Chapter Text
The shop was pretty much dead that day. Clouds had cheekily decided to not let the sun shine through, leaving a dark and gray filter to cover the city. Consequently, nobody in town was thinking about fishing or anything related to it. Who even would consider going to a fishing store when it wasn't sunny? Confirmed, nobody.
Not that the young shopkeeper minded that. He sat comfortably with his legs spread wide behind the counter, fingers tapping away on his phone. His brows were furrowed, dark eyes glued in concentration on the game he was entertaining himself with. A sneaky tongue peaked out as he watched his score get higher, close to a personal record, he leaned in and…
"Ah fuck!"
The words slipped out with an annoyed tone, his hand raising so his fingers could thread through his deep brown hair. Having had enough of miserably failing for the whatever-th time that was, he set the phone down and stretched his body once standing.
Jisung looked at the calendar, biting his bottom lip a bit in wonder. Maybe he could close the place down sooner today. Nobody he knew of planned to come by so maybe that could be a good time to give himself some deserved extra rest.
As he rubbed his thumb over his thin wrist while contemplating what he could do with the couple hours he would gain from closing the shop sooner, the little bell at the front door chimed softly. Blinking, Jisung let his eyes drift to whoever entered the store on this rather depressing afternoon.
Black leather pants and boots, a fluffy baby pink sweater and… sunglasses. If Jisung thought too much about the combination, it would simply be a weird choice but the guy wore it well. Not that it was hard because the man had the most perfect nose and perfectly styled gunmetal colored hair to make up for the odd choices. And some thighs that were a little bit too eye-catching. The shopkeeper couldn't help but feel his mouth go a little bit dry before letting a small friendly smile appear on his lips as the other looked around the place without giving much away of what he was thinking.
The guy looked so out of place between the fishing rods that Jisung wasn't even surprised when mister leather pants moved with lazy steps towards him, slipping a small paper with two words scribbled on it neatly.
A black buzzbait. Of course.
A heart shaped grin couldn't be contained as Jisung looked at his new customer and was pleased to see his smile be replied with an amused curl of the other's lips.
Feeling rather giddy now to be able to actually do the work he loved, Jisung gave a wave for the man to follow him, neither of them hesitating to move towards the door at the back of the store.
"You're definitely a new face. Picking up for somebody or yourself?" Jisung couldn't help but start up some casual conversation once the door was closed behind them and he walked down the hall. There were a couple entrances, but he stopped at a blank wall and just pressed his hand against the wallpaper. It lit up on contact and once his hand was scanned, it was pretty much open sesame as the wall parted to reveal a secret entry. He stepped aside to let the other man through, watching him as he still waited for an answer.
"I'm not so new, mind you. You've been my supplier for the past 2 years."
The cattish smirk that appeared at Jisung's raised eyebrows seemed more than entertained by the shopkeeper's obliviousness..
"Huh… Really now?", Jisung clicked his tongue and tried to think about any of his more loyal customers. None of them had been around for as long as the guy was saying. His face morphed into a thoughtful expression as he guided them through the brightly lit room with the walls even emitting light from them.
It just didn't completely blind them because those were from top to bottom displaying heavy weapons. Guns of all shapes and sizes, knives, tasers and other intricate gadgets. All brand new, high quality and absolutely off the grid.
Jisung was young, far too young to be in this business and hold the title he had as the best weapon dealer in the country. Twenty-six was too young for anybody to be the best in anything.
As mysterious as the people he sold his products to, the shopkeeper held a good amount of secrets behind the cute cheeks and innocent attitude. How the hell he got into all of this was completely unknown and it is rumored that whoever even knew anything about it was 6 feet under.
"Mhmm." Pulling the sunglasses off his face to reveal dark brown eyes, mister leather pants tapped the temple tip against his lips. "Everyone I sent to get my stuff is gone by now. I wasn't planning on ever coming myself to this place, you know."
With a small nod, Jisung crossed his arms and leaned his hip against the counter in the middle of the room.
"Connections. I know… But 2 whole years? I'm pretty sure you're my most loyal custome-" Jisung couldn't help but cut himself off as he figured out who the other was.
Well, not really who he was but what he was here for.
His eyes were wide again and a chuckle choked out of him as he felt the jitters coming. This was beyond exciting.
"Wait… 2 years, every 3 months?" Jisung asked with narrowed eyes and smirked. A smirk that was mirrored and followed by a small laughter. Oh boy, mister leather pants looked cute like that.
"Mhmm, that's me. You've got the best and I couldn't help but keep coming for more." The tone was teasing, dark eyes sparkling with something akin to mischief. Jisung loved that.
"Always happy to provide! You should totally leave me a review on Yelp." The dealer couldn't help but joke and wink, already moving to unlock a drawer. "Okay, Mister, I wasn't actually expecting for you to pick your babe up til two weeks from now but you're lucky that your orders are my favorite. I have her done."
With a little huff he took a long box out and tugged the top off, revealing the impeccable sniper rifle. Custom made with the very best material technology and also some of Jisung's special touch. The military would kill to be able to have weapons like these for warfare. Again, the young man couldn't help but smile almost fondly as his fingers lightly grazed over the metal.
The customer stepped beside Jisung, their shoulders brushing slightly as he reached out to actually take the rifle out of its box. He didn't wait to weigh it in his hands, shift it around and take everything about the weapon in. Surely he moved it into the perfect position, holding it with easy confident skill. The man was a natural and he looked a bit too good with his finger testing the trigger.
"Nothing but the best as always." He chuckled and set it down, his hands not quite leaving the rifle as he seemed to be contemplating something. With a shake of his head and a huff out of his nose, he turned to Jisung, noticing that they were still rather close.
"You can call me Lee Know, by the way. Mister sounds formal and we've been doing business for too long, Han."
Jisung grinned at the man who now had a name. Fake name for sure, nobody in this shop gave him their real information. But having one, even if fake, was more than welcome.
"Well, Lee Know, nice to finally meet you." His eyes met the other's and he realized that this was pretty much where their conversation should end. Jisung didn't ask questions, didn't go beyond some fun chatting since it's not like they could be connected to each other.
He looked down to the rifle and shifted it neatly back in the box and covered it up before giving the box a pat. "Payment will arrive in the usual format, I would guess." Jisung glanced to Lee Know who just nodded. The dealer hummed and reached to put on gloves.
His last contact with the weapon would be this little step. With a spray bottle of alcohol he sprayed it all over the box and with paper towels scrubbed it free of any fingerprints. He knew that the material of the rifle didn't pick up his prints so he didn't worry about that, but the boxes could be a give away if ever found. With a smile he made sure for it to be spotless before sliding it to the man who took the box without hesitation.
"Your prints aren't in any databases for you to need to scrub it that clean." Lee Know commented with a chuckle and Jisung froze a little at the statement. His brows furrowed and he just stared at his customer.
"You've been background checking me, mister?" His voice was a bit sharper at the last word and he saw how the other's nose scrunched up the slightest bit as if he regretted having let that slip.
Jisung licked over his teeth as he waited for a reply but the silence stretched far too long. He cocked his head to the side.
"You're a bit too close to snipe anyone." The dealer spoke with a low cold tone. Eyes never leaving the other, he saw the man shift and shake his head.
"Not in my plans to shoot you down, Han. But you did appear on my list. The money being offered isn't enough for me to consider it though." Lee Know gave a sheepish smile before he sighed and looked more serious. "I came here because I wanted to let you know that some of the ones you're selling to are now after your head. Kind of counterproductive but I-"
"I don't always provide the best." Jisung coughed and rubbed his nose a bit, looking off. "You can't really put a price on my stuff. I sell it because it's not smart to keep every gun I make and I don't have the heart to disassemble them." He glanced to Lee Know and kicked the ground with his converse. He looked like a shy boy and not really a weapon dealer.
"Some people just don't appreciate my work, so I don't give them my work." He shrugged and saw the other blink almost furiously for a few times.
"Hm." Was everything Lee Know let out, seeming to be a bit taken back by what Jisung just said. But eventually he spoke up again.
"How did you decide I was worthy of your work?" The question was laced with what sounded genuine curiosity. It seemed like he was expecting some very elaborate answer with Han confessing he did some background checking himself and actually knew who Lee Know was all along.
"Your people were always polite and you always asked me just for the best." Jisung chewed on his bottom lip. "Guess you trusted my work and that was enough. But okay, how much money is on my head, I kinda wanna know that." He added the question to not let things get a bit too deep and sappy.
He was just a bit sensitive when it was about his craftsmanship.
And Lee Know seemed to realize that he shouldn't comment further on it, but the sniper also realized something else that he kept noted down deep in his head.
"10 million."
"10 M-MILL- Wait, you're fucking kidding me!? You said it wasn't e-enough money!" Jisung stumbled on his words in shock. Who the hell did he mess with to have 10 million on his head this time?
Yes, this time. Having a bounty on him wasn't new but 10 fucking million was.
And Lee Know just casually shrugged. "Not enough for me, yeah."
"How much money would even be enough if 10 million isn't!?"
Big eyes were glued to Lee Know's perfect face. The sniper licked his lips and let that catty smile appear again.
"Can't really put a price on it."
He winked. Winked.
Jisung's lips parted and closed again, not really being able to form proper words at that reply.
Lee Know laughed, shaking his head before he turned to move away and out of the room. Jisung stalled but tripped his way out of it as well, letting his legs work faster to lead the other man the right way. He wasn't leaving from the front door after all. Back door it was.
Jisung still didn't know what to say, not even when he opened the door and Lee Know was already stepping through.
The sniper paused though and looked back at him.
"Just take care of yourself, Han. I really don't want to use anything but your work."
With those last words Lee Know was gone.
Jisung was left with questions like never before.
And a 10 million bounty on his head.