Archive of Our Own

The dry scraping of a lead pencil against paper and the occasional rustle of a plastic snack bag are the only sounds filling Seongje’s living room after lunch.

He's stretched out on the couch, one leg propped on the edge while a thick textbook rests against his thigh.

His moves are meticulous, marking precise and narrow notes into the margins as he digests a heavy chapter of legislation and legal property rights.

On the floor beside the couch, Hyuntak lies sprawled on his stomach, papers and highlighters scattered around him in a chaotic circle while a bag of chips sits open near his elbow.

Without even lifting his eyes from the page he's reading, Seongje speaks in a low, even tone.

"Don't drop crumbs on the rug."

Ready to snap back that he isn’t a fucking child that needs chaperoning, Hyuntak’s brows furrow. But as he glances down, he notices a faint trail of chip dust over his notes. Muttering a sharp curse under his breath, he quickly brushes them onto his palm and shoves them into the bag. 

"I wasn't dropping anything." he grumbles anyway, rolling onto his back with a loud sigh. He snaps his notebook shut, tossing it onto the flor before sitting up and leaning his back against the base of the couch. Staring up at the ceiling, he complains. "I'm bored already. We should do something." 

Seongje still doesn’t pause his reading. "I'll take you out for a walk later. Don't get impatient." 

"Fuck you." 

Hyuntak pushes himself off the carpet and climbs onto the couch. Without asking, he shifts directly into his boyfriend’s space, sliding between his spread legs and sinking his weight onto Seongje's chest. He ducks his head straight under the boy's arms–which are still holding the heavy textbook in the air–and rests his chin against his t-shirt, squinting at the dense block of text. 

"What is this even about?" he asks, pretending to scan the legal jargon.

"Software legislation and system compliance." Seongje replies calmly, adjusting his grip on the notebook so it doesn’t hit his boyfriend in the head. 

"Woah, interesting." Hyuntak deadpans, nodding with fake gravity. "What exactly is the exam about?"

Hyuntak stays right there, his behavior shifting into something distinctly and suspiciously soft as he listens to his boyfriend talk about the subject. He leans up to press a quick kiss against Seongje’s jawline, then another near the corner of his mouth. His fingers sneak beneath the hem of Seongje’s shirt, his palms warm as they idly trace the firm line of his abdomen. He hitches one muscular leg over Seongje's thinner thigh, completely tangling their limbs together.

Seongje endures the sudden barrage of affection for a few moments, the tip of his pencil hovering over the page as he speaks. He glances down at the top of Hyuntak's head, narrowing his eyes slightly. The sudden display of clinginess–combined with an unprecedented interest in software legislation–is way too far out of character.

"What's wrong with you?" he asks, his voice full of suspicion.

Hyuntak blinks up at him, wide-eyed and being the absolute picture of innocence. "What? Nothing, I'm just listening."

He keeps up the act for another minute, continuing his soft and distracting caresses while Seongje tries–and fails–to focus on a single sentence. Finally, Seongje lets out a breath and rests the book against Hyuntak’s broad back.

"Alright, cut it out." he says with a defeated sigh. "Tell me what you actually want, or stop acting like a needy kitten." 

Groaning, Hyuntak blows a breath out against Seongje as he pushes himself up, resting his palms over his boyfriend’s chest to look down at him.

"Baku got a new job," Hyuntak admits, defeated. "Like–a real good one. So we're celebrating." 

Seongje raises a single, unimpressed  eyebrow. "And?" 

"And what?" 

"I don’t know, who was desperate enough to hire an idiot like him?" Seongje drawls. 

"Don't be a dick." Hyuntak slaps his shoulder. "We're all meeting up at Juntae's place for dinner to celebrate." 

"Oh, okay. Have fun, then," Seongje says smoothly, lifting his book back up with one hand while the other caresses Hyuntak’s forearm. "Go ahead, I have to finish this anyway." 

"No," Hyuntak insists, tugging the top of the book down so Seongje has to look at him again. "I want you to come with me.”

"Not a chance," Seongje answers without hesitation. "Especially not to celebrate a single thing for that insufferable bastard." 

"Yeongi's gonna be there too." Hyuntak comments, trying a different angle. 

Seongje blinks. "Is that supposed to change my mind?" 

"I thought you liked her," Hyuntak says, brows furrowing.

"'Like' is a big word." the taller boy replies with–what now Hyuntak knows is pretended–uninterest for the girl. 

Hyuntak huffs, letting his head drop back for a second in exasperation. "Everyone else is bringing their partners. I'm gonna be the only dumbass sitting there alone because my boyfriend is a childish fucking idiot." 

"Your friends don't particularly care for me either," Seongje points out with a faint and amused smirk touching his lips. "I guarantee you none of them want me invading their little gathering." 

"But I want you there," Hyuntak argues, brows furrowing deeper than before. "Is that not enough?" 

"Don't play that card." 

Hyuntak stares at him for a beat, realizing that the usual confrontation isn’t working. His eyes narrow slightly as he switches tactics, shifting seamlessly into something he knows Seongje is utterly defenseless against.

"Fine," he says softly, shifting his weight as if he’s preparing to get off Seongje. "Don't come, it's alright. After dinner, everyone's probably gonna hit a club near campus anyway." 

Seongje's eyes snap from the book to his boyfriend before the words even finish forming in Hyuntak’s mouth, just like a moth to a flame.

"You're right, it’s not a big deal," Hyuntak continues, his tone turning shamelessly cheeky as a sharp smirk tugs at the corner of his lips. "People from university parties are always super welcoming to me, I don’t know why that is, really. So I’m sure I won't be sitting along for long."

Seongje's jaw clenches, a dark and dangerous edge bleeding into his expression. He's practically boiling underneath, his fingers digging into the spine of the book, but he fights to keep his posture relaxed and unbothered. 

"Don't get cute with me, Hyuntak. You’re pushing it," Seongje warns, his tone low. 

"But what else can I do?" Hyuntak counters smoothly, leaning in just close enough for his breath to brush Seongje's cheek. "I'm here asking you to come with me and you don’t want to. If you want to leave me to fend for myself, it’s okay." 

A low and harsh scoff leaves Seongje’s mouth, his hand coming up to grab Hyuntak’s jaw. 

"Don't play stupid with me. You know what you do to people and you love it." 

"I don’t know what you're talking about," Hyuntak says, his voice muffled by the grip of a large hand on his jaw, forcing his lips in a pout. He blinks with fake innocence despite the dark satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. 

With his mouth set in a tight line, Seongje stares at him. He's stubbornly holding on to his negative response, refusing to give Hyuntak the satisfaction of caving in right away, even as his head burns at the thought of his boyfriend surrounded by strangers in a crowded club.

"I'm still not going to that damn dinner," he grits out, his thumb pressing firmly into Hyuntak’s soft cheek. "Set one foot in a club, though, and I'm showing up. And you're not moving an inch away from my side the entire night. If anyone does so much as look at you for more than three seconds, they're dead." 

Hyuntak’s lips twitch, unable to hold back a triumphant, wicked smirk once Seongje’s grip loosens and just holds his jaw now. 

"That a threat?"

"You wanna check it?" Seongje replies, his eyes scanning Hyuntak’s face behind his glasses.

Hyuntak shrugs carelessly, a tiny glint of mischief dancing in his eyes as he pretends to slide off Seongje's lap entirely. "Who knows? Plans change. But it’s okay, don’t worry about it. I'll manage on my own." 

For two more agonizing seconds, Seongje holds out, watching the smug and teasing tilt of Hyuntak's chin before he finally snaps. He tosses the book onto the carpet with zero regard for the pages. A dark charmed smile spreads slowly across his face. 

"You're a manipulative little shit," he murmurs, his voice rich with quiet amusement. "You really drive me fucking crazy." 

Letting out a low and provocative laugh, Hyuntak leans down until their breaths mingle. He stops just millimeters away from Seongje’s lips, his eyes gleaming. "So...are you coming to dinner or not?"

Determined to hold on to the very last shred of control in their back and forth, Seongje keeps his face impassive. "No." 

Hyuntak smirks and begins to pull back, withholding the kiss. But he doesn’t make it an inch away before Seongje’s hand shoots out, wrapping around his wrist with an iron grip. With a sudden jerk, Seongje pulls him back down onto his chest, locking his free arm firmly around Hyuntak’s waist to anchor him in place.

"Fine." Seongje growls, his grip tightening enough to make Hyuntak catch his breath. "I'll go to the damn dinner for your stupid friend." 

Hyuntak’s entire face lights up, and his eyes crinkle into two soft, fond crescents as a bright, beautiful smile breaks across his lips. 

"Thank you, baby," he murmurs, leaning down to press a light peck to Seongje's lips.

Before he can pull away, Seongje catches him by the jaw once again, his fingers pressing firm against his skin. He yanks Hyuntak down into a real kiss–deep, possessive, and heavy with a sudden spike of heat that always leaves Hyuntak breathless, making him clutch at Seongje’s shirt to ground himself as the kiss turns hungrier and rougher.

When his boyfriend finally lets him breathe, Hyuntak is completely flushed and his lips are swollen. He pats Seongje’s chest weak-kneed, trying to regain his composure.

"Alright, that’s it," he pants, knocking his forehead against Seongje's chin. "Get up, we need to start getting ready or we're gonna be late." 

Seongje groans, resting his head back against the cushion, refusing to loosen his hold around Hyuntak’s waist. "Right now? Can't we stay here fifteen more minutes?" 

"No." Hyuntak insists, pushing against Seongje's shoulders until he manages to wriggle out of his embrace.

Standing up by the couch, Hyuntak crosses his arms at his waist and pulls his t-shirt over his head in one smooth motion. Without looking back, he tosses the shirt casually over his shoulder, letting it land squarely across Seongje's face and getting caught at his shoulder. 

He raises both hands, aggressively rubbing his fingers through his hair to ruffle it out of his eyes, letting out a long and satisfying full-body stretch that pulls his shoulders back and flexes his core.

Seongje pulls the shirt off his shoulder, his mouth instantly going dry. From this angle on the couch, the view is incredibly distracting. 

The tight arch of Hyuntak’s toned back, the sharp definition of his shoulder blades flexing beneath smooth skin, and the way his low-waisted sweatpants hang heavy off his hips, perfectly framing his waist as he moves...Seongje swallows hard, feeling a sudden ache in his throat and his pants. 

He's practically salivating at the sight, his gaze locked onto every inch of exposed honey skin. 

Hyuntak turns his head, catching Seongje staring with dark, heavy eyes. Knowing the exact effect he has, he flashes him a deliberate smirk, expertly weaponizing Seongje’s desire without a drop of hesitation. 

"I was going to offer to let you shower with me," Hyuntak calls out casually over his shoulder, turning on his heel to walk toward the bathroom. "but if you wanna sit here and keep sulking, that’s fine." 

As if a switch flipped in his brain, Seongje sits up immediately, reaching behind his neck to rip his own shirt in a single fluid motion. He's off the couch before the fabric even hits the floor, driven by a sudden and desperate urge to close the distance between them. 

He catches up to Hyuntak before he can even reach the bathroom door. He presses himself right against Hyuntak’s back, his large hands immediately coming up to drag feverishly over Hyuntak’s abdomen. 

The shorter boy lets out a sharp and breathless gasp as Seongje’s cold touch burns against his bare skin, but he doesn’t pull away–instead, he reaches one arm back over his shoulder, hooking his fingers tightly into the hair at the nape of Seongje’s neck to pull him even closer.

Desperate and completely blinded by the proximity, Seongje shoves one hand down into the waistband of Hyuntak’s sweatpants, gripping his hip firmly to anchor him while his other hand pins Hyuntak’s waist. 

Burying his face into the side of Hyuntak’s neck, Seongje presses hot, bruising kisses along his pulse point before biting down sharply where his shoulder meets his neck.

Hyuntak throws his head back against his boyfriend’s shoulder with a sharp groan, his fingers tightening in Seongje’s hair, tugging just enough to make Seongje growl against his skin. 

"Fuck, Seongje–" Hyuntak chokes out, half-laughing, half-panting as his boyfriend practically drags him the last few feet into the bathroom, unable to keep his hands or mouth off him for a single second. "We’re gonna be late–" 

"I don’t care," 

Seongje kicks the door shut behind them with his foot, pinning Hyuntak against the edge of the sink without breaking the kiss, his hand digging deeper into Hyuntak’s pants as he claims him completely.

They’re so not getting to dinner in time.

What Hyuntak supposed would be just a thirty-minute lapse of getting ready, ends up being an hour and forty minutes, because nothing can ever be planned if Seongje is involved.

When they arrive at Juntae’s house, Hyuntak’s hair is still damp around the edges and his collar is turned up just high enough to conceal the fresh, dark red mark Seongje left at the crook of his neck. His boyfriend walks beside him, hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans and wearing an insufferably pleaded smirk. He looks entirely too satisfied with himself. 

"Wipe that stupid look off your face." Hyuntak mutters under his breath, glaring at him as they walk toward the door. "You practically have a sign on your forehead that says 'I just fucked my boyfriend'." 

Seongje’s smirk only broadens, completely unbothered. "Great. So everyone can know." 

Hyuntak aggressively rolls his eyes, but his fingers reach out anyway, lacing his hand with his boyfriend’s firmly. Without missing a beat, Seongje brings Hyuntak’s hand to his lips to press a tender kiss against his knuckles.

A moment after Hyuntak knocks on the door, it swings open to reveal Baku holding a half-empty bottle of beer. His eyes land on the two of them, and drop briefly to their joined hands before rising back to Seongje. 

"Look at that, didn't think you'd actually show up," Baku says, leaning casually against the doorframe. 

"That makes two of us." Seongje replies quickly, his tone dry as bone. 

When he realizes they’re both just stupidly and tensely staring at each other, Hyuntak sighs and shoves past his best friend's broad shoulder.

"Yeah sure, hi to you too, idiot," Hyuntak groans. “I swear I’m gonna kill both of them, Jesus–” he keeps complaining under his breath as he takes off his sneakers. 

“So…” Seongje steps over the threshold and glances sideways at Baku as he takes off his jacket. “Someone was actually foolish enough to put you on a payroll.” 

Baku scoffs. “What would you know about having a job anyways?” 

“Guys! Can you close the door and argue inside, please?” Juntae’s voice echoes from the inside as he steps closer to them. “Uh, uhm–Hi, Seongje. Didn’t think you’d come–But like, of course you’re welcome! It’s not that, uhm–”

“See? You’re already disturbing Juntae,” Hyuntak grumbles, swatting Seongje’s arm. 

“I didn’t say a word.” Seongje notes, thoroughly amused as he offloads his jacket onto a chair. 

From the low table in the center of the living room, Suho pops his head up–a bright and unbothered grin spreading across his face as he waves eagerly.

“Hey! Look who made it! Over here, Seongje, save yourself from Baku’s loud mouth.”

Beside Suho, Yeongi is sitting cross-legged, slicing up cooked belly meat with kitchen shears. She glances up, gives Seongje a brief and familiar nod of recognition and immediately goes back to her task, adding more meat on the small grill. 

“They really put you two to do this?” Seongje asks, not really getting closer to them. 

“Yeah, shithead. This batch is specially for you, do you wanna guess which bite is the poisoned one?” Yeongi says, not looking up from the meat she’s flipping over. 

Seongje’s mouth twitches into the faintest hint of a genuine smile–definetely a rare sight. Out of everyone in this place, Yeongi is probably the only one whose presence didn’t make him want to strip the room of its structural integrity. He walks over, sitting near the small table but not really sharing space with them. 

Completely unbothered by Seongje’s stoic presence, Suho immediately leans in. “Man, you guys took forever. Gotak said you were studying but he said he’d convince you–”

“Yeah, he did.” Seongje says smoothly, his expression deadpan behind his glasses but his eyes are already darting to his boyfriend, who’s soothing the skin of his neck where he left his marks a few minutes ago. “He’s very convincing. I took a break.”

Suho follows his  gaze, noticing his friend’s cheeks still flushed and letting his mouth fall into an ‘o’. 

“Oh, a break! Yeah, okay–I get it!” Suho laughs, and he claps Seongje on the shoulder as he does so. Seongje stiffens, moving slightly away from the touch with a deep sigh. “You’re so fun, dude”

“I didn’t make a joke.” Seongje mutters, shouldering Suho’s heavy hand away.

While the table fills with plates, beverages and glasses, Hyuntak gets up to help bring more glasses and what’s left of food in the kitchen. Baku follows, stepping beside him at the counter as he pops the cap off two more bottles of soju. 

“I’m glad you came, man.” Baku says, and as soon as the words leave his mouth Hyuntak narrows his eyes in suspicion.

“Why wouldn’t I? Did you hit your head?” Hyuntak’s brows furrow, nudging his best friend with his elbow.

“I don’t know, I mean–I thought that maybe he wouldn’t want to come and you know, you wouldn’t come either.” 

Hyuntak scoffs. “The fuck are you saying, huh? You think I’d ever do that?” 

“I don’t know!” Baku defends himself, his voice now a little louder but already there’s a smile on his face. “You two are so weird, for all I know, he could lock you up in his apartment and you’d probably be into it.”

“Yah! Stop saying nonsense!” Hyuntak shoves him playfully but his brows are still furrowed. “You’d have to kill me for me to leave your side. Don’t say shit like that, really.” 

“Okay, damn, I won’t joke anymore” Baku laughs, nudging his friend with his full body weight. “But I’m grateful you’re here, seriously.” 

“Of course I’m here,” Hyuntak says, almost annoyed, but his already softening features give him away.  

“But,” Baku starts, pointing a finger at his friend. “I am not grateful he’s here, okay? I’m just–tolerating him, at most.” 

Hyuntak lets out a soft laugh, shaking his head as he glances back at Seongje–who is currently sitting next to an overly talkative Suho, but completely ignoring him and glaring back at him instead, his eyes piercing onto Baku’s head. 

“I know, Baku. And I appreciate it, really.” 

“But–you’re really doing good with him? Like, for real?” Baku asks, completely serious. 

“Yes, Baku,” Hyuntak groans. “You can’t ask me this two times a week, I swear–” he starts to complain, but his friend interrupts him. 

“Okay, okay! Everything’s alright, you don’t need me to look out for you anymore, I get it.” he says, hands up in exaggerated surrender. “Sorry for loving you, I guess–”

“Come on, stop it, let’s go–”

“You know I love you, right?” Baku says, giving Hyuntak that doe-eyed look he knows annoys Hyuntak so much. 

“Yeah, I do. Stop it.”

“Aw, but you never say it back!” Baku almost honest-to-god whines, and Hyuntak wants to kick him. 

“And today won’t be the day either.” Hyuntak just rolls his eyes, smiling to himself when he turns toward the living room again, carrying the glasses and some side dishes. 

They return to the group, and Hyuntak drops down next to Seongje with his side almost glued to his boyfriend’s chest. 

“What took you so long? What were you talking about?” Seongje asks, expression completely blank except for the small annoyed frown Hyuntak already knows like the palm of his hand. 

“What do you care? Stop whining,” Hyuntak smiles cruelly, giving a small peck to his boyfriend’s lips. 

For the next hour, the gathering becomes genuinely pleasant. Plates of grilled meat and side dishes pass around, green bottles empty out, and everyone chats comfortably about their classes, professors, updates on their campus gossip and some experiences at their jobs. 

Of course, this friendly chat and atmosphere doesn’t have Seongje involved in it. He doesn't even try, honestly, but Hyuntak’s grateful that he doesn’t interrupt with his bullshit either so–fair deal. 

Hyuntak stays comfortably tucked against Seongje’s side the entire time, with Seongje’s thumb making absentminded circles against his thigh–a total innocent contrast to the actual possessiveness of the touch. 

As the meal winds down, Hanna sets her glass on the table with a sharp clink, her eyes lighting up. 

“Okay, listen up!” she claps to get their attention. “My department’s campus party is happening tonight near here. We should all go!”

“I’m in,” Baku slams his fist on the table. “I have to party before I get kidnapped in my new job.”

“Sounds great,” Suho chimes in enthusiastically, dragging a reluctant Sieun closer. “Can we go, Sieun-ah? What do you think, love?” 

A soft exhale leaves Sieun’s mouth as he shifts uncomfortably on his seat, his face blank as usual. “If you want to, I guess we can go.” he shrugs slightly. 

“Sweet! Love you, baby” Suho beams, giving him a quick kiss. 

Across the table, Seongje shifts comfortably, his voice cutting through the excitement with a cold, authorial tone. “We’re not going.”

Hyuntak scoffs sharply, turning his head to glare at his boyfriend. “The fuck you mean we? I’m going.”

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Seongje’s features shift and soften, but Hyuntak knows him way too much to be oblivious to what’s coming. 

“Didn’t you say you were feeling sore? You have work tomorrow, you shouldn’t force your body that much, baby, I’m just–” he tilts his head, softening his eyes and making his voice drop into a persuasive purr meant only for his boyfriend as the rest of the group keeps talking over them. “I’m just taking care of you, pretty.”

Staring at him, Hyuntak seems entirely unphased by the mind games as a small and knowing smirk touches the corner of his lips. 

“Nice try,” Hyuntak says, ironically smiling in an exaggerated cute way and patting Seongje’s cheek with zero respect for his dark expression. “You can join us and come to the party, or you can walk your ass back home alone. Your choice.” 

“We can walk back home together, sleep together and then–” Seongje tries again, shifting closer to Hyuntak. 

“Are you gonna let me go alone to a party full of drunk college idiots? It’s okay, I think I can handle myself just fine–” Hyuntak pouts, his eyes becoming way too bright and it instantly makes Seongje know he’s already lost. 

“Fucking fine.” Seongje finally grits out through closed teeth, his dark eyes already burning as his grip on Hyuntak’s thigh tightens. 

The shorter’s face breaks into a bright, triumphant grin. He leans in to press a quick, affectionate kiss to Seongje’s lips. 

“Good boy.” Hyuntak murmurs cheekily, smiling against his boyfriend’s mouth. 

“Don’t push it.” 

Hyuntak giggles, and he’s startled by Suho’s loud clap. 

“Alright! Everyone’s coming then!” Suho cheers loudly, pointing at Seongje and not noticing the heavy glare Sieun’s giving him.. “Even this guy!” 

Seongje closes his eyes, tilting his head back with a groan before he lets out a heavy, long-suffering sigh, completely defeated as he lets Hyuntak drag him up from the floor to clean before leaving. 

The venue for Hanna’s campus party is a house that seems far too upscale for the scene inside. It’s overflowing with intoxicated twenty-somethings in every corner, the house humming with heavy bass and a heavy blur of moving bodies, flashing neon lights and definitely way too much scandal for the neighbourhood they’re in. 

Looking from the front, a massive yard wraps around the property, equally crowded with people holding drinks–couples seeking privacy between the garden trees, and solitary figures coming out to catch their breath and smoke.

It takes them a few minutes, but they make it inside without anything getting spilled over them. Hyuntak can feel Seongje walking way too close behind him, almost glued to his back with every step they take, his hand tightly gripping his hip. 

Then it takes them longer, but by midnight, the group is thoroughly integrated into the atmosphere. They are scattered around the big room, but close enough that it’s obvious they’re here as a group–to Seongje’s big dismay, and he’ll deny being part of this group of losers until his last breath on this earth. 

Baku, Suho and Hanna are practically thriving in the chaos–enjoying with their cheeks flushed, their shirts already sticking to their skin from sweat and heat, completely swept up in the high-energy crowd. 

“I think we need more drinks!” Suho yells over the music, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his forearm. He turns toward Sieun and leans down to press a quick, loud kiss against his boyfriend’s cheek. “Stay here, baby. I’ll be right back!” 

Beside him, Hanna does the same thing, cupping Yeongi’s chin for a swift, affection-laden kiss. “Don’t go anywhere! We’re getting another round.” 

As Baku follows the two of them and they disappear into the thick crowd toward the kitchen, Sieun shifts his weight–his impassive expression looking entirely out of place in the middle of a loud party. He leans over to Juntae, and speaks only to him.

“I need the bathroom. Walk with me.”

“O-Oh! Yeah, sure, let’s go.” Juntae nods quickly, looking back at the rest of them before rapidly following Sieun as he cuts through the outer edge of the improvised dance floor.

“Hell no!” Yoengi screams at them. “You two are not letting me alone with these freaks!” She adds before quickly following them.

He’s never been one to believe in anything, but Seongje feels like thanking fucking God for being left alone with his boyfriend for the first time all night. As Hyuntak rambles about how Baku and Suho are definitely not finding those drinks while still being pressed against his boyfriend’s chest, a heavy and hypnotic beat fills the room all of the sudden. 

He turns his head, stealing a sip of Seongje’s beer as the taller watches his movements with a small, fond smile. 

“I fucking love this song!” Hyuntak says, way too excited for how bad the song actually is.

“This song? It sucks, honestly–” Seongje argues just for the thrill of annoying his boyfriend. 

“Yeah, because you don’t enjoy anything.” Hyuntak barks back, letting Seongje take the beer bottle out of his hand and taking a big sip as he adjusts his back against his boyfriend’s front once again. 

That night, and against Seongje’s firm objection, Hyuntak threw on a fitted, slightly cropped black t-shirt–one that rides up teasingly whenever he moves, and it makes Seongje want to throw his jacket over him so no one can see him. 

The heat, the alcohol and the heavy bass vibrating through the floodboards sink right into his skin, making him shamelessly mischievous. Every time he raises his arms or shifts to the beat, a broad and smooth strip of his honeyed abdomen flashes in the dim strobe lights, driving Seongje completely out of his mind. 

Knowing the exact effect he’s having, Hyuntak backs up even more into his boyfriend’s space. He starts swaying his hips in rhythm, grinding directly against Seongje, who is still as a pillar between the moving bodies around them, with a cigarette burning between his fingers. Hyuntak raises one arm over his shoulder, reaching back to entangle his fingers tightly into the hair–that is now probably the longest it’s been–at the nape of Seongje’s neck to yank him closer. 

The motion causes the short hem of Hyuntak’s t-shirt to ride up way up past his waist, completely exposing his toned stomach. Seongje lets out a low and dark growl straight into the side of Hyuntak’s neck, his jaw clenching instantly.

“Stop giving a damn show to every single disgusting fuck in this room,” he rasps against his damp skin. He reaches down with his free hand, trying to aggressively tug the hem of the short fabric down to cover him up, but the shirt is simply too short and keeps riding right back up with Hyuntak’s teasing movements. 

“Are you included in that?” Hyuntak smiles cunningly, grinding slower against his boyfriend and tilting his head back so he can speak directly into his ear. 

Pushed past his limit, Seongje abandons the shirt entirely, slapping his large, warm palm firmly over the exposed skin of Hyuntak’s abdomen, forcefully covering the bare flesh while anchoring the boy tightly against his chest. 

“Don’t try your luck, doll.” Seongje says, snuzzling against Hyuntak’s temple before giving a firm bite to his flushed cheek. 

A breathless, wicked laugh falls from Hyuntak’s mouth–utterly thrilled by the reaction. He spins around in Seongje’s grip, his alcohol-warmed face hovering just inches away as he feels Seongje loosening the grip on his waist and lowering his hand until it's inside the back pocket of his jeans, giving him a hard squeeze. 

Tossing the finished cigarette to the floor, Seongje’s fingers shoot up to wrap tightly around Hyuntak’s jaw–his broad hand permitting him to do this without letting go of the beer bottle, which makes Hyuntak’s skin tickle at the mere thought of his boyfriend’s hands–tilting his head back with zero gentleness. 

Instead of kissing him right away, Seongje parts his lips and exhales the final, lingering trail of smoke directly into Hyuntak’s open mouth. The boy inhales it with a quiet gasp, and before he can even blink or even have the reflex to cough, Seongje crashes their mouths together. 

The kiss is instantly filthy, messy, and completely consuming–just like every single time. Seongje spins them, and shoves Hyuntak backward until his back hits the shadowy wall behind them, pinning him there with the full weight of his body. 

It’s a wet and desperate clash of lips and tongues, saliva slicking their mouths as the heat between them spikes out of control–and Seongje can already hear Hyuntak’s complains later for being, quote, a disgusting slobbery dog; but he’s enjoying this too much to care about being scolded. 

Seongje takes complete control, his tongue sliding deep enough to taste the alcohol, his own smoke and the intoxicating characteristical heat of his boyfriend. Pressed so tightly against Hyuntak’s muscular body, Seongje rapidly hardens against him, his growing erection straining heavy and noticeable against the fabric of his trousers.

He breaks away for a break second to drag heavy, bruising bites down the column of Hyuntak’s throat, making him throw his head back with a sharp, shuddering whine. Entirely blinded by lust, Seongje’s hand leaves Hyuntak’s hip, sliding aggressively down past the waistband of Hyuntak’s pants, eager to claim much more right there in the dark corner. 

“Ah–nope,” Hyuntak pants out, breaking out into a flushed, mischievous smirk. He catches Seongje’s wrist mid-motion, firmly taking it out of the inside of his jeans. He lets out a breathless, teasing laugh right against Seongje’s swollen lips, shamelessly edging him. “Not here, handsome. Keep your hands where I can see them.”

Seongje lets out a pathetically desperate sound, his forehead thudding softly against Hyuntak’s shoulder as he presses his aching hips harder against him. 

“Please…Just a little, mhm?” Seongje mutters, his usual sharp edge completely dissolved into a raspy plea against Hyuntak’s collarbone. “Don’t do this to me here.”

Hyuntak’s heart skips a beat, a surge of power and heat running straight through his veins. He lets out a soft chuckle, completely amused by how fast Seongje loses control around him.

"Jesus, look at you, you're so fucking easy," Hyuntak easps out teasingly. Seongje doesn’t even get to process the insult before Hyuntak reaches down between their bodies and gives Seongje’s aching length a firm squeeze through his pants. "I love it when you beg, you're so pretty like this." 

With a frustrated growl, Seongje’s eyes burn behind his glasses as he leans down to trace his mouth against the corner of Hyuntak’s shiny lips. 

“You’re fucking torturing me,” he grumbles, his voice raspy and thick with unfulfilled desire. 

Hyuntak’s cheeks flush a deeper shade of red–half from the lingering embarrassment of being so shamelessly reckless in public where all his friends could see them, and half from the pure thrill of teasing his boyfriend. He tilts his head up, a cheeky and triumphant glint flashing across his face. 

“Doesn’t this just make everything better for later?” Hyuntak says provocatively, trailing his fingertips slowly down Seongje’s arms, feeling the goosebumps form as he reaches for the beltloops of Seongje’s jeans and hooks his fingers there, bringing their bodies even closer. 

Seongje slowly separates his face from his boyfriend’s, staring at him with a deadpan, utterly ruined expression. 

“I’m gonna fucking kill myself right here,” he drawls flatly, though his hand tightens in Hyuntak’s hip with an intensity that promises an exhaustive retribution the second they get home. 

Hyuntak giggles, once again tangling his fingers in Seongje’s hair as the taller dives back into his neck, biting and kissing the skin right over his pulse point, making him laugh and arch his body against his without thinking. 

“Alright, that’s enough!” Yeongi’s loud voice suddenly cuts through their heavy haze. “You two look like two gross dogs in heat.” 

She stands not even two feet away from them, holding a fresh beer and without a sight of Sieun nor Juntae beside her. She stares at them with exaggerated disgust as Seongje reluctantly pulls his mouth away from Hyuntak’s neck. Turning back around, Hyuntak rests his head back against Seongje’s chest, panting heavily with swollen, bright red lips and half-lidded eyes. 

Yeongi reaches into her jacket pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. “I’m gonna have a smoke outside. You coming, Seongje?” 

Seongje slowly turns his head toward Yeongi, his dark eyes hovering over her with a thoroughly interrupted expression. “I’m out of cigarettes.”

“I don’t care, I have extra.” she replies, tapping the package against her palm. 

“What do you smoke?” Seongje asks, raising an eyebrow. 

“Menthols.”

“Ugh,” A sharp scowl instantly replaces Seongje’s dark glare. “Gay ass cigarettes.”

Yeongi rolls her eyes so hard Hyuntak fears they might get stuck in the back of her head. “Wouldn’t you know, gay boy.” 

“God, stop being so fucking annoying and go,” Seongje demands, unimpressed. “I’ll follow you out once your idiot friends come back with Hyuntak.” 

The girl gives him a middle finger over her shoulder as she walks off toward the exit. Seongje turns back to Hyuntak, spinning him around in his arms to make him face him once again and shoves one hand deep into the back pocket of his boyfriend’s pants to flush his body closer. Seongje buries his nose back into the crook of Hyuntak’s neck, kissing the sensitive spot behind his ear once Hyuntak tilts his head to give him space. 

“Don’t think you’re getting away with that little show from earlier,” Seongje rumbles against his skin, his palm giving Hyuntak’s ass a possessive squeeze inside his pocket. “You won’t be laughing once I lock you up in my room,” 

Hyuntak lets out a breathy hum, leaning into his boyfriend’s firm chest as Seongje’s mouth tracks up to nip sharply at his earlobe. Instead of shrinking back, Hyuntak arches his neck further, tilting his chin up with a shameless smirk. He reaches behind him, his fingers sliding under the hem of Seongje’s shirt to trace the hot, tense muscles of his lower back, fingernails dragging lightly enough to make the taller boy shudder. 

“Oh, yeah?” Hyuntak shoots back, his voice dropping into a low and provocative murmur right next to Seongje’s cheek. “Big words for someone who was practically begging me ten seconds ago. What are you gonna do about it? Cry?” 

Seongje halts his kisses for a split second, a dangerous smirk forming against Hyuntak’s skin. “You’re gonna regret every single word, you know that, baby.” 

​"I'd like to see you try, big guy,” Hyuntak rasps back, capturing Seongje's lower lip between his teeth, biting down just hard enough to make the boy let out a low, filthy growl.

Driven completely crazy, Seongje grips Hyuntak’s jaw again, pulling his face in to crash their lips together in another bruising, reckless kiss–his other hand leaving Hyuntak’s pocket to grip his thigh instead to lift him up slightly against his hip. Hyuntak groans straight into his mouth, his arms wrapping desperately around Seongje’s neck as they lose themselves all over again, oblivious to the music, lights and people around them.

“You know, Seongje, it’s really not necessary for the entire party to witness your mating ritual.”

Baku’s loud, judgement-filled voice shatters the moment like glass. He steps closer holding cold bottles with Suho and Hanna behind him with extra cups and cans, and he takes a loud and deliberate sip of his beer while staring at the scene they’re putting on. 

Seongje breaks the kiss, carefully lowering Hyuntak’s thigh to the floor again with an expression of pure, unadulterated annoyance. 

“You know,” Seongje mimics Baku’s tone. “I’ve never met someone so annoying in my entire life.”

“I suppose you don’t have a mirror at home, then.” Baku barks back, smiling as he chugs on his beer again. 

Hyuntak laughs softly, turning around to face his friends and swatting Seongje’s chest with the back of his hand. “Both of you, stop it.”

Giving Hyuntak’s hip one last firm squeeze, Seongje presses a final kiss to his cheek. “I’m going outside with her.” 

“‘Kay,” Hyuntak nods, taking a cup from Suho. “Don’t take forever.”

Seongje weaves his way through the dense crowd toward the exit, pushing through the heavy door into the cool night air of the outdoor patio. The area is filled with clusters of people smoking, talking, drinking and shamelessly making out in the shadows, but it doesn’t take longer for Seongje’s sharp eyes to spot Yeongi standing near a brick wall. 

The weird thing is, or at least what Seongje thinks is weird from the little he knows from her, she’s not alone. Two guys that he doesn’t recognize are standing uncomfortably close to her, their posture completely invading her space. Yeongi’s brows are furrowed into a sharp, hostile line, one of her arms crossed tight against her chest as she smokes and glares at them.

As Seongje steps closer, the loud chatter of the patio fades enough for him to catch part of their conversation–or rather, the two guys talking to her. 

“–come on, we just wanna help you.” one of the guys is saying, leaning in with an insufferable smirk. “You probably just need a real man to show you what you’re missing.”

“Fuck you, asshole, I have a girlfriend.” Yeongi snaps coldly, facing them. “Even if I liked men, I’d never lay an eye on disgusting fucks like you.” 

The second guy reaches out, his fingers wrapping around the girl’s forearm, stopping her from walking away. “Don’t be like that, sweetheart–”

That’s when Seongje steps up casually, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his face entirely blank and devoid of any emotion. 

“Everything alright?” he asks, his voice dangerously flat. 

The guy holding Yeongi’s arm glances over, sneering. “Yeah, nothing that concerns you, man. We’re just talking.” 

“Doesn’t look like talking.” Seongje tilts his head, his eyes fixing on the guy’s hand on Yeongi behind his glasses. 

“They’re two gross fuckers,” Yeongi says sharply, glaring at both guys. “They can’t take a fucking hint.”

The second guy scoffs, looking at Seongje up and down. “What? Is she your girlfriend or something?”

“I thought I heard her telling you she has a girlfriend.” Seongje retorts easily, with zero friendliness in his voice. 

“If she’s not your girl, then mind your fucking bussiness and get lost.” The first guy barks, stepping in front of Yeongi to face him. 

The girl doesn’t wait. She snaps her leg forward and delivers a sharp, violent kick straight to the guy’s knee. He yelps, staggering back, and before he can even recover, Seongje moves. 

In a split second, Seongje’s hands leave his pockets. He lunges forward with lightning speed, grabbing the other guy by the front of his shirt collar and slamming him violently against the wall. The heavy impact makes the guy gasp, and the sound echoes across the patio, making several people turn their heads. 

“Do you have a problem with your hearing?” Seongje whispers into his face, his tone dripping with an icy, lethal threat that makes the guy’s eyes widen slightly. 

Before Seongje can finish, the first guy recovers from Yeongi’s kick and lunges at Seongje from the side, swinging a wild punch that doesn’t even make Seongje flinch. He releases the guy against the wall, letting him slide down to the floor and pivots smoothly, ducking under the incoming fist and driving his own fist straight into the guy’s stomach. 

Within seconds, a full-blown, almost brutal fight breaks out. Seongje moves like a lethal machine, acting with muscle memory, completely unbothered by the fact that he’s taking on two guys at once. He dodges a clumsy, heavy swing; and grabs one of them by the hair to smash his face straight into the fence next to them before turning around and landing a devastating right hook on the other. 

The surrounding crowd on the patio immediately backs away, forming a wide circle around them, whispering and filming as Seongje fights the two guys.

“Yah! Seongje, let it go!” Yeongi groans, stepping forward to try and pull him back, but stops when she sees him entirely zoned in, his knuckles already split.

Suddenly, the doors of the house burst open, another big group of people getting out of the inside of the house to watch the fight. The circle of spectators around them starts to shift, with people complaining about being shoved away, and Hyuntak gets into the middle of it in less than a minute–his face already twisted in incandescent rage. 

“What the fuck?!” Hyuntak yells, pushing past three people to reach the center. He grabs Seongje tightly by the back of his shirt collar as if he were a damn rabid dog, yanking him back with all his strength. “What the fuck are you doing?! I leave you alone for two minutes and you’re pulling this shit?!” 

“Hyuntak, don’t get into this–” Seongje starts, wiping a streak of blood from his cheekbone. 

Before Seongje can finish, a third guy–probably a friend of the two on the floor–suddenly charges out from the crowd, swinging directly at Hyuntak’s ribs. 

Groaning with his brows deeply furrowed, Hyuntak lunges forward before he can even process what’s happening. Seongje is ready to tear the new guy’s throat apart, but one of the first two guys stands back up and throws himself at Seongje’s back, not letting him help his boyfriend.

“Excuse me, let me in–” Baku’s voice roars from behind the people forming the circle. 

Baku, Suho and the rest of the group burst onto the patio right then. Seeing a random guy trying to hit his best friend, Baku doesn’t hesitate–he lunges heavily, throwing his entire weight into a massive tackle that sends the guy crashing onto the grass. 

In a few moments, the entire patio erupts in absolute chaos. Friends of the three guys step in, Suho jumps in to pull Baku away from the guy laying on the floor; and a massive, messy brawl breaks out in the middle of the yard.

Shouts and screams echo until five heavy-set dudes, who appear to be the improvised security, crash the fight by physically shoving everyone apart. 

“Out! All of you, get the fuck out right now!” one of the party organizers shouts, pointing furiously toward them. “You’re all kicked out.” 

Fifteen minutes later, the group ends up standing on a quiet street a few blocks away from the party, looking like an absolute disaster under the orange glow of the streetlights. 

Seongje leans lazily against a metal lamppost, his dark trousers dusty and his broken glasses resting crookedly on his face.

Some feet away, the empty and quiet convenience store glows under its fluorescent lights, practically abandoned at this late hour.

On the edge of the curb, Baku and Suho sit side-by-side, carefully inspecting the small cuts on their faces and the faint scrapes on their knuckles. 

Suho is holding a bag of ice they just bought from the store, holding it against his eyes under the serious, unyielding insistence of Sieun, who's standing directly in front of his boyfriend–his expression unreadable, but his sharp eyes firmly locked on Suho's every move, making sure he isn't hiding a worse injury. 

Pulling the ice away for a second as he winces, Suho offers it toward Seongje. 

"Here, take it–"

Disdain drips from Seongje's tone when he looks down at the plastic bag. 

"I'm not a toddler to be putting little ice packs on my face." 

Hyuntak, who's been furiously pacing back and forth with his hands clamped on his hips, snaps around in the middle of his rant. With absolute authority, he glares at Seongje. 

"Take the damn ice bag, Seongje." 

Not daring to talk back at him, Seongje silently reaches out and yanks the bag from Suho’s hand. 

"How come I can’t leave you alone for two fucking minutes?!" Hyuntak almost shouts, his fists clenching at his sides as he rounds on the rest of the group. "It's like we’re in high school all over again! We can't go anywhere with any of you!" 

"It wasn't my fault!" Suho defends himself loudly from the curb. "I only got involved because those guys were about to jump Baku!" 

"And I only jumped in because some prick was trying to hit Gotak from behind!" Baku barks back, shoving Suho’s arm. 

"Yeah, and I wouldn’t have been in that position if Seongje wasn't about to beat two guys into unconsciousness!" Hyuntak snaps, glaring back at his boyfriend. 

Seongje doesn’t even look up at them when he takes off his broken glasses, using the hem of his shirt to try and wipe the smudges of the lenses. 

"It wasn't my fault either." Seongje drawls flatly. 

"Oh, shut up!" Hyuntak snaps at him. "How is nothing ever your fault?!" 

Yeongi, completely exhausted by Hyuntak's continuous complaints, cuts through the chaos with a heavy sigh. 

"Because those scumbags wouldn’t leave me alone! Seongje only stepped up because they wouldn't take a no for an answer." 

The group goes dead silent. Baku and Suho pause mid-argument, their eyes widening in disbelief as they stare at Seongje. Collective ‘oh’s and ‘what's ripple through the group, understanding why she didn't say anything when they started arguing. 

Hyuntak’s anger instantly deflates, his eyes softening with immediate concern as he looks over at Yeongi.

"Wait–what? Are you okay?! Who the hell were those guys?!" he asks, but before the girl can even answer, Hyuntak points an accusatory finger back at her. "Wait, don't defend him either!" 

Looking entirely offended, Yeongi gasps. 

"I would never defend him." she snaps instantly, groaning.

"I don’t need her defending me." Seongje adds at the exact same time, putting on his broken glasses again. 

Hyuntak huffs, crossing his arms, but the fire in his voice is mostly gone already. 

"Yeah, well, then those guys totally fucking deserved it, but still! You guys can't just solve everything with your fists!" 

Hanna lets out a long, dramatic groan, slump-walking toward the convenience store. 

"Ugh, that’s enough. I’m starving, I’m tired and my feet hurt. Let's go inside and buy some food." 

With a collective groan of effort, Baku and Suho haul themselves up off the curb and follow Hanna. Sieun stays right at Suho's side, silently intertwining their fingers as they walk. 

Seongje doesn’t move from his spot against the lamppost, his eyes fixed entirely on Hyuntak to see what he’s going to do. As the rest of the group walks toward the store, Hyuntak turns and walks straight up to his boyfriend.

Reaching up with gentle, careful fingers, Hyuntak frames Seongje’s face, tilting his head slightly to inspect the damage. A faintly dark bruise is already beginning to bloom under Seongje’s eyes. 

Hyuntak lets out a breathy laugh, a mischievous glint returning to his eyes. "I almost forgot how hot you look with bruises on your face." 

A faint and sharp smirk tugs at the corner of the taller guy's mouth. "I'll get into fights again then," 

"Don't you dare." Hyuntak retorts instantly, slightly punching Seongje’s chest. 

His expression softens completely, and one of his hands slides up from Seongje's jaw to wrap his arm gently around Seongje's neck, leaning closer. 

"Don't think the motive lets you get away with the fucking fight, though.” Hyuntak scolds softly, the thumb that’s still over Seongje’s face lightly stroking the unbruised cheek. 

He doesn’t let Seongje answer, he just pulls him down into a tender, surprisingly deep kiss right there under the orange streetlights.

The reaction is instantaneous–Seongje wraps both arms firmly around Hyuntak’s waist, pulling him flush against his body. He feels immensely relieved that Hyuntak put his jacket back on, finally hiding that damn short shirt from view. Taking advantage of the fact that he still has his glasses off, Seongje deepens the kiss, pressing his mouth harder against Hyuntak’s.

Next to the glass entrance of the store, the loud and muffled complaints of their friends break out. 

"What the hell, man?" Baku’s voice echoes through as they enter the place. "A minute ago he was about to murder him! How the hell did they end up like that?" 

Yeongi doesn't even look up from the fridge she's raiding. "Did you lose your memory? That’s literally what made them fuck around in the first place, dude." 

Sneaking his head from the door, Baku cups his hands around his mouth, shouting toward the street. 

"Yah! Get your asses in here or go get a room, you bastards!" 

Without breaking the kiss for even a fraction of a second, Seongje blindly lets one of his hands go off his boyfriend’s waist to flip Baku off behind Hyuntak's back. And just because he’s a smug piece of shit, Seongje makes matters worse by sliding his other hand slide down, his broad palm resting over Hyuntak’s ass before he gives him a firm squeeze. 

From inside the store again, Baku sputters in absolute disgust. "Ugh, fucking disgusting..." 

Sieun doesn't even blink, grabbing a bottle of water from the shelf. "Seongje is an idiot. Don’t mind him." 

Hyuntak breaks the kiss with a quiet, breathless giggle against Seongje's lips, his cheeks burning red as he pulls Seongje by the hand toward the automatic doors. Smiling softly, Seongje lets himself be dragged around, stepping out of the cool night air and into the bright lights of the store.

More hours than Seongje would’ve liked later, they finally leave the loud chatter of Hyuntak’s friends and the empty cans and plastic bags of food behind. 

As they walk at a slow pace down the empty sidewalk under the orange glow of the streetlight, Hyuntak naturally intertwines his fingers with Seongje’s, giving him a soft tug to lead him toward the bus stop.

“Thank you, you know?” Hyuntak murmurs out of nowhere, breaking the comfortable silence. He breaks their handhold only to wrap an arm around Seongje’s waist, resting his head against his shoulder before looking up at him.  “Seriously. Thank you for helping Yeongi.”

“They were crossing a line, it wasn’t because it was her specifically.” he replies dryly. “Don’t get any ideas.”

Hyuntak lets out a soft chuckle, squeezing his boyfriend's waist as they walk. 

“Oh yeah, sure, of course. I forgot you were such a cruel, heartless villain.” he teases, flashing him a sharp but fond smirk. “Accept it, you’re softening up. I’d even say you’re…starting to like them?”

Once they reach the shelter of the bus stop, Seongje stops dead in his tracks and turns around to stare at him as if Hyuntak just insulted him in the worst way possible.

“The hell are you talking about?” Seongje asks, his brows furrowed with genuine offense. 

“You heard me,” Hyuntak insists, standing in front of him and playing with the hem of Seongje’s jacket with a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes. “I saw you talking to Suho, too, are you guys friends now?”

“I was looking for the fastest way to get him to shut up without having to break his face.” Seongje counters, his tone dripping with disdain as he wraps his arms around Hyuntak’s waist to keep him close. “And I’m telling you right now, if I ever raise a finger for those idiots, it’s just so you don’t go whining around later when they get hurt.” 

Hyuntak fights back a smile. “Okay, sure. If you say so.” 

“Of course I say so, what the fuck–” Seongje starts to argue, but he’s interrupted by the bus pulling up.

They board in silence, paying their fare in a vehicle that’s almost deserted at this hour–bathed in a low, flickering fluorescent light–and make their way toward the middle of the bus, where the open space near the exit doors offers plenty of room. 

Seongje stands with his back against the side wall, reaching one long arm up to grip the horizontal overhead bar above them. Hyuntak steps right in front of him, facing him directly in his personal space–he reaches one of his hands around his boyfriend’s middle to hold onto the lower handrail behind him, trapping Seongje and boxing them both into their own quiet, private world. 

Their faces are inches apart, their eyes locked as the bus sways. Seongje’s free hand gently settles on the curve of Hyuntak’s hip–his fingers digging in just enough to keep him steady. 

Looking up at him through thick, doll-like lashes, Hyuntak’s eyes reflect the low cabin lights with a sudden, vivid brightness. 

A quiet beat passes, and Seongje doesn’t start arguing again, and freezes a little instead. His mind drifts back to when their relationship was nothing more than reckless fights, bloody teeth and bruised ribs. Back then, those same eyes only ever glared at him with pure, unyielding rage; yet even in the middle of a brutal fight, Seongje had always caught himself staring into them longer than necessary. 

Looking at him now, Seongje realizes that spark had always been there–a raw and captivating fire he simply hadn’t known how to process because no one had ever looked at him like that before, no one had ever given his everything to him. 

Until Hyuntak came around, and Seongje was never able to be normal again. 

Noticing the way Seongje zoned out, staring at him in a trance, Hyuntak lets out a soft, amused laugh. 

“What?” he asks, tilting his head slightly.

“Huh?” Seongje blinks, snapping out of his thoughts and regaining his unbothered composure. 

“You're staring.”

“Ah, nothing. Just drifted a little.”

Hyuntak narrows his eyes, a dramatic and playful scowl crossing his face. “Great. You’re thinking about something else while you’re standing here with me? Do I bore you?” 

The words make Seongje let out a dark, sly smile. “I’m never thinking about anything other than you. Don’t be so demanding.”

“Demanding?” Hyuntak scoffs, now less playfully, and Seongje smiles at how easy he takes the bait. “Okay, then we’ll see what you do when I stop giving you attention for an hour. You’ll come back crawling back on your damn knees.”

Seongje lets out a dark chuckle, his grip on Hyuntak’s hip tightening as he pulls him even closer, completely eliminating the remaining inch of space between their bodies.

“You’re so beautiful,” Seongje murmurs softly, leaning down so his lips brush against his boyfriend’s cheek. 

“I know what you’re doing, you’re not gonna distract me, asshole. I won’t let this conversation go so easily,” Hyuntak threatens, and Seongje leans his head back with a groan at the mere mention of the topic of Hyuntak’s stupid little circle coming back. “I know you better than anyone else in this world, Seongje. I know for a fact that you don’t hate them as much now. I think you’re past the point of toleration with them now.”

Seongje gazes down at him, his expression softening as a slow smirk touches the corner of his lips. 

“Know me better than anyone else in this world?” the taller one mocks him in almost a purr, leaning down slightly enough for his breath to brush Hyuntak’s cheek. “I think you just wanna brag about how obsessed you’re with me.”

“What? How the hell did you come up with that?” Hyuntak says almost offended, brows furrowed but a small smile threatening to tug at the corner of his lips. 

Realizing he got away with it, Seongje chuckles before leaning in and pressing a sweet, lingering kiss straight to Hyuntak’s warm cheek. 

“I’m just stating the facts, baby.” Seongje murmurs softly against his skin.

Hyuntak huffs, leaning closer into Seongje’s chest as the city lights blur past the fogged-up windows. 

The rest of the ride passes in a sweet, comfortable trance. When they finally step off at the corner near Seongje’s building and walk up the quiet entrance steps, Seongje breaks the silence, his tone trying–and failing–to sound casual as he digs in his pocket for his keys. 

“You staying over?”

Hyuntak shakes his head with a dramatic, exhausted sigh. “I can’t. I have work early tomorrow, I need to head home to get clean clothes and–”

“So what?” Seongje interrupts instantly while unlocking the heavy glass door, using his body to hold it open for Hyuntak to enter first. “You can go from here.”

“I literally just said I need to get clean clothes. I don’t have my work bag here and I–”

“You can wear my clothes, what’s the matter?” Seongje reasons quickly, intertwining his fingers with Hyuntak’s and dragging him toward the elevator, already knowing his boyfriend’s not leaving. 

“Yeah, and what would I wear to the gym? One of your jeans and a fuck ass bomber?” Hyuntak laughs, stepping into the metal box. 

“You love that jacket, don’t play dumb now.” Seongje leans against the mirror, dragging Hyuntak until he’s pressed against his chest, still laughing incredulously. “I don’t know, we’ll throw your clothes in the washing machine right now, they’ll be dry by the morning. I can go get your stuff tomorrow before you wake up. Problem solved.” 

Hyuntak stares at him, smiling with a mix of fondness, disbelief and a heart that feels completely melted. Seongje’s inability to let him walk out the door–his endless, stubborn problem-solving just to keep Hyuntak in his bed for one more night–is the most lovingly consuming thing Hyuntak’s ever experienced. 

“You’re so fucking needy, do you know that?” Hyuntak rasps out softly, a helpless smile breaking across his face as he loops his arms tightly around Seongje’s neck. He melts completely against him, defeated by how deeply his boyfriend wants him around. “Look at everything you’re doing just so you don’t have to sleep alone. Stop whining, I’m staying.”

A flash of pure, smug triumph crosses Seongje’s face, and then he’s closing the distance between them, trapping Hyuntak’s waist to flush his hips against his while the elevator starts going up. 

It’s an intense and messy kiss that instantly steals the breath right out of Hyuntak’s lungs. Seongje eats up his breathless giggles, nipping at his lower lip and squeezing every inch of his boyfriend’s flesh he can reach. 

They stumble down the dimly lit hallway of Seongje’s floor in a chaotic blur of needy kisses and muffled laughter, tripping over their own feet and bumping against the walls. By the time Seongje finally manages to blindly put on the code of his apartment lock, Hyuntak is already clinging to his shoulders, laughing against his mouth as his boyfriend kicks the door shut behind them with a heavy thud.

The door seals out the night with a final click, but Seongje doesn't even bother turning on the lights. He pushes Hyuntak against the wall beside the entryway, showering the boy’s face with kisses. 

“Wait–Seongje! Wait,” Hyuntak pants out against his lips, a breathless laugh catching in his throat as he tries to push lightly against his chest. “I still have to go to work tomorrow, you bastard. I know you, you’re gonna turn off all my alarms, I’m gonna oversleep and they’re gonna fire me because of you.”

Seongje pulls back just an inch, looking down at him through the dark with an infuriating smirk. 

“What a shame,” he says softly, overflowing with fake sympathy. “I guess you’ll just have to stay here with me forever.”

He won’t say it out loud, but yeah, Hyuntak wouldn’t really mind that.