Kai was hurt, that much he knew.

He gave Kang Taehyun the cold shoulder the whole day, not knocking or talking to him even once. He didn't know if he wanted Kang Taehyun to be bothered by that at all, but he seemed to prefer Kai to be silent, so he was giving him what he wanted.

Well, according to Kang Taehyun what he really wants if for Kai to piss off, but he can't do that.

On one of his bathroom breaks to one of the public bathrooms at the park close to Taehyun's house, he called Yeonjun.

"Who's Rio?"

"No hello no how-was-your-day..." Yeonjun takes a puff of his cigarette. "Why are you asking about Rio?"

Kai shrugs his shoulder even though he knows Yeonjun can't see him. He leaves the bathroom. "No particular reason."

Yeonjun smirks through the phone. "Then why should I tell you?"

"I think someone forgot that I'm doing him a favor by being here. And that someone also forgot that I could quit and make his life harder by doing that, so someone should really answer my questions before I do something hasty." Kai says impatiently.

Yeonjun pauses. "he's not from our agency."

"Oh... "

"I don't know much about him, or what went down with him and Kang Taehyun."

Kai walks back to Taehyun's house. "What do you know?" He refuses to let Yeonjun go with such a meager answer.

"Kang Taehyun's lab fired Rio for work violations, and they haven't hired anyone from that agency since."

Kai tilts his head. Hushing his voice, the closer he gets to the house. "What kind of violations?"

Yeonjun sighs. "I'm not sure Kai, I didn't ask. They're really secretive about what happened. I just know Kang Taehyun was in the hospital shortly after Rio got fired." He takes a pause to smoke. "So maybe he was abusive, who knows?"

"Abusive?" Kai repeats in a solemn voice.

There's some noise in the background of the call. "Listen Kai, I gotta go. Good luck today."

Kai sits on the front steps. Head cluttered with thoughts.

"Yeah, okay... "

...............

He's not hallucinating. He refuses to cave into Kang Taehyun's antics.

There are definite sounds of distress coming from the house and as much as Kai wants to ignore them, he really can't. He tried, but the more he waited the more the sounds turned desperate.

So, what if Kang Taehyun is a big, rude prick. He's still his bodyguard.

A bodyguard who is forbidden from coming into his client's house.

Kai circles the house, checking for signs of forced entry, maybe someone had gone in when he was dozing off at the door. He calls Yeonjun to ask whether Kang Taehyun has any underlying health issues that resurface at night, he tells him (very sleepily) that he has none.

As much as he feels like a stalker, he tries peeking into Taehyun's living room from the window, but he doesn't see much.

Kang Taehyun isn't in actual danger, from what he can tell. So, he can write the noises off as insomnia or whatever else it may be and let it go on. But as he returns back to his position at the door, he really can't brush off those noises.

Those soft whimpering noises and weird thud sounds he can't quite place. He can't fall asleep to those.

So, he drags the time by listening. Tired, yet alert.

He dozes off a little.

"No... Let me go!... "Labored breathing wakes Kai up immediately. He jumps on his feet, his arm hammering on the door.

"Mr. Kang! Open up!"

More yells are heard from the house. Kai runs to the living room windows; it seems like Kang Taehyun is still laying on the couch from what the blocked view allows him to see.

"Mr. Kang!" he bangs on the window.

Kang Taehyun squirms on the couch. "Rio... Rio please... "he cries.

Kai looks around, frantic. He breaks the window frame, kicking the frame with his boot to pry it open enough to let him slip through into the house.

Taehyun shakes on the couch, his eyes shut close, tears slipping from their sides.

As much as Kai dislikes Kang Taehyun, hates him even. He can't help but pity the guy. Who would'nt be a little sad seeing someone cry in his sleep. Kai is human after all.

Apparently, Kang Taehyun isn't.

"What. The. fuck are you doing here!" He snaps as soon as Kai manages to make him open his eyes. He hit Kai on his chest with his two palms, pushing him away. Kai stumbles back.

"You had a nightmare! I was trying to help!"

Kang Taehyun slips from the couch, enraged. He pushes Kai in the direction of the door. "I don't need your sorry help! Get out!" He throws a pillow at Kai. He misses, still a little drowsy. "Fucking sorry ass lap dog... "he mutters through his teeth. "You want to help?! Return to the hole where you came from, doggy."

Kai feels his heart heavying at Kang Taehyun harsh words. He climbs outside, dejected and partly humiliated. A lot humiliated.

Kang Taehyun hates him, and he doesn't even know why. He swallows the big lump in his throat and crashes on the steps.

That night, he falls asleep with his eyes damp. He may be professional, but he's not unaffected. He cares about what people think of him.

.................

Kai stops caring about the noises at night. Well, he doesn't stop caring. He stops showing he cares. Opting to ignore the crying inside and sleeping through the guilt of not being able to help.

Why does he even care? He's not sure.

It's his job to do so.

Simple as that.

Two weeks pass by. two weeks of them not exchanging a single word between them. Kai does his job, admittedly more exhausted and down. This may be the hardest time he had in his career.

Kai is a social creature. He loves building connections and turning his job into something special. But now it's all just so, robotic.

He stands at the door, 24 hours a day apart from bathroom breaks. He drives Taehyun here and there a few times which allows him a break from the boredom which is protecting Kang Taehyun.

"Kai, you good?"

Kai leans his head against the step railing. He hums positively. "Hmm, why?" His voice lacks its usual energy.

"You sound tired." Beomgyu turns over in his bed, worried about his friend. "The client's giving you a hard time?" he throws a guess.

Kai fiddles with his shoe aglet. He only sighs in return.

"Kai?"

"Should I tell Yeonjun I want a transfer?" He toys with the idea, only this time more seriously.

Beomgyu's eyebrows shoot up. "you've never asked for a transfer before..." concern washes his words.

"I just-" Kai feels his eyes sting a bit. "I'm just not sure how much I'm needed here and... it's too hard, Beomgyu."

Beomgyu takes a deep breath, deep in thought. "he's really just that bad, is he?"

Kai wouldn't say that. But Kang Taehyun doesn't make his job rewarding either. This job was hard all the time, but at least people acknowledged him.

The porch lights go off.

"it's getting late, Gyu. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Okay. Let me know if you're talking to Yeonjun-Hyung."

"Hmm. Goodnight."

Kai is sleepier than usual today, whether it's the burning out that he feels or something else. He just needs a good rest.

He falls asleep in a matter of seconds. Huddled in the blanket and leaned over the door.

.......................

Kai wakes up after only two hours to the sound of someone yelling.

"-ai!"

He stirs awake, disoriented for not but 2 seconds before he is up of his feet.

"Help!...hmmpf, H-help! HELP!! Kai!"

There are sounds of struggle coming from the house along with something breaking, most likely made out of glass. Kai hears another voice he does not recognize.

"Help me!" Kang Taehyun yells.

Kai hesitates for what feels like forever but is actually a mere second before he spurs into action. He darts around the house and breaks one of the windows open, rolling inside.

"Shut up..."

A figure hovers over the couch, dark and broad. The man fights to gain control over Kang Taehyun who is frantically thrashing and yelling in horror. "Kai!" he croaks.

The noise that the Kai did whilst breaking the window catches the attention of the man attacking Taehyun and he releases the hold he has on him and lunges himself at Kai, tackling them both to the floor.

Taehyun calls out "He has a knife!"

The two men roll on the floor, the man pinning Kai down and aiming his pocketknife above Kai's head. Kai stops the knife with his hands, groaning. He kicks the man's knee which makes him crumble down, giving Kai enough time to flip them over so he's on top. He bends the man's hand, making him drop the knife and holds him down.

"Call the police!"

..................

Kai sends the police officers on their merry way with the perp in their car. Unsure of how he should proceed from here. Of course, he called Yeonjun to inform him about the incident in which the older thanked him and said he'll look into it.

Taehyun sits stiff on the curb, huddled by the ambulance team. Although he got out without a scratch thanks to Kai. He knows he shouldn't, but his mind replays the way Taehyun called him for help. He called Kai for help.

Not long after they're left alone again.

"Goodnight." Kai leaves the curb and heads over to the stairs.

Taehyun stops him "You broke my window." he accuses.

"Sorry." Kai isn't sorry at all. "Your lab will have it fixed."

He waits a little longer so that Taehyun can enter his house and he can lean comfortably on the front door, but Kang Taehyun does none of that.

He stares Taehyun down impatiently. "Are you not going in?"

"My window is broken, you broke it. I can't sleep inside knowing someone might come in." Taehyun sighs. "Go in and watch the window."

"Huh?"

"Guard the open window so that I can sleep." Taehyun demands. "isn't that your job to make sure I feel safe?"

Right.

Kai peels himself off the steps, following Taehyun into the house. God, he feels ridicules letting that guy boss him around.

"Stand over there."

Kai's back blocks the window, like Taehyun wanted. Or so he thought.

"Turn around."

His ears flush red. "What?"

"Someone can easily kick your back like this. Plus, I don't want you staring at me all night."

Is this guy for real? "Why would I stare at you?" Kai bites his bottom lip.

Kang Taehyun curls on the couch, tenser than Kai considers to be comfy. "Woof woof." He hisses in response and Kai fists his hands. Forcing down a curse.

Bitterly, he turns around to face the street, promising himself that tomorrow he'll call Yeonjun and tell him he needs to give this job to someone else.