Chapter Text
Junho had never been that interested in romantic relationships since he was a teenager—for many reasons actually.
One of these was time, he didn't had the time to meet people or get to know them deeply.
And if before he'd been too busy for relationships, after the first trip to the island he completely lost any interest—thanks to what happened with the damned VIP that has wanted to do unholy things to him.
He also wasn't sure of his sexuality. Did he liked women? Yes, he did. And men? He wasn't sure. And it had been perfectly fine that way... or atleast it had been until everything came crashing down when he met the leader of the mercenaries hired by Gihun.
The man was tall—taller than him. And he was undeniably handsome. But he made Junho feel things he had never felt for anyone before. At first it was just physical attraction. And Junho had to snap himself out of it before it turned into something deeper, something troublesome.
He watched him train, and he couldn't help but notice evey detail about him. It went on that way for a few days, but one day Junho woke up in the middie of the night, drenched in sweat and panic.
It wasn't the first time it happened, he was already used to that happening. So he stood up and headed to the kitchen for a glass of water.
He was halfway trough drinking it when a sound behind him started him. Turning around he was instantly faced with the leader of the mercenaries.
Junho couldn't help but let out a surprised yelp, nearly tripping over himself.
When he looked up, the man was staring at him with calm, expectant eyes. "Everything okay?" The taller man asked Junho.
Junho quickly straightened up, "Yeah, i was just... Thirsty" He said talking another sip, as if to prove his point.
The man raised an eyebrow, "Really? Thirsty at two in the morning?" He joked as if to ease the tension in the room.
Junho's eyes widened slightly, "Well, it's normal, at least for me." He said trying to mantain his composure.
"And you? Why are you awake at two in the morning?" Junho asked.
"I don't usually sleep" The man answered casually. "Old habit."
Junho hummed at that, his eyes briefly wandering to how the man's shirt outlined his muscles beneath the fabric.
"What's your name?" Junho asked suddenly.
The man looked slightly surprised by the question, but answered easily, "Kim"
"Junho"
"Mhm... So, Junho. You don't wanna tell me the real reason of why are you awake?" Kim asked gently."It's fine if you're not comfortable. Just asking" Kim reassured him, in part understanding him.
Junho hesitated, then nodded, For some reason he found himself wanting to open up. "A nightmare, almost every night is the same."
Kim hummed softly."Do u wanna talk about it?"
Junho's eyes widened a little. Was he really offering to listen?
Junho hesitated, he hadn't opened up to anyone since his brother dissapeared. "It's related to the island we're trying to find."
Kim didn't say anything, and when Junho looked at him he found the other's expression, a serene one, no judgement behind. Just quiet understanding.
Suddenly Junho felt his eyes stinging. But Junho quickly wiped them. "Yeah, i want to talk about it." Junho finally said to Kim.
"Then let's somewhere more comfortable." Kim said, gently placing a hand on Junho's waist,—perhaps without even realizing it. Junho noticed, but said nothing. He instead leaned on Kim. Seeking the comfort of his warmth and sincerity.
They went to Kim's room and sat together on the bed. Neither of them said anything when Junho rested his head on Kim's shoulder.
"It's just..." Junho began. "I don't know if Seong has told you all about this, but when he entered the games. I was there too also was. Not as a player though." Junho said, and paused, noticing the look on Kim's face, and continued.
"In that place there's a kind of hierarchy, or nivels of power and influence. At the bottom there are the players. Then there are the pink soldiers and above them all the Frontman. He's controls everything."
He paused briefly. "I infiltrated as a Pink Soldier at first. But to get to where i needed to be. I constantly changed masks, circle to square, because the squares had more power than the circle one that i had taken." Junho paused again.
Junho was growing more uncomfortable every passing second, but he pushed it all down, instead focusing in the other man's presence. So he kept talking.
"Then there are the VIP's, they're the ones that finance the games... and more. There were the waiters, they're the ones that serve the VIPs. So... I switched masks again—this time from a guard to waiter..."
Junho felt his eyes stung, but this time he just pressed himself more on Kim. "And... Then there was a VIP... That..." Junho looked at his hands, afraid of that if he looked up he would be meet with disgust—or worse, pity.
He clenched his hands into fists, and tried to stabilize his voice. "He was... Interested in me, i catched his attention, and he took me somewhere else, a private room. " Junho said, trying hard not to completely crumble in front of Kim, but it was getting harder as he vividly remembered everything. "Nothing happened, i stopped him before anything did happen..." Junho leaned closer to Kim.
Kim's fingers softly wiped away his tears, Junho hadn't even noticed he had started crying.
Kim didn't push him away, neither did he ask if there was more to what happened. He was just there, silently offering his presence. No words needed.
And Junho didn't have to think twice before burying himself into Kim's chest. Finally letting himself cry and Open up, display everything he hadn't told anyone before. It had been the first time someone had been willing to listen to him after what happened in the island.
Kim held him for hours until exhaustion took over and Junho fell asleep in Kim's arms.