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Who says a mafioso can't be indecisive and uncertain about common and useless stuff such as love? Well, Vincenzo is currently stepping into a rather secluded bar that doesn't look too unpleasant for his taste. Unclear about his feelings for Cha-Young he's out to contemplate just what kind of sentiments he has for the woman. Is it platonic or something more?
Vincenzo's eyes are fixated on the golden Zippo. So transparent that he can see his reflection through it from the many times he subconsciously rubbed on it, a course habit of his. He steps downtown, just around the corner of his new place at around two in the morning to get some fresh air for a drink. As a result of seeing the woman too many times. He needs to clear his head if he desires fair judgment.
Unknowingly, this late of time seems to be fairly popular with some other individuals as well. The one who's currently taking up the whole space and looming over the bar counter. A body built that is very hard to misunderstand for someone else's. The man has ample shoulders similar to that one of a Greek God. Though he wishes no interaction as seen, their first impression might have not been the best of them all—rather for him, it was a disaster. His condescending gaze couldn't help but judge every movement and action of the intern Lawyer, either too exaggerated, enough to bring shivers down his spine, or just blatantly sickening for a grown man to act that way. So he hopes to avoid people with such personalities. They'll only drag him down. Or so he believed he was sneaky, apparently not enough for the man on the counter to hear.
"Why? Are you trying to avoid me?" A dry voice calls out to him, deep with sarcasm and nonchalant.
Vincenzo halts in his tracks, closing his eyes and sighing in his heart, slowly turning around to smile awkwardly at the man who doesn't even spare him a glance, still drunkenly drinking his alcohol.
Joon-woo scoffs, swirling his glass while hazy eyes look ahead at the numerous row of liquors, "I don't blame you."
Vincenzo proceeds to go rigid. How's he supposed to get out of this one? It's just more complicated matters after another so with a silent intake he sits down on the stool beside the man who at glance appears to be tipsy but not intoxicated enough to spout nonsense. All the cheerfulness seems to have been pushed out of the window and what replaced it instead was a white paper. So blank in fact it's illegible and hard to interpret, a change so extreme from their meeting not so long ago.
Someone's personality cannot change so drastically in a span of such a short time. Unless they have something to hide.
Joon-woo seems to notice his very blatantly open staring and delivers him with a light scoff, a daring move considering how the man wouldn't stop squealing and shuffling around in their first meeting.
There's more to this man than meets the eye. However, it would not be appropriate for him to just barge in and ask questions without disrupting so he orders a Martini, while at the same time still showing disinterest in the man. He doesn't need to alert his guards. Unhurriedly he'll get the truth out of him one way or another.
The silence lingers, both of whom don't know how to start a proper conversation. If not for Cha-young they probably wouldn't have ever encountered each other. It's almost soaking up the whole place with their awkwardness until the saving grace that is the bartender pushes his drink to him.
Perhaps from the not-so-right atmosphere and with nothing to do Joon-woo spares him a glance and becomes the first to break out from the quiet rhythm they set up, crackling out loud. Helpless . What is going through his man's head? Vincenzo turns to face him while raising a judgmental eyebrow, "It truly does suit you."
Hit by sincerity and a lazy smile Vincenzo is overwhelmed and stupefied.
Seeing how stunned the Italian man is he proceeds to explain himself, shaking his head at his own antics. Probably found them just as silly as Vincenzo did. "They said what you drink tells a lot about your personality."
So suddenly? Nevertheless, Vincenzo doesn't back out from a challenge and can adapt pretty easily, playing along "Oh? May I inquire what it tells?"
Joon-woo seems to be mildly surprised by how he took the initiative to converse with him, assuming he'd be met with a deafening silence and so the man then begins to contemplate, sounding exaggerated and extravagant but pretty quickly confirms with a tug of the corner of his lips like the answer has always been on the tip of his tongue. Just waiting to be unleashed. "Hmm…you ordered a Martini. So basic," Joon-woo jeers with a playful raise of an eyebrow. It's enough to elicit Vincenzo's interest, gazing from his peripheral vision at the rosy face. "and boring."
"Why such use of words may I ask?" So refreshing is to be insulted. Vincenzo usually wouldn't find this amusing but it strangely did, laughing out loud as he sips his Martini, shaking his head in disbelief that something so dumb can be so entertaining. Perhaps it's the captivating refreshing tone in contrast to the high-pitched voice Joon-woo usually goes around with or the stunning sharp teeth brightening the whole face but he's getting drawn by his curiosity and forgetting little by little the real purpose of his trip here.
"You sure are intriguing."
The man quirks an eyebrow "What? Don't believe in my prospect?" Joon-woo seems relatively offended, growling lowly and threatening before dissolving into a puddle of ice cream on the counter and offering him a pout which on a big guy like him looks so peculiar but the soft locks are enough to smoothen the bad imprint. A big German Shepherd would he imagine him to be if not for the sharp remarks. Dogs follow their owner. This one doesn't.
He chuckles at this man's antics, swirling his drinks with the delicacy of the tips of his fingers, eyes occasionally stealing peeks to his left yet what pervades him every time is a tipsy brunet who smiles dumbly with a shit-eating grin while resting his head on his palm. His eyes are so breathtaking he can catch sight of dots of stars adorning the iris that reflects on the empty glass that the man is looking so intently.
Kind of off-put when the man stopped speaking, his eyes wandering everywhere. From the shape of the excessive brown locks to the way those shiny red lips seem to reflect on the empty glass while seemingly not up for a conversation anymore, poking the glass or brushing it from left to right.
How adorable. Wait . Vincenzo swiftly turns his head away, perplexed. He just thought a 1.8-meter-tall man was cute. He needs to get his eyes checked…one drink of Martini is not enough to get him tipsy though. He must be fully sober then, but why..? Taking a sneaky peek again it also seems the man isn't in such a good mood. If animal ears were real they would be dropped down pitifully on the man's hair. It takes him a lot of self-restraint to not just caress those lovely locks, and straighten them back so he could see those eyes more clearly.
It's also not the solution just to end it here. He's just barely getting started with the night and he's getting increasingly more inquisitive about this strange individual.
He should say something, shouldn't he?
"You have a good build." The tipsy brunet seems to be startled by his voice, barely in a whisper but the proximity must have been too close to comfort so he respectfully leaned back. He's testing his boundaries and this appears to be one of them. Just his luck to set it off. Joon-woo glances up from his trance to greet him with big eyes open wide with shock which swiftly turns into a ravishing smirk.
"Grazie, Vincenzo Cassano." (Thank you, Vincenzo Cassano) Joon-woo says with a heavy English accent, bowing exaggeratedly with a twirl of his hand, smiling with endearment, with the tips of glasses brushing his red lips and the Italian man can't take his eyes off, somehow mesmerized by the man he found annoying or off-putting.
His pronunciation has him in a chokehold, so ethereal hearing it coming from the lips of Joon-woo with what he interprets to be a soft gaze. A delicious dessert was displayed just for him to peel it down and savor slowly.
Vincenzo subconsciously leans closer. He who detests contact of any sort is allured and willing to have a small chat with him.
"You can speak Italian?" His interest is finally piqued, lips curling slightly in fascination.
Joon-woo nods, "So what?" a smirk plays on his lips, lifting an eyebrow, provoking him.
This push-and-shove trick is quite endearing he must say, might be the only exception he tolerates as well.
"No one ever said it right since..." Vincenzo's voice trails off. While speaking his eyes caught the action of how Joon-woo unintentionally wet his dry lips before putting upfront a shit-eating grin. "I wonder what those lips can be used for other than saying my name…" His intrusive thoughts are let out. From one part he's curious how the man would react. Would he be repulsed by his advance or reluctantly accept it? It's not his first time to be tempted by men and women alike and he came with the fact that he doesn't care as long as it comes mutually from both ways.
Vincenzo very innocently glances up, smiling like he's talking about a simple matter like the weather. He deliciously sips up the reaction, much better than he ever expected or imagined. Most likely catching off-guard the man in front of him who very sillily flutters their eyelashes. He must really have gone crazy today as a simple frown could make him wish to smoothen it away with a kiss.
"Ah?" It's the only response Vincenzo is sadly able to get from Joon-woo today, rolling his eyes to the side in contemplation. Is he purposely provoking him? Well, it's working. Vincenzo licks his dehydrated lips wet, seeing that exquisite neckline, exposed and just laid there for him would be a sin to not cover it with red spots or purple ones.
Joon-woo seems too out of his mind to notice all those not so pure glances, shaking his head before flickering the thoughts away.
Stillness.
Foreboding silence with the quiet clink of glasses and the bartender leaving his spot after a cue from Vincenzo, promising big money before turning the lights off to a soft tone, enough to still see the other face if facing each other.
"How old are you?"
"It's rude to ask for people's age, caro." Vincenzo swiftly turns his head and grins dissatisfied.
Joon-woo watches dazed, "I didn't take you for the sensitive kind." It's all the brunet could mutter out, covering his sharp tongue with a refreshing drink. "I'm in my late twenties."
Like he needs to prove himself he very bravely blurts out his age, getting all high and excited with a victorious scowl on his lips.
He doesn't know if he should be amazed, looking up with gentle lights landing on Joon-woo's hair and nose bridge. "You should call me Hyung then."
He spits out a matter of fact, unfazed when Joon-woo drops down back to his stool, evidently astonished, mumbling something under his breath which he easily hears with years of training. "How could it be?" And tilts his head closer to inspect him, anew interest growing inside of him. But soon grows exhausted and bored, resuming his solo drinking session.
"Why spend a lonely night alone drinking your heart out?" Vincenzo tries to change the subject, careful with the way he words it out, not too assertive and inquisitive while still expressing it in a delicate tone. He's slowly understanding how to fish out information from the brunet without demanding too much, ambiguous enough so he could chunk together the pieces.
"Stressful." Joon-woo scrunches up his nose, swaying his hand aimlessly in the air. How many drinks has it been? He lost count of it the moment he coincidentally encountered Vincenzo. Not a good first impression as with the man being part of Cha-young everyday life he lost more and more contact with her.
"Stressful day?"
"Mhm…" Joon-woo murmurs with droopy and tired eyes, slumped on the counter as rosy cheeks are softly squished by his strong arms. The things Vincenzo has to do to restrain himself from acting impulsively and might ruin his only chance with this man.
"I have a method that guarantees free stress relief," He whispers, words full of meaning with a light smirk playing on his lips but Joon-woo seems highly intrigued. "Do you wish to try it out?"
Joon-woo quivers his eyebrows, slowly leaning back as he looks at the ground, truly too drunk to take in the common sense of how this is obviously a trap.
He after all shrugs nonchalantly, "Why not?"
Vincenzo smiles knowingly.
How the little rabbit has fallen into his trap .
What is about to happen Vincenzo is going to blame the alcohol in his system talking.
A warm touch unexpectedly lands on Joon-woo's lips, gently and slowly prying them open to share a messy and open-mouthed kiss that feels too one-sided with how the brunet is not able to comprehend his situation anymore, frozen in place. However, Vincenzo doesn't mind, sucking the warm tongue and tilting his head to get a better angle to go deeper.
Only when both show signs of difficulty of breathing do they part ways.
"Grazie per il dolce." (Thank you for the dessert) Vincenzo gently nibbles on Joon-woo's abused swollen lips as his last parting gift, licking contentedly every last drop of his expensive drink which seems to taste even sweeter after drinking it from Joon-woo's mouth.
"You're delicious, dear."
Joon-woo stares with half-lidded eyes, absolutely dazed at what just occurred. After seconds of being paralyzed in place, he frantically touches his lips, flushing a crimson red as what passes between his eyes was not the cute and clumsy guy he remembers but something more twisted as he slowly glances up after touching the partly wounded bottom lip, like this is slightly amusing. No, he's amusing.
"Do you usually go all out for everyone?" Joon-woo asks, dawdling his words, just slightly, "Or am I an exception?"
Vincenzo watches how Joon-woo stirs, showing off his arms and thin waist. This time very much intentional.
"Do you want to be that one exception?" Vincenzo asks, eyes slowly darkening, gradually itching closer so that they could feel each other's hot breath.
Answering a question with a question is a classic coming from him honestly.
"Do I?"
Vincenzo chuckles lightly, "You can't answer a question with a question."
Joon-woo offers a smirk, "Back to you."
Vincenzo would have loved to stare into the abyss of those petrifying dull eyes but a quick glance at his watch is enough to make him stop his advances much to the disappointment and disdain of the brunet. "I'll take you home."
Furthermore, his feelings for the man in front of him are unclear and the least he should do in this situation is to take the man safely home.
Joon-woo quickly stops his gentlemanly manners, "No need." Seeing the quick rose of an eyebrow from Vincenzo he answers plainly or undoubtedly rejects his advances. "There are countless motorbikes that I can rent outside."
"Whatever suits your boat. Lawyer Jang." He doesn't insist anymore, swallowing down the last drop of his drink before fishing out a large sum of money, glancing at Joon-woo who refused his offer but doesn't even have the force to get up; he's so keen to just close an eye and pretend he never met this guy. Even worse is sensing his usual placate heart quicken in beat thinking of leaving the man in the cold, presumably to be robbed of brings pain to his heart.
Curse him for his awful luck. He's also partly responsible for getting the man drunker than he intended. With a leisurely pull of the arm, the totally intoxicated brunet is all over his personal space, smacking his lips and nestling contentedly on his chest while he aims to resist the urge to roll his eyes into the air. One look down might be just enough to cause his demise. Attractive but clumsy. Would be cuter if obedient but he loves a challenge. The fun stays in the training itself, not in the finishing project.
Dragging the bulky and tall man out was a challenge in itself since Joon-woo just felt he didn't want to cooperate so much after a while, struggling and trying to shake off his benevolent arms. It takes so little to not grit his teeth together and drop him here and there but with a long sigh he gazes up at the air, dead inside.
He looks around and there's nothing other than the cold breeze, the clear white moon, and his car to greet him at the door.
"Where's your so proclaimed motorbike?" Vincenzo casually wanted to tease the man but it does appear that today God is in his favor.
"..." It seems Joon-woo himself was quite surprised…or pissed, squinting his eyes to see an empty spot with his parked motorbike nowhere in sight.
"I'll take a taxi," Joon-woo mumbles out, pulling away from his warm embrace to sit on the side of the road, very pitiful to look at, like a cute fluffy dog, ears burning bright red in the cold with the street lamp yellow light coincidentally landing on the curled up figure. Such a sight brings out sympathy in him. He'd be a monster to leave a lovely subordinate of his out in the cold, all alone and freezing.
"Don't be stubborn, Hyung is going to take you home." For the first time, he finds amusing the pronunciation of the word Hyung, like a taunt to the younger man who appears to be stiff and not used to hearing it or being touched on the shoulder because they tense up before relaxing but still with his vigilante up.
"Can you not?" Joon-woo growls out, slapping his hand away with his shoulder.
Vincenzo chuckles slightly. Even after the incredibly rude action he still attempts a second time, not knowing when to cede and give up. Irritation bubbles inside Joon-woo for every poke and tap on his back, almost driving him on the verge of insanity as he swirls around to retort and bite the finger off. However, what confronts him is an angel without a halo. Two eyes crescenting into two beautiful teardrops after a rainy night welcomes him gently, under the soft cast light of the street lamp he's entranced by this beauty. It'd be a total understatement for Joon-woo to be at least mildly stunned, staring openly with a blank stare, so long that Vincenzo soon grows impatient and leans close to the ear to whisper sweet dirty words. "If you don't start to get a move on don't fault me for what I'm about to do." This was enough to break Joon-woo's illusion of an angel, pure and saint, instead, he sees a devil in an angel costume. Looks can be deceiving.
Like an alert little rabbit, Joon-woo stands up, delighting him who watches the man awkwardly walk to his car and try to open the passenger seats before jumping headfirst into the seat when he opens it and drops to the furthest corner, away from his eyes and touch.
He could only react by laughing. How could he resist such temptation?
The car rides back to his home after giving Vincenzo countless headaches and mild threats that if he didn't make up his mind soon he'd take him back to his home and it could be seen to be unbearable long to Hanseok who sobered a little, gazing out of the passing window with shrinking shoulders, trying to maintain that level of stupidity. He's pondering how his night ended up like this. How his first kiss was stolen by none other than his biggest enemy who is seen as a big danger to his way into Cha-Young's heart but somehow the roles are reversed and he's the one being played? A true victim.
They must have arrived at their destination because the car comes to a stop so he cautiously leans away from the door. Ready to open it himself when he's almost yanked away by the door handle that without him applying force swung open. The only thing that saved him from plunging miserably to the ground was the quick thinking of Vincenzo who supported him easily with a hand over his waist. Just like how he rescued him he gently pulls him back, offering a devilish smile and a palm for him to take.
Vincenzo's manners are starting to get unnerving, and clear contempt and uncomfortableness was on Joon-woo's expression, "You don't have to." He refutes, flustered. How could he play along anymore when all the touch, and caress the man does intentionally or unintentionally spread a warm feeling right on his skin? How weird. Hanseok believed to be immune to it or perhaps he just doesn't like to be treated in this delicate and fragile way.
The Italian man's welcoming palm never hesitates, gazing at him with two beautiful dark black gems. "I'm willing."
"My sincere gratitude then." Even being drunk to the point of not being able to stand on its own. The expression on Joon-woo appears to be more sincere, and expressive. More on the emotions of weary mocking. Ridiculing him for acting so gentlemanly with him, a man.
He chuckles, gently taking the hand in his, covering the head so Joon-woo wouldn't accidentally bump himself on it. This action itself catches the man's attention and the brunet could only give a tight-lipped smile, sneering softly later. So much for helping yet that's the only gratitude he gets but he needs to make it last because he'll grow used to it. No, he'll make sure of it.
"This is your house?"
Joon-woo squints, barely able to keep his eyes open, humming out softly, "Then, goodbye." He bows gently after clumsily bending down before smashing his lips and swirling around to his front yard yet he's hesitant, hand screeched out to stop the man. He himself is confused. Does he want him or not?
"Aspetta." (Wait)
Joon-woo halts, considering if he should turn around or not but does so in the end, slowly and unhurriedly. The only thing he sees flashing before his eyes it's an outstretched hand, pulling him by his nape and a warm lip soon lands on his. His eyes narrow with shock.
The moon casts soft white light, bringing out the charming shape of Vincenzo's features. His long eyelashes, trembling pitifully in the wind, high bridge nose. Taking this moment as an opportunity Vincenzo licks his quivering bottom lip, like a kitten licking its fur before deepening the kiss.
Joon-woo's hands lie pitifully lost on its side, reaching hesitantly to place it on Vincenzo's shoulder, not knowing if he wants to push the man away or rest there as a means of support. A gesture so subtle, in fact, Vincenzo, who is tipsy, smiles in the kiss. The Italian man continues with his exploration after confirming how Joon-woo wasn't exactly shoving him away, just a tad reluctant. Vincenzo's comforting and warm hands laying on his nape softly wander up to rub the brunet's hair and kisses his forehead, eyes so tender and heart-pounding.
At last, Vincenzo slowly parted, sighing softly through the cold night, smiling fondly. At last, latching their fingers together right in front of Joon-woo's bewildered eyes.
"Buonanotte." (Goodnight)
Joon-woo whose whole face seems to be astonished slowly defrosts and flutters his eyelashes, smiling broadly with wrinkles and twinkle showing in his eyes, "Buonanotte, Lawyer Cassano." The man speaks softly, as low as a hummingbird singing, touching his burning ears before dashing away without looking back, wiping his face with his arm, and cursing under his breath.
Joon-woo frantically almost tears his door open and slams it shut with great force, breathing heavily. His heart pounds so loudly for no reason. His cheeky smile drops to a grimace. Did he have to go that far for an act? Not only did he make a fool of himself but now he's in deep waters.
Was it all an act though?
Hanseok groans. There's no time to ponder such useless stuff. His head is hurting from a mere shake and dizziness soon took over him.
He really shouldn't have drunk so much to indulge Vincenzo.
That man is a beast. It was Hanseok's last thought before rushing to the bathroom and retching all that unpalatable cheap alcohol out of his system.
~~
"Wake up! Help me out here!" Joon-woo stiffens unnaturally, blinking to relieve his sleepiness, and sulks. He got hit in the head and got scolded. How great.
"Sunbaenim…" Cha-young narrows her eyes slightly, judging.
"Be thankful that I'm busy out here, otherwise, I'd have already filed a complaint for misconduct." Hanseok rolls his eyes silently inside. I know you won't do it. All air and no bark.
"Sunbaenim wouldn't do that to me…" He easily plays back into his persona, rushing to her side and starting to massage her shoulder, smiling from ear to ear.
"If you don't do it correctly I might."
Joon-woo starts to work even harder, almost hurting Cha-young. She tosses him away as he is not particularly good at anything other than his handsome looks and those muscles to die for.
Being back to guarding duty means going back to a trance, shifting once in a while to keep himself from sleeping. Even after expelling out most toxins from his system he's still not feeling quite well. Now that he considered this matter, perhaps he'd better have stayed at home but his plan to ask for leave is interrupted by a sharp knock on the front door.
Silence soon follows. More often than not, his desk is the furthest away from the door so it makes sense for the woman to fetch it and that could be seen to be a sort of habit because he dumbly stared at Cha-young like a lost puppy, incapable of doing something without an order from her while the knocks grow more repetitive and stubborn yet still maintains that deep calmness internally.
"Joon-woo go open the door!" Cha-young eventually screams out. With her being busy organizing all the documents because a certain intern is not competent enough of doing so, he could only very reluctantly do so.
With a sigh, he very sarcastically acknowledged, " Yes sunbaenim…"
How he wishes to roll his eyes. Cha-young's demands are getting more and more outrageous but he loves her, and he's willing to put up with her. That's love, right?
What greets him at the door might not be what he expected in a million years of time, frozen in place as he truly doesn't know what to do.
Why is he here? For Cha-young?
Vincenzo could only stare indifferently at how Joon-woo looked him up and down suspiciously with an overexaggerated pout and disdain clear in his brows with a dusting mop hanging casually over his shoulder, like a tug.
"Yes…?" Joon-woo answers hesitantly, corners quickly tugging up to form an awkward smile that screams. What do you want? Please leave. You're not taking Cha-young away from me!
As a form of protection, he shields Vincenzo away from Cha-young who glances up but could only see the tall stature of his hoobae, looming over the entrance of the door. She clicks her tongue, "Don't block the door! Who's it?"
Joon-woo shrinks his shoulders at the loud piercing voice, offering a half-apologetic simper to the woman before turning his head back to deal with him.
Vincenzo takes his frantic expression for air, clearly the eyes of someone who's plotting something, and instead, welcomes himself in, striding way too close for comfort to Joon-woo who steps back, not expecting him to even make such a move, alert and quite agitated as he almost stumbles back but Vincenzo caught him by the waist, delicate fingers support a thin yet rigid waist that would look best under the soft light of his house on his bed and sprawled on his clean sheets.
Noticing his ill intentions Joon-woo clears his throat and mumbles a half-heartedly thanks before politely backing off, adjusting and dusting off his suit.
Cha-young herself is pretty astonished, taking a second to catch herself and stand up to salute the incredulous presence of the Italian man in his office, accidentally pushing Joon-woo aside who lets out a soft grunt, gawping his eyes at her like a wounded puppy to then direct all his rage on him.
"What brings you here?" It's not generally common for her to question his nemesis routine and habits but she's actually astounded. Eyes shining with suspiciousness, "Oh, by the way, Joon-woo. Did I accidentally push you—"
She was not even able to finish her sentence when Vincenzo graciously puts forth a kind smile before walking past her, taking her for air as he ambles not toward her but to…Joon-woo?
Baffled. She stands stiff in shock, only hearing partly what they're talking about. She assumed he was here for her. It seems someone else is as well.
"Don't you want to know what happened last night?" Vincenzo casually tilts his head closer to Joon-woo and the man to avoid any type of contact with him hits the counter with his back.
The brunet blinks. Once, twice before replying with ease, "Not really," Joon-woo blatantly offers a stopping hand, "I remember everything." To Vincenzo's eyes, it's equivalent to. I don't black out easily.
Sigh. What a wasted opportunity. At least he's glad Joon-woo still recalls because he set up his mind and there's no turning back from here and on.
"Esci con me." (Go out with me) It's not a request but a demand. The detached gaze stares into Joon-woo's soul until he feels an icy chill go down his body.
"I—what?" Joon-woo appears to be bewildered, ruffling his messy hair, and the corner of his mouth tugs into an awkward chuckle, dying down when he glimpses how absolutely serious the counterpart is being. "...You're being for real?"
"Haha…" He then turns his head to seek help from the woman, scrunching his browns in a pleading, hoping Cha-young could get him out of this situation but it seems the woman is just as equally shocked as him.
"I thought of you when I picked these flowers." That was when Joon-woo actually looked with more attention at how a bouquet of flowers appeared from the hidden hands behind Vincenzo's back. He could only gape stupidly at the fresh flowers that emit a dull smell of something soft and subtly sweet.
Vincenzo has always been good at reading people's expressions and on Joon-woo's face other than utter perplexity and bafflement for this absurd situation there's a hint of revulsion, not for his confession but rather his gift. He presumed a feeble and romantic person like Joon-woo portrayed himself to be would love flowers and let out those cute giggles or embarrassed chuckles. Rather, he's met with a lost gaze, staring holes at the fresh flowers wrapped in a lovely arranged transparent plastic.
"You don't like flowers."
What kind of question is that? Of course, I don't like flowers. It's what goes through the mind and mindful expression of Hanseok but he seals them off with a joyful laugh, big and loud to thank him gracefully. while thinking inside of him. so unsightly are the flowers and a waste of money. Never have he ever got something so…useless yet it's fascinating how this is his first-ever gift so he should feel appreciative—At most the way he knows how to.
"Thank you but…what am I supposed to do with them…? They're just pretty to look at." He earns a judgemental raise of an eyebrow from Vincenzo, asking him to elaborate more.
"They're going to die eventually." Straight to the point. This should be enough for you to get the message fairly plainly. Scram you mafioso !
Vincenzo observes Joon-woo's face, perplexed before nodding. "I'll keep that in mind next time."
"What?! There's no next time." Joon-woo cries out of frustration, nearly snarling it out but tones down when seeing how Cha-young is still inside the room and watching him closely.
Vincenzo finds this subtle change amusing, taking it to his full advantage, and becoming bolder with his statements.
"You have to take responsibility." Vincenzo takes a step forward.
"For what?" Joon-woo nervously bends back over the desk with a slight tremor clear in his voice.
Vincenzo flashes a smirk, "You seduced me."
Joon-woo frowns, confounded, "I wasn't trying to."
Vincenzo shrugs, displaying a harmless grim, "Well, you succeeded anyway."
Their two-way conversation is immediately cut short by a relatively forced clear of the throat that both of them swiftly look up from. Both were clueless about how they were in a compromising position to outsiders and even more awkward to witness the horrifying sight.
"Okay, Romeo and Juliet finish your happy ending somewhere else." She has been standing there, suffocated and uncomfortable until she can't put up with it anymore. No, she won't see with her own eyes how his own hoobae captivated a dangerous and suspicious man like Vincenzo. She could only covet him the best wishes. "My eyes don't deserve to see such a horrendous sight."
In the end, they're kicked out of the office with the door slammed in their face by Cha-young. One is highly distressed the other is quite nonchalant, still waiting for an outcome to his confession.
"Listen," The man pinches his nose out of exasperation. "I don't like you, Lawyer Cassano." Joon-woo cruelly emphasizes his career, obviously setting a boundary between co-workers. No sympathy and expressivity as earlier, clearly displaying how disdainful it's to have this kind of conversation. "What we did last night was purely a mistake from both parties."
"No need to make this more complicated than it is."
Vincenzo slightly narrows his eyes at this quick change of mood and attitude, almost deemed disrespectful to his standard.
"Do you think you have a say in this, Legitimate head of Babel, Jang Hanseok?"
That seems to finally capture the undivided attention of the brunet who grows rigid His eyes shift from the humanity he has left to a big hideous smile, "Are you threatening me? " He's not entirely amazed how Vincenzo put two and two together but rather, he's still willing to chase him down after knowing his predatory and unreliable nature. How exciting.
Vincenzo shoots back with a simple lazy grin, hands so carelessly in the air, "Blame me for your miss doings?" He swiftly fishes out a document, tossing it at Joon-woo. No. Hanseok who opens it to see his fake identities, "or for the first kiss I just stole?"
Shameless is Hanseok's only thought, ripping apart the papers, and fuming inside but his company is full of surveillance cameras. Otherwise, he'd have already thrown a punch. He could only stiffly lift his corners, revealing sharp white teeth, "What do you want?"
Years of experience make it easy to interpret all the actions Vincenzo has done till now. He wants something. The answer might not be to his taste but rather, he doesn't have a choice here.
"Give me a chance."
Hanseok narrows his eyes like he's talking to a literal wall. Is he deaf? That's worrying, "I'm not capable of falling in love." Taking a big stride forward, he dissolves his mask, the act he kept putting on to fit in. Somewhat, he's pretty smug about it, as he's flexing it, "Nor will I ever do so." He might as well get right down to business so both will spare time and finish this conversation that has been prolonged for far too long.
Vincenzo tilts his head, giving him a complex gaze. "Rules are meant to be broken, ain't that right, amore?"
The fingers rub lovingly across Hanseok's chin who blinks steadily, pondering if he's willing to take this risk not realizing how a vicious snake has already a smirk formed on their lips and is admiring very appreciatively the way his hand delicately graze over the brunet waist, perfectly fit for his palm.
"Quindi?" (So) Vincenzo asks gently, unhurriedly. He flutters his eyelashes up, offering a lazy Cheshire cat grin.
Hanseok yanks his chin away, gazing down condescendingly with a puffed-up chest and pride. A very malicious smirk made its way on his lips, "Go ahead."
"I'd like to see you try."
Hanseok has just fallen down a pitch-black rabbit hole, entranced by the beauty that kept their hold tight in their restraint, not willing anytime soon to let go for it to wander on the surface again.
Extra:
So tell him, how did he end up pinned on a wall in some random pitch-black room with a hot mouth all over his neck?
He's dizzy and overall very confused,