CAN'T CATCH ME

The first thing he notices is the scent grown stronger, his nose picking up changes faster than his eyes can spot the mass in his bed. Trained to be on offensive first, his heartbeat quickens, but his senses quickly put pieces together before he can act on his rush of adrenaline: the brunette hair cascading on pillows, the long and familiar legs, the face that had been emblazoned on the back of his eyelids, a vivid vision every time he closed his eyes. His quickened heartbeat becomes irregular as he approaches, eyes never leaving her sleeping form.

Without hesitation, he slips into bed with her, tries his best not to move the mattress too much so as not to disturb her, and slips an arm around her petite waist, a feeling all too familiar and foreign all the same. It’s been too long, and because of that, he cannot wait.

the person (hani) behind the controls (her keyboard) eyed the screen through narrow slits, purely concentrated on nothing else beating her previous high score. 

still somehow despite the background noises coming from her game, the techie still managed to catch the muted sounds of footsteps headed her direction. in one fluid drag of her mouse, she minimized the tab and swiveled around her desk chair, facing the newcomer with the most innocent expression she was capable of (which didn’t account for much, now that she thought about it). 

once she saw (or heard, whichever came first) who this person was, her act dropped completely, composure immediately falling into something more relaxed and familiar. an easy smile formed on her lips as she raised up a hand to greet her old friend. 

But she was finally fed up, she needed a change of sight when she decided to take a short snack break, and it was an ungodly hour to begin with, so she didn’t expect to run into many, if anyone at all. And so she plopped down on one of the couches in the shared space, and with closed lids, quietly munched on a granola bar. She was finally realizing just how achey she felt, when the sudden chiming startled her, and her eyes snapped open.

“Hi!” She imitated the peppiness without much thought, though her voice came out rather raspy from having not spoken for God knows how long. She smiled softly and shrugged, “giving my eyes a break, I’m starting to see codes whenever I close my eyes, you know? They’re too bright!”

A nondescript frame crashes to the floor as he again loses focus, finding that her lips are too irresistible for him to wait the few more steps it would take to get to his bedroom.

After what seems like a lifetime of struggle, he finally manages to open his bedroom door, bodies tangled, breaths uneven, mouth open, always wanting more. He gently tosses her onto the bed and allows her a short reprieve as he undoes his tie, tossing it casually to the side before climbing on top of her, knees digging into the mattress on either sides of her hips. He plants his palms flush against the pillows on either side of her head, and though he wants nothing more than to continue and to let his body do as it pleases, he forces himself to stop, to pause and make sure this is something neither of them forgets.

He leans down, presses a kiss to her forehead, followed by the tip of her nose, to opposite cheeks, to the corners of her lips. “You’re beautiful,” he whispers between each one, quietly, almost too quiet, but it doesn’t matter—his breath against her skin eases each sentiment underneath each kiss, lets it sink and settle into her bones. He hovers just centimeters above her, eyes gazing deep into hers, clouded with alcohol but clear with intent and, despite his every effort, emotion. “You’re simply amazing, Kim Jinhee.”

she revels in the sight of control’s embodiment losing it all, likes the way his tie loosens and crinkles under his grip and pull, likes the way it’s thrown to the side without his eyes following through, because they’re focused on one thing -- her, and only her. jinhee is nothing short of pleased, but kyungsoo gives her more.

next thing she knows, she finds him close. unbelievably close, her oxygen having now become his heady scent. but what she doesn’t expect is the kiss to her forehead, her nose, her cheeks, continuing on like this, connecting points across her face with his lips. in this way, he draws a particular fondness coupled into wordless letters into her skin and, unwillingly, her eyelashes flutter in response. as does her heart. “i think you’re amazing me more tonight,” she murmurs, poise faltering for a moment when her eyes dart away -- as if it’d hide the pink she knows mars her face in response to his blindsiding praise.

      “Would have been helpful if we had access to the seating placement.” The male’s laugh comes out short and airy, no heat behind words as he guides them through groups of people content on gossiping and chattering about mindless matters, false compliments falling to their feet. Jimin smiles at every masked stranger who so much as spares them a glance in their quest, appreciative of none attempting to engage in conversation, yet. As a waiter halts in front of them he accepts the glass of champagne with quiet gratitude, but leaves it untouched, carried as accessory.

she allows jimin to take the lead, being a half step behind the alignment of his body so she can watch the slivers of proceedings that take place behind his back. a few eyes catch her wandering gaze along the way, at where she needlessly adjusts her mask or flashes her trademark smile. not much, not yet. “no fun if we didn’t have a little work to put into it, i guess,” she comments on her partner’s remark. she’s sure of their similar thought processes though -- that this is indeed a serendipitous opportunity they’d ought to take advantage of in terms of mapping and memorising routes. jinhee offers a contented hum and no more, gesturing for them to get a move on.

with the practiced grace of kingsmen, under the flawless guise of blue-blooded aristocrats, jimin and jinhee glide down the carpet as a pair, and up the few stairs to the grand doors of the esteemed 63 convention centre. she had caught the eyes of a few onlookers and paparazzi, but most of which stared through her, rather, and pierced into her partner. usually, at a grand ball, the ladies were the stars, she thinks, but it looked like jimin shined brighter of the two. and although she normally would be, she isn’t jealous of being robbed of attention... probably because her mind had already driven along the one track since their mission debrief back at HQ. “they love you,” is all she says to him when they pass through the entrance, amused more than anything else.

though whether she behaves... is another story. she laughs at the thought when they’re inside, and the sound of her seeps through the door as it closes. with its final lock, merlin’s quickly got her in his grasp. she kisses back, delighted though rivals his vehemence through the action, but he supersedes her place by the time he picks her up and slams her against the wall. the automatic response is a muffled groan against his lips when he presses against her further, and a proud chuckle that flits from her throat when she can finally take in air. she’s surprised by kyungsoo’s roughness, having been so used to the finesse and grace of kingsman’s merlin... but that doesn’t mean she likes it any less. her lithe arms curl around his shoulders, finally hooking around the back of his neck to pull him towards her. she wants him closer, even closer than this. her hands act on their own, slipping back and underneath the lapels of his jacket to push it off. her tone quickly transfigures as his lips and tongue pursue their way down her neck, her voice reducing down to a low moan, tailing off into a drawn out sigh. pleased, then needy.

she easily lets herself be lead by him, and even though they don’t stand on the same side anymore when their ascent begins, they are still joined by their hands. she squeezes his own idly, fondly, slowly guiding her thumb to rise and dip across his knuckles, but then, in the corner of her eye, she notices his other is reaching back – and the elevator stops.

instinct grabs a hold of her body first; repositions her feet to stabilise herself as the floor beneath them shudders, but she’s clumsy in doing so when merlin lets go of her hand completely. the way he directs an unfamiliar gaze towards her doesn’t help either, makes her bump against the wall of the elevator, but she is unable to fall – has no room to fall. not when his body is suddenly there to stabilise her where she couldn’t. her heart hammers as he nears, takes it upon himself to transform her surroundings into him, and she’d be embarrassed by the way her heart hammers against the cage of her chest if he did not look at her like this. so curious, yet sure. confused, however firm. burning hot, despite the levelled-out calm he’s always been.

and then it’s automatic, doesn’t think about it – has spent too long thinking about it when she raises her chin for her lips to meet his. she accepts him warmly, and drinks him in with the slow slide of her mouth. she tastes his kiss and things bigger than what she can make up – like heart, like weakness, like the one, like everything. the moment is fleeting before their mouths part, and she can’t help but just watch him when her eyes open, and with his still closed. he’s so close, she can probably count his eyelashes – if she weren’t in such a dazed state, of course. jinhee can only offer him a small smile when his gaze greets her again.

He chuckles lowly, makes sure hot breath dances along flushed skin before he pulls away, letting his palm smooth against her arm before his own comes to rest around her waist as he stands, by some miracle able to do so without a stumble or fall.

He leads her out of the bar hand-in-hand, steps only slightly staggering, and out into the cold night air. It feels refreshing against hot cheeks and suppressed memories, but it’s nothing against the salve that is Jinhee’s fingers intertwined with his, warmth of her palm pressed flush against his as he calls a taxi. He pulls on her hand as they wait, brings her closer before disconnecting them in order to pull on the lapels of his coat, bringing it closed over her form, enclosing her in the warmth of insulated wool and his own body temperature. Their faces are as close as other moments before—in his office on her birthday, after chasing after her at the color festival—but this time he can’t control the way his heart races, and he’s almost certain she can feel it against her chest.

There’s a dangerous tug at his stomach, a sudden urge, and he nearly loses his mind suppressing the need to fulfill the curiosity of how soft her lips are and if he can taste how much alcohol she’s had on her tongue. His own tongue darts out, sweeps over his bottom lip before tiers of white press down, trapping his bottom lip between them. His arms wrap tighter around her form, protecting against the chilling wind that sweeps by, raises his gaze from her lips to her eyes and they’re close, oh so close.

her neck does burn from where the ghost of his touch still lingers. but her attention is then pulled to where his hand slips into her own, and the rose gradually returns to colour her face again. she can’t help the small smile at her lips when she’s being lead out, nor can she stop the way her heart skips over a few beats more. the sudden chill that greets them has a discontented sigh leaving jinhee’s lips, but the last thing she expects... happens, and she’s suddenly, for the first time in her life, unsure of what to do.

in his arms, under his own jacket, it’s impossible to find words, or even the impulse to laugh. she might find this funny sober, but she really hasn’t had that many drinks tonight (as to witness and savour this)... so she also doubts that too. right now, she can only feel the heartbeat thrum in her chest. is that his? or her own doubling over itself? and honestly, she doesn’t know, or really much care whose it is, because the way kyungsoo’s eyes look at her, makes jinhee want to melt into them and stay. perfect.