"I know, shocking, isn't it?"
Detective Wang sighed in relief once his brother finally let go of him.
"And who's this hunk you're with? New boyfriend?"
Yong Soo raised an eyebrow, examining the Russian up and down. Strong physique with a pretty face, there was no denying that Yao had developed better taste after his high school sweetheart, the grumpy Brit with thick brows.
"How are you doing, man? I'm Yong Soo but you can just call me aniki-"
Yao did not have time for this nonsense. He should have known this was never going to work out! He didn't hesitate to slap away Yong Soo's hand when he reached out for a handshake with Ivan.
"I'm his partner, actually".
Detective Braginski mumbled. He hated awkward moments like these and it was happening yet again. It was not the first time they were referred to as a couple, and although it gave him an exhilarating feeling and made his heart pause for a quick second. It also sunk his hopes every time Yao denied it. Well, it wasn't like Yao was lying anyways, they weren't boyfriends, not even if they made out crazily like two days ago.
"Ouch! What? Partner? So like you two are living together or something? I didn't know you guys were so serious! Well, my congratulations!"
Another slap was needed to silence Yong Soo's loud mouth, and this time it was right on the back of his head. Yao's cheeks were getting redder by the second, not sure if it was because of anger or embarrassment, maybe even a mix of both. God, just when he was trying to do everything in his power to avoid awkwardness with Ivan after that drunken kiss, Yong Soo just had to show up and blow it all up.
"You stupid fuck, he meant work partners".
Yikes. Yong Soo was aware he messed up big time, and he had also forgotten his big brother's strength.
"We have some questions to ask, Yong Soo. Relating to a case we're working on, maybe you've seen it on the news".
Ivan decided to take control of the situation for now, otherwise, he would start to spiral in his head and start thinking about…feelings. Strong and passionate feelings about his partner.
"Nah, the news is always depressing. I usually just tune in for Alf, Little House on the Prairie, The Golden Girls…you know, light-hearted stuff".
The Chinese man rolled his eyes. It seemed like his brother hadn't changed at all! Besides his height and that extremely noticeable dragon face tattoo, he would scold Yong Soo about it later.
"But come in! I don't want anyone around here seeing you guys at my door. Imagine if they found out my brother was a cop. My business would be over!"
Yong Soo chuckled, opening up the door to let them in before shutting it and locking it up.
He pointed at the brown leather couch for his guests to sit and he sat on a little wooden stool right in front of an ash-covered beige coffee table.
"Jesus Yong Soo, you live like this?"
Yao mumbled to himself as he sat down. The place was trashed, filthy even. He wiped his finger across the coffee table, squinting at the accumulated ash from the cigarettes with disgust. The boy had little to no idea of how to keep a place clean. It was a small studio that was overcrowded by furniture, and it was making Yao feel sort of claustrophobic.
"Let's just get straight into it, we don't have time to waste. What do you know about Sadik?"
Ivan's eyes browsed through the room. It was hard to believe that Yao and Yong Soo had been raised the same. Yong Soo's little studio apartment was full of clutter while Yao spent at least 15 minutes every day just cleaning dust out of the car.
"Sadik? You mean the Turk, right? Wait, I thought you were here to reconcile! What about a heart-to-heart conversation between brothers instead? We can bond over our childhood trauma and share a joint-"
Yong Soo was quickly interrupted by Yao, shutting down the idea, as was expected, shushing Yong Soo while shaking his head.
"Listen, Yong Soo, don't even get started with your nonsense, okay? And how dare you offer me that!? Are you forgetting I'm a cop? I should have you arrested for being a dealer! And the only reason I haven't yet is because-"
This time it was Yong Soo the one interrupting before Yao could get any more heated.
"Because you love me, even if you never show it and haven't seen me, Mei or Leon for the last 2 years. If you wanted to arrest me you could have done it ages ago after mom and dad died. But you didn't, and we both know why".
Yao hated emotional talk and Yong Soo loved it. Yao hated the mess and Yong Soo embraced it. Yao fought for justice and Yong Soo escaped it. They were the most unlikely pair of brothers ever. But Yao really did love him, even if it was so hard for him to even say it, or do more to demonstrate it.
"Give me a break, will you?"
Ivan hadn't seen Yao in this light before. He wasn't angry or defensive, which Ivan originally thought he would be. Yao seemed to be defeated, and found himself at a loss for words, letting his little brother have the last word. Ivan could have never imagined it happening. His friend wasn't an emotional man, so to speak, but maybe that's why he was so good at his job. Well, he was emotional about certain things like justice and definitely knew how to show anger and frustration. But emotions such as love? He only felt it from Yao that night when they shared a kiss. Ivan didn't even know anymore how quiet Yao has been since it happened, not even a peep about that kiss.
"So, the Turk. What about him? You're after him or something?"
Yong Soo didn't want to keep having the same conversation with his brother. At Yao's age, it was probably difficult for him to change his ways. There was no point in pressuring him into being more emotionally available. After all, they all experienced the same trauma, although Yao got the most out of it by being the oldest of 5 siblings. At least Yao was back, and he seemed to be doing alright, which was all that mattered.
"He was murdered by a serial killer we're looking for, goes by the name of the postman, if that rings any bells".
Detective Braginski decided to intervene, feeling like Yao could use some backup when interrogating Yong Soo. Clearly, there was some tension between the Wang brothers. Ivan also had a bit of an on-and-off relationship with his sisters, although it had significantly improved in recent years. He wasn't sure what was the issue with Yao and his siblings but Ivan didn't doubt that Yao loved them. He remembered very well one of their first conversations when Yao asked if he had any siblings and how his eyes lit up when talking about his family. They were all very dear to his heart and Ivan could tell, but he also knew that his friend did have a problem with showing emotions in a healthy way.
"Serial killer? And he goes by Postman? That's a bit lame isn't it? I thought they got cooler names like Night Stalker and such".
Yong Soo scoffed, taking the situation a bit too lightly which confused Ivan even more. Usually, people went pale and had a difficult time talking about it, but not Yong Soo apparently, despite the mention that his acquaintance "The Turk" was dead.
"And you said the Turk got killed? Well, I hate to say it but he had it coming. That bastard owed me some, not some, a lot actually!"
Yao crossed his arms, trying to stop his mind from racing and thinking about the past. He had to focus on the present, on the case he had to solve! Not whatever emotional wound that Yong Soo had just torn open.
"What do you mean? Were you giving him things to sell?"
Ivan asked, eyeing Yao, hoping to get some sort of reaction or instruction from his partner, but Yao just stared at Yong Soo, dead silent.
Detective Wang was in no way supportive of Yong Soo's illegal activities, and if he could, he would avoid the whole conversation and try to move on with the case. Except they were at a dead end, and his drug dealer brother might just be able to shine a light on the case.
"Damn right I did! But I only did it for Heracles, because for the Turk I wouldn't do shit".
Ivan almost felt like he was conducting this interview all by himself. Yao just seemed to be somewhere else, anywhere else except in the moment.
"What do you mean by that?"
Detective Wang finally started to show some interest in the conversation, correcting his posture on the couch as he waited for Yong Soo's reply.
"Because Heracles is a good kid! He's a smart boy, has deep thoughts, you know? The philosopher kind, reads a lot and talks mad shit sometimes but that kid is college material I tell you".
Yong Soo grinned, talking proudly of Heracles, like a father speaking of his son. Blissfully unaware of the Greek tragedy from a few days ago.
"So, you know Heracles?"
Yao finally spoke up, suddenly taking interest in the interrogation, just how involved was his little brother with this case?
"Of course I do! But this isn't about him, right? It's about the Turk, right?"
Ivan and Yao exchanged looks, it was never fun to deliver bad news, it was probably the worst part of the job. Yao gulped looking back at his brother.
"He passed away a few days before the Turk, by the same killer. Heracles was set up by the Postman and he came to us to turn himself in to try and cover for the murderer".
Yong Soo went quiet, which was very unlike him. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, almost like he had a physical reaction to the news.
"No, no, that can't be right. He was right here a week ago where you're sitting. Heracles, he would never be involved with someone like that, do you even know what you're saying!?"
He slammed the table with his fists, making it vibrate as he took quick and sharp breaths. The room suddenly felt too hot and he even felt a bit lightheaded. Yong Soo wasn't feeling quite right, he just couldn't process the news just yet.
"We don't know. We have no clue how Heracles and Sadik could be involved with the Postman but they are. As soon as the news of Heracles' murder came out, we tried contacting the Turk but he was dead too".
Detective Braginski filled up the silence after Yong Soo's outburst. He could see the family resemblance now, the uneven breathing and the face starting to turn red, the same as when Yao gets angry.
"Just get out, get the fuck out. I'm done with this, I'm fucking done!"
Yao had no idea that his brother was so close to Heracles. Goddamnit, if only he knew he would have never come to ask Yong Soo about it. He didn't even want to think how Yong Soo would react when he found out that Heracles was shot right in front of them. What would he say then? Call him a failure of a policeman for letting his dear friend die? Yong Soo wouldn't be wrong about that, Yao had been feeling like a failure since he failed to protect Kiku.
"Yong Soo, be serious now. It's too late for that. There are 2 men dead and you're the only one who might know what was going on".
Detective Braginski nodded, perhaps Yao's tone was harsh but it was necessary. Unfortunately, this was a race against time, and there was no time to grieve when a psychotic killer was threatening lives.
"For fuck 's sake. Oh god, I just- I told him to stay out of trouble! I kept telling him to stay in school and out of the streets, that he had to move away for that piece of shit brother of his".
He was hyperventilating as he spoke, desperately trying to gather his thoughts and make sense of the words he was blurting out. Yong Soo's head was spinning, and nothing felt real anymore.
"Heracles was involved in some petty crimes, vandalism, and stealing but nothing crazy. That's how he got into juvie and once he was out he went back to finish school. I gave the Turk all that stuff because Heracles begged me to, said his brother would sell it all and then he'll have the money for college".
Ivan listened and to a certain degree, he related. Before he joined the police force he also had been involved in petty crimes, and joining the force truly put him on the right path. He found this whole situation to be extremely depressing. Heracles was a bright young man with his whole life ahead of him but was cut short by the Postman.
"That's all I know, I swear. I wish I could help more but last week when Heracles and I spoke, he seemed to be doing just fine! His brother, well, I can't say I know much besides he was in and out of jail. He's just another dealer as far as I know".
Yong Soo felt like he wasn't much help. He told them everything he knew but he wasn't sure if it was of any use to the case. If only he could go back to last week, maybe if he had been sober when hanging out with Heracles then maybe he would have noticed something. If only he had been more present then Heracles wouldn't be dead. God knows that Ssdik could not be a responsible brother and it was Yong Soo who was supposed to look after Heracles.
"Thank you, brother. I understand this has been difficult to talk about, and I won't ask more from you".
Yao stood up, took a step towards Yong Soo, and gently patted his shoulder. He felt terrible, having to put his brother through this. He knew Yong Soo was sensitive to death, having tragedy struck their family a few too many times.
"Take care then, aniki".
Yong Soo looked up, tears rolling down his eyes as he tried his hardest not to burst into tears right in front of his brother. He would need a moment alone to recover from this, but it was not happening in front of Yao and the other detective.
"You too, Yong Soo".
Ivan didn't make a peep during the brother's goodbye, except when he started to follow Yao out of the house and his heavy footstep made the floorboards creak.
"So that was it?"
Detective Braginski couldn't help but ask as soon as the door was shut and they were making their way to the car. It just felt extremely out of character for Yao to cut the interrogation short. He had a feeling that maybe Yong Soo had more to tell but Yao refused to get all the truth out. Considering that Yao had pushed people to their limits before to get to the truth, there was no denying that Yao had a soft spot for his brother.
"That was it".