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0.
The body of the Han Yoojin of this world hasn’t been touched regularly in 3 years, but pre-regression Han Yoojin really hasn’t been touched affectionately in 8 years. But even with their repaired relationship, Han Yoohyun was never really the one to initiate touches, with exceptions of Yoohyun checking Yoojin over for injuries.
Han Yoojin has more people in his life than he does pre-regression who accept his affection. But he notices that he’s always the one to initiate. Bak Yerim is used to refraining, conditioned from the time she was unused to her strength and afraid of hurting him. Yoo Myeongwoo is unused to both receiving and giving affection. Kim Sunghan really only touches him when he’s carrying Yoojin home drunk.
Really, the only one to initiate touching him in a while was Song Taewon when he was choking him.
They all reciprocate when he touches them. And he has the baby monsters, always willing to cuddle. So it’s fine that no one touches him first. He’s fine. It’s fine. Really.
0.
Sung Hyunjae knows Han Yoojin is an affectionate person. He throws around “I love you”s like it’s candy on Halloween and is constantly touching his younger brother and ward. But it doesn’t occur to Sung Hyunjae that touch is usually initiated by Han Yoojin with someone else. Not until he sees Han Yoohyun check his older brother for scratches from an enthusiastic Peace, and sees Han Yoojin lean into the touch, basking in it more than expected.
The cogs turn in Sung Hyunjae’s mind as he senses an opportunity. It might not work out, but if it does…? High risk, high reward.
1.
Sung Hyunjae starts out small. They are all seated at a table barely big enough for all of them, at a restaurant Bak Yerim swears is better than her uncle’s. Though from the way Han Yoojin rolls his eyes and ruffles her hair fondly, that isn’t particularly difficult. Somehow Sung Hyunjae ends up next to Han Yoojin.
In the middle of eating and of the conversation, Sung Hyunjae leans forward to reach for a dish. Due to everyone being squished at the table, it’s easy to dismiss the way Sung Hyunjae’s arm brushes against Han Yoojin. It’s a little harder to dismiss the way Sung Hyunjae’s leg also shifts, his knee now pressing against Han Yoojin’s.
Sung Hyunjae sees Han Yoojin tense and shoot him a suspicious look out of the corner of his eye. He doesn’t acknowledge it and turns to Bak Yerim to ask her what other restaurants are better than her uncle’s, though he really couldn’t care less.
As Bak Yerim rants, Sung Hyunjae keeps pressing his leg to Han Yoojin’s. Interestingly, the F-class hunter doesn’t draw away or bring attention to it. Instead, the tension in Yoojin’s shoulders eventually melts.
And by the end of the night, not only are their knees still touching, but the whole length of their legs rest against each other.
2.
The next time Sung Hyunjae is able to further this unnamed campaign is at another TV shooting for Han Yoojin’s beast taming abilities. It’s an early morning shoot, the producers hoping to release the recording later that day. Yoojin must have had a late night, since he hasn’t stopped yawning.
Yoojin is planning to show the fruits of his labor with Peace’s adult form coordinating with Han Yoohyun. The young guild master is whisked away immediately to get ready. Bak Yerim isn’t accompanying Yoojin this time, busy with Kim Sunghan in a dungeon raid.
Hyunjae is there in their stead to protect the crew from anything that could possibly get out of hand. He is also tasked to help set the stage.
Hyunjae looks on as the beast teamer struggles to move a set piece into place. He’s pretty sure there should be someone else who should be doing this. (There is. It’s him.) Yoojin is carrying it with both arms, and is trying unsuccessfully to blow his hair out of his eyes.
“A little help?” Yoojin snaps at Hyunjae.
Hyunjae comes over and brushes Yoojin’s bangs out of his face, touch lingering. Yoojin freezes but not for long.
“With the set, you stupid ahjussi!”
Hyunjae playfully pouts at Yoojin but takes the set piece from him without breaking a sweat. He puts it down as directed and goes back to Yoojin.
“It seems Yoojin-gun needs a haircut,” he remarks, combing his fingers through Yoojin’s hair, eyeing how long it’s gotten.
“I haven’t found a place nearby me yet,” Yoojin responds, letting the Seseong Guild leader essentially pet his head. He’s unaware that he’s leaning into the touch, too sleepy to be self-aware.
“I’ll take you to my regular stylist,” Hyunjae offers. He’s pushing Yoojin’s hair around as if visualizing different styles.
“Can I afford it?” Yoojin asks sardonically.
“My treat,” Hyunjae promises. He finally removes his hand. “Go to the show stylist and get ready. I’ll finish setting up.”
Yoojin grumbles about how that was Hyunjae’s job in the first place, but goes off as instructed. Hyunjae watches him until he’s out of sight, chuckling fondly.
The shoot goes off without a hitch, Hyunjae didn’t even need to intervene. The hosts are appropriately ooh-ing and ah-ing at Han Yoohyun and Peace’s teamwork and displays of power, no matter how toned down. Peace navigates the set up terrain with ease with the Haeyeon Guild leader on his back.
The hosts coo when Peace shrinks and immediately jumps into Yoojin’s arms. Han Yoohyun similarly goes straight to his hyung.
Han Yoojin and Han Yoohyun answer questions like that until the end of the scripted segment. The crew applauds once the director yelled “Cut!” Different people go up to the trio, hoping to talk with them.
Sung Hyunjae does his job with the set this time—somewhat. While shooting, he’s hired a hunter moving crew. He meets with the head contractor, giving instructions on what to pack and where it should be taken.
Once he sends the contracted team off, he turns and finds that Yoojin has been slightly separated from most of the others. He’s talking with someone who Hyunjae doesn’t recognize as part of the show’s crew.
At first Hyunjae doesn’t suspect anything’s wrong. But as he draws closer, he notices the way Yoojin’s shoulders have crept up to his ears. Peace’s hackles are raising as the stranger continues to get closer and invade Yoojin’s personal space.
Hyunjae quickens his pace but also remains casual so as not to alert anyone else. When he reaches Yoojin, he drapes his arm around the F-class hunter’s shoulders. He glances down to make eye contact with Yoojin and offers a reassuring smile. He feels the shoulders under his arm slump a bit in relief. Hyunjae’s smile sharpens when he turns his gaze to the man making Yoojin uncomfortable.
“Oh!” the man exclaims, delighted by Hyunjae’s appearance. “Seseong’s Guild leader! It’s an honor, I’m Bak Hayool.”
“Hm.” Sung Hyunjae doesn’t bother to return the greeting. He sees that the other man is ready to explain himself more, but Hyunjae doesn’t give him the chance and turns back to Yoojin.
“Ready to go to your appointment?”
Yoojin’s eyebrows twitch slightly in confusion, but the expression clears before it fully forms. “My haircut?” he drawls.
Bak Hajoon or whatever his name is looks confused. Good.
Hyunjae nods with a smile, pleased at Yoojin’s quick mind. The younger man huffs in amusement. “Let me give Peace to Yoohyun and we can go.”
While Yoojin goes off, Hyunjae’s smile drops and he looks at the man who made Yoojin uncomfortable with barely concealed disdain. He doesn’t release any of his S-class aura, not wanting to alert anyone, but nevertheless Bak Hayool looks away with a nervous look.
Yoojin returns and so does Hyunjae’s deceptively friendly demeanor. He puts his arm back around Yoojin’s shoulders, who doesn’t protest.
“Nice to meet you, Hajoon-ssi, but Yoojin-gun and I have somewhere else to be,” Hyunjae says to the other man, who looks like he would also rather be somewhere else. Hyunjae leads them away before Bak Hayool could even muster out a farewell.
Once out of earshot, Hyunjae feels Yoojin shaking under his hold. Hyunjae looks down, but Yoojin is merely snickering.
“Who knew Seseong’s Guild leader was so impolite,” Yoojin tuts.
But he’s smiling up at Hyunjae, so Hyunjae takes it as permission to continue being rude. Not that a lack of one would have stopped him.
2.5
Sung Hyunjae continues to touch Han Yoojin. A touch to his arm or shoulder to get his attention. A guiding hand at the middle of his back when they walk to a new destination. Brushing off dust or leaves and smoothing out wrinkles in his clothes.
The at first deliberate touches turns into real affection for Yoojin. What was once calculated becomes instinctive. He actually has to be intentional in not brushing back Yoojin’s hair every 5 seconds.
And while Yoojin does lean into the gestures, he still seems hesitant most of the time. If he’s tired enough, he will accept them willingly without a second thought. But he hasn’t truly reciprocated.
3.
Until one day, at the rearing facility.
Moon Hyuna and Kang Soyoung are with Blue and Comet, bonding with them and practicing potential combat tactics. Bak Yerim is also there, learning from her official/unofficial mentors and playing with Peace.
Sung Hyunjae came along with Kang Soyoung, and stands with Han Yoojin as they watch passively from a distance. At first he wonders why Yoojin didn’t join the others, but sees the F-class hunter rubbing his eyes and yawning. He’s practically swaying on his feet.
When Yoojin finishes rubbing his eyes, Hyunjae spots a stray eyelash on the younger man’s cheek. Unthinkingly, Hyunjae reaches up a hand to Yoojin’s face.
Yoojin flinches away from the hand coming towards him. He nearly stumbles if it weren’t for Hyunjae’s hand that steadies him from behind, resting at the middle of his back.
Hyunjae brushes at Yoojin’s cheek with his thumb and collects the eyelash resting there. He holds it out for Yoojin. “Blow and make a wish.”
Surprisingly, Yoojin doesn’t scoff at the idea. He looks intently at the eyelash for a moment before blowing it away. Hyunjae wonders what someone like Han Yoojin would wish for.
Hyunjae smiles and draws away, but not far. He puts his arm properly around Yoojin, hand drifting down to rest at the other man’s waist.
Yoojin doesn’t protest or move away, surprised by the tender actions and gentle touch. Hyunjae’s smile grows, pleased. His thumb lightly rubs against Yoojin’s side.
Flustered, Yoojin directs his gaze back to the group. They didn’t notice the pair, attention still on playing with the monsters. Peace seems to have tired himself out though, and trots over to Yoojin and cutely begs to be picked up.
Yoojin leaves Hyunjae’s hold to bend down and pick Peace up. Hyunjae figures that would be the end of it—but before he can take his arm back, Yoojin stands up and steps back into his hold, closer than before. Yoojin keeps his gaze resolutely on Peace.
Hyunjae opens his mouth to tease Yoojin, but spots the shorter man’s red ears. He closes his mouth on the joke at the tip of his tongue and lightly chuckles while curling his arm tighter around Yoojin. Yoojin leans ever so slightly into the embrace.
At some point, Hyunjae and Yoojin migrate to a bench and Hyunjae moves his arm to be around Yoojin’s shoulders to be more comfortable. The lines of their bodies touch from shoulder to foot. Peace dozes in Yoojin’s lap.
As the afternoon drifts on, Hyunjae notices Yoojin’s eyes grow heavy. His head starts dipping, jolting back up every now and then when it drops too far and it snaps him back awake.
When Yoojin’s head jerks back up for the umpteenth time, Hyunjae puts a hand on the side of Yoojin’s head and guides it to rest on his shoulder.
“Sleep,” Hyunjae orders, in the same gentle tone he used when instructing Yoojin to make a wish.
And it’s a testament to how tired Yoojin must be when he does so immediately.
4.
Sung Hyunjae is riding in the back of his chauffeured car, looking out the window to see the night lights go by when, at a red light, he sees Han Yoojin walking along the side of the road.
“Let me out,” Hyunjae commands the driver. He hears the door unlock and moves quickly to Yoojin.
“Yoojin-ah,” he calls instinctively. He nearly takes it back, but that thought flies out of his mind when Yoojin turns and he sees how exhausted the other man looks.
“What are you doing out?” Yoojin asks. He doesn’t comment on Hyunjae’s informal tone.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Hyunjae says, reaching him. “Do you need a ride back to your place?”
Yoojin shakes his head and continues walking when the crosswalk turns green. Hyunjae follows. “Couldn’t sleep, so I decided to take a walk.”
“This late? It can be dangerous at this time of night. You should be careful.”
“Well if I had known you’d be out, I would have stayed at home,” Yoojin snarks.
Hyunjae holds a hand to his heart in mock hurt. “So cold, Yoojin-gun.”
They find themselves at the next intersection, waiting to cross. Hyunjae takes advantage of the more illuminated area to look over Yoojin, seeing his red-shot eyes and pale face.
“Any reason why you can’t sleep?” he prods. The light changes and they continue.
Yoojin doesn’t answer and keeps his gaze forward.
“Too keyed up? Loud neighbors? Coffee was too strong?” Hyunjae guesses.
Hyunjae sees Yoojin’s jaw tighten and his body grow tenser, but doesn’t stop. “Pillow was too hot? Room was too cold?”
“It’s nothing,” Yoojin snaps. “Just can’t sleep tonight.”
“It’s clearly something,” Hyunjae presses. “Yoojin-gun always looks tired.”
“I didn’t know you were always looking at me.”
“How can I not?”
Yoojin lets out a frustrated noise. “Thank you for accompanying me, guild leader-nim, but you can go now,” he grits out, overly formal to create figurative distance.
Yoojin tries to make an abrupt turn away to make literal distance, but Hyunjae shoots out his arm and catches Yoojin’s wrist. Yoojin faces him, glaring, and tries to pull free. If the man wasn’t so tired, Hyunjae’s sure Yoojin would have hissed. Hyunjae just holds on tighter.
“I’m sorry,” Hyunjae says, softly.
His sincerity must be apparent because Yoojin stops struggling and just looks at him incredulously. Hyunjae’s hold drifts down to clasp Yoojin’s hand.
“Sorry,” he repeats, squeezing the hand. He has to refrain from pressing a kiss to it.
Yoojin lets out a hard sigh through his nose. He turns his face to the side, contemplating. Finally, he looks back and Hyunjae and nods. They resume walking, still holding hands.
Hyunjae asks after the monsters and Yoojin is coaxed into his usual proud spiel about their training progress. He pulls up pictures and gets closer to Hyunjae to show him, cooing at his babies.
They remain that close—arms brushing with every step—until they reach the facility next to Haeyeon. Hyunjae faces Yoojin, his thumb stroking over the back of Yoojin’s hand.
“Does Yoojin-gun have time to join me for lunch tomorrow?” Hyunjae asks.
Yoojin raises an eyebrow. “I’m surprised Hyunjae-ssi has time for such things with me.”
Hyunjae chuckles and shakes his head. Yoojin has no idea. And honestly? Neither does he. “For you, I will always make time.”
With the help of the facility’s outdoor night lighting, he can see Yoojin’s cheeks pinken. Yoojin nods a flustered affirmative.
“Excellent. I’ll come pick you up around noon.” Hyunjae gives Yoojin’s hand one last squeeze, and stops himself again from kissing it. “Sleep well, Yoojin-gun.”
Yoojin sighs tiredly, letting go of Hyunjae’s hand “I’ll try,” he says. But I don’t expect to, is what he doesn’t, but Hyunjae hears it anyways.
Yoojin walks to the building’s doors and turns to wave goodbye. Hyunjae waves back, watching Yoojin until he goes in and can’t see him anymore.
Hyunjae sighs, and pulls out his phone to get his driver to come pick him up.
4.5
After that night, though Yoojin still hasn’t revealed the cause to his insomnia, the pair get closer. Yoojin is no longer just used to Hyunjae’s touch, he welcomes it—seeks it out, even.
He no longer has to be too tired in order to lean into Hyunjae’s hand. He’ll rest his head on Hyunjae’s shoulder to doze without being guided to do so. In a crowded room, Yoojin will seek Hyunjae out, and they’ll greet each other with touches to each other’s arms.
They continue to bicker, but now it’s with some point of contact between their bodies. They continue to grab meals together alone after that first one. Yoojin begins to invite Hyunjae on his late night strolls whenever Hyunjae’s schedule permits, their hands clasped together swinging between them.
Neither of them know what to call this, but that doesn’t stop them.
5.
It’s the middle of one night when Han Yoojin has actually managed to fall asleep sans walk, but is soon woken up by a fire alarm. He barely gets his indoor slippers on to cover his feet when Yoo Myeongwoo appears and ushers him outside to safety.
I’ll have to get new slippers, he thinks to himself tiredly. He watches Myeongwoo join Kim Sunghan and Bak Yerim in containing the fire, which seems to be concentrated to the living quarters and hasn’t reached the rearing facility. He’s glad that he left Peace there instead of letting the horned flame lion sleep with him as usual and getting caught up in this mess.
A breeze makes him shiver, and he wraps his arms around himself. And I should’ve grabbed a jacket.
“Yoojin-ah,” he hears someone call.
He sees Sung Hyunjae coming from the Haeyeon building, presumably from a meeting with Han Yoohyun, who he sees going to help the others.
“Hyunjae-yah,” he responds. “Aren’t you going to help?”
“The young master wanted to make sure you were safe,” Hyunjae explains. “I convinced him that he would be better suited to containing the fire, and would graciously check in on you in his stead.” Hyunjae even bows a little.
Hyunjae comes to stand in front of Yoojin. Yoojin thinks he can nearly feel the warmth of the other’s body, and finds himself unconsciously swaying towards it. He doesn’t notice Hyunjae watching him, amused.
“I can take care of myself,” Yoojin complains. A particularly violent shiver contradicts his proclamation.
Hyunjae’s amused expression sharpens into something more serious, finally noticing the younger man’s threadbare pajamas. He pulls Yoojin into an embrace, and makes sure his signature red coat envelops them.
“You could have just given me your coat, you opportunistic ahjussi,” Yoojin grumbles. Nevertheless, he unravels his hold on himself and snakes his arms around Hyunjae’s middle, sighing at the warmth.
They remain wrapped around each other for a while, long enough that Yoojin’s eyes are blinking slower and slower. He snuggles closer, resting his head on the other man’s shoulder and tucking his face into Hyunjae’s neck. He thinks he feels Hyunjae press a kiss to his hair, but is too sleepy to be sure.
Yoojin couldn’t truly fall asleep like that, since he is still standing. But he is close enough to it that when he feels Hyunjae shift, he jolts into wakefulness.
He whines a little at his sleep being interrupted, and rubs his face into the pillow in the hopes that it will wake him up more. He feels rather than sees Hyunjae chuckle, considering his pillow was actually the S-class hunter’s chest that he has just shamelessly smothered his face into.
Yoojin snaps his head up in realization and feels his face burning. He tries to back away in embarrassment but doesn’t get far, Hyunjae’s arms tightening around him.
Yoojin expects to be mocked and braces himself for it. Instead, Hyunjae brings a hand up to hold his face, thumbing at the dark circles under one eye.
“Still not sleeping?” Hyunjae asks, thumb stroking Yoojin’s face.
Yoojin is silent for a while. Hyunjae is sure that Yoojin isn’t going to tell him this time either until— “Nightmares,” Yoojin eventually reveals.
Hyunjae hums, his hand now brushing back Yoojin’s hair and combing through it. He repeats the gesture a few times and watches as Yoojin’s eyes flutter shut in response to the comforting motion.
Before he can drift again, Hyunjae stops and rests his hand on the back of Yoojin’s neck. The younger man’s eyes blink up at him, his mouth pouting in the slightest. Ah, how cute, his Yoojin.
“Well if you ever need someone to chase the nightmares away, I’m always at your service,” Hyunjae offers, trying for a lighthearted tone but ending up uncharacteristically serious and sincere.
Despite how close they’ve gotten, Hyunjae expects Yoojin to scoff or finally push him away. Instead, the F-class hunter looks at him thoughtfully. “I’ll think about it,” he finally responds.
The moment is broken when they hear Yoo Myeongwoo calling out to Yoojin. They step away from each other, but seeing Yoojin start to shiver at being re-exposed to the night air almost makes Hyunjae reach for him again.
He’s cut off from temptation when Myeongwoo reaches them, eyeing Hyunjae warily. Hyunjae smiles back placidly.
“The situation is resolved,” Myeongwoo says, tearing his gaze away from Hyunjae to look at Yoojin. “Minimal damage to our places, so we can go back in now.”
Yoojin nods and follows the forger’s lead. Before he’s completely out of earshot, he hears Hyunjae call out to him. The older man is still in the same place, watching them.
“Yoojin-gun,” Hyunjae starts, aware of who’s watching and speaking carefully. “Sleep well.”
It’s the same well-wishing that Hyunjae started all those nights ago and every time since. It feels different, after Hyunjae’s offer.
Yoojin gives him a small, hopeful smile, and nods his thanks. He turns back to follow Myeongwoo.
6.
Sung Hyunjae, Han Yoojin, Han Yoohyun, and Peace enter the D-ranked dungeon. Yoojin wants to observe Yoohyun and Peace working together at their fullest potential, and doesn’t want to test the limits of the rearing facility.
Hyunjae tags along, claiming he wants to see proof of his “investment.” Yoohyun glares at him and Yoojin rolls his eyes, but Yoojin agrees so Yoohyun reluctantly goes along with his hyung.
Yoohyun and Peace practice maneuvers and experiment with various combinations of their skills that Yoojin suggests. The low-ranked monsters of the dungeon hardly stand a chance.
Yoojin diligently takes notes and checks Peace over, since recording devices don’t work in dungeons. Once he’s satisfied, they decide to find the dungeon boss to wrap things up.
They’ve only barely come to this decision when the environment around them glitches. A giant multi-headed snake monster appears right in front of them. Yoojin gets déjà vu, remembering the gold-beaked maiya monster that invaded their initial Haeyeon Guild hunter training session.
It immediately attacks, its tail swinging at Yoohyun’s legs viciously and causing him to hit the ground painfully. One head follows up and bites at him and he barely manages to dodge the worst of it, but still gets decently mangled. The monster must also be venomous because the wound starts to smoke and eat away at him.
Yoojin screams—a gut-wrenching, devastated sound. He carelessly runs straight to Yoohyun despite his dongsaeng being closest to the monster. He crashes down onto his knees to cover Yoohyun’s injured body with his own.
Hyunjae summons chains to distract and hold back the monster from completely obliterating Yoojin. Yoohyun only survived the first attacks because he’s an S-rank, there’d be no hope in hell that Yoojin would.
Hyunjae buys enough time so that Yoohyun can use several potions to heal. He gets up to assist Hyunjae in defeating the monster, but Yoojin clings desperately to him.
“Hyung, I have to help!”
“No!” Yoojin protests. “What if you die!”
“I will be fine, hyung,” Yoohyun reassures. “I have more potions—look, they’ve already healed me. Poison, too.” Yoohyun breaks free of his older brother’s hold—having to use more force than usual—and jumps into the fray.
Hyunjae holds the monster in place with his chains while Yoohyun systematically cuts off the heads. Peace darts to and fro, engaging with any other heads that get too close to Yoohyun. They have it so well in hand that they don’t even need to protect Yoojin in the meanwhile.
Yoojin who, unbeknownst to the 3 S-classes, has a crushing hold on himself. His fingernails dig into his arms so hard they bleed. He watches helplessly from the side, the image of Yoohyun beaten to the ground super-imposed on a memory from a time that no longer existed.
And that’s how they found Yoojin when they defeated the monster. Frozen, still kneeling on the ground, eyes unseeing. He’s unresponsive when they call out to him from afar.
“Hyung!” Yoohyun yells for the fourth time, finally reaching his brother and shaking him, as if to wake him from a bad dream.
Yoojin blinks, coming back to the moment. He immediately reaches for Yoohyun, checking his dongsaeng over.
“Yoohyun-ah, are you OK?!”
“I’m fine, hyung,” Yoohyun says, brushing off the frantic hands. “I told you, the potions did their job. Not a scratch on me.”
Yoojin reluctantly draws back, looking extremely worried. His nails dig into his palms to stop himself from touching Yoohyun again. If it weren’t for his gloves, those would have bled, too.
The dungeon gate appears. “Let’s go,” Yoohyun says, already turning to lead the way. “I need to change out of these ruined clothes.”
Once outside, they see Seok Simyeong by a car, waiting for Yoohyun. Yoohyun looks contritely at Yoojin.
“Sorry, hyung. I won’t be able to eat dinner with you. There’s some last-minute planning for the S-rank dungeon tomorrow. Something about new equipment that Myeongwoo-ssi created.”
That causes Yoojin to jolt. “A dungeon again so soon?” he cried out.
Hyunjae sees him begin to reach for Yoohyun again but stop himself.
Yoohyun’s brow furrows. “Yes, this is Yerim-ssi’s first that we’ve been planning? You said it would be a good experience for her when I can be there to help if needed.”
Yoojin weakly nods, remembering, but can’t seem to let the matter go. “Maybe I should join you guys this time, too—”
“No, hyung,” Yoohyun interrupts firmly. “It’s too dangerous for you. What if we can’t protect you because there are too many high-ranking monsters around? We won’t have Hyuna-ssi or Hyunjae-ssi this time to help.” He shakes his head. “You’re not going.”
Simyeong calls out to Yoohyun. Yoohyun tries to smile reassuringly at his brother. “I’ll be fine, hyung. I promise. Now I have to go—I’ll wrap up this dungeon as soon as I can.”
He walks off, Peace in his juvenile form following him. Yoojin watches them until the car drives out of sight.
Hyunjae watches Yoojin the whole time. Sees how the younger man fidgets restlessly and runs his hands through his hair in worry. His dark circles are more prominent against his pale face, drained of color.
When the car is gone, Yoojin’s arms hug himself. Hyunjae spots Yoojin’s nails digging into fresh marks.
Hyunjae grabs Yoojin’s hands and unfolds Yoojin’s arms. He clasps Yoojin’s hands in one of his and puts his other arm around Yoojin. He rubs the other man’s back.
“The young master will be OK. Kim Sunghan is also going, so that means 4 S-ranks. Such a dungeon only needs one. They’ll be back before you know it,” Hyunjae reassures.
There is no response, verbal or otherwise. Hyunjae frowns, looking down. Yoojin is retreating into himself. He looks like he’s just seen his worst—
Nightmare.
“Come on,” Hyunjae says, though he knows Yoojin probably can’t really hear him. Not like this.
He bundles Yoojin in his coat and leads the F-class hunter to his car. He deposits Yoojin in the passenger seat and buckles him in. Hyunjae then gets into the driver’s seat, sparing a quick glance to Yoojin, who hasn’t changed. He drives them straight to Yoojin’s.
Hyunjae guides Yoojin through the building, arm around his shoulders. It’s late enough on a Friday night that there aren’t many people around to spot them.
In Yoojin’s apartment, Hyunjae sits him down on the couch. He rifles through the drawers for a takeout menu from a place they’ve eaten at before. He calls and orders all of their usuals, and instructs the restaurant to bill his card and leave the food outside of Yoojin’s door.
Hyunjae returns to Yoojin, who has only gotten worse. His pale skin has also gotten clammy, and he’s holding himself again—the coat impeding him from scratching his arms. He’s rocking back and forth a little.
Hyunjae kneels in front of Yoojin. He places a hand on one of Yoojin’s knees, the other cradling the other man’s face. “Yoojin-ah,” he gently calls.
Yoojin’s eyes focus a little, but not all the way. He’s at least stopped rocking. Hyunjae keeps his hold on Yoojin, occasionally stroking the knee or face with his thumbs.
Little by little, Yoojin returns to himself from his trance. His eyes focus on Hyunjae.
“Yoo…hyun?” he asks weakly.
“At the meeting,” Hyunjae reminds.
“Meeting?” It seems that Yoojin hasn’t really been registering anything that’s happened for at least the last hour.
“For the dungeon tomorrow,” Hyunjae answers.
Yoojin freezes. His eyes widen, and abruptly he shoves Hyunjae aside and runs to the bathroom.
Hyunjae hears Yoojin heaving as he catches up. He sees Yoojin bent over the toilet, crying and gagging. Hyunjae rubs Yoojin’s back and brushes the sweaty hair out of his face. Yoojin heaves but nothing continues to come up. It turns into panicked breaking, quick and labored, as if he can’t get enough oxygen.
Hyunjae draws Yoojin into an embrace on the floor, Yoojin’s back to Hyunjae’s front. Hyunjae places a hand on Yoojin’s chest, and feels the rapid heartbeat threatening to burst out.
“Breathe,” he tells Yoojin, taking exaggerated breaths for Yoojin to follow.
Hyunjae steadily murmurs “in, out” until Yoojin is able to refocus and try to mimic the breathing beat he feels around him. Once he’s able to breathe on his own, he slumps back into Hyunjae, still crying a bit.
Hyunjae rubs Yoojin’s chest as the younger man continues to recover. Hyunjae’s not sure how long they’re there for when Yoojin stops crying, his breathing no longer labored and only interrupted by the occasional sniffle.
Eventually— “Do you want to eat?” Hyunjae gently asks Yoojin.
Yoojin shakes his head.
“Bed?” A pause, then a nod.
Hyunjae gathers Yoojin in his arms and carries him to the bedroom. Hyunjae deposits Yoojin on the edge of the bed. He spots Yoojin’s sleep clothes and helps him get changed. He wipes at Yoojin’s wet cheeks in the process.
Hyunjae makes to leave to retrieve some water, but is stopped by Yoojin’s grasp on his sleeve.
“…Stay,” Yoojin whispers, voice hoarse.
Hyunjae is startled. This is the first time Yoojin has asked for such a thing since his offer not long ago.
He hesitates—because Yoojin should really have some water—but settles on dehydration over another possible panic attack. He goes through Yoojin’s dresser to find sweats and a T-shirt big enough to fit him. He quickly changes and joins Yoojin on the bed.
Hyunjae arranges them so they’re lying on their sides, facing each other under the blanket. He pulls Yoojin into his arms and tucks the younger man’s head into his neck. Yoojin wraps his arms around Hyunjae, holding him desperately.
Hyunjae lightly rubs Yoojin’s back, trying to lull the other man to sleep. Their breaths are in sync.
“I have this recurring nightmare,” Yoojin eventually begins. Hyunjae stops his movements, listening. “Where Yoohyun dies in my arms.”
Yoojin takes a shuddering breath before continuing. “We’re in a dungeon, being attacked by a monster, and there’s nothing I can do.”
Yoojin’s breath hitches, and Hyunjae feels tears at his collarbone. “He’s there because of me. He dies trying to protect me. And it’s all my fault.”
Yoojin dissolves into crying. Hyunjae resumes rubbing his back, making shh-ing noises to comfort him.
So this is what has been causing Yoojin’s sleeplessness. Hyunjae can’t really understand, knowing Yoohyun’s strength and never really having such a close relationship of his own that is like theirs. But he can’t deny the effect it has on Yoojin—has been having.
Hyunjae doesn’t know what to say in that calm, reassuring way that Yoojin seems to do effortlessly. So he settles on the truth.
“Is Peace there?”
The question shocks Yoojin from his crying. He makes a little questioning noise.
“Or Bak Yerim or Kim Sunghan?”
“No?”
“Would you ever let him get into a situation like that where he wouldn’t have backup?”
“No!”
“I know fears like these are illogical—but Yoojin, you’ve done so much to make your brother safer.”
Yoojin contemplates this, doubtful. Hyunjae continues.
“Finding Bak Yerim and Yoo Myeongwoo? Unlocking Kim Sunghan’s S-class potential? Raising these monsters? Could he have done any of these things without you?”
Hyunjae tips his head up so that they can make eye contact. Tears cling to Yoojin’s lashes.
“You say he perished because of you in your nightmare. But here, in this world, he can survive more than he could have before because of you.”
That seems to resonate with Yoojin. But there still must be some hesitation, because Hyunjae can tell Yoojin is about to argue. He puts a finger to the other man’s lips to stop him.
“Just think about it, OK?”
Yoojin sighs, but concedes. They snuggle into each other, and prepare to sleep.
“Hyunjae-yah?” He hears Yoojin say, right before they drift off.
“Yes?”
“…Thank you.”
Hyunjae smiles. “Sleep well, Yoojin-ah.”
“Sleep well.”
And they do.
--
Yoojin wakes throughout the night, but is quickly brought back to sleep by Hyunjae’s reassuring presence. They stay wrapped around each other the entire time.
Hyunjae wakes for the final time by Yoojin’s shifting and by the sunlight shining in through the windows.
“Morning,” he says down to Yoojin, still drowsy.
“Morning,” Yoojin breathes, looking up at Hyunjae with wide eyes in disbelief.
It’s probably the first mostly full night of sleep he’s gotten in a long time. Hyunjae smiles at Yoojin, combing through his bedhead.
“Breakfast?”
Yoojin nods. They get up and clean their teeth together, brushing against each other more than necessary. They make their way to the kitchen.
“Oh, hmm.” Hyunjae lets out.
Yoojin turns to him, making a questioning noise.
Hyunjae goes to open the door to confirm—yep. The food from yesterday. It’s probably all bad, now.
“What’s that?” Yoojin asks, surprised.
“I ordered food, but forgot to bring it inside last night.” He checks through the contents of the bag. “We’ll have to throw this out.”
“Wait, no!” Yoojin exclaims, reaching for the takeout bag. “It can’t be that bad!”
He opens a container, and flinches back from the smell. It is that bad. Instead of looking completely disgusted, Yoojin looks sad. “Such a waste,” he whispers mournfully.
Hyunjae ruffles Yoojin’s hair fondly. “Come on, I’ll cook you breakfast.”
That catches Yoojin’s attention. “Does a chaebol like you even know how to cook?”
“How deeply your words wound me, dear Yoojin.”
They continue to bicker, standing hip to hip at the stove as Yoojin critiques every last thing Hyunjae does. But in the end, Yoojin is suitably impressed and digs in.
For a moment, Hyunjae just watches him from across the table. The dark circles are still under his eyes, but Yoojin looks much better than he has in weeks. When Yoojin smiles at him, mouth full of rice and head tilted in question, Hyunjae merely smiles back and starts eating.
6.5
They sleep together again that night, and the night after that, and for the nights after that. At first, Sung Hyunjae thinks it’s because Han Yoohyun is away in that dungeon. But they still continue even after Han Yoojin’s brother returns.
Yoojin will still occasionally wake up in the middle of the night—gasping, sweating, crying—but Hyunjae is always there with him, holding him close and whispering assurances, coaxing him back to sleep.
Gradually, these incidents happen less and less, until Yoojin is able to sleep uninterrupted for a whole night with him. The sheer happiness on Yoojin’s face when he wakes up the next morning is too much for Hyunjae to handle, so he just smothers Yoojin into a hug.
It becomes commonplace for them to cook breakfast for one another, trading off on different mornings while one watches, or sometimes preparing it together. On the mornings they decide to make a stew, they’ll wrap around each other while they watch it simmer on the stove.
They mostly sleep at Yoojin’s place, since Yoojin doesn’t want to leave Peace for too long and the monster has a suspicious tendency to tear up Hyunjae’s valuables. Surprisingly, Peace tolerates Hyunjae whenever he’s over—but isn’t welcoming of him, either.
They are still muted in public, aware that their familiarity with each other is not common knowledge. They’re fine with no one really knowing. They don’t expect anyone to learn of it.
7.
Until one morning.
Sung Hyunjae wakes and doesn’t feel Han Yoojin in his arms. Hyunjae came in from a late meeting last night, and Yoojin must have let him sleep in. Hyunjae checks the time—only 9 AM.
Hyunjae makes his way to the kitchen where he’s heard Yoojin puttering around, yawning. He spots Yoojin at the stove looking down at what must be a kimchi jjigae, from the smell.
Hyunjae wraps himself around Yoojin’s back, pressing a sleepy kiss to the top of his head. Yoojin makes a startled noise, with an undercurrent of—nervousness?
He then hears a weapon being drawn from behind. He looks over his shoulder and sees Han Yoohyun sitting at the kitchen island counter, looking murderous and sword extended.
“Oh, you’re here,” Hyunjae says, unworried.
“Get away from hyung,” Yoohyun growls.
Hyunjae pretends to think about it for a moment. “Hmm, I don’t think I will.” He takes it a step further, rubbing his cheek on top of Yoojin’s head. “He’s very warm.”
Yoohyun snarls, but Yoojin turns him and Hyunjae around to get in the middle of them.
“No, stop!”
Yoohyun glares at Hyunjae, teeth bared. “Yoohyun-ah,” Yoojin chastises firmly. “Put away the sword.”
Yoohyun is still glaring at Hyunjae warily, but he also can’t ignore Yoojin’s stern look. He reluctantly puts away his sword in his inventory.
Hyunjae reaches behind them and kills the heat on the stove. He figures this will be a long conversation.
“What the fuck, hyung?”
“Language.”
“No, seriously. What the fuck. How did this happen? Since when did you—Since when have you two…?”
Yoojin immediately blushes. Hyunjae can practically feel the heat from it.
“We didn’t do anything like that!” Yoojin protests. “Really, just sleeping!”
Yoohyun looks incredulous. “How can you say that when he’s touching you like that still?”
Yoojin seems to only now be aware that Hyunjae is still hugging him from behind. He tries to spring away, but Hyunjae keeps a hold on him.
“It’s really only sleeping,” Yoojin insists.
“OK, let’s say I believe you,” Yoohyun sighs. “Why?!”
Hyunjae feels Yoojin hesitate. So the young master doesn’t know about the nightmares.
“Because I give Yoojin the best hugs,” Hyunjae diverts.
Yoohyun somehow looks more betrayed than before. “Is this true, hyung?”
Yoojin turns in his hold a little and glares up at him, quickly turning back to reassure his brother. “No, it’s just that he offered.”
“Yoojin-ah, your black heart will be the death of me.” Hyunjae delights in the eye twitch the informal tone elicits from the younger guild master.
Yoohyun focuses back on Yoojin and his head tilts, like a puppy. “He offered? Why?”
Yoojin shrugs. “He noticed I like hugs, I guess.”
Yoohyun shakes his head in disbelief. “We hug all the time, hyung.” Isn’t that enough?
“You always reciprocate, you mean,” Hyunjae interjects.
Yoohyun reads between the lines.
“Do I not hug you enough?” the Haeyeon Guild leader blurts out. “Oh god, I don’t. Come here, hyung.” He holds out his arms.
Yoojin leaves Hyunjae’s, who lets him go. He walks into Yoohyun’s embrace, and they snuggle into each other. Yoohyun sticks his tongue out at Hyunjae over the top of Yoojin’s head.
Hyunjae snorts, but doesn’t protest. He looks at Yoojin fondly, who seems to be preening under his brother’s attention. While a part of him selfishly wants to keep Yoojin to himself, the bigger part of him wants to keep seeing Yoojin this happy.
Hyunjae sighs, accepting that he’ll have to share Yoojin more now.
Han Yoohyun must have spread word about saving Han Yoojin from Sung Hyunjae’s evil clutches, because suddenly everyone is reaching for Yoojin now.
Bak Yerim and Kang Soyoung wrap themselves around his arms, leading him around. Kim Sunghan pats Yoojin’s shoulder gently, and Moon Hyuna will do so not-so-gently. Even Yoo Myeongwoo will reach out and briefly touch his hand to Yoojin’s arm to get his attention instead of calling out to him. Han Yoohyun continues his “hug hyung” campaign at least once a day if he can.
Yoojin is elated by all of the attention. There is now a more equal exchange of touches between Yoojin and the people he loves. He no longer feels like he has to restrict himself.
And while some—cough, Yoohyun and Yerim, cough—think that this would stop Hyunjae, it had the opposite effect. Now the two of them no longer have to hold back, cautious of what others might say or do. They can be just as affectionate in public as they are behind closed doors.
Hyunjae no longer has to hold himself back—always brushing back Yoojin’s hair, suddenly grasping the other’s hand and kissing it, draping himself over Yoojin. He continues to give Yoojin flowers as he did before all of this started, now making a spectacle of it and luxuriating in the hug he receives from Yoojin afterwards.
Hyunjae doesn’t recall what his original goal was, or if he really even had one. But nonetheless—high risk, high reward, indeed.