned spark of amusement, like all of this was a game designed purely for his own entertainment.

Jimmy stood behind him, breathing hard, chest heaving under his rain-soaked shirt. His fingers were still gripping Sea’s hips, unable to let go. He knew this was wrong. He knew crossing this line would destroy him—professionally and emotionally. But he had already crossed so many lines with Sea, what was one more?

—You’re going to tell me the truth —Jimmy’s voice was more command than plea—. Every detail. Every name. Every drop of blood you spilled.
—And what if I refuse? —Sea smiled, turning his face just enough to glance at him over his shoulder.

Jimmy slid a hand between Sea’s waistband and his skin, pushing just enough to feel the shiver run through his body.
—Then I’ll make you confess… my way.
Sea bit his lip, not to hold back a scream, but to stifle a laugh.
—Is this your interrogation technique, detective? —he whispered—. Because let me tell you, I’m loving it.

Jimmy spun him around, forcing his back against the wall. His cuffed wrists were pinned above his head—exposed, vulnerable. Sea lifted his chin, always the provocateur to the end.
—Stop smiling —Jimmy growled, stepping so close that only a whisper of air separated them.
—Make me.

And Jimmy did. He kissed him again—deep, aggressive, holding nothing back this time. Their tongues clashed with the same violence they used to chase each other through alleys and crime scenes. It was a kiss full of hate, desire, and something even more dangerous: need.

Jimmy’s hands explored every inch of Sea’s skin, sliding the wet shirt off his shoulders until it hit the floor. Sea’s body was cold from the rain but burning underneath. His back hit the wall again as their mouths refused to part, each kiss a new battle, each gasp a confession without words.

—Do you hate me that much? —Sea panted, when Jimmy bit his neck—. Then show me. Make me feel it.

Jimmy slid his leg between Sea’s, spreading them apart without asking for permission.
—You’re going to regret teasing me —he whispered against his skin.

But the truth was, Jimmy already regretted so much. Chasing him. Wanting him. And knowing, deep inside his chest, that this game wouldn’t end with an arrest… but with a broken heart.

Chapter Text

The alley smelled like rain, old gunpowder, and restrained desire. Jimmy kept his body pressed against Sea’s, his forehead leaning against the wall next to his prisoner, breathing against the nape of his neck. The detective trembled. Not from the cold, but from rage, from lust, and from that dangerous feeling he had sworn to avoid: attachment.

—Talk —Jimmy murmured, his voice hoarse, his lips brushing Sea’s damp skin—. I want to know why you did it. Every murder. Every damn body you made me find.

Sea smirked, still cuffed, his body tense and aroused under his soaked clothes.
—Do you really think I’m that simple? —he whispered—. That all of this has some neat little reason? A pretty confession you can write down in your report?

Jimmy slid a hand under Sea’s wet shirt, feeling his skin burning despite the cold.
—Give me something —he demanded—. Don’t leave me alone with the questions.

Sea turned his face just enough, his lips so close to Jimmy’s they could steal each other’s breath.
—If I tell you a secret… will you let me kiss you again?

Jimmy hated him. Hated him for doing this, for dragging him into a bottomless pit where pleasure and danger were the same thing.
—Talk first —he growled—. Then you can decide if you deserve my mouth.

Sea closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and for the first time, his voice sounded sincere.
—They died because they were just like you. Pretending to be heroes, but all of them had dirty hands. Corruption, abuse, secrets. I made them pay because no one else would.

Jimmy felt his chest tighten. Part of him wanted to believe Sea was lying, just playing games. But the other part… the other part knew every word was true.

—What about me? —Jimmy whispered, his fingers trailing down Sea’s throat—. Do you think I’m like them?

Sea opened his eyes, and for the first time, he didn’t smile.
—You… you’re worse. Because you want me, even though you know who I am. And I want you, even though I know you’ll destroy me.

Silence swallowed the alley. Only their ragged breaths and the rain filled the space between them. Then Jimmy kissed him. Not to dominate him, not to shut him up, but because he understood that in this dangerous game, they were both victim and executioner.

The cuffs jingled as Sea’s hands wrapped around Jimmy’s neck, pulling him closer, erasing every line between hate, desire, and need. And in the middle of that desperate kiss, Jimmy realized the most terrifying truth: Sea wasn’t the only one confessing.

Chapter Text

The rain had stopped, but the storm inside Jimmy hadn’t. Thunder in his chest, heart pounding like a broken drum as he stared at Sea sitting in the back seat. Wet, cuffed, but smiling like he’d just won a game Jimmy didn’t even know they were playing.

He drove in silence. Every red light was a chance to think, to decide what the hell to do with him. The right thing was to turn him in, close the case that had haunted him for months, prove he was still a decent cop. But every time his eyes flicked to the rearview mirror and caught those dark eyes, that damn half-smile, Jimmy felt the ground slip away under his feet.

He parked far from the station. Too far. A dark alley, almost like they’d come full circle. He rested his forehead on the steering wheel, breathing hard.
—You’re a fucking mistake —he muttered, more to himself than to Sea.

—And yet, you keep choosing me —Sea’s voice was soft, teasing, but there was truth in it too.

Jimmy stepped out and opened the back door. Sea lifted his cuffed hands, like a naughty kid waiting for punishment. But the punishment never came. Jimmy pulled out the key, and without looking him in the eye, set him free.

Sea rubbed his wrists, arching a brow.
—You’re letting me go?

—Get lost —Jimmy muttered, voice cracking—. If I see you again, I’ll lock you up. I swear to God.

Sea leaned in, crowding his space shamelessly.
—Are you sure you don’t want to lock me up in your bed, detective?

Jimmy shoved him back, weakly. He was a man torn in two—the cop and the man. And the man was losing.

Sea started walking away, but before disappearing into the shadows, he turned his head.
—I don’t kill innocent people, Jimmy. Believe it or not, but one day you’ll remember these words.

Jimmy stood alone, cuff key still clenched in his fist. He thought he had closed a chapter. But he had only opened the most dangerous one.

The next morning, his phone ripped him out of fevered sleep.
—Another body —his partner said—. Same signature, same pattern.

Jimmy shot out of bed, cold sweat clinging to his back. "Same signature." How could that be? Sea had only left hours ago. He couldn’t have had time. And yet, Jimmy couldn’t stop the dark thought creeping in.

He rushed to the crime scene, hoping to find something different, some clue proving it was just a copycat, some psycho inspired by Sea’s killings. But the scene was perfect. Exactly the same. A signature only Sea would know.

Jimmy didn’t want to doubt. He wanted to believe he’d done the right thing letting him go. But the evidence was poison in his veins, feeding his fears. Maybe Sea had played him all along. Maybe everything Jimmy felt was just part of the game.

—I swear, if it was you, I won’t let you go this time —he whispered, teeth clenched.

But deep down, a softer voice whispered another possibility: What if someone was playing both of them? What if Sea was just as much a victim as he was?

He wasn’t ready to believe in a killer’s innocence. But he wasn’t ready to believe the man he kissed was a soulless monster either.

This case was far from over. And his heart was more trapped than ever.

Chapter Text

Jimmy couldn’t sit still. Ever since he let Sea go, his mind had been a whirlwind. A mistake, a fucking mistake. He knew it, felt it in his bones. But every time he closed his eyes, he didn’t see the face of a victim. He saw Sea’s lips. His eyes shining in the rain. His warm breath on the curve of his neck.

That damn killer had gotten under his skin.

With the new body lying on the autopsy table, the evidence was clear: same pattern, same signature, like the killer was mocking him directly. But something didn’t fit. The timing, the precision… even Sea, arrogant as he was, couldn’t have killed so fast after leaving Jimmy.

And yet, Jimmy couldn’t trust him. His gut—the same gut that made him one of the best detectives—was screaming to hunt him down.

—I want him on the wanted list —he told his partner—. Sea Tawinan. Alive.

—Didn’t you let him go last night? —the question sliced through Jimmy’s pride.

—He played me. Lied to me —Jimmy’s voice was tight—. I want him back. Today.

He hit the streets, hands shaking as he lit a cigarette. The rain had returned, like the city itself was crying for the story about to repeat. Jimmy checked every place he had ever found traces of Sea: underground bars, sleazy motels, nervous informants who knew his reputation. But there was no sign of him.

All he found was a message scrawled on his car window, written in the dust: "Miss me, bad cop?"

Jimmy gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles went white. He was playing with him. Again.

But this time, Jimmy wouldn’t be the one caught.

---

That night, when he returned to his apartment, Sea was already inside. Sitting in his chair, drinking from the whiskey Jimmy saved for the worst nights.

—What the hell are you doing here? —Jimmy growled, pulling his gun.

—Relax —Sea raised his hands in mock surrender—. If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead already.

—Was it you? —Jimmy stepped closer, gun aimed directly at Sea’s chest—. The body from last night. Was it you?

Sea smiled, slow and dangerous.
—If I say no, you won’t believe me. If I say yes, you’ll just get pissed. So which one do you want, detective?

Jimmy clenched his jaw, anger bleeding into something worse: desire.
—Don’t play with me, Sea.

—I’m not playing —Sea stood up, stepping fearlessly into the barrel of the gun—. But someone else is. Someone who wants us both destroyed.

—What the hell does that mean?

Sea leaned in, so close Jimmy could smell the whiskey on his breath.
—It means if you don’t believe me now, you’ll regret it when the next body is someone you care about.

And for the first time, Sea wasn’t smiling

Chapter Text

Jimmy had his gun aimed at Sea’s chest, but the damn killer didn’t even blink. His stare was intense, confident, almost amused. Like he knew Jimmy wouldn’t pull the trigger.

—Give me one reason not to lock you up right now —Jimmy growled.

Sea leaned against the wall, arms crossed with a lazy smirk.
—I already did. Someone else is playing with us.

Jimmy exhaled in frustration. Every part of him wanted to believe Sea was the real killer. It would be easier. More logical. But if there was one thing Jimmy had learned over the years, it was that logic rarely led to the truth.

—Do you have proof? —he asked, lowering the gun just a little.

—No proof, but I have clues. And a name —Sea tilted his head, taunting—. But I won’t give it to you for free.

Jimmy glared.
—We’re not negotiating.

—Oh, but we are —Sea took a step forward, dangerously close—. Because if you really believed I was the killer, you would’ve cuffed me already. But you didn’t. You let me go once. And now you’re listening to me.

Jimmy felt the tension coil up his spine. Sea was right, and that pissed him off more than anything.

—Talk —he demanded.

—First, a condition —Sea smiled, like a wolf smelling blood—. We work together.

Jimmy gritted his teeth.
—You want me to trust you?

Sea leaned in, his lips nearly brushing his ear.
—No. I want you to need me.

Jimmy shoved him back, but the heat of his breath still burned on his skin.

—Tell me now, or I’m locking you up.

Sea sighed dramatically.
—The name is Neo Trai.

Jimmy frowned.
—Neo? That guy is dead.

Sea shook his head.
—That’s what they want you to think.

A chill ran down Jimmy’s spine. Neo Trai had been a brutal killer, but he was supposedly dead, burned in a fire years ago. If Sea was telling the truth, it meant they’d been chasing the wrong man all this time.

—Give me something else —Jimmy demanded, still gripping his gun.

Sea shrugged.
—Not here. We’re being watched.

Jimmy scanned the room, his gut twisting. He knew he couldn’t trust Sea… but if what he said was true, maybe trusting the police wasn’t an option either.

—Let’s move —he muttered, finally lowering his gun—. But if you try anything, I swear I’ll kill you.

Sea smirked.
—That’s what I like about you, detective.

And just like that, Jimmy realized he had crossed a line he might never come back from.

Chapter Text

The night was thick, suffocating. The air smelled of damp and garbage, and the alley where Jimmy and Sea moved was lit only by a couple of flickering streetlights. Jimmy felt the weight of his gun against his waist, a constant reminder not to let his guard down.

Beside him, Sea moved with the ease of someone used to the darkness. His lean but firm body seemed to disappear into the shadows with each step.

Jimmy didn’t trust him. He couldn’t. But he also couldn’t ignore the feeling in his chest, that silent warning that something was terribly wrong.

Neo Trai.

The name burned in his mind. Officially, the guy was dead. Burned in a fire five years ago. But if what Sea said was true, then someone had covered up the truth.

—Tell me one thing —Jimmy whispered, scanning the alley—. How do you know Neo is alive?

Sea smirked, but this time there was no mockery in his expression. Just something dark.
—Because he sent me a message.

Jimmy froze.
—What?

Sea pulled out his phone and swiped the screen calmly. He showed Jimmy a message with no sender. Just two words:

"See you soon."

Jimmy’s stomach twisted.
—When did you get this?

—This morning.

Jimmy felt a surge of anger and disbelief.
—And you’re just telling me now?

Sea shrugged, as if the fact that a supposedly dead killer had texted him wasn’t a big deal.
—I figured you wouldn’t believe me.

Jimmy ran a hand through his hair. This was worse than he thought.

—And tell me, Sea… if Neo really is alive, why would he contact you?

Sea tilted his head, his dark eyes gleaming in the dim light.
—Because I was the one who tried to kill him five years ago.

Jimmy’s pulse stopped for a second.
—What…?

Sea sighed.
—I found him in his hideout. Put a bullet in his head and then set the place on fire. I watched it burn. But…

—But what? —Jimmy pressed, feeling the ground shift under him.

—I never checked the body.

The air turned heavy. Jimmy clenched his jaw.
—Tell me you’re kidding.

Sea shook his head.
—I thought it was over. But now that I think about it… if someone pulled him out, if he survived… he has every reason to want revenge.

Before Jimmy could respond, a sound interrupted them.

A snap. A metallic click.

Jimmy turned instantly, pulling his gun, but it was already too late.

An explosion roared beside him, and the world went up in flames.

The heat hit him like a violent wave, throwing him against the alley wall. His vision blurred from the smoke, and his ears rang with a sharp, high-pitched noise. He tried to move, but pain shot through his side, making him gasp.

—Sea! —he shouted, coughing through the dust and debris.

No response.

His heart pounded as he searched desperately. A few meters away, amid the smoldering remains of what had been a pile of trash and crates, he saw a figure stirring.

Sea was on the ground, a gash on his forehead staining his face with blood, but he was breathing.

Jimmy crawled toward him and shook his shoulder.
—Sea, wake up!

The other man groaned, blinking sluggishly.
—Shit… what a noisy way to kill us.

—Someone wanted us dead —Jimmy helped Sea sit up—. And if Neo is behind this, it means he knows we’re after him.

Sea clutched his side, wincing.
—If he’s alive, he won’t stop until he finishes what he started.

Jimmy nodded, his jaw tight.

—Then we’d better find him first.

And this time, he was going to make damn sure Neo Trai was really dead.

Chapter Text

The smell of gunpowder and smoke still lingered in the air as Jimmy helped Sea to his feet. Both were covered in dust and had minor wounds, but they were alive.

Sea leaned against the alley wall, breathing heavily. He ran a hand over his forehead, smearing his face even more with the blood still dripping from his wound.

—How did they find us so fast? —he murmured.

Jimmy scanned the area, his eyes analyzing every corner of the scene. There were no bodies, no signs of an attacker. Just the charred remains of the explosion.

—Someone knew we’d be here —he said tensely—. And that someone wants us dead.

Sea let out a dry laugh.
—"Someone"? I thought you had already accepted that Neo is still alive.

Jimmy clenched his teeth. He hated to admit it, but after this, he couldn’t deny it anymore.

—If he really is, then I made a mistake letting you go.

Sea looked at him, a spark of amusement in his expression.
—Do you really think so? If you had locked me up, you’d be facing this alone. And to be honest, Jimmy, I don’t think you’d survive without me.

Jimmy glared at him but didn’t respond. He hated him. Hated how confident he was, how calm he seemed even after nearly dying.

—Let’s go —he said finally—. We can’t stay here.

They left the alley, disappearing into the dark streets of the city. Jimmy couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.

When they arrived at an old motel, Jimmy locked the door and dropped into one of the chairs.

Sea took off his jacket, revealing a bruise on his side.
—I need ice —he muttered.

Jimmy got up without a word, went to the small fridge, and pulled out a bag of ice. He tossed it onto the bed without looking at him.

—Thanks, detective —Sea said with a smirk as he pressed the ice against his skin.

Jimmy rested his elbows on his knees and ran his hands over his face. He was exhausted, but his mind wouldn’t stop working.

—If Neo is alive —he murmured—, why did he wait five years to attack?

Sea was silent for a moment. Then he said quietly:
—Maybe… he didn’t.

Jimmy looked up.
—What do you mean?

Sea met his gaze, serious.
—I mean that if someone covered up his "death," then maybe he’s been trapped all this time. Maybe he wasn’t free until now.

A chill ran down Jimmy’s spine. If that was true, then someone else was behind all of this. Someone powerful enough to hide a killer for years.

And if that someone wanted them dead, the nightmare was just beginning.

Chapter Text

Jimmy woke up to the sound of his phone vibrating on the table. His body was tense, as if his instincts were already warning him that something was wrong.

He blinked a few times before grabbing the phone and seeing the notification:

"New unknown message."

His pulse quickened. He glanced at Sea, who was still asleep on the bed, his jacket half-fallen off his body. He looked peaceful, too much so, as if he had no worries in the world.

Jimmy swiped the screen and read the message:

"You should have killed him when you had the chance."

A chill ran down his spine. His gaze fixed on Sea, his mind racing with questions.

Were they talking about him? Or Neo Trai?

A second message arrived immediately.

"Now it’s too late."

Jimmy jumped to his feet, grabbed his gun, and aimed it directly at Sea’s head.

—Wake up!

Sea frowned, mumbling something before opening his eyes. When he saw the gun, he let out a tired sigh.

—Wow… and here I thought you’d at least wait until after breakfast.

—What did you do? —Jimmy snapped, his jaw clenched.

Sea blinked in confusion.
—Excuse me?

Jimmy tossed the phone to him. Sea caught it in the air and read the messages. His expression didn’t change, but the gleam in his dark eyes grew sharper.

—Interesting —he murmured.

—Don’t play with me —Jimmy growled—. Who are they talking about? You or Neo?

Sea set the phone aside and sat up in bed, resting his elbows on his knees.
—Looks like someone’s getting impatient.

Jimmy pulled the trigger slightly, without firing.
—Answer.

Sea stared at him.
—If I wanted to kill you, detective, I would have done it already.

Frustration boiled inside Jimmy. He couldn’t trust him, but something about the way he spoke, the calmness in his gaze, told him he wasn’t lying.

But then…

—If it’s not you, who sent this?

Sea smirked, tilting his head.
—Someone who wants to play with us.

The air grew heavy. Jimmy lowered the gun but didn’t put it away. His mind was racing.

If someone wanted him to kill Sea, it meant there were more players in this hunting game.

And he wasn’t going to be the prey.

—We’re leaving —he said suddenly, holstering his gun.

—Where to?

Jimmy looked at him seriously.
—To hunt before we’re hunted.

Sea smirked.
—I knew you’d start thinking like me.

Jimmy ignored the comment and walked out of the room, Sea following closely behind.

The game had just begun.

Chapter Text

The air was thick with danger. Jimmy and Sea moved through an old abandoned building in the Bangkok suburbs, following the only lead they had: a phone number linked to the anonymous messages.

—I don’t like this —Jimmy muttered, gripping his gun tightly.

—I know —Sea replied, walking beside him with his usual confidence, though his stance was also alert—. But this is our only shot.

The walls were covered in burn marks and graffiti, remnants of a fire that had probably happened years ago. The smell of dampness and rust filled the air. Every step they took echoed in the silence, as if something was waiting in the shadows.

Jimmy moved cautiously, scanning every corner. Something felt off. It wasn’t just the silence… it was the feeling of being watched.

Then, his phone vibrated.

"Too late."

The gunshot came out of nowhere.

Jimmy barely had time to react as the bullet hit the wall beside him. His body moved on instinct, diving to the ground.

—Sea, get down! —he shouted, rolling behind a column.

The assassin was already in action. He pulled out his knife, moving through the shadows with the precision of someone who had done this a thousand times.

—Welcome to my home —a voice echoed in the darkness.

Jimmy felt his blood turn cold.

Neo Trai.

The man who was supposed to be dead five years ago was here, hunting them.

—I thought you’d put up more of a fight —the voice continued—. You disappoint me.

Jimmy gritted his teeth, trying to pinpoint the direction of the sound. But Neo was in his element, playing with them, using the darkness to his advantage.

—You’re not leaving here alive —Jimmy growled, adrenaline surging through his body.

A soft laugh filled the space.
—Is that so, detective?

Suddenly, a knife flew in his direction. Jimmy barely moved in time, feeling the blade graze his arm, leaving a shallow cut.

Sea lunged into action. His body disappeared among the debris, moving quickly. Jimmy knew he was hunting his own prey.

But Neo Trai was hunting them, too.

Another gunshot rang out, this time aimed at Sea. The assassin ducked behind a broken wall, his eyes sharp.

—You’re not as stealthy as before, Sea —Neo’s mocking voice rang out—. Have you gone soft?

Sea smirked, that usual confidence in his expression.
—I’m just warming up, old friend.

Jimmy clenched his jaw. He didn’t like the way they talked, as if this were just a game to them.

—Enough talking —Jimmy growled, stepping out of cover and firing toward the voice.

The bullets tore through the darkness, hitting a wall.

Silence.

Jimmy had a bad feeling.

Then, he heard the sound of footsteps behind him.

He turned just in time to see a shadow move fast.

Neo Trai was attacking.

Chapter Text

The shadow moved too fast.

Jimmy turned just in time to see Neo Trai lunging at him, a knife in hand. He raised his gun, but the assassin was faster. A burning pain exploded in his side as the blade sank into his flesh.

—Jimmy! —Sea shouted, rushing to attack.

But Neo stepped back, dodging him effortlessly.

Jimmy gritted his teeth and fired, but his vision blurred. Blood soaked his shirt, the deep wound draining his strength quickly.

—Damn it… —he muttered, staggering.

Neo smirked, wiping the blood off his knife.
—Is that all you’ve got, detective? How disappointing.

Sea didn’t wait. He moved with deadly precision, delivering a kick that hit Neo’s chest, forcing him back. The assassin barely regained balance when Sea was already on him, struggling to take the knife away.

Jimmy tried to stay on his feet. He couldn’t pass out now.

He took a deep breath, lifted his gun with difficulty, and aimed.

Neo shoved Sea back, pulling a second knife from his coat. He turned, ready to end Jimmy once and for all.

Jimmy didn’t hesitate.

He pulled the trigger.

The gunshot echoed through the building.

Neo Trai froze, eyes wide. Then, he dropped to his knees. A second later, his body collapsed entirely.

Dead.

Jimmy exhaled shakily, feeling his body give out.

—Sea… —he murmured before his legs failed him.

—Jimmy! —Sea caught him before he hit the ground.

Blood soaked his shirt, pooling beneath him. Jimmy tried to speak, but exhaustion dragged him into unconsciousness.

—Shit, don’t close your eyes —Sea whispered, his voice shaking.

But Jimmy could no longer hear him.

Everything went black.

---

Weeks later…

The sound of a heart monitor broke the silence of the room.

Jimmy breathed weakly, his face pale under the hospital’s white light. He had been in a coma for weeks.

And while he slept… Sea had been arrested.

Chapter Text

The steady sound of the heart monitor pulled him out of the darkness.

Jimmy felt his body heavy, as if he had been trapped in a deep sleep for weeks. His eyelids slowly opened, blinking against the bright white ceiling. The smell of disinfectant and medicine immediately told him where he was.

A hospital.

He tried to move, but a sharp pain in his side stopped him. He let out a low grunt, feeling the stiffness in his muscles. That’s when he noticed the IV needle in his arm and the tight bandages wrapped around his abdomen.

—Detective.

A familiar voice made him turn his head with effort.

Inspector Earth sat in a chair beside his bed, arms crossed and a serious expression on his face.

—How long…? —Jimmy tried to ask, his voice hoarse and dry.

Earth sighed.
—Three weeks. You’ve been in a coma all this time.

Three weeks.

A chill ran down Jimmy’s spine. He remembered the fight with Neo Trai, the gunshot, the blood… and Sea’s voice calling him before everything turned black.

Sea.

—Where is Sea? —he asked immediately, trying to sit up, but Earth held him down with a firm hand on his shoulder.

—Don’t get up. You’re not ready yet.

—Answer me —Jimmy growled, a bad feeling growing in his chest.

Inspector Earth lowered his gaze as if hesitating to tell him the truth. Finally, he sighed.

—He’s in prison.

The words hit Jimmy like a punch to the gut.

—What…?

—After they found you injured, Sea was arrested at the hospital. The charges against him are serious, Jimmy. There was no way to stop it.

The air in the room felt heavier.

Jimmy clenched the bedsheet tightly. His body was still weak, but his mind was already racing.

Sea was behind bars.

And Jimmy wasn’t going to let that happen.

Chapter Text

Time passed slowly in the hospital.

Jimmy felt trapped in an invisible cage, the sound of the heart monitor marking every second he lost. Every beat was a reminder that Sea was in prison… and that he still hadn’t done anything to get him out.

He wasn’t going to sit still.

When the door to his room opened, Jimmy already knew who it was.

—Still got that stubborn look on your face —Earth said, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.

—What did you expect? —Jimmy replied without humor.

Earth sighed and walked in, dropping a file on the table beside the bed.

—I know what you’re thinking.

Jimmy said nothing, but his jaw tightened.

Earth sat down in the chair next to him.
—I tried pulling some strings, but Sea is buried in charges. There’s too much evidence against him.

Jimmy grabbed the file and flipped it open. Each page detailed Sea’s crimes—a long list of murders with enough proof to put him away for life.

—It’s not fair —he muttered.

Earth looked at him with a mix of understanding and warning.
—You can’t do anything, Jimmy.

—There’s always something that can be done.

Silence settled between them. Earth knew him well enough to see where this was going.

—Don’t do anything stupid.

Jimmy didn’t respond.

Because he already had a plan.

---

The sound of bars locking echoed through the cell.

Sea sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor. He wasn’t afraid. This wasn’t his first time in a cell, but it was the first time he saw no way out.

Until he heard his name.

—Sea.

He lifted his head and found Jimmy standing on the other side of the bars.

—What the hell are you doing here? —Sea asked, frowning.

Jimmy smirked.
—Getting you out.

Chapter Text

—Getting you out of here. Jimmy’s words echoed through the cell with dangerous calm. Sea stared at him, trying to tell if he was serious or had lost his mind after waking up from a coma. But when he saw that determined look, he knew Jimmy wasn’t joking. —This is insane —Sea whispered. —I know. —If they catch us… —They won’t. Jimmy pulled something from his pocket and slid it through the bars. A small set of lockpicks. Sea raised an eyebrow. —You’re asking me to break out with these? Jimmy smirked. —I know you can do it. Sea clicked his tongue but took the lockpicks. —If we die, it’s your fault, detective. —It always is. --- The escape went smoothly… until the alarm blared. —Shit! —Jimmy muttered as they ran. Red lights flashed, the blaring siren filling the air. Guards appeared from all sides. They turned into a side hallway and burst into a storage room. Jimmy slammed the door shut and jammed it with a chair. —That won’t hold for long —Sea said. —We don’t need long. Jimmy shattered a window with his elbow. Pain flared in his side, but there was no time to care. —Let’s go. Sea didn’t hesitate. He climbed through first and jumped down. Jimmy followed, wincing at the pain. —You’re messed up, you know that? —Sea said, helping him up. —Yeah, but that’s nothing new. --- Days later, on a secluded island… Sea knelt in front of Jimmy on the sand, tending to his wound. —You didn’t have to come with me —Jimmy whispered. Sea paused and looked into his eyes. —I had nowhere else to go. Jimmy leaned in slightly. —And now? Sea placed his hands on Jimmy’s face. —Now, I stay with you. He kissed him. It was slow, full of everything they hadn’t said. When they pulled apart, Sea placed something in Jimmy’s hand. A small silver ring. —A symbol that this time… we’re not going anywhere. Jimmy stared at it, then smiled. —I like how that sounds. The ocean roared in the distance, but in their hidden paradise, everything was quiet.