Work Text:
✧ The Warmth We Hold ✧
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The late-afternoon sun poured through the wide windows of the briefing room, casting long, honey-colored rectangles across the cluttered wooden tables. Reports, monster migration maps, and empty paper coffee cups were scattered in chaotic piles, a testament to the three consecutive days the team had spent tracking a rogue guild of subterranean monsters.
Kim Rok Soo slumped in his chair, his chin resting against his folded arm on the cool surface of the desk. His dark hair was messy, sticking up in strange angles, and his eyes were half-closed, heavy with exhaustion. He looked like a stray cat that had been caught in the rain and then left to dry near a radiator—thoroughly drained, slightly disheveled, and completely indifferent to the world around him.
A soft, heavy warmth settled over his shoulders.
Rok Soo didn’t even flinch. He recognized the smell immediately—bitter dark coffee, faint tobacco, and the crisp, clean scent of iron and ozone that always seemed to cling to Lee Soo Hyuk. He blinked sleepily, looking down to see Soo Hyuk’s black leather team leader jacket draped neatly over his back.
"I told you not to fall asleep with the window cracked," a deep, low voice rumbled from directly behind him. "You catch a cold if the temperature drops even two degrees, Rok Soo."
"I'm not asleep," Rok Soo mumbled, his voice muffled against his forearm. "I was just thinking with my eyes closed."
A light chuckle sounded above him, rich and warm. Big, calloused hands reached down, gently grasping Rok Soo’s shoulders and pulling him back into an upright position. Rok Soo let himself be moved like a ragdoll, offering zero resistance as Lee Soo Hyuk stepped around the desk and pulled up a chair directly beside him.
Lee Soo Hyuk looked effortlessly composed, as he always did, though the faint violet shadows under his eyes betrayed his own fatigue. He reached out, his thumb gently smoothing over the crease between Rok Soo’s eyebrows.
"You're terrible at lying," Soo Hyuk said, his tone dripping with fond exasperation. He adjusted the jacket around Rok Soo’s shoulders, tucking the lapels closely around his neck. "The briefing is over. The team left twenty minutes ago."
Rok Soo blinked slowly. "Why didn't you wake me?"
"Because you looked like you were about to pass out on top of the casualty reports," Soo Hyuk replied smoothly. He leaned in closer, his dark eyes sparkling with quiet amusement. "And because you look cute when you're too tired to put up your usual thorns."
Rok Soo scowled, though there was no real bite to it. "I don't have thorns. I just prefer efficiency. Resting is efficient."
"Is that what we're calling it now?" Soo Hyuk teased. He leaned forward, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against Rok Soo’s temple. His lips were warm against Rok Soo’s cool skin. "Come on. Let's go home. You've earned a break."
"Home" was a modest, surprisingly cozy apartment a few blocks away from the central shelter headquarters. It was small, but it was safe, reinforced with structural barrier stones and filled with soft blankets that Soo Hyuk insisted on buying whenever they had extra allowance.
The walk back was quiet. Soo Hyuk kept his broad hand firmly wrapped around Rok Soo’s smaller one, his thumb occasionally rubbing gentle circles over the back of Rok Soo’s knuckles. Rok Soo let his fingers stay loosely intertwined, leaning slightly into Soo Hyuk’s side as they walked through the quiet streets. Every time a cool evening breeze blew past, Soo Hyuk would shift his posture just enough to shield Rok Soo from the draft.
Once inside the apartment, the quiet routine took over. Soo Hyuk immediately shed his boots, kicked off his outer gear, and headed toward the kitchen.
"Sit on the couch," Soo Hyuk ordered gently over his shoulder. "I'll make something warm."
Rok Soo didn't argue. He padded into the living room, practically dragging his feet, and collapsed onto the plush fabric of the sofa. He pulled a thick knitted blanket over his lap and buried his face into a throw pillow. He could hear the hum of the electric kettle, the quiet clinking of mugs, and the steady, reassuring footsteps of the man he trusted more than anyone else in this ruined world.
A few minutes later, the cushion sank beside him. A steaming mug of sweet honey tea was pressed into Rok Soo’s hands.
"Drink it slowly," Soo Hyuk murmured, wrapping his arms around Rok Soo’s waist from behind and pulling the younger man back against his broad chest.
Rok Soo took a slow sip, the warm liquid soothing his parched throat. He leaned his head back against Soo Hyuk’s shoulder, letting his eyes close again. "You're pampering me too much."
"Impossible," Soo Hyuk murmured, his cheek resting against Rok Soo’s hair. "You work yourself to the bone every single day trying to keep everyone alive with those crazy plans of yours. The least I can do is make sure you're fed and warm."
Rok Soo hummed, a low, contented sound. He set the empty mug on the side table and shifted around in Soo Hyuk’s lap, turning so he was facing the older man. He rested his hands on Soo Hyuk’s chest, feeling the steady, strong beat of his heart under his palm.
"I'm not made of glass, Hyung," Rok Soo whispered, his dark eyes searching Soo Hyuk’s face.
"I know you're not," Soo Hyuk softly replied. His long fingers traced the line of Rok Soo’s jawline, tilting his chin upward slightly. "You're the toughest bastard I know. But that doesn't mean I don't want to hold you."
Soo Hyuk leaned down, pressing his lips to Rok Soo’s in a tender, unhurried kiss. It was soft, sweet, and filled with a deep, quiet devotion that made Rok Soo’s breath hitch. Rok Soo’s fingers tightened into the fabric of Soo Hyuk’s shirt, pulling him just a little bit closer.
When Soo Hyuk pulled back slightly, his eyes were darker, the soft affectionate curve of his lips replaced by a quiet, intense heat. His hand slid down from Rok Soo’s jaw, moving slowly over the shell of his ear, down his neck, and resting over the collarbone exposed by Rok Soo’s loose shirt.
"Still tired?" Soo Hyuk asked, his voice dropping an octave, turning rough and low.
Rok Soo felt a shiver run down his spine, a thrum of heat pooling low in his stomach. He shook his head slowly. "Not anymore."
Soo Hyuk smiled—a slow, predatory, yet breathtakingly handsome expression. Without another word, he slid his arms under Rok Soo’s thighs and back, lifting him effortlessly off the couch. Rok Soo let out a startled soft gasp, his arms instantly wrapping around Soo Hyuk’s neck as he was carried into the dimly lit bedroom.
The mattress yielded softly as Soo Hyuk laid Rok Soo down, immediately hovering over him. The cool night air felt sharp against Rok Soo’s skin as Soo Hyuk unbuttoned his shirt with practiced, deliberate fingers, parting the fabric to expose the pale expanse of his chest.
Soo Hyuk leaned down, brushing his lips against the sensitive dip where Rok Soo’s neck met his shoulder. Rok Soo tilted his head back, letting out a breathy sigh as Soo Hyuk’s teeth lightly grazed the skin, leaving a warm, mark behind.
"Hyung..." Rok Soo murmured, his voice laced with a raspy need he rarely allowed anyone else to hear. His hands found their way into Soo Hyuk’s dark hair, gripping the strands tightly as the older man shifted down, placing firm, pressing kisses down his ribs.
Soo Hyuk’s hands were broad, calloused, and hot against Rok Soo’s skin. Every place he touched seemed to ignite a quiet fire under Rok Soo’s nerves. He stripped away the remaining clothes smoothly, taking his time to admire the slender, pale lines of Rok Soo’s body under the moonlight filtering through the blinds.
"Look at me, Rok Soo," Soo Hyuk commanded softly.
Rok Soo forced his heavy eyelids open, staring up into the deep, fierce gaze of his team leader. Soo Hyuk coaxed Rok Soo’s thighs open, stepping between them, his presence entirely overwhelming, grounded, and secure.
When Soo Hyuk worked two fingers inside, slick and slow, Rok Soo bit his bottom lip, a low groan escaping his chest. The touch was careful, meticulously stretching him, ensuring he was ready. Soo Hyuk nudged Rok Soo’s chin with his knuckles until Rok Soo let go of his lip. "Don't bite yourself. Let me hear you."
Soo Hyuk added a third finger, pressing firmly against the sensitive spot inside that made Rok Soo’s toes curl and his back arch off the bed. "Ah—Hyung—!"
"That's it," Soo Hyuk praised quietly, leaning down to capture Rok Soo’s lips in a deep, wet kiss, swallowing the soft whimpers that followed.
Satisfied that Rok Soo was open and pliable, Soo Hyuk withdrew his fingers and aligned himself at the entrance. He paused for a brief second, his eyes locking onto Rok Soo’s with unwavering intensity. "Okay?"
Rok Soo nodded frantically, his hands sliding down to grip Soo Hyuk’s broad shoulders. "Just... hurry up."
Soo Hyuk chuckled softly against his neck before pushing forward, slowly filling Rok Soo in one long, firm motion. Rok Soo let out a sharp gasp, his legs wrapping tightly around Soo Hyuk’s waist as his chest heaved. The feeling of being completely possessed by the man above him was overwhelming in the best possible way.
Soo Hyuk stayed still for a moment, letting Rok Soo adjust to the fullness, before he began to move. His thrusts were deliberate, deep, and measured, striking the sweet spot inside Rok Soo with agonizing precision.
"Ah! Soo Hyuk—ah!" Rok Soo cried out, his hands slipping on the slick skin of Soo Hyuk’s back.
"You're so tight, Rok Soo," Soo Hyuk growled softly, increasing his pace, his hips rhythmically snapping against Rok Soo’s thighs. Each impact drove a sharp wave of pleasure straight to Rok Soo’s head, shattering whatever calm composure he had left.
The sound of skin slapping against skin, mingled with heavy breathing and Rok Soo’s uncharacteristic, breathless soft moans, filled the quiet room. Soo Hyuk leaned down, planting one hand beside Rok Soo’s head to anchor himself while the other reached down between their bodies, wrapping around Rok Soo’s leaking length.
"Hyung, wait—I'm—" Rok Soo gasped, his eyes wide, pupils dilated with pure pleasure as the dual stimulation pushed him straight over the edge.
"Go ahead, sweet heart. Take it," Soo Hyuk murmured near his ear, stroking him in fast, tight strokes while continuing his unrelenting rhythm inside.
With a high, trembling cry, Rok Soo arched his back, his body shuddering violently as he spilled over Soo Hyuk’s hand and their stomachs. The intense clenching of Rok Soo’s walls snapped Soo Hyuk’s self-control entirely; with a few more hard, deep thrusts, Soo Hyuk groaned softly, coming deep inside him.
Silence settled over the room, broken only by their ragged, synchronized breathing.
Soo Hyuk slowly withdrew, eliciting a soft whine from Rok Soo, before immediately pulling the younger man up against his chest. He grabbed a cloth from the nightstand to quickly clean them both off before pulling the heavy winter blanket over their shoulders, trapping their combined body heat inside the cozy cocoon.
Rok Soo was completely boneless, his forehead resting against the crook of Soo Hyuk’s neck. His skin was flushed, damp with sweat, and completely relaxed.
Soo Hyuk wrapped his long arms tightly around Rok Soo’s waist, holding him close, his chest rising and falling in a steady, comforting rhythm. He pressed a long, tender kiss into Rok Soo’s messy hair.
"You okay?" Soo Hyuk asked softly, his voice full of warmth.
Rok Soo let out a contented, lazy sigh, burying his face deeper into Soo Hyuk’s neck, taking in the familiar scent of dark coffee and safety.
"I'm fine," Rok Soo whispered, his fingers lightly tracing the muscles on Soo Hyuk’s arm. "Just... don't let go."
Soo Hyuk smiled in the dark, pulling the blanket higher to cover Rok Soo’s shoulders. "Never. Go to sleep, Rok Soo."
Wrapped in the warmth of the man who held the entire world on his shoulders, Kim Rok Soo finally closed his eyes, falling into a deep, peaceful sleep.
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The morning sun streamed brightly through the small apartment kitchen window, bringing with it the unmistakable, rich aroma of frying eggs and strong coffee.
Kim Rok Soo winced as he slowly shifted under the warm weight of the heavy quilt, every muscle in his lower back stiff and aching with a very specific, lingering soreness. He let out a low, discontented groan and buried his face deeper into the pillow, determined to ignore the reality of waking up.
"Wake up, slacker. Sun's been up for an hour."
The deep, fond voice came from right beside him. Rok Soo opened one eye to see Lee Soo Hyuk sitting on the edge of the mattress, already fully dressed in his clean field uniform. Soo Hyuk’s hair was still slightly damp from the shower, and he looked annoyingly refreshed for a man who had been awake late into the night.
"Go away," Rok Soo grumbled, his voice rough and scratchy. "I'm on leave today. I'm legally required to stay in bed."
Soo Hyuk chuckled softly, leaning down to press a warm, lingering kiss to the crown of Rok Soo's head. "You earned the rest. But you still need to eat breakfast."
Before Rok Soo could argue, Soo Hyuk gently reached under the blanket, pulling Rok Soo into a sitting position and handing him a soft flannel shirt. Rok Soo let out another soft sigh, lazily slipping his arms into the sleeves while Soo Hyuk patiently buttoned it up for him, his fingers occasionally brushing against the faint reddish marks scattered across Rok Soo's collarbone.
Once Rok Soo was relatively presentable, Soo Hyuk slid an arm around his waist, practically carrying half his weight as they walked out into the small living room.
"Look who finally decided to join the living!" a loud, cheerful voice boomed from the kitchen counter.
Choi Jung Soo was standing by the stove, spatula in hand, grinning like a madman. The moment his eyes landed on the pair—specifically on the way Rok Soo was heavily leaning against Soo Hyuk with a slightly awkward stride—Jung Soo’s grin widened into something downright mischievous.
"Good morning, Team Leader! Good morning, Rok Soo-ya!" Jung Soo chimed, tossing a fried egg onto a plate with dramatic flair. "Did you two sleep well? Or... wait, did you even sleep at all?"
Rok Soo froze, his expression instantly dropping into a flat, unbothered stare. "Jung Soo. Be quiet."
"What? I'm just asking!" Jung Soo said, putting on an innocent expression that wouldn't fool a subterranean mole monster. He leaned over the counter, pointing his spatula at Rok Soo. "I mean, I came by last night around midnight to drop off the patrol logs, but the door was locked. And then I heard—"
"Choi Jung Soo," Soo Hyuk interrupted, though the corners of his lips were twitching with suppressed amusement as he guided Rok Soo down into a padded chair at the dining table. "Eat your breakfast."
"I'm just saying!" Jung Soo laughed, pulling out a chair and slumping into it right across from them. He rested his chin on his hands, peering intensely at Rok Soo. "Rok Soo-ya, your neck looks like a battleground. Did a rogue monster sneak in through the window, or was it just our dear Team Leader being ruthless as usual?"
Rok Soo reached for his cup of coffee, taking a slow, deliberate sip before glaring at his team member. "If you don't shut your mouth in the next three seconds, I'm going to double your administrative paperwork for the rest of the month."
"You can't do that, you're not the Team Leader!" Jung Soo wheezed, shaking with laughter. "Besides, Leader-nim would never let you overwork yourself like that. Right, Hyung?"
Soo Hyuk sat down right next to Rok Soo, placing a plate loaded with eggs, toast, and thick slices of ham in front of his younger lover. He casually draped one broad arm over the back of Rok Soo's chair, his thumb lightly stroking the back of Rok Soo's neck where his shirt collar met his hair.
"Actually, Jung Soo, Rok Soo handles the paperwork scheduling," Soo Hyuk said smoothly, taking a bite of his own toast. "If he wants to give you double shifts, I won't stop him."
"Traitor!" Jung Soo gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. "You are picking on me! Is this how you treat your favorite dongsaeng, Hyung?"
Rok Soo ignored the banter, picking up his fork. However, as he shifted in his seat, a sudden sharp twinge in his hip made him wince, his shoulders tensing up.
Instantly, Soo Hyuk's playful aura vanished. His hand moved from the back of the chair down to Rok Soo's lower back, rubbing firm, gentle circles right through the fabric of his shirt to ease the tension. "Hurts?" Soo Hyuk asked softly, his voice dropping into that quiet, intimate tone reserved only for Rok Soo. "I told you we should have stretched earlier."
"I'm fine," Rok Soo murmured, his cheeks flushing a faint pink as he leaned imperceptibly into the soothing warmth of Soo Hyuk's palm. "Stop hovering."
"I'm not hovering, I'm taking care of my slacker," Soo Hyuk replied with a faint, handsome smirk, leaning down to press a soft kiss right against Rok Soo's burning cheek.
Across the table, Jung Soo stared at the two of them, his spatula suspended in mid-air. He looked back and forth between Soo Hyuk's ridiculously gentle expression and Rok Soo's quiet, resigned acceptance of the affection.
"Okay, whoa, alright," Jung Soo groaned, dropping his head onto the wooden table with a loud thud. "Please stop. I am literally sitting right here. I am eating my eggs. Do you have to be this sickeningly sweet at eight in the morning?"
Rok Soo chewed his toast calmly. "You're the one who refused to leave."
"This is my apartment too on weekends!" Jung Soo whined, peeking up from the table with a pouted lip. "I am being a third-wheel in broad daylight. Look at this! Hyung, you haven't looked at me with that much affection since I joined the squad!"
"That's because you don't do your report logs on time," Soo Hyuk replied without missing a beat, though he pulled a spare cushion from an empty chair and tossed it behind Rok Soo's back to make him more comfortable.
Rok Soo leaned back against the cushion with a quiet sigh of relief, the subtle ache easing up. He looked over at Jung Soo, whose dramatic pouting was failing miserably to hide his genuine, fond smile.
"If you're so lonely, Jung Soo," Rok Soo said, a faint, rare trace of amusement touching the corners of his lips, "go find your own team leader to bother."
"No way," Jung Soo declared, sitting up straight and grabbing his fork again with renewed vigor. "No other team leader makes breakfast this good, and no one else lets me tease them without getting punched. I'm staying right here to be the most annoying third wheel in history."
Soo Hyuk just laughed, shaking his head as he reached over to ruffle Jung Soo's hair, before returning his hand to rest warm and heavy over Rok Soo's thigh beneath the table. Rok Soo didn't pull away, letting the steady heat ground him as the morning filled with the noisy, comfortable warmth of the only family he needed.
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