Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

In the busy city of Chicago, Hector Munday, a senior agent, was paired with Charlie Lonnit, 24 years old, a Brit but gaining his American citizenship because he was born in Illinois. If Munday didn’t read his recommendation letter he almost thought it was a joke. He had made it clear that he didn’t need nor want a partner but looked like his superior has another thing in mind. At first, Hector was skeptical of his partner. Sure, he had read his report. The kid had a remarkably good score with analyzing and theoretical criminology althought he almost not making the cut on his physical performance but he is getting by. He shouldn’t be on the field but in the lab instead, Munday thought. On the first day, Hector reminded him being in the fields was much more than books. They had to adapt fast and not let the criminals outsmart them. To think like one of them and take a helicopter view to see their flaws.

As the time went on, Hector observed his young partner closely. Yes he was clumsy, yes he made rookie mistakes but being highly curious and learning a lot of things, he had supported Hector with useful information in the investigation they were working on. Charlie's social skills also lighten Hector's workload, especially during witness interviews, where Charlie exceled in gathering initial information and Munday only needed to probe here and there. The more surprising thing about him was when they needed to access an old house where a suspected killer might be hiding.

“Step back, Charlie.” Hector instructed, preparing to forcibly open the door with his shoulder.

But Charlie didn’t budge, he held out his hand instead. "You might scare him off. Give me your tie pin."

Though hesitant, Hector handed it over. To his astonishment, Charlie skillfully used the tie pin to quietly unlock the door. Which makes Hector’s eyebrows up. Instinctively, Hector recalled his criminal record, and if he remembered correctly, they are all clean or else he wouldn’t be in the FBI. Looked like Charlie was more street-smart than he thought.

“We’ll talk later about why you learn that skill.”

“Sure, ask me for a drink first.” Charlie joked as he followed his mentor into the house, his hands gripping the gun tightly.

In the end, they successfully caught the criminal, and Charlie wore a triumphant smile on his face. After Charlie completed the necessary paperwork for the criminal records, to his surprise, Hector actually invited him to go to a speakeasy bar near their station.

Charlie's eyes glinted with excitement as they walked to the bar, recalling how they caught the criminal. As they were seated, Charlie looked up to his mentor, "Is this a reward because I caught the criminal?"

Hector snorted, yeah sure, it was necessary to appreciate your team to keep the morale up, especially when there’s no pay hike soon. "Tell me how you learned picklocking."

“It’s quite stupid, actually.” Charlie looks away in embarrassment, his cheeks red, suddenly feeling stupid confessing his crime to an FBI agent where he himself is one too. “Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to know the unknown, things that other people won’t bother to figure it out. Including old, abandoned places where it’s locked by the authorities. You never know what treasures or trouble you might stumble upon."

"And what do you find in the abandoned places?"

Charlie leaned back, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he drank his beers. "Oh, you know, the usual. Graphity, hidden secrets, and occasionally a raccoon that thinks it owns the place. I could climb broken gates or tear down broken doors but some doors are locked. Fortunately, My neighbor next door is a locksmith and I learnt a lot from him. Y’know, pretending I lost my key then called him to my house. He eventually knew what I did but instead of snitching me to my mom, he always asked me what I found instead.”

Hector nodded, he might not be much of a talker but he is a good interrogator, asking the right question for the right answer. Most people love to share their story, making them the center of attention. “What’s your most notable finding, then?”

Charlie squared his shoulder, suddenly he became serious and lowered his voice. "I once caught the foulest smell, worse than dead rats. It led me to a human corpse, rotting in the basement of an abandoned mall. It was morbid: it looked fairly normal at first until I realized the hands and the feet weren’t in their rightful places. The left hand was sewed to the right arm and vice versa, just like the feet and the mouth was torn from side to side..” Charlie shivered, as if he was a teen again and not an FBI officer. “I was alone, I couldn’t move for a while. Once I could move again, I rushed to my neighbor, and he called the police. The FBI also got involved because, as it turned out, it was their case too. They approached me, asked questions, and even took me to the crime scene, without me breaking the door."

“They knew you were trespassing the building.”

“Yeah, I got some warning but hey, I found the body right? Anyway, that was when I realized being an agent gives you access, not necessarily by breaking and entering, but by authority and the lack of fear of getting caught. and here I am." Charlie smiled brightly at him.

Hector snorts, then looks away, quickly diverting the conversation with another question, hoping to avoid Charlie's inquiries about why he decided to enlist in the FBI.

Charlie drank his beer again as he talked, while Hector was attentively listening to his stories as he took a drag of his cigarette, noticing the young man’s facial expression dynamically changed as his stories went. As the night wore on and the beer flowed, Charlie became more talkative with Hector. He shared stories about his family, his favorite lessons in college, and how much he missed Edinburgh. The more he opened up, the more Hector saw beyond the excited smile , glimpsing the personal layers that made up his seemingly carefree partner. Sewing every thread he knew about Charlie to figure out who he really was. What made him tick.

~*~

Charlie in some way intrigued him. Munday has tried to dismiss him away: Give him an impossible task, yelling at him for making mistakes but the boy sticks and he always tried to improve himself. Now it became a tradition that Hector would treat him to a drink every time they solved cases and Charlie would tell him about his stories or some academic journal he read. There was a time where Lonnit was very drunk and gave Munday a lecture on the effect of social-economic on psychopathy in which Hector had already known but still listened. Looking at the drunk man in front of him and deduce he couldn’t even walk straight, Munday volunteered himself to take the young man home. He should’ve stopped him drinking but it was Friday night, let the man lose himself for a while, Hector thought. And no, it has nothing to do with Charlie's flushed face.

Upon reaching Charlie's apartment, Hector took a brief look around the small living space. Even though it was a bit nosy, Hector learned a bit more about Charlie's personality just by looking around. The studio apartment was so small even in one sweep of sight, Hector could figure a lot of Charlie’s possessions. The apartment was messy but still habitable. A lot of books, mostly fiction on crime and thriller. Unsurprisingly, Charlie collected a series of figurines from iconic movies like Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers and Freddy Kreuger. Munday wondered what made the serial killers fascinating to this kid.

Hector put the young man to the bed softly, what surprised him was Charlie suddenly grabbed his jacket to hold him close, as if he didn’t want him to go. “I wanna be your partner forever.”

Hector rolled his eyes as he softly peeled the fingers on his jacket which latched strongly to the fabric. “Say it when you are sober, kid.”

“No, no, no… I want you. I like you.” Charlie pulled the jacket again, this time more powerful as he sat up and his face got closer to him. The kiss was sloppy, Hector managed to pull a little bit so the young man's lips only touched the corner of his. Munday could feel his heart and body stop, freezing. Even his brain as well, something unusual as it was always thinking and analyzing everything.

Could it be? No way, he was a rookie and it was normal to look up to their mentor, the alcohol mistook it as attraction. Besides, why would he? He has always been a grumpy and demanding mentor. Other officers would probably rain the young man with praises if they had the privilege to have him as their mentee but Hector is ungenerous with his praise. He got as high standard as he did to himself and no matter how good Charlie was, he only got a couple praises from him.

As soon as Hector escaped from Charlie's grasp he deliberately went to the kitchen, preparing a glass of water and some aspirin beside Charlie’s bed. The man was laying on the bed, legs sprawled and, thank god, fell asleep. Hector carefully moved Charlie to lay on his side and placed a pillow behind him to prevent him choking if he vomited. Not that Munday cared of course. But he had this unfamiliar feeling. He was used to keeping his emotions in check, but Charlie's company was making him question the walls he had built around himself. It was a struggle between the comfort of solitude and the warmth that came with having Charlie around.

On Monday morning, Hector was expecting the boy to be awkward or nervous around him but he just carried himself as usual, only giving him a cup of hot coffee as a thank you for taking him home. Seemed like Charlie forgot the details of what happened when he was drunk. Nevertheless, Hector couldn't shake his curiosity about Charlie's words from the night before.

“What is it?”

Hector, realizing his object of fixation is calling, decided to give him an eye contact. “Hm?”

“You’ve been glaring at me like forever. You don’t like the coffee?”

Hector only shrugged and took the report, pretending to read it so it could cover his face. Charlie caught him staring, as a senior FBI agent he should be more covert when he was observing.

Even through his document, Hector could feel the penetrating gaze and he lowered just a bit, only to find a pair of puppy dog eyes looking at him. In vino veritas, ‘in wine, there’s truth’. But how much truth is there? Hector tilted his head, “How does it feel to work with me, Charlie?”

“I feel happy, of course! I mean, I just work with the best agent of Chicago and I learn a lot from you. Sure, you’re grumpy but you push me harder than everyone else and it makes me want to do better. And-and, nobody really cares about my ramble but you do, and you always remember what I said. Which is something, really, because I talk a lot and I’m afraid I overwhelm you since you look like someone who loves quiet.”

“I do,”

“Whoops, sorry,” Charlie chuckles awkwardly, right. Then, he started to fidget and looked at everything except Hector, biting his lips. “Uhhh… Do you still want me to be your partner? I mean, it’s okay if you don’t want to. I know I made a lot of mistakes but they been significantly decreasing but I don’t want to pressure you. I mean–”

Hector held out his palm, gesturing him to stop. “I do want you to be my partner. Any areas for improvement will be discussed in the review.”

“Yes!” Charlie clenched his fists and pulled them to his sides triumphantly, the doubt on his face was replaced by enthusiasm and optimism. "I won't let you down, Sir!"

Weird, most people who were assigned to be his partner couldn’t wait until to get away from him as soon as possible or it was Hector who instructed them not to come to their office ever again. Did this rookie really find him enjoyable to work with? Hector didn’t let his mind wander again as the phone on his table rang. They became alert and after Hector got the initial report of the new case, he nodded to Charlie, who already wore his jacket and lucky cap.

The investigation was… frustrating, to be honest, even more so than their previous investigations. At first, Hector could type the victim, mostly women and they killed them in abandoned homes near an airport. Suspecting the criminal was still learning to do it, then gradually they killed in more crowded areas. The motels, the park and even in the alley. The victims got more diverse with no apparent connection among them. The frequency even got sporadic, as if they only killed whenever their heart wanted. To make it worse, the media already nicknamed him as “The Beast of Arkansas”.

The relentless pursuit of the serial killer had taken its toll on Charlie. The pressure, the long hours, and the frustration were etched on his face. The investigation demanded their attention even on weekends.

"Hector," Charlie sighed, rubbing his temples as they read over the case files. "This case is getting to me. I need a breather, some fresh air or something."

Hector looked up to his partner, observing his darkened eye bags. This was the first time Charlie initiated a break and yes they have been working on Saturday for more than 10 hours. “You got an idea?”

Charlie looked at him with a glimmer of hope in his tired eyes. "How about we hit a bar? Grab a drink, maybe have a smoke. Just to clear our heads. They said a new study from a university in Austria found that a pint of beer boosts creativity."

The familiar hustle and bustle surrounded them as they entered the nearby bar with dim lights and a relaxed ambiance. Charlie ordered a drink, and the two found a quiet corner to unwind. The younger man started rambling about the Sherlock Holmes series and Hector let him, who knows, maybe he got an insight from that.

As they talked, the band began playing Charlie's favorite songs, and Hector noticed the spark in Charlie's eyes, his fingers thrumphing on the table. A clear sign that he was itching to join the dancing crowd.

Hector sighed, giving Charlie a nod toward the dance floor. "Just go, I'm not your father,"

Grateful for the permission, Charlie grinned and headed into the midst of the crowd. Singing along in the crowd, his head bobbing with the rhythm of the music. Amid the lively atmosphere, he suddenly felt a touch on his shoulder. When he turned to see who it was, he found a man, likely in his late 30s or early 40s. The man had disheveled hair, some facial hair, and was dressed in a white tank top and flannel shirt. The faint scent of cigarette smoke lingered around him.

"Great music, huh?" The stranger said, attempting to strike up a friendly chat.

"Yeah, it's fantastic," Charlie replied as he took a step back to gain his personal space. The stranger looked at him with lust in his eyes, raked his body with his gaze, as if he wanted to eat him.

“I’m Brandon, by the way.” The stranger got closer to him again, "I couldn't help but notice you from across the room. Your energy is contagious. Are you a regular here?”

Charlie hesitated, "Uhmm.. Not really. My coworker and I just needed a break from work." He tried to move past the stranger, hoping to see Hector at the corner but their chairs were empty. Damn it. And to make it worse, Brandon was gripping his forearm.

“Well, where are they? Maybe they meet someone here as well. How about we grab a drink together?"

"I think I'm good. Thanks," Charlie pulled his arm, but the man only grinned, bringing up his hand to stroke Charlie’s chin.

"Come on, don't be so uptight. Let's enjoy the night. I can assure y-"

Suddenly, Hector came up and put his hand on Charlie's shoulder, giving Brendon a stern look. His jaw was set and he let out a low growl, just like he usually did when he interacted with criminals. "He's with me."

Hector's protective gesture made it clear that Brendon needed to back off, and he did. But he still had mischievous glints in his eyes. “Ah, FBI agent Hector Munday? Am I right?”

“Do I know you?” Hector’s eyebrow furrowed, he was good at remembering faces but even though the stranger's face was unfamiliar, he knew there was something off about him. Something predatory.

“Nah, I just noticed I’ve read some article about you, you’re the one who caught the Angel of Death, aren’t ya?”

“Maybe you’re mistaking me for someone else.” The FBI agent replied curtly, his body was tense as he put his hand on Charlie’s waist, squeezing it for some reason. “Let's go, Charlie. I’m driving you home,”

As they walked to the door, Hector could hear the strangers shouted. “I’m okay with threesome, y’know!” It irritated him. Something in his chest growled and he pulled the younger man tighter to his side, ignoring the remark as they walked to the car, Charlie leaned into him, and the warmth of his body seemed to both comfort and disturb Hector. The night had taken an unexpected turn, and Hector couldn't shake off the turmoil inside him. Especially when other people knew about him. He was flying under the radar for a very long time, making sure he blended with the background and yet, he was still noticed. But for once it didn’t matter, there was an unfamiliar feeling more prominent in his chest.

The car ride was silent as Charlie fell asleep, but Munday’s mind was loud. The image of the stranger touching Charlie lingered in his mind, stoking the flames of frustration within him. He found himself clenching the steering wheel, fighting the urge to speed back to the bar and confront the man who dared to touch him, who looked at him with so much disrespect . Why did he care so much? Lonnit was an adult, a capable agent, not someone he needed to protect. Deep down, he knew he had no right to feel this way. Charlie was his partner, not his partner. But he never felt this angry before, as if he could tear apart someone, cut his hand that had touched Charlie and ruin his body so badly they couldn’t even identify him.

The realization that he might be more invested in Charlie than he initially thought lingered in the air, making the drive feel longer than usual.

As he pulled into the driveway, Hector took a deep breath, attempting to regain control of his emotions. He assisted Lonnit to his apartment by placing Charlie's arm over his shoulders. The young man mumbled, "I can walk on my own," but Hector chose to ignore the protest. He knew Charlie was right, he was still so much sober as it took him more than a pint of beer to get him drunk. But he found himself difficult to stop touching him.

As they reached the apartment door, it was Charlie who clung to Hector even with the door opened.

“Come on, kid, get inside and have a rest,”

Charlie only shook his head, hesitation painted on his face as he looked up to Hector. He stood on his toes and brought his face closer to him. “Tell me to stop, please.”

Hector froze in the moment as he gazed into Charlie's blue eyes. His own emotions churned, a mixture of longing, frustration, and a deep, unspoken connection. Instead of voicing any words to stop him, Hector acted on instinct. He pushed Charlie into the inside, kicking the door behind him to close then pulled the young man closer. Their lips met in a collision of passion and urgency. Hector's hand moved to cup Charlie's cheek, holding him with a tenderness that contrasted with how he devoured him. Moan escaped from the young man’s lips and it woke something inside him, something raw. Munday pulled his waist and grabbed him, placing one hand under his ass and the other pinning him closer by touching his lower back. Charles's legs are spread apart and he reflexively hugs his waist in fright with them, hands clawing at Hector’s strong shoulder only to be pushed onto the mattress.

The bed creaked as Munday climbed to it, reaching Charlie’s neck and kissing the throbbing jugular, savoring the taste of the vulnerability that made the young man beneath him quiver.

“Hector, please… I want you.” Charlie begged as he threw his head back, exposing his neck even more. Yes, this was exactly what Hector wanted. Charlie desired him both in a drunken and sober state or every state he was in. Perfect.

“Say it again,”

“I want you, I want you, please, Hector… I need you.” The pleading soon turned to cries as Hector’s tongue traveled down to his chest, licking and sucking on Charlie's nipple. It was a symphony to Hector's ears. He pulled the clothes to show his pale skin, chuckled a little bit as he found Charlie was wearing too many layers to fight the December cold. His hands mercilessly slid over the young man’s body, touching him everywhere, erasing the trace of anyone who had touched him.

Hector pulled back to see how beautiful Charlie was. His hair was disheveled, his bangs partly covered his teary eyes, lips plumped from the kisses and bites and there was red flushed on his face down to his chest. He is not particularly muscular but the FBI training toned his body, muscle taut as he shifted on the bed, suddenly feeling embarrassed under Hector’s watchful gaze. His length, now free, sprang up with pre-cum glistening on its tip. He is beautiful, vulnerable and so ready to be consumed. The beast inside Hector roared, to claim what was rightfully his, to mark him, to possess him. Hector really wanted to give in to his prey drive, to let it win and let his primal desire to dictate his action.

But his desire was not just sex, there was something even more despicable. He wanted to hurt him, the way Charlie pleaded and his body quivered beneath him, acting just like a prey hanging to its dear life. Hector, as if in trance, climbed back to Charlie in all four, touching his neck and feeling the jugular is throbbing. Would it satisfy his monster if he squeezed it a little bit? Charlie brought up his hands and buried them to Hector’s thick mane, massaging his head lightly which made Hector purr. Just for Charlie, he couldn't let his inner beast win, not now, not ever. There must be another way to pleasure his partner and not hurt him. Another method to make him beg.

Charlie being held up for so long starting to whimper, he wasn’t the most patient person and it showed. “Hector, please…”

And Munday didn’t need to be told twice, he pulled Charlie up until he was in a sitting position, his back leaning on the headboard, legs automatically spread and his cock bobbing as he moved. After kissing Charlie again in his mouth, Hector leaned down to his chest again, his teeth grazing on the pale skin but he held himself, he kissed and sucked on the skin until red blotches appeared. It was enough. It should be enough.

He went down again until he reached the patches of coarse hair on Charlie’s lower stomach. His breath scorched the young man’s crotch before he licked the pre-cum and circled the head slowly, feeling Charlie shuddered by the touch, his cries got even louder, begging him to touch him there again.. Even at the back of his mind, Hector cataloged this as one of Charlie’s favorite erogenous zones. Then, Hector moved to the base and up again, making sure it was all wet, only to take him into his mouth in one swift motion as he looked up to his partner. Noting Charlie's reaction would be.

And Charlie didn't disappoint, he threw his head back as he jerked, couldn't finish saying Hector's name, feeling overwhelmed by the warmth engulfing his length. The sight sent incredible pleasure to Munday, making his own even harder in his pants. He experimented to find another best spot or treatment that Charlie liked. A gentle flicks on the frenulum with the tip of his tongue as his hand stroking the rest of the shaft, making sure Charlie went crazy.

Hector diligently licked his frenulum until he heard Charlie’s voice had been muffled. He looked up and found the young man was biting his hand, trying to muffle his voice out of fear he was being too loud. It irked him, he wanted Charlie to express his emotion and be vocal about it, to show how good Hector made him feel, how much he wanted and needed him, nobody else. Especially not some random men in the bar.

The thought of it made his blood boil again. Munday let go of his length with a loud pop and pulled himself up until he was eye to eye with Charlie, taking his hand from his mouth, “Never hide yourself from me, Lonnit. Show it.”

“God, I’m sorry, touch me again, please!” Charlie whimpered as he jerked up his hips, his length touching the fully clothed Hector's. “Let me touch you, I want you to feel good too,”

Hector, not trusting himself to speak as a wave of desire rushed into him, nodded and took a slightly more comfortable position for Charlie to open his pants. He sighed in relief as his cock now free from his pants, only to be touched by Charlie’s hand. The grip was light, as if the handler wasn’t sure of himself, which in this case was good news for Hector. Charlie was inexperienced, there might be other factors but he let this notion entertain him.

Hector built Charlie’s confidence up by praising him when he did the right thing, whispering them in his ear and the young man shivering from his words. Hector’s breath went heavy and he could feel he was close and so was Charlie, who was jerking his hips again. He moved closer to him until their length met and stroked them together with Charlie’s hand underneath his palm.

The sudden touch elicited a loud moan from Charlie, his other hand gripping Hector’s shoulder tightly and he threw back his head in pleasure as he cummed. While the rest of him trembled and jerked, Hector noted how beautiful it was to see him so much in pleasure, how he closed his eyes tightly and his mouth agape, as if he was in pain. How his body twitched and jerked from the pleasure it experienced.

Hector’s eyes fluttered shut and his harsh breaths turned to sharp grunts as he ejaculated heavily on Charlie’s stomach, mixing his own and Lonnit’s on his pale skin. The young man could not help but let out a final soft mewl as his cock gave a little twitch and one last flow of fluid seeped out. His body went limp, his bones turned to jelly, and he let himself be lulled by Hector’s deep, satisfied exhalation on top of him.

As Hector got his own senses back, he took tissue papers to clean up the mess they made, before allowing himself to check up on Charlie. The young man was still dazed and looking at the ceiling. Hickies were blooming on his neck and chest, even on his stomach. Hector looked for bite marks but he found none. He sighed in relief, he had control himself once again. It wasn’t just a bite, but if he allowed himself one action to hurt Lonnit, he didn’t know if he could stop himself from something even worse. The risk wasn’t worth it.

Zipping his pants up, Hector shifted closer to Charlie, covered him with a blanket and touched his chin to guide him from the ceiling to his eyes. “You okay?”

The usually talkative boy only nodded, surprisingly still in shock that his mentor also saw him in that way.

“Good,” Hector tried to smile but he knew it was awkward so he nodded as well, “I’ll see you on Monday.” he said as he took his coat on the floor. Now one of his desires has been fulfilled, to have sex and claiming Charlie as his but he desired something else. Something close to protecting his territory and possession.He needed to hunt the man who talked to them.

“Can you just stay?”

God, Charlie sounded so raw it made Hector want to melt on the floor. He couldn’t bring himself to turn back and see his puppy eyes.or he would change his mind. He only sighed and wore his hat. “I got something to do, Charlie. I’ll see you.”

As Hector drove back to the bar, he carried a sense of urgency and anger. There was a pressing need to understand more about the man who had approached Charlie along with the mystery of how the stranger knew Hector's name added another layer of concern.

Someone was keeping a tab on him. But why?

Chapter Text

“To burn with desire and keep quiet about it is the greatest punishment we can bring on ourselves.” 

— Federico García Lorca

Hector had left, and Charlie felt a sudden chill in the warmth that was there just a little while ago. As he stared at the crumpled sheets, lots of feelings ran through Charlie's mind. Charlie couldn't ignore the mix of feeling satisfied and a bit sad of sadness as he traced where Hector was, like he wanted more. Hector leaving so suddenly left Charlie feeling kind of empty, like he was only used for Hector's desires and then left alone. 

The next day, Charlie found it difficult to shake off the thoughts of the intense night with Hector. It had been so long for him to have sex with anyone, he had always been awkward and tended to freeze when other people got close to him. Unable to focus on anything else, he decided to work on the case from the comfort of his apartment. It wasn’t his first time doing work outside the office anyway. The familiar surroundings offered some solace, but his mind kept drifting back to the shared moments with Hector, making it hard to concentrate.

Why did you kiss him like that? You weren’t even drunk! And why would Hector kiss you back? Could it be…? No way, they were just tired and frustrated, letting off some steam. It was nothing serious. Just.. just stop reading between the lines except for work, Charlie. Come on, champ. You came to America to solve the greatest case of history, not getting tangled in office romance!  

He couldn’t answer why and how to catch the criminal and now this…. whatever it was. Things happened, right? Charlie sighed heavily and looked at the telephone. He could just call Munday, but what would he say? Hey, we kinda fuck yesterday which violated our policies, especially when I’m your subordinate, wanna do something about it?

Charlie never felt so stuck in his life, he, just like a normal person, hated monday but he never felt so dreaded in his life as his weekends were over and meet his mentor.

On Monday, Charlie looked at Hector awkwardly, rushing to his desk but his jacket got stuck with the door handle. Embarrassed, he sheepishly sat on his desk and stole a glance at Hector, unsure of how things would be after the intense night they shared. But Hector only called him, looking perfectly normal, and showed him the report of the beast’s last victim. This time, the victim was a man in his 30’s, his body was stabbed several times but as they could see from the wounds, the criminal used several tools. A knife, an ice pick, scissors, as if trying to see how different they would be. Hector explained about the state of the victim but his hand wandered to Charlie's back, rubbing it softly with his coarse hand. Which made Charlie wandered to the night they had spent together. Looked like it left more of an impression on Munday than Charlie thought. Charlie shifted a little bit to have a look at the photos, getting closer to Hector as he did so. 

“What do you think about the wounds, Charlie?” The older man asked, his hand still rubbing on his back.

“It reminds me of the Wound Man from Johannes de Ketham's Fasciculus Medicinae,” As Charlie spoke, the hand on his back moved to his nape, stroking the soft hair. “B-But instead of demonstrating the possible wounds because of war or accidents, to me they look like they are exploring, like a child figuring things by stabbing stationery on a play-doh.” 

“As if the killer was testing boundaries or seeking some kind of personal satisfaction from the act itself.” Hector removed his hand and Charlie let out a sigh he didn’t realize he held. He took another document and read it intently. There were no bruises from fighting, but they found traces of chloroform on his respiratory system  “Unlike their previous victims, where the sole intent was murder, now they have the confidence to explore their curiosity.” 

“The next killing will be more gruesome,” 

“Exactly,” Hector nodded and gave the documents to Charlie. “They also killed the victims more frequently in empty houses again, you might check up on that and narrow down the pattern. ” 

“On it.” With that Charlie got back to his desk and worked on the document of the victims, listed all the places and the interval of the killings and scheduled interviews with their informant. He could hear Hector making phone calls to other teams but even then he could feel his gaze on him, it was heavy.

They worked for a really long time, and Charlie didn't notice the time passing. Suddenly, he realized he had missed the last train. Calling a taxi seemed too expensive, so he thought maybe he could catch a bus if he was lucky. Tired and a bit stressed, Charlie stood in front of the office, trying to figure out what to do next.  Hector, as if he could read Charlie’s mind, offered him for a ride.

As they got in the car, Charlie talked about their investigation, as if it wasn’t enough in their office. “It’s still bugging me, the fact that-” Suddenly, Hector’s hand came up to his leg, stroking it softly. The junior’s whole body froze, suddenly stopping.

“Well, yes Charlie, you can continue.” 

“The suspect wants to make something grand. Be it the most gruesome they could think of or some sick art.” The hand on his legs moved higher and higher, Hector’s fingers stroking his inside thigh. Charlie could move and say no but he just kept talking, eyes glued to the road. “Like they want to make history, a legacy where people think about a psychopath, they think about this killer’s name. Just like Hannibal to a cannibal.”

“And why do you think they want to make a legacy?” The car stopped into the halt as the traffic light turned red, this time Hector cupped Charlie’s face and turned his head to him. The blushed on his face made his inside stirred as he moved his hand to Charlie’s neck, feeling his jugular vein throbbing. “What if they just want to satisfy their killing urge? Like hunger? There’s no satisfaction in humans, especially psychopaths. ” 

Lonnit gulps, the hand on his neck is big enough to engulf his nape, of course Hector won’t strangle him if he gave the wrong answer, right? “There’s a cook and a chef, a cook can satisfy your hunger but when we are satiated all along we want something more, better, something even more alluring. Maybe all he wants is to be a chef so he can enjoy his killing.” 

The light turned green and Hector shifted his attention to the road again after he squeezed his junior’s neck gently. “The victim won’t just satisfy his hunger, but also his aesthetic needs. Just like a chef, where you eat not only your mouth but also your eyes.” The older man sighed, “His legacy, it will be a testament for him to be acknowledged by other people. Lots of psychopaths have been misunderstood ever since they were a child. By making his own grandeur killing he wants to prove that he has always been a genius. ”

Charlie took a deep breath, his blood taking a U turn from the south to his brain. “Looks like someone is fishing for validation, ain’t they?”

“We’ll see about that, Charlie.” The senior agent gave him a small smile. The rest of the car drive was filled with silence, sometimes Hector stroked his knee softly but not as high as before, almost like he was not aware of doing it, as if he was stroking a cat. 

Is this a foreplay? Is he gonna do it again with me tonight, like two days in a row? With those assumptions, Charlie remained on his seat once they arrived then looked at Hector.

“Anything else?” The senior agent raised his eyebrow.

Yeah, you. “ Umm… You… You are not coming?” 

He actually looked surprised and Charlie mentally kicked himself, and he thought he was the best in psychological observation. How could he be wrong interpreting the intention?! 

“No, Charlie, I got things to do.” His gaze shifted to the bulge on Charlie’s pants, that boy was so easily provoked. “And maybe you too.”

Blushed creeping on his cheek, he hurriedly covered the front of his pants with his bag then bolted out from the car almost sprinting to his apartment door. Hector chuckled as he closed the car door, even the seat was still warm from Charlie’s body heat. 

His cute little boy, scampering like a white rabbit to its burrow. 

Hector returned to the bar where they had spent the previous night. He had already arranged a meeting with security and secured access to the CCTV footage. As the recording played, he watched the moment the stranger made a direct approach toward Charlie, running his hand over Charlie’s slender frame. Munday clenched his jaw but forced himself to focus on the man’s behavior instead. Even as Hector led Charlie away, the man kept watching them, then casually took a drink and scanned the room, clearly searching for another target.

Half an hour later in the footage, Hector saw him dancing with a woman, his hands roaming over her body as he whispered into her ear. The woman nodded, allowing him to lead her out of the bar. Just outside, the man glanced at the furthest security camera and winked. That bastard was taunting him. The game was on, and he was ready to play.

~ * ~

Weeks later, they found the dead body of a woman in an empty lodge. Brown hair, 5’7” and tied in shibari with her chest cut open. The news had already put the name of the killer as the “Beast of Arkansas”. Even Charlie thought the epithet would only stroke the killer’s ego. The autopsy declared that she was dozed with alcohol and drugs before she was killed. A brief look on her face and Hector knew who did it, the same guy who approached them in a bar. But how could he tell Charlie? That he stalked that man who flirted with his junior, even though they didn’t have any relationship yet? Sure, they had been closer ever since that day. From a quick breakfast in a diner to a proper restaurant for dinner. 

How he found that Charlie had so much potential, just needing the right mentor to teach him. Even Hector started praising him, both on and off the bed, loving to see his blue eyes glimmer. It was fortunate that they had worked together, spending so much time with his partner and Hector could touch him when they were alone. His skin, his laugh, his words, even when Charlie got frustrated because of the investigation and started swearing like a pirate, Munday felt like he couldn’t get enough of his presence. 

For Charlie he caged the devil inside his mind and denied the illicit desire that might slip to his behavior. Instead, he put his effort into being the best gentleman: soft touch and gentle kiss, opening the door for him, taking a day off to take care of him when he was sick, bringing him to the utter bliss of orgasmic experience…  Munday might not know what happiness is, but he would do anything to give him that, including killing all the people, hell, even he would kill himself if necessary. 

Munday instructed Charlie to compile all the documents of the recent findings, including the autopsy report. He knew Charlie could do much more than that, but for the meantime, he kept Charlie in the dark and had the rest of the big picture for himself. Charlie would be angry with him for keeping a secret, especially for their investigation but Hector couldn’t take the risk. Gradually he might drop hints bit by bit for his boy so Charlie wouldn’t get suspicious, besides his findings could help him with the proof that the man they encounter is truly the killer. 

Lonnit nudged him with his file, “Looks like someone thinks that tying up their victims with zip ties is too ordinary, isn’t it?”

“They start enjoying the pleasure around the killing, taking their time to do so. There's a probability the victim was kept for days before they killed her.” 

Charlie flipped through the autopsy report then looked at the knots, “They are still learning to master the knots, they are neat, I admit, but some rope lengths are not symmetrical. Even the rope itself is not for shibari. It’s more likely they learned when the victim was still alive.  ”

With a smirk, Hector moved closer to his partner’s ear and whispered so no other officer could hear them, “Never knew you are knowledgeable in this area, who taught you?”

“M-my friend, Jamie, she invited me to a shibari seminar when we were in college.” blushed creeps from his cheeks to his ears. “I just admired the art, I swear!” 

The stoic man laughed, cute, too cute. “Well, the killer might say the same.” He wanted to kiss him so much, they already had all the files they needed and it was already late anyway. Better to work on them in his apartment than go back to the office, in which Charlie agreed. 

They didn’t need to worry about clothes when Charlie slept over, he got his own shirts in Hector’s wardrobe. There were already two toothbrushes in the bathroom and despite him having his own pajamas, he still wore his boyfriend’s old T-shirt. In which it’s always gone and magically appeared in Charlie’s apartment, not like Hector minded, of course. He could wear them when he slept over anyway. Moreover, the fact that Charlie wore it to be engulfed with his scent when they were not sleeping together eased his mind.

Charles deliberately flopped onto his lap as they sat on the sofa, bringing the file with him so they could read it together. The shower had freshened them up, with Charlie smelled like Hector by using the same shampoo. He was wearing Munday’s old shirt again, the one he got from FBI training (Hector was going to make it as a rag but Charlie found it faster). It was so old, even the crew neck had started to loosen, exposing Charles’ freckled shoulder and the senior agent used it as a perch for his chin. They talked through the night, making notes and gaining insight for discussion. But Charlie couldn’t stay still, he shifted a lot, making a friction between his bottom and Munday’s groin. He didn’t even wear pants since his oversized shirt is long enough to cover half of his thigh. Hector was a focused man and a workaholic, but he was still a human with a functioning physiology. 

Moments later, Charlie could feel a firm bulge on his lower back, even Hector's breathing starts to fasten and scrotch his neck. The younger man put the papers on the coffee table and leaned back to Hector's chest, feeling his lover pull him closer with his strong arms. 

"Well, someone is excited tonight."

Hector nipped his earlobe, making his lover giggle. "Just randomly thinking about why you agreed to go to the Shibari seminar with your friend."

"I've told you, it's an art!" Charlie yanked his head backward gently to hit Hector’s nose, looking like he hadn't gotten the point, but... "I won't oppose the idea if it's with you, though."

Hector froze. Every inch of his body screaming to him to say yes, a prey was offering itself to be consumed on a silver platter. There would be not only bite marks and bruises, but also rope marks wrapping around his pale body like a snake. “Charles, I don’t want to hurt you.” He carefully stroked his lover’s stomach, way too gentle, contrasting his desire to take his handcuff and let Charlie wear it, making him under his mercy. 

Charlie clicked his tongue in annoyance and turned to face the senior agent, his blue eyes staring right to Hector’s brown ones. “I can handle it, trust me.”

“I don’t trust myself to control it when I do it with you.”

“Why?”

I want to rip your throat with my own teeth as I fuck deep inside you. “You are too cute, my dear. And cute aggression is still aggression,” It wasn't a 100 percent lie, Charlie was absolutely adorable, especially when he made choking sounds. Changing his strategy to distract the boy, he stole a kiss from the pouting mouth. Which slowly turned into a smile and Charlie pushed him against the back cushion, trapping Hector’s groin between his legs. 

“Eager, are we?”

“Can’t let the Beast of Arkansas be the only one who had a good time.” Charlie took off his shirt, revealing his lithe body and a bulge from his boxer. He rolled his hips on Hector’s lap as he dived in for another kiss, his tongue slipping past Munday’s parted lips. 

Hector held his waist as he let him explore his mouth. Only stopped for a while to see his lover : a little sweaty and the flushed cheeks along with the clouded look in his eyes, gave him something very, very lascivious. “Is that the only reason, Charlie?”

“We never have sex ‘sex’, Hector.” Charlie whined. “What we already had is amazing, really. But I want to explore more and I’m sure I can handle it. I’m stronger than I look.” 

“Charlie…” 

“Do you think I’m not attractive? Is it because you actually prefer it with vag-”

“Charlie, of course I am attracted to you! Why are you so stubborn?!” The older man cupped his cheeks. 

“I want you inside me, then. Be my first.” 

Hector let out a heavy sigh. He had always been good at controlling himself but it was getting harder and harder with Charlie. He realized his grips on Charlie’s waist started to tighten so he removed them and placed them on Charlie’s upper thighs, caressing them firmly. Not teasing, but more comforting. “You need someone better to do it with you, Charlie. Someone who could understand you and take account of how you feel. Your first should control themselves better. Or maybe you should keep it until your marriage, like a good catholic you are.”

“Ugh,” Charlie grunted. “Can’t think of anyone else other than you.”

“That’s pleasing to hear, dear, “ His gentle caress turned into a grip. Of course he wouldn’t let anyone touch his Charlie. “It doesn’t mean we can’t have a good time, right?” Hector leant to kiss him but to his surprise, Charlie had dropped to his knees, fumbling with his belt buckle, like a child tearing a present wrapper from Christmas day. 

“You’re the one who always makes sure I feel good and I want to return the favor, Hector.”

He should tell Charles to stop, that was the most logical thing to do, but to see him looking up to him, licking his plump lips, inches away from his throbbing cock. He hadn’t hurt Charlie in their previous sessions, not even a single hickey on his skin. He always prides himself for his control, the only thing that separates him between human and animal. He might try it tonight, but the moment he heard Charles choke, he’d pull out. 

“I won’t move an inch. You set the pace that is comfortable to you.” 

How he wanted to punch himself for promising that. Charlie was truly inexperienced, there were tentative licks on his shaft, an attempt to suck the head of his manhood, as if teasing him. Trying deeper and deeper, making himself choke. In which Hector tried to pull back but Charlie was keeping a tight grip on Hector, ever the most determined person Hector ever met, striving to do his best. 

“Charlie, you’re hurting.” 

His reply was muffled, making his throat vibrate around Hector’s cock. But his brows were frowned, he batted his lover’s hand and sucked even harder. Munday’s body jolted, Charlie was looking up to him, teary eyed and reddened face. His plump, wet lips circled his shaft, engulfing it once again. Hector could see that his lover’s hand snaked between his thighs and with how he moved up and down, he was stroking himself as well. Wet sounds filled the room, along with Hector’s rugged breath. Charlie’s choking sounds as he was fighting for oxygen, gurgling, as if he was dying… 

Hector harshly pushed Lonnit’s away, once again stopping himself. He sighed and instructed Charlie to lie on the bed, in which Charlie happily complied. 

“Hector, please.. Fuck me tonight, I want to feel you inside me.” He said as he opened his legs wide. 

Hector sighed as he took the lube and warmed it on his hands before he inserted his fingers into the British man, stroking deep inside, stimulating his prostate with the tip of his fingers. With the other hand he pushed the boy's lower abdomen, putting pressure on the both sides of his glands. He usually brought Charlie to his orgasm this way to prevent his more demanding request, but Charles suddenly took a hold of his hand, pushing it away from his body. 

“Don’t rush me, H-Hector… I want you to feel good too…”

Hector’s face was unreadable, but underneath his dead eye, there was something primal and lustful mixed in. He took another dollops of lube and spread it on Charlie’s inner thighs and legs, massaging them lightly, including stroking his balls and shaft. Charlie started to whine again in frustration, but Hector still kept his silence. Charlie stopped begging when Hector hugged both of his legs and perched them on his left shoulder, his second arm gliding around Charles’ hips to guide them upwards.

Munday lined himself up with Charlie’s inner thighs, sliding between them right under his balls. A low, muffled whine greeted his first shallow thrust, getting more and more wanton with every other one. Hector closed his eyes, letting pleasure take him over, his lover’s warm body with his lustful moans encouraged him to set a faster pace. 

“Hector, inside me. Please, fill me up.” He continued to beg but Hector shutted him up by kissing and biting his lips. As he pulled away, Charlie’s face was flushed, there were tears on his cheeks and his lips were bleeding. He was beautiful, and by looking at his face, he could feel his excitement heightened. He was close, but he wanted to give him more. 

He took a step back and flipped his lover, making him all four and once again slipped his manhood between Charlie’s pale thighs. In this position he hugged Lonnit’s chest from behind and lined their bodies together. He couldn’t see his lover’s face but the skin contact was overwhelming, even he could feel Charlie’s heart beating hard underneath his palm. His other hand moved to his neck, feeling the artery pumping his blood in sync with the heart. All the bodily functions affected by Munday’s touch. But Hector wanted to feel more of it, he gripped his neck tighter, feeling Charlie's whole body jerk, his back arching. Hector snapped his hips even harder, along with Charlie’s choked moans filling the room. 

He kissed his nape, trailed the curve of his neck then he bit it as he came. Hector dropped his body on top of his lover, it was, Hector should admit, the best orgasm he ever heard. It took several moments when he realised Charlie’s nape felt sticky, not from sweat but something thicker, along with a familiar metallic scent. 

Blood flowed from his trapezoid, splashing his shoulder and back. Red blotches appeared on their bedsheet and duvet. Charlie pressed his face on the bed, his cries muffled by the pillow. There were also love bites on his back and thighs. But what struck him the most was the bruises on Charlie’s neck. Circling like a red necklace. 

He hurt him.

All the high he got crashed low, staggering from the bed, he wore his bathrobe and took the med supply from the closet. He slowly reached out to touch Charlie, stroking his back softly. Half expecting Charlie would shy away from him but the younger man only took a long exhale and scooted closer.

“Charlie, I’m sorry…” Munday apologized as he cleaned the bite on his neck. There was a whisper on the back of his mind to just lick it off with his tongue but he hushed the suggestion out. 

“W-we should be more careful next time,” Charlie croaked. 

Munday pressed his lips. There will be no next time. But he didn’t let those words out, only taking care of his lover and tucked him to sleep with a new bedsheet and blanket.  When he was about to leave to sleep on the couch, Charlie held his hand, urging him to stay. 

For the next few days, Hector redressed the wound on Charlie’s shoulder, making sure there was no infection from his bite. Charlie had tried to cheer him up, even asking for another special night but Hector only swatted his hand away. He couldn’t risk it. He also couldn't understand why Charlie wasn’t afraid of him nor avoiding him like any sane man would. Instead Charlie clung to him, refusing to wear his shirt after Hector exchanged his bandage. 

But Hector just left. Took his car keys and sped into the night. 

Charlie halfheartedly picked his T-shirt and wore it again, feeling rejected. He tried to call Hector but it just went straight to the voice mail. He curled on the bed, snuggling with the thick blanket for warmth. He couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps he wasn't desirable enough for Hector. The way Hector pushed him away, not even looking back before he went, as if he was disgusted. Sure, Hector was rough and it made him scared, but he could see that Hector didn’t want to hurt. He just needed to learn some control, right? 

In the morning, Charlie reached out to his side, only to find it empty. He only shifted his body and stared at the ceiling. The heaviness in his chest didn’t go away and eventually, guilt creeped on him. Did he just force himself to Hector? A no is still a no, isn't it? Hector didn’t want him and who was he to change his mind? 

At work they still acted professionally, even though Hector didn’t touch him as much as he used to, he still bought him his favorite tea and opened his car door before Hector drove him to the new crime scene. They found another body, a male with blond hair, eyes were gauged from their sockets. and from the information they gathered, working as a male prostitute, drowned in the river for three days. From the autopsy there were bites and bruises, along with the proof of sexual intercourse.

The forensic team tried to check the dental records but the bite scars were ruined because of the swelling from submerging in the water. 

“What do you think about this case, boy?” 

Hector’s question pierce through Charlie’s focus. He looked back at Hector, only to find that he wasn’t looking at him, but the space 2 inches from his face. 

“I don’t think it’s our beast. It was… raw. Like an animal mauling the victim purely on its instinct whereas the beast -now- focuses on making art.” 

“And?”

“But it's still cautious, I don’t think it's a coincidence that we can’t find any DNA and the dental scars were disfigured. They know how to cover their print.” 

“So is the beast, Lonnit. Remember artists have been inspired by nature for thousands of years. And just like birth, predation is the first thing that comes up to survive.” 

“But why a male prostitute?” Charlie murmured. "The Beast has never targeted men before."

"They are expanding their tastes," Hector said, observing Charlie’s apprehensiveness. “If it is someone other than the beast, he might get inspired by them. The news has been everywhere.”

Charlie looked at the bite mark on the dead body and touched his own, as if it was burning. The small gesture didn’t escape Hector’s attention, making his jaw tightened. “If the beast can do it, why couldn’t they?”

“Let’s just hope they never meet each other.” Hector grumbled as they walked back to his car. They have gathered more information from the club the victim worked at, apparently the victim had provided his service to a group of mafia. Being in huge debt and trying to make a living, it’d be a long list for them. Surprisingly, Charlie was optimistic it wasn’t the criminal. 

“I just think it’s more about displacement instead of punishment. If the suspect were the loan shark, they would rather sell his organs instead of dump him to the river.” Lonnit said as they drove back to his apartment. “It might be more… personal issue.”

“Why so, Charlie?” This time, Hector looked him in the eye as they stopped at the traffic light. 

“The suspect wanted him so much it was no longer a yearning, but hunger instead. A starvation.” He gulped. “They need to be under his skin.”

“Hmm, do you see something I don’t?” 

“It’s just… the way he was bitten. The bruising, the placement—” He exhaled, looking back at the crime scene photos.“It’s not just about hurting him. It’s about leaving something behind, marking him.” He let out a shaky breath. “Like they needed proof he was theirs—at least for a moment.”

“It doesn’t explain why the victim’s eyes were gouged when he was still alive.”

“Yeah,” Lonnit admitted, “Or maybe the suspect kept them, preserving the eyes because they loved how they looked.” He stole a glance at his partner. Hector’s face was unreadable, but there was something in his posture, the way his hands curled tightly on the steering wheel and his shoulders squared up.

“Do you think the beast is incapable of feeling those things? Or are you projecting, Charlie?” 

“I’m not!” Charlie squeaked, “It’s just-”

“What? Just because I also bit you the other night?” Hector clicked his tongue then sighed. "You’re fixated on your own theory. You dismiss my reasoning without considering the possibility that your emotions and personal experiences are shaping your conclusions."

“No! I know what I saw, that’s not the beast’ style.” Charlie gripped the seat belt on his chest. 

"Are you sure?" This time Hector gripped the spot between Charlie’s neck and his shoulder, the place where Hector bit him. "Because if you’re letting your emotions affect your deductions, then I have to question if you’re even being objective. And if you’re not being professional, then perhaps you shouldn’t be working this case at all."

Charlie’s stomach twisted. He wanted to argue, to insist he wasn’t imagining things, that this case was different. But Hector was so calm, so certain, his words wrapping around Charlie’s doubts like vines. Was he really seeing something that wasn’t there? Was he letting his own experiences warp his judgment? They hadn’t talked anymore since the other night and it was always on the back of his mind lately. Maybe his subconscious finally breaks free from its barrier, altering his reality...  

“Listen--Hector- about the other night, I’m sorry I forced myself on you. It’s- .. I should’ve been more considerate when you told me no.” 

Hector almost rammed the brake as he heard those words, making their bodies jerk against the seat belts. The car behind them horning by the sudden movement. Hector’s frown deepened as he looked at Charlie's face. 

“This is why I shouldn’t fuck around with rookies, they are to naive.”  Hector muttered to himself as he sped up to Charlie’s apartment. He scrunched his nose as if he was disgusted. "Look at the case as an agent and forget what we did outside of work, Agent Lonnit ."

“Yes, sir .” Charlie choked as tears welled up on the edge of his eyes. He didn’t even dare to look at Hector as he got out of the car. 

After he got into his apartment and changed his clothes, the young agent plopped down onto the bed and curled. His tears finally broke free. The case, the victim, the bite marks—he thought he’d seen something else , something separate from the Beast of Arkansas. But Hector was calm, rational, certain. And Charlie? He was spiraling, letting his personal feelings bleed into his work.

The beast is his first big case and he felt like he was ruining it. What about his mother? God, he was born in the US and chose American citizenship to become an FBI, leaving his mother in Cornwall alone with her sister only to be emotionally wrecked. He was at the top of the class for the forensic analysis course, for God’s sake! Now he just lets his heart win over his head. Another wave of shame hit him, and he curled in tighter, arms wrapped around himself with deep pressure. I let him down. I let myself down. What if I really am just imagining things? Could it be that the Beast is just living up to his name?  

In the office, Hector didn’t look at him when he handed Charlie a pile of documents about the beast, list of potential witnesses and other administrative tasks that he should do. In which he was grateful because he thought Hector would just transfer him to the other team or department. They didn’t spend much time together either as Hector tended to conduct surveillance and coordinate with other departments.They only talked about the case and work, no touching nor drinking coffee together. Even when they were together in the car, it’s the radio that filled the silence instead of their usual chattering. This was getting worse than before. 

Charlie tried his best not to disappoint Hector again, he did the paperwork diligently, even doing more than what Hector asked by making verbatim from their interview with witnesses. From the report they got, there was a property agency that held the house where the first victim and they might have wanted to check on it until suddenly Hector got a call. Charlie couldn’t hear what the caller said (not that he wanted to eavesdrop), but he noticed how Hector got even more tense than he usually is. 

The moment Hector ended the call, his entire demeanor shifted. His shoulders were locked tight, his brows furrowed deeper than usual, and the usual cold calculation in his eyes was overshadowed by something else. Frustration? No, it felt too volatile for that. Panic? No, Hector didn’t panic. Not like this.

Charlie wanted to ask. He almost did, but the way Hector carried himself, he made it clear that this wasn’t the time. So Charlie swallowed his concern and focused on his work, burying himself in paperwork, hoping if he just did everything right.

But then came the ambush.

It was Charlie’s first time being part of a full tactical takedown, and adrenaline thrummed in his veins as they moved in. He spotted the suspect first—a man with ginger hair darting towards the basement. Without thinking, Charlie shouted the direction and joined the chase but Hector was faster. Lonnit watched as his partner tackled the man, the force of impact sending them both crashing to the concrete floor. The fight was brutal but Hector managed to land some punches and subdued the serial killer. Contrasting with how serious Agent Munday was, the man just laughed maniacally, as if he was enjoying it as the FBI agent pinned Sherman's back with his knees. 

Hector’s usual slick-backed hair now got tousled by the fight, his bangs sticking to his forehead. There was blood from their fight staining on his cheek. For a split second, Charlie saw the shadow of something he couldn’t quite name on Hector’s face.

And then Hector looked at him.

It was brief, but the intensity in Munday’s gaze sent a shiver down his spine. Charlie's fingers twitched at his side. He should say something but his throat felt tight, his body frozen between fear and something else—something unfamiliar and deeply unsettling.

Something was wrong with Hector. And Charlie didn’t know if he was ready to find out what.