#vrvr fluff

⊹ ࣪ ˖

The music was too soft for a room filled with predators.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, spilled silver across marble floors, more polished than the rehearsed laughter of the people there.

Politicians. CEOs. Crime lords pretending to be philanthropists crowded the room, reeking of wealth.

And beside you, stood the man you hated the most.

Gyehyeon adjusted the cuff of his sleeve calmly, like this was just another evening instead of a mission that could end with both of you dead.

You resisted the urge to stab him with your heel.

“You’re glaring again,” he murmured.

“I’m imagining ways to strangle you.”

“Hm.” His mouth twitched. “You’d do that to your partner?”

“We are not partners.”

“Tonight we are.” His eyes drifted over you slowly.

You hated that pause in your heartbeat. Hated it even more because he noticed.

Of course he did.

Outside the ballroom doors, you bent slightly to adjust the strap of your heel with growing irritation. The damned thing had loosened again.

Before you could crouch down properly, Gyehyeon did first.

You blinked. “What are you…-”

“Hold still.”

His gloved fingers wrapped around your ankle, warm despite the leather. Careful.

The red fabric of your gown pooled around you while he fixed the clasp like he belonged there at your feet, completely unbothered by the fact that one of the agency’s deadliest operatives was currently staring holes into the side of his head.

Then he looked up, a smirk appearing instantly.

“There,” he said softly. “Wouldn’t want my date falling on her face.”

You scoffed, but your pulse betrayed you when he straightened to full height again, one hand sliding to your waist to pull you closer. Way too close.

The scent of expensive cologne and gunpowder clung to him faintly.

“Remember,” he whispered near your ear, voice low enough that only you could hear, “they need to believe we like each other.”

“I’d rather take a bullet.”

“Don’t tempt fate.”

His fingers poked your cheek lightly.

“Smile for me."

You slapped his hand away instantly, glaring up at him while he laughed under his breath, quiet but entirely too pleased with himself.

God, you hated him.

Hated his confidence. Hated how untouchable he acted. Hated the way every room seemed to bend around him.

And worst of all, hated how attractive he looked tonight.

His dark hair was pushed back just enough, though a few strands still fell carelessly over his forehead like the entire look had been crafted to appear effortless.

The open collar of his suit, revealing the line of his collarbone, only made him look more dangerous, less polished diplomat, more…like a wolf dressed in silk.

You wished he’d stop looking at you like that.

Like he already knew you were losing this battle.

The ballroom doors opened and instantly, his demeanor shifted.

His teasing demeanor disappeared. In his place stood a charming socialite with an easy smile and a hand possessively resting at your waist.

You followed his lead seamlessly despite your irritation. Years of training made pretending second nature.

Heads turned the moment you entered, not because of suspicion. But together, you looked devastating.

“Seven guards near the eastern hall,” you muttered through your smile.

“Mm. Posted above the balcony. Possible spy.” Gyehyeon picked up two champagne glasses from a passing tray, handing you one naturally. “You look tense, darling.”

“You’re enjoying this too much.”

“Maybe.” His thumb brushed briefly against the bare skin of your back, hidden beneath your hair. “You’re pretty when you’re angry.”

You nearly broke the champagne flute.

Someone important approached then, one of the target’s associates.

Immediately, Gyehyeon’s arm wrapped around your waist tighter, pulling you against his side for a moment.

He leaned down slightly, lips grazing near your temple as if whispering something affectionate.

To anyone watching, you looked hopelessly in love.

“Behave,” he whispered instead.

“One day,” you whispered back, “I’m going to kill you.”

His eyes gleamed, before he let go of you.

“Looking forward to it.”

Now…

Gyehyeon gave you a subtle glance, brief, before looking away. You answered with the smallest nod before turning away from him entirely, your expression softening into effortless charm as you disappeared into the crowd.

The ballroom swallowed you easily.

Music filled the air while conversations sounded. Every movement here was calculated. Somewhere beneath all the luxury was the reason you’d been sent.

And you found it quickly.

A group of young women gathered near the champagne tower, dressed in silk and diamonds, speaking in hushed excitement.

One of them matched the face from one of the pictures in file, someone close enough to the target.

Perfect.

“Ladies,” you greeted smoothly, stepping into their circle like you belonged there. “Allow me to introduce myself.”

A few of them looked you over cautiously.

The one you were there for only smiled.

“Well,” she mused, “aren’t you charming?”

You smiled back, measured and warm. “Only when I want something.”

That had earned a laugh.

The conversation unfolded naturally after that. You blended into it effortlessly, guiding topics carefully while pretending not to.

Fashion became travel. Travel became politics. Politics became business.

The hidden names. The mentions of shipments. The passing reference to a private security route. You weren't exactly content but this had to do.

Across the ballroom, Gyehyeon worked his own part smoothly. You caught glimpses of him between shifting bodies, lazily, smiling into conversations with diplomats and investors like he had not spent half his life eliminating men exactly like them. He looked relaxed but you knew better.

Then suddenly, a new voice, a shadow fell beside you.

“May I?”

A drink appeared in your peripheral vision.

You glanced at the glass first before looking up. And your stomach tightened slightly.

The target himself. Lee Ji-an.

You recognized him instantly from the files, older in person, sharper eyes, the kind smile too perfect to be genuine. Dangerous men always learned how to appear harmless.

You slipped on your prettiest smile anyway. “Of course.”

His interest in you was obvious enough to make you roll your eyes. Almost.

Across the hall, Gyehyeon noticed.

His own conversation continued uninterrupted, expression still composed.

But his fingers tightened once around the stem of his champagne glass as he watched the target lean closer toward you.

You kept smiling despite the unease crawling beneath your skin. Ji-an spoke easily, confidently, like he already owned the room and everything inside it. Including you.

When his hand brushed your arm once, your jaw tightened. But you endured it.

Another inch and you genuinely might have snapped his wrist in front of half the city’s elite.

Just then a low alarm sounded somewhere through the estate.

The music cut abruptly.

Confused murmurs spread through the ballroom as guests glanced around in alarm.

Ji-an stiffened instantly.

You caught it immediatel, the silent look exchanged between him and one of the staff members rushing toward him.

Hm…?

“Apologies,” Ji-an said smoothly, though tension now pulled at his smile. “Duty calls.”

“What a shame,” you replied sweetly.

His gaze lingered on you a second too long. “I do hope we meet again.

You almost rolled your eyes again.

Then he disappeared into the crowd.

Your attention shifted immediately, scanning the room. There wasn't any actual panic. Just controlled distraction?

And there was only one person here irritating enough to create one deliberately.

A familiar presence stepped beside you.

“Seems we’ll have to retreat early,” Gyehyeon said lightly. “How unfortunate.”

You turned slowly toward him, eyes narrowing as you met his own.

“You did that.”

“Hm?”

“Why?”

He only started walking. Infuriating.

You scoffed before following him through the nearest balcony exit, heels clicking sharply against marble while the muffled confusion inside continued behind closed doors.

Cold night air hit your skin immediately.

The moment you were out of sight, you moved.

Your hand grabbed his collar, shoving him hard against the nearest wall. The impact forced a soft grunt from him as your dagger flashed upward, pressing against his throat.

“Don’t play around with me.”

The city lights flickered behind you both, distant but enough to blur the darkness around you.

Gyehyeon looked entirely too amused for a man with a blade at his neck.

“Shouldn’t we save this for indoors?” he teased.

You pushed the dagger closer.

He let out a quiet sound at the pressure, wincing slightly this time, though the smirk never truly left his face.

“Alright, alright,” he sighed softly, relenting. “You’re rather straightforward tonight.”

“Answer me.” Your grip tightened on his collar.

“Why did you trigger the alarm?”

For once, he didn’t answer immediately.

His gaze flickered over your face instead, lingering in a way that made warmth crawl hotter than the irritation beneath your skin.

Then his eyes dropped briefly to the hand fisted in his suit before returning to yours again. His smile fell, just slightly.

“He was touching you,” he said simply.

…?

Your expression faltered for a moment.

“That,” you said slowly, “is the dumbest reason I’ve ever heard.”

“Mm.” His eyes gleamed under the balcony lights. “Still did it.”

“You compromised the mission over jealousy?”

“Who said anything about jealousy?”

The dagger remained against his throat, but your focus had slipped now, caught momentarily by the way he looked beneath you like this.

Collar loosened. Hair slightly disheveled from being shoved against the wall. Breath warm against the edge of your wrist.

And worst of all, unafraid. If anything, he looked comfortable.

Like this exact moment was where he wanted to be all along. Smug bastard.

“You know,” he muttered, gaze dropping briefly to your lips before returning to your eyes, “most people buy me dinner first before pinning me against walls.”

Your glare sharpened instantly.

“You’re unbelievable.”

“And yet…-”

You cut him off by pushing away from him entirely, releasing his collar with enough force to wrinkle the front of his suit. The dagger lowered slightly as you stepped back, putting distance between you at last.

“Try being serious for once in your life.”

But as you turned to leave, you barely made it a step before a hand caught your wrist.

The next thing you knew, you were pulled back against his chest.

Your breath hitched despite yourself.

Gyehyeon’s arm slid around your waist, firm and unyielding as he drew you flush against him, his back still resting against the stone wall. The dagger remained trapped awkwardly between you both, blade pressing near his shoulder now, but he didn’t seem remotely concerned about it.

“You’re awfully mean tonight,” he mused near your ear.

“Let go.”

“But then you’ll storm off.” His grip tightened slightly. “Just when I was starting to enjoy this.”

You tried twisting free, only for his other hand to catch your chin lightly, tilting your face upward toward his so close.

The teasing look in his eyes had dimmed into something heavier now, quieter. The night air suddenly felt thinner between you both.

You could feel his breathing.

Could see every small detail this close, the mole under his eye, the dimples that showed whenever he quirked his lips, too often, the loosened collar exposing warm skin, the strand of dark hair falling over his forehead after you shoved him earlier.

Your heartbeat betrayed you immediately.

His gaze flicked to your lips again, leaning in closer.

Close enough that you genuinely thought…-

Your fingers tightened instinctively around the dagger.

But instead of kissing you, he only hovered there, mouth brushing near your ear as his voice dropped low enough to send irritation crawling down your spine for entirely different reasons now.

“We’ll continue this later,” he whispered before letting go. Just like that.

The warmth disappeared instantly as he stepped around you, adjusting his sleeves calmly like he hadn’t just nearly kissed you against a balcony wall in the middle of an operation.

By the time he glanced back at you, only the slight curve of his mouth remained.

“Hurry, we have to report back.” he said lightly before walking off into the corridor ahead.

You stared after him in disbelief, pulse still uneven.

God.

You really did hate him.

⊹ ࣪ ˖

You had taken your time fixing the creases and lines through your foundation, and watery mascara that had started to run. You didn’t want your family to notice your upset state. It had nothing to do with them. It, honestly, had nothing to do with anyone.

You were just upset without a specific reason. And you could already hear your husband's words saying that, it was okay to not be okay sometimes. He would always tell you that you were allowed to cry and feel all the feelings if that’s what you needed.

He’d be there for you, he vowed to.

You could also hear quiet laughter, your husband and daughter obviously playing somewhere—probably the living room—as you removed your shoes. The noise was comforting in your own familiar way.

The foyer was clean, the hallway the same. There was a sweet aroma wafting into your nose too and you wondered what it was. You hadn’t really eaten much in an upset state but you could feel the claws of hunger grasping your stomach.

Just as you were hanging up your coat a familiar voice (if not the most familiar voice) greeted you. “Hey baby,” he said, wrapping an arm around your waist and pushing his head into the crook of your neck. You didn’t look, in fear of him being able to read you like a picture book. You also thought you might start crying again, being overwhelmed by being overwhelmed.

He kissed your skin briefly. “How was work?”

Oh, he knew.

If there was one thing about your husband, it’s that he always figures you out.

“Fine,” you kept it short. “Had lots to do.”

He hummed, taking the coat from your hand and finishing the job you ceased to do.

“Yeah?” he spun you around by your hips, finally face-to-face. “And, are you okay?”

You bit the inside of your cheek, weakly nodding. He eyed you suspiciously, not saying what you were both hearing inside your head: you don’t have to lie.

And, you don’t know why you did. Maybe it was to make it seem less real, like it was all just inside your head. If you denied it enough, maybe that would become the truth.

“Actually…no.”

Through a soft tune leaving his mouth, he smiled. “I figured, you usually call on your way. You don’t like taking the subway alone, remember? I do.”

And remember every little thing about you, he did; Like the twenty-four hours in a day. Like the sun against his skin. Like simple multiplication, and exponents before parentheses. He remembered all the things that you’d do because that’s why he fell in love with you, and continues to fall as hard as the first time he realized he couldn’t live without you.

“Mommy!” Your daughter's voice rang out, the pattern of bare feet against hardwood following it down the hall. You’ve never pulled yourself together faster, straightening your spine in his embrace, and smacking a smile onto your face. “Mommy, you’re home!” She jumped into your arms, reuniting your little three-piece of a family.

You kissed her temple, adjusting her to sit against your hip better as Gyehyeon ruffled her hair, causing the girl to giggle.

It’s like a weight was lifted off your shoulder, and you felt ten times lighter than when you walked through the door alone.

If your husband was your safety-net, then your daughter must’ve been Arcadia.

“You can play with us now!”

Your husband put a gentle hand on your kid's cheek. “Princess, your mom had a tough day at work, how about we let her rest?”

She pouted a moment, seemingly also pondering up something in her imaginative child-brain, then nodded conclusively.

She pushed from your arms, and you took the hint to put her down. Then her feet stomped, one planting in front of her and one behind her as she struck a mighty (cute) pose, arm flying out into the air like she had a sword clutched within her grasp.

“Then I’ll save you from the giant…frog!”

Your face contorted in amusement. “Frog?” you reiterated, and she motioned to the man beside you—she meant your husband, her father, was the frog you needed saving from. You couldn’t help but laugh, releasing just a little bit more of the tension you’d been holding.

“Am I a princess then?” you asked, playing along. She hummed aloud, still eyeing the villain of the story like he’d pounce at any moment. And knowing how playful he could become with her, you think he morphed into the role quickly, ready to spring into action. “Or are you the princess?”

“You’re the princess, mommy! Get back! I’m a princess-knight, I’ll save you!”

You gave Gyehyeon one last look before quickly cowering in mock-fear behind the small girl, crouching down, and lightly holding her shoulders.

“Save me princess-knight, I’m so scared of the frog, he’s so…” your voice died out for a second as you thought of an adjective. “frog-like?”

Very creative. How do you come up with this stuff?

She started shouting things that she’d seen in movies or read in books, as your husband took it upon himself to act like a monster instead of a frog. You choked back giggles, remaining serious during this very dire situation. It was life or death for the princess (you) afterall.

Finally, he attacked the princess-knight, grabbing her and slinging her over his shoulder—using his special skill (which he announced first, obviously): tickle attack.

Your daughter shrieked, laughing hysterically and flinging herself in his arms.

“Oh no!” you yelped. “My savior, you caught her! What ever will I do now?”

He attempted an evil laugh, though it made you snort instead.

“Do you think if I kissed the frog—as a princess—he’d become a knight or a prince?”

You’d try anything to save your noble princess-knight.

He stopped moving at the insinuation, puckering his lips immediately. You continued to laugh, exaggerating a peck against his awaiting lips. Your daughter gagged, spewing out disgusted words at her parents' PDA.

“Did it work?” you asked as she looked up from her position on his shoulder; Head closest to your side. “Is he still a frog?”

She gave him a look as best she could before stating: “Yeah, still frog-like.” And stabbing him with her imaginary sword. He mocked it hurting him with a groan, putting the girl down safely and falling to his knees until he died a very, very dramatic death; Mimicking looking to the white-light before sprawling onto the floor, limbs in every direction.

Your daughter brushed off her knees like it was all in a days work. You were almost in awe. “Great job princess-mommy, you distracted him.”

But little did she know that the distraction was completely her doing, and she saved you from the metaphorical villain.

Who knew the story of The Princess-Knight and The Giant Frog had a happy ending? But, you’re glad it did.

It doesn't. In fact, it only makes it worse.

He almost texts you before heading out for meetings before reminding himself that you're probably swamped right now. Too busy to respond even if he did. And he repeats that reminder throughout the day, every time his fingers twitch over your contact. Because your work and focus is so important, and he doesn't want to be a distraction to you. He's able to hold back until after his evening workout, at which point he finally does send the text. Just a quick check-in: how was your day?

He doesn't expect a response immediately and he doesn't get one. Normally he wouldn't dwell on the silence from your end. You always reply when you get a moment of free time. But tonight he doesn't have the will to tell himself to be patient—to tell his brain that those 3 dots signalling that you're typing will pop up soon enough—he wants them now. It doesn't help with the well of emotions in his stomach that decides to surge to the point of being impossible to ignore. His throat feels like it's burning all of a sudden and he has to swallow hard and blink a few times to stop himself from breaking. He's not used to this. Not used to failing to contain it.

Minchan is a happy person. Fun and energetic and goofy. Everyone loves him for it, and he loves himself for those characteristics just as much. But today they feel unreachable. Almost foreign. He doesn't know why, but he just wishes you were here. Whatever he's feeling… you'd definitely help with it.

He can't remember if you've ever seen him cry, which is probably strange for your four year relationship. It must have happened at some point, but it definitely wasn't this broken, uncontrollable, prickly sort of emotion that makes Minchan almost nauseous the more he suppresses it. If he cried in your presence in the past, it could have only been happy tears. Not this.

When he thinks of you and him he's glad that his brain can only supply endless moments of laughter and joy and love. Flashes of kisses you've shared, of inside jokes, of loving stares, of nights spent together. It distracts him for a moment before he's brought back to the present moment. The loneliness has been growing all day, and it finally manages to consume him. He sniffs.

He's hid this part of himself well in the past. Even from himself. Ignored it and trampled it until he could forget about it most days. And he really can. Most days. Clearly not today. The distance between you two does nothing to help with it. It isn't the source of his pain, but he can feel it weighing on him and making everything feel a bit more overwhelming. That part sucks, especially because he knows you won't be getting back for another week.

Three weeks away used to feel like no big deal. There would, of course, be the endless I miss you's over facetime calls, but throughout the day, Minchan never felt sad. Not enough to cry, at least. The distance always sucked, but it was bearable. He was always one to focus on your return, not drown in how the solitude crushed him. But today, it all feels a bit too much.

He wishes you weren't thousands of miles away right now. He wishes he could feel proud of the things he accomplished today instead of an emptiness inside that sucks all the joy away. He wishes he could focus on the happy things instead of how much he hates himself right now. Hates that he feels so incomplete when you're gone. He wishes he was holding you right now instead of hugging your favourite throw pillow on the couch and letting his tears soak into the fabric. He feels pathetic.

His phone dings. You've texted back.

Okay Not the best but it's about to get better!

The doorbell rings. Minchan knows it's you. Somehow, miraculously, it's you.

He scrambles to his feet as quickly as possible and opens the door a second later. You're beaming at him like tonight is the best night of your life. He can only stand frozen in the doorway and stare at you. His eyes soften and soak you in. Two weeks has felt like fucking forever.

Your smile drops quickly and suddenly. Minchan almost panics before he remembers he was just crying seconds ago, and you can definitely tell. He's silent as you step inside and cup his face.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" you ask. Your voice is so soft. So sweet. You love him so much that it hurts.

Minchan shakes his head, cheek leaning into your palm. Your thumb strokes away some of his tear stains. He sniffs the lingering stuffiness away and takes a few breaths. You're here and everything feels okay again.

You pull him to the couch, hoping you can coax the reason he was crying out of him, because you're still alarmed at the sight. It's rare for you to be the one comforting him. It's always been the other way around. You've always cried easily. Minchan's arms were always your safe spot. You can't count how many hours he's held you while you cried until there were no tears left. He's always been so patient and understanding and comforting. And he always makes you laugh so easily, even if you've just been sobbing.

You don't know if you'll be able to do the same for him, but you hope so. You never want Minchan to be anything but happy.

"Why were you crying? You never cry," you start, squeezing his hand. He is silent, eyes still looking at you intently. You hum in a questioning lilt, hoping that he'll answer you. In a way, he does. Just not with words.

He kisses you like a man who has waited two years instead of two weeks, and you fall onto the couch as you kiss him back. He probably pushed you down. Or maybe you fell on your own. Either way, he's on top of you now (which is exactly where you like him to be), holding himself up with a supporting hand by your head and letting his lips memorize your taste. Your hands wander—to his arms and then his back and then his waist—unsure of where they want to settle but with each place trying to get him closer to you as you kiss him harder. You also missed him, more than usual, you think. You also needed this like oxygen.

When he pulls back, breathless and reluctant, you finally see that smile you've been missing. You grin at him, and he grins back, eyes filled with warmth as they disappear into crescents. He can't help but press a few more kisses to your face, tracing a path from your forehead to your neck. He settles there, letting his head rest on your shoulder and his body weight relax onto yours. You don't mind. His closeness is everything you could have asked for.

"Missed you," you tell him, ruffling his hair and breathing him in.

"Missed you," he says back, earnestly and a bit raw. "So much."

He still hasn't asked how you're even back a week early (or how you knew how desperately he needed to see you), but it feels unimportant right now. He just wants to hold you, maybe fall asleep right here on top of you. But that would probably be uncomfortable for you after ten minutes, so he decides he'll carry you to bed and tuck you in under the warm blankets instead. Just only after he's done with this. Because you both need it.

© slytherinshua ── do not repost translate or copy　⸝⸝⸝　join my taglist!

@kstrucknet

gyehyeon huffs, folding his arms across his chest and leaning back into your headboard. you’ve been busy reading for the past hour, already halfway done with your new book you picked up from the book shop you worked at. it was a release you had been waiting on for a bit, and when you woke up in the middle of the thunderstorm occurring outside the bedroom window you thought today would be the perfect opportunity to cuddle into your warm blankets and enjoy warm cups of hot cocoa throughout the day. that was until your next door neighbor started throwing rocks at your window with pleas to let him in because he was bored out of his mind.

you’ve been friends with gyehyeon ever since he moved in three doors down from you five years ago. he always seemed so quiet around everyone but with you it was different. he would constantly joke around with you, his cheeks red from laughter and smiling from ear to ear with joy. the sight confused people as to why he was only that way with you but reserved around everyone else. you encouraged him to make other friends besides you and your other neighbor, minchan, but he just never seemed to make those people stick like the two of you did. and he didn’t mind it because truth be told, the two of you were all he needed in life at his current state; he wouldn’t want it any other way.

it wasn’t up until three months ago when he started to become flirtatious with you, making small little comments in a teasing tone with the goofiest smile plastered across his face. despite your heart thumping with each small remark, you downplayed his actions and words to just him becoming more playful and comfortable around you. you didn’t want your silly little crush on him to allow you to overthink every little thing he said or did, so you just ignored his comments and always ended up changing the subject. but what you didn’t know is that he was finally deciding to make small moves towards you, just in a teasing manner so if you ever rejected him he could play it off as a joke instead of displaying his feelings of hurt. it was after another long night talk with minchan that he asked him for advice on how confess to you that he suggested to start making his move, but gyehyeon was new to the feeling of having a crush so he wasn’t exactly sure how to go about it.

the combination of thunder rumbling and law and order playing in the background, along with occasional gasps of shock from your neighbor, made your day feel perfect. you had your crush’s head in your lap and your hands clutching onto your book with anticipation, with your favorite weather booming outside the comfort of your house. the smell of hot cocoa filled the room as well, making a small smile appear across your lips. gyehyeon noticed this, smiling to himself at the beauty you provided him with. you failed to notice at first until you felt his eyes burning into you, making you let out a soft sigh as your cheeks burned in embarrassment.

“may i help you?” you questioned, adverting your eyes from the word filled pages and over to stare into his eyes.

his eyes widened in surprise that you actually gave him attention, clearing his throat and smiling innocently at you as his heart beat faster in his chest, hoping you couldn’t hear it. “i like you.”

you rolled your eyes, assuming he was joking around. “funny gye, now go back to gawking over olivia benson.”

“why would i when i have you in front of me?”

you placed your book on the nightstand beside you, shifting in your spot as he sat up next to you. “you can’t keep making flirtatious jokes like that, dude.”

he sat up on his knees, making him appear taller than you in the moment. “who said i was joking?”

you swallowed hard, subconsciously twiddling with your thumbs as you just stared at one another. it wasn’t until he inches closer to you, cupping your cheek in his hand till you realized you had been holding in your breath for so long. with your lips being mere inches apart, eyes staring into one another’s, it was just seconds before you could feel his lips being placed on yours ever so gently. the way your lips cemented on his, moving together like the waves of the ocean, it brought butterflies in your stomach and made his heart skip multiple beats. you brought your hand up to place on top of his, intertwining your fingers with his the best you could as your other hand gripped your bed sheets.

you pulled away with a shriek as the rather loud strike of thunder brought you back to reality, causing you to jump in your spot and gyehyeon to follow suit due to your sudden movement. but as quickly as the moment came, it faded back into small fits of laughter. staring into his eyes made you realize how full of love he was, and just how true his small little comments to you were.

“does this mean we’re dating now?” gyehyeon asked, moving his hand from your face and holding it properly in his before placing a small kiss on the back of it.

knock knock.

"y/n, can i come in?" he asks, sweetly.

you nod, then realize he can't see you, so you give him a verbal affirmation to come in.

when he finds you as a lump under your sheets, he immediately rushes forwards and pulls everything away, revealing you in your shaking state.

"y/n? is everything okay?!" he asks, worried.

"i-i'm scared.." you stutter in a hushed tone.

the thunder growls again and you flinch.

Yeonho has a worried expression on his face as he reaches to shut your curtains. he then finds your earphones on your desk, connects them to your phone, removes your hands from your ears, replaces them with the earbuds and starts to play one of your comfort songs.

"hey," Yeonho says, after removing one of your earbuds.

"is it okay if i get on your bed with you and hold you?" he asks.

you slowly nod, feeling like you're in a dream when Yeonho cafefully climbs on your bed, shifts so he's behind you and helps you lay beside him. he wraps his arms around your waist and pulls you close; your back is against his chest. once again, you place both earbuds in your ears and block out the thunder, and Yeonho's hums as he sings along to the faint sound of your music.

you look down and see Yeonho's hands, one of them drawing circles at your hip. suddenly, your calmed heart starts racing again as you realize that Yeonho, your roommate and literal crush is holding you in your own bed right now.

his hand moves up to pat and massage your head, and he shyly stares at part of your exposed neck. he kind of wants to feel it with his fingertips; it looks so soft... but he doesn't want to cross any boundaries.

suddenly, you turn around in his arms and face him. his face is red, and you assume it's just because of your shared body heat.

"boop," you say, gently poking his nose and smiling at the way his entire face scrunches up.

you remove an earbud as Yeonho starts to speak.

"do you feel better, now?" he asks.

"yeah," you say, even as thunder crackles on around your house. the sound doesn't bother you anymore.

"then i don't have an excuse to cuddle you when it's stormy anymore?" Yeonho says while pouting.

"why would you need an excuse?" you ask, burying your face in his chest. you can hear the way his heart hammers.

"b-because..."

the two of you are silent, with Yeonho buffering as you give him butterflies and you enjoying his scent as you hold him close.

"y/n," Yeonho softly calls out.

"hm?" you answer.

"i-if we're going to keep doing this as friends, i don't think my heart can take it. s-so... either agree to date me or... stop holding me like this," Yeonho says, clearly nervous.

you smile up at him, but he looks unsure.

"why would i ever stop holding you?" you ask, patting his head.

Yeonho still looks confused, and you sigh.

"i'll date you, Yeonho. only if you'll date me too," you say.

Yeonho's smile returns to his face again as he says, "isn't that a given?"

you shyly trace his lips with your thumbs.

as you look into Yeonho's eyes, you ask if you can kiss him. as soon as he nods, you lean in, pressing a quick but soft kiss to his plump lips. he smiles the entire time, pulling you closer.

"do i now have permission to cuddle with you even when it's not stormy?" Yeonho asks.

...!

You and Yongseung had been going on dates for a while now, and after weeks of dancing around each other, he had finally asked you out properly.

Since then, everything had felt almost unfairly perfect.

He was perfect.

He was the kind of man who noticed every little thing about you without needing to ask. Whether you were cold, tired, uncomfortable, overwhelmed, he always knew somehow.

He’d quietly shift closer when the road got too crowded, hand you the drink you liked before you even mentioned being thirsty, slow his pace just slightly so you’d never have to hurry beside him.

And God, he was so beautiful while doing it too.

There was something devastating about how gentle he was. The way he looked at you so attentively sometimes made your chest ache. You honestly melted whenever you were around him.

There was just one tiny problem.

He hadn’t kissed you yet.

At first, you tried not to think too much about it. Maybe it was still too early. Maybe he just wanted to take things slowly.

But as the days passed, the thoughts started creeping in anyway, ugly and persistent.

Were you the only one falling this fast?

Did he not like you as much as you thought he did?

Were you just… not pretty enough for him to want you that way?

You felt ridiculous for even thinking it, embarrassed by how badly it bothered you, but no matter how much you tried to push it down, the insecurity lingered.

And unfortunately, it showed.

The next time you went out together, you just couldn’t hide it.

To Yongseung, things had started normally enough.

But slowly, he began noticing the differences.

You weren’t rambling excitedly beside him like you usually did. Your smiles came smaller, distracted. Even your laughter sounded softer somehow.

It made something uneasy settle in his chest.

Still, he didn’t push.

Maybe you’d had a bad day. Maybe you were tired.

He tried cheering you up instead, quietly doing all the little things he knew you liked. He bought your favorite dessert. Took you to the park you’d mentioned wanting to visit weeks ago. Stayed close without crowding you.

But nothing worked.

And though none of it showed on his face, Yongseung was beginning to panic a little.

The drive back to your house felt painfully quiet. Normally, he liked silence. But with you? Never.

He reached toward your hand once before hesitating midway, fingers curling back toward himself.

What if you didn’t want him touching you right now?

By the time you arrived at your house, the silence had exhausted him.

You got out before he could come around to open the door for you, but he followed after you anyway, wanting at least to walk you up properly before saying goodbye.

You stood at your front door, hand wrapped tightly around the doorknob.

But you couldn't take it anymore.

Then suddenly, you turned toward him so abruptly it startled even him.

“Am I not pretty?”

Yongseung blinked, completely caught off guard.

“What?” he answered immediately, brows furrowing. “No…- you’re pretty. Why would you even ask that…-”

“Then do you just not like me?”

You cut him off before you could lose the courage to say it, fists clenching at your sides as you looked away from him.

For a moment, Yongseung just stared.

Then his expression softened painfully.

How could you possibly think that?

He stepped closer carefully, slowly reaching for your hand, giving you enough time to pull away if you wanted to.

You didn’t.

His fingers wrapped gently around yours, thumb stroking over your knuckles.

“Where is this coming from?” he asked softly. “Of course I… like you.”

The quiet sincerity in his voice only made your embarrassment worse.

“Then why don’t you kiss me?”

Your voice came out smaller than you intended, making him freeze.

“You never kiss me,” you continued quietly, refusing to meet his eyes. “Not when we meet, not when we leave… you never…”

God, hearing yourself say it out loud made you want to disappear.

You sounded childish. Greedy.

Meanwhile, he’d been nothing but gentle and considerate with you.

Maybe he really just…-

“Is that what was bothering you today?”

His voice pulled you out of your spiraling thoughts. It wasn’t teasing. Or judgmental.

Just curious.

Because of course he had noticed.

When you didn’t answer, Yongseung suddenly looked down with a quiet, helpless smile.

“I thought I was being too hasty.”

You looked up immediately, confused.

“What?”

“I thought I was being too hasty,” he repeated softer this time, almost laughing at himself. “I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

His eyes flickered down to your lips briefly before returning to your face.

“When all I wanted was to…”

Yongseung exhaled quietly, shaking his head a little. You had no idea how badly he wanted to kiss you… all those times.

Every hesitant gaze. Every little pause before good bye.

Even now, all he wanted was to kiss that little frown off your face until it disappeared completely.

If only he had known this was what had been bothering you.

Meanwhile your face burned hotter by the second.

Of course.

Of course he’d been thinking about your comfort the entire time while you were over here convincing yourself he didn’t want you.

You looked away, mortified, already opening your mouth to apologize.

Only for him to tug you gently back toward him.

Before you could say another word, his arm slid around your waist, pulling you close as he leaned down and pressed his lips against yours.

Everything in you stopped and then melted.

The kiss was everything you had imagined and somehow worse in the best possible way.

His lips were soft, warm against yours. Slow, but sure. There was no hesitation in him at all now.

Yongseung kissed like he did everything else, carefully, intentionally, like he was fully certain of what he wanted.

And right now, he wanted you.

Your fingers curled against his shirt as your heart pounded so hard you thought it might burst out of your chest entirely.

When he finally pulled back for air, you realized belatedly that you’d nearly forgotten to breathe.

Yongseung let out the softest laugh at the sight of your flushed face.

Your cheeks were pink, lips parted slightly, and there was the faintest pout forming now that he’d pulled away.

It hit him all at once then.

He would do anything for you. Anything just to see you smile.

His hands came up to cradle your face gently, thumbs brushing against your warm cheeks as he fought the urge to kiss you again immediately, long enough to speak.

“I like you,” he murmured softly, forehead resting against yours. “So much it’s actually killing me.”

The honesty in his voice made your stomach flip.

“If I’d known earlier…” he smiled quietly under his breath. “I wouldn’t have held back so long.”

Your face only grew warmer.

God, you had really been overthinking everything.

But the warmth blooming inside your chest now felt too overwhelming to care.

You were happy.

“Yongseung…”

The way you said his name nearly ruined him.

Soft. Breathless. Like it meant something precious.

He smiled helplessly.

“I’ll show you every day,” he whispered, gently squishing your cheeks between his hands, “just how much I like you.”

Then he leaned down again, kissing you once more while pulling you impossibly closer.

You couldn’t help giggling against his lips, the sound making his heart stumble embarrassingly hard as your arms wrapped around his neck.

“I’ll hold you to that promise,” you whispered back.

Chivalry wasn't dead after all.

...!

⋆˚࿔

When you returned at dusk, the forest should've welcomed you home. It always did.

Ancient trees always hung their branches in a reverence so silent, flowers bloomed wherever your footsteps landed.

But today everything felt distant and exhaustion clung to your soul like frost.

You hid it well, at least, you thought you did.

And when Gyehyeon greeted you at the door of your secluded cottage, he only smiled softly and reached for your hand. He didn't ask about the battle. Didn't question the way your movements were slower than usual. Stiff as if on guard.

But he watched and noticed like he always did. Sometimes you hated how easily he could read you.

"I'm fine."

It was a lie so terrible that you and even Gyehyeon knew. But still, he nodded. If you wanted to pretend, he'd let you.

You didn't even make it through the night.

The last thing you remembered was sitting beside the fireplace while Gyehyeon sorted herbs nearby.

Then darkness and then warmth, like energy spreading through your chest, through your veins, through every crevice, through wounds that shouldn't have been healing this quickly…

Your eyes snapped open, voice coming out rough. "Gyehyeon!"

But immediately you could feel it, his energy, a power flowing from his body into yours.

You grabbed his wrist hard, making the bluish glow flicker as he tensed up. Like he was caught doing something he shouldn't.

"...You're awake and…upset.."

You were. But not because of the injuries but because of him. Because he promised…

He always promised and always broke those promises whenever it involved you.

"You said you'd stop. I said I don't allow it." You muttered, voice quiet but not calm. You were angry.

His lowered his gaze. "I know."

"Then why are you doing this?"

He glanced up to meet your eyes, the answer to that coming instantly as though it was obvious. "You're hurt."

Your grip tightened, breath hitching. You couldn't believe him. "Gyehyeon."

"It doesn't matter."

"It does."

"It doesn't."

He insisted, the words leaving him more sharply than intended and for a moment silence filled the room.

He breathed out, his calm pretense breaking down and seeing that made your anger falter.

Because his eyes…they were terrified. Not of you. Never of you.

Of losing you.

"You weren't waking up."

His voice was quiet, barely audible like he was barely keeping it together. And he was.

"I called your name."

The light energy around his hands brightened again intensely despite your grip. "You weren't answering."

"Gyehyeon, stop..-"

A cough interrupted you.

A crimson stain spread across his lips, making your stomach dropped, the scent of blood immediately filled the room.

"Gyehyeon!"

Your voice cracked, reaching for his face instinctively even as he turned away slightly as if that would somehow hide it.

Another cough, more blood.

And suddenly your frustration gave way to fear. Terror.

You grabbed his face, ignoring his resistance, pulling him closer, forcing him to look at you.

His skin felt colder than before. Weaker.

"You exhausted yourself."

"I'm fine."

He always made you so furious.

"I'm fine," you mocked bitterly. “You're just a mere mortal… why do you always….” You trailed off, seeing his expression.

A faint smile was there on his face. He was smiling…like he'd somehow won.

Like seeing you awake made everything worth it. Even this. Especially this.

You hated it.

Hated how little he valued himself compared to you. As if his life weighed nothing. As if your existence alone justified every sacrifice.

"Why won't you ever listen to me?"

Your voice broke a little, painfully soft, something you had never allowed yourself to show before but everything about him made you act unlike yourself… You weren't supposed to…

Gyehyeon's expression softened because you sounded worried now.

And he loved when you worried.

It wasn't because he enjoyed your suffering but it reminded him that someone as untouchable as you cared.

"If something happened to you..." he whispered, trailing off, unable to finish, unable to imagine it.

You could and that terrified you.

The thought of him collapsing one day because he gave too much. The thought of his mortal lifespan shortening even further.

The thought of losing him….

No. You refused that.

Yet before you could speak, Gyehyeon leaned forward, his forehead touching yours.

A silent plea. He was nothing without his stubbornness.

"You're more important."

His words nearly made you angry enough to shake him.

Instead you pulled back, instead catching the back of his neck.

"Don't decide that for me."

His breath hitched slightly, expression faltering at the sudden movement. And that relieved you.

Because at that moment he finally looked fragile, like a mortal.

Like a human.

Like a healer who should have feared beings like you. A mortal who should have stayed away.

Yet years ago, during a winter so cold even rivers froze solid, he'd approached you without hesitation.

The feared spirit of the forest, the one people whispered about.

And he had simply smiled like he had already decided to like you. Despite all odds, despite all lines, all boundaries that should've never been crossed…

But he still found a way into your heart that you thought had long frozen over along with the terrain.

Or maybe he was the spring that came after…

What a ridiculous human.

An impossible human.

Your human….

You pushed him backward, with just enough force, protecting his head.

A surprised sound escaped him as his back hit the mattress.

You followed immediately, hovering over him. One hand planted beside his head.

And the other wiped away the blood lingering at the corner of his mouth before yours closed over his.

A metallic taste infiltrated your senses, mixed with a slight woody smell of holy basil and lavender, the smell of him…

He kissed back like you were the cure he needed and when you pulled back… You saw that his expression was softened and you hated it. That was the worst part.

How could he look so content?

Pinned beneath you, weakened, exhausted,

But still… he looked happier than ever.

Like this was exactly where he belonged, looking up at you as though his entire world began and ended with your existence. You couldn't believe him.

"You really are insane."

A quiet laugh escaped him. "You've told me that before."

"Many times."

"You'll probably tell me again."

You sighed, defeated. He was right.

Nothing would change, not his devotion, not your worry. Not the way he continued reaching for your hand despite trembling fingers.

And the way you intertwined them, holding tight… Like you wanted to anchor him here forever. With you. Forever.

The same hands capable of splitting mountains apart now trembling ever so slightly. Something in his chest tightened at that.

His eyes closed briefly, a quiet tenderness evident in his expression before he met your eyes again.

You looked at him the way people looked at dying stars as if the thought of losing him was unimaginable, hurting you….

And that feeling, an unbearably selfish feeling, made him happier than it should have.

Because Gyehyeon never feared death, he just feared the time he could no longer be beside you, the time where you would inevitably forget him in a few decades like he was just another season in your unending life.

But you, for the first time that night, fear surfaced in your chest. Not fear of enemies of fear of battle. Fear of time.

Of mortality. Of a future where his hand would no longer be warm.

He hated seeing you upset but still, there were just some things that's out of your reach no matter how powerful you were.

His thumb brushed gently across your knuckles. A quiet comfort. Meant for you. Yet he didn't speak on it and neither did you because that would only make it too real.

So instead, you remained silent.

His fingers curled weakly around yours and your free hand settled against his cheek in a quiet promise neither of you could fully keep.

Neither of you could fully surrender.

You would continue trying to protect him from himself. And Gyehyeon would continue spending every ounce of strength he possessed to protect you.

It was foolish, hopelessly so.

But again, neither of you had ever been particularly reasonable when it came to the other.

The future lingered at the edge of your thoughts like a distant storm neither of you wished to face. But tonight...

Tonight he was here beneath your touch and you were alive in his arms.

And for now, that would have to be enough.

⋆˚࿔

Kim Yongseung was a puzzle to you.

One that you hated.

At first, you were irritated by him, cold, unreadable, always carrying that faint, infuriating smirk like he knew something you didn’t. Like nothing about you could shake him.

But irritation, when left unchecked, rarely stayed what it was.

It twisted into curiosity. Then into something. Something that lingered longer than it should.

You knew better. You did. Someone like you, constantly watched, constantly judged, couldn’t afford mistakes like this.

One wrong move, one rumor, and everything you built could crumble.

And yet…

You were starting not to care.

So you tested him.

Small things at first, standing a little too close, brushing past him when there was more than enough space, letting your voice drop softer when you spoke to him. Watching. Waiting.

And you saw it.

The flicker.

The way his gaze lingered a second too long before snapping away. The subtle tightening of his grip at your waist when guiding you through crowds. The hesitation, so brief anyone else would miss it, every time you pushed just a little further.

He wasn’t unaffected.

And that only made you bolder.

But Yongseung…

He was stubborn. Controlled to a fault. A man who built walls not just to protect others, but himself.

And no matter how much you pushed, he stayed composed. Or at least, that’s what it looked like.

Which made doubt creep in.

Was it all in your head?

Were you imagining every glance, every almost-moment?

You needed to know. So you pushed harder.

Teasing turned…real. Your words lingered with intent now, not just playfulness.

You tested his limits openly, deliberately.

Even going so far as to use something you never cared about before, jealousy.

The club was loud, suffocating with heat and bodies, lights flashing just enough to blur everything into something straight from a dream.

You glanced at him from the corner of your eye as you pulled a stranger closer, someone whose name you hadn’t even bothered to remember.

Anything.

You were looking for anything.

A reaction. A sign that this wasn’t just you.

But Yongseung…

He didn’t move.

Didn’t react.

His face remained neutral, eyes scanning the room like always, like you were just another part of the environment he was assigned to monitor. Like none of this mattered.

How predictable.

You scoffed under your breath, irritation flaring, sharper than before.

The man beside you suddenly felt suffocating, his cologne too strong, his presence unwanted.

You pushed him away without a second thought, storming off toward the bar, frustration simmering just beneath your skin.

In the end, all you got out of it was your clothes ruined with a stranger’s scent.

Pathetic.

You grabbed the nearest glass of whisky off the table and downed it in one go, ignoring the startled protest from whoever it belonged to.

“Hey…!”

“Give me another…-”

Your voice came out sharper than intended as you reached for the bartender, fingers curling too tightly around the glass…-

Only to be stopped.

Firm hands wrapped around your wrists, pulling you back just enough to stop you from crossing yet another line.

Yongseung.

Of course.

“Ma’am…-”

“Leave me alone. Don’t touch me.”

You cut him off immediately, yanking your arms free and shoving at his chest, your glare sharp enough to cut.

The world tilted slightly as you stumbled, balance faltering…but he caught you before you could fall. He always did.

His grip was steady, careful despite the tension evident in the set of his jaw.

“You really…” he exhaled, something like frustration slipping through for once. “Just because you’re drunk doesn’t mean you can act like this.”

Stern. Controlled. Still trying to keep distance even while holding you together.

That restraint…

It only made something in you snap.

“Kiss me.”

The words left your mouth before you could take them back.

And his entire body froze.

“What…?”

For the first time, he faltered, truly faltered. His breath caught, eyes darting briefly around the room as if checking who might have heard, who might be watching, before settling back on you.

But you didn’t give him time to recover.

“Kiss me. Right now.”

Your hand tightened in his collar, pulling him closer until the space between you nearly disappeared.

Close enough to feel the shift in his breathing.

Close enough to see the crack in his composure.

Your gaze dropped, just for a second, to his lips and then back to his eyes. “I know you want to.”

“Ma’am…”

He exhaled like it was a warning, like if he kept his tone steady enough it’ll ground both of you.

His hands closed around your wrists, firm but careful as he pulled them away from his collar, putting space back where you keep trying to erase it.

“This isn’t… appropriate. Someone could…-”

Still reasoning. Still holding the line like it’s the only thing keeping him upright. Still logical.

God, he’s infuriating.

“Don’t you want me?”

The question slipped out soft but it landed heavy. The alcohol burned through your hesitation, stripping you down to something too honest, too exposed.

You tugged him closer again, stubborn even like this, your voice laced with something close to desperation.

“I know I want you. So why do you keep denying it?”

Your fingers tightened against him, like if you hold on hard enough, he won’t be able to slip back into that distance again.

“I know what you’re feeling.”

For a moment, just a moment,Yongseung stopped.

You’re still you. Fierce, relentless, refusing to back down.

But there’s something else now, something raw, something fragile beneath the fire that he’s never seen so clearly before.

And it did something to him.

Something he’s spent weeks, months, keeping buried.

“It’s not like that…”

He forced the words out, forcing himself back into place, tightening his grip just enough to stop you from pulling him in again.

“You’re drunk.”

Still avoiding it.

And you saw right through it.

“You’re still denying it…”

Your voice faltered, not loud, but enough. Your hand hit his chest, once, twice, no real strength behind it, more frustration than anger.

He didn’t stop you. Didn’t move. Just let you.

And then, tears. They come so suddenly it almost felt unfair.

“Am I so unlovable?”

It was quieter. Smaller. Like the question wasn’t meant to be heard at all.

Something in him broke at that.

His grip loosened, not letting go, just softening.

His gaze went to your face, something almost pained flashing through before he can hide it.

How could you even think that?

“I told you, that’s not it…” His voice dropped, less controlled now, less distant. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Liar…”

The word barely made it out before your strength gave way with it. Your hand slackened in his grasp, your body tipping forward before he caught you.

Still him. Always him..

And he exhaled, long and tired, like the weight of everything he’s been holding back finally pressed down on him.

“Idiot,” he muttered under his breath, but there’s no bite to it.

Just something soft.

He pulled you closer, arms steady as he lifted you, effortless, but felt different. Less like duty. More like something he shouldn’t let himself feel.

Because you didn’t know.

You didn’t know how hard he’s been holding himself back.

How every glance you gave him lingered longer than it should.

How your casual touches stayed on his skin long after you’ve pulled away.

How his jaw clenched when you leaned into someone else tonight, how for a split second, he almost forgot his place entirely.

He wanted to drag you away from that guy. He wanted to put distance between you and anyone else. Hell, he almost let himself punch that guy in the face…-

He sighed.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

But lately, he wasn't so sure what’s “supposed” to matter anymore….

By the time he got you back to your room, you’re barely conscious, your earlier fire reduced to soft breaths against his collar.

He set you down carefully on the bed, movements slow and gentle now.

Your heels came off first, then your makeup, his touch careful in a way that lingered just a little too long to be strictly professional.

Still he didn’t leave.

Even after the blanket is pulled up, even after everything that needed to be done is done, he stayed.

Standing there, looking at you.

His hand hovered over your face, hesitating like crossing that last inch would mean something he can’t take back.

Your words echoed in his mind

“Don’t you want me?”

His jaw tightened.

His thumb finally moved,just barely, brushing over the faint traces where your tears had dried.

And for the first time since this all started, he was sure.

...!

When you woke up, your mind was blank for a moment, like someone had wiped everything clean.

You blinked slowly, adjusting to the light as you pushed yourself up, your head throbbing just enough to remind you of last night. Not unbearable. Manageable.

You almost wished it wasn’t.

Because the moment clarity returned, it all came crashing back.

Your voice, your desperation. The way you’d looked at him.

His face.

A sharp gasp left you as your hands covered your face, heat rushing in all at once.

God. You felt sick.

You had begged. Practically begged.

And for what?

Something you were now convinced you’d imagined entirely. Every glance, every almost-touch, you must have built it all up in your head until it became something real. Something it never was.

“Pathetic…” you muttered under your breath, the word stinging more than it should.

The sound of the door opening made you freeze.

You looked up instinctively, only to snap your gaze away the second you saw him.

Your ears burned, your grip tightened against your blanket.

How were you supposed to face him now?

“You’re awake…”

Yongseung paused just inside the doorway, his eyes lingering on you, on the way you refused to look at him, before he forced himself to move again.

“…I got you hangover soup.”

You said nothing, keeping your gaze fixed anywhere but him as he approached, setting the package down on the bedside table with quiet care.

Silence stretched, until he broke it.

“About yesterday…-”

“Ah!”

You cut him off instantly with a shout, almost panicked, clapping your hands over your ears like that would somehow undo yesterday.

“I don’t remember anything!”

He paused then let out a quiet huff, something like amusement slipping through.

“You didn’t let me finish.”

His hand reached out, steady as ever, pulling yours away from your ears before you could protest.

You turned your face away again, unable to meet his eyes, embarrassment twisting with something heavier in your chest.

How long can you keep pretending?

“What’s there to finish…” Your voice dropped, quieter nowr. “You rejected me.”

“I begged like some desperate…-” your voice wavered despite yourself, your throat tightening as you tried to pull your hands free, “...-and you rejected me. And I cried.”

“Like some pathetic fool.”

His grip tightened, not enough to hurt, but enough to stop you from pulling away again.

“You’re not pathetic.”

The firmness in his voice made you pause, but you didn’t look at him.

Because if you did, you might break all over again.

“You don’t have to say that just because…-”

You didn’t get to finish.

Because suddenly, he moved, leaning forward. Not rushed nor careless but decisive.

His hand came up to your jaw, firm enough to stop you from turning away again, tilting your face toward him, and before your thoughts could catch up, before you could brace yourself…

His lips were on yours.

It wasn’t tentative but felt like restraint snapping.

Like something he had been holding back for far too long finally breaking through.

The force of it pushed you back onto the bed, your breath catching as the world tilted beneath you, his other hand bracing beside you, caging you in without hurting you, just enough to keep you there.

You froze, mind blank, your heart slamming against your ribs as the reality of it hit. This was real.

And then, you melted.

Your fingers curled into his shirt, pulling him closer without thinking, like you’d been waiting for this just as much as he had. His kiss deepened, not rushed but intense like he was making up for every moment he’d held back, every second he’d denied himself.

It left you breathless.

When he finally pulled back, it wasn’t far, his forehead nearly brushed yours, your breaths uneven, tangled together in the small space between you.

You stared at him, dazed.

“Yesterday…” your voice came out soft, shaky. “You said…”

“I won’t hide it anymore.”

His thumb brushed against your cheek, grounding, lingering, his voice low but certain.

“I did,” he admitted quietly. “I wanted to kiss you.”

Your chest tightened.

“Yesterday… when you asked.”

His jaw clenched slightly.

“But you were drunk.” His voice steadied again, deliberate now. “I needed you to be sober. To remember.”

His gaze locked onto yours, no distance.

“I wouldn’t have known what to do, if you forgot…,” His hand slid down to your waist.

“But now…”

He leaned in again, slower this time.

“I’m done holding back.”

And when he kissed you again, it was certain.

Still intense. Still consuming, but deliberate in a way that made your heart race all over again.

Like he’d made his choice.

And this time, he wasn’t letting go.

...!