[fic] Minho/Key – SHINee – Never Say Goodbye – Chapter 7/7

[rabenhorst]

Title: Never Say Goodbye
Author: fonulyn
Rating: NC17 (overall)
Warnings: mentions of violence (nothing very graphic) and prostitution. also I quite possibly made up half of the stuff when it comes to the police force so some factual inaccuracy.
Pairing: Minho/Key (plus ninjaing!Qmi)
Characters: Minho, Key, Ryeowook, Jonghyun, Kyuhyun, Sungmin, Onew, Donghae, Heechul
Disclaimer: I own no one, only my dirty imagination.
Summary: It's been over two years since Minho lost Kibum, lost him without knowing why. He never expected to see him again. He definitely never expected to see him again like this. (aka Minho is a policeman and his job brings him much closer to his past than he ever thought possible.)
Comments: The last chapter! I really hope you’ve enjoyed the way here and that the ending is to your liking :) In this final chapter a lot happens, secrets are revealed, and hopefully we get some excitement too!



Previously: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6

The corridors are full of running. Some are trying to escape, some are trying to fight back, some don’t seem to know what they’re doing. It makes it hard to find anything in the building, especially when Minho is trying to make his way deeper into it, against the swarm of rushing people. He soon loses count on how many times he’s been bumped into, simply trying to navigate his way into Kibum’s room.

There are screams and more gunshots, loud yelled commands, and Minho could swear he even hears the fire alarm go off in some part of the complex. It sounds like a full bloodbath, but he dearly hopes he’s wrong. He knows there are good people here, ones that don’t deserve to be taken down with a bullet in their back.

Relief washes over him as he finally reaches the right door, twisting the knob to barge inside without a warning. Against all odds he was hoping to see Kibum sitting there, looking up at him to ask what the commotion is all about. Instead, he’s faced with a scene that makes his eyes fly wide, his heart drop into the pit of his stomach like a stone.

There’s blood, too much blood. The bedsheets are crumpled and the pillows thrown aside, the bedside table fallen on its side and all the contents strewn over the floor.

That is when Minho hears the sobbing. His heart jumpstarts again and he rushes to the corner behind the bed, to the figure curled up around another stained pillow with their face buried into it. He realizes almost instantly it’s not Kibum, not with the dark chestnut coloured hair, but he drops down on his knees nevertheless and reaches out a soothing hand.

“Hey, are you alright?” He forces his voice to stop wavering, tries to sound as calm as he humanly can. A part of him just wants to scream, to ask where Kibum is and if it’s his blood all over the room, but he holds back. He knows that wouldn’t gain him anything.

Ryeowook looks up at him then, his face tear stained and his eyes red and puffy. There’s a smear of blood on his cheek but he obviously doesn’t even realize, not with the way he’s staring at Minho with the sheer unadulterated panic of a deer in the headlights. He even tries to scramble away, but Minho stops him quickly and tries to soothe him. “I’m not here to hurt you, Ryeowook. Trust me.”

The words make Ryeowook relax ever so slightly, but at least he’s not ready to run anymore. He looks up at the other man, eyes wide, and his voice is stretched thin as he tries to get the words out properly. “T-they killed,” he hiccups, “they k-killed he-her. I saw, saw it.”

They killed her. Her. Minho knows it’s wrong but he can’t help the rush of relief. At least now he knows it’s not Kibum who bled to death on that bed moments prior. He tries to focus on Ryeowook though, to calm him down at least enough to get him out of there, to make him run. “Ryeowook, do you know where Kibum is? I need to find him.”

Still on the verge of panicking, Ryeowook quickly shakes his head. “Th-hey took him. T-to the back,” he swallows, closing his eyes for a second, “the backroom. I tried to follow but–” He breaks down into another loud sob that wrecks his thin frame, effectively cutting off the words. Not that he seems to have much information anyway.

“Look, you need to get out of here,” Minho grabs the pillow and gently makes Ryeowook let go of it. Ryeowook’s fingers keep twitching slightly, as if he needs something to clutch to make himself calmer, but he doesn’t fight. Only when the pillow is pulled away Minho sees the blood on his clothes as well. “Holy fuck!” He can’t hold back the surprise, reaching down to press his palm on the gaping wound on Ryeowook’s thigh. “What did they do to you!?”

The only answer he gains is another heartbreaking sob and all colour drains off Ryeowook’s face. Minho knows there’s no way the other man can walk right now. There’s no way for him to get out of the building on his own.

It only leaves one alternative: Minho has to get him out. He hesitates for a second, since he knows that if he now leaves his chances of finding Kibum will get slimmer and slimmer. But then again, Kibum always speaks about Ryeowook with such fondness that he knows he can’t leave the man behind. If not for anything else, then because Kibum would never forgive him.

If he’s still alive.

“Come,” Minho reaches out and sneaks an arm around Ryeowook’s shoulders to help him stand. Ryeowook clings on to Minho’s shirt like his life depends on it. “Let’s get you out of here.”





There is only pain. It’s all consuming and blinding, drowning out everything else until it doesn’t matter anymore. Kibum tries to focus on his shallow breathing, on the way every single heartbeat pumps sheer agony into every fibre of his being. The pain throbs, it comes in waves, and he feels like he has to throw up from the intensity.

He can’t move, not with his wrists and ankles bound, and he’s fairly sure at least his arm is broken, possibly a few ribs as well. There’s a metallic tang of blood on his tongue and he wants to spit it out but he can’t, he can barely part his dry lips enough to breathe.

It hasn’t even been long, Kibum knows that. He knows there’s no way this could’ve been going on for hours, not with the Special Forces attacking the building. Yet it feels like it’s been a lifetime of torture and he doesn’t even know what the bodyguards did to him after the first rough beating, after they strapped him on the chair.

He’s fairly sure he passed out at some point for a second.

At first, Kibum doesn’t even realize someone is speaking. It’s a monotonous flow of something he can’t quite make out, like a garble in the distance. Only a moment later, he realizes it’s addressed to him. “–the knots this goddamn tight for fuck’s sake.” There’s an annoyed huff following the words and suddenly, Kibum’s arms drop to his sides from where they’d been bound tightly.

It’s a battle to get his eyes open but when Kibum finally manages to focus, it’s a face he never expected to see.

Heechul’s gaze is stern and he looks straight at Kibum to make sure he’s listening. “Now c’mon, you’ll need to at least try walk. I don’t think I can carry you all the way.”





Minho is outside of the building, held back by the officers in charge who won’t let him go back inside. There are sirens everywhere, ambulances wailing as they dash off with the wounded. After getting Ryeowook into one of those Minho hasn’t really paid any attention. He’s simply pacing, fidgeting, waiting. Waiting. He’s never been good at that.

Then he hears someone call his name. He doesn’t recognize the officer that comes talk to him, but he doesn’t need to. He doesn’t even hear anything past Kibum got out, he’s been taken to the hospital.

At least it means he’s alive. That’s the hope Minho keeps clinging on.





Only a week after the disastrous end for the operation Minho feels like it’s already been a small eternity. The first two days he spends at the hospital trying to convince the nurses to let him see Kibum, but finally he gives in as they are obviously unrelenting. Not that it helps him much, as it only results in him pacing around his apartment, worrying, hoping for a phone call or a visit, anything.

That is how Siwon finds him one evening. The apartment is dark, only the lights of the city illuminating it as they seep in through the open window. The sounds of traffic are distant but still oddly comforting, like a tie to the world when nothing feels real.

“When have you last eaten?” is the first thing Siwon asks as he walks in. He doesn’t switch the lights on as he crosses the room and sets a bag of takeout on the table within reach. There is no reaction from Minho and Siwon remains rooted on the spot for a while, watching him, until he decides it’s enough. “Minho. Stop.”

Obediently Minho stops and runs his fingers through his hair in a frustrated gesture. “I don’t know,” he replies honestly. He wishes someone would actually talk to him, since being left in the dark is the worst thing and takes such a toll on him. “I ate at the hospital.”

“It’s been three days since then, Minho. Sit down, have something,” Siwon commands in the best big brother tone, gentle but determined, the one you can’t say no to.

At first Minho hesitates but then takes a seat on the couch, carefully reaching for the food. He knows, deep down inside, that his reaction is completely ridiculous but it doesn’t really make it any better. He’s halfway through the small portion of fried rice and some vegetables when Siwon finally breaks the silence. “I called the hospital.”

Instantly Minho’s attention snaps to him. He stops chewing and only stares at his brother, waiting for the words that follow. “He’s going to make it.” Minho relaxes visibly, releases all air from his lungs and closes his eyes. It’s like a weight is lifted from his shoulders and like his heart beats a little easier. The worry has been gnawing at him so intensely it feels odd when it’s lifted.

Then, Siwon drops the next bomb. The words are quiet but they could as well be screamed from the rooftops judging by the way they make Minho freeze. “I was the one who recommended Kibum for that mission.”

Siwon refuses to look up although he can feel Minho’s piercing gaze on him. He doesn’t seem like he’s about to elaborate on it any further though, and somehow Minho manages a choked “Why?” although his mind is racing and he’s trying to make sense into the whole situation.

“Because I knew he could do it,” Siwon begins, softly, and finally meets his brother’s eyes. “Because we only had one shot and we couldn’t afford to screw that up. I had to make sure I picked someone that could handle the situation.”

That’s all logical and Minho can’t argue any of it, but he has a feeling there’s more to it. There are dozens of qualified men in the police force and although, granted, Kibum is exceptionally determined and has the looks for an operation like this, he surely couldn’t have been the only option. “Why are you telling me this?”

“That’s not the only reason I recommended him.” Siwon inhales sharply. “I wanted to get him away from you.”

Minho can’t cover his surprise. “Me?”

“Yes,” Siwon answers. His voice is silent, but there is a certain determination to it, as if he’s decided he is going to say this, now. “You. Before that… thing between you would get too far.” It takes a moment for Minho to realize what he’s even talking about, and when he does he gets no chance to reply as his brother goes on. “You can’t do that to your, our parents. I needed to get him out of your life and I thought that once he was gone, you’d forget and move on. Marry and settle down.”

“And what if not?” Minho asks, incredulous. “You’d have just sent him out on a death mission in vain? What sense does that make?” He pauses, trying to sort the mess in his head. “But he accepted the mission, on his own.”

Siwon clears his throat. “I let him understand that if he wouldn’t take the mission, I’d have the means to send you.”

That is too much for Minho to wrap his mind around and he has no idea how to react. He’s struggling for words, struggling for a coherent thought, when the new bits and pieces of information just keep spinning round and round in his head.

“Minho, please,” Siwon says, his voice full of sincerity and unspoken apologies. “I had to act before you’d be too attached to him.”

Minho laughs, bitter and choked. He blinks the tears away, refuses to show how much the words hit him, and somehow manages to keep his eyes dry. Inside he feels like every bit of emotion is wrenched out of him. “You were too late.”

There’s a long silence and neither of them speaks. Again, it’s Siwon who first breaks it, even if it’s just a desperate attempt to reach out to his brother. “Minho…” There’s barely an arm’s length between them and yet it feels like the earth just opened up and tore them into different worlds.

“Just go.” It’s all Minho manages. “Get out.”

Siwon says nothing. He stands up and touches Minho’s shoulder, pulls his hand back quickly at the flinch that follows. His footsteps echo in the silent apartment until the door clicks shut. Somewhere in the distance, Minho hears the sirens of a police car.

Then there’s only the sounds of traffic and the hum of the wind.





The laughter is the first thing that catches Minho’s attention as he approaches his desk at the station. It’s been a while since he’s heard anything so cheery here, especially since around him people recently mute down for one reason or another. Now though, it seems that everyone is gathered around his workspace, chatting and joking.

When Minho spots Kibum in the middle of the crowd he stops dead in his tracks. Kibum is laughing at something Sungmin is explaining, and it almost hurts because it’s been so long since Minho saw happiness that genuine. He wants to run there, wants to touch Kibum, wants to hug him and hold him and ask him if he’s alright and yet, he doesn’t. He remains standing there like rooted on the spot.

Until Kibum turns and notices him standing there. The reaction is immediate. The laughter melts away but only to be replaced by a soft, honest smile. It’s even worse, tearing at Minho’s insides as he can’t believe this is happening.

Suddenly it seems that everyone has something to do. Kyuhyun discreetly retreats to the back and Sungmin pulls Donghae away, the rest of the people following their example. Minho knows everyone’s attention is on him but he ignores it in favour of slowly approaching Kibum. He only stops when he’s standing right in front of him, close enough to touch.

It takes a moment of silence and Kibum’s smile turning slightly more tentative before Minho speaks up, surprised at how steady his voice still is. “You’re back.” Somehow he can’t come up with anything more elaborate to say, not even though he feels overflowing with thoughts and emotions. All he wants is to bring the sparkle back in Kibum’s eyes.

“Yeah,” Kibum says. “I got discharged yesterday. I figured I’d come say hi.” He looks down at the cast on his arm, once white but now coloured with doodles. “Everyone wanted to sign my cast!” He laughs, but there’s an edge to it. Something like nervousness. It’s even underlined in the way he refuses to look up and meet Minho’s eyes. “Wanna sign it too?”

“No, thank you.” Minho is too tired to rein in the emotion that seeps into his voice, but he doesn’t even care. He doesn’t have anything to hide. “But there’s something else I want.”

Then, Kibum looks up, curious. Hopeful. “What is it?”

Minho raises his hand and allows his fingertips to brush over Kibum’s cheek, the touch soft and fleeting. “Let me take you out for dinner.”

There it is. The brilliant smile Minho has been waiting for, the one that reaches all the way up to Kibum’s eyes. “Sure.”







Nightmares still wake Minho up in the middle of the night, almost every night. The only difference is that this time, they’re not his. They could as well be, with the way he startles awake every single time Kibum whines in his sleep, every time Kibum thrashes and turns, every time the past catches up in form of too intense memories.

It’s easier, this time. In the darkness Kibum forces his eyes open and stares into nothingness, listens to Minho’s steady heartbeat until it lulls him back to rest. For a while.

While Kibum’s ghosts come in the form of dreams, Minho’s are much more palpable. He hasn’t spoken to Siwon ever since the day at his apartment. He hasn’t visited his family, barely talks to his mother on the phone. Kibum can see the way it eats away at Minho, his strong family ties now severed and torn. Not beyond repair, no, at least he doesn’t want to believe that, but only time will tell.

One thing is for sure. If that’s the price to pay for what they have, for what they’re gaining back day by day, it’s going to be worth it.

It already is.

---
(2889 words)

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SO HERE WE GO! the first chaptered fic I’ve actually managed to write and finish now this feels like an accomplishment haha. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! :3

this demonstrates my ability to write “drabbles” as this is known as the drabble wherein Minho wears a police uniform. gdi.

also, my friend wrote an alternate ending to this when I was struggling with this. check out how amazing it is.

becky says
they smiled. but inside they were a little bit sad... but not that sad.
but sad enough

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* \(◕ヮ◕✿)/ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
so with this I shall leave you and once again thank everyone who stuck with me and wanted to see the story till the end! your comments mean the world to me :3

(not that you’re gonna get rid of me anyway there’s a new fic on its way if I ever manage to tame it and make it work like I want to ~)