Chapter Text
[Guiding Compatibility: 200%]
…
Huh?
Kim Soleum stared at the paper. No matter how long he stared, the number didn’t change.
He read the number again, slowly this time, as though his eyes were somehow betraying him. Maybe the machine had malfunctioned. Maybe someone had entered the wrong information. Or maybe the staff had mixed up their results with another pair's.
Any of those explanations would have been reasonable. Two hundred percent wasn't a number that should have been appearing on a guiding compatibility report.
…Was it even possible to exceed one hundred percent?
Kim Soleum had never been particularly lucky with compatibility tests. As a Guide, he was used to seeing numbers in the twenties, and he’d long since accepted that finding an Esper he perfectly matched would be a matter of patience. He certainly wasn’t expecting a miracle.
But 200%?
How in the world had he managed to get a compatibility score of two hundred percent with—
He gulped, turning to the man sitting beside him.
Baek Saheon, otherwise known as Viper. An S-Rank Esper with a notoriously difficult temperament and a reputation that made even seasoned Guides think twice before approaching him.
Baek Saheon was silently staring at his own copy of the report.
For a moment, he could only stare at the paper in his hands. Then his expression hardened, and the sheet crumpled beneath his fingers.
"Is this a joke? What do you mean, two hundred percent? Two fucking hundred?!"
The staff member sitting across from them flinched.
"P-Please calm down, sir. We’re just as surprised as you are, but—"
"Surprised? You’re telling me this is a real result?!"
"We’ve already run the test thrice to confirm. There doesn’t appear to be any issue with the equipment, either."
"No, there has to be a mistake." Baek Saheon tossed the crumpled paper away, his voice rising with every word. "How the fuck am I this compatible with a psycho like him?!"
Kim Soleum, who had been sitting quietly beside him, turned to look at the S-Rank Esper.
This psycho?
'Well, that was a bit rude…'
Baek Saheon whipped around to face him. "You bastard! You must’ve messed with the results, didn’t you?!"
"Excuse me?" Kim Soleum stared back at him.
What exactly was he supposed to have done? Tampered with the testing equipment? Bribed the staff? For what possible benefit?!
Baek Saheon was one of the most powerful Espers in South Korea. If anything, he was the last person Kim Soleum would willingly provoke.
What was he supposed to gain from lying to a man who could easily tear the testing center apart with his bare hands?
"I didn't do anything," Kim Soleum replied, keeping his voice level. "Why would I have any reason to?"
"Don't play dumb with me!"
"I’m not."
"Sir, please!" The staff member hurriedly interjected before Baek Saheon could launch into another tirade. "I understand that this is difficult to believe, but we’ve verified the results. The equipment is functioning normally, and both of your readings are consistent. There’s no indication of tampering."
"No fucking way! I refuse to believe I’m most compatible with some shitty D-Rank Guide!"
…
Ouch.
It wasn't as if Kim Soleum was particularly proud of his rank, but did he really have to sound so… disgusted?
Beside him, Baek Saheon gripped the armrests of his chair. The plastic creaked ominously beneath his fingers before a sharp crack cut through the room. A piece of the armrest snapped clean off.
'…Right. S-Rank Esper with superhuman strength yet a terrible temper. How could it get any worse?'
"I knew all of you were fucking incompetent!" Baek Saheon barked, "Can't you do your jobs properly for once?!"
The staff member went pale but managed to maintain a professional smile. "Sir, I assure you, a compatibility rate of two hundred percent is not a joke. In fact, it's practically unheard of."
"Then explain it!"
"Your previous compatibility results have consistently fallen around thirty-five percent, give or take. While that's not necessarily unusable, it does mean that guiding has been less effective than it could be. There have also been complications with your previous pairings, as I'm sure you're aware."
Baek Saheon clicked his tongue, rolling his eyes.
"However, with a Guide whose compatibility reaches this level, the benefits could be extraordinary. Your energy recovery would be significantly more efficient, and your overall performance could improve beyond what we've previously considered possible. There could also be positive effects on your physical condition to manage the strain of your Esper powers."
The staff member paused, carefully choosing their words not to anger the beast in front of them.
"Simply put, this is very important for you, sir. A Guide like Kim Soleum could make an enormous difference."
"I'm not getting guiding from this fucking psychopath!"
Baek Saheon shot to his feet so abruptly that his already-damaged chair scraped loudly across the floor.
"Do you people not understand what I'm saying?!" Baek Saheon practically shouted. "I lost my eye because of this bastard!"
His hand flew to his eyepatch, fingers pressing against it as if the very sight of Kim Soleum sitting beside him had reminded him of the incident all over again.
"I don't want anything else from him! Nothing! For all I know, what if this pervert starts touching me under the excuse of guiding?!"
...Pervert?!
Kim Soleum stared at him.
He had known Baek Saheon was difficult. Anyone working in the Guiding Department had heard stories about Viper's temper, his refusal to cooperate with staff, and his ability to turn the smallest inconvenience into everyone's problem.
But a pervert? What exactly did he think guiding involved?
Across the table, the staff member looked like they were reconsidering every career decision that had led them to this particular appointment.
"But sir, guiding is a regulated medical procedure—"
"I don't give a fuck if it's regulated!" Baek Saheon slammed his palm against the table. "I said I'm not doing it!"
The staff member immediately fell silent.
Judging by the look on their face, they seemed to have decided that no amount of money in the world was worth risking their life over a compatibility test. Frankly, Kim Soleum couldn't blame them. If he weren't sitting right in the middle of this mess, he would have considered making a quiet exit himself.
Unfortunately, running away now would probably make things worse. So, with his usual poker face firmly in place, he turned to the furious Esper.
"I won't do that, Baek Saheon."
The words came out more calmly than he'd expected. He even managed to meet Baek Saheon's gaze without immediately looking away. He straightened his back and puffed out his chest ever so slightly, hoping the gesture would make him look confident.
"I'm sorry you lost your eye trying to save me. Even so, you still managed to get me out of that dungeon break alive. I don't know if I'll ever be able to make up for what you sacrificed for me, but I'll do everything I can to repay you."
There. That was reasonable, wasn't it? He'd acknowledged what Baek Saheon had done for him, made his intentions clear, and even offered to repay the favor. Surely, that was enough to settle things without anyone having to lose a limb.
'Please just accept that and leave me alone…'
In reality, Kim Soleum was terrified. He was simply very good at not showing it.
One wrong word and Baek Saheon could probably disintegrate him from existence before he even had time to blink. The man was an S-Rank Esper, for crying out loud. Kim Soleum was a D-Rank Guide. Their respective positions on the food chain were hardly a mystery.
And honestly, he couldn't bring himself to care about the eye Baek Saheon had lost.
Of course, he wished Baek Saheon hadn't been hurt in the first place, but what good would worrying over something that couldn't be undone do? They both made it out of the dungeon break safely in the end. As far as he was concerned, that was what mattered.
What worried him far more was the possibility of Baek Saheon holding a grudge. The man was notorious for being astonishingly persistent when he decided he disliked someone.
But right now, thanks to the ridiculous compatibility test, Kim Soleum had somehow become the person he hated most in the room.
Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.
He had no intention of making matters worse. If a little shallow gratitude and a promise to repay his debt could prevent his untimely death, then he'd gladly offer both.
For a moment, Baek Saheon said nothing.
The furious expression on his face had gone strangely blank. He stared at Kim Soleum as though he had just said something completely incomprehensible, his mouth slightly opening before closing again.
"You…" He stopped.
He looked as though he wanted to say something else, but whatever words had been on the tip of his tongue seemed to be stuck there. His gaze flickered over Kim Soleum's face before darting away. A faint flush crept up the tips of his ears, growing steadily redder the longer he stood there.
What was this? Had he somehow offended him even more?
"Baek Saheon-nim?"
"Shut up."
Oh. There he was.
Yet, Baek Saheon still wouldn't look him in the eye. He stood there, looking clearly uncomfortable, as if he'd rather be fighting a dungeon full of monsters than having this conversation.
Kim Soleum had absolutely no idea what to make of it.
Then, without warning, Baek Saheon lunged at him.
'Oh, shit—!'
Kim Soleum instinctively squeezed his eyes shut and braced himself for impact. Was he seriously going to die here? Over a compatibility test?! In the end, he could only hope for a quick and painless death.
...
He waited for the blow. But it never came.
Instead, something warm pressed against his chest. A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around his waist. He cautiously cracked open his eyes.
Brown hair. Broad shoulders. A familiar combat suit.
Baek Saheon was hugging him.
...What?
Kim Soleum froze.
Wait a minute. This isn't how it's supposed to go!
Baek Saheon was supposed to scream at everyone in the testing center, reject the results, and storm off in a fit of rage. That was how things had gone, and Kim Soleum had spent months remembering the incident as one of the worst days of his life.
So why was Baek Saheon clinging to him like a child refusing to let go of a favorite blanket?
"Um. Baek Saheon-nim?"
No response. The arms around his waist tightened.
"…Saheon-ah?"
—!
Oh, no.
Baek Saheon's arms tightened again, pulling him so close that there was hardly any room left to breathe. He felt the pressure building around his torso, his ribs beginning to protest under the unforgiving grip.
Was this man trying to crush him to death?!
"Saheon-ah…" Kim Soleum tried, his voice growing strained. "L-Let go a little…"
Another squeeze.
"Wait! I can't breathe—!"
He tried to pry the Esper's arms apart, but they barely budged. Baek Saheon's grip was absurdly strong. His fingers only seemed to dig in more firmly when Kim Soleum struggled.
"Saheon-ah, seriously, I—"
His vision grew increasingly hazy, and his knees began to buckle. He grabbed Baek Saheon's shoulders, desperately trying to free himself.
The ceiling light above him flickered in and out of focus. He blinked, struggling to keep his eyes open, but the bright circle of light overhead grew fainter as his vision continued to darken.
That was the last thing Kim Soleum saw before everything went black.
===
GASP!
Kim Soleum's eyes snapped open.
For several seconds, he lay completely still, staring at the ceiling of his bedroom.
His gaze wandered around the familiar room, dimly lit by the faint glow of the city lights filtering through his bedroom curtains. He was lying in his own bed, tucked beneath his usual blankets, still dressed in the pajamas he'd changed into before going to sleep.
All right. Good. That was normal.
He let out a sigh of relief.
'What a stupid dream.'
He'd have to be out of his mind to dredge up a memory from the past like that in his sleep. The memory of Baek Saheon's arms tightening around him was still unpleasantly vivid. He could almost feel the pressure against his ribs even now.
With a loud sigh, he shifted beneath the covers, intending to get up and wash his face before going back to sleep.
But he didn't get very far.
Something was wrapped around his torso, restricting his movements. Kim Soleum frowned and tried to roll onto his side, only to find himself held firmly in place by a pair of arms.
...Wait.
He looked down. Someone's arms were looped around his waist, their hands resting against his stomach. The familiar white sleeves against his pajamas were unmistakable, as was the warmth of the body pressed snugly against his back.
He slowly turned around.
Brown hair. Broad shoulders. The same familiar combat suit. The same black eyepatch.
Baek Saheon was curled up behind him, hugging him around the waist with his face practically buried against his neck.
Kim Soleum stared at him. Then he stared at the bed.
His bed. Baek Saheon was in his bed. Sprawled across the mattress and clinging to him like he had every right to be there.
Which, technically, he did. They were dating, after all…
But that wasn't the problem. The problem was that Baek Saheon was still wearing his combat suit!
His gaze travelled from the white fabric stretched across Baek Saheon's shoulders to the boots at the foot of the bed.
Did he come straight here after work? Did he even take a shower?
'...What the hell happened while I was asleep?!'
"Ah… Let go, Saheon-ah…"
The arms around his waist loosened instantly.
"You're awake?!" Baek Saheon's voice brightened with unmistakable excitement.
He was looking at him with an expression that was entirely too pleased for someone who had practically crushed Kim Soleum's internal organs.
His brown hair was slightly disheveled, and there was a faint flush across his cheeks. The tips of his ears were red, too, and when their eyes met, he quickly glanced away.
Good grief.
"What are you doing here?" Kim Soleum asked, finally finding his voice. "Aren't you supposed to be in a dungeon right now?"
"The dungeon clear ended early…" Baek Saheon picked at a wrinkle in his combat suit, avoiding Kim Soleum's gaze. "So I just sneaked away to spend some time with you."
"…Saheon-ah."
"What?" Baek Saheon finally looked at him, his expression turning defensive. "Nobody noticed anyway. My teammates will handle the post-battle reports for me."
"Still," Kim Soleum said, rubbing his forehead. "You can't just leave in the middle of an operation because you want to see me!"
"But we already cleared the dungeon! I saw the boss die with my very eyes."
"There's still paperwork. Debriefing. Equipment checks… What if something happens after you've left?"
"Nothing happened."
"You don't know that!"
"…Why are you scolding me?"
Baek Saheon's lips pushed into a pout.
It was ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. And, unfortunately, rather effective.
Kim Soleum's expression softened. "I'm not scolding you. I'm just saying you should have told me you were coming."
"But I did! I rang the doorbell like twenty fucking times, but you wouldn't wake up!"
"Oh, really?" Kim Soleum tilted his head. "Well, I was busy having a perfectly nice dream until someone rudely decided to wake me up."
Baek Saheon's expression changed almost immediately. "...Did you dream about me?"
…Well, shit.
Of course, he wasn't about to admit that.
"You wish."
The disappointment on Baek Saheon's face was immediate. His shoulders slumped, and he turned away with a small pout, muttering something under his breath that Kim Soleum conveniently decided not to hear.
"Anyway, how did you even get in here? Wait!" His eyes widened as a horrible possibility occurred to him. "Did I leave the front door unlocked?!"
"...No."
"Oh, then how did you get in?"
"..."
"Jagiya."
"...I snuck in through the kitchen window."
Silence.
"...Saheon-ah, we're on the thirteenth floor."
"W-Well!" Baek Saheon immediately sat up, his face flushing as he scrambled to defend himself. "I wouldn't have had to do that if you'd just answered the door!"
A laugh escaped Kim Soleum before he could stop it. He pressed a hand over his mouth, but that could barely contain his chuckles.
"What's so funny?!" Baek Saheon demanded.
"Nothing, nothing." Kim Soleum wiped the corner of his eye, still grinning. "I'm sorry. I just—"
"Don't laugh at me!"
"I'm not."
"Bullshit! You're literally laughing at me…"
Baek Saheon sulked, turning his head to face another direction.
'Good grief… How could someone so terrifying to everyone else be this adorable?'
"Fine, fine." Kim Soleum finally managed to compose himself. Reaching over, he gave Baek Saheon's hair a gentle pat. "Well, now that you're here, why don't I give you a bit of guiding before bed?"
"Yes!" Baek Saheon shot upright so quickly that the blankets slid off his lap.
Then he seemed to realize what he'd just done. He cleared his throat and settled himself against the pillows again.
"I-I mean... sure. Whatever." He waved a hand dismissively. "It's not like a D-Rank's guiding is going to make much of a difference, anyway."
Kim Soleum stared at him.
Oh, so that's how it is.
Without a word, he reached over and flicked him squarely in the forehead.
"Ow!" Baek Saheon rubbed his just-flicked forehead.
"That's for being a brat." Kim Soleum snickered. "I change my mind. Go get guiding from someone else."
"H-Hey! You can't just take back your guiding!"
"What's wrong? I thought you didn't expect much from my guiding. Go get some guiding from the S-Ranks at Daydream Guild then."
"That's not what I—!"
"Then I suppose you don't need it tonight?"
"But… Soleum-ah!"
Baek Saheon clamped his mouth shut. His ears had gone bright red, and he was staring very intently at the blankets in his lap.
Then, in a much quieter voice, he mumbled, "...I didn't mean it that way."
Kim Soleum's smile returned.
'Honestly. What am I going to do with you?'
"Alright, fine. Now, give me your hand."
That seemed to get Baek Saheon's attention. He immediately held out his hand.
Kim Soleum took it. Then he paused.
Several shallow cuts crossed his knuckles, and bruises were beginning to form along the back of his hand. When Kim Soleum gently turned his wrist, he found more scrapes trailing up his forearm, some of them still angry and red.
His smile faded.
"You..." He carefully turned Baek Saheon's arm over, inspecting the damage. "Why didn't you get these treated first?"
"Hm? Oh." Baek Saheon glanced at his own arm and shrugged. "The medics there are trash anyway. It'll heal in a day or two."
Kim Soleum stared at him.
"Baek Saheon."
"What?"
"You have to take care of your body."
"It's just a few cuts," Baek Saheon protested. "I've had worse. Remember when I broke three ribs and got over it in like a month?"
"That's not the point! You should always prioritize your health! Even small cuts like these can lead to infections."
Baek Saheon fell silent. He looked taken aback by Kim Soleum's sharp tone. Then his gaze wandered elsewhere, and he began picking at a loose thread on his combat suit.
"...It's not that bad," he muttered.
…
He let go of Baek Saheon's hand and pushed the blankets aside. "I'm treating these first."
"Huh? Wait, where are you going?" Baek Saheon scrambled after him. "What about my guiding?"
"I'm not guiding you while you're hurt like this."
"What?!"
"Stay there."
Kim Soleum left the bedroom before he could argue further, heading straight for the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. He could hear his boyfriend grumbling behind him, though the words were too muffled to make out.
Good. Let him grumble.
It took a moment to find everything he needed. The disinfectant was tucked behind a box of medicine, while the bandages were shoved into the back of a drawer. Once he'd gathered the supplies, he returned to the bed.
Baek Saheon sat there with his arms crossed, looking like a child who'd been told he couldn't have dessert before dinner.
"Give me your arm."
He hesitated for all of half a second before obediently holding it out.
'Well, at least he could follow instructions when he wanted to.'
Kim Soleum sat beside him and set the supplies on the nightstand. He rolled up Baek Saheon's sleeve, exposing the cuts along his forearm, then soaked a piece of gauze with disinfectant.
He dabbed the gauze against the first cut.
"Ow!"
"...Stop pretending."
"Shit… But it really does sting!"
"Right, Mr. S-Rank Esper."
Kim Soleum's mouth curved into a slight smile. He continued cleaning the wounds, taking care not to press too hard even when he made a show of flinching. His boyfriend was remarkably expressive whenever he wanted attention.
Once the cuts were clean, he carefully wrapped the bandages around his forearm and secured them in place. He repeated the process with the scrapes on Baek Saheon's hands, smoothing the edges down so they wouldn't come loose.
"There." He gave the last bandage a gentle pat. "All done."
Baek Saheon lowered his arm and examined his newly wrapped hands. Then he turned his hands over, looking at the bandages from every possible angle.
"...Seriously, are you a kid?" Baek Saheon asked. "What's with these shitty cartoon bandages?"
"They were the cheapest ones on sale," Kim Soleum replied.
"You should've bought something better!"
"With what money? Some of us don't get paid S-Rank Esper salaries."
Baek Saheon opened his mouth, ready to argue, but Kim Soleum had already started gathering the leftover gauze and disinfectant. He set everything aside before turning back to his boyfriend, who was still inspecting his bandaged hands with a deeply dissatisfied expression.
"Now, are you done complaining?"
"I'm not complaining."
"Right. Of course." Kim Soleum patted the empty space beside him. "Come here. You wanted guiding, didn't you?"
Baek Saheon's head snapped up. He certainly didn't waste any time scooting closer.
Kim Soleum held back a smile and reached for his hand.
"Relax your fingers," he instructed, gently easing Baek Saheon's hand into his palm. "You don't have to keep them so stiff."
"I'm relaxed."
"Your hand says otherwise."
"It’s these ugly bandages, I’m telling you! How am I supposed to relax with Pororo grinning at me from my middle finger?"
"Right. My mistake."
Despite his grumbling, Baek Saheon eventually allowed his fingers to loosen. Kim Soleum adjusted his grip, cradling the Esper's hand between both of his.
His hands were surprisingly warm. There were calluses along his palms that came from years of fighting things that would have sent ordinary people running in the opposite direction. A few small cuts were still visible around his knuckles, carefully covered by the ridiculous cartoon bandages Kim Soleum had just applied.
For someone who could be so frightening, Baek Saheon's hand felt remarkably gentle in his.
He let his thumb brush lightly over the back of it.
"All right. I'll start now."
Baek Saheon nodded.
With a quiet breath, Kim Soleum focused his attention on the warmth beneath his fingertips. Guiding wasn't simply a matter of pouring energy into an Esper and hoping for the best. It required concentration and enough control to soothe the instability without overwhelming the Esper.
Usually, he had to work extra hard to maintain that control. With his usual compatibility scores, the process could be slow and tiring. But the moment he began to channel his energy into Baek Saheon's hand, something seemed to shift.
The connection settled into place with startling ease.
He was momentarily caught off guard by how naturally his energy flowed into him. There was no resistance whatsoever. His guiding energy passed through their joined hands as smoothly as a small stream joining a river.
Nonetheless, he couldn't afford to get distracted. He focused on maintaining the flow, gently massaging Baek Saheon's palm with his thumb as he guided him.
Across from him, Baek Saheon's shoulders gradually relaxed. The tension he'd carried since barging into his apartment seemed to drain away little by little. His fingers curled loosely around Kim Soleum's hand, and his eyelid slipped shut.
The change in his expression was remarkable. The furrow between his brows disappeared. His lips, which had spent most of the evening twisted into an indignant pout, softened into a faint, contented line. Without his usual scowl, Baek Saheon looked all the more gentle.
Kim Soleum's hand slowed for half a second.
Oh, come on. How was he supposed to concentrate on guiding when his boyfriend looked like that?
It was unfair, really.
He tried to focus on the steady flow of guiding energy between them, but his attention kept wandering back to his boyfriend's face. Baek Saheon's expression was so peaceful that it was hard to reconcile that it belonged to the irascible Esper he was familiar with.
"You overexerted yourself today," Kim Soleum mumbled, running his thumb over Baek Saheon's knuckles. "You should've sought emergency guiding as soon as the dungeon clear was over. Imagine what would've happened if I hadn't been here to guide you."
"Yeah, but..." Baek Saheon's fingers curled a little more tightly around his. "The guiding those idiots give me isn't the same as yours."
"Oh?" Kim Soleum raised an eyebrow. "So you admit my D-Rank guiding is better than theirs, huh?"
"No! It's just..." Baek Saheon trailed off.
Kim Soleum waited, a small smile tugging at his lips as he watched the tips of his boyfriend's ears turn pink.
"...Yeah," he finally mumbled. "It's better. But only because it's coming from you."
A laugh slipped out of Kim Soleum before he could stop it.
"Is that so?"
"Don't make me say it again."
"All right, all right. I heard you."
Baek Saheon settled back against the bed, apparently satisfied that he'd made his feelings clear. Kim Soleum continued guiding him, smiling to himself as the last of the tension gradually left his boyfriend's shoulders.
"Hey... Can't you just become a Combat Guide and follow me into the dungeons?"
Kim Soleum's hand paused for the briefest moment before resuming its gentle movements.
"Hmm? Maybe, but I'm scared of the monsters in the dungeons."
"What's there to be scared of?" Baek Saheon replied, as though the answer were obvious. "I can kill the monsters before they even reach you."
"That's not the point, Saheon-ah." Kim Soleum sighed. "Even with an Esper protecting you, there's still a high chance of getting injured. Have you seen Choi-sunbaenim? He's covered in scars from his days as a Combat Guide."
"...But I'd like your guiding every time I'm in a dungeon."
Baek Saheon hadn't opened his eye, but his fingers had curled more tightly around Kim Soleum's hand, holding on with the stubbornness of a child afraid their friend might leave them behind.
Still, following an S-Rank Esper into a dungeon was hardly a sensible career move for a D-Rank Guide who preferred to keep all his limbs intact.
Instead, he gave his boyfriend's hand an affectionate squeeze.
"Saheon-ah, if you want more guiding, then swing by my office more often. It's not like I'm going anywhere."
Baek Saheon cracked his one eye open. "...Really? Aren't you busy in there?"
"When I have no clients, you're always free to come."
"Fine then. I'll visit your office on my breaks every day!"
"Sure." Kim Soleum smiled and gave his head another affectionate pat.
His hand lingered against his hair, gently smoothing down his curls.
Baek Saheon finally opened his eye fully. Their gazes met, and for a little while, neither of them said anything.
Then he, very slowly, leaned forward.
Kim Soleum barely had time to register the movement before their lips met. The kiss was gentle at first, but he soon tilted his head to deepen it. His tongue brushed softly against the lower lip, coaxing it apart, and Baek Saheon answered with a small, pleased sound.
His fingers slipped from Baek Saheon's hair to cradle his cheek. When he began to draw back, his thumb brushed affectionately over the corner of his boyfriend's mouth. But before he could pull away completely, Baek Saheon's fingers tightened around his hand, holding on as though he could persuade him to stay a little longer.
By the time they finally drew apart, Baek Saheon was left catching his breath, his face noticeably flushed.
"What?" He demanded, still a little breathless.
"Nothing." Kim Soleum's smile only grew. "You're just cute."
"…Don't call me that."
"Okay, okay. Whatever you say~"
He was absolutely going to keep calling him cute.
Fortunately for Baek Saheon's dignity, the guiding session had come to an end just then. Kim Soleum gave his hand one last squeeze before releasing it, settling down beside him on the bed.
However, Baek Saheon wasn't quite ready to be deprived of physical contact. The moment Kim Soleum had settled in, he shuffled closer and wrapped both arms around his waist, pressing his face against his chest.
"Hey. You're going to suffocate me again."
"...Sorry." Despite the apology, Baek Saheon made no effort to loosen his hold. "It just feels nice touching you, even when you aren't guiding me."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Even just touching your skin makes me feel... warm."
Kim Soleum let out a soft laugh.
"Is it our compatibility? I guess the mere touch of my skin is enough to resonate with your power, even when I'm not doing anything."
"…Maybe."
"Actually, when I touch you, I can feel my guiding establishing a connection so easily, too. It's incredible! I still can't get used to it." Kim Soleum shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable without disturbing his boyfriend's grip. "Maybe it's a side effect of our unusually high compatibility. If we could measure the changes in guiding energy when we're in direct contact versus when I'm actively guiding you, we might be able to…"
He paused, thinking it over.
"Oh! If the resonance is strong enough to occur without conscious guiding, then maybe prolonged physical contact could help stabilize your power, and completely eliminate the need of another guide in your clears. That would be worth testing. We could record your readings, and compare them over—"
…
There was no answer. He quietly looked down.
Baek Saheon's eye had long since fallen shut, his face tucked against Kim Soleum's chest. His arms remained wrapped firmly around his waist, but his breathing had settled into the slow rhythm of sleep.
Kim Soleum stared down at him, momentarily at a loss. "...Saheon-ah?"
A helpless smile spread across his face. So much for discussing their extraordinary compatibility…
He gently brushed a few stray strands of hair away from his forehead. His fingers accidentally brushed the strap of the black eyepatch, and he hesitated. Baek Saheon was always prickly about it.
Yet, there was no way he could have a comfortable sleep with it still on, right? So Kim Soleum carefully eased the strap over his head and set the eyepatch on the nightstand. Baek Saheon only let out a small breath and burrowed a little closer in response, as if his body knew whose hands those were.
The sight of Baek Saheon sleeping so peacefully, with his arms still wrapped stubbornly around his waist, made his heart feel strangely full.
"You must've had a very tiring day… Good night then, Jagiya," he whispered.
Careful not to wake him, Kim Soleum settled onto the pillow next to him and drew the blanket over them both. Baek Saheon remained curled comfortably against him, seemingly with no intention of letting go even in his sleep.
There would be plenty of time to talk about their compatibility tomorrow. For now, he slipped an arm around him and closed his eyes, content to let the night pass with his boyfriend tucked safely next to him.