A/N:

Also, I actually have to physically stop myself from posting the stocked chapters because this is only the second time I had stocked chapters to share. So if you're wondering why I update pretty quickly, it's probably because of that.

04: 'LOCKED IN A HOUSE FULL OF SWEATY MEN'

AKA THE TIME A PROSECUTOR CAME

"Thank you so much, I-I -" The wife's grip on Grayson's wrist was tighter than any other thug that has ever manhandled him. She sniffed heartily, her lipstick bright, her pearls big and flashy.

" - You call a divorce lawyer," Grayson reminded her gently with a charming smile.

As usual, the wife sighed in almost adoration.

"Say, Mr. Wang - "

"Sorry, Mrs. Kennedy, I have busy schedule, bye-bye now!"

Slamming the door behind the lady felt rude but nice either way.

"That was very impolite, Grayson ah," chided Mrs. Seo but she grinned either way. Though she knew this was usually common now in the 'detective for hire' work, she still found the housewives, when they were above the usual common woman, abhorrent.

It might also be the fact that 9 out of 10 of them usually try and flirt with Grayson, who she now considered a very good son that must be protected from all this world's evils, including hussies.

When Agent Kim said that they had to rent out the space above the landlady's office space for housing and present a very good cover themselves, Grayson and Minwoo agreed with the most simplistic one there is.

They were friends who wanted to be roommates; Minwoo would be the oddball the stays away from human contact, does weird experiments, and is generally unlikeable, while Grayson hides said experiments and makes up excuses for him as the Charming Everyone's Pants Off One.

And when they had gotten approve to take menial detective work and use that method for extra docking points - they had asked Mrs. Seo if they could take up half the office space on her apartment-renting business with a really good discount - it was settled.

And this way, they could hide all of their incriminating evidence above stairs and a very secured door. And with this separation, Mrs. Seo would never need to knock on their door and have to silence her for whatever her eyes could see, with Grayson acting as both a barrier and a more welcoming approach than the seedy, quiet Minwoo.

"Only way I know how to shake them off." Grayson smiled. Just as he was about to round up on their small space in the office - a desk, two chairs, and a cabinet full of menial cases - a boom echoed up top.

Grayson was used to this, but Mrs. Seo was still not. She startled and dropped half of her coffee. She shrieked at the heat, but after a quick survey that the carpet and half of her documents got the brute, Grayson smiled apologetically at her.

"I'll just... have to check on that."

"Grayson."

He paused. Turned.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Why didn't I hear any fire alarm?"

Shit. Minwoo had snatched it right off when he realized most of his experiments always came with the challenge of exploding at least the first three times. That sound was one thing - but combined with the fire alarm was downright terrible.

"It's probably... just... broken... I'll look into it!"

As he dashed upstairs, pressed the password on the door, he held on a laugh as ashes painted Minwoo's face with smoke curling above him. He closed the door quickly and opened the back windows, facing the alley because he really doesn't want to gather anymore attention to two adult males living together without having to come out.

To be honest, Grayson wouldn't mind, but Minwoo was very touchy on the subject of relationships. With men or otherwise.

Minwoo was touchy about everything.

But there were more pressing matters now. Like that smell.

"Aw, geez, what the fuck is that?" Grayson hauled an afghan over his mouth and nose. "Why does it smell like... eugh, like dirty ass socks locked in a house full of sweaty men for years and - eew like a hundred million year old egg?"

"Not even close but - " Minwoo coughed and shoved half of his lab coat over his own airways while fanning the room with the other end. "You know better than to ask. Just another experiment."

"Please tell me this isn't what you put in the food at the wedding last night? I think I drank some when I was pretending to get drunk by actually getting drunk."

Minwoo paused his fanning and turned to his partner like he was the most gigantic dumbass to have ever existed. "I thought you brought your own booze?"

"I did." Grayson shrugged. "Wasn't enough."

Minwoo growled and came towards him in angry strides. Grayson tried to block him, but Minwoo pulled the protective afghan off him and shoved his blue experiment gloves around and in his face, nose, eyes, ears and mouth. Even pulling a small flashlight and prodded to infinity and beyond.

"How many did you drink, dumbass?"

"Eu-Flutch-Eye-Ink?"

"What?"

Grayson held his hands away for a second. "Two flutes I think."

Minwoo checked his pulse and went back to prodding. "You don't seem to have any erratic vitals, which means my concoction only affects larger amounts... hmm, that's fascinating at least."

"Wee-I-Ngaa-Eyeee?"

Minwoo frowned. "What?"

Grayson slapped his hands away. "I said, 'Will I not die?'"

"I don't think so. But if you start feeling weird and your heart rate goes up and down - or you start seeing hallucinations and spots - tell me. So far, I don't think so because you haven't passed out or felt bizarre after waking up this morning."

"So I'm fine?"

"Yes, so far." Minwoo stepped back and went back to his experiment, fanning with the stolen afghan. "You'll die eventually."

Grayson threw some finger guns with a click of his tongue. "Well thanks, best friend."

"Not your friend. Not even a loose acquaintance."

"And I am not having this conversation with you again."

A buzz came from downstairs.

"Mr. Wang?" Mrs. Seo called. "You have a client."

Grayson turned to Minwoo. "Did we have anymore clients?"

"The next appointment isn't until three pm."

"Are we taking walk-ins now?"

Minwoo snorted. "And create more chaos into this unstable life? Am I suicidal?"

"We may never know." Grayson sighed. "I'll go check it out."

He walked up to the comm and pressed the button. "Mrs. Seo? I'll be coming -"

"Oh he's coming -" Several voracious knocks interrupted the room into a standstill. "- up, honey. He said it's very important that he spoke to you both."

"Both?" Grayson echoed, matching a careful look with Minwoo who reached for his cane while Grayson slowly pulled out his gun. In this small detective work, it was important that only Grayson be on the up front. No one knew about Minwoo's involvement since he didn't consider taking these cases and facing clients to be of importance. Especially with easier cases - lost cats, marital affairs - calling them menial and dumb, leaving all these 'incosential' stuff for Grayson to reap the meager points.

Though with slightly more interesting cases - missing children, suspicious serial killers - Minwoo joins in. But his involvement was never made public except for reaping those points.

"Yes, he said something about a prosecutor."

'Prosecutor?' Grayson mouthed.

Minwoo shook his head, face darkening.

Just as Grayson positioned himself in front of the door, gun at the ready, a voice from the opposite side called out.

"My name is Prosecutor Jang Yunho. Agent Kim Donggu referred me here. I need your help."

Minwoo gripped his cane tight, releasing an odd breath. Relief swept with anger. "Dumbass referred us?"

"Dumbass did apparently." Grayson tucked his gun back in, making sure he wasn't about to shoot a bullet between his butt cheeks. "Also Agent Kim's name is Donggu?"

"Piece of shit," Minwoo muttered. "Open the door. I'll throw all of this -" motioning to his floor to ceiling complex hitlist board; their latest case was sprawled on it, the most incriminating evidence at eye level. " - to your room. Just... distract him for a while."

"No problem. With my charm and the room's distinct smell, I'm sure we'll have a very great topic of conversation instead of the portraits of dead body you have. Though... throw those out first."

Minwoo nodded mechanically, while Grayson threw the door open without much ado, the smoke pouring out fast, smell coming out like a tide.

"Hello, yes, before you ask, no sir, my body did not expel that horrendous gas. But welcome! I'm one half of what Agent Kim might refer to as the Idiot Club."

"I am not an idiot!" Minwoo screamed from the room. When Grayson turned, he saw that Minwoo swept the entire board of dead bodies, and the crashing might be the reason for that.

Grayson turned back to the prosecutor - who looked shifty and slightly terrified, like he knocked on the wrong door to hell instead of heaven - with a gigantic grin. "Don't believe him, he's a mythomaniac by heart. Apart from being a psychopath. Come on in, I'm sure there's a very good reason why Agent Kim referred you to us."