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His back was sore and his head was a little tender, but it had very much been worth it. He’d performed a civic duty last night while also scratching a years-long deeply rooted itch. If a small hangover was his penance for his service, then so be it. He was just a little out of practice, that was all.

He was not getting older, thank you very much.

Jae Ha stretched his arms over his head languidly as he shuffled his way down the hallway towards the kitchen, sighing into the burning tug along his tendons. Joints popped in protest and he grimaced lightly at the sound. Again- he was not getting older.
  He just needed coffee for his dry mouth. And an aspirin for his head. And a new mattress for his aching spine - God - when did his body decide to up and betray him like this? Bit of an overreaction to some harmless drinking, but whatever. He yawned, pressing the back of his hand to his mouth to stifle the noise a bit and paused in the entryway to the kitchen. The sight before him had him blinking away what little sleep lingered in his gaze.
  Yona was seated at the island, tense and silent. Her profile seemed so vulnerable as she sat with her small shoulders slightly hunched, forearms resting upon the cold concrete countertop and hands wrapped tightly around a mug of what was undoubtedly tea. Yona didn’t drink coffee, the little heathen, and where she even found such a leafy atrocity in their kitchen was beyond him. She’d always sworn that no matter how much milk and sugar was added to coffee, she could still taste the bitterness that lingered beneath. Savage liar.

She hadn’t appeared to have noticed him yet, so he took the opportunity to study her for a moment, tilting his head at her slightly with a small frown as he noted the troubled set to her brow. She was staring into nothingness, lost in her thoughts. He desperately hoped and prayed that regret wasn’t seizing her, because he was pretty sure that what had transpired last night (sans him) had been met with enthusiastic consent from all parties involved. He hadn’t read her wrong, had he?

The warm ceramic was pressed so tightly to her palms, little fingers laced together and thumb softly stroking the rim of the cup in thought. He wondered if she realized that the answers that she was looking for wouldn’t be found in her brew?

His gut squirmed with a strange anxiety that he hadn’t felt in a very long time, the sensation crawling around in his empty stomach. He took a deep breath to push it back down, exhaling slowly. He was too dehydrated to worry this much, so he fixed his expression into something much lighter and padded into the brightly lit space, his hand landing softly upon her tense shoulder as he leaned down to press a small kiss to the crown of her head.

“Good morning, Yona dear,” he murmured softly against her silky red strands, smiling gently at the startled squeak that escaped her lips at having been plucked out of her thoughts so suddenly.

“G-Good morning,” she stammered, her face warming as a light blush dusted its way across her cheeks as well as the bridge of her nose. The rosy hue splotched along her neck, disappeared below her collar bone. He wanted to see just how far it went, to brush her hair over her shoulder and press a kiss to the spot behind her ear to see if he could get her to make that breathy little gasp that she’d made last night.

She was so skittish though, like she wanted to either run away or disappear so maybe not the best idea?

Jae Ha huffed a small laugh through his nose, fingers reaching out to tuck a few wavy strands behind her ear instead. He smiled softly at her as she ducked her chin further down to try and hide from him. Deciding to take it easy on her, he shook his head in amusement and turned to head toward the coffee pot, his hands and body taking him through the mundane motions with practiced ease.

Silence was thick and nearly suffocating as Jae Ha watched the dark liquid begin to drip down into the glass carafe, stifling another yawn against his knuckles as his eyes watered with the motion. He rubbed away the moisture as he allowed the quiet to continue, giving Yona some time to settle. The last thing that he wanted was to make her more uncomfortable, at least without some sort of a buffer to help lighten the mood. He longed to fill the silence but bit his tongue, fingertips tapping against the counter restlessly.

He risked a glance over his shoulder to check on the girl sharing his kitchen with him and took great delight in watching her wide eyes quickly flicker away, embarrassed at having been caught staring at him.

Dammit, how was it possible for her to be so cute this early in the morning without even trying? Jae Ha returned his attention back to the caffeine he so desperately needed in order to wave away the remaining fog of sleep from his brain.

“Is-“ She cleared her throat, “Is Hak still sleeping?”

He smirked a little as he poured the dark brew into his own mug, images of a scantily-clad roommate sprawled upon his stomach in bed with the sheet draped low over his hips warming his blood pleasantly. Waking up next to that had been a blessing, to say the least.

“He is,” Jae Ha murmured somewhat dazedly as he sprinkled a small amount of sugar into the steaming cup, his spoon clinking softly against the sides of the mug as he stirred. His smirk pulled at his lips a little more as he lifted the rim up to his mouth to try and blow away the heat so that he could taste it. “Poor thing’s tired after last night.”

“Who’s tired?”

“Ah- it lives?”

Hak scoffed as he scrubbed a hand through his tousled strands, rubbing fingers along the nape of his stiff neck. He’d thrown on a pair of gym shorts and an old t-shirt, and if it shouldn’t be possible for Yona to be so adorable this early in the morning, then it should be downright criminal for Hak to look so damn tasty. Who in their right mind could drink as much as he had the night before and still wake up looking like an entire meal?

Hak yawned, giving his head a small shake towards the end, and Jae Ha envied his obvious lack of headache. Must be nice.

He saw the exact moment that Hak’s eyes landed on their guest, because his entire demeanor softened and his attention narrowed only to her, the aura around him settling into that ever present and familiar one of protective concern.

Hak slowly made his way over to her, low voice calm and soothing as he murmured, “Mornin’.”

Jae Ha turned back towards the coffee pot, trying to give them some semblance of privacy. He lifted his mug up to his lips, pursing them to blow away the curling wisps of steam that heated the tip of his nose. He tried to focus on the aroma and not on how much of a stranger he felt in his own home.

Hak’s low voice rumbled in his ear, that deep baritone sounding like sin in the light of day.

Yona’s voice managed to stutter out some sort of response, a strange twinge twisting in Jae Ha’s chest.

He felt like a creep; like he was intruding upon some special and intimate moment. His ears, straining to pick up on any snippet of their conversation that he could, tuned in on the soft sounds of lips meeting instead, the gentle clicking noises of mouths exchanging a comforting touch with one another.

He switched his mug over to his left hand so that he could rub at his chest, trying to relieve its sudden ache as Hak finally made his way over to him in order to grab himself some coffee as well.

Jae Ha slid him an empty mug across the glossy and sealed concrete countertop. “Where’s my good morning kiss?”

Hak shot him a dark look of warning, but Jae Ha never backed down when it came to teasing Hak. Where was the fun in that?

Jae Ha smirked rather playfully. “Don’t I deserve a reward for last night’s good behavior?”

Hak’s large foot met the vulnerable top of Jae Ha’s bare one, whistling rather innocently as Jae Ha jumped and cursed, his coffee sloshing onto the countertop.

He whined as he leaned down to inspect his injured metatarsals, mumbling rather petulantly about Hak’s abusive tendencies.

“M takin’ a shower,” Hak grumbled. He paused in the entryway as he turned to face Yona, looking as though he wanted to say something, but not being quite sure as to how or where to even begin.

Yona blinked at him rather stupidly for a few seconds before Hak turned and left, leaving her staring after him.

Jae Ha sighed while fighting the urge to tilt his head back towards the ceiling and groan in frustration. He had no trouble believing that had he not intervened and all but shoved these two idiots together, they’d still be dancing around their feelings while being the butt of everyone else’s jokes for the next five years (at least). Damn Hak and his stupid suppressed emotions… this was why they couldn’t have nice things!

He swallowed his grumbling as he straightened, reaching for a dish towel so that he could clean up his mess. He paused when he caught a glimpse of Yona, could practically see the wall being constructed around her as she returned her gaze to her mug. She still looked nervous and unsure. It had all been fun and games when the alcohol had helped them to loosen up, but the morning light always had a way of exposing the evening’s funhouse into a decrepit looking carnival ride that was more cheesy than enjoyable.

These kids were going to be the death of him. Looked like he was going to have to hold their hands for a little while longer.

“Hey.” He leaned forward, his elbows resting upon the hard surface that separated them. “Yona,” he inquired softly, her beautiful eyes lifting up to his at last. “Are you sure you’re okay? We didn’t force you into anything last night, did we?”

That seemed to get a reaction out of her. Her eyes widened as she scrambled a bit, “What? Of course not! No!”

The tightness in his chest cracked a little and he could feel himself unwinding slightly with relief. One worry could officially be crossed off of the list.
  He reached out a tentative hand to cup her face, watching her struggle to find her words as his thumb stroked along her delicate cheekbone with care. She looked so pretty in the soft morning light, vibrant red hair shining in the sun’s glow as she chewed on her bottom lip in thought. Take your time, he silently assured her, allowing the warmth of his skin to help soothe her with every passing second. There’s no rush.   “I just-“ she huffed, frustration bubbling just below the surface of her embarrassment. “I’ve never done anything like that before… like, any of it… and I don’t know what I’m doing because I’m not really experienced in any of this, and I just don’t know where we go from here is all.”
  It was silent in the aftermath of her rambling.

Jae Ha swallowed at her confession of her innocence. Well, he’d always suspected as much, but to have it confirmed still surprised him a bit. Based on their - ahem- activities last night, she’d seemed to know her way around fairly well.

Really, though - it only made sense for her to feel insecure and unsure; she’d just crossed a line with two of her closest friends, one of whom she’d known for most of her life. Her entire world had been flipped upside down over the course of one evening, and now she was trying to regain her footing in this unfamiliar land.

He could relate; contrary to popular belief, Jae Ha didn’t make it a habit to sleep with his closest friends and then pretend like nothing happened. This was new territory for him as well.

The space between them felt far too wide. Jae Ha departed from her just long enough to be able to walk around the island and take the seat beside her, perching himself upon the bar stool and scooting closer to her. He rested his elbow upon the counter, then his chin in his palm, making sure to allow his entire frame to ooze casual relaxation as his fingers traced the delicate shell of her ear.

She seemed to relax a bit, tilting her head into his touch.

“I get what you’re saying, but there’s no need to complicate things, right? We’ll just take this thing one step at a time. Okay?”

She nodded, looking at least a little more comfortable with the whole situation than she had a moment ago, her nervous fingers reaching down to trail along the rim of her mug distractingly. It warmed him to know that she trusted him, their friendship so deeply engrained into them both.

Friends
, he thought to himself, trying to assign a term to the weird little twinge that made yet another appearance in his chest. Disappointment, perhaps? That was new.

She looked like she had a thousand more thoughts to voice (god knows he does too) so Jae Ha decided to do them both a favor and silence them for the time being.

She was chewing on her lower lip again in thought and ugh- that was just too much. He had a fleeting thought about how it’d been too long since he’d last tasted her, so he decided to do something about it.

“Sweetheart,” he purred, warmth curling pleasantly in his stomach at the way she tilted her head up towards him so that his mouth could hover over hers properly. He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers as he spoke, “If you keep doing that, then I won’t be able to resist the temptation.”

He watched her through lowered lids, took note of the way that her breath hitched and eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks as Jae Ha closed any remaining space between them to kiss her softly.

Oh, but she was so delightfully responsive, sweet and tender with soft breaths and lax limbs. He spread his knees a little wider and sat on the edge of his stool, positioning her between his long legs so that he could get closer to her. She was so much smaller than him, the difference in their sizes pleasing something primal within him.

She relaxed even further into him, allowed one of his hands to push the mug away from her lax fingers while the other landed on her waist and squeezed. It flipped a switch in her apparently, because small hands gripped the soft and thin material of his black t-shirt to steady herself as his tongue ran along her now swollen bottom lip.

Their lips clicked softly as Jae Ha kissed her again, leisurely, indulging himself just a little more. After all, what was the worst that could happen? He was doing Hak a favor, he told himself as Yona sighed into his mouth. He was teaching her how to kiss properly.

Not that she really needed it. She might have been inexperienced, but her enthusiasm more than made up for it. Yona was proving to be a breath of fresh air for his stale lungs, and the sounds that she made were delightful, tiny little gasps of pleasure that made his blood boil faster than anything he’d ever experienced before in his entire life.

Yeah, screw doing Hak a favor.
  Wait- Hak.
  The reminder to tread lightly and reign in his selfish behavior sobered him enough to finally allow him to back away from her and take in the sight of her dazed expression. She was dangerous, she was. She reminded him of honey flavored whiskey, the kind that burned going down at first but turned into a smooth, liquid candy the more that you had.

Jae Ha drank it all in: the flush on her cheeks, how pink her lips were, and the unsteady hitch in her breath. His eyes were filled with his deep affection for her as he watched her heavy lids slowly rise, both hands lifting to cup her face and run his thumbs along her jaw.

He reminded himself that he’d done all of this for she and Hak, and he hummed his approval softly before indulging in just one more kiss, a quick one this time.

Jae Ha sat back and cleared his throat before lightly inquiring, “So... brunch?”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The water was near scalding and he almost wished it were hotter; anything to help melt away the remainder of last night from both his body and his mind. It felt like he had a residue on his brain, a thick film of shame and guilt that colored his own reflection a sickly shade in the mirror.
  He felt disgusted with himself. What he needed was holy water.

Hak hissed between clenched teeth as he stepped even further beneath the generous overhead spray, the water pelting against his tense flesh and reddening it. He tilted his head back and allowed the heat to trail down his spine, exhaling slowly, willing his body to unclench.
     Hak pressed his lips to her pulse, drinking in the sound of her breathy little gasp, teeth gently nipping at her throat, tongue soothing any marks left behind. His hands slipped under her shirt and greedily sought out the warm skin at her waist, thumbs rubbing along her ribcage as her fingers dug into his biceps. He’d know that touch anywhere and the very thought had warmth humming through his chest.
  He latched his lips to the erratic beat and suckled softly, his efforts causing her hips to rise up and against him. Even through the haze of arousal and alcohol, his stomach fluttered with flips of excitement.

This was all getting out of hand. God- how had this even happened? One second they were kissing, and the next they were in bed with Hak balancing his weight so as not to crush her beneath him.

Not that he was complaining. Not even a little bit. It was actually taking everything in him to not sit up and haul her into his lap, to hold her to him tightly and breathe her in.

She murmured his name, pulled him back up to her mouth for another drugging kiss and he was all too happy to oblige. Hak had started out soft at the start of this thing, whatever it was, afraid that it would all go up in dream-like smoke if he pushed too far, but her tongue had taken to tracing along his bottom lip and it was so mind melting that Hak couldn’t help the heavy exhale through his nose as he fought to catch his breath.

Her mouth was so hot and wet, every tiny sound and small reaction enough to practically set him on fire. Heat was beginning to pool low in his stomach as he broke free from her mouth, hands gently lifting fabric out of the way for his lips as he made his way down her body.

He shivered as she arched the small of her back, humming with pleasure at the feel of his breath ghosting across her stomach.

There was no coming back from this line that they were about to cross.

He was about to ask her if she was absolutely sure about all of this, but her hands guided him to her skirt, urged him beneath the fabric, and who was he to not do every single thing that she had ever asked of him?
    
  Hak groaned a bit and clenched his eyes shut as his hand came up to knead at the tension pulling along his left shoulder, steady pressure to make the rigidity give way right where Yona’s fingernails had been so tightly burrowed into the skin only hours before.

He shivered at the memory and quickly reached behind him to turn the water frigid to help him come to his senses, yelping at the sudden drop in temperature that pelted his skin so mercilessly and giving his head a small shake to dislodge his stupid and perverted memories.

Served him right.

He returned the spray back to the familiar heat that he was used to. Something told him that this was only the very beginning of his stress, and he frowned deeply at the thought as he ran his hands through his now thoroughly saturated strands.

Hak sat back on his heels, eyes glued to the way that she lifted her hips before pushing thin material down, down, down, his fingers tangling with hers to help slide damp silk down her legs, tossed out of the way and into the abyss.

He ran his palms slowly up her legs, calluses catching on her soft and warm skin, fingertips digging into the flesh of her thighs. Fuck, she was perfect. Even half encased in shadow, there was nothing that his imagination could’ve possibly conjured up in his past that could compare to her now. She was just too much.

Yona sat up swiftly, grabbing for his shirt and startling Hak briefly before he was able to understand what it was that she wanted. A simple tug and his t-shirt was also lost to the abyss.

He found it hard to swallow as Yona fell back against the mattress again, skirt hiked up ridiculously high, her eyes raking shamelessly over his shoulders and chest. His mouth felt dry.

Well, he could fix that.

His hands wrapped around the backs of her knees, pulling her with him as he knelt upon the floor at the foot of his bed, dragging her across the cool sheets so that he could situate her at the edge of his mattress and have unlimited access to her.

She called out his name softly, tone holding timid and somewhat uncertain questioning that had him pausing, just in case she’d changed her mind?

Instead, her hands reached for him once more, seeking his familiar touch and sighing as he laced their fingers together, giving them a brief squeeze to help ground her and wordlessly encourage her to relax.

Hak turned his head to press a kiss against her thigh, letting go so that he could drape her legs over his shoulders, her calves dangling down his back. The position left her open and vulnerable, but he couldn’t help but think that she felt so right against him. Her skin slid against his, and it was a sensation that he was going to be hopelessly addicted to.

Yona pushed herself up onto her shaking forearms in order to watch him with glazed and heated eyes.

Nothing pissed Hak off more than the knowledge that he was to blame for his very own suffering. He had no one else to point a finger at but himself for the situation that he currently found himself in and the thought steamed him more than the water currently pelting against his back.  Well, that wasn’t entirely true, now was it? His face fell into a flat and rather familiar expression of annoyance as a tiny little voice pointed out that he and Yona hadn’t exactly come up with the idea all by themselves, now had they?   Jae Ha’s ever present and oh-so-familiar teasing smirk hovered on the outskirts of his mind and Hak struggled greatly with the momentary idea of dumping all of the blame onto his roommate’s shoulders and washing his hands of the whole ordeal.  
  Her breath hitched and voice mewled out a little cry at his tongue trailing along the sensitive skin of her inner right thigh. His teeth sank into her flesh just enough to pull a gasp from her parted lips and he grinned at the delightful sound; music to his ears.
     He sighed heavily as his hand reached for his bar of soap resting in the little nook to his right. As tempting as it would be to allow Jae Ha to take full responsibility for everything that had transpired last night, Hak knew better. He’d had every opportunity to put a stop to last night’s activities and he’d refrained from doing so, had gone so far as to give himself free reign instead while swimming in the sensations and basking in the experiences, the deep seeded root of his desire and curiosity having finally gotten the best of him after so long.  He was weak.

The bed dipped behind Yona’s small figure and long fingers gently wrapped themselves around her delicate shoulders, lifting her upright so that a second frame could slide in behind her, pulling a startled ‘eep’ from her in the process.
  Jae Ha bent down and craned his neck so that he could press his lips to hers for a rather thorough kiss, his lips latching onto her collarbone a moment later as his fingers trailed from her biceps to her forearms, breeding shivers in their wake. He situated Yona so that she rested in between his parted thighs, long legs dangling over the edge of the mattress and feet planted firmly upon the floor near Hak’s knees. It was a bit tight with the three of them so close together, Yona practically in Jae Ha’s lap, but it was anything but uncomfortable.      Dammit all, he knew better. He should’ve said no. He should’ve thought of anyone besides himself and considered the heavy repercussions that his selfish actions would cause. Hak scowled as he dragged the bar of soap along his arms with a tad more force than was necessary. He’d put Yona into an uncomfortable situation and quite possibly jeopardized the two closest relationships that he held outside of his own family and for what?    Hak’s mouth hovered over Yona’s center as Jae Ha’s nimble fingers slid the straps of her bra down her slender shoulders, his humid breath puffing against her and swirling the thick smell of her into his already muddled senses. Hak’s mouth watered as his half-lidded gaze took in the sight of Yona resting against Jae Ha’s lithe and limber frame, her head tilted back and neck craned so that she could gasp and sigh into Jae Ha’s mouth. 
  Hak’s fingers released their tight grip upon Yona’s thighs so that he could maneuver his hands in order to part her swollen lips, his hips bucking into nothingness against his will at the sheer amount of damp heat that met his fingertips. He groaned softly at the way that she squirmed against Jae Ha, her hands reaching down so that her fingers could tangle themselves in his dark strands. She cried out at the sensation of his tongue gliding against her slick center for the first time, mewling and whimpering. 
     He’d do it again if presented with the same opportunity, he realized with slightly widened eyes and a sickening clench of his stomach. Damn the consequences, he’d be selfish if it meant that he could experience last night again, no matter what horrible things could possibly lie in wait.  He was a monster.  Hak closed his eyes and felt his shoulders hunch slightly from the weight of his guilt, shame and disappointment in himself over his actions coating his skin nearly as thickly as the lather that he’d managed to cover himself in. He was supposed to keep Yona safe and away from people who would take advantage of her, wasn’t he? How could he have done such a thing to her?  His brain helpfully supplied the fact that she’d seemed more than willing last night, having gripped the sides of his coat after unzipping it in the hallway outside of he and Jae Ha’s apartment. In fact, his brain quipped, she’d been the one to fist the fabric tightly in both hands and haul him up against her so that she could practically devour his mouth in a kiss that was anything but chaste.   Jae Ha had merely catcalled before chuckling lowly at the pair while fumbling with his keys to unlock the door, helpfully supplying that while the show was getting good, perhaps they should move it inside?  She’d had just as many opportunities to stop them as he’d had, right? Come to think of it- out of the three of them, hadn’t she had the least to drink?  Hak straightened up a bit with relief, feeling slightly abated for the time being. He knew Yona; if she didn’t like something or was even slightly uncomfortable, she would’ve responded with a fist to his jaw or a quick knee to his groin.  After all, he’d taught her well.     Jae Ha finally succeeded in pushing Yona’s bra down enough to free her breasts to the somewhat chilled night air, his hands cupping and massaging them. His thumbs circled the hardened nubs of both of her nipples, his teeth nipping at her lips as she broke their kiss to gasp and shudder.
  Hak growled against her as she released a moan, the sound shooting straight through his blood to pool heavily in his groin. His tongue slid against her wetness with more force, her hands dropping back down to his shoulders to dig her fingernails into the skin as Hak burrowed himself deeper into her intense heat.
  One small and dainty hand soon released its hold on him in order to reach up and back, to wind through the short strands at the nape of Jae Ha’s neck, little fingers pulling his hair as Hak’s lips latched onto her clit and suckled.
  Jae Ha released a hiss and slowly ground his pelvis against her back, huffing out a soft and somewhat surprised laugh at her actions. His hand covered hers, gently prying her fingers free and bringing her wrist up to his lips so that he could place a kiss upon the soft and delicate skin there.
  Jae Ha’s left hand then fell beneath her chin, turning her clouded gaze back towards Hak’s head nestled in between her pale thighs. “Look at him,” he purred against the shell of her ear, pulling a whine from her throat. “Isn’t he beautiful, Yona?” He burrowed his nose into the soft crown of her head and rewarded her breathy agreement with both of his hands returning to her chest, rolling both nipples between his thumbs and forefingers in tandem with the movement of Hak’s lips and tongue against her.      Hak tried to push back further into the evening, tried to wrap his head around the chain of events while hoping to find the first link that started it all. He squinted slightly as he tried so very hard to dissect his memories and recall just how they’d gotten to where they currently were, before any of his lascivious flashes of recollections could sweep in and dig their claws into his focus to hinder him.   Okay- he remembered the sushi place that Jae Ha had taken him to and agreeing (somewhat hesitantly) to crack open a jar of sake with Jae Ha while waiting for Yona to get there. That had been his first mistake: it was never just one of anything when it came to his roommate.  His heart fluttered slightly as his brain flashed a memory of Yona coming in from the cold, cheeks slightly pink and pale skin flushed a lovely hue from the temperature outside. She’d tugged off her hat and ran a hand through her tousled red waves as she’d given her name to the hostess.   She’d smiled so warmly at them both as she’d offered them her signature wave, thanking the young woman standing behind the sleek black podium and laughing as Jae Ha immediately commented on the length of her hair once she’d reached the table. Hak’s fingers had knocked back another cup of alcohol at the way that Yona’s bright laughter had rung in his ears, Jae Ha standing so that he could wrap her in a tight and affectionate hug.  Hak’s expression soured slightly as he recalled how he’d definitely felt the familiar little twinge of jealousy in his chest at the way that Yona had allowed Jae Ha’s hands to unwind her long scarf from her throat while her own hands had fumbled with the buttons of her coat, the two of them exchanging familiar pleasantries while Hak had tried not to let his stupid reactions get the better of him.    
  Jae Ha’s lips pressed against the shell of Yona’s ear again, voice low and sultry as he murmured things to her; praises mixed with dark little promises as she writhed against both men. Did Hak feel good? Was he doing a good job? Should Jae Ha take a turn tasting her?

The last one had Hak suckling at her with renewed vigor, his eyes narrowing up at his roommate as he heard the unspoken challenge in the other man’s voice.
  Did she like that idea, Jae Ha pressed at the resounding moan that tore itself free from Yona’s chest as Hak sank two fingers into her with a growl, curling them and taking away the last of her ability to think even somewhat clearly. Did she like the idea of Jae Ha’s mouth on her after sampling Hak’s capabilities? 
  Yona moaned and cried out, ground herself against Hak’s fingers while arching her back even further beneath Jae Ha’s hands. Her voice was nearly raw as she began to whimper and beg, Jae Ha’s soft and melodic tone urging her to relax, to come for them as one hand detached itself from her chest so that he could reach down past her abdomen and undulating hips to wind his fingers through Hak’s already tousled strands. 
     The rest of dinner had been a bit of a blur, Hak realized as his finger tipped his bottle of shampoo towards himself. His eyes narrowed once more as he stared at the floor of the shower in thought, hands mindlessly squeezing the minty smelling shampoo out into his broad palm on autopilot.  There had been idle chatter about jobs and projects, complaints about various coworkers who knew just how to get under your skin without really trying... There had also been conversations about the upcoming holidays and the travel required in order to see loved ones... was that before or after Jae Ha had ordered the additional shots of liquor?  Hak’s stomach lurched a little at the memory and he closed his eyes as he stuck his tongue out with a groan at the sudden wave of nausea. He licked his lips as he worked the shampoo through his wet hair, noticing how sore his scalp seemed to be today.  Nope- focus.  Yona had laughed and shoved at Jae Ha’s shoulder lightly before scolding him for teasing her so shamelessly in public. Something about her lack of love life?  Hak scowled as his fingernails scratched at his scalp to allow the shampoo to do its magic, annoyed that his brain was still so fuzzy on the details.  He’d been busy finishing off the second bottle of sake at that point, he was fairly certain... but he remembered grumbling at his roommate to have some decency and to quit being such a damn pervert. Typical.  Jae Ha had grabbed Yona’s hand and pulled it up to his mouth, lips pressing a seemingly innocent kiss to the back of her hand and causing Hak to fix him with a hardened stare. 
  Hak remembered the shift in the atmosphere. It had gone from light and teasing to charged and heavy with all of the power of a slow rolling fog, thick and all encompassing. 
  Yona had seemed frozen, large eyes glittering like jewels in the low light of the restaurant and gaze fixed on Jae Ha’s mouth as he’d murmured once more the familiar offer against her pale skin; a proposal that he hadn’t repeated since their college days together.  Indigo eyes were heated as they’d slid their lidded gaze over to Hak to pin him with their desire. Any and all traces of his previous teasing were gone as Hak’s eyes had widened slightly, leaving the offer hanging in the air like a weighted blanket that had settled over the three of them with a near suffocating want.   
  Jae Ha’s blunt nails scratched along Hak’s scalp, causing him to sigh into Yona as a shiver of pleasure unfurled along his spine. His palm flattened against his head and began to guide Hak against her, urging him to slow down and increase his pressure, his tone deep and dripping with naked want as he ordered Hak to push her further, to have her make that sound for them again.

Did she feel good, he asked with a purr while he stroked Hak’s hair away from his forehead tenderly, a smile in his voice as he cooed praises. Was she everything he’d ever fantasized?
  Her hips rose and fell as she moved, Hak’s tongue stroking along her glistening flesh while his lips wrapped around her engorged clit one last time. His movements were wringing out the most incredibly arousing guttural moans from deep within her, Hak’s left hand digging into her thigh to anchor her and keep her against him as he worked.
  Her wetness was coating his fingers as he stroked her, working the gentle thrusting of his hand in time to the rhythm of his tongue as she whimpered and began to shake. The urge to release his grip from her thigh and palm at himself was so intense that Hak shuddered at the thought. God, what he wouldn’t give for even the slightest amount of friction- anything to help alleviate the ache in his groin. Fuck, had he ever been this hard in his entire life?

As if reading his mind, Jae Ha’s grip upon his strands tightened almost painfully, his tone bordering on demanding as he murmured to Hak, “Not yet.” 
      Oh, alcohol had definitely played its part in the entire affair, as well as Hak’s tendency to follow Yona blindly into any situation, consequences be damned. Gods- why was he always so weak when it came to her?  There was no doubt in Hak’s mind that she wasn’t the only reason as to why he’d leapt so far and dove so deep into the murky waters he’d swam so freely in last night. He could’ve said no and shoved the offer that Jae Ha had extended to them far away while brushing his roommate off and barking at home to leave them all the hell alone. He could’ve easily risen his guard instead of knocking back cup after cup of sake, the liquid sliding down his throat much more easily with every sip after he’d caught Yona watching his throat constrict with every swallow.     Yona suddenly seized up, the backs of her knees clenching the tops of Hak’s shoulders fiercely as her whole body grew tense. It seemed intense, judging by the way that her hips began to spasm and roll against her will.
  Yona’s neck arched back against Jae Ha as she called out to them both, her tone high pitched and coated with pleasure as she writhed and bucked against Hak’s mouth and palm.

Fucking hell.
  Hak’s fingers stroked along the clenching walls that fluttered around him, feeling his abdomen clench tightly with want at the sheer amount of wetness that began to coat his digits. Fuck- she was so wet, so tight and warm wrapped completely around him as he curled his fingers even deeper inside of her, carrying her through the sensations as tears gathered at the corners of her eyes and her cries finally began to weaken.      He was fooling no one here- least of all himself. He’d wanted last night to happen with both Yona and Jae Ha probably more than anyone and the realization was enough of a slap in the face to almost allow the tea tree oil in his shampoo to blind him as some of the suds from his strands slid carelessly down his temple and found their way into his vulnerable left eye.  “Ah- fuck,” he hissed as he quickly turned around into the spray, allowing the water to flush out the burning sensation from his eye as quickly as he could. Had he always been such a mess?  
  She finally began to relax, her muscles loosening slowly as Hak began the process of removing himself from inside of her, something that he simply didn’t want to do.

Logging away her gasp at the sensation of him withdrawing his fingers from her sensitive silken depths into his memory for all eternity, he nibbled upon her thigh, dragging his tongue along the abrasion he left behind as he allowed himself a few extra seconds to pull himself together. 
  Finally managing to pull himself away from her at last, Hak sat back on his haunches and wiped the back of his hand along his swollen lips in a daze. He watched as Jae Ha helped to re-situate Yona into his lap a little more fully, now that her legs were no longer being held up by Hak’s strong shoulders. 
  Fuck- he couldn’t seem to catch his breath or organize his thoughts. His heart was pounding in his chest as he licked her wetness from his fingers without a second thought, his eyes lifting slowly in order to gaze upon Yona’s body bathed in the moonlight, small and delicate form draped heavily against Jae Ha’s chest for support. He’d never seen anything so perfect in his entire life.

When did he get so damn sappy?

God- who was he kidding? He always had been and would continue to be when it came to her.
  Her chest was heaving and skin was flushed, eyes closed as she fought to regain her wits and come back to herself. She hummed softly as Jae Ha’s hand skimmed and stroked along her bare skin. 
  Hak’s gaze traveled further, wanting nothing more than to fasten his mouth over her swollen lips, eyes lifting even higher to at last lock with Jae Ha’s, crystal blue pulsing wide at the heated look in his roommate’s jewel toned eyes.
  Jae Ha shamelessly held Hak’s gaze as his hands caressed Yona’s side, long and talented fingers tracing along her ribs delicately. His lips parted slightly as he regarded Hak with nothing short of open lust before leaning forward.
  Hak wasn’t even aware that he was moving until he suddenly found himself lifting himself up onto his knees, hands gripping the edge of his mattress as his breath hitched and lips hovered before Jae Ha’s. The two men shared the same breath, Yona trapped between them as they regarded one another.
  Jae Ha brushed his lips against Hak’s softly, the tip of his tongue tracing Hak’s lower lip with the barest touch and pulling a shudder from Hak’s large frame as he realized just what it was that the architect was doing. His breath stuttered and his eyelashes fluttered as his cock twitched, his groin aching as he gripped the sheets between his fingers. 
  Jae Ha’s lips moved against his as he murmured, “Such a good boy.” 
    Hak closed his eyes and groused at the lingering sting in his eye as he rinsed the rich lather from the rest of his hair, feeling the suds sliding down his back and abdomen as he ran his hands through his clean strands to ensure the thorough removal of the traitorous soap. The shampoo remnants tickled his calves as they trailed down his skin and onto the pebbled texture of the shower floor, swirling down the drain and refusing to take Hak’s problems with them.   What was he going to do? He scratched along his scalp and frowned even deeper in thought. He couldn’t exactly hide in the shower forever and sooner or later, he’d have to face the situation head on.  He’d done things last night; things that he could never deny nor take back, even if he wanted to.  
  Jae Ha finally closed the scant distance between them, kissing him softly, eyes lidded and ever watchful as Hak’s finally slid shut in acquiescence. Gentle fingertips landed upon Hak’s jaw as Jae Ha allowed nothing more than carefully measured passes of closed mouths, not wanting to break the light spell that seemed to have dusted over the normally rigid dark haired man before him.

Hak’s fingers twitched around the rumpled bedding, his once iron clad grip growing more slack as Jae Ha tilted his head a little further to allow him the ability to pull away should he so desire. 
  Having decided that such small exchanges were enough for the time being, Jae Ha backed away to put some space between them, a small smile of endearment curling his lips at how the coach chased after him for more, his palm flattening against Hak’s sturdy chest and pressing into the firm muscles with just enough force to keep him at bay. 
  “Now, now,” Jae Ha breathed teasingly as he leaned back a bit more, watching Hak pry his heavy lids open in order to blink at him with a slightly furrowed brow that spoke of his silent confusion. “First things first.” 
    Well, whether his scattered brain was willing to come to terms with it or not, last night did transpire and now he was left with one helluva mess to wade his way through. He couldn’t even fathom where to begin, the dull headache he’d been sporting all morning throbbing along his skull as if to remind him that it was still there.  He felt his skin flush and decided to blame it on the heat of the shower as he tried to swallow the fact that he now knew things about his best friend... certain things... knowledge that he’d never thought he’d ever be privy to in his entire life.  He officially knew what his best friend and roommate looked like when he came.  He was in hell. Hak scrubbed his hands over his face and smothered a groan into his palms. Fuck- as if worrying about just he and Yona weren’t bad enough, he now had an additional person to throw into the chaos and he was still trying to wrap his head around that.  It was nothing short of pure fact that Hak had been in love with Yona for years. Hell- it’d been so long now that it was pretty much a part of who he was. The never-ending pining had simply become commonplace in his life, his heart so used to unrequited love that he barely even gave it a second glance anymore. All he’d ever really thought about was Yona.  
  Leaning back, Hak became immediately aware of the fact that for the first time in his life, he’d actually forgotten that Yona was still there, trapped in between he and Jae Ha, watching their exchange with a silent and unreadable expression that Hak was about to explain away with the opening of his mouth-

Jae Ha began to slowly slide back onto the bed, arm circling around Yona to keep her against him as he moved, encouraging Hak to join them now that there was more space.

Hak’s knees slid against the cool and crisp cotton without him even realizing it, his body shuffling forward to follow them without a second thought on his end. The pull that they both seemed to have on him was relentless.
  Yona reached out for him in the darkened space, the smallest hint of desperation taking over her movements as her warm fingers finally succeeded in meeting the bare and heated skin of his chest. Her lips parted as she breathed his name, tilting her head back and sighing softly against his lips as Hak hovered over her on hands and knees.
  Jae Ha hummed softly from behind her, gently prying one of Yona’s hands away from Hak so that he could lift her hand up to his mouth in order to place an open mouthed kiss against the thin and delicate skin of her wrist. His breath was humid and clung to her flesh greedily as he asked Hak if he wanted Yona to touch him? 
     This tension was never going away. Hak froze and stiffened even further at the realization that his sexuality had most definitely been called into question, his identity beginning to writhe and squirm inside of his muddled mind as everything that he’d thought he’d known about himself was suddenly put on the spot to be judged by his once concrete morals. Once upon a time he’d sworn up and down that he simply didn’t swing that way, but now?  His stomach rolled again and little shivers erupted across his skin. Wasn’t he too old for this shit? Wasn’t sexual orientation supposed to be explored in college? Hak thought he knew himself well enough by now, but aparrently, he’d been so very mistaken.   He furrowed his brow in the thought as the once scalding water began to slowly edge toward the side of warm, trying to consider any times in his childhood where his sexuality may have diverged from the path that he had once been so certain of.  Well, almost certain of.     Hak grunted softly against Yona’s lips at Jae Ha’s question, a shiver zipping along his spine as the architect instructed him to unzip his pants to give them room to work. He seemed to be suspended in some strange little alternate universe, where one of his wildest fantasies was about to play out. If only he could gain some sort of control over his body.
  The very tip of Jae Ha’s tongue trailed swirling designs along the soft skin of Yona’s neck while he waited for Hak to move, lips feathering whisper-soft caresses in between teasing nibbles.

Hak hesitated, muscles tense as desire screamed at him to hurry it along while his old and familiar doubts began to cloak his frame. There was no way that Yona could possibly be interested in wanting anything like that. This couldn’t be real. His lips hovered over hers as he waited; for what, he wasn’t entirely sure... maybe to wake up?

When he’d failed to move, Yona’s hands landed upon the button of his jeans, fingers trailing along the inner waistband tentatively. She whispered his name with a hint of uncertainty before murmuring somewhat shyly that she wanted to make him feel good, if that was okay?

Hak groaned and trembled as she peppered small kisses along his clenching jaw, Jae Ha’s fingers sweeping crimson waves away from her neck so that he could have the access that he desired, wasting no time in occupying himself with pressing his tongue against the sensitive spot located behind Yona’s ear.

Unable to speak, Hak finally caved with a shaky nod of his head, limbs trembling slightly as he allowed Yona’s hands to part his zipper, his own hands tugging his jeans down his thighs far enough to finally allow his erection to be free, nearly hissing with relief after no longer being confined and restrained by the soft and worn denim. The very last vestiges of his doubt pushed their way to the front of the lust-filled fog of his mind, old habits over her comfort and safety yearning to ask her if she was really okay with all of this, when the heated look that she gave him shoved him back under the thick and cloying smoke of sexual haze once more.
  The first brushing of someone else’s skin against his twitching length had him choking back a near sob, Jae Ha’s hand guiding Yona’s with practiced surety. The architect wrapped her fingers around the base of Hak’s stiff flesh and urged her to slide her hand up and down, Hak dropping his chin to his chest as he released a guttural groan at the sensation of the smooth skin of her palm.      Soo Won’s smiling face suddenly flashed before Hak’s eyes and he felt his entire frame seize up, from the crown of his head all the way down to the tips of his toes. A white hot lightening bolt of betrayal lanced its way down his spine, the stinging pain in his chest aching with a hollow sorrow that he fought against with all his might.  The familiar fight-or- suppress instinct kicked into high gear and Hak grasped for it blindly, allowed himself to stuff such an unpleasant sensation back down into the darkened depths of his subconscious where it belonged. Was it possible to shove one’s childhood into a cell and padlock it?  Getting himself under control again, Hak’s ribs loosened just enough to allow him to take in an unsteady breath. He grimaced at the rapidly cooling temperature of the water and realized that his current hiding spot was quickly no longer becoming an option.    Their fingers wrapped around him together, overlapping and grazing against him heatedly as they worked. Hak’s eyes were shielded behind his dark strands and he watched them shamelessly as he huffed and gasped, groaning whenever they hit a particularly sensitive spot.
  Jae Ha was murmuring things to Yona, instructions on how to touch her childhood friend and increase his pleasure with the mere brushing of a thumb against his slit.

Hak moaned and grit his teeth, trying his best to stifle himself, only to have them drag more noises out of him with every stroke along his burning skin. Every graze felt magnified with the knowledge of who it was that he was allowing to touch him like this, the people that he was granting permission to see him in such a vulnerable state his closest friends who he loved so very much.

The alcohol had blessedly freed him, given him the ability to relax and allow his mind to shut off for once in his life so that he could take in the incredible feelings surging through his blood. His inhibitions lowered at long last, Hak allowed himself to indulge in the luxury of reveling in his desires instead of closing them off and forcing himself to keep them at bay.
  The moisture that continued to leak out of him provided the most incredible lubrication, Hak’s entire frame seizing up as he choked out some garbled nonsense, leaning forward and pressing his forehead against Yona’s clavicle as he nearly folded in on himself. His hips began to jerk, pressing himself into their grips and thrusting mindlessly.
  Jae Ha purred his wonder against Yona’s temple, eyes greedily drinking in the glorious mess that was Hak as he asked her if she’d ever seen anything so beautiful before in her entire life?

Hak snarled and undulated his hips, chasing after the pleasure and wanting more.

Jae Ha asked him if it felt good and chuckled lowly as Hak nodded his head furiously, crying out his consent as Jae Ha increased their pace, his thumb pressing into the thick vein that traveled along the underside of his dick while Yona’s smeared the beaded liquid accumulating at his tip one last time. It felt so very much like falling and Hak gasped as he completely lost control of himself for the first time in his entire life.

Yona’s breath hitched as Hak suddenly hissed her name, chanting his love for her over and over as he spilled over into she and Jae Ha’s palms, his fingers clenching tightly into the rumpled bedding as his release swept him under its powerful and unyielding current, wiping away any previous experiences from his memory and replacing them with this one; his very first moment of true intimacy.

Hak’s chest heaved as Yona breathed her awe and wonder at his reaction, at his unexpected declaration, her clean hand cupping his face and lifting his lax head up so that she could kiss him, her thumb brushing along his cheek as he opened his mouth to her and allowed her to take whatever she wanted from him. 
    Hak shut off the water and stood naked in the lingering heat of the shower, steam clouding the glass and fogging up the space as he ran a hand through his hair, slicking raven strands back and out of his eyes as he realized that he was troubled more now than he was when he’d first entered the bathroom, having reached no solution and only furthering to deepen his confusion instead.   
  Jae Ha leaned back and allowed them a few moments to themselves, his fingertips trailing softly along Yona’s spine as he watched the couple kiss and caress one another with languid touches, a small smile of satisfaction upon his lips at finally being able to witness them together after watching them both suffer silently and needlessly for so long.

This could be enough, he reasoned with himself as the seconds ticked slowly by. He could find satisfaction in this, he decided as he watched Yona press a kiss to the hollow of Hak’s throat. Besides, it had been a while since he’d had the opportunity to voyeur like this.

He leaned over the edge of the bed and snatched Hak’s previously discarded shirt, wiping the sticky mess from both his and Yona’s hands.
  Hak’s eyes suddenly locked with his over Yona’s head, the sated glint in his eyes still swirling with something heavy.
  Jae Ha’s pulse began to thunder in his ears as a thrill shot its way through his nervous system, tingling along his limbs as he cleared his throat with what sounded like a form of nervous agitation. He began to scoot back and away from them a bit, not entirely sure as to why he was giving in to the strange and sudden urge to flee from something that wasn’t really making him uncomfortable in the slightest?

Hak’s eyes were sliding from his bare chest and towards his lap, pulling a sheepish laugh from the architect as Yona slowly turned to regard him over her shoulder with a smoky-eyed gaze.
  Damn if that didn’t send an extra tingle down his spine as well. What had gotten into him all of a sudden?      Hak scrubbed the towel through his hair roughly as his unease grew. He would have to go out there and face them both and for some reason, the idea of facing Jae Ha made him more anxious than the notion of discussing things with Yona. His chest locked up and Hak struggled to take a deep and cleansing breath through his nose, draping his towel over his hook upon the wall and forcing himself to calm down. He wasn’t in any danger here, he reasoned with himself as he pulled on a pair of boxers and turned to face the still cloudy mirror.   He was just in the middle of an existential crisis over his sexual preferences, that was all.  Fuck.     Jae Ha leaned further back as Yona slowly crawled toward him, leaving room for him to escape should he feel the need and the consideration over her actions sent an arrow straight through his chest. 
  The skirt that had once been bunched around her narrow waist was the only article of clothing now covering her, Jae Ha’s palms feeling slick with sweat as he gulped audibly at the sight of Yona leaning toward him, Hak’s towering figure behind her sending tendrils of heat to unfurl along his limbs, his fingertips twitching against the sheets in anticipation.

“Can I kiss you?”
  Jae Ha blinked, brow furrowing slightly in confusion as Yona tilted her head at him, waiting patiently for his answer while the architect struggled to recall the last time that someone had asked his permission for such a simple action? The thought caused his throat to constrict with some strange emotion that he didn’t recognize, his thick voice choking out her name as her hands reached for the button of the black denim covering his lower half.
  Small fingers paused, large amethyst eyes blinking up at him.

Hak pressed himself against her back as he came closer, large hands taking over the task for her as her palms braced her weight upon Jae Ha’s thighs, stroking along his tense muscles to soothe him, silently urging him to let them take care of him.

Two sets of hands tugged and pulled, reached into Jae Ha’s dark grey boxer briefs to expose him, the architect lifting his hips to help them.

A small moan escaped his lips before he could stop it, strange and nonsensical words soon following after as Yona’s warm breath ghosted along Hak’s strong fingers. He threw his head back when Hak’s thumb pressed against a sensitive patch of skin that had Jae Ha’s toes curling, Yona’s tongue darting out to taste the salted flavor that had gathered at the tip.
  Jae Ha’s eyes were impossibly wide in a heartbeat as he yelped, head snapping up as Yona bolted upright. He laughed breathlessly as he assured the redhead that he was alright, his hand reaching out to run through her tousled strands before applying gentle pressure to the nape of her neck. Urging her to come forward and kiss his mouth instead, their lips were about to meet when a large and tanned hand pressed against the architect’s chest, urging him to fall back against the mattress.    Hak’s left hand swiped clumsily at the condensation that had accumulated upon the mirror, his right hand working his toothbrush against his teeth with only a fraction of his usual focus. He recalled Yoon’s nostalgic nagging over the streaky mess that his hand would leave behind on the glass, a wry smile tugging at the corner of Hak’s mouth as he recalled how he used to repeat the action in the other bathroom at the house and occasionally blame it on Kija.  Ah, memories.  Rinsing the toothpaste from his mouth, Hak wiped away any residual moisture with the back of his hand and frowned at his reflection. His chest began to tighten again as he realized that he still had nothing; no plan of action, no next step, nothing.  Things sometimes had a tendency to look so much more daunting in the light of day, where there were no shadows to hide in and no darkness to conceal one’s vulnerabilities.  
  Yona’s hair brushed against Jae Ha’s hip as she ducked back down and wrapped her lips around the tip of him, swiping her tongue along the slit as Hak’s grip slid along his rigid length.

Jae Ha grunted and arched, his arousal reaching its peak with a startling speed that hadn’t occurred in quite some time. He gasped as Yona clumsily swiped her tongue along the thick vein that ran the length of him, Hak’s fingers smearing the wetness further and over-stimulating him. He pressed his palms into his eyes and tried to keep himself composed.

God- what was going on with him? Was his lack of control due to having witnessed both of his closest friends coming apart at the seams mere moments ago?

His head thrashed as he groaned out his dilemma through gasping breaths, that if they kept this up, he was going to- 
    A knock upon the door had Hak nearly dropping his toothbrush upon the ground in his startled state, closing his eyes and sucking in a breath to steady himself. Being pulled from his thoughts with all of the swiftness that one normally reserved for a stubborn bandaid did nothing to ease his anxiety, and he cleared his throat before granting entrance.  Jae Ha opened the door wide, letting in a waft of chilled air that had goosebumps erupting across Hak’s bare skin. The architect leaned his shoulder against the frame, his gaze never leaving Hak’s face as he casually inquired as to whether or not he was just about finished up in here?  Hak blinked stupidly at him. “Why?”  “We’re going to brunch,” Jae Ha informed him, as if everything were the same as it had always been, looking far too comfortable with the situation and not appearing to be struggling with any sort of dilemma even in the slightest.  Why would he? Jae Ha was incredibly open and honest about his sexuality and the fact of the matter was, there was nothing that shocked him.  Must be nice, Hak groused to himself before turning to scowl lightly at his reflection. How in the fuck was this fair?  Jae Ha frowned in concern at the look upon Hak’s face, head tilting at the silence that continued to hang in the air between them, stagnant and nearly oppressive with the weight of the unspoken thoughts that were obviously troubling Hak. The architect’s eyes widened slightly as he took note of the sudden soft flush that was slowly creeping up his roommate’s tense neck. Was Hak blushing?  Jae Ha crossed the threshold and immediately closed the door behind him softly, being mindful of the volume of his voice so as not to alert Yona to their private conversation, as well as keeping Hak calm. He kept his distance and relaxed his posture as he pressed his back against the door, noticing just how tightly wound Hak appeared to be in his presence. “Everything okay?”  Hak continued to avoid his gaze, busying himself with arranging his toothbrush upon the glass shelf that rested behind the mirror just so, reaching for his deodorant next and staring down at it with a rather pensive look. “I dunno,” he muttered, his left hand coming up to rub at the back of his neck. “I don’t think so.”  
  Her lips released him just in time, Jae Ha’s back arching and muscles stiffening as he threw his head back and clenched his teeth. He hissed and gasped, teeth bared and face twisted into a pleasured grimace that had Hak’s pulse thundering inside of his chest, satisfaction over having helped to cause such an expression to mar Jae Ha’s otherwise perfectly schooled features burning brightly in his blood.

His thumb must have brushed against a particularly satisfying spot as his grip overlapped Yona’s, because the choked sound coming from his roommate had Hak smirking, Jae Ha’s resulting stuttering moan of his name sounding pitiful and causing him to have mercy upon him. He released him, allowing Yona’s hand to continue to stroke him in his descent.

Jae Ha peeled his eyes open somewhat blearily, trying to catch his breath as he frowned at the ceiling. He was so lost in thought that he nearly missed the sensation of Yona’s lips upon his hip, her warm breath pulling a shudder from him as she murmured his name, asking if he was alright?

He offered a breathless laugh as he assured her that he was more than fine, her soft smile melting his heart a little. 
     Jae Ha’s expression remained unfazed as he nodded, “Right. I get it. This is weird and I get it.”  Hak nodded a little, glad that his roommate at least understood the situation from his point of view a little. He may be used to these sorts of things, but Hak was not. “Honestly, I don’t really know where we even go from here.”  Jae Ha nodded gently again, understanding painting his features in comforting vibes as he pushed himself away from the door. “I understand. Yona thinks the same too, you know.”  Hak’s demeanor perked up noticeably at the mention of Yona, wary gaze shooting over to Jae Ha’s at last.  He smiled softly at the dark haired man. “Let’s just take this one step at a time, alright?”  Hak nodded numbly, eyes breaking away to stare down at the deodorant still gripped tightly in his grasp.   Jae Ha reached behind him for the cool metal knob, fingers curling around it as he turned to leave. “Alright. First things first: brunch.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

They were both so damn cute that he could hardly stand it.  Jae Ha watched the other patrons of the establishment as he lifted his mug up to his lips, sipping at the liquid as he leaned back in his seat. He allowed his arm to rest over the back of Yona’s chair lazily. His fingertips sought her out and he wasn’t disappointed, the smooth skin of her arm so very soft as he traced delicate patterns and designs along her warm flesh, a gentle smile tugging at his lips as his ears picked up on Hak’s low tone, asking her softly once more if she was really alright?  Her voice was mild and sweet, so patient as she confirmed yet again that she was truly fine, just a little tired. Jae Ha’s hand slid across her upper back, fingers digging into the tense muscles along either side of her spine, secretly pleased as she leaned into his touch with a small and appreciative sigh. She mewled her gratitude to him as his gaze slid sideways to her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he murmured against the ceramic pressed to his lips, “My pleasure.”  The silence was strangely comfortable, given how nervous the two of them had been earlier. Jae Ha really couldn’t blame either of them for their responses; he himself was struggling to keep his features calm and his insides steady while reasoning with himself and insisting that he’d done the two of them a favor. He’d been trying his best to push them together for years now, had given his roommate countless opportunities to confess his feelings for his childhood friend while Jae Ha had swallowed his on more than one occasion.  It had been a rather bitter taste, to be honest; one that he didn’t particularly prefer. It usually left his stomach feeling heavy and his chest flaring with some weird twinge that he’d never truly been able to identify. He’d tried numerous things to quell and pacify it, but it never managed to disappear completely for too long. The little twisting pulse never seemed to prefer one of them over the other, always aching whenever Hak’s subtle advances went unnoticed by Yona and squirming whenever Hak’s words sliced Yona a little more deeply than intended.  Strange.    He’d thought about it as they’d walked the short distance to the diner that morning, chewing upon the strange little notion hovering upon the edges of his mind as he'd pondered his own sanity.  What was he doing? Normally he kept himself closed off to people, preferring brief sexual exploits that would be over before any strings could have a chance to form, having acquired a taste for simple pleasure and bursts of passion over the heavy weight of constant companionship.  Kija used to tell him that he had a "fear of commitment," but he liked to think of it as preferring non-exclusivity.   He wouldn’t expose himself to the cruelty of others. It was easier and so much safer to just keep a healthy distance, the best tactic by far to keep himself intact when he took the proper precautions. He didn’t do intimacy, let alone relationships. Those things tended to tie one down and he’d rather eat dirt than be stuck in one place for the rest of his life. He'd spent the majority of his childhood craving freedom, and he'd be damned if he wouldn't keep his promise to his younger self.  So why then did he warm slightly at the thought of being attached to Yona and Hak, when he should be blanching with disgust like he normally did?  This was why people didn't fuck their friends.  Oh, this didn’t bode well.  Jae Ha had frowned as he’d shoved his hands into the pockets of his black wool coat, the cold air slicing mercilessly across his exposed skin as a strange dread had settled over him. A scowl had threatened to etch itself into his features, to expose his inner turmoil as he’d begun to realize that maybe, just maybe he’d always had these deep feelings for not only Yona, but for Hak as well?   Who was he kidding? He’d always been attracted to his straight roommate.  Perhaps his heart had been trying to get his brain to pay attention and accept the idea of allowing himself to fall into the abyss of intimacy with them? Would it truly be so bad to share himself, even the bad parts, with someone else?  Cue gagging.  A muted touch through the layers resting upon his frame had him pausing, Yona having linked her arm through his, pulling him out of his daze with a small start; he’d come to a full stop upon the pavement without even realizing it, and she’d reached out to make sure that he hadn’t gotten left behind. The concern upon her face as she’d blinked up at him had prompted him to paint an easygoing smile onto his features, his greedy little soul soaking in the lightness of her touch as she’d softly asked if he was alright?   Jae Ha’s gaze had briefly taken in the unspoken emotion swirling deeply in the bright blue of Hak’s eyes as the two men locked gazes over her head, Hak’s larger hand encompassing Yona’s small mittened one as he’d tugged insistently upon the two of them, urging them both along, grumbling that he was hungry and that it was too damn cold to be standing around outside.  The strange little beast making itself at home amongst Jae Ha’s ribs had purred contentedly at the sound of Hak and Yona’s light banter, the three of them continuing along once more down the sidewalk, the domestic intimacy with which he suddenly found himself surrounded in warming him from the inside out, instead of ugly dread weighing heavily upon him at the notion of being tied down.  Strange indeed.  This whole thing was uncharted territory for him, but the two of them needed something stable to latch onto for the time being, a guide to help clear the path and show them the way forward. Both Yona and Hak seemed to be leaning upon him now more than they ever had and Jae Ha would be lying if he were to say that it didn’t feel good to be needed.  Surely, he could do that much. He could keep himself together for the sake of their new relationship, he reasoned as he allowed Yona to feed him a small cube of fresh pineapple from her bowl of mixed fruit. He could be the glue that held them all together if it meant that their happiness would be secured, he confirmed as he watched the small redhead blush lightly at his slow and coy wink. If pulling apart their previous relationships and rebuilding them into something new would strengthen them, then he could design their new parameters into something stronger, something better.  After all, he reasoned as he watched Hak feed Yona a dainty bite of his veggie omelet from the tip of his fork, once the two of them spent more time together, they'd forget all about him and then live happily ever after. Problem solved. He was a genius.  Why then did something in his chest splinter at the thought instead of settling into place at (what should have been) his sound reasoning?   Yona had excused herself to the restroom, leaving the two men alone at their table in silence. There was a tension hovering over them that Jae Ha didn't really care for, but he wasn't sure how to go about addressing it.  The seconds ticked slowly by, Hak planting his crossed arms upon the surface of the table and running his fingers through his dark hair as Jae Ha’s fingers plucked another cube of pineapple from Yona’s dish.  Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Hak watching him, crystal blue laced with something unreadable as he watched Jae Ha’s tongue run along his thumb to remove any residual stickiness from his skin. His mind raced, trying desperately to think of a way to break the silence, to perhaps see if there were any errands that they would need to run while they were out and about, when Hak’s low voice reached him across the table.  “Are we really doing this?”  Jae Ha blinked, resuming his chewing slowly as his confused gaze locked onto Hak’s slightly determined one. There would be no easing his way out of this with teasing this time. He swallowed the fruit before asking, “Pardon?”  “This,” Hak stated, one hand gesturing between the two of them as the other provided support, the heel of his palm resting against his temple. “Are you and I gonna have what Yona and I have?”  Damn.    Jae Ha rested one elbow upon the surface of the table as he attempted to dissect the unease coiling along Hak’s muscled arms, a tightening in his throat alerting him to the slight offense he was feeling at the idea of Hak being so uncomfortable at the notion of being intimate with him. He shouldn't have been surprised, though. He knew that Hak was struggling with the questioning upon his once clearly defined sexual preferences, and he urged himself to be patient; a lot had transpired last night and it wasn’t fair to expect him to suddenly be alright with all of the newness being dumped upon him so suddenly. It was a lot to absorb, after all.  Besides, Jae Ha reasoned with himself as he cleared his throat to dislodge the invisible force squeezing it slowly. He shouldn’t expect Hak to shift his entire being for his own selfish desires. Hak was who he was, and no amount of coaxing or forcing would ever rearrange what he was at his core (not that Jae Ha would ever want to change him).  Jae Ha softened whatever expression he was wearing and straightened out his tone, his fingertips setting his mug upon the tabletop gently as he said, “We don’t have to. We," he gestured between the two of them, imitating Hak's movements. "Don't have to have anything. The three of us could be something together, if you want. You and Yona can just be you and Yona, she and I can have something on the side, with your permission, of course,” he added as Hak’s muscles twitched slightly. “Or this could be just a one time thing. Whatever you want. Either way, I promise that I won’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”  The crease in Hak’s brow seemed to ease at that, his fingers smoothing out his strands as he sighed softly. His blue eyes were earnest and a little shy as he murmured, “Yeah, okay...thanks...”  Cute. Jae Ha smiled softly at him, his fondness only growing as the now comfortable silence between them reigned once more. He could see the previous tension leaking out of Hak's frame, feeling a bit relieved himself as he inhaled a deep breath through his nose.  Realization slowly dawned upon Jae Ha, his grin sharpening ever so slightly as Hak narrowed his eyes at him. "Hak," he fought the desire to coo and fuss like an overbearing older brother. "Are you planning on asking Yona to be your girlfriend - ?"  “Shut up.”  Jae Ha snickered at the embarrassed flush crawling it’s way up Hak’s neck. Ah, youth. He clucked his tongue at the balled up napkin that Hak threw his way, scolding the younger man lightly for being so childish, insisting that that wasn't boyfriend behavior as Yona seated herself beside him once more. Her wide eyes glanced between the two of them before asking what they’d been talking about?  “It’s snowing,” Hak remarked idly as he turned toward his reflection in the window, three sets of eyes watching the small flurries float down from the sky in peaceful silence.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Do you want this?  Yona huffed out a frustrated sigh as she rolled over onto her back, staring up at her dark bedroom ceiling and willing it to give her all of the answers that she so desperately sought. Her thoughts felt like birds flying around inside of her head, flapping and squawking for attention. The problem was, she didn't know which one to address first.   What a crazy weekend. Like, Alice in Wonderland levels of weird. She was still having trouble processing all of it; from the dinner and drinks that started the avalanche, to the shadowed memories of warm skin and breathless moans mounting an endless barrage against her senses, her poor little heart didn’t stand a chance of breaking free of its palpitations any time soon. The constant loop that continued to play behind her closed lids had her groaning in frustration.  Ugh! She was never going to get any sleep at this rate and she had to work tomorrow. She didn't stand a chance of being able to function as a normal person.  Yona glanced over at her phone resting on her nightstand. She licked her lips nervously and fought against the urge to grab it. Suppose she were to give in and call right now. What would she even say? She’d said that she needed some time to think, and yet she hadn’t managed to accomplish anything remotely productive all day.   How long would they wait for her response? Both men had understood her desire, nodding and agreeing that it was, indeed, a lot to digest. They’d urged her to take her time and offered to give her the space that she clearly needed without any protests or arguments. She didn’t necessarily want space, but knew that she needed it.  Her vision glazed over slightly as she stared off into the space around her phone, her mind taking yet another unauthorized stroll into procrastination. She had to make a decision sooner or later, but what did she truly want? Where was she supposed to even begin at this point?  Do you want us?  She chewed on her lip and squirmed beneath the covers, feet sliding along the cool and crisp cotton in her restless agitation. Did she want them? What kind of a question was that? How could she not want them? Who wouldn't want a repeat of what happened the other night?  But she knew what they'd really meant. Did she want a relationship with them?  She’d never been in a real relationship before- just one measly date back in college, and her housemates had trolled them the entire time. She’d never done anything remotely close to the intimacy of dating one person, let alone two people at the same time. How would it even work?  Jae Ha had been clear that they didn't have to do anything that she wasn't comfortable with. If she were to have a relationship with both of them, would Hak really be okay with that? How was she going to be sure that she divided her attention equally? It almost felt like cheating, if she were to be completely honest; like having her cake and eating it, too.  What about the, uh, intimate aspect?  A little flame began to smolder in the pit of her belly at the idea of repeats of the night prior being a possibility. Would they always be together? Would trouble arise if she were to be with one over the other?  She closed her eyes and allowed images of what had transpired between the three of them to flash before her vision yet again, shadowed memories of Hak’s lips brushing against the sensitive skin of her inner thigh, strong hands holding her legs open as his tongue had reduced her to a shaking pile of tangled limbs in an embarrassingly short amount of time.  She’d let Hak do that-!  She groaned and rolled over onto her side as a flush began to bleed across the pale skin of her neck. Her breath shuddered slightly as she recalled how fluidly the muscles of Hak’s arms and shoulders had moved, so strong and steady. Crystal blue eyes that she’d known since her childhood had watched her with such intensity, had witnessed her falling apart and gasping out his name while arching her head back against Jae Ha’s chest.  Jae Ha.  The pounding in her chest began to take on a slightly different twist as she ran her fingertips over her lips. Her traitorous brain couldn’t seem to clear away the memories of his breath curling in her ear as he’d murmured words of praise laced with appreciative sighs of how beautiful she was, his talented fingers trailing along her shivering skin, mapping out every curve and freckle upon her flesh as she’d whimpered and gasped. Lean muscles had been strong and supportive against her back as she’d writhed against him, his teeth nipping at her neck as she’d arched and sighed, her fingers tangling in his hair and pulling upon the strands, heat igniting in her veins at the low growl her actions had pulled from his throat. She could almost taste him upon her lips, his mouth decadent and sensual when he’d kissed her so thoroughly in the moonlight.  He’d said absolutely filthy things to her in the dark, then been a perfect gentleman in the light of day. Such a stark contrast had nearly given her whiplash and if that was how he normally behaved, then his endless string of lovers back in college made far more sense.  A pillow to the face was what she truly needed.  Whimpering her frustrations into the feathered depths brought her a little clarity. Her fingers gripped the edges of her fluffy companion as she berated her depraved mind for taking yet another unauthorized detour and dragging her along with it, but who could blame her? Anyone with eyes could see how devastatingly handsome both men were, but few were fortunate enough to have an emotional connection with them as well. Maybe that was why it had all felt so intense? Maybe that was why she hadn't thought twice about jumping into bed with them, despite having no experience whatsoever?  Well, her libido was wide awake now.  Maybe she just needed a distraction. She urged herself to focus upon the numerous things that she needed to accomplish that week, to go over the list on her ever-growing to do list, as well as her work schedule for the upcoming days.  It was a pointless fight and she knew it. No matter how hard she tried to avert her focus to other things, she always circled back to the place that she was trying so very hard to avoid. She felt so stuck, caught in the middle of something that she couldn’t understand.  Suppose she said yes? What happened if things were to fall apart? How could she possibly bear to lose either of them? The thought made her sick and panicky, even if it was hypothetical. Was it a risk that she was willing to take?  Yona slowly pulled the pillow away from her face and took in a deep breath of cool air, resting the now muddled lump in her lap as her fingers began to straighten it back out into a reasonable shape. She stared up at the ceiling as she worked, unable to focus fully upon the task as she tortured herself further with her endless questioning.  One question came to mind above all of the others currently battling for first place, though: did Hak really mean what he’d said last night? Just how deep did his feelings for her really go? How long had he felt that way?  She frowned in thought as she tried to pull forth any instances of Hak displaying any form of true emotional or physical attraction towards her in the past, sifting through countless memories in her quest for the truth. He was one of her best friends, but he’d never made any mentions of love... Had he? Sure, he’d teased her plenty and had thoroughly enjoyed her discomfort, but was there any truth behind the levity?  The longer she thought, the more nervous she became.  Yona’s fingers smoothed out her now crumpled pillowcase as vulnerabilities she hadn’t even known that she possessed began to surface like the rising of the sun, breaking out over the horizon and illuminating the barren wasteland of her once logical mind. Insecurities were beginning to dig their claws into her, tugging and pulling upon the soft and delicate flesh of her self-worth with every passing second. What if it had been a lie? Were his declarations merely false sentiments that his lust-filled brain had spewed forth in a moment of weakness?  Before she could even begin to consider diving into a relationship with both men, she needed to map out the murky waters that surrounded she and Hak. His words weren’t meant to be taken lightly. She simply couldn’t continue until she knew for sure. She’d call him tomorrow after work and ask him.  No. She had to know now.  With her mind made up, she sat up and reached for her phone, pulling it free from its charger. She swiped her thumb across the screen before searching for Hak’s name amongst her list of contacts. At a time like this, his voice wasn’t going to be enough. They needed to speak face to face. She tapped the little video camera before she could stop herself and ran a hand through her hair in nervous agitation. Her own slightly rumpled reflection stared back at her as she watched the connection reach out for him, the little ringing sound only feeding her anxiety the longer that it went on.  It was sort of late and he had to work tomorrow as well. Maybe he was asleep?  This was a bad idea. She supposed the she should’ve waited until morning to-  “Hey.”   She blinked in surprise as Hak’s face suddenly filled her screen, the small little smile that she knew so well sending butterflies scattering throughout her chest. Oh- he was awake after all.  “What’s up?”  “U-Uh-“ Pinpricks of heat began to gather upon her cheeks as the seconds ticked by, her brain trying to pull forth a proper greeting to extend to him as he tilted his head at her slightly. “I- Did you mean it?”  Hak merely blinked owlishly at her and she winced at her own words. Wow. That was so not what she’d had in mind at all. Perhaps she should have thought this through a little more before calling him?  Yona closed her eyes and dropped her chin to her chest in defeat. What was the matter with her? “Uh- I mean... About... you know...? What you said... last night...?”  Hak squinted at her slightly before she realized that her voice had grown softer and softer the longer that she’d babbled, and she was just about to panic at the idea of having to repeat herself, when he began to laugh.  Her mouth dropped open slightly in surprise before she huffed at him in annoyance. Typical. She pouted slightly and tried to swallow her rising anger over his blasé behavior towards her feelings. Couldn’t he see how apprehensive she was? Maybe he hadn’t been serious after all?  Hak’s laughter dwindled down as he shook his head, covering his eyes briefly with his hand as he breathed, “God- you’re serious...”  She squeaked in indignation as her thumb hovered over the little red disconnect button, about to wash her hands of the entire situation and try her best to catalogue last night as the worst mistake of her life, when his eyes finally locked with hers through the screen, and the small glimmer of pain that she could see reflecting back at her wiped her thoughts completely clean.  Hak scuffed out a huff of amusement, looking a little lost and somewhat shy as he rubbed at the back of his neck. His gaze broke away to focus upon something off to the side and away from her. “Yeah,” he murmured before clearing his throat, “I meant it. Have for a long time... so... yeah...”  Her breath caught in her throat as her the level of her obliviousness swept over her. A long time, huh? How clueless could she be? Guilt was tapping her shoulder but she shrugged it off, focusing on the screen. There would be plenty of time later for her to punish herself for her past actions. She drew her legs up and rested her chin upon her knees, wide eyes watching Hak fidget upon the screen as she breathed, “Oh.”  “Yeah...”  God- they were both such awkward idiots.  Yona smiled sheepishly at him as he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, something in his gaze softening over her pleased expression. She released a small snort of laughter and fought against the nervous giggle pushing against her throat at how adorable Hak was in his flustered state. She’d never seen him be anything but calm and collected before, so to be able to say that she’d witnessed him fidget while battling a sudden bout of shyness was not only slightly unusual, but also incredibly cute.  He grumbled something incomprehensible as she cooed at him, biting her lip to stifle her noises as he flushed and stammered out an adamant denial. He was absolutely not cute, thank you very much!  “Is that Yona?” Jae Ha’s disembodied voice inquired moments before his face appeared over Hak’s shoulder, offering a wave of his hand and a playful wink as she stammered out a shy greeting. “Did you call to wish us both goodnight?”  She giggled as she watched Hak nudge at his roommate, grousing at him to ‘get lost’ and grinding his teeth as the architect inched his way into the frame a little more instead. “Kinda,” she said softly, mindful of both the hour and her neighbors. A nervous energy began to thrum in her veins as she gathered her nerves and steadied herself. Now that things were somewhat settled with Hak, it was time to face her feelings. She took a deep breath to summon her courage as she sat up and leaned back against her headboard, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I, uh, wanted to let you both know that I’ve thought about it.”  They froze. Two sets of eyes watched her patiently, quiet and respectful as they awaited her reply. Hak’s gaze was intense while Jae Ha’s dripped with curiosity.  Did she want to enter into a relationship with the both of them? Did she want to share the same experiences and possible problems that accompanied most normal couples, only with an additional twist? Was it something that she not only found appealing, but wanted to brave? Was she willing to allow herself to be vulnerable to two people at the same time?  Last chance to walk away. What would it be?  “Yes.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The air was cold as she hurried down the pavement, her breath clouding before her for a mere second, only to be swept away by the next burst of biting breeze. Yona shivered, mittened hands grasping the strap of her bag that cut diagonally across her chest. She was running late and she had no one to blame but herself and her own unique brand of filing negligence. If she’d been more organized (like the adult that she pretended to be), she wouldn’t have had to waste nearly fifteen minutes digging through the mess of paperwork upon her desk for the report that she’d promised to fax before the day was through. She’d made the cut off, but just barely. She’d been nothing but distracted all day and had left the organization of her workspace to the last minute on a Friday evening when she had plans, specific ones that had caused her to twitch and fidget with nervous and excited energy since that morning.  Ah, well. She was finally on her way and had wasted no time in picking up her pace while repeatedly offering up prayers to not allow anything else to delay her any further. Perhaps luck would be on her side tonight?  That all depended upon the agenda, though. Curiosity had been gnawing at her though, Jae Ha’s mischievous wink through the screen of her phone replaying over and over in her mind. The stubborn man had absolutely refused to tell her what was in store for the evening, the only two clues he was willing to offer being that the dress code was casual and that she shouldn’t plan to be home early, if at all.  He’d then laughed at her blush, cooing over her adorable expression before disconnecting and leaving her frazzled.  Pulling her phone from her coat pocket, the screen was bright as it illuminated the space around her, her eyes adjusting before dashing down to the screen quickly as she tried to read the address that Jae Ha had sent her while avoiding colliding into anyone around her. She took the time to confirm that she was heading in the right direction and returned the device to the depths of her pocket, head bent down slightly against the breeze.   She had no idea what was in store for her, only knew that she was feeling a strange sort of anxiety that hadn’t plagued her since college, when she’d first stood outside in the afternoon sunlight, her belongings at her feet, eyes wide and filled with innocent wonder while staring up at the strange house that would unknowingly become her second home.  Hak had stood beside her then, steadfast and true, urging her to take the next step forward while silently pledging that he would never leave her by herself.  She smiled as she turned the corner, a fond warmth tickling along the edges of her memories. How far they’d come, indeed. Now she was taking yet another step in a totally different direction, clueless and unaware once more. Hak would be there again to support her, of that she was sure, and she made a silent promise to be strong for both he and Jae Ha. They would all need to lean on each other as they navigated this uncharted path together.  She’d just finished glancing up once more to confirm that she was on the correct street, when she did a double-take at what was before her, eyes widening as she came to a complete stop upon the pavement before the crosswalk.  Was that-?  No. Oh, please no.  An outdoor ice skating rink?  Surely they wouldn’t do something like this to her? Hopefully they both remembered just how clumsy she was when it came to recreational sports of any kind and were just messing with her?  Oh...no...  Her fears were confirmed as she crossed the street with the rest of the small crowd, recognizing the tall figure leaning against the edge of the rink with a relaxed ease that always seemed to follow him wherever he went, head tilted towards the broad shoulders of the dark-haired figure seated upon one of the benches, strong and chiseled profile coming into view as he sat up, straightening his spine once finished tying the laces of his skates.  Yona gulped and stiffened as she made the conscious effort to pick up her feet and continue onward, instead of running away and admitting immediate defeat, delaying her movements as she swallowed her whine of displeasure. This could only end badly, of that much she was sure.  Too late to back out now. Indigo eyes spotted her, locking her in and pulling her forward. She returned Jae Ha’s smile with a small one of her own, lifting her hand to wave at Hak as he turned around, the warmth in his eyes reflecting in the small grin upon his lips once he spotted her.     “Here,” Hak knelt before her, a pair of skates with their laces connected dangling from his fingers. “I went ahead and got yours.”  “Oh,” she laughed breathlessly, hoping that she was coming across as excited, instead of terrified. “Great! Thanks!”  There was a teasing merriment dancing upon Jae Ha’s features, painting the amused twinkle in his eye a rather aggravating shade of annoying as he watched his roommate tug at the stubborn knot in the laces of her rental skates.  Great, Yona thought as she dug her teeth into her bottom lip while watching the architect turn his head in order to stifle a laugh against the palm of his hand, there’s two of them. He was eating this up and loving every second of it, the jerk. She’d never been able to fool him. He’d probably been the one to suggest such an activity in the first place, despite knowing that she tended to be less than, uh, graceful when it came to such things.  Yona’s fingers gripped the edge of the bench as she allowed Hak to lace up her skates for her, reciting her final farewell to her ankles as he tugged them tightly. She swallowed a wince and tried her best to remain positive, but the outlook was grim. Her feet were protesting already and they hadn’t even begun.  “Thought maybe we could get some exercise first,” he explained, fingers tapping upon the back of her other calf, instructing her to lift her socked foot so that he could help her into the other skate. “Are the laces tight enough?”  Blue eyes glanced up at her and she schooled her features, nodding her head somewhat frantically before shooting a glare of betrayal in Jae Ha’s direction at the sound of a snicker escaping from between his fingers. Oh, there would be retribution for this later, indeed.  Hak missed thankfully missed their exchange as he ducked his head to resume his work, excitement practically pouring off of him in waves as he tugged the second set of laces (what felt like) even tighter than the others, Yona pressing her lips together to hold back her grunt of discomfort. She assured herself that Hak knew what he was doing, recalling that he and his younger brother Tae Woo used to play on a hockey league during high school. Hak would keep her safe.  She steeled herself as he pulled her to her feet, her eyes widening at the wobbly feeling already settling in along her every muscle and ligament. She felt like a newborn giraffe trying to take its steps on its legs for the very first time, focusing on her every step as Jae Ha pulled himself together long enough to head out onto the ice before them, moving seamlessly against the frozen surface before turning back to them.  Hak was next, his experience evident with every fluid glide upon the ice, turning around to glance over his shoulder, brow quirked curiously upon the realization that Yona wasn’t following him.  Her face felt like it was on fire, her hands gripping the sides of the rink as she stared down at the glistening surface in trepidation, knees shaking as she stood in the entrance and tried to summon her courage to just move forward. What was the worst that could happen?  She could break her ankle.  She could break her leg.  She could knock someone else over and break their leg.  The list only grew in her head as the seconds ticked by. This was so humiliating. She exhaled and was just about to allow the panic to overtake her, when two outstretched hands appeared before her, her widened eyes blinking stupidly at them before allowing her gaze to trail up two arms, only to see both men standing before her, patient and supportive, ready to help.  She didn’t deserve them, she swore.  Steady hands swallowed her small ones as they guided her out onto the ice slowly, her skates nearly giving out beneath her in an instant, her ankles weak and useless against the slippery surface beneath them. She stumbled a little, a small squeak escaping her at the surprising jar to her system. Leg muscles that she hadn’t used in awhile were already getting a workout, the flush upon her neck deepening as both men adjusted their holds from her hands to her forearms, asking her if she was alright?  Of course she wasn’t. She nodded stiffly as she prayed once more to any being above that had a free ear, begging them to let her get through this in one piece, to remain upright, to keep at least some of her dignity.    It took almost half an hour for Yona’s body to finally get the basics, both Hak and Jae Ha finally deciding that she was no longer a danger to herself or others with matching smiles. Their hands wrapped around her mittened ones, Jae Ha to her left, Hak on her right.  They chatted about their weeks, exchanged funny little stories with one another, everything so blissfully normal and relaxing. She could almost forget about the uncomfortable throbbing in her ankles, able to push it down and to the back of her mind as she laughed at Jae Ha trying to plant a kiss upon Hak’s cheek over her head.Others skated by and around them, Yona having been slightly nervous at first, hyper aware of any curious gazes or looks of disgust that could have been potentially shot their way.  No one seemed to be paying them much mind, if she were to be truthful. It was such a staggering relief, tension that she hadn’t even realized that she’d been carrying releasing from her spine and shoulders. She didn’t care what people thought of them, but she didn’t want her friends worrying over her, either.  Hak snapped his head back and away from his roommate’s advances a second time, tugging upon Yona’s hand to try and worm her a little closer to him and a little further from the other man beside her.  Yona jerked her hand back without so much as a word to the brooding man as she turned her head towards the architect, tilting her chin up so that she could see him a little better, since he was even taller with the blades upon his feet, “You skate so well, Jae Ha! Did you take lessons when you were a kid?”  He laughed good-naturedly, shaking his head before turning to face forward as they approached the curve in the rink again, putting her left hand in his as his right hand landed upon her waist to steady her. The action pulled her into him slightly, much to Hak’s petulant grumble. “No- but my hometown did have a pond that would freeze over every winter, so we would race and play games.”  “You seem the type to take figure skating lessons,” Hak chided in, having moved closer to them once more. “You know- with the sparkly costumes and all...”  Jae Ha merely shrugged a shoulder, but his eyes seemed a little far off as he undoubtedly pictured himself in a rather handsome getup, people cheering his name and tossing flowers upon the ice at his feet, so suave and smooth as he bowed to the audience. “I’ll try anything once...”    A small group of girls had gathered around the concession stand and their heavily over-done blushing faces were starting to grate upon Yona’s nerves.  It most certainly was not jealousy causing her lips to press together in a sour frown whenever they passed by them. Absolutely not. She was just annoyed, that was all. Didn’t they have anything better to do than stand around taking up space while trying to engage men in a staring contest? They looked young, too. How would their mothers feel knowing that they were out trying to shamelessly flirt with men who were probably almost twice their age?  Okay, maybe she was exaggerating a little.  A few of them had the eyes of a predator stalking their next meal, their hungry gazes often falling upon the two men flanking either side of her, darting between the two male specimens and trying to decide which one to tackle first. Disgusting. They nearly dissolved into fits of nervous giggles while batting their eyelashes and twirling their fingers around their hair in what was probably supposed to be a coy movement.  Ugh. Sickening.  Yona supposed that she wouldn’t have been so annoyed over the whole thing if they hadn’t slid their gaze along her form, almost instantly deeming her harmless and tossing her aside into some invisible pile of non-threatening rivals. Rude. They probably assumed that she was their cousin, or something.  Yona felt her brow furrow slightly, ducking her head a little so that she wouldn’t allow them to see just how much they were getting to her as they skated by them yet again. The tall and handsome men still holding her hands seemed to be oblivious to the gaggle of girls, thankfully, their conversation that had been hovering upon the outskirts of her attention sharpening back into focus once more.  “What if I beat you in a race,” Jae Ha asked Hak, resuming his relentless onslaught as he lifted his chin, nodding towards the empty center of the ring. “Can I earn a kiss from you then?”  Hak continued to stare off to the side, the soft blush along his throat the only indication that he’d heard Jae Ha at all. The architect whined playfully that his roommate didn’t have to play hard to get, that he’d give him a kiss if he’d just stop acting so coy.  Yona turned to watch Hak, curious to see if he would give in to Jae Ha’s bantering? Was his roommate’s ceaseless teasing warrant a response? Maybe that would finally shut the flock of females up.  “Well, if you won’t-“  Yona stiffened in surprise as she felt fingers gently press beneath her chin, guiding her face to turn up and to the left, Jae Ha’s lips pressing against hers in a quick and rather chaste kiss. His mouth was warm and firm against hers, pulling forth a few dozen memories from last weekend that had been decidedly much more heated in a mere fraction of a second. She blinked, the touch over before she was even able to fully process what had happened.  She could feel their audience watching them, the heavy cloud of dismayed disappointment over their intimacy effectively silencing them for the time being.  Jae Ha smiled at her, his gaze warm and soft, open and honest as her tongue wet her lips out of nervous habit. “There. At least someone here doesn’t mind kissing me.”  Yona went to open her mouth, to perhaps say something clever, but her ankle wobbled and her feet almost slipped out from beneath her, a gasping cry leaving her mouth instead as two sets of hands adjusted their holds so that they were able to steady her elbows before she could fall to the ice.  She flushed as Hak blinked down at her while Jae Ha merely chuckled teasingly, “Now that’s talent!”    Yona winced slightly as she tried to flex her feet inside of her ice skates, the throbbing back with a vengeance now that she was no longer moving and had nothing to distract her from the pain. She couldn’t wait to take them off, to perhaps soak her probably bruised ankles in a tub of warm water. She hoped that she could return the skates back to the rental area in their condition, given that the lining was probably soaked with her blood... Maybe she could draw a hot bath when she got home?  Wait. Hadn’t Jae Ha stated that she wouldn’t be getting home until late, if at all?  She ran her fingers over her bottom lip as a whole new batch of nervous butterflies began to beat their wings in her tummy. What exactly had he meant when he’d said that? The possibility of a repeat of last weekend had her legs shaking, fisted hands pressing into her legging-clad knees as she tried to get ahold of herself and just stay calm.  “Here.”  Yona turned to the right in surprise, where a small cup of steaming liquid was hovering in mid-air beside her. She quickly shucked off her mittens and accepted it, watching Hak come and settle himself beside her upon the bench before peering down into the depths of her styrofoam cup.  It was hot chocolate and it was delicious. She hummed her pleasure as she sipped at it slowly, sighing softly at the comforting warmth as it trailed down her throat, spreading along her chest. Hak draped his arm over her shoulder without hesitation and didn’t seem at all surprised when she leaned into him without a second thought.  Between Hak’s body heat and the warmth of the beverage in her hands, Yona’s chilled body began to relax, her thoughts settling. Everything else began to slowly fade away, her annoyance over the female herd, her incompetence at ice skating; none of that seemed all that important as she pressed her cheek against the soft fabric of Hak’s caramel colored coat, the red scarf that she’d made him so long ago peeking at her from just above where the zipper ended. Hak’s familiar scent washed over her, so comforting and masculine as they watched the couples and young kids continue to skate by upon the ice.  It was just so...natural. It felt as if they’d been doing this for years, so easy and effortless. There was something to be said for entering into a relationship with someone that you’d known for almost your entire life. There were no trepidations; she knew almost everything about Hak already, as well as most of his stories, having been present for or directly involved in most of them. It was nice to know that the only surprises that remained were fun ones.  “Are you cold?”  Yona turned her head, about to reassure him that she was fine, when she realized that his mouth was almost at eye level, her lips parting as she slowly slid her gaze up to his, her breath catching at the look in his eyes. The tenderness in his eyes wrapped up in a smoldering heat would take some getting used to, but she was looking forward to more of it already.  Hak’s mouth was gentle as he kissed her, but there was an intensity behind it, a control that had obviously been there for quite some time. His lips were soft, lingering, she noted as they both angled their heads slightly. She pressed herself against him a little more, to perhaps bring them even closer together, when Hak pulled back, lidded gaze sweeping across her face to possibly gauge her comfort.  He was holding himself back; probably afraid to push too much and she was having none of it.  Yona dug her fingers into his coat, tugging him back to her where he belonged and was barely able to register the slight widening of his eyes before she passed her lips over his again.  Hak sighed softly, one hand reaching up to cup her face, his thumb brushing across her cheekbone. He seemed to have released his hold on his control a little, the reins slipping through his lax fingers, probably, for his mouth opened against hers to allow the tip of his tongue to flicker against the bow of her bottom lip. He swallowed her small gasp and turned towards her a little more, his other hand resting heavily upon one of her thighs.  They were in public. The kiss was probably rapidly turning into something slightly above the family friendly ratings, but she couldn’t find it within her to care, not even in the slightest, especially when Hak’s tongue flicked against her own, the reminder of just what more he was capable of doing to her causing her thighs to clench together.  He pulled back, breathless, pupils dilated beneath heavy lids and it took everything within her to not crawl her way into his lap and pick up right where they left off, indecent or not.  A throat cleared above them and she squeaked, putting a little more distance between them as Hak merely dropped his head a little in resignation.  Jae Ha’s tone was slightly hoarse, his eyes positively sparkling beneath the twinkle lights hanging above them. “Well,” he murmured as he lifted his own styrofoam cup up to his mouth, the steam curling around the amused quirk of his lips. “That was quite something.”  Hak growled lowly, a rather colorful curse under his graveled breath as Yona pressed her lips together. Apparently, he does not like to be interrupted.    “Where were you, anyway?” Hak asked sharply as he loosened the laces upon Yona’s skates for her, intervening after having changed back into his own shoes while she was still struggling to get hers off.  Jae Ha tilted his head back, finished his beverage and failing to see the way that Yona’s eyes became glued to the bobbing of his Adam’s apple. “Oh- I got held up at the concession stand...it seems that we have a few admirers.”  Hak pulled one skate free from Yona’s foot before raising a brow slightly at his roommate’s tone. “Haaah?”  Jae Ha merely turned his enough to glance over his shoulder, Yona and Hak both following his gaze over to where the gaggle of rather tenacious girls had gathered once again, Yona’s expression falling somewhat as she turned around to face forward once more. Persistent little things, they were.  Jae Ha lifted his empty cup at them in some form of a mock salutation before tossing it into the trash, noticing the way that Yona frowned at her lap as Hak returned to his task. The dark-haired man was completely uninterested in the strangers continuing to giggle and whisper amongst themselves, but something in Yona’s expression had him quirking an eyebrow.  Hmmm. Interesting. He hated seeing her like that, looking so small and self conscious. She had absolutely nothing to worry about in the slightest, but this thing that they’d opted to do was still in its early development, and in time she would learn that she could trust the two men beside her completely. For now, though, perhaps the situation called for some divine intervention?  Jae Ha rolled his shoulders before sliding onto the bench beside Yona, glancing discreetly over his shoulder to be sure that they still had their audience, otherwise it wouldn’t be nearly as fun. He brushed Yona’s hair over her shoulder gently, fingertips dusting against the pale skin of her neck and succeeding in gaining her attention.  Gem toned eyes blinked at him as she turned her head, but before she could greet or question him, he took the opportunity to catch her off guard. He leaned down to steal his second kiss of the night, keeping it short and sweet, teasing, even. It pleased him immensely to see her dazed expression leaning forward as he pulled back, trying to chase after him for more and he gladly would have given her what she wanted, but he had his sights on something else this time around, something that needed to be claimed, to show other parties that what they wanted simply wasn’t available.  Hak had stopped what he was doing in order to watch the two engage in their affections, probably unaware that he was even doing it. Jae Ha noted the curiosity reflecting up at him, not disgust or annoyance over the liberties that he was taking with their female companion. Interesting. This pleased him, too, because it meant that what he was going to do next probably wouldn’t get him in as much trouble as he was thinking.  Hak’s eyes widened slightly and he stiffened as Jae Ha leaned down, his lips pressing to his own in a kiss meant to clear away any misunderstandings that could still be lingering to any passers by. Jae Ha’s fingertips touched Hak’s strong jaw in a light caress before he pulled away, noting that the dazed blue blinking up at him was gaining clarity with startling speed, Hak’s brow only slightly furrowed as the architect took Yona’s skates from his now lax hold.  “I’ll go and take these back,” Jae Ha stated as he stood, three sets of skates in his hands and two sets of slightly widened eyes upon him. “Be right back.”  With that he walked around the back of the bench, locking eyes with the small group of slightly shell-shocked girls, offering them a small wave of his hand and a playful smile as he made to return their skates. Let them chew on that.  Their stunned silence was worth it.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Yona winced, her face scrunching up slightly as Hak’s hands gently rubbed along her tender feet. He shot her a look that spoke volumes of his disbelief in her sensitivity, his thumbs running along the pink and white polka-dotted socks, the fabric separating the pads of his fingers from the arches of her feet.   She was about to grumble like the brat that she used to be, to insist that he feel at least a little sorry for her, but sighed in appreciation instead as he changed direction, her small form hunkering down even further against the arm of the couch while simultaneously burrowing deeper into the depths of one of his hooded sweatshirts, her feet in his lap while he tried his best to work the discomfort out of her aching toes.  This was the life. It was a shame that the night would have to end eventually.  Yona leaned her head to the left, her cheek pressing against the soft cushions of the couch. Jae Ha had dimmed all of the lights, setting their apartment in a warm and shadowed hue that had left her feeling utterly relaxed and welcomed. Her stomach was still full from the delicious meal that the two men had prepared for her and the term “spoiled” briefly came to mind, but she shoved it aside and refused to feel guilty. If those two wanted to cook for her and let her raid their closets for comfortable clothes to steal, then who was she to deny them? Life was too short to not indulge.  The carb overload from dinner made her eyelids heavy, not to mention how exhausted her body was from their earlier activities at the skating rink. The atmosphere was just so soothing, so laid-back and effortless. Why had she been anxious earlier? She couldn’t remember....  It was nice, she thought as she allowed her eyelids to droop a bit, the background noise of the travel show that Jae Ha had selected a few minutes ago droning on in the background. Their apartment was so warm, she’d thought as she allowed her muscles to relax a little more, Hak’s hands continuing to massage along her sore heels. She watched through a drowsy daze as Hak turned his head to the left to speak to his roommate, who had just asked him something that she couldn’t make out, because she was far too busy drifting off to pay attention to their words.      Jae Ha stretched his arms over his head, tilting his head back before rolling his shoulders. His neck was stiff from having nodded off against the couch earlier, but he hadn’t been able to help it. It had been a long week at the firm that had ended with a nice evening, something that he’d gone a while without having (one that he hadn’t even realized that he’d needed). He hadn’t had an evening like this since college, when the living room had been filled with his fraternity bothers and sister, all loud and hectic while arguing over whose turn it was to vacuum, and wondering where the tv remote had disappeared to.
  Huh. He hadn’t thought about those days in awhile. 
  Closing his closet door, he paused as he heard Hak’s low tone coming from the living room, no doubt having roused Yona from her slumber at last and preparing to take her home. He would surely be asking Jae Ha for his car keys at any moment, probably wanting to drive the redhead home himself in order to have some time alone with her.  Jae Ha couldn’t blame him, but a small and rather petty part of him couldn’t fight against the image of him holding his keys above his head, taunting Hak in a sing-song voice, insisting that he’d have to kiss him in order to get what he waaaaanted.  He frowned somewhat petulantly at the more realistic thought that followed: Hak punching him in the gut and snatching the keys out of his grip before whistling as he walked away, Jae Ha doubled over in crumpled heap upon the ground.   He sighed. Reality could be so cruel.  Snatching his dark grey joggers off of the leather armchair beside his bed, he rubbed at his sore neck once more. Something was nagging at him, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He kept getting this strange urge to go back out into the living room, to talk to them, to drag the night on even though fatigue pulled at him. What was this odd little sensation nibbling away at him when he should be getting ready for sleep? He settled the cotton waistband low along his hips as he stood, running his fingers through his shorter hair in some small form of agitation.  He wished Yona would stay.   Ugh- this wasn’t like him. He didn’t yearn for mushy things like this! Even if she did spend the night, though, there was a fairly strong chance that she’d be sleeping in a completely different room, in someone else’s arms. But that was the plan, right? Those two being together was the endgame.   Jae Ha shook himself out of his weird little pity party and yawned as he pulled the soft black cotton t-shirt over his head, his mind thinking strange thoughts that he’d never had before. Why did he care if she stayed over or not? Usually he was busy trying to get his bedmates to leave, or already dressing himself to head home. He didn’t want strings, anyway. He was only along for the ride, just here for the fun with none of the responsibilities of monogamy. This was what he wanted.  Hmmm... How did one subtly go about asking someone to stay...?  Pulling back the covers, he pondered over the foreign place that he'd found himself in, vulnerable and strangely needy. He wasn’t used to this, he thought as he sat down on the edge of his bed, reaching over for his charging cable and plugging his phone in before setting it upon his night stand somewhat glumly. He arched his back a little, tilted his head to the side in thought. His fingertips brushed along the scars at his wrist as he paused, mulling over the gloomy little cloud that was forming in his chest. He needed to sleep this off before it grew into a regular thing.  Approaching footsteps alerted him, reminded him of the fact that what he didn’t want to happen was about to transpire, his shoulders sagging slightly as he cleared his throat, about to inform Hak that his keys were on the dresser beside his wallet-  When the mattress dipped behind him instead, Jae Ha turning to glance over his shoulder in question. His mouth fell open slightly, dumbfounded, his face morphing into a slightly shocked expression as an incredibly sleepy looking Yona slid across his sheets, scooting towards the center of his bed in one of Hak’s black over-sized t-shirts.   She fluffed one of Jae Ha’s pillows before allowing her head to flop down upon it with a hearty sigh, snuggling into it and closing her eyes.  Jae Ha blinked, frozen as he watched her burrow even further under his covers. He’d teased her plenty in the past about joining him in his bed, never actually expecting her to take him up on his offer, even though they were technically dating now.  Wait... were they technically dating? Had they actually had that conversation? Wasn’t this just casual between them?  Put a pin in that and save it for later. He had other things to focus on at the moment.  Things like a dozing Yona making herself at home in his sheets. His past self would probably nudge him in the ribs and goad him on, urge him to change the atmosphere somehow and have a little fun, but to even attempt to do so somehow seemed so wrong.  When was the last time he’d even had someone in his bed? Had he ever had someone in this bed?  He was in the process of turning around to shake her shoulder softly and whisper to her, to tell her that she was in the wrong place, that Hak’s room was across the hall-  When Hak appeared in the doorway, the corners of his lips frothy with toothpaste, his toothbrush in his hand as he managed to ask his roommate around a mouthful of minty foam if he’d seen the spare charging cable so that he could plug in Yona’s phone?  It took him longer than he cared to admit, but Jae Ha finally processed his question and murmured that he thought he’d seen it somewhere in the kitchen, Hak nodding his understanding before turning to head back into the shadowed hallway. Yona sighed softly, pulling Jae Ha’s attention back down towards the fiery red strands spread out along his pillow. She looked perfect, so at home amongst his things.  Wait- what?  His hand covered his mouth as she moved even closer to him, her fingers curling into a darling little fist beside her face. She wiggled that much closer to him, probably seeking out his body heat subconsciously. He watched her, captivated by her innocence, wondering if she was even aware of what she was doing to his poor heart?  Hak came in a few minutes later, the white cable of their spare cord dangling from his hand as he yawned, bare chested and looking ridiculously good in the navy-blue sleep pants that were slung low upon his chiseled hips.  Jae Ha’s breath hitched slightly as he watched his roommate, his friend (potential boyfriend?) lean over to plug the cord into an empty outlet, the muscles in his abdomen working as he stood and stretched.  What was happening? How did the evening go from such a light-hearted atmosphere to him being the one that was uncomfortable? Dishing out a hearty dose of jesting and watching others squirm good-naturedly was his expertise, not receiving unintentional teasing while having his own boundaries pushed. He wasn’t used to any of this and they were behaving as if nothing was abnormal!  Hak, much to the architect’s surprise, simply joined them in bed, turning onto his side and molding his front to Yona’s small back, spooning her in a position that reeked of intimacy. It made Jae Ha pause, left him feeling as though he was intruding on some private moment, despite the fact that this was all transpiring in his room.  “You turnin’ off the light or what?” Hak mumbled against the crown of Yona’s head, his eyes closed and entire form looking far more relaxed than Jae Ha had seen in a very long time.   He nodded despite the fact that neither of them could see him, his arm reaching out and fingers feeling numb and useless as he rolled the knob on his lamp in between his thumb and forefinger. The resounding click echoed in the silence as darkness descended upon all three of them. Jae Ha willed his body to calm down, unsure as to why he was fighting against the flee to leave and sleep anywhere but here.   Yona’s hand, so very small and incredibly warm, brushed against the bare skin of his arm, startling him. She wrapped her dainty fingers around a scarred wrist and pulled, urging him to lie down beside her. His pulse had to be thundering against her fingertips because he could hear it pounding in his ears as he settled himself, tried to situate his stiff frame into a comfortable position, giving her his back so that she couldn’t see the vulnerability upon his face.  Her arm draped itself over his waist to include him, his brow furrowing slightly as he closed his eyes.  This was weird.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Clang.  The sleep that had been leaving him slowly was snapped away in an instant, Hak lifting his head up off of the pillow in order to squint in confusion and annoyance against the bright morning light dappling the wall of Jae Ha’s bedroom. He turned his head toward the door in alarm before groaning loud and low. Voices from the kitchen were muffled by distance and walls, but they were still there, loud and obnoxious.  Hak dropped his head heavily back down against the soft feathered pillow beneath him, closing his eyes and pulling the sheet high up over his head. Didn’t anyone believe in the sanctity of sleeping in on a Saturday morning every once in awhile? God- what fucking time was it, anyway?  His eyes opened slowly to take in the vast emptiness of the mattress before him, feeling slighted at having been left all alone before inhaling slow and deep. He could smell Yona, soft and feminine and so incredibly familiar, the nostalgia so comforting and soothing. The only thing that could make the situation better would be if she were here, close enough for him to haul her up against his chest and bury his nose against the nape of her neck.
  Beneath the uniquely subtle scent that was so uniquely Yona came hints of vetiver, earthy and green, lightly sweet with a hint of leather. Hak breathed deeply, Jae Ha's scent soothing something in the depths of his psyche that he wasn't quite ready to dissect.
  He grumbled as Jae Ha’s muffled tone greeted his ears at last, along with Yona’s matching laughter, pulling his lips into a small smile and causing his chest to twinge slightly with want. He’d have to work on getting her to relax the mornings away; Jae Ha too, for that matter. The both of them tended to be morning people and for two totally different reasons, the jerks.  With the realization that he was now as awake as he was ever going to be, Hak pushed the sheets off of him with a groan, feet kicking away the warm cocoon that he’d been encased in. He stretched and yawned before sitting up and swinging his legs over the edge of the mattress, scrubbing a hand over his face as he stood and padded softly over to the door. The scent of coffee was a heavenly beacon, the aroma pulling at him as he ran his hands through his sleep-tousled strands on his way to the bathroom.  Coming into the kitchen a few minutes later, Hak paused in the entrance, blinking at the sight of Yona at the stove, spatula in hand and eyes intently focused upon the pan in front of her. Jae Ha stood behind her, one hand dwarfing hers and guiding her movements as she attempted to scoop the pancake up in order to flip it over. He murmured teasing little encouragements to her, snickering at her huff and blushing cheeks, her petulant tone whining at him to stop teasing her as he lifted his coffee mug up to his lips in reply.  They looked good together, Hak noted as he watched them silently for a few more seconds, fingertips brushing against the scar upon his chest. It wasn’t a bad thought, just an observation.  “Well, good morning, sleeping beauty!”  His roommate was a real morning ruiner. Hak brushed past them both on his way to the coffee pot, grunting his acknowledgement at Jae Ha’s bright greeting somewhat grouchily.  “Did you sleep okay?” Inquired Yona as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her jaw smudged with flour and brows pinched together rather adorably.  Hak roved his gaze over her and shook his head a little, eyes returning to his mug as he noticed the smudges of white upon his t-shirt that she was still wearing, the hem grazing along her pale thighs, her bare feet and legs causing his heartbeat to pulse a little too fast for his liking. Christ, it was too early for this.  He cleared his throat as he spooned a small heap of sugar into his mug. “Meh. Wish I’d gotten a little more,” he grumbled as he shot an irritated glare at Jae Ha, who smiled far too innocently for his liking. “You guys are noisy.”  Yona looked genuinely contrite as she turned her head towards him, looking so small caged in between Jae Ha’s arms. “Oh- I’m sorry, Hak,” she pushed her arm back in order to elbow Jae Ha in the stomach, head tilting up and back to frown at him as the architect coughed a little and tugged upon one of the strands of her hair in his attempt to get her to pay attention to her cooking. “I told you we should’ve waited until he was up!”  Jae Ha assisted her in moving the cooked pancakes over onto the plate beside the stove, his voice playful as he spoke. “Yes, but if we waited for Hak to rise up out of his weekend coma, it’d be noon before we ate!”  Hak glowered at his roommate sourly, Jae Ha’s grin poking at his irritation as he watched the architect help Yona spoon more batter into the pan, winking at Hak over his shoulder as the dark-haired coach plopped himself down onto a stool at the counter. He lifted his coffee up to his lips and hoped that the caffeine took affect quickly, because he was gonna shove his roommate out of the way and take his place if he didn’t watch himself.     Hak scowled down at the screen of his phone, annoyed at the world and pissed off at his work for having the nerve to call him in on one of his rare Saturdays off, his grip upon his mug tightening as he stomped down the hall towards the bathroom. He rarely had free time these days, with the tournament coming up and his scheduling being jam-packed. Not only that, but he’d been looking forward to spending time with Yona, to perhaps having her stay over all weekend.   Nothing annoyed him more than having to adjust his plans when he didn’t want to.  He poked his head in through the doorway and was greeted with the picture of both Yona and Jae Ha standing at the sink, the redhead using what looked like Hak’s toothbrush as his roommate’s fingers tangled themselves in her messy strands, pulling them up into a high ponytail for her, hair tie dangling from in between his teeth as he worked. Jae Ha's past experience with long hair was coming in handy, it appeared.  It was so incredibly domestic that Hak found himself feeling oddly left out, jealous, even. He shook the notion free from his mind as Yona turned her head in order to blink at him somewhat owlishly, foam gathered around the corners of her lips and expression blank as she stared at him.  Oh, right- he should probably say something instead of continuing to stare at them like a weirdo. Hak cleared his throat and watched her bend over to rinse out her mouth, Jae Ha’s grip continuing to hold onto his hard work as his hand merely followed her movements. “I have to go into work for a while,” he said as he scratched at the back of his head idly. He couldn’t describe the weird feeling clouding up in his chest as Yona frowned at him, disappointment heavy upon her features. “Shouldn’t be gone more than a few hours.”  Jae Ha slid his gaze sideways at him, his free hand turning Yona’s head back towards the mirror, urging her to face their reflections so that her hairstyle would be straight. He finally pulled the black band free from his mouth in order to wrap it around Yona’s strands and secure them tightly as he spoke, “Anything wrong?”  Hak shook his head before pocketing his phone, “Not really- just have to help get a few things straightened out, that’s all. Apparently, it couldn’t fucking wait until Monday.”  Yona’s eyes widened slightly over his language but she didn’t comment on it, just ran a few fingers through her bangs distractedly as Jae Ha leaned around her in order to rifle through the cabinet to the left. “I’m sure they tried to do their best so that they wouldn’t have to disturb you...”  Hak shrugged a shoulder before stepping into the space, propping a hip against the sink and effectively sandwiching her in between he and Jae Ha, feeling a smirk tug at his lips as she squeaked with the realization that she had no where to go. He leaned his head down toward her, eyes locked onto her wide ones as he lowered his tone and asked softly, “See you later?”  Yona nodded, gaze breaking away to stare at his shirt, fingertips reaching out to trace the lettering stretched across his chest while feeling strangely sad, for some reason. She wasn’t alone and Hak wasn’t deserting her- so why was she suddenly feeling so vulnerable?  His lips brushed against her forehead, gentle and warm before sliding down to her temple, the kiss he planted against her skin feeling incredibly intimate, despite its simplicity and their setting. His fingertips grazed along her skin as nuzzled his nose along her brow, his breath sweeping across her face as he whispered a goodbye to her.  He straightened up and headed towards the door, only pausing at Jae Ha’s mock offended tone, calling out to him in jest and asking where his goodbye was?  Yona was fairly certain that the dark haired man was just going to ignore his roommate, but was shocked into stunned silence when Hak turned on his heel and headed straight for them, hand shooting out to land upon the back of Jae Ha’s neck and pull him closer, his lips pecking against Jae Ha’s stunned ones in a chaste kiss.  Jae Ha’s eyes were wide and expression completely dumbfounded, Yona merely staring in disbelief as Hak grumbled a goodbye to them both, the back of his neck flushed a soft pink as he headed out the door once more.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Yona tapped her foot in impatience and grit her teeth, her jaw straining from the effort of holding herself together in the high-end men’s boutique. She was swimming in a sea of plain and overpriced cotton t-shirts.   The morning had started out with such promise, too; slow and lazy, with nowhere pressing to be and nothing to do but wait for Hak to come back from whatever emergent things had pulled him away from them in the first place.  Jae Ha always had a way of changing things, though.  She’d been minding her own business, having just finished redressing in the previous evening’s clothing and sitting upon the edge of Hak’s bed to pull on her socks, when the architect had poked his head around the door frame and asked her if she wouldn’t mind running a few errands with him?  She’d shrugged her shoulders and chirped out an agreement, all the while thinking that it would be nice to have the company instead of just hanging around and waiting for Hak to come back. He’d called out to her from the hallway and asked if she’d wanted to swing by her apartment while they were out so that she could change her clothes and she couldn’t help but think of how thoughtful he truly was.  Mistake number one.     There was always an ulterior motive with Jae Ha and time away from him and their days together at school had allowed this little fact to slip away from her, to be forgotten and cast aside as they’d pulled up to the front of her apartment building in the cold, late morning air.   Little did she know that it would shortly all come screaming back to her.  Yona made to unbuckle her seat belt and gather her purse, head bent to the task as she informed Jae Ha that she would be right back after she’d grabbed a few quick things, but the sight of him exiting his vehicle out of the corner of her eye had her momentarily frozen.  Uh, what?  The question poised upon the tip of her tongue had been answered by the opening of her own door, her head whipping to the right in surprise as the tall (and ridiculously good-looking) young man ducked down in order to smirk rather playfully at her, obviously pleased at having been able to catch her off guard.  “Coming?” He’d innocently inquired with an outstretched hand, assisting her out of his car and slamming the door behind her with a small smile.  Oh! He just wanted to come into her apartment with her. That was fine, she'd reasoned while silently fretting and trying to recall if she'd tidied up her place before she'd left.  He’d stuck rather close to her as they’d ascended the stairs, her building much older than theirs and lacking an elevator, something that he’d noted as they’d finally reached her floor.  “Yeah,” she’d laughed as they’d made their way down the hall to her door, the architect standing silent and patient behind her as his eyes drank in the details of the building’s trim work and antique heavy cast iron doorknobs while she fumbled with her keys. “It’s not modern by any means, but you sacrifice a few things for decent rent.”  “I'll bet.” Warmth curled around her ear, a rather sensual and playful voice purring along the delicate shell as Jae Ha’s low tone hummed his response to her, his lips brushing along the sensitive skin as she shivered. In the short time that they’d been something of an item, Yona had quickly discovered that the man somehow knew all of her body’s weaknesses, even the ones that she wasn’t aware of. He knew just where to touch her to send her pulse fluttering and just how much pressure to exert in order to tease her. It just wasn’t fair!  Yona’s grip upon her keys slackened as Jae Ha’s lips brushed against the sensitive skin of her jaw, her neck exposed thanks to his handiwork with her hair earlier. He seemed to be taking advantage of it, too. His lips dragged along the little spot behind her ear that he’d first discovered on their very first time time together and she gasped lightly, goosebumps erupting along her skin.  His hands brushed along her shoulders, branding her through the layers and ghosting down her arms before resting upon her wrists as his nose nuzzled along her pulse point, her breath huffing out in a soft exhale as he murmured things to her, incoherent things that she couldn’t really pay attention to, because his front was pressing into her back and memories of his body against hers was wrecking havoc upon her senses as his right hand settled over hers.  Her eyelashes fluttered against her cheek as she bit her lip, giving into the idea of letting him do whatever he wanted to her out here for everyone and anyone to see, damn the repercussions. How did have this effect on her?   Jae Ha’s fingers guided hers, successfully flipping back the deadbolt before pulling her keys free from the lock and depositing them into her coat pocket as he pulled away from her.   Wait- what just happened? Why did he stop?  Dazed and disoriented, Yona blinked slowly and watched as Jae Ha walked past her, shamelessly allowing himself entrance into her apartment and looking so amazingly composed as he turned around to face her, a hint of smugness pulling up the corners of his mouth at her expression as he leaned against her door, looking like he owned the place.  “Coming?”     Shameless was an understatement.  Jae Ha didn’t know the meaning of the word boundaries and had taken it upon himself to rummage through her things while she’d been busy looking for her weekend bag in her closet.  What a task. She’d been on her hands and knees, tossing aside shoes and vowing out loud to herself to have better organizational skills so that this type of thing wouldn’t happen again, when the architect had commended her for her creative use of limited space in the old building, claiming that she’d thought of ways to store things that others most certainly wouldn’t have.  She’d beamed at his praise, tossing aside the sneaker that she’d been looking for a few weeks ago when Lili had asked her to the gym. It was oddly domestic, she’d noted, having him in her home. She’d even told him so, too, blushing a little as he’d cooed at her and told her how adorable she was. They’d been conversing so casually all the while, too; she’d been so blissfully and completely unaware of the fact that one of her boyfriends (gah!) was plucking through her panties and frowning with disappointment over the lack of variety that he’d no doubt been hoping to be presented with.  She’d just blown her bangs out of her eyes and turned around, triumphant smile over having located the bag being completely wiped away at the sight of Jae Ha being elbow deep in her underwear drawer.   He’d ignored her as she’d squawked and shrieked at him, scrambling to her feet and throwing her pillows and stuffed animals at his head, getting nowhere as he’d held up one of her bras with all of the clinical observation that one would normally reserve for picking out a new shampoo. He’d tossed it over his shoulder without so much as a backwards glance, his lips pulled into a thin line of displeasure as he continued to paw through her things.   She’d just lifted her rather heavy feather pillow up over her head in order to strike him more accurately, when he’d asked her rather nonchalantly where she’d put that ‘lacy little black number that she’d gotten for her birthday?’  Yona had frozen, eyes no doubt resembling a deer’s in the headlights of an oncoming truck as Jae Ha had continued to hold up her delicates for his scrutiny. She could feel the color draining from her face at the memory of unwrapping the lingerie in front of her girlfriends in the restaurant, mortified and fighting the urge not to scream while sputtering out her thanks to Tetora, who had been smiling so sweetly at her from across the table. How had he known about the rather inappropriate gift that the blonde had given her, which was currently stuffed in the back of the drawer that he was rifling through, price tags surely still on it and everything?  She’d no sooner gotten the question out when he’d raised a brow at her over his shoulder, long fingers slowly pulling the offensive garment free from the darkened space as he’d scoffed, asking her who exactly she’d thought had picked it out in the first place?

As if the humiliation at her apartment hadn’t been enough, her cup had been refilled at the next stop.  Yona had sulked behind him at the drugstore, incredibly displeased and feeling thoroughly violated as the architect tossed toiletries into the plastic shopping basket on his arm, occasionally calling out to her over his shoulder and asking if she had any type of preference on toothpaste or hairspray to keep at their place?  She’d pouted and mumbled her responses to him, finally coming to terms with the fact that the man had absolutely no intention of apologizing for his earlier behavior, probably unaware that what he’d done was inappropriate at all, the heathen.  She’d followed him from aisle to aisle rather mindlessly, shuffling her feet and pressing her hands to her face to keep herself from groaning at the memory of him holding up one of the few rather risqué pieces that she owned with a rather proud and surprised smirk upon his features, teasing her as she’d snatched the black unmentionables out of his grip and stomped off to the bathroom to retrieve a hairbrush and a few extra hair ties.  Was there no end to her humiliation?  Apparently not, because unbeknownst to her, they’d just turned the corner of the aisle that held countless contraceptives and about fifteen different types of lube, and before she could realize her mistake, Jae Ha had casually turned around to inquire rather loudly as to whether or not she was on ‘the pill’ or if she had an IUD?  Yona’s mouth had dropped open, her face surely painted in what could only be described as a vivid shade of crimson horror as an elderly woman shook her head at them in distaste in passing, a mother doing the same and tugging her young daughter along with her in the process.  Jae Ha had lazily turned around to face her at her silence, completely unaware and uncaring of the other patrons of the store, his expression genuinely curious and holding no teasing whatsoever as he asked her if she had a specific brand of condom that worked better for her? Should he pick some up while they were here? Did she have a latex allergy?  “Where are you going,” he’d called out to her as she’d promptly turned on her heel and hurried off, popping up the collar of her coat in a feeble attempt to engage in the art of disappearance and praying that she could manage to avoid this particular drug store for the next thirty or so years. He’d continued to follow her, oblivious to her embarrassment and his tone only growing louder as he’d called out after her, “Was that a yes or a no on the condoms?”      Today would be nothing more than a horrific memory to file away under the folder in her mind labeled NEVER AGAIN. That file was getting pretty thick, too.  Yona crossed her arms and shuffled, shifting her weight from foot to foot as she slowly meandered through the pretentious space, feeling about as wanted as a disease as one of the stuffy salesclerk continued to keep a watch on her out of the corner of his eyes, probably making sure that she didn’t touch the cashmere, she thought with a wrinkle of her nose and the rolling of her eyes. People like him and places like this always made her feel like a child masquerading around in an adult’s body, so very small and anxious. The fact that she used to be someone that wore designer brand clothes such as these left her feeling like a gigantic hypocrite.  She was about five seconds away from ditching the place and calling for a cab, when she finally located Jae Ha near the back of the store, standing before a table piled high with thick cable-knitted sweaters, the kind that Hak usually said belonged on an old man sitting on a fishing boat somewhere, holding up an oatmeal colored one and tilting his head at it.   He sensed her approach and turned to face her with a bright expression, holding up the garment and asking her what she thought of it?  “It’s nice,” she mumbled, eager to urge him along in his decision making process before he could pull some embarrassing stunt here and get them banned for life (not that she had any intention of ever returning). “But I think you’d probably look better in the blue.”  Jae Ha blinked at her, having lowered the sweater a little in his confusion. “Ah-“ he shook his head a little and smiled at her softly. “Oh, this isn’t for me, dear! It’s for Hak!”  Yona snorted, covering her mouth with the back of her hand to stifle her laughter at what had to be one of Jae Ha’s jokes, the image of Hak wearing something with a cowl neck pulling forth more giggles from her shaking frame. Yona straightened up slightly and wiped away the moisture from her eyes, finally looking back at the architect and feeling her previous merriment sliding away from her features as the seconds ticked by.  Silence finally settled between them and Yona blinked at him incredulously while Jae Ha merely tilted his head at her.   “Wait-“ she turned to glance at the mannequin balanced atop a stack of metal crates in the center of the table, which was wearing far more scarves than any one thing or person had any right to be. “Are you serious?” Oh, wow. The man was serious!   “Of course,” Jae Ha said as the redhead snatched the sweater out of his grasp, the tall man turning towards a display of cardigans instead and completely missing the way that her eyes bugged at the sight of the price tag, her fingers dropping the garment as if it had burned her. “If I’m going to be associated with him and labeled as one of his significant others, then he needs to step up his game a little.”  Yona stepped back and away from the cashmere, wiping her hands off on her coat and praying that she didn’t somehow taint the expensive fabric before chasing after Jae Ha. “What are you-? The man wears hoodies and jeans, for god’s sake!”  “Oh-“ Jae Ha’s features brightened as he turned, heading for the wall cubbies that housed dark denim folded in pristine little stacks. “That reminds me-“  Yona sighed and took off after him, pausing long enough to scrunch her nose a little at another oddly dressed mannequin. Did the architect really think that he’d be able to get his roommate to wear a wool knit cap? God, she hoped not.  Jae Ha draped two pairs of pants (both denim) over his arm before making his way over to a rack holding crisp cotton that probably cost more than her furniture. He asked which color and Yona picked out the sky blue one, obviously the correct choice because Jae Ha smiled and commended her on her taste.  When asked once more why he was buying his roommate new clothing, Jae Ha grunted lightly as he placed all of his purchases onto the counter for the clerk to ring up. “Yona,” he muttered as he turned toward her, leaning against the counter with all of the grace of a model. “Dressing that man is going to be one of the best parts of this whole arrangement! Now that Hak’s in a relationship, it’s up to us to finally fix his wardrobe and turn him into something that we can be seen with in public.”  Yona frowned at him, fishing her mittens out of her pockets and tugging them on as the stuffy clerk wrapped the clothing in tissue paper. “There’s nothing wrong with the way Hak dresses,” she grumbled at him.   Jae Ha arched a brow at her before reaching out to tuck one of the longer pieces of her bangs behind her ear tenderly. “Tell me you haven’t fantasized what that man’s ass would look like in a suit?”  Yona’s eyes widened for a split second over Jae Ha’s language, her eyes beginning to glaze over slightly as her mind wandered, finally landing upon the possibility of seeing Hak in something so fitted. She wondered if there would ever be a time or opportunity for the built man to be draped in formal wear and pressed her lips together at Jae Ha’s smug smile, his chuckle of amusement over her blush following after her as she brushed past him, informing him that she’d be outside.  She didn’t even want to know how he knew Hak’s pants size.    “Maybe we should shop for you next time,” he teased rather brightly as he fastened his seat belt, the boxes containing Hak’s new clothes resting against the leather of the backseat as Jae Ha pressed the button for the ignition.  Yona stared at him at first, completely lost as to what he could possibly mean, when the waggling of his eyebrows filled in the blanks for her, her lips parting and mouth opening in a protest-  Jae Ha’s fingers turned up the radio in order to drown her out, winking rather cheekily at her as she crossed her arms over her chest and slumped back against the seat with a ‘harrumph’ of defeat.  She was absolutely drained and it wasn’t even noon yet.      Yona shucked off her coat and allowed Jae Ha to hang it up for her, thanking him as she began to toe off her shoes by the door, right next to her overnight bag. She frowned and braced her hands against the exposed brick in order to keep her balance, watching the architect carry his purchases into his roommate’s bedroom and praying to any being above that she’d be here to see the look on Hak’s face when he saw what Jae Ha had done. Whatever response the coach would give would serve Jae Ha right, she thought as she wiggled her toes. He deserved it after all of the things that he’d put her through today.  She settled herself at the kitchen island with a heavy sigh and leaned forward, her forehead pressing against the cool surface and feeling nice against her skin. Where did Jae Ha find all of his energy and how could she steal some of it? She could feel her shoulders sagging and relaxing in the silence, allowing her thoughts to drift as she wondered when Hak would come back, or if he’d meant that he would see her later tomorrow? Maybe she should have clarified with him before he’d taken off?   She was so new to all of this, though. The last thing that she wanted to do was come across as some kind of a needy little nag or to over stay her welcome. She’d never done this before and could only hope that she was at least on the right path. Knowing Hak nearly her entire life helped a little, but she still didn’t want to make him uncomfortable or tread somewhere that she shouldn’t. Ugh- why did she feel so vulnerable when it came to this?  “You never did answer me about the condom thing, by the way.”  Yona groaned and lifted her head up just enough to allow it to thunk back down against the solid surface, gritting her teeth against the teasing tone no doubt sauntering closer to her, its owner having a good laugh at her expense. “Could you not?”  Jae Ha came around the edge of the counter, leaning his lower back against the edge right next to her with a huff of laughter, resting his weight back upon his elbows with relaxed ease. “Why? We’re both adults, here. Why does it embarrass you so much?”  Yona turned her head slightly in order to frown at him, brows drawn down into a slight crease as she swallowed her irritation at him. She wanted to scold him and insist that he leave her alone, but why? Why was she so embarrassed? If they were going to be in an intimate relationship with one another, this was something that really should be discussed. If anything, it was incredibly responsible and respectful of him to take care of her in such a way. Logic stated that he was right; there really wasn’t anything to be shy about, seeing as how he’d seen her naked and she’d had him in her mouth!   Ugh- now was not the time for her perverted memory to make an appearance!  At her slight grimace and the gentle dusting of pink across the bridge of her nose, Jae Ha chuckled softly, tilting his head back towards the ceiling in order to give her a break and allowing his eyes to travel along one of the exposed beams above him. “Oh, Yona... You are quite possibly the most precious thing that I have ever seen,” he murmured to her in a tone dripping with tenderness, his care for her apparent in the warmth of his voice. He wasn’t patronizing her in the slightest, and it was this realization that gave her enough courage to nudge forward.  “Pill.”  Jae Ha blinked before turning his head back towards her, where she was staring blankly down at the sealed concrete countertop before her once again. Her neck was flushed and it was apparent that she had summoned most of her courage for this, but he just couldn’t resist teasing her that little bit more. He tilted his head at her slightly, leaning down towards her as he asked, “Beg pardon?”  Yona frowned somewhat petulantly at him out of the corner of her eye for daring to make her repeat herself, the jerk. She grumbled, “ ‘M on the pill.”  Jae Ha smiled softly at her for a moment, drinking in the sight of her flustered slight fidgeting upon the stool before twisting and angling his body slightly, his right hand reaching out in order to smooth his palm along her small spine comfortingly. “There- that wasn’t so hard now, was it?”  She grumbled at him again and he laughed, fingertips pressing into the muscles on either side of her tensing spine, watching her melt beneath his touch with a smile.     Yona held the handles of her bag in her hands tightly as she approached Hak’s room, tentative and shy as she chewed on her bottom lip in thought. Would Hak really be okay with her leaving some of her things here? Were they moving too fast in this whatever-this-was for his comfort? Usually this particular step happened a little later in a relationship, didn’t it?   They weren’t typical, though, she reminded herself as she shifted her weight and frowned at the floor. They were their own little thing, defining their own parameters and establishing their own comforts and rules. The thought helped to settle her unease a little, to calm her crazy thoughts as Jae Ha walked up behind her on his way to his own room.   He paused and blinked at her, “What’s wrong?”  “Hm?” Yona turned to him, amethyst eyes blinking up at him in question before a small smile graced her lips, shaking her head a bit and breathing out a laugh. “I was just wondering if it was really okay for me to leave a few things here, that’s all.”  So cute. He understood, though. This was a little tricky, wasn’t it? In other relationships, it was considered a fairly sizable step, or so he’d heard.   Well, he decided as he watched Yona frown a little, perhaps a little guidance was needed here. Fake it til you make it.  He placed his hands upon her dainty shoulders lightly, turning her towards Hak’s door and walking with her over the threshold. “Yona,” he murmured to her as they approached the bed, reaching around her in order to pry her bag out of her hands. “It’s really not that different. We’ve all lived together before, remember?”  “But-“  “Besides,” Jae Ha said in a lower and hushed tone, trying his best to be soothing when all he wanted to do was scoop her up and deposit her onto the mattress beside them. He dropped her bag onto the bed instead and cleared his throat a little. “I guarantee that Hak won’t mind, alright? He’s absolutely crazy about you, dear.”  Jewel toned eyes blinked up at him, filled with a bright innocence that pulled at him, tugged him closer and luring him into her orbit. She was so sweet and refreshing, incredibly pure and the epitome of light.   Maybe just a taste wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, right?  Yona’s lips parted slightly as he ducked his head down, the tip of his nose brushing against hers as his hooded eyes regarded her for a moment. Her eyelashes fluttered and he closed the small distance between them, her lips so soft and sweet against his.  Gods- it’d been years since he’d actually kissed anyone, he swore. She and Hak were the only ones that had been given the privilege in a very long time. Jae Ha regretted the lost time as Yona sighed softly, opening her mouth and titling her head ever so slightly. Her permission would be his undoing, he swore- but he couldn’t help it, not when she was so expressive and eager.   Her hands gripped the thin cotton of his white t-shirt and pulled, keeping him against her and trying to aid her in gaining leverage as she stood on tip-toes to meet him. She was very small, he noted as his hands landed upon her hips to steady her. He rubbed his thumbs along the dip in her waist and reveled in the small gasp that flowed into his mouth, his tongue flicking against her lower lip in both reply and the hope of drinking in more.  Her knees were shaking. Her brain was a muddled mess and all she focus on was the way that Jae Ha’s touch seemed to brand her through her clothes. How did he do it? How did he reduce her to such a quivering mess with just one kiss? One thorough kiss... one slow kiss...  He pulled apart just long enough to give her the chance to breathe before engaging in another, this one a little less intense than the last. She could tell that he was trying to end this before things got any further and the thought made her desperate to keep him here against her, her thighs clenching as she pulled on his shirt again.  Jae Ha huffed a laugh as he smiled into their kiss, sitting down upon the edge of the bed and pulling her into his lap with ease. She tried to straddle him, but his hands held her, kept her away from what would only be a shortcut into bad territory. Their lips parted and he laughed once more as her mouth fastened itself onto his neck, his head tilting to the side to give her more access before he could help himself. The little taste that he’d stolen was rapidly turning into a meal and he was having a little more difficulty in pushing away from the table.   He cleared his throat a little as he adjusted her, seated her upon his thigh and well out of harm’s way. He could feel himself hardening rapidly, his cock beginning to press into his rather constricting pants and he grimaced slightly, his hands shooting out to both steady her and keep her right where she was.  Yona squirmed in his lap, trying to get closer to him and reach more of his neck, but he was making it rather difficult. Why was he fighting her all of a sudden? Doubts and insecurities had her once eager movements slowing down as she realized that he was no longer reciprocating. Oh, god. Did he not want-?  “Yona,” his gruff tone spoke, the harshness of it igniting a fire in her belly. She’d never heard Jae Ha sound like that before and she wanted to hear it again. He huffed out a harsh laugh as her teeth nipped at the corner of his jaw. He groaned, “Ah- you’re making-“ he jerked his head away from her slightly and exhaled a breath. “You’re making it very hard for me to watch myself... I don’t - I don’t want to take too many liberties, here...”  Yona pulled back just enough to survey the red patches along his skin, places where her teeth had scraped and her mouth had suckled painting an incredibly arousing picture. Was that all? He was afraid that she wasn’t going to consent? God- and she thought she had trouble reading in between the lines.  “What if I want you to?” she murmured against his neck, ducking her head down to press her forehead into his shoulder, embarrassment over her actions beginning to worm its way into her once lust-clouded thoughts. She swallowed loudly and bit her now swollen lip, hoping that her voice didn’t sound as timid out loud as it just had in her head. “Jae Ha?”  Jae Ha groaned softly at the tone of her voice, the sound of his name upon her lips like that. He re-situated himself again, wrapping his arms around her and tucking her head beneath his chin. If he wasn’t careful, this tiny little woman would be capable of destroying him. “Yona,” he cleared his throat once more to rid it completely of its huskiness, shocked to find that his heart was actually still hammering inside of his chest over so little. “I can’t-“  The sound of the front door opening had the both of them freezing and for different reasons. Jae Ha leaned back and away from her, offering her a small and slightly strained smile as he lifted his hand and cupped her face, his thumb trailing along her jaw with reverence before leaning back to rest his weight upon his elbows.   Hak called out their names as Yona flailed slightly to keep her balance, Jae Ha’s hand coming up to brace her against her lower back, his gaze upon her still incredibly heated despite the relaxed pose that he was in.  Hak appeared in the doorway, keys still in his grip and hair slightly in disarray from the cold winds outside. “Hey,” he breathed slightly, bright blue eyes taking in the sight of the two of them upon his bed. “What’s goin’ on?”  Jae Ha smiled at him as Yona fidgeted in the architect’s lap, toes curling in her socks as Jae Ha purred, “We bought you something today,” before gesturing at the boxes resting on the floor beside his roommate’s closet.  Hak’s expression flattened slightly, his tone almost bored and bordering on hesitant as he asked, “It doesn’t vibrate, does it?”  Yona squeaked and flailed slightly for balance as Jae Ha fell back flat against the mattress, his laughter practically booming in the space as his hands came up to cover his eyes.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Yona bit into her lip to conceal the giggles that were threatening to spill free from between her lips at Hak’s disgruntled frown over his roommate’s reaction to his question. Jae Ha’s laughter was contagious and the longer that Hak continued to grouse and grumble at the pair, the harder it was for her to contain herself.  “Seriously-“ Hak took a few steps into his bedroom, running a hand through his hair in agitation. “It doesn’t, does it?”  Jae Ha’s hand landed heavily upon the small of Yona’s back again to steady her as he lifted himself up onto his elbows. His raucous laughter had died down to low chuckles as he attempted to catch his breath, eyes sparkling with merriment as the warmth of his palm bled through the layers of Yona’s clothing. He watched Hak’s eyes flash briefly to his chest before sliding down to observe the way that his abdominal muscles contorted and flexed beneath the thin cotton of his t-shirt.   Well, wasn’t that a nice consolation prize for having been interrupted?  Jae Ha lowered his lids ever-so-slightly, gifting his roommate with a sultry and teasing look as he purred, “Not this time, no.” Instead of elaborating, he tilted his head back towards the closet where the boutique bags rested.   Hak blinked in confusion before scoffing at the architect’s teasing response, allowing a “tch” of annoyance to leave his lips before rubbing his fingers along his tense shoulder. His gaze fell off to the side in the direction that Jae Ha had motioned towards, averting his face slightly in a vain attempt to hide the flush that was starting to creep along his neck. His gaze turned somewhat icy as it fell upon the packages, however, realizing just what his roommate had done in his absence.   Hak’s shoulders sagged slightly. “Tell me you didn’t throw anything away this time?”  Jae Ha sat up fully and allowed his hand to slide along Yona’s hip to settle upon her waist, only somewhat ashamed to admit that he was hiding behind her a bit, using her as a slight shield against the waves of irritation that were rolling off of Hak in his direction. He shrugged his shoulders mischievously while smiling innocently, the contradicting behaviors furthering to poke at Hak’s sour mood.   Yona patted Jae Ha’s hand upon her waist, lightly chastising him for teasing the coach so.   Jae Ha opened his mouth to retort, but a high-pitched and rather piercing ring sliced through the air, his smirk morphing into a slight grimace as recognition painted his features. With a sigh of disappointment, he gently lifted Yona to deposit her onto the mattress beside him, fingers digging into his pocket to fetch his phone before the ringtone caused his head to explode.   Hak had crouched down to observe the fancy packaging taunting him, one large finger pushing through the tissue paper to try to see the contents without actually having to open it; like a curious kid on Christmas Eve trying not to appear too eager.  Jae Ha stood and walked over towards him, his hand landing upon Hak’s head softly in order to allow his fingers to card through the soft black strands tenderly. “You should try on what Yona picked out,” he smirked at the curiously arched brow that Hak threw him over his shoulder in response. “Wear it tonight.” His thumb swiped across the device’s screen at last as he made his way towards the door, seeking out the quiet of the hallway.  Yona watched his back as he went, his posture so relaxed and yet confident as he pulled the door closed behind him softly. She frowned, brow furrowed in thought as his earlier words continued to pick away at her.   I can’t.  What exactly had he meant?     “You need to come to dinner tonight,” stated the familiar voice on the other line just as he lifted his phone up to his ear, the feminine tone all business and bordering on downright demanding.  Jae Ha leaned against the exposed brick of the wall opposite of Hak’s door, examining his nails with a lazy countenance as he murmured, “Well, hello to you, too. Are you asking me out on a date? It’s about time~”  Kouren’s sigh practically parted his hair through the receiver, sounding far more flustered than Jae Ha had ever known the woman to be capable of. She practically thrived on keeping herself together with the kind of polished precision that a marble statue would envy, so to hear her behaving so absurdly human at the moment was nothing short of morbidly fascinating. “Believe me, if it were up to me, I wouldn’t be asking.”  “Well, God knows I deserve one,” Jae Ha teased as he strolled leisurely towards the bathroom at the end of the hall. “I’m not cheap, after all.”  “Listen-“  “I mean,” he paused long enough to flick on the softer recessed lighting over the large soaking tub in the corner, illuminating the freestanding oval concrete monstrosity that Hak liked to use after a particularly grueling session. “How many would that even be now? At least six, if you think about it-“  “If you’re done being the obnoxious little shit that you are,” she hissed at him, seeming to have finally reached her limit. “You’d recall that I’m the Studio Leader and if you don’t want to be the firm’s little office bitch for the next three months, you’ll do what I ask with nothing more than a fucking smile on your face, got it?”  Jae Ha’s lips spread into a rather devious smile, his blood pumping through his veins at a delicious pace. Gods- he loved it when her voice took on that tone of authority. He tried to count back in his mind, to see just how long it had been since she’d used it on him last while rolling around between the sheets, when her growl of desperate anger reached through his hazy thoughts. He cocked his hip against the sink, left arm draping across his abdomen as he purred, “Don’t threaten me with a good time.”  “I’m hanging up.”  “What’s in it for me, anyway? Why not ask Mizari,” he asked somewhat curtly, the twinge of jealousy worming its way into their conversation against his consent. Okay, so maybe he was still a little salty over the fact that she deliberately chose the impertinent young brat over him when discussions over assignments for the Avia Project had first begun weeks ago. Technically, they hadn't officially secured it yet, hence Kouren's sky-rocketing stress levels lately.  “The client doesn’t exactly get along with Mizari,” she said, her voice softening just enough to allow the bone weariness to soak through, despite the hardened and non-nonsense edge still clinging to the edges of it. “Believe me, if I had any other brand designers that I trusted, I’d have asked them...”  Jae Ha’s face flattened out into a bland expression over her insult. Ouch.  “But even I have to admit,” she hedged, sounding like she was chewing on gravel. “While you may not be a brand designer, you have great social skills, and yours are the best for this particular project...”  His face morphed into something akin to clueless surprise. Praise that he didn’t have to earn by sleeping with someone? Huh... Guess there was a first time for everything. He closed his parted lips as he fumbled for words to fill the silence, coming up short for once in his life.  “So,” Kouren sighed, thankfully filling in the dead air with her voice. “I’m asking for a favor.”  Jae Ha’s confidence returned in an instant as he quipped, “Technically, you still haven’t asked-“  “Bourbon at seven,” she snapped. “Don’t be late.”  The call ended before he could give his reply and Jae Ha rolled his eyes before stuffing his phone back into his pocket. Ugh. It was so much more fun to give in to her when his reward was much more tasty. Well, so much for an evening of pleasure. All work and no play, huh?  He slowly turned towards his reflection as he debated over which suit to wear to the upscale restaurant, still slightly disappointed in the fact that he wouldn’t be allowed to partake in the evening’s previously planned activities-  His eyes pulsed wide, lips parting and blood roaring in his ears as Jae Ha’s fingers slid softly along the sensitive skin of his neck, drinking in the tiny and uneven little splotches that littered his throat rather beautifully. Raw want and eager desire began to itch away at him, warmth spreading along his limbs as his heart began to race. He drank in the lovely sight through a slightly hooded gaze, tilting his chin up in order to see more of Yona’s handiwork. What a nice surprise.  Her teeth hadn’t taken it easy on him for sure, he noted with intense satisfaction, a shiver racing down his spine at the thought. He also noted that her enthusiastic hands had left behind a pretty little mess in his hair as he ran his fingers through the tousled strands at the nape of his neck, his scalp tingling with residual desire as he attempted to right her chaos. Eager little thing, his dear Yona was.  It had been a while since someone had used him properly. Suppose he hadn’t attempted to stop her? What if Hak hadn’t come home when he had? Would Yona have continued to ravage him- to turn his body into her canvas? Could she even be capable of marking him in other areas? Would she attempt to use what little strength that she did possess to her advantage? Did she have it in her to try to dominate him even in the slightest?  Jae Ha pressed a hand to his mouth to stifle the sudden moan that threatened to tear itself free. Images of Yona pressing him down onto the bed were flashing before his eyes, her small thighs bracketing his hips as she ordered him to be still. Would her fingers wind through his hair and yank? Would she be merciless? It was too soon to tell if she possessed the abilities, but he knew for sure that the other resident of this apartment could overpower him.  Hak was nothing but a powerhouse of strength, Jae Ha having been on the receiving end of little scuffles between the two of them back in college. Hak had shown little to no mercy when it came to being the winner. He’d pinned Jae Ha down on more than one occasion, growled things at him, ordered him to submit...   Jae Ha felt a sudden shudder weaken his knees, his left hand bracing himself against the sink as he tilted his head down, chin to his chest as he tried his best to collect himself. He focused instead on the muted and merry laughter of Yona that reached him through the door as he covered his eyes with shaking fingers. Fuck- what in the hell was wrong with him? How had he allowed not only one, but two people to reduce him to such a mess?  He turned the knob on the sink and bent down to splash some cold water onto his face, strands of hair sticking to his forehead in the process. He needed to get a grip.     “Well,” Jae Ha purred as his fingers finally finished latching his dress watch around his wrist securely. “Isn’t this a pretty picture?”  Yona’s small fingers paused in their little dance, Hak’s new shirt only half-way buttoned as she turned her head to look at Jae Ha with wide amethyst eyes, her surprise at his unannounced presence melting into a soft smile that had his stomach warming. “What took you so long? We were wondering where you-“ she paused, her gaze traveling along Jae Ha’s navy blue suit-clad form in curiosity. “Wait- why are you all dressed up?”  “Bad news, kids,” Jae Ha murmured as he stepped into the space, fingers adjusting the knot in his silk tie somewhat listlessly. “I’ve been summoned to a business dinner.”  Yona’s normally sunny expression fell into a soft glow of disappointment and Jae Ha would be lying if he were to say that it didn’t please him slightly. She turned back toward the task at hand, fingers struggling somewhat with the little buttons on the shirt that she’d picked out for Hak. Jae Ha took notice of just how very tiny she appeared next to the larger framed man standing before her, Hak’s blue eyes laced with concern over her demeanor before turning towards the architect in question.  Jae Ha’s hand landed softly upon Yona’s head, stroking her scalp with a fond tenderness. “I shouldn’t be home too late, but I can’t guarantee anything.” Red strands were soft and glossy beneath his palm, a little blooming bud of greed sprouting in his chest at her petulant frown. He busied himself with correcting Hak’s sleeve, rolling one up a toned forearm and smoothing the crisp fabric as he went.   “Do you want to maybe try to catch a later showing?” Hak asked, turning towards Jae Ha slightly so that the man would have better access to his work. “We can wait-“  “No, no,” Jae Ha waved at him before circling him in order to get to the other sleeve. “You two should go. I already have the tickets, so it would be a waste for you to wait on me.”  Yona opened her mouth the argue, but gasped instead as Jae Ha suddenly ducked down to plant a soft kiss to her lips, gentle and unassuming as her hands gripped the front of Hak’s shirt in her surprise. Jae Ha’s right hand landed upon her waist, his thumb brushing along her ribs in soft strokes before he lifted his head.   She watched as he turned toward Hak, gifting him with the same kiss that he’d just given her. Jae Ha’s hand remained upon her hip, keeping her included as the two men continued to brush their lips over one another’s. She swallowed, her throat feeling tight and skin no doubt flushed as Jae Ha leaned back and away from the dark-haired man, Hak’s normally clear blue gaze clouded over with something heated yet still unreadable.   Jae Ha’s lidded gaze regarded his roommate with nothing short of open lust. His lips curled into a playful smile as the muscles of his left arm flexed slightly, Hak tensing and jumping the tiniest amount. The architect breathed along the shell of Hak’s ear, “I knew these would look good on you,” and it was then that Yona realized just where his other hand had been during their exchange.     Hak continued to deny it as they walked down the street, his scowling face lit up in a hue of telltale pink as Yona continued to push and pry.   “He totally grabbed your butt!” She laughed as Hak pretended to ignore her, throwing her head back towards the night sky with unrestrained glee.   “Just for that, I’m not holding your hand during the movie,” Hak threatened as they neared the theater, the bright lights coming into view. The posters that lined the walls of the old building showcased just what was playing that night, and if the sly sidelong look that he gave her was any indication, Hak knew which movie Jae Ha had pre-selected for them.   Her face fell and discomfort etched into her features. Yona planted her feet stubbornly into the pavement and shook her head vehemently in her denial, squeaking as Hak’s larger hand pulled her along, dragging her to her doom. “No! No! NO!”  Hak grinned, devious and with purpose as he pulled the heavy glass door open, retribution for her teasing coming in the form of what appeared to be a horrifically scary movie.   Unfair.     He didn’t want to be here.  Jae Ha frowned slightly at his reflection in the mirror of the men’s room, fingers nervously adjusting his tie yet again, an action that never seemed to do much more than to work him up even more than he already was. Joining this project would certainly look good in his portfolio, but he really hadn’t been prepared to sacrifice his rare free time. He exhaled through his nose as he tugged on the sleeves of his jacket, feeling an itching agitation nudge along his nerves as he tilted his head to ensure that his neck was sufficiently covered. The last thing that he needed was for the client to notice the markings upon his skin.  Frustration only made his anxiety heighten as he recalled Yona’s voice whimpering his name, his muscles growing a touch more lax as he focused on the memory. He steadied his breathing and swallowed his growl.   He didn’t want to be here.   He was not jealous, he decided as he exited the restroom, his eyes adjusting to the dim light of the restaurant. The restrooms were located on the other side of the bar, out of reach and away from the dull hum of people conversing amongst the low and sultry jazz music flowing through the air.   He did not miss Yona and Hak, he confirmed as he stepped into a dim alcove, hoping to snag just a few more minutes of precious alone time before having to don his mask of social conversationalist. Relationships were for unhappily married people and he most definitely was not one of those.   “My, my,” crooned a sultry feminine voice appreciatively. “Don’t you clean up nice?”  Jae Ha regarded the familiar head of blonde hair over his shoulder with the arch of a brow, trying his best to suppress the shiver lancing down his spine at the feeling of firm fingertips reaching below the hem of his jacket to trace along the soft leather of his brown belt. His body responded for him in earnest, almost desperate for some form of mindless human contact.  He really was a broken toy, wasn’t he?  She always knew where to find him. Kouren circled him slowly, eyes drinking him in as she came to stand before him at last. Lacquered nails and pristinely manicured fingers traced the buckle of his belt as she eyed him up with a heated hunger that had him practically buzzing with need. She murmured a soft and somewhat incoherent compliment to him on his dark grey vest before pressing her hip into his groin with just the barest hint of pressure.  Jae Ha hissed softly, wanting nothing more than to take her up on her unspoken offer and smear that perfectly applied dark red lipstick down her chin with glee. It’d been far too long since he’d been able to just shut off his brain and feel. Kouren was nothing if not demanding in bed and damn if that didn’t satisfy some perverted little kink deep inside of him. Powerful people dominating him just did something to him; pleasure mixed with a little pain ignited a fire in his blood capable of incinerating everything that he loved down to mere ashes.  She leaned up to nuzzle her nose against his jaw, breathing deep and murmuring filthy profanities to him as her hand moved to fondle him through the front of his pants, her touch the perfect pressure as she traced the bulge that was beginning to grow against her palm.  Jae Ha tipped his head back and inhaled sharply, aware of a nagging protest that was beeping somewhere along the back of his mind, but completely helpless against the onslaught of heavy want that was overtaking him. He needed this. His hands landed upon Kouren’s hips, the thick fabric of her black sheath dress contouring and hi-lighting her hourglass figure perfectly. Her heels had lifted her up to a perfect height, her forehead pressing into his jaw as her heated breath clung to his throat.  “Can’t wait to get you alone after this,” she murmured, teeth nipping at his earlobe as she groped him shamelessly. “Let’s get a drink before everyone else gets here, yeah?”  Jae Ha swallowed and grunted his agreement, feeling strangely empty and cold as she peeled herself off of him and smoothed the front of her dress. He allowed his head to thunk back against the dark and polished wood as he closed his eyes, forcing himself back together as Kouren’s hands quickly and efficiently righted his own appearance for him.   The sound of rattling metal had him opening one eye curiously, allowing a small smile to grace his strained features as Kouren procured a tiny little tin of peppermints for them both from her black clutch. He opened his mouth for her and allowed her to place the white dot onto his tongue, immediately closing his lips around the digit and sucking before she could stop him. He grazed his teeth along her skin as she pulled her finger free from his mouth, her own tongue snaking from in between those plump and lusciously stained lips to take the same trail that his own tongue had just stolen, tasting his saliva cooling upon her skin and humming in appreciation.  The heat in her eyes told him that he was in for a punishment later for that action and god he couldn’t wait.     She couldn’t focus and for once, it wasn’t entirely the horror movie’s fault.  She’d been distracted the entire way home, chewing on Jae Ha’s earlier actions and dissecting them over and over, until she was sure that she’d picked apart every little morsel of detail. It still didn’t add up?
  I can’t.
  Why? What was she missing?   She pressed against Hak just a little more as they sat together on the couch, the tv on and playing some type of program depicting how tires were made. Her brow furrowed a little more as she continued to fidget somewhat restlessly. What time was it? When would Jae Ha be home? She needed to talk to him- needed to ask him about what had happened earlier today before she lost her mind entirely.   Yona jumped slightly as the furnace kicked on, the heated air flowing through the exposed ductwork above her such a different sound than she was accustomed to at her own apartment. Hak’s snort of amusement over her reaction caused her to bristle in annoyance. She was still wound a little more tightly than normal after the movie and she had no one to blame but him. She told him that she didn’t want to see that movie, the jerk! He’d insisted that they not waste the tickets and she’d been bullied into her seat despite her whining protests. Why in the world had Jae Ha picked such a horrible film in the first place? Trust the architect to select something so depraved, only to not even be present for it!  Thanks to that absent jerk, she was practically living in Hak’s lap as they watched tv, one muscled arm draped around her heavily as he leaned comfortably back against the cushions, eyes trained on the screen but not really seeming all that interested. Watching tires being made was just plain boring, no matter who you were.  She wasn’t quite ready to forgive him for making her sit through that nightmare fodder. Yona pouted slightly as she studied Hak’s features out of the corner of her eye. It was so strange to think that she had known this man for most of her life; he was the one constant in her life that had never strayed. If someone had told her back in high school that she would one day be dating the tall boy from her childhood who’d teased her nonstop, she’d have probably laughed before choking them senseless. Hak had always been busy giving her a hard time in between spending time with Su-Won and studying Judo, so how could he ever be interested in her in such a way?  Yona tucked her feet up under her a little tighter as she squeezed herself a little closer into Hak’s side, allowing her head to fall against the crook of his sturdy shoulder. He was just so solid. How did one even gain muscle in such a place? She closed her eyes briefly as she inhaled, breathing in his scent and allowing it to wash over her. Hak always smelled minty with a hint of something else, something masculine and earthy; it had to be what a pine tree forest smelled like in the winter.  “You gonna smother me all night? Feel like I can barely breathe over here...”  Yona’s eyes opened as she registered Hak’s words, as well as his snicker over her tensing frame. Some things just never changed. She jerked, her elbow landing squarely in his gut, taking great satisfaction at his wheeze. She grumbled as she dug her elbow into his ribs, immense pleasure filling her at the way that he attempted to squirm away from her in discomfort. “It’d be an improvement!”  Hak’s voice was low and laced with something playful as his hand captured hers, pulling her arm out and away from his vulnerable side. “Oh,” he teased as he turned his head to lock eyes with her, his lips pulled into a grin that spoke of nothing but trouble. “So you wanna fight dirty?”  Yona blinked, eyes widening a split second before being hit with Hak’s surprise attack. He turned, angling his torso to the side and getting his knees up beneath him before she could even form the words to protest. Perhaps picking a fight with someone who majored in judo was the wrong move on her end? She squealed as Hak’s hands wrapped around her wrists with just enough pressure to subdue her, his wide shoulders and sculpted chest pressing her down onto her back with ease.  She huffed out a gasp of shock as her spine met the soft cushions, her legs splayed out along the couch and houndstooth skirt inching high up her thighs as Hak rested between her parted knees, balancing his weight as he sat back on his heels, larger frame hovering over her and grinning down at her in triumph as he pinned her hands above her head.   His expression softened slightly at her wide-eyes gaze, his once cocky smile beginning to morph into one of apologetic regret. “Uh- sorry, I should-“  No- that was the last thing that she wanted!   Yona broke her hands free from his slackening grip, fingers shooting out to clench tightly in the crisp fabric of his shirt so that she could pull him back down towards her. Her impromptu move had him toppling forward rather gracelessly, Hak catching himself on his hands at the last minute, his palms landing on either side of her head. His face mirrored her previous surprise at her actions, eyes widened and unblinking as he hovered mere inches away from her, waiting.   Yona’s heart began to pound in her chest, licking her lips nervously as she squirmed beneath him ever so slightly. She parted her thighs a little more to make room for him, loosening her death grip upon the fabric of his shirt and flattening her palms against his sturdy chest.  “Hak,” she breathed, ears eagerly absorbing the sound of his breath hitching slightly at the way that she said his name. If he didn’t touch her soon she might die. “Kiss me?”  His lips finally connected to hers and Yona could feel her body reacting almost instantly. There was no hesitation this time, she noted as Hak leaned down to close the space between them almost immediately. He always kissed her like he was waiting for her to answer him, to contemplate over whether or not it was something that she truly wanted. Hak was always so soft and gentle with her, slow and easy, lingering, respectful with just the right amount of heat.  But not this time, much to her delight.  Yona answered him by opening her mouth for him, angling her head slightly and feeling him practically melt against her. He was careful not to crush her, but his weight on top of her was something that she never even knew was missing in her life. She wrapped her arms around his neck, fingers splaying up into his hair and twining through the soft dark strands greedily.   Hak moved back just enough to murmur something against her lips but she couldn’t focus, far too invested in the feeling of his mouth against hers to comprehend words at the moment. Their lips met yet again and she couldn’t help the soft moan that he swallowed eagerly, his mouth open and eager above hers, tongue sliding against hers softly.  How was he so good at this? Yona wasn’t sure she wanted to know, but one thing was certain: she’d lost too much time in her past not kissing him and she intended to make up for lost time now.   It didn’t take long at all for her to become overwhelmed by him, in the way that his tongue felt as it grazed along the bow of her bottom lip, his humid breath clinging to her skin, her soft gasp quickly becoming a moan as both of his hands suddenly landed upon her waist before sliding down to her hips, rough palms moving to cup the back of her thighs to angle her up and against him before wordlessly urging her to wrap them around his waist.  How could she ignore or resist such a tempting invitation?  The rough fabric of Hak’s jeans was creating what had to be the best sensation against the sensitive skin of her inner thighs, her legs splayed open and resting on top of the corded muscles of Hak’s thighs. How anyone could be so strong and agile yet so soft and gentle was a curiosity in and of itself; but that would have to be analyzed later.  Hak’s hands were so warm as his broad palms smoothed up the side of her legs, the rough skin occasionally snagging and catching on the sleek, thin black fabric of her tights. Yona shivered, arching the small of her back with a sigh as Hak ducked back down to place his lips along the thin skin of her neck. His voice was low and breathy as he murmured to her, asked her if this was okay?  Yona nodded, dazed and content to continue to allow him to call the shots. There was something so incredibly arousing about having him take the lead, to let him pull her along in whichever direction he decided to take. Her hands slid from his neck to his shoulders, craning her neck to the side to give him more access. Hak’s lips brushed against her jaw, nose nuzzling the spot behind her ear that had her sighing softly. His hands continued to slide against her skin, higher and higher, thumbs grazing along the hem of her skirt in slow contemplation.  Ugh- why had she chosen to wear tights?   Yona groaned a little as she wiggled beneath Hak, feeling the humid puff of his breath as he huffed out a soft chuckle at her discomfort. His voice was thick and rough, like a stormy night in the city as he asked her if she wanted to change and go to bed?     He couldn’t really focus, but he had plenty of time to get himself together. Dinner had gone well, the account secured and everything locked into place. He might have celebrated a bit too much, but he could hold his liquor fairly well. He wasn’t drunk- he was sure of it.  The haze clouding up his brain right now might have been due to the fact that Kouren was seated firmly in his lap, knees planted into the upholstery on either side of his thighs, the cold leather in the back seat of his car a pleasant contrast to the fire simmering just beneath his skin. She tugged up the hem of her dress impatiently, through with the teasing foreplay that had been stretching between them throughout dinner.   Jae Ha lifted his somewhat numb fingers to assist her, but was stopped as her hands intercepted him, pale fingers wrapping around his wrists with a grip that had his stomach twisting slightly with mild unease. Being restrained was and never would be allowed.   Just as he was about to wrench his hands free, she firmly pinned his arms against the backrest of the backseat, lifting up onto her knees as much as space would allow her (he is fairly tall, after all) so that she could sit back further in his lap, closer towards his knees.  Kouren’s eyes glimmered in the darkened space, commending him for having had the sense to park his car in a parking garage, for once. It had allotted them a little more privacy than the alley that she had suggested, growling at him when he’d immediately shot her down with nothing more than a displeased arch of his brow. He’d jerked his head, ordering her to follow along with him, offering her his arm and not at all surprised or offended when she’d dismissed it. So proud.  She murmured at him, ordering him to undo his pants as she reached for her clutch, snapping her fingers at him and hissing for him to hurry up when his sluggish movements proved to be not fast enough to her liking.  Jae Ha swallowed the nausea that was beginning to churn in his gut as she procured a condom at last, ripping it open and batting his hands away from his lap so that she could roll it onto his length herself.   “Ah, ah, ah,” she scolded him as his hands tried to fit themselves at her waist, to tangle his fingers in the stiff fabric of her dress currently bunched up along her hips. “You don’t get to touch this time.”  Shame, really. Ah, well. He supposed it was a fitting punishment for his earlier actions. Jae Ha barely had time to place his arms back where she’d first positioned them before Kouren angled her hips so that she could slide down his dick with ease.  She threw her head back with a muffled cry, Jae Ha’s grunt nearly drowning out her mumbling of how good he felt, her hands falling heavily to his shoulders to help brace her as she lifted up once more so that she could sink back down onto him.   “Ah, fuck,” she moaned lewdly as she rode him with precise movements, using him as she saw fit. “God- I fucking needed this-“  “Yeah,” he agreed, swallowing thickly once more as he allowed his head to fall back against the plush leather. Fuck- she was so good at this. The muscles in her thighs flexed as she rose to her knees, sinking slowly before dropping the rest of the way. She ground against, urging him deeper. He tried to keep up with her, tried to move and buck up into her, but she was having none of it this time around. She could be downright cruel when she deemed fit and tonight was proof of her iron will.  She swiveled her hips just right and yanked a whimper out of his throat (how unsightly), grin fierce as she watched him through pleasure-drunk eyes, taking delight in watching him throw his head back even further and choke on his groans. She lifted up slowly, only to slam her hips back down again. He clenched his teeth and hissed, brow drawn tight as he tried to suppress the full body shiver trying to distract him. If he wasn’t careful, this was going to be quick and rather unfulfilling for her.  Every time he came close to orgasm, though, she slowed her movements and pushed him back from the ledge, drawing out his suffering with strangely perverted glee. He could get into edging; just not tonight.  While normally he appreciated her sadistic streak, something about this continued to nag at him. Jae Ha tried his best to focus on the mind-numbing wetness sliding down to coat the root of where they were joined, his brow furrowed as his fingers dug into the upholstery. It felt good, but not as good as it usually did. Something was off. He hissed and bucked up into her, her hands pushing down on his biceps with a tad more force over his behavior, her fingertips pressing into him through the thick fabric of his jacket enough to cause a ripple of discomfort to bleed across his flesh instead of shivers of desire.  He gave his head a small shake and urged himself to stop ruining this; he needed this, needed to get rid of his pent up irritation and annoyance. His anxiety had been bothering him all evening.  It had been anxiety, right?  Kouren leaned down and took his earlobe in between her teeth, her breath sliding across his neck as he tilted his head and groaned, clamping down his desire to beg her to go faster, to cry out and plead for her to touch herself if she wasn’t going to let him do it, to ask for permission to come, because he didn’t think he could hang on for much longer and he was nothing if not a courteous partner. He could help her, he wanted to hiss through clenched teeth as some foreign sensation nibbled at the edge of his periphery. He could assist her if she would only allow him to, because he’s a fucking gentleman, goddammit and this was driving him insane.  Her hand yanked on his tie, fingers working the first few buttons of his white dress shirt so that she could bite along the corded tendons straining against the thin skin of his neck. She murmured to him, gasped that she was close, ordered him not to move, ground her hips down that much more fiercely as she snaked her fingers in between them to circle her clit.  Jae Ha tried his best to keep his hips from bucking, but it was moot- he was coming and there wasn’t anything that either of them could do about it. He moaned, feeling the molten knot of fire that had been brewing in his abdomen begin to unclench and spread throughout his limbs. Kouren cried out, a loud and harsh sound piercing through his mildly euphoric wave as his brow furrowed at the noise. It sounded wrong to him and for reasons that he simply couldn’t fathom. Her fingers moved against her slick skin even faster, chasing those last few pulses of pleasure greedily. Jae Ha moved beneath her to push her through her orgasm, helping her ride out the last of her bliss as his stomach took a sudden sour turn.  He breathed through his nose to curb his sudden nausea, exhaled through his lips as Kouren finally stilled, her breath panting heavily and fogging up the interior of the car as she smiled down at him with an expression that had him cracking open one eye somewhat groggily. What was she staring at?  Her hand smacked against the side of his neck, seeming to take delight in his groan of displeasure over her movement, her chuckle of amusement as rich as her tone as she teased, “Nice hickeys, you slut.”  Jae Ha frowned at her as he tried his best to focus, wondering what in the fuck she was talking about, when the memory of Yona’s earlier activities had his eyes widening slightly in realization, his stomach abruptly flipping with acidic churning, his hands coming up to try and shove Kouren off of his lap before-  He scrabbled for the door handle and managed to throw the back door wide as Kouren fell onto the empty seat behind him with a small outcry, Jae Ha’s back tensing as he leaned forward and retched onto the pavement with a hearty groan.  Kouren sighed behind him as she tugged her dress back down, fingers lightly fluffing up her blonde hair as she rolled her eyes. She leaned back against the expensive leather as she patted his back with as much empathy as she could muster. “Fucking lightweight,” she sighed.     He liked the way that she looked in his clothes.  There was probably something almost disgustingly primitive about it, he realized as the hem of one of his old t-shirts rode up Yona’s pale thighs. He shouldn’t be enjoying it as much as he was, but he was only human. He kissed her pulse again, reveling in the sound of her hitched breath as well as the warmth of her smooth skin as he slid his palms along her legs. This was so much better than the couch. For one, there was more room in his bed. Second, he could take his time and try to savor this moment instead of just jumping into it headfirst.  Yeah, right. Like she’d ever allow him to think through something when she could just plunge straight ahead. Oh, well... at least he’d tried.  So, here he is once more: his hips wedged between her thighs, his hands planted upon the mattress on either side of her shoulders, caging her in beneath him. Yona had lifted the blankets for him after he’d come back from brushing his teeth, his skin barely sliding against the sheets before her hands had landed upon his bare shoulders, urging him back to where she wanted him.  He’d already discovered that she wasn’t wearing anything underneath his shirt some time ago and he’d nearly passed out at the realization. Fuck- she was trying to kill him, he swore. Yona had always been impulsive, but that move took the cake.  Hak’s hands fitted themselves at her bare waist beneath the worn fabric still covering her before stroking her sides with lingering movements, his tongue pressing into the spot behind her ear that had her arching up into him in response out in the living room. He wasn’t disappointed, his own soft moan vibrating along the shell of her ear as she ground up and against him.  The thin fabric of his pajama pants concealed very little, he also discovered not long ago. Hak surged his hips forward, feeling the heat of her against him and waving goodbye to the last vestiges of his sanity as he planted kisses along her jaw. If he could just stay where he was for a little while longer, he could probably slow the tempo a bit.  Yona dug her fingers into his hair, pulling his mouth back up to hers for another drugging kiss. Her hips moved against his, desperate and surging, pulling forth little grunts and groans out of him with every grind. He wanted nothing more than to fill her up, to feel her all around him, but knew that he should probably take things a little more slowly. He wasn’t even sure if she’d had sex with anyone before, now that he thought about it.   Hak tried to pull away, to have the conversation that needed to be had, when she gasped his name on a whine, hands cupping his face to try and keep his mouth against hers. He kissed her softly, trying his best to soothe her, to assure her that he wasn’t going anywhere-  “Hak, please-“  He froze. Um... please what? That tone did things to him. He shuddered, resting his forehead against hers as he swallowed loudly, tried to settle himself and take charge of the situation before something happened that she might regret. There was nothing that he wanted more than to sink into her, to fill her up in the way that she wanted, but Yona and her feelings came first. He had to be sure.  “Please, what?”   Yona groaned, frustration edging along her movements as she ground against him again, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she whimpered. She wasn’t good at any of this stuff, so new to it all. Embarrassment was already trying to encourage her to close up and shut down. “Don’t tease me-“  “‘M not,” he murmured reassuringly against her temple, placing a soft kiss to her hairline as his hands landed on her hips to still her movements. It was difficult for him to think when she moved like that. “What do you need, Yona?”  She whined again, tried to push up and against him but nearly growled when it was discovered that Hak would not give without her response. Hak hardly ever called her by her name.  He pulled back to put a little space between them, his eyes still holding a glimmer of clarity, despite the way that he panted slightly with exertion. Seeing Hak barely holding himself together because of her was quite possibly the most sensual thing that she had ever seen.  The realization brought with it a new wave of courage. She surged up, brushing her lips against his and closed her eyes as she breathed him in. “Touch me, Hak,” she breathed, her hands gripping his shoulders to pull him back down and against her, needing to feel the security of his weight against her as her back hit the mattress once more. “Please.”  Hak exhaled shakily, opening his mouth against hers in a slow and thorough kiss, tongue sliding with hers as one large hand slowly grazed along her hip, fingertips trailing a heated path down to the crease of her thigh. God- how had he even gotten here?   He supposed he shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.  Hak nibbled on her lower lip as Yona spread her legs a little wider for him, the shiver that spread along his skin at her movements causing his eyes to slit open just enough to watch her face as his fingers finally came into contact with searing, damp heat.  Yona gasped, mouth open against his parted lips, whining piteously as Hak’s fingers explored her, taking his time, parted her, circled her clit before dipping down to her opening.   Hak grunted as he slid a single finger inside of her, closing his eyes and burying his nose into the fragrant warmth of her neck as she bucked her hips, grinding down into his palm to take in as much of him as she could. “Yona,” he moaned as she gasped and shook, nails finding purchase in the skin of his neck and shoulder as she moved against him. “You feel so-“  He adjusted his knees beneath him, one hand supporting his weight over her head as the other stroked along her walls, twisting it so that he could brush his thumb along her clit as he moved within her, long and incredibly tender strokes that had her panting against his neck. Fuck- she felt so incredible. It was so incredibly arousing to feel her, his hips pressing into his hand to help guide his movements, his dick wanting nothing more than to switch places with his fingers at this very moment but refusing to take advantage of the situation.  One of Yona’s hands ran along his bare abdomen, fingertips tracing every dip and curve in its descent. He wants to ask her what she’s doing, but that would require forming words, and his mouth was far too busy with marking up her neck to really care; if she wanted to touch him, that was fine with him.  The sudden feeling of fingers attempting to slide beneath the waistband of his pants had him jolting in surprise, movements stuttering to a slow halt, his ears practically ringing at the harsh whine that Yona emitted at his actions.   Hak’s thumb circled her clit with a tad more force than before, causing her eyelids to flutter open groggily, her eyes glassy and expression looking positively drugged as she murmured his name through panting breaths of confusion.  Her fingers pawed at him through the fabric of his pajama pants, his forehead dropping to hers and eyes closing in want. “You don’t have to-“ he managed to grit out before her lips captured his again, her tongue flicking along the back of his teeth as it sank into his mouth. He moaned into her, his stomach pooling with a heavy warmth that was slowly spreading out to his limbs as Yona finally made it past the barrier of his waistband.  He should be a little more embarrassed over how eagerly he thrusted into her hand, but God- he couldn’t find one single fuck to give as she explored him somewhat timidly. Without Jae Ha to guide her this time, she seemed a little unsure.  Hak murmured small encouragements to her in between searing kisses, the two of them exchanging small noises of pleasure as Hak’s fingers began to move once more.   It would be so easy to shove his pants down and line himself up with her- to thrust into her hard and deep, to move his hips until they disintegrated into nothing. His fingers stroked a little more roughly, her resounding cry pulling at something in his gut as her fingers squeezed him tighter. Her thumb swiped the wetness gathered at the tip of him, spreading it along the rest of him to help her move, and fuck him- he wasn’t going to last if she kept that up.  Hak latched his lips onto her collarbone, exposed thanks to the large neckline of his shirt on her petite frame. Yona threw her head back, her hand stuttering in its movements as she released a rather loud and helpless sounding outcry, the searing heat of her clenching and pulsing around him with such force that his abdomen tightened in warning before he could stop himself, coming all over her hand and most of his shirt as he gasped and choked.  Yona squirmed beneath him, whimpering and sighing as Hak worked her through her release, his forehead pressing into the sheets beside her head in some form of embarrassment mixed with relief. Well, that was rather quick, if he did say so himself.  Yona turned her head and pressed a soft kiss to the shell of his ear, though, a smile in her shy voice as she whispered a timid, “Thank you.”  Hak could feel a blush sprawling along his neck and chest, his voice gruff and laced with embarrassment as he insisted she not thank him for something like this. "You weirdo," he teased fondly before pressing a kiss to her temple.     The sound of heels clacking against concrete had him lifting his head, bleary eyes and shaking fingers accepting the bottled water that was extended out to him. “Thanks.”  “Don’t mention it,” Kouren murmured as she tugged her coat around her frame a little more tightly, breath pluming in the cold night air thickly. She tilted her head at Jae Ha, watching him swish the cold liquid around in his mouth before spatting it out onto the pavement. He’d moved his car away from his earlier mess, thankfully, but she could tell that something was still wrong.  Jae Ha dropped his head and sighed, wanting nothing more than to sleep away whatever ailment had been suddenly dropped onto him. Was it food poisoning? It had to be. He wasn’t loaded; he’d only had two glasses of scotch- he’d had five times that at the Halloween party at the firm weeks ago and nothing nearly this bad had come from it.  It had to be food poisoning.  He glanced up Kouren and noted that she seemed to be fine, watching her fish her mints out of her clutch once more before offering the little tin to him. He accepted them gratefully, popping three into his mouth for good measure and grimacing at the horrible conflicting tastes on his tongue.   “So,” she sighed as she dropped the noisy tin back into her purse. She snapped it closed before tucking it under her arm so that she could bury her hands into the depths of her coat pockets. “Didn’t think you were capable of having one of those ‘relationships’ that everyone’s always talking about...?”  Jae Ha rolled his eyes at her before taking a deep and burning inhale of the frigid night air. “That’s not what it is.”  “Oh?” Finely sculpted eyebrows reached for her hairline as Kouren scoffed at him lightly. “You don’t say?”  “No,” he grumbled. “I do say.”  “Are you sure,” she pressed, smirking at how tense he was getting over her prodding into his very private romantic life (or lack thereof). “Because last I checked, you don’t normally let people mark you up somewhere so visible.”  At his silence, she pried just a little more, wondering if she’d be able to get anything out of him that wasn’t wrapped in layers of playful banter or careful diverting. This was a side of him that she’d never seen before and she thought she’d seen every angle. “Anyone I know?”  Red hair and gem-toned eyes flashed before his eyes, a warm smile melting into a sorrowful look at the idea of confessing what he’d done this evening. He gave his head a small shake to discourage the weird feeling pressing into his chest. His stomach cinched again and he swallowed the minty taste pooling along his tongue. He exhaled slowly, justifying that he’d done nothing wrong, just as Hak’s frown of disapproval haunted him.  “No,” he murmured as he lifted the bottle back up to his lips, daring to take a sip of the water. “You don’t know either of them.”  Kouren’s eyes widened ever-so-slightly, and it was only then that he realized his mistake.   Fuck.  “Either of them?” She asked with an air of impressed shock. “Wow...”  Jae Ha flashed her a look that dared her to finish that thought, tilting his head back to swallow his drink as she chuckled at him.  “Well,” she murmured somewhat softly, regarding him with the barest amount of softness that one could muster for a fuckbuddy co-worker. “Aren’t they in for some fun?”     Yona frowned down at her phone, thumbs hovering over the screen as she stared blankly at the open dialogue from previous messages with Jae Ha, her brain having a silent argument with her heart over whether or not she should just send him a message. It was well past midnight and he’d stated earlier that sometimes these things tended to run late, so she shouldn’t worry- right?  She set her phone upon Hak’s nightstand just as he wandered into the room, fresh pajama pants slung low on his hips and still shirtless, she noted with a small flush. She wondered why he suddenly felt the need to walk around half naked in front of her, but decided that she most definitely wasn’t going to complain.   Hak yawned and stretched his arms up over his head lazily as he trudged towards the bed, pulling back the sheet and sliding up behind her. He turned onto his side and rested on his elbow behind her, his chest pressing into the small of her back as his hand came up to smooth the messy strands that had occurred when she’d changed into a clean shirt. He watched Yona stare at her phone, chewing on her lower lip in deep contemplation.  “Those stupid things always run late,” he offered in a mumble, not jealous over the attention that Jae Ha was receiving, despite not even being in the same part of town. Absolutely not. “Probably come strollin’ in around 3...”  Yona huffed, a faint smile tugging at her lips as her shoulders sagged slightly. “Yeah, you’re right.”   Hak pressed a kiss to her shoulder, his breath warm and weaving in through the cotton that she wore. He mumbled for her to turn off the light and flopped back down onto his back.   Yona twisted the tiny black knob and settled in against Hak, nuzzling into the pillow as he turned over to wrap her in his embrace. Hak hauled her back against his chest and it pulled a fit of giggles from her at the feeling of his nose nuzzling into the nape of her neck. Her fingers fiddled with the edge of the pillowcase beneath her cheek as her eyes began to feel heavy. There was something so soothing about being so near him.  Hak’s breathing evened out as his arm rested heavily against her. His breath felt foggy against her skin, curling along her neck as he relaxed even further against her. Yona counted the seconds ticking by as the apartment’s silence began to permeate all around her. She felt so strangely at home here, the two men welcoming her into their environment with an ease that others would be wary of.  Perhaps it was because they’d all lived together before? She allowed her thoughts to drift as her body grew heavy with sleep, drowsiness falling over her like a thick blanket. Hak’s body heat was lulling her, singing a lullaby to her that only they knew.   Her hand reached for her phone one last time, thumb pressing the button and swiping along the screen, her eyes squinting against the dim light that assaulted her darkness-acclimated vision.   Goodnight  She placed her phone back in its resting place before closing her eyes with a sigh, delighting in the feeling of Hak snuggling against her just a little tighter than before, their legs molded together and bodies pressed against each other perfectly.  She wished Jae Ha would come home.     Jae Ha sat in the silence of his car as he idled at a red light, the streets having thinned out a little due to the hour. It wasn’t exactly late per se, but at nearly a quarter til one, the party was only starting for many city dwellers.   He pursed his lips a little at the reminder that he used to be one of them, his gaze returning forward as the light turned green. His foot eased back from the gas as he continued to wander aimlessly, sleek black vehicle prowling through the streets like a stray cat; no where in particular to be and nothing tying him down.  His stomach fluttered a little and his hands gripped the steering wheel a little more tightly in response. He grimaced, still trying to figure out the weird little sensation gnawing at him. He should be feeling better; he should be feeling sated and satisfied. Instead, he felt something heavy pushing down on him. He was probably just tired, he reasoned to himself, scowling at his own lie.  His phone chimed in his pocket and he frowned slightly as his eyes flashed to the time illuminated at him from his dashboard. He scoffed lightly and rolled his eyes as he pulled up to another stop light. It was probably just Kouren, he reasoned as he pulled his phone free from his coat pocket, thumb swiping the screen distractedly. Probably just checking to see that he wasn’t heaving his guts out in a gutter somewhere-  His eyes pulsed wide at the word staring up at him, Yona’s name at the top of the message, the vicious sensation that had been tearing away at him earlier coming back full force.  It was guilt. He felt guilty and his car smelled like sex.  Fuck.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

How had he ended up here?

Jae Ha closed the bathroom door behind him softly, flipping on the light and shucking his suit jacket off of his tired frame. He draped it over the edge of the large soaking tub before tugging on the knot of his already loosened tie, fingers undoing the remaining buttons that had managed to escape Kouren’s eager fingers earlier. His stomach muscles were sore from his earlier heavings and he swore that he could still taste the lingering sour upon his tongue as he rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. He supposed he deserved it. Knowing that he couldn’t avoid himself forever, he faced his reflection at last and felt his lips press into a thin line.

Kouren’s lipstick had smeared along his throat like a scarlet letter, camouflaging one of Yona’s earlier markings with the waxy, red pigment that stamped his skin in accusations for his actions. Bad. He was a bad person. Despicable. He couldn’t even meet his own gaze in the glass and he scowled, fishing a washcloth from out of the linen cabinet beneath the sink. He turned on the warm water and dropped the cotton under the tap to soak while the temperature slowly rose. He then proceeded to fetch the soap while trying to figure out exactly what was wrong with him.
  The term self-saboteur came to mind but he scoffed, brushing the notion aside as he scrubbed at his neck, the scent of Hak’s minty soap branding the inside of his nostrils as he wiped away any traces of his earlier deeds. He canted his chin up and to the side, ensuring that he hadn’t missed anything before wiping away any residual film still coating his skin.
  He managed to locate the small tube of hemorrhoid cream that he kept on-call for when he pulled all-nighters on large projects; nothing screamed ‘unprofessional’ louder than baggy eyes and dark circles on the morning of a presentation. While the splotchy little patches that Yona had branded him with were already beginning to fade, Jae Ha wasn’t going to take any chances, liberally coating every abrasion with a layer of cream. He still couldn’t believe that he’d let it go that far, had allowed her to squirm in his lap and grip at him like she would float away without him to ground her. It was much too early in this little arrangement for Jae Ha to be acting so carelessly. He knew better.

Nice hickeys, you slut.

Jae Ha placed the tube back into the depths of the cabinet with a frown, wringing out the excess water from the washcloth before tossing it into the woven sea grass hamper in the corner. He’d been called far worse things before by more people than he cared to count over the course of his life thus far. ‘Slut’ was incredibly mild.

He propped a hip against the sink and rubbed the heels of his palms against his eyes before letting out a long sigh. God, he was too old for this kind of drama.
  He hadn’t done anything wrong. They were the ones in a relationship- he was just along for the fun of it. He didn’t owe anyone any explanations for his actions. His life was his own to do with as he pleased. It wasn’t like they had asked him to be exclusive with them anyway, right? He tried to pull forth the conversation between he and Hak at the diner but seemed to be having trouble ironing out the fuzzy recollections.
  He blamed the alcohol and his exhaustion as he rubbed his thumb along his lower lip in thought. Had they ever actually come to some formal agreement of some kind? Had anything ever really officially been set in stone? Did they agree to just see one another? They hadn’t, had they? Nothing about monogamy (gross) was ringing a bell from his memories, so what was the big deal?

If that were the case, then Jae Ha for sure hadn’t done anything wrong. He’d said it before and he’d say it again: he was doing this for Hak and Yona- to finally push the two of them together under the guise of being involved. He was doing them a favor and nothing more. This whole thing was about them, not him.

Never kid a kidder; wasn’t that how the saying went?

He was so fucked.
   
  His bed had never felt so big before.

Jae Ha groaned, thumping his hand upon the mattress next to his hip before rolling over in acute aggravation. He’d been actively trying to fall asleep for the better part of an hour and while it was no secret that the architect struggled with occasional bouts of insomnia as well as random night terrors, this was just bordering on plain old lunacy. The first thing he’d done after securing a job after college was to purchase a king-sized mattress because of his height, but now he was wondering if that hadn’t somehow been a mistake?

It had never been a mistake before, his brain unhelpfully supplied as he rolled over onto his back again to glare up at his stupid ceiling. Why was his body somehow only now noticing that he was sleeping alone? He’d slept alone his entire life- never having shared slumber with anyone even in his childhood!

He grimaced. Avoid.

What was happening? What was this new feeling of overpowering want? He had managed just fine on his own all of this time and he would continue to do so. His body just wasn’t up to speed, he supposed. He was just having trouble relaxing because of everything that had transpired earlier in the evening, that was all. He was still wound up over the business deal that had transpired over dinner, as well as whatever sickness had overtaken him in the parking garage. Adrenaline tended to linger and that was the only reason as to why he was still awake. That was it.

He closed his eyes and stubbornly beat back the growing yearning to just go and seek out what he was craving so fiercely, to go and get his fix to shut up his restless brain in order to get some respite.

No. Absolutely not. He refused. He was strong, he was fine on his own, and he wasn’t going to start acting like some clingy little shoujo character just because of two helpless little idiots sleeping across the hall.

This was fine- nothing he hadn’t handled before. He willed his body to relax, acknowledging every muscle and consciously making the effort to release the tension he was holding. He exhaled slowly, allowed himself to feel the softness of his blankets and the cradling of his mattress beneath him. He closed his eyes and counted his heartbeats. He started over and began to count again.

It was too quiet.

Dammit all. Jae Ha scrubbed his hands down his face and stifled his growl of frustration. He didn’t even know who he was anymore at this point. Was there even a remote possibility that this could just be some fucked up dream? First that nasty sensation of guilt and now this?

He just needed to see them. If he managed to do that, his brain would shut up and he could finally just succumb to slumber. It would appease whatever little gremlin had taken over his body and he could wash his hands of the whole thing. Good plan.

He flung the covers back aggressively and sat up so quickly that he should have given himself a head rush. He snagged his phone from his nightstand and shoved his feet into his slippers petulantly. This was ridiculous. This was stupid. He didn’t even recognize himself anymore and it pissed him off to no end.

Once met with the darkness of the hallway he froze, clenching his jaw and gripping the doorframe of his bedroom in indecision. What was he doing?

Didn’t think you were capable of having one of those ‘relationships’ that everyone’s always talking about.
  He wasn’t. Those things were messy and restrictive. They caused stifling feelings of being chained down and vulnerable; people always wanted to change one another and he refused to be stuck at the mercy of someone else’s agenda while being manipulated into thinking that there was something wrong with him when there wasn’t. He didn’t want to be dependent on someone else to make him feel happy. Hell- he didn’t want to be dependent upon someone else at all! He’d lived that life before as a child and he’d be damned if he’d ever experience that particularly horrifying sense of helplessness ever again.
  His rationale didn’t seem to keep him from hovering in Hak’s doorway, though, greedy eyes drinking in the slumbering forms wrapped up in each other. They looked so peaceful, so at ease.

Jae Ha’s lips parted in longing as he leaned against the frame, forehead pressing against the wood and shoulders slumping as he sighed, closing his eyes in defeat.

He was so fucked.
   
  Something was tickling his neck.

Jae Ha was slow to stir, brow furrowing and eyes twitching at the soft feeling of warm skin brushing across his pulse, his head turning in towards the pillow beneath his cheek as he grunted. It felt as if he’d only just closed his eyes, but he knew without a doubt that it was morning. He cracked an eye open and immediately felt something in his gut squirm at the lazy and sleepy-eyed smile that Yona gave him, her fingers brushing along the side of his neck.

“Good morning,” she whispered, so soft and so sweet, like he was something to be treasured.

Dammit. She was radiant. “Morning,” he murmured back, turning towards her and blinking away the lingering heavy pull still grasping at his eyelids.

She hummed, such a lovely sound to his unworthy ears. There was something almost disgustingly intimate about the situation that he currently found himself in: exchanging soft touches and gentle tones amongst rumpled bedding and lax limbs, all without the pretenses or expectations for something more.

Weird.

Her eyes fell to where she’d just been caressing and she paused, brows furrowed slightly and a strange look clouding over her features.

Jae Ha was going to ask her what was wrong when he suddenly stiffened, about to jerk out of her grasp as panic began to tighten in his throat. Had he missed a spot of deep red last night while he’d been scrubbing so viciously at his skin?

Instead of looking angry or hurt, Yona looked a little sheepish as she whispered, “ ‘M sorry about those, by the way.”

What? Oh- right.

Jae Ha deflated as he realized what she was referring to. Ugh- far too close for comfort. He cleared his throat, voice still husky from sleep as he murmured, “Nothing to be sorry for.” If anyone should be apologizing, it should be him.

Her eyes slowly traveled back up to his, such a gorgeous shade of gemstone that appeared to glow in the dull, grey light that winter mornings possessed. She seemed to become even smaller as she meekly breathed, “You sure?”

Ah- be still, his heart. It was too early for her to be tugging so fiercely at the sudden chain that seemed to bind him to her. The links had to have formed some time in the night after he’d crawled into Hak’s bed beside her, reinforcing their strength as he’d settled himself next to her in the dark, his once tense frame having relaxed at the sound of his bedmates’s deep and even breathing. He’d fallen asleep not long after, their presence having soothed whatever chaotic evil had been keeping him from slumber earlier, the warmth that had radiated over to him having mellowed his once tense muscles.

He didn’t deserve it and yet he was powerless to keep himself from it.

His hand reached up and enveloped hers, pulling it up to his mouth as he turned his head to place a kiss upon her palm. She was warm beneath his lips, the smell of her skin so new and yet so strangely nostalgic as he breathed, “ ‘M sure.” He peered at her from beneath his lashes and delighted in the flush spreading across the collarbones peaking out from beneath the wide collar of one of Hak’s t-shirts. It was so easy to fluster her and he smirked.

Yona gently pulled her hand from his grasp and busied herself with brushing a few strand of Jae Ha’s hair away from his eyes. “How was your dinner thing?”

At the mention of last night he could no longer seem to hold her gaze so he closed his eyes, turning over onto his back to stretch his limbs and dislodging her hand from his hair in the process. Whoops. “ ‘Sokay,” he grunted as his toes slid against the crisp cotton beneath him. He cleared his throat once more before murmuring, “Tedious, but we got the account.”

“Guys’re noisy.”

Yona bit into her bottom lip to stifle the giggles bubbling up at Hak’s slightly slurred words, the disgruntled man sitting up on his elbows behind her, yawning as he scrubbed a hand through his messy dark strands.

Jae Ha lifted his head enough to take in his roommate’s lack of shirt and smirked, enjoying the view before allowing his head to drop back down onto the pillow once more. He sighed before playfully pouting, “I miss all of the naked fun times around here...”

Hak smacked him in the face with his pillow and Yona yelped, elbowing Hak behind her as Jae Ha laughed, tossing his roommate’s pillow back over at Hak’s grousing face behind Yona’s small frame. Jae Ha ran his hand through his tousled hair and dropped his hands to his stomach, snickering at their growing antics. Some things just never changed and he was grateful for it. He closed his eyes and took in their playful bickering beside him, hands resting upon his abdomen as he smiled.

Yeah, he was fucked, alright.
     
  Back to reality.

Monday mornings had never really bothered him before, but this one was already annoying him and he’d barely set foot inside of the building. Jae Ha pressed the button for the elevator and sighed as he adjusted the strap of his cross-body leather briefcase. He found himself already wishing for a repeat of yesterday morning and nearly rolled his eyes at his own thoughts. Alarms and sirens were blaring inside of his mind at the gooey rom-com thought and he gave his head a small shake to try and dislodge them.

He heard the tell-tale clacking of heels against the marble of the lobby behind him and arched a brow as he turned his head to the side.

Kouren came to stand beside him and offered him a soft murmur of greeting, Jae Ha acknowledging her with a gentle muttering of his own. She pulled her tinted shades from her face and tucked them into her bag, her other handing him her to-go cup of coffee to wordlessly offer him a taste.

Meh- why the hell not? Jae Ha took it and drank without question, not at all surprised to taste the mild zing of whiskey laced into the blackened depths of the cup. He was actually surprised over its mildness for once but decided not to push it. It was the last Monday of the month and that meant that Kouren’s job was about to get more hectic as she made her rounds on everyone’s projects, barking orders and ensuring that everyone was keeping on schedule with their deadlines. The fact that they would be in the beginning stages of a larger account in a few weeks was probably already weighing heavily on her as well and Jae Ha could honestly admit that he did not envy her. Thanksgiving was coming up shortly and no doubt also added to her stress, but she was a pro at juggling everything that life threw her way, both professionally and personally.

The elevator doors parted just as Jae Ha handed her back her beverage and they both stepped inside, a perfectly lacquered nail reaching out to poke at the button of their floor as they both settled in for the ride.

The elevator music was low and dull, playing some instrumental version of some one-hit-wonder from the nineties. Jae Ha sighed, already tired and the day hadn’t even begun. This had all of the makings of one of the longest weeks of his life, even though it would be cut short by the upcoming holiday. He idly wondered how both Hak and Yona were settling back into their normal weekly routines when Kouren’s voice pulled him from his thoughts, her tone purely business.

“We need to talk.”

Jae Ha tilted his head at her with a small frown. “Oh? Something about the Avia-“

“The condom broke.”

Jae Ha froze, the air in his lungs seizing up and choking in his rib cage. They were alone in the elevator but it may as well be the size of a shoebox, the walls closing in on him as he fought to keep some semblance of his composure. Her words were echoing in the vast and empty chamber of his broken brain, replaying over and over. Jae Ha couldn’t move, couldn’t think and couldn’t even begin to form words-

Kouren barked out a laugh, tossing her head back with glee before turning to face him, elbowing him in the side as she gasped, “Kidding! Oh my god- you should see your face!”
  Jae Ha felt his brain reboot as his knees buckled, sagging against the elevator wall, the color draining from his face as he lifted a shaking hand up to cover his eyes. He may never recover from that little stunt. God- she was so cruel. “Ugh- you are such an asshole...”
  “Ah, that was glorious,” she chortled and faced forward, still smiling over her actions before lifting her coffee back up to her lips, barely able to swallow her sip before he snatched it out of her grip. She wiped the back of her hand across her mouth to prevent spilling anything upon herself and chuckled as she watched him practically chug the still hot beverage. She couldn’t even be upset- she supposed she deserved it and it was his mouth to burn, not hers.
  Jae Ha grimaced as he stuck his tongue out. Everything would be tasting like rubber for a week and he didn’t even care. “You’re sick, you know that? I mean, Christ -“
  “Oh, lighten up,” she scoffed, fingers brushing some of her shirt hair out of her eyes. All the better to strike fear into the hearts and souls of her coworkers. She smirked at him out of the corner of her eye and adjusted her bag that had been slung over her elbow. “So- have a nice weekend with your…?”

Jae Ha threw her a look that would silence a weaker person, but Kouren merely smirked that much harder, cocking a hip with a gleam in her eye. Jae Ha was filled with regret over having tossed her even so much as a crumb of his personal life because she could be ruthless if she wanted to be; he was just lucky that she hated him less than most, was all.

Kouren hummed as the elevator slowed at long last. “Well, just remember-“ the little bell dinged as they came to a stop. “If whatever it is that you’ve got going on is open, you’re always welcome at my door, okay?”

Jae Ha gripped her to-go cup tightly as the doors parted, revealing the front desk of the firm’s office. “Sure.” He swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing.

She winked before stepping out ahead of him, calling out over her shoulder, “Good. Now get to work.”
   
  “Are we doing Thanksgiving this year, or what,” griped Yoon through the phone, Yona wincing slightly over the background noise filtering in through the receiver. She should’ve shut her door when she’d first accepted the call because Yoon’s authoritative voice had a certain quality to it and it tended to carry, whether it was at the restaurant or at the PR firm where Yona worked, and she’d had more than her fair share of questions from fellow co-workers, all asking her about the “loud guy she spoke to on the phone once a week.”

She shuffled through the paperwork on her desk and scowled; where was that maternity leave form that Aro needed to fill out before the end of the week? Yoon yelled something muffled and Yona blew her bangs out of her face, her desk an absolute mess as she tried to find some semblance of order amongst the chaos. Yoon seemed to be in his own mess on the other line, but his was running like a finely tuned machine, as per usual. Yona didn’t think that there had ever been anyone or anything out of line in Yoon’s kitchen and she was jealous.

His voice sighed, having returned his full attention back to their conversation for the time being and it suddenly struck her that he was waiting for an answer from her. “Oh- um... I think so?”

“You think so,” intoned the chef, his sure to be deadpanned expression coming through loud and clear on the other end of the line. “What does that mean? Are you going somewhere else- you have other plans? What?”

“Uh,” Yona paused, brow furrowed as she considered his question. Huh. She wasn’t sure about that, actually. She’d gone back to Mundok’s with Hak in their first year together at University, but they’d gone to Yoon’s the following year and it had just kind of ping-ponged around after that. She hadn’t given this year much thought and she was rapidly running out of time. She should ask Hak and Jae Ha if they had any plans before assuming anything.

“Well while you ‘uuuuuhhhh’ I’m gonna shoot out a group text and figure everything out. We’ve only got a couple of days, here.”

“Okay,” responded Yona distractedly, having finally found the form. She folded it and placed it into an inter-departmental folder, pulling off the little strip of paper covering the adhesive backing and pressing it closed while Yoon continued to ramble on about the menu and other little musings. She scrawled Aro’s name onto the front of the envelope while only half paying attention to what the young chef was saying.

“-if Jae Ha’s seeing anybody, because otherwise I’m gonna have to adjust the place settings-“

“He-“ Yona abruptly cut herself off and let out a little squeak of surprise that she was almost certain had gone unnoticed due to all of the noise happening on Yoon’s end, but she should have known better, because he’d zoned in on her little sound like a hawk on a field mouse and she could practically feel the intensity of his curiosity. Dear God, what had she done?

“Wait,” he intoned. “What do you know that I don’t?”

“Huh? I-“ Yona tossed the envelope into the basket of outgoing mail on the corner of her desk. “What are we even talking about?”
  “Yeah, sure,” mocked Yoon with a scoff, letting out a quick yell at his sous-chef before circling right back to her. “You three’ve always been weirdly close so what do you know that I don’t? Is he seeing some floozy? Ugh-“
  “I don’t know anything,” Yona stressed, trying to claw out of the hole that she’d somehow dug for herself. “I don’t even know what we’re talking about-“

“Well, whatever. I don’t bother unless he mentions their names and he never does, so-“ someone called his name in the background and he growled, his voice dripping with annoyance over his own staff before huffing out, “I gotta go. Text you later.”

With that, he was gone and Yona found herself sinking back into her chair in sudden exhaustion. It had never really occurred to her to think about how they were going to explain their little situation to others, let alone all of their friends. Yona chewed on her bottom lip and fought against the urge to call Hak, knowing that the coach would be just as clueless about the whole thing as she was. Not only that, but Jae Ha should really be present as well, seeing as how the whole thing included him, too.

What a mess.

Yoon’s judgmental tone over Jae Ha’s lifestyle was suddenly rubbing her the wrong way. Why had she never really noticed before just how much grief their friends tended to give him over his actions and choices in life? She felt small and ashamed as she realized that she had once been guilty of it as well.

She thought back to yesterday morning, waking up to the sight of Jae Ha’s peaceful face before her. He looked so different when he slept, she’d noticed while studying his  smooth features. There was something so vulnerable about him while in that state, so open and honest, no mask to hide behind. When he’d opened his eyes and had focused upon her something inside of her had sparked to life, some strange urge to protect that vulnerability that he worked so hard to keep guarded from the world. Jae Ha was so incredibly adept at keeping his true feelings disguised, and the idea that maybe he wouldn’t do that with her anymore had her chest aching.

She didn’t want anyone else judging him and assuming the worst when they didn’t get to see him like this.

There was a small knock upon her open door and Yona turned her head to see Tao smiling sweetly at her and pointing to her watch. “Wanna grab lunch together? Algira’s buying!”

The PR agent himself leaned his head around the door, towering over Tao’s tiny frame with a grin. “And you know what that means!”

Yona smiled, “Lunch from the vending machines?”

“No,” he whined, coming to stand beside Tao and taking up any remaining space in her doorway. “I wanna go to that Mexican place a few blocks over! You know- the one with the margaritas as big as your head?”

Yona shook her head with a laugh, vowing to organize her desk once and for all when she returned. “As the head of Human Resources, you know what I’m going to say, right?”

“Like he’d listen anyway,” came an exasperated voice from behind her two co-workers and Algira yelped as Vold’s hand tugged on a strand of his blonde hair. The energetic young man took a few steps to the side to make way for the serious dark-haired PR manager. “You’d just be wasting your breath.”
  “Hey, no one asked you-“
  “Boys,” warned Tao. It was comical to Yona that a woman as sweet and as soft as Tao held such an effortless sense of authority over the two men who towered over her. They seemed to bend to her every will and follow her every command, despite the fact that the both of them were technically higher ups than she. “Food first, stupid fights later.”
   
  “You can’t afford to lose focus, here,” barked Hak, stepping into the ring to intervene on the session. He clapped his fellow instructor on the shoulder before taking his place, giving the frustrated teacher a break before facing the cocky young man, biting back his own irritation over how lackadaisical he was being over the entire thing. Hak had more patience than most assumed, but it was being tested and he’d about had his fill. “You have to treat these training sessions like it’s the real thing if you want to be convincing.”

“Yeah, whatever...” The young actor huffed. The famous man standing before him had insisted upon doing all of his own stunts for his upcoming movie and had been flown in to learn a few of the more “showy” Krav Maga moves (or so he had dubbed them) and had done nothing but slack off the entire two weeks that he’d been there, whining and complaining about every little step along the way while insisting that he could handle more complex moves.

Hak had tried to explain to him just how serious Krav Maga was, drilling into the man the fighting style’s origins and how it was developed to end a confrontation as quickly and as aggressively as possible, with no regard or concern over the opponent’s well-being. He tried to get his point across, to allow the information to sink in so that he could finally start to grasp the concept of having to master the more basic skills and learning how to execute them safely before they could even begin to inch forward, but he’d been met with nothing but resistance every step of the way. He’d called the actor’s agent to set up another meeting, but nothing had come of it, much to everyone’s chagrin.

It had been more than evident during the meeting that both men standing before him couldn’t have cared less and both for entirely different reasons. The agent had wanted to use the stunt double to begin with, but the actor had refused and had stubbornly dug his heels in until the studio gave in to his demands so that they could just keep their schedule and drive forward with the filming. He was doing all of his own stunts and that was that.
  [“Listen,” Hak had tried to explain to the agent for what had felt like the fiftieth time. “We have to start out at the practitioner levels for safety reasons. Most facilities refuse to teach any of the more advanced techniques until you reach graduate level two, and even that takes anywhere between four to six years -“  “Listen, Mr. Son, was it?” The agent had pocketed his rather expensive looking top of the line cellphone and had flashed his plastic million-dollar smile that made Hak sick. “The studio is on a strict timeline and frankly, this little fuck has got to be my least favorite client- highest grossing, but least favorite,” he clapped an arm around Hak’s shoulder and tried to direct him across the room but laughed somewhat nervously when he realized that Hak possessed a physique that allowed him to call the shots in this particular type of scenario, and he wasn’t going anywhere. “So just do everyone here a solid favor and teach him the stuff so you can wave his ass goodbye out the door and cash your paycheck, got it?”]  If not for the fact that Hak had fellow employees to think about, he’d have broken the guy’s perfectly constructed nose in the first fifteen seconds that he’d been forced to interact with him. Seeing as how the last thing he wanted was a gigantic lawsuit on his or the institution’s hands, he’d sucked it up and dealt with it as best he could.
  After two solid weeks of this, though, even he was rapidly approaching his tipping point. The stubborn little brat disguised as a well-known artist was doing nothing more than taking up space when Hak could be using his time to focus on the professional athletes and competitors who came here to actually better themselves and their techniques. The largest tournament that most of their clients trained for was scheduled for the second week of January and everyone was busier than normal trying to get in as much practice as possible before then. With all of the upcoming holidays, that meant squeezing in as much training as possible.

He didn’t have time to waste on this. This guy kept acting like he knew everything and that attitude was only going to continue to stunt his growth.

Hak stared down the actor before him, vowing to never watch anything that featured the annoying little asshole before him in the future. He tilted his head up at him. “Come at me.”

Dark brown eyes crinkled as the man laughed, his hands on his (probably lipo-suctioned) hips as he slowly meandered around his side of the ring. “What? Why?”

Hak shrugged his shoulders non-threateningly, “I wanna see what you’ve learned so far. If it looks like you’ve managed to absorb anything that you’ve been taught, I’ll throw some more advanced moves into your training schedule. Sound good?”

The once light-hearted smile upon the actor’s face suddenly got sharper, the challenge accepted. The heat in his eyes was gathering height as he dropped into the stance that he’d been shown on his first day. Still sloppy, Hak noted, but that would be addressed right after this.

“Well,” questioned Hak slightly, rolling his shoulders unnecessarily and readying himself for the ‘attack’ that was to come. “What are we waiting for? What’s the first move in your sequence?”

The actor laughed before suddenly lunging forward to push at Hak’s chest, the instructor quickly side stepping to avoid. The man stumbled and let out a snarl. Hak had had the fleeting thought to maybe go easy on the poor guy, but that promptly went out the window when the actor broke his choreographed sequence to come at Hak again, abandoning everything that he’d been taught to somehow try to bring down the coach in order to prove a point-

Hak angled his shoulder to the side and shot his hands out, smacking away the actor’s outstretched arms. The broad palm of Hak’s right hand immediately connected with the actor’s face and the young man arched his back as an automatic response to try and get away from the strike.

Hak deliberately held back the follow through so that he didn’t break the man’s nose then swung behind him, keeping his hand attached to his face and towering over him in a commanding presence. The first key to Krav Maga was speed, learning how to simultaneously attack and defend, and it was more than apparent that the stubborn child masquerading as a grown man before him had focused solely on attack.

Hak’s left hand immediately came up to join his right upon the man’s face and with the combined strength of his laced fingers, he pulled the man down to the mat (instead of flinging him, like he’d been taught) on his stomach with minimal effort, Hak’s knee pressing into the center of the celebrity’s back and pressing him down.

All in all, it took less than thirty seconds using years of hard discipline and training to prove his point.

With his ego bruised, the actor spat out a rather colorful slew of curse words, thrashing his limbs to try and escape his pinning before turning his head to the side to peer up at Hak through rage-glazed eyes.

Hak studied him with a neutral gaze, giving him a minute to let out his aggression before leaning down. “Listen,” he said calmly and noticed how the man went momentarily still beneath him. “I get it- you wanna prove that you can do this stuff and that’s admirable, it really is,” Some of the fire behind the man’s gaze seemed to have banked, so Hak continued on. “But you’re never gonna get anywhere if you keep goin’ on like this, so I’ll make a deal with you: I’ll teach you the move I just executed on you if you start working with us instead of against us. Deal?”

The man released a heavy exhale, much like the snort of a distressed animal before grumbling out his consent. Hak eased his weight off of him and stood, extending out a hand to help pull the man to his feet. He nodded at him, glad to finally have made some headway. Baby steps were still steps.

Exiting the ring and allowing his co-worker to take over once again, Hak headed towards the offices located at the back of the facility. He’d earned himself a break. Memories of his earliest days in martial arts flashed before him and he sighed. The day was only half done and it was only Monday. Ugh.

“Man,” said a familiar voice rather appreciatively, coming to match Hak’s easy pace so that he could walk beside him. “Glad that was you and not me- I’d have gone for the throat and probably wouldn’t have been as nice.”
  Hak grimaced. “I know- that’s why I’m workin’ with him and you aren’t.”
  Instead of being offended, Neguro merely grinned, shoulder brushing against Hak’s as he continued to walk with him. “What can I say? Guy rubs me the wrong way,” his expression soured. “Nothin’ pisses me off more than when someone makes the conscious choice to do the wrong thing, you know?”

“Yeah,” Hak sighed, remembering what a stickler Neguro was for following directions and had been known to be a little harsh on their other coworkers and clients. “But he’s still just a guy in a really shitty industry looking to make himself stand out. I mean, we gotta give him credit where’s it’s due- he could’ve just as easily thrown in the towel and signed off on having the stunt double do all the hard work.”

Neguro grunted but didn’t say anything else. It really steamed his clams when other people made valid points instead of just agreeing with him. Hak smiled, elbowing the straight-laced man and snickering when he didn’t so much as flinch. He grunted a farewell before heading towards the weight lifting area, leaving Hak to punch in the code for the back restricted area so that he could take his break.

Snagging a bottled water from the fridge, Hak’s thoughts kept drifting back to the weekend. He stopped his musings before they could wander too far, having already getting himself worked up on more than one occasion over the course of the morning. That thought quickly slid to mornings of Yona in one of his shirts, all soft and sleepy in his bed, making pancakes with Jae Ha at the stove-

Stop that!

He never used to have these problems, but then again- he’d also never been this happy. He wondered what Yona was doing as he pulled his phone from his locker, slamming it shut before straddling one of the long benches separating the bay of metal rectangles from the lounge area. He paused as he found that he had a message from Jae Ha. He swiped his thumb across the screen and stopped short at what he saw.
 
Green Perv

Look-y who I ran into at lunch?
 
  Hak took in the picture that Jae Ha had sent below the caption. The architect had his stupid face right next to Yona’s, posing for an obnoxious selfie with a wink and a smile, Yona smiling sweetly up at the camera as Hak recognized the background as that tacky Mexican place that Jae Ha’s project manager liked to hit up whenever it was her turn to pick where they ate. Speak of the blonde-haired devil, Hak noticed with a slight grimace, she was in the background, as well as a handful of other people Hak had never seen before. He’d met Kouren at Jae Ha’s firm’s Christmas party last year and the woman looked like she could turn a man to stone with just a glance if she wanted to.

He took in the familiar faces once again, eyes tracing over both sets of smiles with a huff of fond amusement. He shook his head but couldn’t stop the grin tugging at his lips.

Idiots.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“How did you manage to rope Yona into this,” accused Vold, pointing a finger at Algira’s cringing face. “This isn’t even her job-“
  “I asked her,” stated Tao, hands planted upon the cluttered surface to frown at Vold from across the conference room table. “Because you two need all the help you can get! Besides,” she sat down and reached for her iced coffee, which had turned room temperature hours ago. “This isn’t technically my job either, but here I am!”
  Vold had the good sense to look contrite while Algira looked just plain smug at watching the senior rep take a scolding for a change.

Yona crossed the room to hand Vold the printed results of their most recent online placements, patting him on the shoulder and offering him a soft smile once he accepted them from her with a mumble of gratitude. “I don’t mind helping, guys. You can always ask me.”
  Tao smiled brightly while Algira bowed his head in reverence, waving his arms up and down as if to pay his respects to her like the goddess that he was preaching her to be. Vold smacked him on the back of the head and ordered him to get back to work on the press list that had somehow been overlooked by the new hires, ignoring the blonde-haired man as he whined about how tired he was already.  The two men began their familiar back and forth, Tao trying to mediate and keep the peace. The young woman might have been a personal assistant, but to the outside eye, one would guess that she was far above her current station. Tao just had a way about her, an almost hidden regality wrapped up beneath that layer of sweetness; people tended to follow her and allow her to take the lead no matter what the situation. What a powerful gift!
  Yona headed back to her seat and studied Tao’s profile, recalling the girl’s older sister, whom she’d met at lunch just the day before. Honestly- what were the odds that Tao’s older sister worked with Jae Ha? The tall woman had been polite during introductions, graceful and poised, stylish and rather cosmopolitan, if Yona did say so herself. She and Jae Ha also seemed to get along rather well, she recalled with a small frown- which was fine! It was ideal for one to get along with the people that one worked with. Still... they’d sat beside each other and had been a little more familiar with one another than most co-workers were.

Yona’s phone rang, vibrating upon the table and pushing her out of her sudden bout of jealousy over a woman that she didn’t even know well enough to judge (she shouldn’t be judging anyone at all). Shame on her. She startled slightly before picking it up and examining the name. Jae Ha was attempting a video call and she glanced up at Tao, catching her eye and mouthing that she’d be right back. Tao waved her off and Yona gratefully headed out the door to accept the call out in the silent hallway.
  Swiping her thumb across the screen, she watched the word Connecting flash a few times before Jae Ha’s face suddenly appeared, offering her a wave and a smile. “Hello there,” he greeted, hand brushing through his hair somewhat distractedly.  Where was he? Yona frowned a little as she studied the mere glimpses at the vaguely familiar background, unable to place him but knowing without a doubt that he wasn’t at his firm. The ceilings above him were really high and the lighting was pretty bright. She could hear clanking sounds and loud yells as well and only found herself puzzling harder.  His eyes briefly flashed to something beyond his camera before returning to her, his laidback personality shining in the dimness of the hallway that she was currently standing in. “I was just calling to check in and to see what your plans were for the evening?”
  Yona felt her shoulders sag with disappointment. “I’m still at work,” she sighed, fingers tucking her hair behind her ear. She should have been done almost forty-five minutes ago, but she’d heard the commotion in the board room and now, here she stood. “There was a big mix-up with the press list for some new client, and by the time they’d caught it, everyone had already left for the night and with tomorrow being Thanksgiving-“
  “Ah,” nodded Jae Ha in empathy. If anyone understood deadlines and the importance of correcting mistakes immediately, it was him. Jeez- he and Vold had practically bonded over it at lunch. “Sounds fun... and you’re there because...?”  Uh oh. She smiled sheepishly. “I wanted to help?”  He smirked at her knowingly, more than a little familiar with her inner workings. “Of course you did,” he chuckled as he loosened the tie around his neck, her eyes snapping to the movement of his hand, which he noticed with a teasing little glint in his expression. He cooed over her embarrassment at having been caught ogling him, but it didn’t last long because his gaze slid off to the same area beyond his camera as before, seeming just a little distracted. “Well, you aren’t the only one working late tonight, it seems.”
  Yona frowned. “What do you mean?” She could barely hear him over the rising background noise and it nagged her again that she still didn’t know where he was.
  Jae Ha shot her his patented look, which could only be described as a conspiratorial glance, lecherous smile dripping with heated mischief as the angle of the camera was suddenly flipped around to reveal just what had caused his attention to be pulled away from his phone.  She squinted for a second at the sudden jarring motion, but felt her eyes pulse wide at the swift recognition. Yona felt her heart begin to pound a furious rhythm in her chest at the sight of Hak winding his way through the ropes of some kind of ring, his sleeveless shirt soaked with sweat and clinging to his upper body, dark hair sticking to his damp forehead as he came to stand before (what appeared to be) one of his fellow co-workers. He tossed a few good-natured insults towards his opponent, a rather large looking man who returned some of his own, both men sizing one another up before bowing their heads at one another.  Ah- he was at the training center where Hak worked. It was no wonder as to why she’d had trouble pinpointing Jae Ha’s location. The architect really wasn’t the gym-going kind, let alone a frequenter of a facility such as Hak’s. Jae Ha preferred cardio in the form of randomly scheduled runs, as well as using the small facilities that their building offered. She probably would’ve been scratching her head all night, never placing Jae Ha at that particular place; it was like trying to imagine Kija sitting at a strip club.  It had been awhile since Yona had seen Hak fight. She’d witnessed his abilities plenty while growing up and had cheered him on at a few tournaments back in college. She was used to watching him practice judo.  This was most definitely not judo.
  Hak barely had time to fling his towel over the edge of the ring before his opponent was upon him, advancing swiftly and executing a series of rather complicated and aggressive looking moves that Hak was barely able to counter.

Yona clutched her phone tightly while she observed, anticipation and concern warring with one another as she watched Hak sidestep, only to have his legs swept out from under him. He fell, but was quickly able to roll away and regain his footing, which was good, considering the fact that the man attacking him was refusing to go easy on him. She felt suddenly warm as she gaped at Hak sidestepping and angling his body in ways that she’d never seen before. What was this form of martial arts and how had she never seen him perform this before? It was ruthless and almost savage in its intensity.
  It probably was a good thing that she’d never seen him like this, she reasoned as chewed on her bottom lip. There was something about watching this display that had her higher functioning thought processing capabilities short-circuiting. She was setting her gender back at least one hundred years by practically drooling over such a masculine display and couldn’t care less. She could practically picture Ayura shaking her head at her in disgust.  This was just- this was something that she wasn’t at all used to. She was well aware of what Hak was capable of, having witnessed him on numerous occasions in the past while in his natural element. She’d seen him shirtless plenty of times and had recently had the pleasure of running her hands all over his chest and back. He had to earn those muscles somehow and her brain knew that, but it was still hard not to experience whiplash over the stark contrast between this version of him and the one that she saw so frequently. This Hak was merciless, aggressive and dominant, demanding his opponent to submit without words.  The Hak that she was more accustomed to was nothing but gentle with her, polite and courteous with a hint of sarcasm, always asking and verifying her comfort, all tender touches with soft pressure whenever he gripped her hips and skimmed his fingertips along her shivering skin-
  Yona hadn’t realized just how close she’d brought her phone to her face until she jumped at the loud sound of Hak suddenly being thrown onto his back. She nearly dropped the device in response, her small hands grappling for her phone and letting out a little startled squeak before wrapping her fingers around it with an exhale of relief. God- what was the matter with her? Get it together!
  By the time that she’d managed to gather her wits and turn her phone around back towards herself, Hak was back on his feet and huffing out an amused laugh, accepting his coworker’s taunting jeers with a smile and a good-natured wave of his hand. He was out of breath and Yona watched his chest rise and fall as he swiped a hand across his forehead, pushing his hair back and away from his eyes.  Jae Ha flipped the camera around and finally made eye contact with her as he pulled his own gaze away from the scene before him, the nearly predatory glint in his eyes causing a heavy heat to pool between her thighs as he rumbled, “Pity you have to work.”   “Everything okay, Yona,” inquired Tao somewhat distractedly as the redhead shuffled back into the room, pulling a chair out beside the personal assistant with mechanical movements and dropping into the plush leather before immediately leaning forward to press her warm skin against the cool surface of the table.  Tao blinked, slurping up the last bit of her lukewarm beverage before tilting her head at Yona curiously. She reached a hand out to poke her finger at the back of Yona’s head. “Um... hello?”
  Yona offered a small groan in response. No good deed went unpunished.

“What are you doing here?”  Jae Ha huffed out an incredulous laugh as his expression fell slightly at Hak’s tone. “It’s nice to see you, too,” he teased while swallowing the weird twinge his heart gave at the somewhat stiff greeting.
  Hak merely raised a brow, breaking eye contact with his roommate in order to turn and extend a ‘goodnight’ to Yotaka, who had been standing beside Jae Ha and engaging in conversation while Hak had rinsed off and changed his clothes. The man was polite enough and Hak respected him for his talent and discipline with more of the weapon-based martial arts that they also offered, but like Neguro, he could be a little intense at times.
  Still, Hak thought as he watched his co-worker clap Jae Ha on the shoulder in farewell before heading off towards the back of the facility. He wouldn’t really want to face off against him unless he absolutely had to.   “ Yona’s still working,” offered Jae Ha as he stuffed his discarded tie into his coat pocket, freeing up his hand so that he could rub at his slapped shoulder a little with a slight grimace. “Sorry to say.”
  Hak grunted, pulling on his own coat and secretly glad for the ride that he was about to receive. He’d left his hat at home that morning and hadn’t exactly been looking forward to braving the cold with wet hair. That, and it was nice to see his roommate, for reasons that were still unclear. It was causing his jaw to tick and his brow to furrow slightly in thought. He’d been thinking about that a lot lately.
  Jae Ha frowned slightly at his roommate’s somewhat standoffish behavior. The man had seemed a little lost in thought over the past few days and Jae Ha had constantly found himself wanting to pry apart that overthinking mind so that he could try to piece together the jumbled mess going on inside of Hak. Something was eating at him and Jae Ha just wished that he would confide in him like he used to.  “I thought maybe that we could grab dinner,” he offered lightly, trying his best to keep the atmosphere jovial while wondering if he had taken a misstep somewhere? He cleared his throat and fought against the urge to fidget, thrusting his hands into the pockets of his wool coat as he tried not to acknowledge the hurt that he was currently feeling. This was weird and he didn’t like it. His fingers wrapped around the key-fob to his car, jaw tensing as Hak shifted his weight from foot to foot. “But we don’t have to if you-“  “Let’s get food. I’m starving.”  Jae Ha paused and blinked, eyes following Hak as he brushed past him and towards the exit, his body turning to follow the man’s figure. He noted with some delight that Hak was wearing a pair of the jeans that he had purchased for him. Well, wasn’t that sweet?
  Hak’s impatient tone called out for him to hurry up, seeing as how he was his ride.

“Thanks again for your help, Yona,” said Tao with a bright smile. Her breath plumed in the cold air as they headed toward the bus stop together, tiny nose wrinkling against the icy wind. “We would’ve been there waaay longer without you!”
  Yona hummed an acknowledgment while she fished her mittens out of her pocket. Hak often teased her for her childish style in winter wear, but they were fleece-lined and so warm so what did he know? “You’re welcome! Again- happy to help!”

Tao stuffed her own hands into the pockets of her puffy down feather jacket. “Are you sure we weren’t keeping you from anything,” she inquired as she watched Yona struggle to shove her mitten onto her hand out of the corner of her eye. “Because you kinda got a little distracted after that phone call.”

Yona dropped her other mitten with a small squeak, stopping so that she could bend down to scoop the article up off of the pavement. “Wha-? Oh! That- that was nothing!”
  “Are you positive,” probed Tao, that overly-innocent tone in her voice causing Yona to tense up. “Because I’d hate to think that we were keeping you from something mor pressing.”
  Was she blushing? God, she hoped not. Yona ducked her head in the pretense of sheltering her skin from the cold air and forced out a nervous laugh. “Ha- no! I don’t have anything going on!” Great. Way to be inconspicuous.
  Tao hummed, her gaze straight ahead as they continued down the sidewalk. Once Thanksgiving was over, most of the businesses and stores in the city would be decked out in holiday themed window displays, complete with twinkling lights and bright cheerful colors. If she noticed the way that Yona was fidgeting beside her, she made no comment on it. She tilted her head back slightly to take in the blackened sky above and wished that she could see the stars for just one night.  They turned the corner at the end of the block together in silence, each one lost in their own thoughts.  She should’ve called Hak and Jae Ha, Yona lamented as her thoughts once again turned to tomorrow’s activities. They were going to be spending the majority of the day with their friends and the conversation was bound to steer in the direction of relationships like it always did. She had no idea how the two men wanted to handle the situation. It wasn’t like they’d ever taken the time to discuss the parameters of whatever this little arrangement was between them anyway, so how were they supposed to explain it to other people?  Once Tao had deemed that enough time had passed, she asked lightly, “So, that friend of yours that we met at lunch the other day...?”  Darn- she’d let her guard down while lost in her inner ramblings and Tao had somehow sensed it, pouncing in for the kill. She was unprepared. Yona swallowed, somehow feeling cornered by such an innocent inquiry. “O-oh! You mean Jae Ha?”  “Jae Ha, yeah,” she nodded, still as bright and cheerful as ever, unassuming in her curiosity. “How long have you known him?”  Oh. Well that was harmless enough. This was safe territory. Silly her- Tao was just trying to make polite conversation and Yona had been so keyed up that she’d just assumed the worst. Again, shame on her. “Hmmm...” she pondered, trying to count back in her head with a small frown. Curse her and her lack of basic mathematical skills. “Let’s see- I met him when we were at University together, so that was...?”  “And how long have you two been dating?”
  Yona faltered, spine tensing and threatening to snap as she whipped her head to the side and stumbled over her words. “What? We aren’t- W-Why would you think-?”
  “Yona, please,” Tao grumbled, expression souring a little and slightly fed up with the half-assed charade. “I have eyes and you two were fooling exactly no one at lunch the other day.”  They- wait, what? Yona felt her shoulders hunch slightly in defense but tried her best to keep up the ruse out of respect for Jae Ha’s reputation; he worked with Tao’s sister, after all, and the last thing that Yona wanted was to cause gossip at Jae Ha’s job due to her inability to be tactful. Her mind felt like it was pin-balling, shooting all over the place as she tried to remember their behavior during their impromptu lunch together. How had they been inappropriate? “I don’t know what you’re implying, but-“  “I mean,” Tao shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, expression still kind and holding no traces of ill-will as she pressed on. “He is a bit older than you- not that it matters. I guess I just assumed that you and that guy with all of the muscles were a thing.” She seemed to suddenly drift off into a dreamy headspace at the mention of Hak, no doubt picturing a fantasy flowery version of him in her head to drool over properly.  Yona could absolutely feel the blush that she’d been fighting to keep back creeping along her neck. She’d blame it on the cold if anyone pressed. “W-Well-“  “But after seeing all of that energy between you and Jae Ha, I was definitely mistaken,” Tao tucked her bobbed blonde hair behind her ear and lamented over the fact that she’d left her earmuffs on the bus last week, never to be seen again. She seemed to pout a little as she gave Yona the side eye. “I guess I’m just a little hurt that you didn’t tell me, is all... I mean, I didn’t even know that you were dating anyone!”  Ugh- dammit all. Yona stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and tilted her head back to groan dramatically. This was all so complicated and the fact that she’d been holding it all in without anyone to talk to about it was slowly dissolving her sanity. She brought her head forward and locked eyes with Tao, who had stopped a few paces ahead of her and was now watching her with large, unblinking eyes.  There was an understanding kindness in those big doe eyes of hers, Yona noted with some relief; judgement free and soft. Yona shuffled over to her friend and felt her shoulders sag with the weight of her worries, desperate for someone to help her redistribute the load. “Okay,” she said with a sigh of resignation. “No matter what I tell you, do you promise that it stays between us?”  Tao blinked, tilting her head slightly. “Well, yeah. Yona, you know you don’t have to tell me anything that you don’t want to, right,” Guilt etched itself across her features. “Because I don’t want you to think-“
  Yona smacked back the urge to cry and took in a deep and unsteady breath. “No- I know... I wanna talk about it, but-“
  “Hey,” Tao reached out to take one of her mittened hands, her smile soft and supportive in every way that the redhead needed. “It’s okay. We’re friends! You can tell me anything! I promise- everything stays here with me, okay?” At Yona’s nod, she released her hand and linked her arm through the redhead’s instead, tugging her along as they resumed their walk to the bus-stop. “Come on- it’s colder than the devil’s heart out here!”  Yona chuckled, matching her friend’s pace against the pavement.

“So,” began Jae Ha as he watched the small crowd of football enthusiasts gathered across the room, all clustered together beneath the largest wall-mounted screen. Experienced eyes were already taking in the number of pints that would be needing a refill soon before he could stop himself and he shook his head at his actions; old bartending habits died hard.
  Hak grunted beside him, having angled his chair so that he could keep tabs on the game as well. Normally, he wasn’t interested in sports very much, but he’d apparently made some kind of bet with one of his coworkers over the outcome. His eyes were on the screen, but it was more than apparent that his focus was elsewhere yet again. A few harsh yells practically boomed in the space from the enthusiastic patrons, but Hak seemed oblivious.
  Silence resumed between them. So much for small talk.  Jae Ha frowned before turning back to his scotch, tilting the glass to watch the melting ice cubes swirl with the alcohol. His own brain was re-examining the plans that he’d once been so sure of, re-calculating and trying to come up with some design to help fix whatever it was that had upset the careful balance going on inside of Hak. Hak used to seek counsel from him whenever something was bad enough to bother him to the point of distraction, but for some reason, he was holding everything in this time. Jae Ha had no doubt that his roommate was close to spilling over. He could read a pensive man’s body language rather well, if he did say so himself and knew that he just needed to be patient.  Jae Ha’s gaze wandered around the space lazily, taking in the other patrons with half-hearted interest as he leaned back in his chair. He was tired. It had been a long and tedious day for himself at the firm, tying up loose ends and ensuring that anything pressing had been attended to before the long weekend ahead. He was looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow, but he was looking even more forward to not having to work for the next four days.  His brain pulled him back to what he’d witnessed earlier- watching Hak attempt to take down that brute force of a coworker in that ring, eyes focused and expression intense. Jae Ha had no doubt in his mind that if anyone needed the next four days off, it was Hak. Seriously- how did the man move like that and not ache all over?  Another hearty round of shouts and dismayed cries erupted across the room and Jae Ha grimaced slightly. Ugh- whenever he found himself feeling even a slight twinge of nostalgia for the good old days, he’d visit one of these establishments during a televised sporting event and immediately find himself jumping right out of his little stroll down memory lane. Yeah, he was more than fine with his current career, thanks ever so much. He honestly couldn’t remember the last time he’d visited a sports bar, honestly.  But Hak had wanted a burger and after witnessing a mere snippet into the intensity of the man’s daily work routine, Jae Ha had no objections over finding him some protein for his metabolism. How the man didn’t eat more was now a mystery to him. It was just as well; he’d needed a drink anyhow, because he couldn’t seem to get the image of Hak in that ring out of his head for more than two minutes at a time and it was becoming a problem.  Ugh- he felt like such a creep (and since when did that bother him?) for fantasizing about the man beside him when said person had made it fairly clear that he had no interest in him in that particular way. Hak had merely been swept up in the moment whenever he’d allowed anything to happen between them, he was sure. Almost every one of Jae Ha’s advances had gone unaccepted or barely tolerated and he had come to terms with the fact that not only was Hak probably just humoring him for Yona’s sake, but that the architect really needed to just cease his actions. He wasn’t a monster- he’d never force himself upon Hak and he could take a hint. At least, he used to be able to. Nowadays, he found himself constantly trying to decipher Hak’s body language. It was like he was meeting him for the first time all over again and Jae Ha found himself testing his roommate’s boundaries as if starting from scratch. It was odd.  He could read signals very well, but even he had to admit that the dark-haired man was continuing to throw out mixed ones that were probably only serving to confuse himself more than anyone. Self-induced torture was the worst and Jae Ha couldn’t fathom why Hak wouldn’t just come forth and talk about his feelings.  He nearly snorted against the rim of his glass at the thought; Hak’s picture was probably listed under the term repressed in the dictionary.  Jae Ha’s gaze flickered to his profile briefly and he grit his teeth, admonishing himself when another flashing of Hak’s display back at the center took the forefront of his mind yet again. He took a larger sip of his scotch than he’d intended and winced slightly at the burning sensation spreading in his throat. God- he was just as distracted as Hak. Why couldn’t he stop replaying that match in his head? That man had been huge and Hak had faced off against him without hesitation!  Ugh- stop!  The comparison between the Hak that he knew daily and the one that trained athletes was giving him whiplash. He knew what Hak was capable of! Hell, he’d been on the receiving end of Hak’s judo moves on more than one occasion and the knowledge of just how much power rested beneath that skin caused heat to prickle along Jae Ha’s neckline. It was one thing when they went on their morning runs together twice a week (when the weather was nice, of course), or when he allowed his roommate to organize his gym routine that he never stuck to (once a week at the gym was more than enough for the architect, thank you very much), but it was a completely different ballgame to see Hak attempting to take down opponents twice his size with all of the confidence of a warrior going in to battle. Thunder Beast, indeed.  Ugh- not now.  “Hey.”  Jae Ha nearly startled as he was abruptly shoved out of his thoughts and back to the present. Hak’s voice had cut through the noise like a sharpened blade and Jae Ha lifted his head to see an intensity behind Hak’s gaze that had a sudden knot of dread pressing against his rib cage.
  Hak’s thumb was running along his beer glass and his eyes were still somewhat distant. “Can we talk about somethin’ real quick?”
  Jae Ha schooled his expression and nodded as he sat up in his chair. He took another sip of his liquor to take his mind off of the tightening in his chest and it worked momentarily, until he noticed the way that Hak was tensing up. He pulled his own shoulders back and tried to appear unfazed and almost bored, hoping that his calm demeanor would rub off on him and help settle him a little.  “I just think,” began Hak as he stared down into the depths of his beer. “Maybe we should go over some stuff before tomorrow, yeah?”  Alright. Fair enough. Jae Ha had hoped that Yona was going to be present before having this conversation, but he supposed that they could just debrief her in the car on the way to Yoon’s tomorrow. While Jae Ha had originally been the one to call the shots and take the lead in this little triad, he realized that perhaps handing the reigns over to Hak every once in awhile would probably be good for his anxiety; lack of control over a situation had a way of poking at one’s nerves and Jae Ha felt a stab of shame over selfishly hoarding it. His intentions had been good, though.
  Hak was watching him out of the corner of his eye and Jae Ha tilted his glass to take inventory of what remained of his liquor. The amber colored liquid was slowly growing lighter and lighter; soon it would take on a more golden hue and the potency would be cut in half.
  Pity. If he was going to drive them home, then this was going to be his only dose. He should’ve paced himself. He couldn’t seem to dislodge that pesky knot and the pressure was only mounting with each passing second. Hak was still waiting so Jae Ha murmured, “I’m listening.”
  Hak seemed to be pressing his forearms into the table, rolling his glass in between his palms slowly, methodically. “You remember what we talked about that day at the diner?”
  “If I say ‘yes,’” Jae Ha hedged, testing the waters as he watched Hak’s large hands continue to move with such fluidity. “Will you stop fidgeting?”  Hak sighed in irritation, loudly and exaggeratedly before flattening his palms on the table, the trail of condensation left behind by his glass smearing into every line and crevice in his skin. “Look, I’m serious- you either remember or you don’t-“  “I do remember,” (sort of, he thought with an internal wince of guilt) said Jae Ha calmly, feeling Hak’s irritation rising and refusing to engage with the argument that he was unintentionally offering. He wouldn’t take the bait, no matter how badly Hak wanted him to. He had to admit that he’d been thinking about that day a lot this week, and while it was true that he’d been struggling with recalling the exact details regarding anything between the three of them collectively and whether or not exclusivity had been brought up, he did remember one important aspect to their brief talk. “I remember telling you that we didn’t have to do or be anything that you weren’t comfortable with and you’d agreed.”
  Hak’s jaw ticked and his leg was bouncing beneath the table, causing it to move slightly with his actions. Jae Ha watched him with a detached expression, his own patience wearing thin at this point. He took another tiny sip of his liquor and grimaced slightly; yep, definitely watered down.
  “I just-“ Hak took in a sudden sharp inhale through his nose, only to let it out from between his lips slowly, like he was trying to steady himself.  Jae Ha’s glass paused at his lips, eyes narrowing. Was this it? Was the dam finally about to give way? Jesus- he hoped so. Whatever poison was clogging up Hak’s system needed to be purged and if this little arrangement of theirs was going to continue, then the man would have to adjust his emotional maturity so that they could talk about things.  And if he was ending this then at least get on with it, already!  Jae Ha felt his expression flattening at his own words. Yeah- like he was one to preach about emotions in relationships; or relationships at all for that matter.  Well, whatever.  One thing was for certain: he couldn’t take much more of the cloud of tension that was hovering over them. It was stifling, pressing down upon him and he felt the overwhelming urge to lighten the situation a little, lest he be smothered. “Look,” Jae Ha leaned forward and allowed a small smile to pull at his lips, keeping his tone casual and relaxed. “I understand, Hak- really. You’ve never been in this situation before-“  “It’s not-“  “And being with a man is something that you probably never saw yourself attempting,” Jae Ha reasoned, waving his glass around gently as he tried to keep his voice steady and his expression light-hearted.  “That’s not-“  “I mean,” Jae Ha paused just long enough to sweep a hand over himself with a teasing smirk. “I’m a lot for anyone, let alone-“  “You don’t-“  “Being the first man that you’ve ever been with-“  “You’re not my first, okay?” Hak’s exasperated voice finally broke through Jae Ha’s interruptions, desperation to finally be heard over the constant interrupting coating his tone thickly.  “I-“ Jae Ha suddenly froze, voice cutting off and lips parted in surprise over the statement that he’d just heard, the world that he once thought he knew seeming to tilt on its axis. Wait. His wide eyes landed on Hak and took in the rapid reddening of his ears as he seemed to realize the gravity of what he’d just blurted out, blue eyes flashing to Jae Ha before darting off in a panic.  What. The. Fuck.  Jae Ha’s brain finally seemed to catch up and he clicked his slackened mouth shut. This was information that he needed time to process but he didn’t have that luxury, because Hak looked dangerously close to closing himself off and he couldn’t afford to have that happen now.  Jae Ha looked around for a moment, his once sure footing having given way in light of this sudden proclamation. He was floundering, here. “I, uh-“ he cleared his throat a little, leaned back in his seat in a pathetic attempt at looking like he wasn’t shocked before thinking better of it and leaning forward once more. “I didn’t know-“  “Yeah, well,” grumbled Hak in embarrassment as he crossed his arms heavily across the tabletop. “There’s a lot of shit you don’t know, okay?”  “Clearly,” breathed Jae Ha before tipping back the rest of his drink in one rapid swig, long fingers draped over the rim of his glass to prevent the ice cubes from smacking him in the face. He swallowed and gave his head a quick shake, blinking rapidly before licking his lips to swipe away any lingering alcohol because he needed all the help he could get, here. Okay... what had he missed? His brain was rapidly firing in every direction, trying to pull forth memories from college while simultaneously dissecting every interaction that Hak had ever had with any male-
  Hak snorted. “Don’t give yourself a stroke,” he said with a flat tone, pulling his beer back towards himself and taking a rather large swallow.
  Jae Ha didn’t think that he had any say in the matter, but he’d try. He was just- wow. He couldn’t even come up with an accurate word to describe what he was feeling right now. Shocked? Befuddled? Astonished? He just couldn’t wrap his head around it. Everything felt all upside down and through the looking glass-esque. What was real? How did he know?  One thought seemed to win and pushed its way past the rest of the chaos to stand before his mouth in victory. He turned toward his roommate and asked, “Does Yona know?”
  Hak stared at the ring of condensation that his glass had left behind, gaze stretching beyond the wet circle and into some far off place that Jae Ha suddenly wished that he could snatch him out of. He gave a small shake of his head. “No.”
  Jae Ha frowned, fighting against the sudden urge to reach out and connect physically with Hak somehow, to pull that face towards his own and wipe away the sad glimmer that had smothered the warmth in those beautiful blue eyes. It was disturbing him. Hak seemed ashamed and that wouldn’t do.  He exhaled softly and gave Hak space instead, fought back against the powerful current trying to sweep him away and urged himself to just be patient. This wasn’t about him, after all.
  Hak swiped his thumb through the ring of water, smearing it along the table and breaking the once perfect circle. “Not yet, anyway.”
  Oh? Not yet? That showed promise. Jae Ha felt his own expression soften over that statement. That was good.  The dark haired man swallowed, seeming to struggle a little over his next words and how to piece them together. “I just- I just need a little more time.”  Yeah, join the club.  Jae Ha’s middle finger traced along the rim of his glass slowly, humming his response and offering a small nod in understanding. He wanted so badly to press him for more, to grab him by the shoulders and shake the details out of him but knew that it wasn’t his place to do so. Whether it was intentional of not, Hak had entrusted Jae Ha with something that he’d most likely never told anyone else and the thought was humbling, to say the least.   Trust. Huh. Well that was... huh...  “I need more time for other stuff, too.”  Eh? Jae Ha blinked, gaze sliding sideways slowly to take in the rather adorable blush dusting across Hak’s face. His leg was bouncing under the table again, too. That was an irritating tell and he made a note to play against the man in a game of poker whenever the opportunity should arise.
  Hak cleared his throat but seemed to locate another small stash of courage as he muttered, “S’not that I don’t wanna... with you...”
  His mouth was hanging open again, he was sure of it. Jae Ha pressed his lips closed and fought against the strange uptake in his heartbeat. His ribs were starting to ache but not in the same way as before. Strange.
  Hak kept his head slightly turned away from Jae Ha. “Just need more time.”
  Jae Ha swallowed.  Yeah, join the club.    “Are you worried about tomorrow?”
  Yona nodded, head bent down as she watched her fingers twist the fabric of her mittens in her lap. While she did feel better once she’d spilled her secret relationship to her friend ( “Hah! I knew you and Hak were a thing- I just knew it!” ), she’d then confided in her about the reason behind her apprehension over facing their friends tomorrow and had hoped that maybe the small blonde could help provide an outside view?
  Tao had listened, had allowed Yona to confide everything to her  while sparing the dirty details, much to her coworker’s chagrin, the little pervert. It did feel a little easier to breathe, now.  “Have you talked to Hak and Jae Ha about it,” Tao asked discreetly over the noise of the bus.
  She shook her head. “Not yet.”
  Silence. Then-  “Well jeez,” huffed Tao with an incredulous laugh, reaching out to pat Yona’s hand before prying the abused mittens from her grasp. “No wonder you’re so nervous!”
 Well, it was nice to know that she was justified in her feelings. Yona chewed on her bottom lip, feeling a bit lost over what she should do. Should she call them tonight? Should they talk about everything over video chat, or should she just snag a cab and go over to their apartment? She didn’t want to be pushy. Or needy. This was just such foreign territory and she didn’t know which direction to take.
  “Yona,” began Tao, straightening out the fabric of Yona’s mittens with a gentleness that seemed to permeate the air around them. “I’m not gonna try to tell you what the right move is here because I’m not in your shoes, but you should know that from here on out, things like this need to be discussed between the three of you. I mean- you already have to be open and honest in typical relationships, but since there’s an extra person added, you’re really gonna have to work hard to keep communication open so that no one’s left out.  “I mean, at the end of the day, whatever happens between ya’ll really isn’t anybody’s business but your own,” she handed the mittens back to Yona and turned her head to smile at her. “But the people that you’re spending tomorrow with are your friends, right?”
  Yona slowly nodded, eyes unblinking as she listened and soaked in Tao’s insight.
  “Okay- then don’t worry! Because if they’re really your friends, then they’ll love and accept you no matter what!” She patted Yona’s hands again and faced forward, watching the route through the large windshield of the vehicle.  Huh. She made it sound so simple.  Yona turned to face forward as well. Tao was right. Was she overthinking things? Probably. Yes, she should have spoken with Hak and Jae Ha when she’d first started feeling anxious about tomorrow, but was she just blowing everything out of proportion? Was she just making a mountain out of a hill? Nerves had a tendency to do that; they fed on worries and fears until a situation grew from a small errant thought into what felt like a national emergency.  Tao’s words held a lot of insight for someone who never really mentioned her own romantic life. The fact that she seemed so knowledgeable on the subject of navigating a relationship with more than one person had Yona’s brow suddenly furrowing in thought as the bus began to slow. It really wasn’t right to assume, especially in a situation such as this, but Yona couldn’t help feeding into the nagging idea that was poking at her. She turned to ask Tao how the girl seemed to be so familiar-  Tao was already watching her out of the corner of her eye and Yona felt her own pulse wide at the way that the personal assistant merely brought a finger up to her smirking lips and winked. “Happy Thanksgiving, Yona,” she said as the bus came to a complete stop, giggling at Yona’s shell-shocked expression and hopping up to her feet. “See you Monday,” she called over her shoulder before joining the people pouring out onto the pavement.  She waved at Yona from the sidewalk and the redhead swore that she just felt her entire world shift a little.    Jae Ha hung up his coat and sighed, running a hand through his hair and stopping suddenly at the abrupt end at his neckline. He grimaced slightly; old long-haired habits died hard. He’d never truly realized just how often he’d fidgeted with his hair until the day he’d cut it off. He’d sworn once upon a time that he’d left it long merely as a hearty ‘fuck it’ to society’s expectations, but tugging upon the growing strands in his youth while shut away from the rest of the world had gotten him through some of his worst moments, much like a security blanket.   He toed off his shoes as Hak hung up his own coat beside him, the dark haired man having been mostly silent throughout the remainder of dinner and in the car on the ride home. Jae Ha didn’t mind; he’d been able to engage his roommate in small talk and had even watched him crack a smile or two over the course of the evening. He seemed to be feeling better about things and Jae Ha hadn’t realized just how much his own emotions had been affected by Hak’s until he realized that he himself wasn’t as tense he was before.  Hm.  He was still reeling internally over what Hak had said at the bar, trying to wrap his head around everything and unable to make ends meet. God, what he wouldn’t give to pry. Sleep would most likely be elusive tonight. His thoughts were whirling around as he informed Hak that he was going to take a shower. He almost felt physically drained. These two would be the death of him before everything was said and done.  He pondered over his musings as he walked through the kitchen and down the hallway towards his room, hand reaching out towards the knob of his bedroom door-
  Hak’s hand landed upon his shoulder and spun him around, Jae Ha disoriented for a small moment before stiffening at the sudden feeling of Hak wrapping his arms around his neck and pulling him against him.
  Again- What. The. Fuck.  Jae Ha stared at the wall in shock for a moment as Hak hooked his chin over his shoulder and squeezed him tightly, the architect’s once numb arms finally coming to life to lift up and return the unexpected show of affection somewhat stiffly. Hak had never hugged him before. This was new. He noted that it was actually quite lovely as he pressed his lips against the soft, cotton fabric on Hak’s shoulder. They were around the same height and built nearly the same, save for Jae Ha’s more lean musculature versus Hak’s more powerhouse frame. He closed his eyes and savored the feeling of his body against his, his hands smoothing down the muscular expanse of Hak’s back soothingly.  “Thanks,” muttered Hak in a low tone.  “Hm,” intoned Jae Ha softly, taking a deep inhale of Hak’s familiar, minty scent. This was actually rather nice. They should do this more often. But maybe not too often; it was dangerous just how easy it would be for him to get greedy for this. “For what?”  “Just,” Hak tensed slightly before loosening his grip, pulling back and turning his face away so that Jae Ha couldn’t see his expression (what a pity). “Not pushing and stuff.”  Oh- the man had no idea just how much restraint the architect had shown tonight... in more ways than one. Jae Ha’s mouth quirked up into a small smile as his arms fell back to his sides, one hand sliding through his hair just so that he could keep it occupied, instead of reaching out to pull Hak back against him like he wanted to. God, he really missed his long hair right about now.  “‘Course,” he then folded his arms across his chest as he watched Hak try to act as though he hadn’t just hugged his roommate out of the blue. So endearingly awkward, the big brute. Jae Ha smiled. “I’m a gentleman, after all.”  He laughed outright at the look that Hak threw his way before turning around and calling him an ‘idiot’ over his shoulder.  Jae ha tilted his head appreciatively at Hak’s retreating form before opening his bedroom door, snickering at Hak’s nonsensical mutterings as he headed back towards the living room.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The internet was both a blessing and a curse.
  Yona tossed the metal lid from her tea canister onto her kitchen counter carelessly, the loud noise barely registering as she pawed through the contents in a zombified state. She groaned and suppressed a rather bratty whine at her limited options.  Deciding that green tea was most definitely not going to cut it today, she dragged her step stool closer so that she could climb up onto the countertop in order to dig through her ridiculously tall cabinets properly. Curse her short stature. There had to be a forgotten stash of black tea somewhere in here. Hell- she’d settle for oolong in a pinch.
  There was no one else to blame but herself for her current state. Her and her stupid nerves.

In her defense, she hadn’t meant to do it. She hadn’t intended to fall headfirst down the rabbit hole of research into polyamory. She’d just wanted some first hand advice on how to maybe broach the subject with friends and loved ones. All she’d wanted was a few tips and tricks, perhaps even a funny story to help ease her worry?
  That wasn’t what she’d ended up getting at all.  In true internet fashion, what had started as an initially harmless quest for guidance had rapidly morphed into hour after hour of clicking links to various articles on the subject, which then lead to message boards, which had rapidly escalated into sorting through comments ranging from slightly helpful to devastating and toxic.
  She’d passed out with phone still in hand somewhere around three in the morning, her brain having thrown in the towel. She couldn’t even remember dreaming, that was how exhausted she’d been.

However, bloodshot eyes had blinked open at the overly aggressive sounds of her night-shift neighbor coming home from work around seven, his blatant disregard for the other occupants of the building a constant in Yona’s life, no matter the circumstances.

She’d sat up in bed and glared at the wall behind her headboard before collapsing back against her pillows with a huff and groan, having never been the type to be able to just roll over and go back to sleep. Once she was up, she was up for the day. Stupid thin walls. Who in their right mind could play heavy metal music while sweet little birds chirped happily outside?

Well, whatever.
   Growing increasingly more aggravated as her search turned up empty results, Yona growled and thunked her head against the cupboard door. Ugh- forget it. She sighed and admitted defeat, slowly sliding down over the edge of the counter until her feet met the floor.  Slamming the cabinet shut with a tad more force than necessary, she made her way back to the bedroom to begin the process of digging through her closet for something to wear. She muttered grievances under her breath the entire way.
  She adjusted the towel twisted up on top of her head with a small scowl, damp cotton heavy from soaking up her water-logged strands. Her shower hadn’t done much to help wake her up, but it had helped to kick down her stress a good half of a notch (if she was being optimistic), and she needed all the help that she could get, because her internet escapades last night hadn’t helped nearly as much as she’d hoped they would.

To be honest, they really hadn’t helped at all.

If anything, they’d left her with more questions than answers. Yona plopped down onto the edge of her bed with a bounce, staring at the mess that was her closet without really seeing it as she settled amongst the rumpled bedding.

How was all of this going to work? A relationship between two people was complicated enough, but now there was a third person in the mix and Yona was worried that someone was going to feel left out or not included.

What happened if two of them got into a fight? Did the third person have to choose sides?

What happened if she accidentally spent more time with one over the other? What if they spent more time together without her?

How did they handle holidays and special occasions?

Even worse, what if Hak and Jae Ha decided that she wasn’t what they were looking for after all? How long before they decided to cut her out of the equation altogether? What then?

Yona groaned, dropping her head into her hands and causing the towel to unwind sloppily before dumping itself into her lap.

God- she was so clueless and naive. She’d taken several twists and turns down the sexual avenue last night, delving into forums that had discussed all of the issues that happened to plague polyamorous relationships. Jealousy was frequently brought up, as well as feelings of inadequacy and heart ache when two people decided to continue a relationship exclusively between one another, leaving behind the others to fend for themselves. When break-ups happened, they were amplified; it wasn’t just one person that she risked losing.

She chewed on her lip as she balled up her damp towel. These unanswered questions were leaving her stomach clenched into a rather tight knot. How would intimacy work from now on, too? Did they all three need to ask one another for permission before engaging in any sexual activities? They hadn’t discussed it, and the closest that Yona had gotten since their one time together had been when Jae Ha had put a stop to it.

Yona- I can’t.

She frowned, brow furrowed. What had Jae Ha meant when he’d said that? Couldn’t what exactly? Couldn’t be with her? Couldn’t do anything without Hak being there as well? Couldn’t be with someone so inexperienced? Couldn’t be with someone who had all of the sex appeal of a wet kitten? What?

If she wasn’t careful, rejection would feed her anxiety and then twenty thousand more questions would generate in the wake of her spiral.

Ugh- she didn’t have time for a pity party.

Yona stood and made her way back to the bathroom in order to hang her towel upon the hook behind the door. She paused as she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, large eyes staring back at her from beneath wet and frizzy red waves, dark circles from her all night adventure standing out stark against her pale skin.

She tilted her head and examined her features. She’d never really lost that baby weight to her cheeks, had she?

I can’t.

She attempted to blow a heavy lock of hair out of her eyes, scowling petulantly. This sucked. She might be in her twenties, but there were times when she continued to feel like a teenager, her face still holding an innocence to it that had clung to her throughout college and followed her into adulthood.

She should be grateful. There were a handful of women in her life that had repeatedly stated that they would've killed to have such a ‘youthful appearance,’ as they had so nicely put it, but Yona was growing tired of being called ‘cute.’ It was hard to seduce someone when they were busy cooing over how ‘adorable’ you were. Huge turn-off.

Not that she had any experience in the art of seduction. Like, at all.

She recalled Jae Ha’s coworker from lunch the other day. Tao’s sister; what was her name again? She'd been so self assured and so polished...so put together...

Yona narrowed her eyes before turning away from her reflection, melancholic thoughts already being pulled over to her wardrobe. She urged herself to stop that train of thought before it could leave the station, already ripping down the invisible streamers to her pity party and popping a few balloons as well.

She had shoes to dive for in the mess at the bottom of her closet, anyway.
       Hak was staring at him. Not at the moment, but he’d been doing it off and on for most of the morning. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and Jae Ha had to consciously release the tension from his frame. He could feel it; could sense that sky-blue gaze on him fleetingly but knew that the second he’d try and lock eyes with him through the rear view mirror, he’d lose him, like trying to scoop up a slippery little goldfish with his bare hands.  He’d thought that having Yona in the car would help to keep Hak’s brain distracted, but a quick sidelong sweep of Jae Ha’s gaze over her own tense frame revealed just how little help she was going to be in that department. It appeared that she had her own thoughts to deal with.
  Cue internal groan of annoyance. Why must those two make everything so damn difficult? Weren’t they exhausted from carrying around all of that stress all of the time?

The atmosphere of the car was, for lack of a better description, off-kilter. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but there was a weird energy hanging around and Jae Ha was having a difficult time trying to figure out which of his companions was responsible for the majority of it. It was proving to be a tricky little riddle to solve.

They’d ridden in relative silence so far, with the exception of the radio playing music softly in the background. He’d tried to engage everyone in conversation a few times, but had called it quits after several minutes had left him relatively unsuccessful. No one could say he hadn’t tried.

His eyes returned to the rear view mirror just in time to briefly connect with bright blue, only to have Hak break his gaze away rather abruptly and stare out the window somewhat awkwardly.
   Oh, dear. Well, that was adorable and new. If he didn’t know any better, Jae Ha would say that his roommate was acting almost shy around him. Understandable, given how open he’d been during last night’s conversation, but still cute. That talk had worked wonders.
   Hak’s behavior that morning had been better, the best that it had been in a few days by far. Jae Ha had managed to make small talk with him while fixing them both breakfast, and Hak had even done the dishes so that Jae Ha could grab a shower before dropping by the liquor store.

Definitely an improvement. It had to have been so freeing to get that off of his chest after holding onto it for so long.

Jae Ha felt much more confident going forward. Things were looking good. No loose bricks in the foundation, no weak links, and everything felt structurally sound. Those two seemed to be alright for the time being. He couldn't really say the same for himself, but he'd address that later.

Movement out of the corner of his eye had him sneaking a glance at the passenger seat, where Yona’s knees were pressed tightly together, her hands in her lap, fingers fiddling with the hem of her short, velvet, cranberry colored skirt. If she kept that up, he was fairly certain that the fabric would rip. The material was riding ridiculously high up the expanse of her thighs, and Jae Ha would have appreciated the view, if not for the fact that he could tell that she was thinking pretty hard about something.

God- he could practically hear her brain churning from all the way over there.

“You’re a damn lush.”

Jae Ha smirked.

That seemed to break the chain of Yona’s thoughts. Her eyes narrowed slightly in confusion before she half turned in her seat, her head tilted slightly in curiosity over Hak’s statement. Her eyes widened in surprise, lips parting to gape in awe at the sheer amount of alcohol resting in the box nestled upon the seat next to Hak.

Jae Ha merely hummed teasingly, eyes still focused on the road ahead of them while a coy smile tugged at his lips. “What- not a wine drinker, Hak?” His eyes flickered to the rear view mirror and he winked at his roommate’s unimpressed stare in the reflection. Caught at last. “Don’t worry- I’m sure there’s something in there to suit your tastes.”

Hak muttered something about alcoholic tendencies, earning a giggle from Yona as she turned around to face forward again. Hak leaned over to peek at the contents of the box curiously. There wasn’t anything too spectacular in there, if Jae Ha were to be honest, but let Hak be the judge of that. If the small and appreciative hum that reached his ears said anything, it was that he’d most likely discovered the dark colored bottle of top shelf bourbon.

Jae Ha kept his eyes on the road to the best of his abilities, but between the movement hovering on the outskirts of his periphery and the sounds of clinking glass coming from the backseat, it was proving to be a bit of a challenge.

They pulled up to a stop light and Jae Ha took the opportunity to reach a hand over and intervene with Yona’s fidgeting before she snagged a hole in those opaque black tights that she was wearing.

She startled as Jae Ha clasped her hand, large eyes staring at it somewhat stupidly for a moment. She turned her head towards him and he merely offered her a calm and reassuring smile before lifting their combined fingers up to his mouth for a kiss.

“In case I don’t get the chance to tell you later,” he murmured, maintaining eye contact. “You look very nice today.”

“Oh,” she breathed, relaxing as he returned his gaze back to the road. The light turned green and the car started down the busy avenue again. “Thank you... um- you do, too...” She shifted in her seat a little, but turned her head in order to speak over her shoulder. “Both of you do.”

Hak’s eyes widened a little and he cleared his throat the barest amount, one hand reaching up to fiddle with the collar of his shirt. “Yeah- uh, you both look really... really nice...”

Yona smiled softly at him, Hak rubbed a hand along the back of his neck awkwardly before catching Jae Ha’s eye in the rear view mirror again, and the architect smiled before returning his eyes to the road ahead of them.

Hak was wearing the sweater that he’d bought him.
   
  Hak shifted the box in his arms with a small frown, contents clinking together with the movement. He narrowed his eyes at Jae Ha, expression silently scolding him for the sheer amount of alcohol that the architect had purchased. How many people did the man think were coming to this get together? But, he reasoned as Jae Ha merely offered a tilt of his head that reeked of false innocence, Yoon had an open door policy when it came to holiday parties, and one never really knew who all would turn up.

Hak watched the doors of the elevator close before them, the lobby disappearing behind a rather reflective surface. He studied the faces before him and had to bite back a snort at the look of sheer discomfort upon Yona’s features. Despite having already discussed using discretion for today, she still looked like she was on her way to a trial. He nudged her with his shoulder, smirking at her startled squeak.

Jae Ha was watching the floor numbers light up, hands in the pockets of his coat, cheeks lightly flushed from the cold. An amused curl of his mouth had Hak snickering as Yona grumbled at him to stop being a bully. “Children,” Jae Ha teased. “Don’t make me be the boring adult, here.”
     
  “What’s with the black,” questioned Yoon as he surveyed Jae Ha’s wool coat and black cashmere sweater with an arched brow. “Who died?”

Yona frowned at their host while Hak attempted to hide an amused snort behind a rather conspicuous cough.

Jae Ha, ever the good sport, merely pulled a bottle of red wine free from the depths of the box in Hak’s arms with a smile. “My sobriety, and hopefully soon.”

Yoon rolled his eyes before stepping aside in order to allow them all entrance. He showed Hak where to set up the remaining liquor, Kija’s warm and familiar greeting swallowed up by Zeno’s voice as he asked Hak just how much he was planning on drinking over the course of the day?

Jae Ha followed his roommate, no doubt in search of a corkscrew, and paused just long enough to throw a wink at Yona over his shoulder. Gah- she could feel her neck heating up.

Yoon then turned his gaze onto Yona and held a hand out to take her coat from her. “Glad you guys could make it! Not sure when everyone else is gonna get here.” After hanging it up for her in the closet by the front door, he gestured for her to follow him into the kitchen, where she could keep him company while he basted the turkey again.

“Do you need any help with anything, Yoon,” she asked as she followed him into the warm space. She knew the answer, but it was still polite to ask.

“Well, I mean- you can fold the napkins,” he jerked his chin over towards the pile of linen on the furthest stretch of countertop. “If you’re really that bored.”

It wasn’t about being bored, but she knew better than to try and rise to the bait, so she reached an arm out and slid the fabric across the granite surface instead. Yoon’s condo was good sized, but he’d dumped a fair amount of time and money into the remodeling of the kitchen. He was in there the most, he’d reasoned to the contractor, so why not make it into the exact space that he needed? Yona pulled out a tall chair and smoothed down her skirt before taking a seat to begin her task. “I don’t have to fold them into swans, do I?”

Yoon snorted and blew his hair out of his eyes before turning to face her. “Yeah- like you even remember how to do that.” He lifted a skillet to execute a flawless snap of his wrist without even sparing it a glance, the chopped vegetables sizzling brightly.
  Yona narrowed her eyes and pouted sourly at him. She, in fact, didn’t remember how, but he didn’t have to be so mean about it. She quipped under her breath, “Wouldn’t do it now even if you begged ...”  “What if I begged,” teased Jae Ha, coming to stand beside her seemingly from thin air with two glasses of fragrant red wine. He set one down beside her and seemed to take great delight in the subtle flush to her cheeks. “Would that be satisfactory?” He leaned his hip against the edge of the granite surface and practically glowed with pride over the way that she couldn’t seem to meet his gaze. Smug jerk.
  “Ugh...go be gross somewhere else.” Yoon smacked at Jae Ha’s arm as he leaned around him to grab the turkey baster. He was so preoccupied with opening the oven door that he missed the way the Jae Ha’s eyes latched onto the sight of Hak shedding his coat out in the living room, as well as the appreciative hum that followed.

Jae Ha quirked a brow in interest over the width of Hak’s shoulders, brushing Yona’s hair away from her neck and boldly sneaking a tender kiss onto the top of her head before taking his leave.

Her face was definitely flushed now. Dammit. Well, it seemed that she was no longer immune to his once harmless little jests and flirtations, not now that she’d witnessed firsthand just how easily he could help unravel her. Her defense system had officially been destroyed.

Instead of dwelling on all of the consequences that were sure to come from such a breach in security, Yona decided to concentrate fully upon the napkins. There would be more time later to think about the men only a room away from her. She could still do the little pocket fold that Yoon had shown her once, and she shook out the linen so that she could lay it flat before her, her hand smoothing out any errant creases or wrinkles so that she could begin.

The back of her hand brushed against cool glass and she blinked at the forgotten wine that Jae Ha had poured for her, a small smile tugging at her lips at his consideration for her. Both he and Hak were being so great about everything. Her fingers trailed along the smooth surface, thinking about the way long fingers had looked wrapped around his own glass-

“Okay, what’s going on with you?”

Yona nearly jumped out of her skin at how close Yoon had gotten in the brief time that her head was in the clouds. His eyes were narrowed and calculating as he took her in, brow twitching as the seconds ticked by. He was paused mid napkin fold, having finished a handful of his own before she’d even begun one.

Well, maybe her zone out time had been a little longer than she’d thought, if Yoon’s expression was anything to go by.

She would not break so easily. Feign innocence. “What do you mean?”

“Mhmm...” Yoon took a step back, one hand reaching for the meat thermometer somewhat blindly as he continued to watch her. Stubborn, stubborn Yoon. “You’re being weird.” His hand wrapped around the object that he sought and he immediately began to frown in concern as he watched her go a little more pale. “You sure you’re okay? Did something happen at work?”

Yona’s brain stuttered and tripped over itself in an effort to try and placate him without incriminating herself in the process. How had this turned into some sort of grand inquisition? “Huh? No - no, no- work’s fine! I honestly don’t know-“

“Because if something’s wrong, you know you can tell me, right,” Yoon’s hand wrapped around the thermometer tightly as his eyes locked onto her in genuine concern.

All she did was offer to the fold the napkins. How was this even happening? “Um-I-“

“Look,” Yoon flipped a towel over his shoulder before fiddling with the cord of his digital thermometer. “I know you can take care of yourself, but I just worry about you, ya know?”

Yona gripped the napkin. “Uh-“

“I mean,” he grabbed a whisk to stir whatever it was that was bubbling in a sauce pan behind his skillet. “You don’t exactly live in the most secure building, and I never heard about how that date went with that one guy-“

“What date?”

Yona’s stomach abruptly bottomed out, hands clenching the linen between her fingers in a vice as Hak’s voice settled over her like a sheet. With all of the speed of a sloth, she turned to see him standing just beyond her shoulder, looking genuinely curious to having walked in on the bomb that Yoon had just dropped.

“Um-“

Yoon winced sympathetically (whether it was for her or for Hak she couldn’t tell) from the vicinity of the hot stove, snapping his towel off of his shoulder as an impromptu protective barrier for his hands so that he could move his boiling potatoes over to the sink to be drained.

Yona cursed the little instigator; way to trigger an explosion and then scurry away from the wreckage. Traitor.

Hak merely blinked down at her, patiently waiting. So patient. Patient Hak and his unflappable demeanor. If anything, he seemed to look a little amused at her discomfort. He actually had the audacity to lean against the counter comfortably, like a child settling in for a story, even going so far as to reach around her for a handful of walnuts that Yoon was no doubt planning on using in some dish.

He arched a brow at her silence.

She hadn’t exactly been planning on having this conversation, if she were to be honest, and she cursed Yoon internally once more before swallowing her unease. “I um- I was supposed to go on a date last week, and I ended up not going.”

Yoon, who had been not-so-subtley eavesdropping while watching them both out of the corner of his eye, temporarily paused his journey back to the stove to resume cooking in order to stare at her fully. “You didn’t- ah- ouch!” He jerked his hand away, having allowed his wrist too close to the rim of the saucepan that he was currently whisking at and its heat. He shook his hand a little with a mild wince before waving off both Hak and Yona’s concern. “Sonofa- what do you mean you didn’t go?”

Yona’s gaze kept flitting between Yoon’s wrist and his face, but upon seeing that he looked no worse for the wear, she relaxed a little. She could almost feel Hak closing in on her personal space bit by bit. “I, um, I didn’t end up going. I actually went out to dinner with Hak and Jae Ha instead!”

Yoon’s confused frown furrowed even deeper, eyes squinting at her. “Wait wait wait-“ he turned to snap off the dial on the stove, halting his concoction momentarily. “You cancelled a date that you’d had scheduled for weeks in order to go out to dinner with Thing One and Thing Two?” He tilted his chin up in regards to the man before him while waving a hand towards the other one in the other room, just over Yona’s shoulder. He looked at her like she was crazy.

Hak cleared his throat a little, no doubt fighting the grin that threatened to give away his amusement over the whole situation. Yoon, mistaking his noises for ones of discomfort or upset, threw a sympathetic look his way, completely unaware of current events and no doubt feeling sorry for the man.

Yona straightened up a little, fingers unclenching the linen from her grasp. “Yeah, so what? Lili set me up with Kil-Sung. I wasn’t even that interested, not that it’s really any of your business.”

Yoon’s brows lifted up toward his hairline at her defensive tone, while Hak covered his smile with a turn of his head. She gave up a date to spend the evening with him? Shit- he was so damn happy and he could hardly stand it.

“A-and then Jae Ha called to see if I was free… and, well- I’d rather go to dinner with people that I know and love and haven’t seen in awhile than with some stranger.”

Love?

Hak turned his head enough to allow his somewhat shocked and widened eyes to lock onto her determined profile. She- wait- what? Did she just say what he thought she’d said? Was she even aware of what she’d just said?

Yoon opened his mouth to say something, but a timer chimed in the distance, and he looked incredibly torn between continuing the conversation and rescuing his stuffing.

Yona decided that she’d had enough. She was already on edge as it was, and having someone poke and prod at her already frayed nerves was just a little more than she was willing to bear at the moment. Grabbing her glass of wine, she avoided Hak’s gaze and murmured something about needing some fresh air before scurrying off into the other room.
       She ended up not getting her fresh air until much later in the day, after some of the festivities had died down a little.
  It had been so good to see everyone and to catch up that Yona had found herself swept up into several different conversations over the course of the afternoon. Zeno had managed to rope her into a card game as his partner rather early on, the two of them claiming victory several times over Kija and Lili.

Shin-Ah had arrived late due to an emergency house call on one of his ‘patients,’ his glasses still fogged from the elevator ride up from the cold.

Heuk Chi, Tae Jun, Ayura, and Tetora had been some of the last to arrive, remarking on the latest temperature drop, as well as the hectic schedules of the upcoming holidays.

Yona hadn’t had a chance to speak to either of her boyfriends since the kitchen incident (cue high pitched squeal), and to be honest, she was a little thankful for the distractions. To be honest, she wasn’t looking forward to talking about her cancelled date.

However, more than once she’d caught Hak’s heavy gaze upon her from across the room, the flush from earlier reacquainting itself with her neck and cheeks before she could stop it. She was also fairly certain that it was him that was consistently brushing up against her whenever she engaged Tae Jun in conversation that lasted longer than a minute or two at a time.

Ik-Soo led them in a prayer before they ate, Yoon having forgone a traditional table for a more relaxed and laid back atmosphere.

“Just don’t spill anything on the furniture, alright?”

“So,” began Lili with a sharp sidelong glance, brushing her long, dark hair over her shoulder. “Kil-Sung said that you cancelled your date…”

Yona took a hasty gulp of her nearly empty wine. She hummed around the rim of her glass, trapped in between her nosy friend and the arm of Yoon’s leather couch.

Lili twirled her own glass in a slow and methodical manner, a sly grin pulling up the corner of her glossed lips. “Could it maybe have something to do with the fact that you can’t seem to keep your eyes off of a certain tall, dark, handsome drink of childhood friend-turned-recent lover?”

Yona sputtered, nearly choking on her drink, coughing as Lili cackled gleefully, overjoyed at the notion of possibly being right for a change. Yona tried her best to wave off Kija, who immediately swept in to fuss over her with panicked eyes and frantic hands.

Ayura, who had happened to be perched rather delicately upon the coffee table in front of them, rolled her eyes and scolded Lili for teasing Yona so mercilessly about Hak. “Good god,” she grumbled, plucking Yona’s wine glass out of her grip and handing her her own cup of iced water instead. “What year is it, again?”

Yoon stood in the doorway, eyes narrowed as he watched Hak throughout the entire ordeal. He frowned as he noticed that not only did neither of them correct Lili’s “teasing,” but Yona and Hak were definitely acting weird.

Hm.
    
  Dusk was approaching rapidly, darkness not far behind as Yona finally made her way to the balcony off of the living room for a little peace and quiet. A few staff members from Yoon’s restaurant had just arrived for dessert, and it was starting to feel a bit too crowded for Yona’s liking. Other people had also come and gone, stopping by to offer their greetings before moving on to other parties. The balcony door closed behind her, the noise abruptly muffling tenfold. Yona sighed, air puffing out from her lungs into a cloud of white.

“Come here often?”

Yona jumped, unaware that she wasn’t alone. Her eyes found Jae Ha at last, his dark coat having blended in with the deepening shadow. She relaxed as he smiled at her from his perch upon the fire escape, long legs dangling over the edge. She huffed a small laugh, taking a few steps towards him. “What are you doing out here?”

Jae Ha sighed. “Pondering my life’s choices…” He turned his head in order to observe the surrounding buildings, as well as the busy streets below. “And solving world hunger. Makes me miss the days when I smoked, to be honest.”

Yona wrinkled her nose at the memory of Jae Ha’s old habit, recalling how Yoon used to nag him over the smell of smoke that clung to his clothing. She was glad that he’d quit a few years back, for the sake of his lungs more than anything else.

At her expression, Jae Ha chuckled. “Just kidding. Needed a break?”

She nodded, wrapping her arms around herself with a small shiver. Tetora hadn’t been kidding about that temperature drop after all.

Jae Ha noticed and with a warm smile, he hopped down from his perch, wordlessly undoing his coat in order to open it to her. Once she’d stepped into him, he wrapped her up in it’s depths with a chuckle. “I’m actually a little surprised that we’re the only ones out here.”

Yona hummed in agreement, burrowing her nose into the warmth of Jae Ha’s chest, his soft sweater feeling like heaven against her chilled skin. She inhaled the scent of him as his pocketed hands rested at the small of her back, keeping her close in order to share warmth.

She was being horribly selfish with his attention and found that she didn’t care. “I don’t mind if you don’t.”

“Not at all,” he rumbled, planting a soft kiss to the crown of her head. He leaned back against the bricked balcony’s edge with a sigh. The wind ruffled his hair, his expression peaceful as he stared out at the lights of the city. Silence stretched between them, comfortable and companionable.

Yona closed her eyes, leaning into Jae Ha’s warmth just a little more, hands curled between their bodies. She nuzzled, wanting time to slow down for just a few seconds more. The backs of her knuckles brushed against his abdomen, her fingertips itching to unfold and trace along the ridge of lean muscle-

Yona, I can’t-

Oh, right. She still hadn’t managed to ask him about that.

Jae Ha, having felt her stiffen slightly, leaned back to put some space between them so that he could tilt his head down at her questioningly. “Too cold?”

Yona swallowed, trying to gather her courage, but finding it lacking at the moment. She was one hundred percent afraid to know the answer to her questions. Coward.

She hummed. “A little,” she admitted somewhat shyly.

Jae Ha pulled one hand free from his pocket, allowing a slice of cold air to flow between them. His hand tilted her chin up, her face turned up towards him. He leaned down to hover his mouth above hers, eyes lidded as he peered at her through ashen lashes. “Well,” he murmured softly, lips brushing against hers with every spoken syllable. “Can’t have that, can we?”

They should be using a little more discretion, the lights behind them spilling across the balcony floor, just on the outskirts of their little slice of shadow. If someone were to peek outside, they might be spotted.

His mouth was cold but oh so good. In fact, his lips felt downright icy against hers, but his breath was so warm against her skin. Yona hummed, the kiss soft and unhurried but rather nice, her earlier fears beginning to fade slightly. The were still there, but they were quieter and on the back burners for the time being. His fingertips grazed her jaw as he tilted his head in order to kiss her a little better, the angle allowing her to melt against him a little more.

She sighed when they parted, eyelashes fluttering as she opened her eyes to see him watching her, and it made her heart do an excited little trill to see the heat in his hooded gaze. He brushed his nose against hers and smiled when she giggled.
      Yona was fumbling with the buttons on her coat with cold and aching fingers when Yoon pounced. He grabbed her arm and yanked her to the entry, eyes flashing as he hissed at her, “What were you and Jae Ha doing?”
  Yona froze, lips parted in surprise over Yoon’s demeanor. She blinked as her mouth hung open uselessly. Panic began to sink in her stomach. What should she do?

“Yona,” Yoon’s grip on her arm was steady as he craned to see the room beyond her, where only a handful of people remained. That blazing focus was back on her in an instant. “Do you have any idea what you’ve gotten yourself into? I mean- God, what are you thinking?”

Yona felt her hackles raise slightly at his tone. She straightened her spine as Yoon’s brow furrowed further at her silence.

She returned his frown. “What do you mean-?”
  “Yona, please - I’m not blind! If you guys wanted to make out without anyone knowing, then you should’ve gone somewhere a little more private.”
  Yona swallowed thickly at the tone in Yoon’s voice, disapproving and judgmental. Tao’s advice about her friends and their supposed acceptance suddenly felt like a hollow joke.

It felt like being scolded by a disappointed parent. She bit her lip. “I mean... It’s- it’s a little complicated-“
  “Yeah, I’ll say,” he huffed, releasing her arm so that he could cross both of his over his chest. He continued to frown at her. “Don’t you think that maybe flaunting whatever this is” -he gestured between her and the room behind her, undoubtedly trying to encompass Jae Ha as well into his speech- “around Hak might be kind of a jerk move? With all of the eye fucking going on around here, I thought for sure that you guys were a thing! I mean, you can’t tell me that you have no idea how the guy feels about you-“
  “Hang on-“ Yona held a hand up, effectively cutting him off. Yoon was under the assumption that she and Jae Ha were fooling around and waving it in Hak’s face? Not only that, but he thought that she and Hak were together? How had he managed to piece that together? How obvious were they to everyone? “What exactly do you think is going on?”

"That you've lost your mind. Seriously, Yona... you know what he's like. You know how he is!"

Yona scowled. "Excuse me?"

Before Yoon could answer, a hand landed on Yona’s shoulder, Yoon blinking his surprise up at Hak, who frowned down at the two of them. He squeezed Yona’s tense shoulder, gaze taking in her expression with concern.
  Yona inhaled a shaky breath, tears gathering and blurring her vision as she fought against the hot wave of anger rolling over her. Mindful of the few people that still remained, she kept her voice low as she met Yoon’s gaze. “I don’t know why you think it’s okay to treat Jae Ha the way that you do, but I’m not going to stand here anymore and listen to you tear him down while sticking your nose into our business. If we were dating, what would be so wrong with that? Would it really be so terrible?”
  Yoon swallowed, gaze flashing to Hak, who remained stoic and silent beside Yona, every watchful and protective. The look on Yona’s face must have shaken him slightly, because Yoon faltered. “I-“

Jae Ha paused around the corner, head downcast, silently waiting.

“I don’t understand when you decided that you knew what was best for everyone,” Yona murmured, voice wavering slightly as she fought against the tears that threatened to fall. “But you don’t know everything, Yoon… friends don’t look down on each other. They’re supposed to support one another…” At Hak’s gentle squeeze, she swallowed thickly, attempting to regain her composure. Anger was threatening to boil over, to sweep her under it’s righteous wave. “A-And if that’s not something that you can do, then I’m not sure that I want you as my friend.”

Yoon’s eyes widened, mouth opening and closing as he choked on his own words. “Yona- I- I didn’t-“

Yona turned to look up at Hak with a watery smile, voice small as she squeaked, “I want to go.”

Hak’s gentle and understanding gaze was nearly her undoing, but Jae Ha’s hand at the small of her back, dulled as it was through her coat, helped to steady and ground her.

He smiled down at her with a tilt of his head and a gentle quirk of his lips. He pulled his key fob from his pocket, waving it in the air between them as he lightheartedly asked, “Need a ride?”

Yoon’s hands came up, trying to mediate between them all as he tried to stammer out some semblance of an apology mixed with a question-

But he was abruptly cut off by the looks that both men shot him as Yona sniffled.

Jae Ha pulled Hak’s coat free from the closet, tossing it to him as he brushed past Yoon. “Thank you for everything today, Yoon, but you heard the lady. It’s time for us to take our leave.” He paused as Yona and Hak crossed the threshold ahead of him, his hand wrapped around the knob, a small and somewhat sad smile upon his lips as he inclined his head at his friend before leaving.

Yona stared at the floor of the elevator, trying to control her breathing and settle herself as Hak leaned against the wall, hands stuffed into the pockets of his coat after punching the button for the lobby. It was tense, Jae Ha fighting the desperate urge to crack some kind of a joke in order to lighten the mood.

“ ‘M sorry.”

Jae Ha allowed his head to thunk against the wall behind him as he mirrored Hak’s stance, Yona’s timid apology between them, already small frame shrinking into herself more and more as the floor numbers ticked by. He wanted to reach out to her, to assure her that it wasn’t her fault, but wasn’t sure how best to comfort her.

Yona released a whooshing exhale, having put a stop to her emotional outcry for the time being. “I wasn’t in a good place emotionally to handle that from the get go, and we agreed not to say anything… But I just couldn’t listen to that anymore…”

“Yona,” Jae Ha pushed away from the wall with a sigh. “It’s fine-“

Red hair nearly slapped him in the face as Yona turned on him, fiery gaze cementing him on the spot. “No-“ Yona snapped, tears finally managing to escape her attempts at containment. “No, it’s not! It’s not fine! It’s not okay, Jae Ha!” Her fingers swiped across her cheeks angrily, smearing the wetness more than erasing it. “I hate that people just assume things about you- how they talk about you! You’re a person, and I’m not going to stand here and let you think so little of yourself!”

Jae Ha’s chest cracked open a little at the desperation in her voice, the way that her lip trembled as she swallowed a sob. His eyes flashed over to Hak for guidance, for some clue as to how to proceed-

His eyes pulsed a little wider at the blue flame of Hak’s gaze over the top of Yona’s head, his expression only confirming that he agreed with everything that she had just stated so passionately.

Jae Ha’s breath seized in his lungs, some foreign emotion causing his throat to tighten as Yona sniffled, fighting to catch her breath and calm herself.

Hak’s palm settled on the back of her head, fingers tangling in silken strands as he stroked her soothingly. It was incredibly intimate, born from years of closeness and trust.

Jae Ha pushed aside the twinge of jealous alienation and cleared his throat. “Yona,” he waited until she lifted her gaze up to his, his own undoubtedly soft and practically oozing his affection for her. “Thank you, but I promise- I’m okay.” He reached out to brush a thumb through a tear track upon her cheek. “I’ve got a pretty thick skin. If I didn’t, Hak would’ve gotten to me a long time ago.”

Hak snorted as Yona sniffled, Jae Ha cupping her face, thumb brushing along her lower lip.
  “Besides,” Jae Ha said as the lobby grew closer. “A lot of the things that people say about me all come from somewhere,” he ran a hand through his hair distractedly. God, he missed his long hair. “I know how to have a good time and word travels around, ya know?” He huffed a laugh, shuffling a little. He didn’t know what his problem was. Had elevators always been so small?
  I'm not worth the fight. Don't invest in something as broken as me. I'm not relationship material for anyone.

He’d never cared what others thought before. Shame over his past transgressions had never really been much of an issue, but something akin to it was beginning to cloak his frame. “I guess this is karmic retribution for being so loose and carefree in my younger years-“

“Doesn’t matter.”

The doors opened, but none of them made any move to exit the elevator. Jae Ha felt frozen at Hak’s statement, the finality in his tone absolute and unwavering.

Hak stroked Yona’s head again. “Even if it were somehow karma, it’s no one else’s fucking business. Your past doesn’t matter.” He tilted his head toward the front doors, a silent order that it was absolutely time to go home.

Jae Ha swallowed thickly, feeling strangely stiff as Yona reached out for his coat sleeve, tugging him along as she and Hak walked ahead of him.

Fuck. He absolutely wanted to keep them.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Hak pressed his forehead against the cool glass, dark strands acting as a buffer between his skin and the frigid temperature as he watched the city pass him by without really cataloguing any of it. The interior of the car was silent, the street noise dull and unable to fully permeate their little bubble.  Say whatever you wanted about him, but Jae Ha had pretty good taste in vehicles. The leather seating was nice, too.  Hak closed his eyes. His head was beginning to ache from the stress of the day. He wasn’t sure what had happened to him because he was a seasoned pro at handling stress. Hell – the former primary cause of most of it was sitting in the front seat, and the other was currently behind the wheel taking the long way home to no doubt allow them all more time to process the shit show that they’d just left.  Echoes of the day were bouncing around his overstimulated brain, with flashes of Yona’s bright passion taking the lead. Always so impulsive, that one. There weren’t many things that got him going, but the way that her eyes lit up when she faced things head on was at the top of the list. Granted it was a short list, but that was beside the point.  Yona might have been small in stature, but she had a fire in her that if allowed to reign unchecked, was totally and completely reckless with its desire to protect. It had pulled them both into some rather questionable situations over the years because she was bossy and stubborn, and Hak was nothing if not a giant pushover when it came to her.
  She cancelled that date.
  Hak opened his eyes blearily, shoulders sagging with the weight of his emotional exhaustion. There was so much information to sort through and he was just so damn tired. It’d been a crazy week in this new thing of theirs, and an annoying little voice in the back of his mind was unhelpfully supplying that it was only just beginning, that they had so far to go –  She cancelled that date and chose to have dinner with you.  Hak frowned, chewing on his thoughts. That wasn’t quite right, was it?  And Jae Ha. She chose to have dinner with you and Jae Ha.  There it was.
  Because Jae Ha called her and invited her to dinner. Jae Ha stacked the deck that led you to this point. Not you – Jae Ha.
  Hak’s brow furrowed slightly. Where would they be if Jae Ha hadn’t intervened and called Yona that night? Would any of it had happened, or would she instead have a second date lined up with that Kil Sung character?  What kind of a name was Kil Sung, anyway?  Hak could speculate until his dying breath over what might have been, or he could be present in the moment and just be grateful that his annoying ass roommate (boyfriend – partner – the fuck?) had once again stuck his nose in where it didn’t belong and interfered with matters regarding Yona.  Coward.  He cut that line of thought before it could snake its way any further into his thoughts. There was no point in tearing himself down for his hesitancy. He knew that his repressed feelings for Yona weren’t exactly understood by their friends (nor his stubbornness for refusing to act upon them for so long), but he had his reasons and they weren’t anyone’s business but his.  It really didn’t matter how the whole thing started. (Interference from busybodies notwithstanding.)  The important thing was to focus on the present, to keep his gaze on the stair in front of him and not the whole damn staircase. The very rickety and very messy staircase.  He really didn’t want to fuck this up.  God, he was tired. His social battery was completely drained, and his muscles were still sore from yesterday’s brutal workout-
  Yesterday.
  Fuck.  Last night flashed to the front of his mind and Hak grimaced in embarrassment, resisting the urge to drag a hand down his face with a hearty groan.  Add another step (or five) to that staircase.  He had opened his mouth and had then proceeded to verbally vomit a rather juicy secret about himself out into the open, knowing full well that once it was out there, there was no swallowing it back.   He honestly couldn’t say why he had done it, but some rational part of his brain must have known that he’d never really be able to be intimate with someone that didn’t know all of him, and logic dictated that both Yona and Jae Ha should know what kind of person they were involving themselves with.  So, he’d gone full disclosure for the sake of entering whatever-this-thing-was with an open and even playing field, no secrets or assumptions.
  Why tell Jae Ha and not Yona?
  Fear.  Hak was afraid. And a hypocrite, apparently. He’d just finished preaching about how one’s past didn’t matter, yet here he was hiding a major piece of it from Yona.   Jae Ha was safe and impartial. He didn’t know Su-Won. He wouldn’t judge Hak’s choices or condemn him for his self-destructive tendencies, let alone his (possibly questionable) past decisions. Not that Yona would, but Hak felt especially raw when it came to Su-Won. He was Yona’s cousin, after all, and the idea that she could potentially be disgusted with him had Hak’s anxiety at an all-time high.  What if she were to hear things that she wouldn’t be alright with? What if she simply couldn’t accept it? What if it was too weird and she called the whole thing off? The fear of losing her was too much for his battered heart to bear, and he just wasn’t ready to display such an ugly, festering wound.  You’ll have to tell her eventually.  Hak told his aching brain to shut up and closed his eyes once more, concentrating instead on his deep and even breathing in the quiet of the car. Focus on the step, not the staircase.  Breathe, idiot.  He relaxed his shoulders and unclenched his jaw. The gentle sway of the car was peaceful, nearly lulling him to sleep. So comfortable was the silence, that Hak had momentarily forgotten about his fellow companions.  Soft murmurs gently drew him back up to the surface of his surroundings.  Peeling an eye open, he frowned slightly as he watched Jae Ha reach a hand over and lace his fingers with Yona’s. She turned to smile softly at him and Hak’s eyes flickered to the way that Jae Ha’s thumb stroked over her skin.  What was this feeling? He wasn’t jealous, but something in his chest twinged at the sight of their hands together, admiring how well they seemed to fit.  Weird.   Hak longed for the ease that the two of them seemed to have with physical affection. It must be so freeing to not be saddled with so much emotional baggage.  He swallowed the sour taste in his mouth and closed his eyes again while wondering if he would ever be comfortable enough to be more intimate with Jae Ha.   The image of those long fingers was going to haunt his dreams.    He’d opted for the long way home on the off chance that everyone else needed a little more time to decompress, and it appeared that his instincts had been correct. The light turned red, and Jae Ha eased the car to a gentle stop. His eyes flashed to the rearview mirror and he relaxed at the sight of Hak’s dozing form. He felt a fond tug in his chest and released the breath that he didn’t realize he’d been holding. Hak looked relatively peaceful for the time being.  One down, one to go.  The light turned green, and Jae Ha tried to redouble his effort of exuding waves of calm, hoping that Yona would absorb some of the energy (or whatever woo-woo bullshit that Tetora used to try and shove down his throat during the early days of their friendship). She’d also been staring out the window in silence for the duration of their drive, and Jae Ha hoped that she wasn’t giving herself a hard time, especially since it had been his stupid and careless affection that had turned the evening into this mess.  “Hey,” he murmured, mindful of Hak while breaking the silence at last. She turned her head, large eyes meeting his. He smiled softly at her. “You okay?”  Yona’s gaze fell to her lap, fingers smoothing out the fabric of her skirt and setting off a wave of déjà vu. “ ‘M not sure, to be honest…”  He hated seeing her like this. Guilt began a steady drip, pooling in his gut to join his earlier shame. This wasn’t how any of this was supposed to go. He wasn’t supposed to still be involved with them. Why couldn’t he just walk away and let them have one another?  He was so selfish.  His hand found hers, their fingers intertwining and palms sliding together. They fit like two pieces of a puzzle. His thumb began to caress soothing circles against her skin and a pleased shiver raced up his spine as she shifted a little closer towards the center console, closer to him.  The light changed and he eased his foot off the brake. “Try not to be too upset with Yoon. He doesn’t understand. Give him a few days, then maybe the two of you can sit down and have a conversation.”  Her fingers squeezed his gently and he returned the gesture.  He was a hypocrite.  Jae Ha cleared his throat gently and shifted in his seat guiltily, acutely aware of the fact that he would need to do the same with the two passengers in his car at some point soon. He was growing more and more attached and invested by the hour, complicating things further.  He had some serious thinking to do.  He slowed at a crosswalk, paying little attention to the people passing by his headlights. “Just don’t give up on him as a friend, okay?” He wanted to add that he wasn’t worth fighting over, but thought better of it at the memory of Yona rising to his defense.  Yona gave a small nod. “Yeah,” she murmured. “You’re right. Thank you.”  The street now clear of pedestrians, he turned the wheel and took another left. “Of course. But I’ll never forget my knight in shining armor defending my honor.”  Yona sputtered and blushed, and Jae Ha winked before flashing a teasing grin.   Gosh, her skin was still flushed.
  (Hak blinked blearily at her before leaning down for a kiss. He murmured a gruff goodnight and watched her fumble with her keys. If the glint in his sleepy gaze was any indication, he definitely enjoyed his ability to fluster her so easily.)
  Yona kicked off her shoes before collapsing face first onto her couch. The drive home had helped to soothe her chaotic mind, but now that she was alone with her thoughts, it was taking everything she had to not actively think about what was being said about them behind their backs at that very moment. She wondered if Yoon had said anything to the others about their abrupt departure. What would she say to him the next time that she saw him? When would that even be?  No more. She was going to take Jae Ha’s advice and just give them both some time.  Turning her head to the side, Yona took in a slow, deep breath of fresh air. It had been nice to drive around. She hadn’t been driven around in a car like that since she was a teenager, but it had been infinitely better than back then. For starters, she was allowed to sit in the front seat. Also, the driver spoke to her now.  She rolled over onto her back with a sigh. She lifted her left hand up to her line of sight and traced the same path that Jae Ha’s thumb had taken along her skin. He really did have nice hands.  Memories of those hands on her body had her stomach flipping pleasantly and she pressed her cool hands to her face before hoisting herself up off the couch. It was time for frumpier clothes and trash tv.        Hot.  Wet.  God.  Hak choked back a whine as liquid fire proceeded to swallow his dick whole, a few choice curse words clenched tightly behind his teeth. His muscles tensed as he tried to fight against the natural urge to jerk his hips, white knuckled fingers releasing their grip on the rumpled bedding to dive beneath the sheets instead, pawing for the head bobbing slowly and steadily away at his groin.  He reached blindly, his palms encountering soft strands at last. One greedy hand cupped the back of the moving neck gently, fingers twining through hair and petting along scalp in praise. Good. It felt good. God, it was so good.  His body was pliant, his brain highly suggestible through the lethargy of his muscles. Thoughts of how and when this whole thing had begun to transpire were melting away beneath the heat of the tongue lapping away at him, a soft humming vibrating against him.  He gasped softly, trying his best to not be too vocal and failing against the lips suckling teasingly at his tip before sinking down again. Hak grunted as his fingers tugged, neck arching back as he caved and moaned broken praises at long last.  Instinct would normally be urging him to think a little and put up some form of futile resistance; who was he to be worthy of receiving such attention? He wanted to insist that they didn’t have to do this, to ask them if they were alright and to maybe try to urge them to stop?   The humming commenced once more, louder this time, and the vibrations sent shivers along Hak’s skin. This was just – damn, he couldn’t even think.  Fuck it. Screw reason. Never look a gift horse in the mouth, right?  Unable to help himself, he moaned Yona’s name as she lifted her head slowly, disengaging from him with a rather lewd noise before sitting back on her haunches and allowing the sheets to fall away –   Su-Won’s eyes practically glowed in the low light, measuring Hak in that calculating way that he knew so well as he crudely swiped the back of his hand along his swollen lips.  That piercing gaze practically pinned him down, hands sliding along Hak’s thighs, crawling closer to his hips inch by torturous inch.  Hak was helpless, stuck watching with wide eyes. His stomach clenched with horrific unease, and he swallowed a whimper as he attempted to will away the sight before him.  Su-Won merely tilted his head and arched a brow in mild curiosity, his voice echoing and distant. “ – okay, Hak?”  Raw panic surged through his veins, desperate and clawing, feeling hopelessly trapped and cornered as Su-Won made to lean down closer, inching towards his face –  “ -up, Hak!”  He couldn’t do this.  Hak would never forget that night, the tone of Su-Won’s voice as he’d confessed that he didn’t have romantic feelings for people, that he merely found them fascinating in other ways.   “If it was you, though,” Su-Won’s echoing voice murmured, pretty eyes gazing at him from beneath lowered lashes, like sand breaking over a glittering gemstone. “I don’t think I’d mind expanding my horizons a little… just to see…”  Stop. Please make it stop.  “Hak - ?”  Heart pounding in his chest, Hak’s eyes shot open as he jolted awake at the familiar tone calling out to him, instinctively reaching out to intercept the hand already withdrawing from his shoulder.  “Hey,” Jae Ha murmured softly, making no move to pull his scarred wrist away from Hak’s tight grip. He watched Hak’s wild and defensive gaze analyze him, break him down piece by piece as he attempted to determine whether he was a threat. “It’s okay. Just me.”  Hak attempted to blink away the claustrophobic grip of his dream and focus instead on the safe reality before him. This was real, he reasoned with his tightly coiled muscles and tense frame. It was just Jae Ha, seated upon the edge of his mattress in the grey light of the morning, calm and still as he allowed Hak to put together the puzzle on his own timeframe.   It was his mild manner and nonchalance over the whole thing that helped Hak the most, an unspoken sense of camaraderie flowing between them, neither of them a stranger to the terror of memories.  Hak released the unsteady breath that he’d been holding with a whooshing exhale, his chest tight and aching with lingering panic.  Jae Ha’s hair was still slightly mussed from sleep, and he was still in his pajamas. There was no judgement or pity reflecting at him through those eyes. The hand that wasn’t currently being held hostage by Hak was holding a mug.  His gaze quickly swept over Hak. “Okay?”  Hak allowed his fingers to slowly slip away from Jae Ha’s wrist, the warmth of his skin lingering. Su-Won’s ghost continued to haunt him, and he suppressed the full body shiver that threatened to sweep over him.  Was he okay? He could still feel that fight or flight instinct hovering over his shoulder, clouding his thoughts as he stared at his roommate (boyfriend? The fuck?) through a slightly bleary gaze. He so badly wanted to answer him, but he was still out of sorts and his heart was still pounding away in his chest.   Unable to trust his voice, he licked his dry lips instead and released his hostage gently as he rolled over onto his back, sleep-hazed eyes on the ceiling.   Jae Ha flexed his sore wrist without a word of complaint. “Didn’t mean to wake you, but you were muttering in your sleep and your face was – “   “Just a nightmare,” Hak interrupted, voice low and rough from sleep. He could still feel Jae Ha’s gaze upon him but knew that if anyone understood not wanting to discuss their dreams, it was him.  Jae Ha was blessedly silent, seeming to let it go, and Hak was grateful for it. He cleared his throat before attempting to form sensible speech. “Thanks for the rescue, though,” he rumbled. “My hero.”  A corner of Jae Ha’s mouth quirked up in amusement, mug paused halfway to his lips. “Well, what can I say? I’ve never been able to turn down a fair maiden. Just don’t go fainting on me,” he teased. “You’re a bit larger than the average damsel.”  Hak snorted, tossing his arm above his head to land upon the pillows with a soft thump. Lord knew that if he did ever happen to faint on Jae Ha’s watch, he could guarantee documentation as well as a hearty retelling at every holiday and social gathering for the foreseeable future. If there was one certainty in this life, it was that Jae Ha didn’t let anything that he found even remotely amusing slide. Ever.  “I’m going shopping in a bit. Wanna come?”  “Pass,” Hak grumbled before yawning, shirt catching on his wrist and exposing his stomach as he scratched along the length of his scar. The damn thing always itched in the morning. “Learned my lesson the last time I went with you.”  Jae Ha sighed, “You take a grown man to one sex shop – “   “I learned what a chindo was because of you. I can’t unsee that.”   “Well excuse me for trying to broaden your horizon a little…“ He clicked his tongue. “So ungrateful.”
  "I don’t think I’d mind expanding my horizons a little…”
  Why did buried things insist on repeatedly breaking through the surface of his memory? It was like one of those old school black and white zombie films, monsters lurking below just waiting to wrap decaying fingers around an unsuspecting ankle in a tight grip.   Hak closed his eyes and sighed, idly rubbing along scar tissue as Jae Ha sipped his coffee. Truth be told, having him nearby was helping to put him at ease.  “Hey.”  Hak hummed and turned his head, eyes squinting open at the sight of Jae Ha holding his phone up to snap a picture.  He grinned cheekily, “For Yona!”  Hak rolled his eyes and heaved himself up into a somewhat upright position. There went any hope of dozing. He readjusted his pillows to cushion his back and to help prop himself up as he watched Jae Ha’s thumb swipe along his phone screen. Still slightly groggy, he yawned before running a hand through his hair. “Is Yona going with you?”  Jae Ha frowned somewhat petulantly, still occupied with his phone. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to convince her to tag along this time.”  Hak snorted and seized the rare opportunity to study Jae Ha while he could. While it was true that he had once adamantly denied his interest in dating men, he wasn’t oblivious to good-looking features. Hell, even he had openly admitted that Kija was pretty.  But Jae Ha was an almost unfairly attractive man, all things considered. He was tall, but lined with lean muscles and hidden strength, his main form of exercise relying upon intermittent calisthenics and a spotty cardio regimen that seemed to conveniently “slip his mind” once the weather began to cool. He was graceful and charming, silly and fun, flirty but respectful, reliable but also easygoing and carefree. He was level-headed and logical, whereas the rest of their "brothers" tended to be a little more hot-headed. He played the viola, had fiddled with acoustic guitars, and had been known to sketch rough portraits of pretty girls on cocktail napkins, offering them back across the bar with a wink and a grin at their gasps and coos of delight. A man of many talents, one might say.  Hak wasn’t into men (that was true – he’d technically only ever been into one man, specifically), but this man…  This man made him want things.  Memories of heated touches in the moonlight filtered across Hak’s rapidly glazing vision, slick lips and grazing teeth, honeyed words of praise sneaking in from his subconscious. The desire that he’d felt had sent heat sizzling down into the marrow of his bones, had made him want things that he’d never considered before.  Fuck – it was too early for this.  Hak snapped his attention to Jae Ha’s mouth, those lips curling up into a small smirk as the architect huffed a laugh through his nose, no doubt giving Yona a hard time through texts. He had placed his empty mug on the nightstand at some point, both thumbs flying across the screen in his hands.  Jae Ha seemed to have a sixth sense for when he was being watched, though, because he lifted his head just in time, not even bothering to appear surprised at Hak’s proximity. In fact, his eyes gleamed, as if he’d been aware of Hak’s slow approach the entire time. He made no attempt to push Hak away, but he wasn’t exactly encouraging him to come closer either, his expression inscrutable. “Hak?”  He froze at the way Jae Ha said his name, something about his tone part amused and curious, with a dash of caution thrown in. A perfectly crafted cocktail for Hak’s anxiety. It made him hesitate more. “Jolly Green,” he countered, relying on the safety net of his snark.  “What are you doing?”  Hak’s eyes flickered to Jae Ha’s mouth briefly before scanning his face for some clue as to how to proceed. He couldn’t read the situation and he swallowed. What was he doing? He’d never felt so lost and confused before.  “I – I don’t know,” he breathed. The playful fog of curiosity was lifting and leaving behind a heavy blanket of regret.  Hak leaned back, putting some space between them as he tried to think of a way to apologize for assuming. He tried to brush off the stinging rejection already trying to burrow its way beneath his skin, brow furrowed. He’d totally misread the situation. Maybe Jae Ha was just humoring him so that he could keep seeing Yona –  Jae Ha intervened before Hak’s errant thoughts could continue to run away with him, his hand abandoning his phone so that he could reach for him, fingers tentatively brushing against Hak’s upon the mattress. He tilted his head with a small and genuine smile, expression soft. “I’m not saying no,” he said gently, leaning forward so that he could rest his forehead against Hak’s.  Hak frowned, eyes going a little cross eyed as he tried to focus. “But you’re not saying yes, either.”  Jae Ha closed his eyes and hummed.  Silence ticked by, Hak’s lids lowering as he concentrated on the closeness, focused on the feel of Jae Ha’s thumb as it stroked along his skin, just like he’d done to Yona last night. The world began to fade away as he took a breath and held it, waiting.  “Don’t push yourself for my sake,” Jae Ha murmured, easing himself away from the warmth of Hak’s skin. He quirked a smile. “You don’t have to - “  Hak cut him off as he pressed his lips against his, effectively stealing the rest of his sentence. He was tired of being scared, of waiting for the other metaphorical shoe to drop. He brushed their mouths together in a gentle caress, timid and tentative, curious and soft, testing the waters. The hesitancy that he normally felt was still there, but it wasn't in the driver's seat anymore. If anything, a little voice urged him to keep going, to summon his courage and press on.  He could feel Jae Ha relax into him, fingertips reaching up to brush along Hak’s jaw as he tilted his head so that they could angle their lips closer together and wow, was that better. The hesitancy was silent at last, his own repressed want finally making itself known in order to slip behind the wheel.  It was different than the kisses that he shared with Yona, but that was to be expected. What Hak hadn’t expected was the tampered heat behind the exchanges, repressed fire that he couldn’t resist stoking just a bit. He wanted more, wanted to taste that clever mouth that normally drove him crazy.  Hak opened his mouth a little, swallowed a grunt as Jae Ha’s tongue brushed against his lower lip, reached out to settle a hand at his waist and pull him a little closer.  Jae Ha hummed into the kiss and let Hak draw him near, his hand cupping Hak’s neck, thumb dragging down the front of his throat, pressing with just enough force to make him swallow against the pressure.  Hak shuddered and gasped softly, opening his mouth that much more, inviting Jae Ha’s tongue to slide along his, warm and wet. He shivered. More. He wanted more of that immediately. His fingers slipped beneath the hem of Jae Ha’s shirt, seeking out skin on skin contact.  What might have started out as sweet was rapidly turning into something heated, Hak’s heart hammering in his chest and blood ringing in his ears.  Nope- not his blood. An actual ringtone.  Jae Ha’s phone was ringing.  Jae Ha pulled back and Hak fought against the overwhelming urge to chase after him, eyelids feeling heavy as he tried to focus, panting lightly. He licked his lips and tasted the lingering bite of coffee.  Jae Ha groaned and pressed his forehead into Hak’s shoulder. “Dammit,” he groused, voice graveled.  Hak closed his eyes with a chuckle, burying his nose into Jae Ha’s hair and breathing deep. His fingers gave Jae Ha’s hips a quick squeeze before releasing him.  Jae Ha made a noise that made him shiver again.  It was a beautiful sound.      It was nearly noon when the silence in the apartment was interrupted by a knock at the door.  Hak frowned before switching off the tv. He heaved himself off the couch, wondering who could possibly be stopping by –  Oh.  Yoon stood in the hallway, bundled up against the frigid cold and gripping the handle of the collapsible wagon that he usually took with him to the farmer’s market. He shot a glare of judgement at the sight of Hak still in his pajamas before mumbling into the confines of his scarf, “Forgot to take home your leftovers…”       Yoon sat at the counter in the same seat that Yona had occupied a little over a week prior, same mug filled with the same type of tea sitting untouched upon the surface. However, he didn’t seem to have any problem meeting Hak’s gaze, and he didn’t fidget. His expression was blank, arms folded over his chest in silence.  Hak stood on the opposite side of the island, almost bored as he waited for the inevitable conversation to begin. He'd stood by and allowed Yoon to put away the leftovers, had smiled to himself at the way that he'd carefully arranged the containers in the fridge before unboxing a few bottles of liquor that hadn't been used during yesterday's festivities.  He was just wondering if it was still too early to fix himself a stiff drink when Yoon closed his eyes, releasing a sigh that tapered off into a hearty groan.  “You guys are gonna give me an ulcer,” he groused. He put his head in his hands and took a deep breath, resting his elbows upon the counter before rubbing his hands down his face. His eyes snapped back to Hak’s at the sound of his huff of laughter, glaring in annoyance. “I’m glad you find this so damn funny, you big idiot.”  Hak leaned a hip against the counter behind him, arms loosely crossed. “Just thinkin’ about that saying… ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same.’”  Yoon’s glare softened into a mild frown, shoulders slumping. He looked tired; no doubt having spent most of the night thinking about his interaction with Yona. “Yeah, well… I shouldn’t be surprised. I mean, you three have always been a piece of work…” He brushed his bangs out of his eyes. “You two know what he’s like when it comes to this stuff, so why do you think it’ll be any different with either of you?”  Hak bristled, eyes wide as Yoon gave him a look that said yeah, I figured it out.  "You seem pretty certain that he's some sort of a liability."  “Yeah, and that's because I have experience to back me up. You and Yona have known each other a long time, but how well do you guys know him? Like, really know him?” Those eyes pinned Hak in place, held him captive, so earnest. “What happens if you guys end up being no different than all the others? What happens then?”  Hak swallowed, arms tensing as he shifted uncomfortably. The sight of Yoon’s slouched shoulders and tight frown of concern had his heart aching in a way that he hadn’t expected.  Yoon glanced off to the side, his brow furrowed as he mumbled, “You morons are my family. I don’t wanna lose any of you…”  Hak softened as he watched Yoon sniffle and scratch at his cheek. He looked sad and a little scared. There was a great big softie beneath the armor that Yoon typically wore, and it was rare to catch a glimpse of it. The idea of being all alone and not being able to keep them together was something that he couldn't bear.  “But if either of you hurt Yona,” he cleared his throat and sat up straight, meeting Hak’s gaze head on once more. “I’m keeping her, and I’ll make sure that you never see either of us again. Got it?”  Hak knew just how capable Yoon was at keeping his word, and instead of being offended at the idea, he felt comfort knowing that Yona had a true friend in her corner. “Understood.”      What was he doing?  The graphite scratched along the paper as he sketched idly, trying to organize his thoughts.  What did he want out of this whole mess that he’d made?  Jae Ha smudged the line, casting a shadow across the most recent shape.  None of this was going to plan.  His brow furrowed. How had he ended up here? He thought that he'd been so careful. He'd re-examined the whole design from every angle, but it was starting to feel messy and complicated. Yes, he'd originally intervened with less than selfless motives (anyone with eyes would have jumped at the opportunity to share a night with those two, so don't judge him!), but it was with the knowledge that they'd continue on and he'd just -   He'd just what?  None of this was supposed to happen. When Hak had recounted what had occurred at their apartment while he’d been out, guilt had begun to eat away at the lining of Jae Ha's stomach, and below that was a thick layer of hungry, gnawing panic. What was he doing? He'd stated time and time again that he wasn't capable of commitment! God - everyone knew that! So much was changing. This wasn’t meant to happen! The two of them should have been an item by now, and Jae Ha –  What about him?  The tip of his pencil snapped from the force of his hand, and he scowled at the mark on his paper. Seemed like he was just prone to making mistakes lately.  He thought of Yona’s face, tear streaked and flushed. Hak’s exhaustion lining his features. If he kept it up, he’d continue to leave a trail of destruction behind him.   Fuck.  “Quit it.”  He startled and turned his head, only to be met with a flick against his forehead. He yelped, dropping his pencil to swat Hak’s hand away from his face. “What are you doing- ?”  “You’re freakin’ out. I can see it.”  Jae Ha pouted; graphite coated fingers rubbing against the sting and leaving behind a faint grey smudge. “I thought we talked about your abusive tendencies…”  “You like it.”  Jae Ha's spine tingled with both embarrassment and excitement, croaking out some half-assed denial that had Hak chuckling in amusement. A strong hand landed on his tense shoulder, squeezing gently and urging Jae Ha to stop overthinking.  “You’ll get wrinkles,” Hak called over his shoulder as he headed into the kitchen.  Jea Ha frowned. Big talk for a man that washed his face with bar soap. He watched Hak head towards his bedroom before searching for his dropped utensil. Despite what Hak had said, Jae Ha knew what had to be done, for the sake of both Hak and Yona’s future happiness.  He just wished that it didn’t make his chest ache.
  It’s not about you.
         She hadn’t wanted to return to work today. Neither had her friends, according to their group chat, so it just made sense to meet up for cocktails and appetizers after work on Monday.  “Hak really missed his calling as a model,” Tetora sighed, spying Yona’s phone screen over her shoulder. “Just look at those abs…”  Yona’s soul tried to flee her body. Lili immediately scrambled for the phone as Tetora smiled innocently while trying to fish the cherry from the bottom of her tall hurricane glass.  Ayura sighed as she caught the waitress’s eye, signaling that the table would absolutely be needing another round, thank you very much.  “I knew something was going on there,” exclaimed Lili, aggressively tugging on Ayura’s arm as Yona pressed her phone to her chest protectively. “I called that didn’t I, Ayura? I totally called it.”  Yona tried to croak out some sort of response, but was interrupted by Tetora, who crunched on the ice in her glass and garbled, “It’s about damn time! I mean my gawd…”  Ayura nodded in agreement, Lili begged Yona for a peek at her phone, and Yona cursed her decision to check her messages.       Jae Ha loosened his tie, tired eyes squinting at his watch. His phone pinged, notifying him of a new text, and he forced himself to ignore it.         “Is Jae Ha coming later?”  “I think he’s still at work,” Hak said as he offered her a bite of his ice cream on Tuesday night. They were sitting around the coffee table in her living room, sprawled out on her rug with their backs pressed against her sofa. He’d insisted that the return to their normal schedules after a holiday weekend called for dessert, and she couldn’t have agreed more.  Yona closed her lips around his spoon, humming appreciatively at the little brownie chunks and licking the caramel that the plastic had left behind on her lip.  Hak leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers, tongue trailing along her sticky lower lip, swallowing her startled squeak. She parted her lips and sighed, the ice cream forgotten as Hak pulled her into his lap. The feeling of his hands on her hips holding her so securely sent little tingles down her spine, one hand gripping his bicep as the other dug into his hair, a deep sound rumbling from his chest.  One of his hands slid to her lower back, pulling her closer as his lips brushed against the sensitive spot behind her ear. She shivered and squirmed in his lap, his grip tightening as she murmured his name.  She leaned back just enough to see his face, blue eyes reflecting affection as she cupped his face and kissed him.                                The apartment was dark, his disappointment hanging heavily over him as he closed the door behind him.  It was the right thing to do, Jae Ha's brain reminded him yet again as he hung up his coat and removed his shoes. He could fix this. He just had to stay the course and everything would turn out as it should, he reasoned as he left his bag on the kitchen island. His hand lingered on the surface as he recalled Hak watching them make pancakes.  He ran a hand through his hair and made his way towards the bathroom for a shower.       “Should we wait for Jae Ha?”  “Said something about a project meeting,” Hak explained as he accepted the potholders from her, stooping down and pulling the lasagna from her oven. His elbow closed the oven door as he stood, placing the dish onto the stove top to cool.  He’d offered to make her dinner at her apartment that Thursday, and Yona had sheepishly admitted that she’d actually never used the oven in her place before. The look on his face had told her that he wasn’t at all surprised by her statement, even going so far as to ask if she still had that fire extinguisher under her sink as they’d left the grocery store.   Yona kicked her feet idly as she sat perched on the counter, the stove heating up her small kitchen pleasantly. She frowned down at her phone as she scrolled through her messages.  Still nothing.  The texts that she’d been sending Jae Ha all week showed that they’d been read, but there were limited responses to some while the rest went unanswered. She’d been fighting the urge to call him on the off chance that he was busy with work. The last thing that she wanted to do was bother him like some silly teenager with a crush.   “Hey.”  Yona stiffened as Hak’s hands landed on her knees, but relaxed as his fingers applied just enough pressure to get her to part her legs to make room for him. His hips fit snugly between her thighs as he pulled her closer towards the edge of the counter, protective grip keeping her in place as she dug her knees into his hips, inadvertently pressing them tightly together. His fingertips teased their way beneath her skirt, tracing patterns along sensitive skin as she wrapped her arms around his neck.  The heat in Hak’s eyes released little butterflies in her stomach as he hovered over her lips. “Don’t worry,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. “I can keep you busy.”    They ended up having to reheat the lasagna, Yona wearing Hak’s shirt, Hak bare chested and jeans unbuttoned as they sat at her kitchen table and fought over the crispier edge pieces.     “You’re not seriously staying late again, are you?”  Jae Ha sighed and hung his head, rubbing the stiffness out of his neck before grumbling at Kouren to mind her own damn business.  She lifted a brow at his reaction, eyes sharp and jaw ticking with mild irritation. “Hey,” her direct and even tone had him straightening his spine in apprehension and regret. “Sort your shit out on your own time and don’t let it affect your work. Got it?”  He sighed an acknowledgment of understanding before waving her off, the sound of her heels clacking fading slowly in the distance before silence prevailed.         “Have you talked to Jae Ha today?”  Hak tossed a piece of popcorn at her, snickering as she failed to catch it in her mouth yet again. It was an arctic Saturday night, and Hak had suggested a movie at her place. “Not since Thursday… probably trying to get ahead on that new project at work. Why?”  The last thing that Yona wanted was to turn Hak into some sort of mediator between she and Jae Ha. It wasn’t healthy or fair.  She shrugged her shoulders in an attempt at nonchalance. “Just curious.”  Twenty minutes into the movie, they’d promptly ignored the plot in lieu of making out on her couch, legs tangled and hands eager. It wasn’t long before slow movements made way for more forceful pushing and pulling. Mainly from her, but Hak wasn’t complaining.  “Can we -? Hngh - Bedroom,” she whined, hands under his shirt to press into the muscles along his spine as he flexed his hips against hers, seeking the heat that he’d brought out in her.  He pushed himself up onto shaking arms, panting as he asked if she was sure - ?  Yona surged up to kiss him, mouth open and wet, hands gripping his shoulders.  Hak broke the heated exchange with a gasp, backing up and off of her in order to help her to her feet.     Jae Ha swirled the whiskey around in his glass, ice clinking as he tipped his head back and swallowed the remainder.   Setting the glass in the kitchen sink, he headed towards his bedroom, resisting the urge to pause in the darkened doorway of Hak’s.      He was so hopelessly bound to her.  Who was he kidding? He'd always been tethered to her. This was just one more link in the heavy chain that he willingly (and eagerly) wore. Like usual, she was the one calling the shots, and it was so blissfully familiar that Hak could honestly say that he'd be more than happy to live the rest of his life that way. She'd been too busy wrangling him onto his back earlier to bother with turning on the lights, but he didn't mind; the faint glow from the lamp in her living room allowed him to at least see the expressions on her face, and he was all too eager to let her set the pace.  Hak’s fingers sank into her, his thumb brushing circles around her clit as she arched her back, lifting her hips a bit before sinking down onto them again. She was a sight above him, flushed and absolutely beautiful as she chased after the pleasure that he gave her.   She seemed determined to speed things along, because she was impatient and eager (not that there was anything wrong with that), and he wasn’t willing to cause her any needless pain, because old habits died hard and he’d be damned if her first time wasn’t going to be at least a little good.  His ego would love for it to be great, but one thing at a time.  Hak grit his teeth as he worked her open slowly, felt her thighs tremble as she moved, watched her ride three of his fingers at her own pace before she whimpered his name. He curled the digits and felt his stomach bottom out at the way that she gasped and jerked. Ugh- she was going to kill him and he was okay with it if it meant that he’d die under her.  She tugged on his wrist to halt his strokes, shuffled back a little, and Hak choked at the feeling of her incredible wetness sliding along his length, hot and so slick. Fuck, this was happening. He nudged his hips beneath her and bit back a moan, unprepared for what was about to happen but wanting nothing more than to cross that line with her. His palms gripped her thighs as she moved, the tip of his dick catching on her entrance with every pass and pulling a broken groan from him.  It was taking serious effort to keep his eyes open, but he didn’t want to miss a second of her, nor the way that she watched him from beneath lowered lids as she bit her lip.  It suddenly occurred to Hak that she liked this. She liked to see him teetering on the edge, trembling and eager beneath her. She was enjoying watching him slowly come apart at the seams, the once thickened threads of his control snapping cleanly one by one, leaving him weak and reverent.   She got him right where she wanted him and finally sank down a little bit at a time, hiccuping a gasping cry when she seated herself fully at last. She whimpered a bit as she shifted, leaning forward a little before arching her lower back.   Hak grabbed her waist to support her as she paused, no doubt trying to acclimate to the stretch with every tentative nudging of her hips. Little shivers bloomed across her fevered skin, and Hak’s hands stroked them lovingly as he asked her if she was alright?  She nodded somewhat frantically as her hands planted themselves on his stomach, eyes squeezed shut and nails digging into his skin as she began to move, rising and sinking back down again and again, rolling her hips forward and moaning.  “Haah – fuck –“ Hak groaned, prying one of his hands free to feel where they were joined, thumb locating her swollen clit, and wanting nothing more than to get her there as his other hand reached up to cup her breast. What he lacked in experience he made up for in enthusiasm, urging her to slow down and lean back so that he had room to work.  She moaned as his fingers worked steadily between her legs, causing her rhythm to falter. Her head rolled onto her shoulder and his mind reeled over the knowledge that she was soaking his lap, that what he was doing seemed to be working for her. He wanted to give her more though, so he planted his feet on the mattress and lifted his hips, watched her eyes flutter, cataloguing her reaction and doing it again as she slammed down into him.  Fuck. If she kept that up, he wasn’t going to last longer than a couple of minutes.  As if she could read his mind, Yona whined and seemed to redouble her efforts. “It’s okay,” she urged, voice sounding strained as she panted. “Feels good.” Her words seemed slurred as she squeezed around him and Hak hissed a curse with the realization that he definitely wasn’t going to make it much longer. Like, at all.  He sat up, his broad palms grabbing her ass and mouth swallowing her cry as they moved together, establishing some sense of a rhythm that worked for them both. Her hands flew to his hair, fingers gripping tightly into his strands as they kissed deep and insistent. It was overwhelming and consuming as Hak murmured her name, voice dark and graveled before tapering off into a deep groan that he smothered into her neck, hips stuttering beneath her as he pulsed hotly and spilled over into her.  Yona stroked the back of his head and fought to catch her breath, urging him back so that she could gaze into his hazy eyes. She gasped at his throbbing, clenching down and obviously still wound up, and Hak was suddenly consumed with the need to make her come.  “Touch yourself,” he rasped as his occupied hands continued to rock her back and forth before he softened completely, watching the flush spread along her chest as she did as he instructed, her fingers slicking wet circles. “Ah fuck – “ he groaned as she spasmed around his oversensitive skin. “That’s it baby, just like that- “  Yona’s breath stuttered at the pet name as she clenched around him, a lewd sound slipping past her lips and eyes sliding shut as she came, jerking and mewling while Hak nipped tenderly at her neck and shoulder. She collapsed against him as he finally slipped out of her, his hands rubbing delicate strokes up and down the skin of her back as their breathing slowly evened out.  Still pressed close together, Hak kissed her sweaty temple, breathed her in and felt something click into place in his chest.      It was well past midnight, and Hak still wasn’t home. Jae Ha was pretty sure that he knew what that meant, smiling wryly up at his ceiling and blinking back tears in the darkness of his room. He threw an arm over his eyes and grit his teeth, wishing his bed would swallow him whole and eat his memories, while it was at it. Experience taught him that time healed all wounds, but his tender heart was bleeding as his brain reminded him again that this was why he wasn’t supposed to get attached to things.
  They weren’t yours to keep. You knew this.
  He always did learn things the hard way.
  It wouldn’t have worked with them, anyway. What would you have possibly been able to contribute that they couldn’t find in each other?
  Well, it didn’t matter anymore. Those two would probably get married, have a kid or three, and then live happily ever after. Lord knew that they deserved all the happiness in the world.
  What could you possibly offer besides messy complications?
  Exactly.      Yona hummed and shifted in her sleep, Hak squeezing her gently as he pressed a soft kiss to the nape of her neck. He sighed, soaking in the heat of her naked skin against his and the sound of her deep and even breathing, spooning her from behind and holding her tightly to him. It scratched an itch in his brain to have her so close, to hold her so securely and feel her heartbeat beneath his palm.  It also allowed his mind to wander to other things, like the heavy absence of another person. Hak wasn’t stupid; Jae Ha was avoiding them both. He knew that Yona had noticed it too, but hadn’t wanted to bring it up and cause her any needless worry.  Yoon’s words of warning about Jae Ha possibly ghosting them echoed in his brain, but Hak knew better. The moron hadn't been the same since Hak had told him about Yoon's impromptu little shovel talk, no doubt causing him to spiral and start overthinking. Something was up, and he was going to get to the bottom of it.  Hak sighed, watching the shadows dance across the walls of Yona’s bedroom. His eyes fell to a picture of the whole gang at Hiryuu House on one of her shelves, blue eyes focusing on Jae Ha’s soft smile behind the glass.  Idiot. No way Hak was letting him get away.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

He’d slept like shit. Then again, what else was new? One would think that he'd be used to it by now.  Jae Ha blinked blearily up at his ceiling, wondering if it was as late as his internal clock was registering. He reached his hand out for his nightstand blindly before his fingers grazed his watch, deeming it good enough with a huff. He held it up and squinted at the clock’s face, grumbling as he struggled up onto his elbows.  He paused, listening for signs of life beyond his bedroom door.  Silence.  He sat up fully and rested his weight on his hands behind him. Movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention, and he looked out the window as a few errant flurries drifted by the glass. He recalled sitting in the diner for brunch not that long ago, of how sure he’d once been about everything.  God, he’d been so cocky. He’d fancied himself a guide, and now he was the one walking around in circles completely lost. He supposed that in the grand scheme of things, he'd been successful and done what he'd originally set out to do. He just wished that he'd taken his own stupid and selfish feelings into account and abandoned ship earlier on.  His movements were sluggish as he dressed, running a hand through his hair and blanching at the sight of shadows under his eyes in the mirror above his dresser. Fantastic.  He headed towards the kitchen with a yawn, hands bracing his lower back as he arched his spine into a stretch –  And promptly jumped nearly a foot into the air in surprise at the sight of Hak sitting at the kitchen island with a bowl of cereal, spoon paused halfway up to his mouth.  Their eyes locked and held as the coffee pot beeped, alerting them that it was done brewing.  Hak was expressionless, chewing slowly as he lowered his empty spoon to stir the contents of his bowl, the distance that Jae Ha had so carefully crafted between them feeling like a trench.  He hated it.  He cleared his throat as he stepped further into the space, feeling like he couldn’t take a deep breath. “Good morning,” he greeted in an attempt at normalcy.  Hak grunted, munching loudly.  The little hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he poured himself a cup of coffee, Hak's gaze fixed on his every movement. “So,” he hedged. “How was your night with Yona?”  Silence.  Jae Ha chanced a glance over his shoulder and felt a piece of himself melt at the adorable look on Hak’s face, blue eyes staring down into his cereal with a flustered expression.  He smirked as he turned to prop a hip against the counter. “Wow… are you blushing?”  “Shut up,” groused Hak as he stood to place his bowl in the sink.  “Congratulations,” pressed Jae Ha, unable to resist. He never did learn when to quit poking at things that were capable of biting off his fingers. He blew away the steam from his mug and took a small sip. “I’d better be invited to the wedding.”  Oh, that might have been a step too far. Hak gripped the edge of the sink and appeared to be biting the inside of his cheek. Jae Ha felt the playful grin slowly fade from his lips, unease causing his skin to prickle with discomfort.  Welp, that was his cue to leave.  He turned to head back towards his room but didn’t get very far.  “Hey.”  Damnit. “Hmm?”  “You got a minute?”  Double damnit. Jae Ha swallowed the apprehension in his throat and breathed through his nose, plastering on an easy smile before turning to face him. “For you? I have all the time in the world.”  “Good, because we need to talk.”  “Looking for pointers already?”  Hak turned away from the sink, crossing his arms with a deep sigh and a scowl.  Jae Ha tensed as he realized that humor wasn’t going to get him out of this one. Well, might as well get it over with. Time to face the music.  “How long are you gonna keep avoiding us?”  It was quiet enough that Jae Ha was certain that Hak could hear his heartbeat from across the room as it thundered away in his chest, pounding in his ears, his normally clever tongue too clumsy and big for his mouth. He weighed the pros and cons of trying to feign ignorance, but one look at Hak’s face told him just how far he was going to get on that front.  “I, uh…” He cleared his throat, free hand rubbing along his tense neck. “Look, I just –“  “Thought I told you to quit freakin’ out.”  “I’m not! I’ve just been doing some thinking…” He paused, unsure of how best to organize his words. How did one explain that there was no way that they could possibly be someone that others wanted long term? “Look, it’s complicated…”  Hak snorted. “Yeah, because you’re the one making it complicated.”  Jae Ha sighed in frustration, running his hand through his hair before setting his mug onto the counter with a tad more force than he should have. It would serve him right if it smashed into pieces. “What do you want from me, Hak?”  “I want you to quit playing dumb and just be honest if you don’t wanna do this anymore."  “I do want to do this, damnit! That’s the problem! I'm a selfish asshole that doesn't deserve either of you, and the worst part is that I don't care! I don't care if everything goes to shit and falls apart because of me, because I still want you!” He hadn’t realized that he’d raised his voice until the following silence rang in his ears. Jae Ha blinked, the tight expression on his face loosening as the irrational anger began to bleed out of him. This wasn't like him. He could count the number of unexpected emotional outbursts he'd had in his entire life on one hand.  Hak was stoic, patient and calm as always as he waited for Jae Ha to sort his thoughts out.  Jae Ha exhaled slowly, gathering the pieces of his composure, unable to meet Hak’s steady gaze. The yawning pit of anxiety in his stomach was growing with every passing second of silence. He fidgeted. God, he was acting crazy and didn’t deserve to be met with such calm composure.  “I don’t know what I’m doing,” he finally confessed, feeling ashamed of himself in the stillness. “I’ve never done this before. Ever.”  Hak sighed and took a few steps towards him. “Yeah, well, me neither.”  “I wasn’t avoiding you,” he hedged, head bowed and gaze focused on a random spot on the hardwood floor. “I just thought that if I gave you both some time together alone, then maybe you’d – “  “What, forget about you and move on without you? Just toss you aside like some sorta toy?”  Jae Ha winced at the bite behind Hak’s words and bit deeper into his lower lip, eyes downcast.  “You damn moron.”  Yes, that was becoming more and more apparent with each passing day. Hak stood before him and Jae Ha instinctively tensed before one of Hak’s hands reached for his that rested on the counter, the roughness of callouses against his knuckles a welcome distraction from the tightness in his throat. He blinked away the prickling in his eyes, not used to such tenderness. Such a simple gesture, yet it meant so much to his jaded heart.  Hak’s other hand cupped the back of his neck, encouraging him to rest his forehead on his sturdy shoulder. He allowed himself to be guided forward. Perhaps it would be okay to be vulnerable for once.  Jae Ha exhaled shakily and closed his eyes. “Yoon was right to warn you guys, you know. I’ll fuck this whole thing up and ruin everything.”  Hak’s fingers stroked the nape of his neck, the gentle pressure of his palm a welcome weight. “I seem to recall someone telling me that I should focus on one step at a time… maybe you should take that advice, too.”  Jae Ha huffed a laugh, free hand landing on Hak’s waist with a tentative touch. “That guy sounded like he knew what he was talking about. Too bad he didn’t know shit.”  Hak scoffed. “Yeah, well he can join the club.”  “Seriously,” Jae Ha tried once more to gather his scrambled thoughts. “I don’t want to be the reason why you two don’t work out… God knows it took you two long enough to get together.”  “You’re sure giving yourself an awful lot of credit, here.”  “Hak, I’m serious.”  “Yeah, no shit.”  “Why would you want to include me?” There it was: the burning question plaguing Jae Ha’s mind for the past week. His insecurities felt like a heavy cloak that he just couldn’t seem to shrug off, no matter how many times he tried to hide them behind easy smiles and jests. At the end of the day, he was used to being cast aside and forgotten.  The court appointed therapist from his teen years had warned him that he couldn’t outrun his trauma, that it would catch up to him eventually and cause issues in his relationships later on down the road. It looked like that particular chicken had come home to roost.  “Look,” Hak tugged on the sensitive strands at his nape, urging him to lift his head, and Jae Ha had to bite back a gasp at the pleasant tingling against his scalp because now was not the time. “No one said anything about this being easy. I can’t speak for Yona, but I know I wanna give this a chance. I wanna try.”  His hand slid to cup Jae Ha’s face, the blue in his eyes as bright as the summer sky. Jae Ha froze, pinned beneath that gaze. He wasn't used to such gentleness from Hak; he usually reserved such touches for Yona. It was almost giving him whiplash.  Hak’s eyes scanned his face. “What do you want?”  Jae Ha blinked. What did he want? Oh, lots of things, apparently. For once in his life, he found himself wanting things that he used to adamantly swear that he detested. He found himself aching for intimacy in ways that he didn't know were possible.  Jae Ha angled his head towards Hak’s, unable to recall the last time that he’d felt so nervous and unsure. It felt a lot like the little swoop that he used to get in his stomach before he leapt off the rocks and into the water as a kid. His eyes flickered to Hak’s mouth. “I want to be selfish. I think I want to keep you,” he whispered as he watched Hak through a softened gaze, waiting for the moment to potentially disintegrate to ash before him in a dreamlike haze. “Both of you.”  “Then stay,” Hak breathed, closing the space between them at last as he kissed him, erasing any lingering doubts or worries.  Hak’s hand fell to Jae Ha’s lower back, pulling him closer into the hard line of his body, so strong and steadfast. And possessive. And warm. Hak had him right where he wanted him, and he fully intended to take advantage of it. His kisses were so sure and straightforward, the same way he walked through life, with purpose and intention. Slow and methodical, he’d always been good at taking his time to get the results that he wanted, and Jae Ha was going to be no exception.  How delightful.  The hand on Hak’s waist tightened as Jae Ha continued to drown in sweet kisses (since when was he into that?), Hak’s hand at his lower back holding him close like he was worth something, like he was someone precious.  Hak finally broke away to catch his breath, but immediately moved to mouth along Jae Ha’s jaw, pressing kisses to his pulse.  Jae Ha tilted his head with a sigh, basking in the warmth of Hak’s body and the pressure of his lips at his neck –  Flashes of a red-lipped smile against his throat had him freezing, muscles tense and eyes squeezing shut as he pressed his hands into Hak’s chest. “Wait,” he rasped. God, he was such a mess. “Wait wait wait,” he breathed, pulling away from Hak’s mouth with a great amount of restraint. “There’s something you should know.”  Hak leaned back, eyes sweeping over his face in confusion.  “I uh,” he cleared his throat, trying to dispel the graveled edge to his voice. “I slept with someone else.”  Hak’s eyes widened a little at his confession, but he didn’t look overly angry or hurt, only caught off guard. “When?”  “The night of that work dinner, when you and Yona went to the movies.”  Hak’s eyes narrowed a little, gaze unfocused as he seemed to count backwards on an invisible calendar in his head. His eyes met Jae Ha’s tense expression, gaze soft yet unreadable as he murmured, “Okay.”  Jae Ha blinked. “Wha – that’s it?”  Hak tilted his head and shrugged. “I don’t love it, but it wasn’t like we’d talked about exclusivity at that point or anything, right?”  Jae Ha visibly relaxed, an invisible weight sliding off his frame at Hak’s words. He hadn’t needed forgiveness, but he hadn’t exactly been feeling good about what had happened, either.  Hak pressed their foreheads together, gaze downcast as Jae Ha closed his eyes. “Does Yona know?”  “No.” He thought back to that pub, when he'd asked Hak a similar question regarding keeping something hidden from her. "Not yet."  He hummed. His husky timbre sent chills down Jae Ha’s spine as he murmured, “I’ll let you tell her, okay?  Jae Ha hummed his own agreement.  “But you should know,” Hak leaned back to put a bit of space between them, his hand tilting Jae Ha’s chin up a bit to meet his gaze again. “If I’m in this, then I’m in it. Just the three of us from now on, okay?”  The vision of Hak that stood before him began to mist over a little, and Jae Ha began to rapidly blink, trying to dispel the foreign tightening in his throat as he swallowed thickly, looking anywhere but at the soft expression Hak was gifting him with. His heart clenched painfully behind his ribs at the promise woven into the words that Hak had so effortlessly spoken. No one had ever offered such a thing to him before, and he was at a complete loss.  The line that he’d been eyeing all along from a safe distance was now right before him, and Jae Ha couldn’t outrun it any longer. Hak stood on the other side, but was Jae Ha finally willing to take the leap; to cross it and join him? Was he brave enough to stand his ground and bare his scars to someone, to give all of himself so openly and honestly? Could he be the person that Hak seemed to see beneath all of the layers of banter and misdirection? Was he worthy?  Jae Ha nodded, sniffling a little, rolled his shoulders with a nod as he croaked, “Yeah. Yeah – me too. Please.”  Hak’s lips tilted up a little at the corner, that deep rumbling so gentle as he murmured, “Okay.” His grip on Jae Ha’s chin tightened a little, pulled him in to resume languid kisses that stole his breath, and Jae Ha greedily drank them down, craving reassurance and already eager for more. Warmth was beginning to bloom just beneath his skin as he chased Hak’s mouth for more every time that he pulled back, the knowledge that they could have been doing this for weeks causing his heart to flutter.  Hak’s hand felt like a brand against his lower back, keeping him pressed tightly to him, and Jae Ha was loathe to admit that he kind of liked the security of it.  Fuck, he was getting hard from this, and he wasn’t sure how far to push his luck. The last thing that he wanted was to press Hak too far outside of his comfort zone.  But, nothing ventured, nothing gained. He took a chance and hooked his fingers through a beltloop to angle Hak’s hips against his, the resulting grunt and press of his groin against his reassuring Jae Ha that Hak didn’t seem uncomfortable in the slightest. God, there was so much glorious real estate to cover, and he didn’t even know where to start.  Hak did, though. He pressed his thigh between Jae Ha’s legs, who broke their kiss on a breathy gasp, allowing Hak to bite along his neck.  “So,” Jae Ha croaked, clearing his throat to try again. “You never did tell me how last night went.”  Hak sighed with a familiar air of annoyance before nipping at his jaw. “Seriously? What do you want, a play by play?”  “Ooo, is that an option?”  Hak gripped his chin and kissed him again, more forceful than last time, much to Jae Ha’s delight. If it was a ploy to shut him up, then he’d have to poke at his irritation more often (especially if this was going to be the result). Hak's teeth tugged insistently on his lower lip, and the groan that slipped from Jae Ha’s chest was muffled by Hak’s tongue, and God – it was so good.  “If you stop avoiding her, maybe you’ll get your own chance to find out,” growled Hak against his lips, voice gritty and downright delicious as he grabbed Jae Ha’s hips, urging him to grind his half hard cock against his thigh in what was no doubt a replay of how Yona moved against him the night before.  Fuuuuuck. Heat pooled in his gut, thick and syrupy as he gripped Hak’s biceps and let him guide the motion of his hips, kissing deep and moaning into his mouth as he rocked against the hard muscle flexing between his thighs. So much for any lingering reservations; not that he was complaining. Hak’s hold was like iron, and Jae Ha hoped that there would be faint fingertip sized bruises painted beautifully into his skin by tomorrow. The very idea had his hips stuttering, breath catching and mouth open against Hak’s parted lips as they both fought to catch their breath.  “Talk to her,” Hak insisted as he slowed his movements (no no no don’t stop), and Jae Ha had to bite back a petulant whine. He couldn’t remember the last time that he’d been so turned on over so little. He subconsciously sought out more friction, but Hak’s ceaseless grip held him still. “Yeah?”  It was clear that he was waiting for Jae Ha’s response on the matter, but he didn't trust his voice, so he nodded his head, eyes squeezed shut.  “Good.”  He shuddered. He could easily become addicted to this.  Jae Ha’s brow furrowed as he grit his teeth, eyes still closed and fingers squeezing Hak’s muscled arms in an attempt to settle himself.
  I would let you do terrible things to me.
      Yona soaked in a hot bath that evening, reclined in her tub as she watched the wisps of steam curl towards the ceiling. Her muscles ached, stiff and sore in a way that she’d never been before, and it brought a flush to her chest that couldn’t be blamed on the temperature of the water.  Her body broke out in little shivers as she recalled how tender Hak had been with her, his eyes so open and filled with wonder as he’d watched her, hands gentle as he’d helped support her. Her heart pounded in her chest at what they’d done, and even more at the knowledge that she couldn’t wait to do it again.  She brought her hands to her face, trying to swallow her lingering embarrassment over her behavior with Hak. She’d been shameless and demanding, and he’d called her baby. She didn’t think her heart was ever going to recover from that one.  Yona pressed her palms against her eyes and whined, like some damn teenager having heart palpitations over a crush. It was probably a good thing that Hak had something to “take care of” that morning that pulled him away from her, because she didn’t want to risk him seeing her like this. How was she supposed to act around him now?  Her phone chimed at her from the floor, snatching her out of her thoughts and shoving her back into reality. She blinked in surprise and peered over the edge of the tub, Jae Ha’s name appearing on the screen.
  Oh!
  Her heart skipped a beat as she hastily and haphazardly dried her hands enough to pick up her phone, swiping her thumb across the screen eagerly. He was texting her! He was finally texting her!  It was a picture of Hak sitting at the kitchen island eating what looked like noodles of some kind. His right eyebrow was arched at the camera in agitation, and it made her giggle.           Jae Ha -  >>  On his third bowl. Wonder why he’s so hungry 😉   Oh... so he was just reaching out to tease her.  Well, it was better than nothing.  Yona bit her lip and rested her warm cheek against the cool porcelain as her thumb scrolled up to earlier messages in their conversation. Her brow furrowed as she re-read the one-sided texts that she’d sent him in an effort to break through whatever strange rift had come between them. She was fairly certain that Hak had something to do with Jae Ha's sudden reappearance, but she didn't need him to fight her battles for her.  Jae Ha had definitely been avoiding her, and she was going to find out why. She had a plan.  Her stomach fluttered with nervous little butterflies as she returned her phone to the floor, sinking back down into the warm water with a small sigh.      “Someone here for you, Chef.”  Yoon’s brow furrowed in confusion as he turned, about to inquire as to who it could possibly be, when he froze at the sight of Yona through the little window in the door, seated at the end of the bar.  Yoon wiped his hands off on his apron as he stepped through the swinging door to the kitchen. He gave the bartender a nod, shooing him towards the opposite end of the polished surface as he approached his friend. Normally so confident, he felt a little lost as he came to stand before her, separated by thirty inches of mahogany.  “I wasn’t expecting you,” he mumbled, scratching at an itch on his cheek. A few seconds ticked by in silence as he fussed with a stack of coasters, sliding a bowl of bright red cherries closer to Yona because he knew that they were her favorite, even if she never admitted it. It wasn’t overly busy for a Monday night, just a few patrons scattered about, but they might as well be the only two in the building.  “I know,” Yona used the straw to press down on the floating cubes in her glass, holding them under the surface briefly before allowing them to rise back up. “Thought I’d stop by, unless you’re too busy – “  “Thunder Beast still at work?”  Yona quirked a smile at Hak’s nickname. “Yep.”  Yoon nodded, his gaze sidelong as he shifted uncomfortably. “Jae Ha, too?”  “Yeah.”  Yoon hummed. Another minute passed before he hedged, “I, uh – look, what I mean is – I just wanted you to know –“  “It’s okay, Yoon."  He finally looked at her, eyes a little wider than normal and somewhat watery. “Yona–"  “I know you were just trying to look out for me,” she began, stirring the ice in her cup. “And I know that you don’t want me to get hurt, but you have to have a little faith in me. And you have to have faith in them, too.”  Yoon fiddled with the coasters, shuffling them like a deck of cards. He frowned at her, the concern for all of them no doubt bleeding over into his expression, because Yona smiled at him so softly, an endless well of compassion and understanding. How was she always able to stay so kind? How many more chances would she give him? He wondered if he truly deserved her friendship.  He sighed, “Well, duh, you dummy…” He leaned forward on the bar, placing a coaster beneath her sweating glass. “I know you can take care of yourself, but I can’t help it. You guys are my family. Honestly, if it had to be anybody, I’m glad it was them. Coulda done worse, I guess.” He rolled his eyes at her big eyes and warbling lips. He tried to blink away his own tears. He had to work here, after all.  Yona huffed a laugh, wiping a stray tear from her eye. “Totally… We all love you, too, mother.”  “Who would mother you bunch of ingrates?”  Yona laughed as he tossed a menu at her, insisting that she order something to eat and then get out to make room for paying customers who didn't make him cry.      The handle of the takeout bag dangling from her wrist, Yona stepped off of the elevator and onto the floor that Jae Ha’s architect firm occupied, the front desk empty and the space quiet. She had texted him earlier, and to her surprise, he had answered promptly with a picture of a cluttered worktable, so she knew that he was here.  She was eyeing the keypad and badge scanner on the wall beside the door when a shadow appeared behind the frosted glass. The knob turned, and a stiletto heel stepped over the threshold, a woman calling out over her shoulder, “And don’t leave the lights on this time!”  The woman was pulling on leather gloves as she turned and took a few steps into the room, halting when she saw Yona. She blinked in surprise, and Yona recognized the blonde as Tao’s older sister from lunch.  “Oh! Hi,” Yona smiled. “I um, I’m not sure if you remember me- “  “Oh, I remember you,” Kouren said as she adjusted the designer handbag on her shoulder. She had a glint in her eye that made Yona feel like she was staring down a lioness, poised and graceful as she slowly strolled closer. “Hard to forget such a cute face.”  Oh.  She wasn’t sure if it was meant to be a compliment. The woman was hard to get a read on.  Yona felt her smile warble a little, straightening her spine while fighting the overwhelming urge to shift and shuffle from foot to foot anxiously. “I was just here to- “  Kouren's eyes snapped down to the bag looped through Yona’s wrist. “You must be here for Jae Ha,” a slow smile began to spread across her red lips, like she’d just discovered where the piece of a very complex puzzle belonged. “He doesn’t know you’re coming.”  It was a statement, but Yona somehow felt compelled to answer as if she’d been asked a question. “No, he doesn’t…” she fidgeted, feeling silly and out of place suddenly, like she wasn’t in on some sort of joke. “I just thought he might be hungry.”  “Ugh, aren’t you just the sweetest little thing,” Kouren purred. She reached for her (very expensive) bag and retrieved a fountain pen from a side pocket. She extended a hand out to her, gesturing at one of Yona’s arms and snapping her fingers at her when Yona merely stared at her blankly.   Her brain had her taking three hurried steps towards the woman before she could even think twice, and something flashed in that gaze as those ruby lips curved into a brief and pleased smirk, as if Yona’s immediate obedience had been some sort of secret prize all along.  Kouren adjusted her bag upon her shoulder once more and murmured, “Not that he deserves it. He had such an attitude all last week.”  Yona frowned at her words, eyes widening and body going stiff as Kouren held her arm firmly and pushed up the sleeve of her coat, the leather on her hands soft and supple against her skin.  She then gripped the cap of the pen in her teeth and yanked to expose the pointed tip, little flicks of her wrist painting digits onto Yona’s skin before leaning down to blow against the wet ink. Before Yona could inquire, she gestured vaguely to the keypad over her shoulder.  She then replaced the cap on the pen, brushing past Yona’s frozen form as she headed for the elevator, pushing the button before turning to face her once more. She brushed her hair off of her forehead and gave her a quick once over, almost appreciatively?  It made Yona blush.   Kouren chuckled, and Yona could have sworn that she heard a muttered ‘so cute’ as the elevator dinged behind her.   “Well,” Kouren sighed as she stepped into the small space. “Tomorrow should be interesting. Straight ahead, then hang a right. Last table at the end.”  The doors closed, and Yona stared at her own wide-eyed reflection in the polished surface.  Her knees felt a little weak.      God, his back was sore. No one warned him that once he turned thirty, his spine would start to slowly deteriorate. He sighed and rubbed his tired eyes, cursing their software for what had to be the third time in under an hour. He was getting sick and tired of being bent over that damn table, reconfiguring and re-examining the same plans.  The sound of footsteps approaching had him pausing as he frowned. Hadn’t everyone already left for the night-?  A head of crimson hair appeared around the corner, and he’d recognize that restaurant logo on that bag anywhere. Yona spotted him and gave a small wave, her smile causing his heart to flutter unexpectedly. God, he hadn’t realized just how much he’d missed her until she got close enough for him to smell her perfume.  “Well, hello,” her soft blush had his grin widening. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”  “Oh, well um- I stopped to talk to Yoon, and he insisted on sending me home with food… you said that you were working late, and I know you’ve been busy with that new project, and I didn’t want you to eat all alone…”  She must have been nervous; she wasn’t normally prone to rambling.  Her eyes darted around the space before landing on him again, chewing on her lower lip distractedly. “But I can just leave this with you and let you get back to work -?”  Jae Ha interrupted her by pulling her into his chest, wrapping her in his arms as his tall frame bent in order to encompass her in his embrace.  She paused for a moment before burying her face in his chest, arms lifting at last and small hands pressing into his back, trying to pull him even closer to her.  Why had he thought that he could give them up?    Jae Ha stretched his arms overhead as she’d unpacked a few takeout boxes, seating himself in one of his coworker’s rolling chairs, then planting his feet and pushing off, smirking at her as he’d sailed past. Her laughter had been so bright and refreshing, sparking something back to life in his chest as she’d seated herself in another chair and spun.  “I miss having Yoon’s cooking every day.”  Jae Ha hummed in agreement before leaning forward to accept a bite of the dumpling that she held out to him, relieving her chopsticks of their heavy burden. They’d chatted about their weeks while they’d shared bites of shrimp and perfectly seared cuts of meat, but the conversation was starting to dwindle, and he could sense a change in the air. He supposed that he would have to address his absence sooner or later –  “Have you been avoiding me?”    He’d been taking a swig of his water, but was now trying not to choke, coughing and waving Yona off as she reached for him out of concern. He reassured her that he was alright, just caught off guard.  “So, I take that as a ‘yes,’” she murmured, shoulders slumping.  Jae Ha chuckled as he attempted to screw the lid back onto the plastic bottle. “I guess I wasn’t as subtle as I thought…”  “Why?”  He could already see the thousands of questions brewing behind her large eyes, wondering what she had done, or if he was angry with her? She looked as though she were bracing herself for the worst, waiting for the words that he’d no doubt caused her to anticipate.  God, he’d been so stupid. And self-absorbed.  He sighed, setting his water aside before turning towards her, leaning forward in his chair, and allowing his hands to land upon her knees. His fingertips drew soothing circles against the opaque material on her legs. “Because according to Hak, I’m an idiot. And I think he might be right this time.” That earned him a small smile, but it was short lived.  He ducked his head to try and meet her eyes, but she wouldn’t look at him. Her voice was small and timid, not like the Yona that he knew at all as she asked, “Can I ask you a question?”  “Of course.”  “Are you not attracted to me? It’s okay if you aren’t,” she was quick to add, fidgeting with the hem of her knee-length skirt. “I know I’m not exactly your type, and that I don’t know what I’m doing- “  Jae Ha’s hands covered hers, prying her fingers away from the flowing fabric and tugging upon her hands. “Come here,” he whispered as he urged her out of her chair and into his lap, secretly preening when she went without hesitation. He smiled at her softly as she situated herself, trusting him to keep her from falling.  She licked her lips nervously, fighting against the urge to fidget.  “That couldn’t be further from the truth. Believe me when I say that it’s taken everything in me to hold back,” his hands supported her lower back as she shifted again. “I guess I thought that you and Hak completed one another so well, that there was really no need for me to be involved, even though I wanted to be... I suppose I thought that I was just being selfish.”  Her eyes finally settled on his face, and he could see the sad look swirling in their depths. He understood Hak’s fierce desire to protect her, because he would level a city if it meant that she’d never look at him that way again.  “But that was my own stupid brain making things more complicated than they needed to be. I should have clarified the parameters of what a relationship with all three of us could potentially be, instead of jumping to conclusions on my own,” one hand moved to her waist, thumb stroking along the bottom of her ribs. “I put unnecessary distance between us, and I hurt you both in the process. I’m sorry, Yona dear.”  She smiled softly at his old term of endearment for her, bringing forth memories of hot August days and frozen winter nights in Hiryuu house, of chore charts and study sessions in between adventures that had turned them into the little family that she loved so dearly.  Her hands landed on his shoulders softly, toying with the collar of his crisp, white dress shirt. He’d loosened his tie and undone the top few buttons, the hollow of his throat flexing as he swallowed under her gaze. “Is that why you wouldn’t-“ she cut herself off, ducking her head and casting her eyes downward.  Jae Ha tilted his head at her, recalling how patient Hak had been with him and drawing strength from their interaction as he waited, his palm stroking beneath her ribs soothingly.  When she’d mustered up the courage, Yona met his gaze and asked, “Is that why you haven’t touched me like you did that night when we were all together?”  He gave a small nod. “Yes, mostly. That, and I suppose that I thought maybe you’d be better off having Hak give that to you, given your history together.”  Yona’s eyes flickered to his mouth briefly, her tongue wetting her lips as she muttered, “I thought maybe you just didn’t want me like that.”  Jae Ha’s grip on her tightened as he leaned closer, his voice low as he reassured her that that wasn’t an issue in the slightest, that he’d been so jealous over having missed the sight of them together. “I wanted to be there,” he murmured, mouth hovering so close to hers that they were sharing the same breath. “I wanted to watch you come apart again.”  Yona closed the distance between them, melting into him and kissing him like he might turn and run. All of the pent-up frustration over having been denied for so long began to bleed into her kisses, mouth slanting as he hummed, sweeping away the lingering anxiety over their distance from the past few weeks. One small hand gripped his tie, yanking him even closer to her and keeping him right where she wanted him, and he moaned as she seized the opportunity to flick her tongue against his, shivers racing down his spine to tingle pleasantly along his nerves.  His hand slid to her thigh, then beneath her skirt, breath hitching when fingertips met the top of her stocking, the band digging into the soft flesh of her upper thigh.  She squirmed in his lap, re-situated so that more of her heat pressed against his groin, gasping so sweetly as she ground against the hardening length of him trapped behind an uncomfortable inseam. It was just enough of a hint of pain to feed into his arousal, a lick of a flame that had him sparking to life beneath her. His hands gripped her hips, supported her as she moved into a slow roll against him, breaking their kiss to release mewling little cries that had him whispering her name breathlessly.  She sat back on his thighs, fingers reaching for his belt-  His hand intercepted hers, kissing her before she could protest. “Sweetheart, it’s too soon,” he pressed a kiss to the spot behind her ear and she whimpered. “I’m sure you’re sore. It’ll probably hurt.”  She whined, tugging on his tie again to lead his mouth back to hers, his stomach dipping into a delightful little flutter at the way that she handled him. “Please,” she whispered breathlessly against his lips in between scorching kisses, and he’d give her the world if she kept that up. She sounded so pretty when she begged.  He soothed her with gentle touches and whispered promises. “Shhh, alright,” he reassured her as he stood, cradling the back of her head as he lowered her gently onto the worktable, sore spine be damned. “I’ll make it better,” he murmured as he trailed his lips along her jaw, sampling the fragrant skin of her neck before tasting her pulse. Her knees bracketed his hips and he pressed into her in one slow grind, just to feel her moan vibrate on his tongue as he throbbed between her legs.  She still had a grip on his tie and was using it to her advantage as she pulled him into another desperate kiss, her tongue curling against his. His hands traced her hips as she arched beneath him, moving the fabric of her skirt out of the way for his eager fingers. He leaned his hips back enough to trace her over thin fabric, his eyes enraptured with the way that she rolled herself sinuously against his palm.  When he could sense her frustration beginning to grow over the knowledge that it wasn’t enough, he smoothed his hand beneath the now deliciously damp fabric and wasted absolutely no time dipping a finger into her warm, welcoming heat. God she was so wet, and the incredible ease of which he was able to slide his fingers around her slit had him gritting his teeth.  Her hand finally abandoned his tie in order to grip his shoulders and guide his face back to hers, open and deep kisses accompanying her gasping cries as he explored her, tongue sliding against hers in an example of how he planned on using his mouth on her.  Suddenly desperate to taste her, he withdrew his fingers from her and gripped behind her knees, her gasping whine at his absence turning his legs to jelly as he pulled her to the edge of the worktable.  She sat up on her elbows to reach for him again, but he urged her to lie back on the hard surface, murmuring praises to her in between heated kisses. He helped her lift her hips so that he could slide damp fabric down her stocking clad legs, kneeling and adjusting her legs over his shoulders. He held her securely as he tilted her hips up into his waiting mouth.  He flattened his tongue against her in one long, slow lick, savoring the slick taste of her with a soft hum of appreciation. It was his turn to have her like this, and it was better than he’d imagined. The cry that wrenched itself free from her chest rang in his ears as he lapped at her clit, flicking the swollen bud with his tongue before giving it a gentle suck. He could feel her thighs tremble as he curled his tongue, tasting her with another slow draw as she writhed, clumsy fingers twining through his tousled strands and tugging –  He moaned against her, causing her to undulate into the sensation, and he hissed as his groin throbbed. He pressed his tongue flat against her again in an attempt to distract her, and she loosened her grip a bit. He huffed a surprised gasp before sucking her clit again, a little harder than before, tongue circling and curling before sliding lower to push into her as she wriggled with a whine.  Fuck - that was close.  The fingers in his hair tightened again, holding him down against her, and he hissed as his hips bucked into nothing, abdomen clenched tightly to stave off the overwhelming onslaught of heat and want. Somehow, she’d managed to figure out one of his favorite triggers for an easy detonation and that just wouldn’t do. His hand gripped one of her thighs tightly, the twitching muscle anchoring him. He licked the length of her slit again, lavished extra attention against her swollen clit, the sounds that she made causing a rush of heat to flood his veins.  The smug grin that he pressed into her thigh at her reaction to his touch was promptly wiped away at the sound of her light panting, followed by the breathless sound of his name as she called for him.  He'd never been able to deny her; no matter the request or call, he’d always complied, and would most likely continue to happily do so.  Jae Ha slowly got to his feet, one hand planting itself beside her head to keep him steady as he leaned over her for more kisses, sharing the taste of her on his tongue with ragged groans. His fingers returned to her dripping heat as he swallowed her sounds, intent on keeping them all to himself as her thighs squeezed his hips. He would have loved to tease her for her eagerness, but he was just as guilty as he finally sank his fingers into her, curling them as his eyes scoured her expression for any hint of pain or discomfort.  “Oh, haa – “ she gasped, eyes cloudy and hips twitching as she began to move with the stroking of his fingers, essentially fucking herself onto his hand.    He hummed, positively drunk with pleasure as he hovered over her, studying the gorgeous expressions on her face as he located the spot deep inside of her that had her crying out, curling his fingers while his thumb stroked gentle circles around her clit to get her to make that glorious sound again-  And was immediately rewarded for his efforts with a guttural cry that had her rising up to bury her face into his chest, whimpering his name with a fresh wave of begging. Ugh – it was making him dizzy with lust, his head swimming just knowing that it was Yona beneath him, sobbing his name and begging him to get inside of her already. How many times had he imagined this exact scenario? How many times had he tried to picture her like this?  Nothing did it justice. Nothing could have prepared him for the overwhelming surge of affection that he felt as he watched her fall back down to the unyielding surface beneath her, the tears beginning to gather in her eyes while she dangled from the precipice, so close to tipping over into the bright pool of pleasure. She was so close, so tight and hot. He would love nothing more than to make her come on his fingers all night.  " - please - "  He’d give her his soul if she asked for it. He murmured his agreement as his free hand tugged his zipper down, her frantic fingers at his belt, both working together to shuffle his pants down his hips just enough to not be a hindrance. His hand wrapped around hers, guided her to the pulsing, aching hardness between his legs, helped lead her small hand beneath the dark elastic of his underwear. He hummed as she he showed her how to wrap her fingers around him, pulsed in her palm and sighed breathless encouragements as she stroked and explored.  “If it hurts, tell me and we’ll stop,” he insisted, voice raspy as he watched those gorgeous eyes glaze over with lust. She was so expressive, so beautiful as her delicate fingers squeezed his aching length to position him against her entrance, squirming impatiently.  Jae Ha breathed her name as he slowly filled her, sinking into her liquid heat and pausing to allow her to adjust to the stretch, his brows drawn down with pleasure as he groaned at the sensation of tight, wet warmth enveloping his cock. He fought to steady himself, his arms shaking as hers wrapped around his back, pulled him closer so that he had to drop down onto his elbows, the sharp pricks of her nails dulled by the fabric of his shirt. A pity.  He pressed a kiss to her temple as he waited, nearly sighing with relief as she began to wiggle her hips against his, signaling her need for him to move. He pulled back and worked an arm beneath her, angling her hips up so that he could hit that spot –  She threw her head back with a shout, shaking and squeezing around him, clenching so tightly that his eyes slammed shut. They were pressed so closely together, his hips grinding more than anything, but it seemed to be working for her, based on the way that she sobbed as he pushed in deep. Her legs tightened around his hips as he kissed her, pouring the longing and desire that he’d been suppressing for far too long, worshipping her with soft praises as the slickness between them began to grow, his tongue sliding against hers as his other hand pried one of her legs away from his hips, her knee in the cradle of his elbow as he spread her a little wider and thrust into her with a tad more force.  She gasped as her walls clenched around him tightly, whimpers falling from her mouth as she came around him, grinding his pelvis against her clit as he kissed the corner of her lips. Her back arched as her hips undulated, and fuck - he hoped that he’d never forget this moment. She fluttered around him, and he stilled as he came, the pleasure almost unbearable as he buried his face in her hair and moaned, deep and hoarse.  The tension along his spine began to ease, melting into her open arms and fighting to catch his breath as her hands released him, cupping his face and bringing his lips back to hers for a slow, lethargic kiss.  Her thumbs brushed against his cheeks as she smiled softly at him, and he paused as she leaned up to press a kiss to his damp skin.  Huh. When had that stray tear escaped?      “You’ve been pulling a lot of all-nighters lately,” observed his coworker, Reid with a smile. “Really trying to get ahead on that project, huh?”  Jae Ha cleared his throat, eyes landing anywhere but on the worktable, trying his best to not appeared flustered as he attempted an easygoing smile. “Of course! I'm the hardest worker around here, you know.” He tossed a wink at Kouren, who rolled her eyes and ordered everyone to quit chatting and produce some results.  Her eyes flashed to Jae Ha’s with a knowing little quirk of her lips, and a zing of panic swept down his spine.  He glanced at his coat hanging over the back of his chair, Yona’s panties still in the pocket. He cleared his throat again and avoided looking at the worktable, tugging on the collar of his shirt with a small grimace.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Girl, you’re a mess,” Lili remarked as she watched Yona wince at the pull along her hips and lower back. “You and Hak been busy, or what?”    Yona swatted at her friend but missed, her face feeling hot as Lili continued her quest to embarrass her. She’d been trying not to think about the events from the other night that had caused her to be so sore, but it wasn’t going very well. Anytime she had a quiet moment, her brain tipped right over into the gutter and launched her back to the surface of that table, to the way that Jae Ha sounded when he –    “I don’t even know how you’re walking,” Tetora commented from her left. “I mean, assuming that he’s proportional-”    Yona squeaked before hissing at her to keep her voice down, her face now undoubtedly matching the shade of her hair. At least they were in the very back corner of the class, the instructor’s soothing voice guiding them into the next pose.    Yona blew a stray lock of hair out of her eyes as she tried to block out her obnoxious friends, listening as she was instructed to extend the stretch through the tips of her fingers and lengthen her stance as she opened her hips.    “Yeah, Yona,” Lili teased. “Open up them hips.”    God help her, she actually growled, and it only made Lili laugh as she stated that she sounded just like Hak.    She managed to make it through the rest of the class in one piece, despite their best efforts, but the class hadn’t really helped her aching muscles and it had left her crabby as she packed up her things. She hated how easily sex flustered her. The rest of her girlfriends all spoke of it like it was the most natural thing, like the way one discussed the weather amongst strangers. Hell- she felt like she couldn’t really even discuss it with her partners.    She frowned as she attempted to re-do her braid, wondering when she would quit feeling like a teenager masquerading as an adult.    “I want boba,” Lili whined as Tetora rolled up her mat for her. She turned to Yona and bumped shoulders with her. “You wanna fix your face and go get boba with us?”    Yona rolled her eyes as a phone rang, ignoring Lili’s frown as she began to dig through her bag to locate the noisy device.    “I’ve got ibuprofen~,” sang Tetora as she shook the little bottle like a peace offering, plopping two little round tablets into Yona’s palm. “Atta girl. You'll be feeling better in no time!”    Yona tossed her head back and accepted Tetora’s water bottle to wash down her medication with. Maybe she should have listened to Jae Ha’s warning about being sore after all.    “- all I’m saying is that she’s being awfully stingy with the details,” Lili groused off to the side, no doubt whining to Ayura over the phone. “I’ve waited years to hear about that man’s dick. Years.”    Yona groaned in acute embarrassment as a couple of people from the class turned their heads to regard them on their way out. She pressed her face into her hands. “Please stop.”    Lili sighed. “Inquiring minds wanna know. I mean, his dick has got to be glorious if it has you walkin’ all funny…”    “Is that right?”    Yona’s head jerked up so fast that she might have pulled something, but she couldn’t be sure, because she was too busy panicking at the familiar tinny voice that Lili was talking to on –    “Is that my phone?” Yona scrambled for the device, where Jae Ha was smiling and waving at her through the video call, her hand reaching for it as Lili sidestepped her. “Why do you have my phone?!”    Oh, god. She forgot that she'd stashed her phone in Lili's bag so that she didn't have to carry it in.    “I thought my phone was ringing, then I realized that it was yours, and then I thought it might be Hak,” Lili stated with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders. “And maaaybe I was hoping you’ve got a dick pic stashed away on here somewhere…”    Yona squawked, finally managing to wrestle her phone away from her soon to be former friend, who looked totally unruffled at her frustration. “You are unbelievable!”    “Lili, dear,” Jae Ha said with a smile, the call somehow not having been lost in the scuffle. “If you wanted a dick pic that badly, I would’ve been more than happy to oblige.”    Lili crossed her arms with a huff. “Who hasn’t seen your dick?”    Tetora giggled as she handed Lili her perfectly rolled up mat. “Now, Lili. I thought we talked about not slut shaming others.”      Yona sipped at her strawberry beverage with a sigh. Tetora had invited Jae Ha to meet them for boba, but he’d declined, stating that he still had work to do.    He works so much, she thought as she frowned. At this rate, he’s going to get sick if he’s not careful.    “Yo, space case,” Lili’s balled up straw wrapper bounced off Yona’s forehead. “I’d ask what you’re thinkin’ so hard about, but I’m pretty sure I’ve got a good idea.”    “Oh, ease up,” Tetora chastised as Yona groused. “Just because you’re not seeing anyone doesn’t mean you have to pester Yona.”    Lili sputtered. “Who says I’m not seeing anyone, huh? I’ve got stuff goin’ on!”    Yona made a joke about her protesting too much, dissolving into a steady back and forth with her friend, oblivious of the little chime her phone made on the table beside her, Jae Ha’s name on the screen.    Tetora blinked down at it as she chewed on her tapioca bead in thought.    Interesting.        “New Year’s?”    “Yeah,” Hak said as he set a slice of pizza on Yona’s plate before snagging one for himself from the pan in the center of the table. Hak had been absolutely swamped with work for the past few days (they all had, really), and their schedules had finally managed to sync up long enough for them to grab dinner together.    Yona made a squeak of surprise at the long string of cheese that stretched between her slice and her mouth, eyes widening as she tried desperately to break it without success. How she managed to keep her hair out of that mess was a mystery to Jae Ha. Years of practice, he supposed.    Hak ignored her struggles as he focused on the architect, wiping his hands off on a napkin. “I know we’re doing our Christmas with everyone, but I always go home for New Year’s. Thought maybe both of you might like to come? No pressure.”    Jae Ha blinked, the pint in his hand hovering in the no man’s land between his mouth and the surface of the table as he processed Hak’s invitation. His past New Year’s Eve plans had involved working at a bar, having sex with a stranger, or staying home and passing out early. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined ever being deemed worthy enough to bring home to a family.    Even more shocking was the knowledge that he wanted to go.    Jae Ha ducked his head a little, feeling oddly shy. “Uh, yeah. I mean, sure.”    “Cool.” Hak bit into his slice as Yona finally managed some small semblance of control over her own, making grabby hands for Jae Ha’s beer (which he happily surrendered) as Hak reached out to thumb away a small smear of sauce on her chin.        Ever since he’d cleared things up with Yona, Jae Ha couldn’t help but notice how much more confident Hak seemed when it came to touching him. On the rare mornings when they were both awake at the same time before work, he made a point to kiss him goodbye. While preparing for bed, he brushed past him with a hand to his lower back and stole kisses. He stood closer to him while out in public and reached for his hand more.    He’d felt those blue eyes on him more frequently, could sense that same intensity that he’d witnessed him use towards Yona stretching to encompass him as well, and it felt oddly satisfying to belong to Hak; to be cared for by someone so loyal and protective.    And considerate. Almost too considerate, if Jae Ha were to be honest.    Hak hadn’t initiated anything past chaste kisses and bouts of hand holding since that heated morning in the kitchen, and Jae Ha puzzled over it as the holidays approached. At first, he’d thought that it was because the three of them had all been so busy. The weeks leading up to Christmas were hectic at best, filled with social obligations, last minute errands, and tying up loose ends at work to get everyone through until January. He and Hak shared an apartment, and there were still days where they barely managed to cross paths.    But now he wondered if maybe Hak just wasn’t comfortable enough yet to explore that part of their relationship? What had Hak done sexually in his past relationship(s)? He hadn’t spoken about his previous partner(s) since that night at the bar, and Jae Ha hadn’t pressed, so maybe he was feeling a bit anxious and unsure? Perhaps he still needed more time.    To be honest, that was fine with Jae Ha. He wasn’t exactly in any rush himself. While it was true that he was a naturally flirty person that was no stranger to affection and physical touch, sex with feelings involved was a foreign concept that he was still trying to decipher. Hell, he’d felt oddly vulnerable for a few days after being intimate with Yona, most likely because they’d both been busy and hadn’t had the chance to see one another face to face.    Intimacy was a whole new world, and he wasn’t prepared for how needy it made him feel. He hadn’t expected to crave it the more that he was exposed to it. He hadn’t planned on constantly fighting back the urge to call Yona just to hear her voice, or the desire to crawl into bed with Hak just to be near him. He didn’t want to impose, let alone make things awkward or strange between them just because he couldn’t keep his own feelings in check.    How long had it been since he’d been with a man, anyway? Jae Ha frowned as he filled his glass with water from the kitchen tap, dressed in pajamas and eyes narrowing in concentration as his tired brain tried to count backwards. It had to have been at least two years, he concluded as he finished his drink, setting the empty glass in the sink.    He was so tired that he'd failed to notice Hak approaching, the man not even so much as pausing as he snagged the collar of Jae Ha's t-shirt to tug him out of the kitchen and down the hall.    “H-Hey - not so hard,” Jae Ha huffed as he stumbled along behind him. “Cotton doesn’t always rebound!”    Hak pulled him over the threshold and towards his bed, the lamp glowing softly on the nightstand and the covers already turned down.    Jae Ha frowned somewhat petulantly as he rubbed at his neck. If he weren’t so exhausted, he’d have fought harder and insisted that they have this little sleepover in his room, seeing as how his bed was bigger and his pillows were nicer. Hak merely arched a brow at his hesitance, and Jae Ha decided that some things just weren’t worth it as he grumbled about brutish behavior.    Once the light had been extinguished and they’d both settled themselves side by side beneath the blankets, a strange tension seemed to hover. Jae Ha rested his hands on his stomach and drummed his fingers nervously, fighting the urge to break the mood with a quip or joke of some kind. His eyes began to adjust to the darkness as the minutes ticked slowly by in silence.    Maybe this was a bad idea. Should he wait for Hak to fall asleep and then head back to his own bed?    “This is weird.”    Jae Ha felt his eyes widen a bit in surprise at Hak’s statement, chest tightening and previous fatigue forgotten as his heartbeat began to quicken with anxiety.    “Roll over.”    Jae Ha turned his head to blink at him with a frown. “Excuse me?”    “Not this way,” gentle pressure at his shoulder angled him away from Hak. “That way. Towards the wall.”    “Well forgive my confusion,” he snarked as he did what he’d been told, huffing out a sigh of annoyance as he settled on his side, feeling oddly dejected. If Hak didn't even want to look at him, then what was the point of dragging him in here?    He tensed as Hak threw an arm over his midsection, pulling him backwards to haul him close, and oh –    That firm chest was pressed tightly to his back, a solid wall of warmth and security that had Jae Ha momentarily frozen, unsure of what to do. The only other person to cuddle him had been Yona, and he was just as stupefied now as he'd been then.    Hak’s voice rumbled behind him, vibrating along his spine pleasantly. “Problem?”    “Not at the moment.”    Hak scoffed as he tightened his grip, and Jae Ha stifled a sigh of contentment as he felt his muscles begin to unwind. He burrowed deeper into Hak’s sheets, that familiar minty musk like a soothing balm to his earlier irritation. It was strange to think that just a few months ago, the idea of doing this with a partner would have made him shudder in revulsion. His mind began to wander as he relaxed even further, his body calm while his brain hovered on the outskirts of sleep.    In the quiet stillness, he was much more aware of Yona’s absence, and thought that maybe he finally understood why Hak had noticed his own absenteeism as much as he had. There was a lingering emptiness without her, like they were off balance somehow.    “Can hear you thinkin’. You good?”    Jae Ha squinted into the darkness. “How would you know what thinking sounds like?”    “Because in your case, I’m used to the sound of the wind whistling between your ears.”    Jae Ha bit his lip to suppress his laughter, but Hak must have felt his shoulders shaking, because he dug his fingers into his ribs in retaliation, pulling a rather undignified noise from him as he squirmed against his hold. He huffed a laugh, fighting to catch his breath as he struggled. “Didn’t anyone ever teach you to respect your elders?”    “Nope.”    They grappled with one another for a bit, both fighting for the upper hand as Jae Ha pressed his luck to see just how much he could get away with before Hak got serious. What could he say? It was his nature.    “I hope you aren’t this rough with poor Yona,” Jae Ha huffed, half heartedly fighting for freedom from Hak’s tight grip and getting nowhere. He could absolutely escape if he really wanted to, but where was the fun in that?    “Hasn’t complained yet,” Hak grunted against the sensitive skin of his neck. “Didn’t hear her complain about you roughin’ her up at your office, either.”    "I'll have you know, I was a perfect gentleman." God - this man's steely strength was so frustratingly arousing. How was he able to keep his muscles engaged like that for so long?    "Yeah, right - nngh -" the muscles in Hak's arm flexed as they tussled. "Ya know - for someone that doesn't lift, you're pretty damn strong - " His fingers slipped beneath the hem of Jae Ha’s shirt, broad palm settling flat against his stomach and causing them both to still almost immediately.    Jae Ha’s breath hitched, and he knew that Hak heard it in the way that his fingertips pressed into his flesh. He swallowed, waiting.    “Okay?”    God, yes. Jae Ha hummed an affirmative, breathless and acutely aware of the way that he was nestled snugly in the cradle of Hak’s hips. He'd never wanted something so badly before, could feel the desire itching beneath his skin.    “Can I touch you?”    Jae Ha shifted somewhat impatiently against him before turning his head to speak over his shoulder. “You don’t have to ask permission.”    “Of course I do,” Hak stated matter of fact. His hand rubbed soothingly along Jae Ha’s stomach, his lips trailed teasingly along the ticklish skin above his collar. “Wouldn't wanna take advantage, seeing as how you're my elder and all.”    Jae Ha dropped his head back against the pillow with a small grimace and faced the wall once more. “Har har." He wasn't that old, thank you very much. "Well then, smartass, consider this my blanket permission.”    He was just starting to worry that maybe he'd ruined the mood, when he felt the warmth of Hak's breath on his skin. He sighed softly as Hak pressed his lips against his pulse before nuzzling along his jaw, teeth nibbling at his earlobe and causing tingling little sparks to zip up his spine. The palm at his navel slowly stroked along his skin, following the trail of hair that led lower. Steady fingertips dipped beneath the waistband of his pajama pants, brushing swirling little circles in his exploration, and pausing to test boundaries every step of the way like a true gentleman.    Or a tease. Jae Ha honestly couldn’t tell, but either way it was getting him hard. He shifted his hips eagerly, encouraging Hak’s touch and releasing a shaky breath as Hak slid his palm lower to cup him through his underwear, mapping out the shape of him with a sure grip as Jae Ha’s legs slid restlessly against soft cotton sheets.    He craned his neck, reaching a hand back to grip dark strands as he angled his head so that he could kiss Hak at last, coaxing his mouth open with a moan just as Hak slipped his hand beneath that final wretched layer to finally (finally) touch him.    Fuck, it was good. Totally worth the years of endless curiosity and sweet pining. The dry roughness of Hak’s warm palm felt amazing as his tongue flicked against his, Jae Ha’s spine melting as he flexed his hips up into that glorious sensation. He broke their kiss on a moan, deep and ragged as he twitched in Hak's hold.    "Yeah? Good?”    “You – fuck – you don’t have to be so gentle,” Jae Ha rasped against his lips, unable to keep still as he panted and squirmed.    “Maybe I wanna be gentle,” Hak murmured as he squeezed, absolutely refusing to speed up the movement of his hand as he studied Jae Ha’s reaction.    Jae Ha swallowed a whine as Hak adjusted his grip. First the consent talk, and now he was being all soft?  Even more importantly, why was this working for him?    Hak swiped his thumb over the tip and Jae Ha choked on a gasp, his stomach swooping pleasantly at fingernail being lightly dragged down his twitching length, just the right amount of pain to really edge him on.    He gasped as Hak leaned in to kiss him slow and deep, cupping the tip of his cock and working just the sensitive head with the perfect amount of pressure. He shuddered against him, tongues sliding as precum began to dribble from him steadily to aid in the slick slide of those fingers.    “You’re so wet,” Hak murmured as he studied every reaction, adjusting so that his hand wrapped around his cock more confidently, sure strokes that had him rutting into that tightening fist. Hak had always been a fast learner, and warmth erupted in Jae Ha's stomach over the idea of Hak learning his body, analyzing what worked best in order to get him the results that he wanted the fastest way possible.    "No comment for once?" Hak nibbled on Jae Ha's swollen lower lip, tongue trailing the same path before sealing their mouths together in another deep and drugging kiss.    Jae Ha gathered what little brain function remained in order to play with the beast pressed against his back. “You should’ve seen how wet Yona was for me,” he managed as Hak’s slow rhythm came to a complete standstill at his words. It was like sticking his hands through the bars of a cage to poke at the bear inside, stupid and reckless, but thrilling all the same.    He choked on a gasp as Hak tugged roughly to get him to continue. “You - haa – should’ve seen her come on my cock,” the viscerally wet sound magnified as Jae Ha fought to catch his breath. The fact that he was able to even attempt to hold a conversation should earn him some sort of award. “Should’ve heard the sounds she made for me – “    Hak growled, deep and dangerous as he claimed his reckless mouth in a hot and hungry kiss, greedily swallowing his moans. He dragged his thumb along his leaking slit, circling the sensitive crown as he worked just the head in his grasp again, relentless and brutal in his quest to tear him apart.    Jae Ha rolled his hips into the sensation, desperate in a way that he hadn’t been for a very long time. A strong thigh wedged its way in between his, one of Hak’s legs wrapping around his to keep him still and pin him in place. It should have made him uneasy, should have caused his chest to tighten with anxiety over having his leg restrained, but the reminder that it was Hak who had complete control over him had his groin tightening instead as the heat between his legs magnified, heavy and cloying.    Helpless against the onslaught, Jae Ha surrendered control. His voice choked out Hak’s name in a warning, but that only seemed to goad the man further, his lips latching onto the spot where Jae Ha’s neck met his shoulder to suck a bruise into the skin. It was the teeth sinking into his flesh that pushed him over the edge, though, his grip in Hak’s hair tightening as he pulsed against that hot palm, spilling across his fingers. He whimpered as Hak’s tongue flattened against the bite to soothe the sting, his hips bucking as he chased after the last few waves of pleasure.    He fought to catch his breath as Hak worked him steadily through it, the aftershocks curling his toes and causing his legs to twitch.    He loosened his grip on Hak’s hair, fingertips grazing along that strong jaw as he withdrew his hand. He turned to burrow his face into the pillow beneath his cheek, vision hazy and muscles lax as he came back to his senses slowly. The satisfaction made him lax, gooey and pliant as Hak pulled away to clean up his sticky mess, his hand having captured most of his release.    By the time he’d returned, Jae Ha had regained his wits enough to sit up and turn to face him, placing a hand on Hak’s shoulder and urging him onto his back. The afterglow was nice and all, but he wasn’t finished yet. This was years in the making, and Jae Ha was more than ready to cash in all his good karma for what was about to happen next.    Hak fell back against the pillows easily, both arms landing above his head in an open position. Jae Ha’s eyes were now acclimated to the darkness enough to make out the surprised look on his face as he swung a leg over Hak’s hip and seated himself on his thighs. He smirked before leaning down to capture Hak’s mouth in a kiss, swallowing the punched sound that he made.    Rough hands reached around to grip his ass, tugging and trying to urge him up higher to put pressure on his groin, kissing with that contained heat that Jae Ha was determined to pull out of him. His fingers softly pushed up the hem of Hak’s shirt instead, mapping out his torso and tracing the sculpted v at his hips before reaching down to cup his erection, giving it a squeeze.    Hak released a guttural moan into Jae Ha’s eager mouth, so hard for so long that it had to have been uncomfortable.    Well, he could fix that.    Hak’s skin was like fire as Jae Ha slid down his body, pausing in his descent to mouth along scar tissue and drag his tongue across twitching abs before settling between powerful legs.    Hak cupped his face, thumb sweeping over Jae Ha’s lower lip. “You don’t have to.”    Jae Ha regarded his shadowed face through a hooded gaze. “Maybe I wanna,” he murmured, throwing Hak’s words back at him. His earlier statement regarding permission lingered as he leaned into Hak’s hand, so he turned to press a kiss to his palm before adding, “If that’s okay?”    Hak breathed an affirmative as his hand reached around to cup the back of Jae Ha’s neck with tenderness, breath catching as teeth nipped at the taut skin just beneath Hak’s navel. Jae Ha urged him to lift his hips so that he could slide his joggers down, sucking a bruise into his thigh as Hak sat up and removed his own shirt.    God, the man was a sight to behold as he settled back amongst the pillows, naked and putting the gods of ancient Greece to shame as Jae Ha resumed his position between his legs. He could spend all night cataloguing every inch of Hak with his mouth, but he had his eyes set on the prize; the sensitive, swollen length that pulsed with need under his scrutiny.    Hak’s hand was a steady pressure at his nape, not forceful, but present as Jae Ha took him in his hand and licked a rather fat and slow stipe up his cock. It had been awhile since he’d done this, but his mouth moved on muscle memory, lips sinking down Hak’s generous length as his tongue swirled and tasted.    Hak bit back a gasp as Jae Ha flattened his tongue along the thick vein that ran the length of him, determined to pull as many sounds from him as he could. He and Yona were both so wonderfully expressive and it filled up a space inside of him that had been hollow for far too long. He pulled back to tongue at his slit, humming at the salty, musky flavor.    He angled Hak’s hips up a little, and the beautiful noise that broke free from Hak’s chest as he swallowed him deeper was enough to make his own groin throb with residual pleasure. God, he missed the refractory period from his youth. What he wouldn’t give to spend the entire night testing this man’s stamina.    He hollowed his cheeks and sucked, sinking lower, Hak’s gasp worth the gagging sensation as his tip bumped against the back of his throat. He was definitely out of practice.    He idly wondered if Yona had done this to him yet, then slowly (torturously) pulled off him to ask.    “N-No,” Hak rasped between gasps, chest shuddering as Jae Ha dropped his head to lick away the bead that had pearled at the swollen tip, no doubt at the mere idea of Yona sucking him off.     Jae Ha hummed before wrapping his lips around him and sliding down his slick length again. His tongue stroked and Hak cursed as he bobbed his head, cheeks hollowing again as his hand gripped the thick base of him tightly.    That earned him a throaty groan, so he established a slow rhythm with his hand, jerking off the part that he wasn’t able get to with his mouth, lips meeting his fingers again and again. He slowed as he felt Hak twitch and pulse in his mouth, though, dangerously close to losing it too soon. He paused, wanting to draw Hak’s pleasure out a little longer, so he swallowed around him, Hak’s hips jerking upwards as he chased that sensation again.    Not so fast. Jae Ha’s hands slammed him back down with a moan.    Hak’s hips stuttered in his grip as he grunted and arched his neck back, jaw clenched tightly. The long line of his throat was exposed and so very tempting. Oh, how he wanted to bite him there, mark up that tan skin real pretty for everyone to see.    Next time.    Hak throbbed against his tongue, nearly past the point of speech as he groaned, deep and gritty, no doubt at the end of his rope. He was close, so close, and Jae Ha could feel it in the way that his fingers flexed against him, like he was fighting to hold back.     He’d held on longer than Jae Ha thought he would. He’d have to work on dismantling that iron-clad will of his.    He swallowed the excess spit in his mouth before relaxing his jaw, allowing Hak to slide deeper as he fought to suppress his gag reflex, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes in the process.    Hak’s fingers tangled in the sweaty hair at his nape and tugged as he moaned his name, hissing and gasping as he finally spilled over, the muscles in Jae Ha’s throat working as he endeavored to swallow as much as he could.      Jae Ha’s jaw was achy and sore in the best way possible as his hands stroked Hak’s waist. He could feel those once tense muscles grow lax beneath him, his tongue cleaning every last inch before finally allowing Hak’s softened length to slip from between his lips. He sat back on his heels and wiped his chin haphazardly, lips tingling, dazed and satisfied.    Hak had thrown an arm over his eyes as his breathing slowed, and Jae Ha barked a raspy laugh at the wrecked expression that he shot him from beneath his forearm.
    Beautiful.
       His phone pinged and he immediately opened the message from Yona, recognizing the background as that of the local cat café and smiling at the image of Hak in a pair of cat ears holding up a rather grumpy looking ball of orange fur, a mischievous and rather child-like grin on his face.
          Yona -  >>  Wish you were here!
    He immediately saved the image, disgustingly content and not even sorry.    “Hmm.”    Jae Ha startled, immediately pocketing his phone with a disgruntled scowl at Tetora’s grin. They’d made plans to help each other finish their Christmas shopping, but he was beginning to wonder if she had ulterior motives as he held the shop’s door open for her, cold air practically slapping them both in the face as they made their way back to his car. He’d be more annoyed at her snooping tendencies if he weren’t just as guilty.    “I have a theory~” she sang as she skipped next to him.    “Oh? About what?” Had he managed to sound convincingly nonchalant even though he was sweating? Tetora had a knack for solving puzzles and picking apart secrets, but it was much more fun to witness when he wasn’t on the receiving end of it.    Unfortunately, she wasn’t buying his bullshit. She reminded him of a bloodhound, hot on his trail as he ran through the woods; he could practically picture her nose to the ground, tail wagging with excitement as she closed the distance. “I think I know why you’ve been so uncharacteristically secretive lately. I think it’s because you’re sleeping with someone that we both know.”    Jae Ha blinked down at her, his lips parted in shock at her uncanny ability. He fixed his face and immediately tried to deny as he nervously scoffed, “Wha-? Where did you get that idea?”    “Oh, please- I know you. If it were someone that you didn’t have feelings for, I’d be gettin’ all the juicy details.”    “Maybe I’m in a dry spell.”    “And maybe hell has an ice rink. Also, since when do you get all secretive with texts from Yona?”    “I’m not – “    “Not to mention you’ve been hella calm since those two officially became a thing. Too calm, considering your past feelings.”    He grimaced. “Ugh – please don’t say hella.”    “You’re entitled to your secrets, babe, but I’ve got you all figured out.”    He grimaced.    She smiled far too innocently as she put a finger to her chin in feigned contemplation. “Let’s play a game, shall we? Hmm… We’ll call it: ‘Guess who’s in a secret throuple with Yona and Hak?’”    “Ah, fuck,” he cursed, shoulders slumped, and head bowed in defeat as Tetora jumped up and down in delight over having been correct. How did she do that? Her success rate was unparalleled and would leave even Sherlock Holmes impressed.    Tetora clapped her hands in glee while insisting that they stop for coffee before heading to their next location.    After being bribed with a scone for her silence, they snagged a table in the corner of the busy coffee shop, where Jae Ha confessed how strange he found it all.    “I mean,” he leaned back in his chair. “I thought it would be weird, you know? But it’s a lot like what we’ve already been doing, only now with sex.”    Tetora smiled behind her latte. “Welcome to being in a relationship, babe. The honeymoon phase is the best part, so you’d best soak it up like the horny little sponge you are.”    Jae Ha quirked a small smile, thoughts of Yona and Hak dancing around in his head, of soft mornings and quiet moments in between heated glances and eager hands.    “I’ll share my scone with you if you tell me whether or not Hak’s proportional.”    Jae Ha thought of the vulnerable sounds Hak made when he'd wrapped lips around him, recalled the constant pressure at the nape of his neck as he'd swallowed Hak's cock, lips stretched around his generous size. He remembered how Hak had panted, an utter wreck, chest heaving as he'd gazed up at him from the shadows.    Some treasured things he'd like to keep to himself.    He smirked at her. “I’m not hungry.”    She pouted. “Selfish.”