Chapter Text
Jaebeom threw twenty-five thousand won onto the table and sighed as the chips were handed too him. He didn’t often come to the casino, he felt it a waste of money but his best friend Mark had brought him along and here they were, betting on one damn number in the hope to at least double their money.
Mark picked a number and turning to Jaebeom watched as Jaebeom faffed about trying to choose another number. It was obvious the last one wasn’t working for him. Mark had already tripled his money and had every reason to be smiling away like he was
“Try number six a voice said from behind him, but when he turned around, whoever it was had gone.
Throwing caution to the wind Jaebeom chose the number six and then pushed his chips forward.
“No more bets,” the croupier said firmly as they spun the wheel.
Jaebeom waited with baited breath as the wheel spun around. He couldn't bear to look as the ball began to settle. It wasn’t until Mark nudged his arm that he looked.
“Number six is the winning number, congratulations sir.”
Jaebeom couldn’t believe his luck as the croupier pushed his winnings towards him. He quickly glanced around the room looking for whoever it was that gave him the number, he could at least offer the person a drink, or a meal in thanks.
“What's wrong? Mark asked him curiously watching Jaebeom scanning the crowds.
“It's nothing,” Jaebeom replied, shaking his head as he turned his attention back to Mark
“We should probably head off and cash this lot in while your ahead,” Mark said patting him heartily on the back.
“Yeah,” Jaebeom said doing another quick look around before grabbing his chips and standing. “With my luck, we probably should.”
As they headed to the cash in station Jaebeom looked around again still wondering who it was that gave him the winning number, amongst the sea of heads in the casino.
“Seriously, Jaebeom. Pay attention,” Mark said tapping him on the shoulder as it got to Jaebeom's turn to cash in his chips.
Jaebeom pushed them into the small indent under the window and sighed grabbing his wallet out of his pocket with his free hand as he did so.
“Look up”.
Jaebeom swung around, whoever it was was gone again and shaking his head he looked back down at the chips being taken by the cashier in the window and his winnings being handed back and he shoved them into his wallet and put it away.”
“Seriously, you might want to look up, like, now!”
Jaebeom quickly looked up “Everybody move now,” he yelled pointing upwards, then began pushing away those who didn't take notice, before grabbing Mark and shoving him away too, just as the light fitting above them smashed onto the ground below. A small piece of glass caught his arm as it fell, but other than that, everyone else was safe thanks to whoever had warned him.
Suddenly there was a commotion and security came running over to the crowd and started asking questions.
“Shit, your arm Jaeboem, it's bleeding,” Mark pointed out.
Jaebeom shrugged, “I'm fine, it's only a flesh wound, It would have been much worse for everyone in the immediate vicinity if whoever it was hadn't of warned me.”
“Who warned you?” Mark asked puzzled.
“I don't know, you would have seen them, they came up beside me and told me to look up,” Jaebeom told him.
“Jaebeom, I was right behind you buddy, but no one came anywhere near us,” Mark replied giving his friend an odd stare.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah positive, I was looking at you the whole time, no one came up to you at all” Mark reiterated.
“What about back at the table, when I put the bet on number six, did you hear anyone then?” Jaebeom asked him.
“No, why?” Mark replied, puzzled.
“You didn't hear anyone tell me to try number six?”
“Not that I can recall,” Mark replied thinking back.
Jaebeom scrunched up his face wondering if maybe he'd had one too many shots of soju, even though he'd only had two and four was his limit. He shook his head and sighed looking around some more.
“Jaebeom, I swear, I’m not pranking you, there honestly wasn’t anyone there.”
“I only had two shots of soju tonight right?” He asked Mark, just in case he’d been off with his count.
“Yeah, you stopped right after the second shot,“ Mark confirmed
“Excuse me sir are you the gentleman we need to thank for keeping our patrons safe?” A tall thin man asked as he walked up to Jaebeom followed by security.
“I guess,” Jaebeom responded.
I'm the Casino Manager, we just got notified of the commotion
“Any idea what happened?” The security guy asked.
“Not sure to be honest, someo... I mean, something prompted me to look upwards and the next thing you know, that thing falls down. I just got the crowd out of the way that’s all,” Jaebeom humbly replied.
“You’re hurt,” the manager noted, “call for first aid,” he said tapping the security guy on the arm.
“Yes, sir,” the security guy replied as he swiftly did as instructed.
I’m fine, really,” Jaebeom began to protest.
“Please both of you, follow me into the office.” He gave the security guard another tap on the arm. “Change of plans. Get first aid to come to my office instead.”
“Yes, sir,” the guard replied, once again following the manager's instructions.
Jaebeom and Mark followed the Casino manager into his office, right as the first aid arrived.
“Please sit both of you,” he said addressing Mark and Jaebeom.
No sooner than Jaebeom's backside hit the seat, the first aid tended to him, and a few minutes later, with his wound cleaned and dressed, the first aid went on their way.
“I'm so sorry this happened to you,” the manager began apologetically, “we've just had the lighting upgraded, so I don't even know where to began to give you a reason as to why this should have happened.”
“No one got hurt, so it's fine. These things happen,” Jaebeom shrugged.
“You got hurt,” the manager said pointing to the dressing, “however, if it wasn't for you though, a lot more people might have gotten hurt, maybe even killed. I've got security onto it and I've already called the police to look into it. In the meantime, the least I can do is give you compensation for your arm. Please bring any other medical costs incurred for this to me and also,” the manager reached into his desk drawer, took out something and signed it. “Here you go, the two of you have a twelve month VIP membership each. It includes passes into the member's lounge, gym, VIP night club, free drinks, hotel stays, meals all included,” he said handing one each to Mark and Jaebeom.”
Mark and Jaebeom exchanged glances before Mark took the passes.
“That's very generous of you thank you,” Mark said first, not even giving Jaebeom a chance to pass up on the offer.”
“Yeah, thanks,” Jaebeom replied as Mark nudged him in the ribs, before handing him his pass.
If you need anything while your here, please let me know. Those passes start from today too.” The manager smiled.
“We will. Thank you, sir,” Mark said with a smile as they all got out of their chairs, the manager shaking their hands before they departed ways.
Mark gave Jaebeom a slap upside the head, “What is wrong with you? You could have been a little more excited about this, he just gave us VIP treatment.”
Jaebeom rubbed his head, continuously looking around. “I was a little preoccupied trying to get all this around my head.”
“What's there to get around? We have free passes and stuff lots of free use of stuff,” Mark said as they headed out of the Casino.
“Someone told me to place my bet on number six, Mark, and I'm sure the same person warned me about that light.”
“I already told you there was no one there. I was behind you the whole time,” Mark reminded him
“The footage,” Jaebeom said suddenly stopping in his tracks.
“What footage?” Mark asked almost walking into him. “Jaebeom what are you going on about?”
“The casino will have CCTV footage. I'm going to go back and ask the manager to get security to let us view it.”
Mark sighed heading after Jaebeom as he headed back into the casino.
~*~
In an office, somewhere between here and there, a young man holding a file, sat down in his chair smiling to himself, quite satisfied that his first week of work on his newest case, as bat shit boring as it was to him, was a complete success.
He tossed the file onto the desk, put his feet up, pulled his hat down over his eyes and decided to take a rest.
As quickly as he'd put his feet up, they were pushed down onto the floor and his hat was pulled off his head. “Youngjae what do you think you're doing?”
“Resting what does it look like
“Just because you've saved his ass, doesn't mean you get to slack off. You've been assigned to that section permanently.”
“Come on Bambam, gimme a break. This guy is so boring and stuffy. I hate having to follow him, can't you give him to Yugeom?”
“No. You were the one who said you wanted this job because it looked easier than the others.”
Youngjae screwed up his face disapprovingly.
“YOUNGAJEEE,” A voice yelled rather unimpressed as footsteps came thundering around the corner.
Youngjae jumped up and quickly hid under his desk.
“What did you do?” Bambam sighed as Jackson stormed up to him and looked around.
“Where the heck is he?” Jackson demanded.
Bambam simply pointed down.
Jackson sighed as he got on the ground and Joined Youngjae under his desk.“Please tell me you didn't do it?”
“I didn't stop the roulette wheel on six,” Youngjae said in reply a guilty look on his face
“You did, didn't you?” Jackson sighed
“You just asked me to tell you I didn't do it,” Youngjae responded.
“You are in so much trouble. What the hell were you thinking?” Jackson asked as he dragged Youngjae by the collar out from under his desk.
“I don't think he was, at least not in any sane manner,” Bambam added as he followed them around into a corridor.
“Come on, you guys, the poor the guy looked like he could use a break, can't blame me for trying to cheer him up,” Youngjae reasoned.
“Yes, we can!” Jackson countered. “You know the rules, Youngjae, no other physical interference except that of your Guardianship duties and absolutely no verbal interactions at all, ever, no, not done and you did. It's one of the top Guardian codes!”
“What harm can one nudge of a small ball do?” Youngjae sighed as they came up to a large door at the end of the corridor.
Jackson knocked on the door vigorously.
“It's not just that, Youngjae, you spoke to him twice. You're supposed to use non-verbal and non-physical methods to get his attention and you know that.”
“Yeah, yeah sorry.” Youngjae sighed the lack of remorse evident in his tone.
“You so sound it. Not,” Jackson sarcastically replied as he smacked Youngjae upside the head. “The boss is pretty mad, heck knows what he's gonna do to you.”
“I'll get slapped on the hand and told not to do it again. And anyway it's my first time. I've never broken any of the rules before.”
Bambam laughed, “Listen to him would you?” He said to Jackson as he shook his head.
“You've never broken a major rule before. However,” Jackson added, giving Youngjae an intense glare, “I've lost count of all the other times you've broken minor rules.”
Youngjae suddenly stiffened as the door opened, then tried to leave post haste but Jackson still had him firmly by the collar.
“Oh no you don't. You're facing up to this one buddy,” Jackson dragged him into the room, pulling him over to the large desk in front of them.
Once in the room, Youngjae fell completely silent as the boss turned around in his chair and sighed. “So, Choi Youngjae, what have you got to say for yourself?”
“Um, sorry?” Youngjae gave a cute smile and bat his eyelids.
“You do know you broke one of the biggest rules in the Guardian's code, don't you?” The boss said sighing out through his nose.
“Would you believe me if said no?” Youngjae said hopefully.
“I didn't believe you when you said sorry, so why would I believe you if you said no?” The boss replied raising an eyebrow.
“But the guy needed a break, he's not the lucky type. Can't you just overlook it this once? Pleeeasse?”
“You know what?” the boss began as he gave Youngjae the sweetest of smiles.
Youngjae looked certain he was about to be forgiven and he readied himself for the reprieve.
“Since you seem to like involving yourself in the physical world so much, patting puppies, talking to the people, eternally causing mischief, I have just the thing. Jackson?”
“Yes, sir?”
The boss handed him a newspaper and smiled. “Make the necessary preparations. It's time our Youngjae learnt a valuable lesson.”
“Wait, what kind of lesson?” Youngjae suddenly found his certainty, uncertain.
Both Jackson and Bambam exchanged glances.
“Sir you don't mean...?” They said in unison.
“Oh, I do,” the boss said with a grin, “I definitely do.”