Archive of Our Own ^beta

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Sanghyuk sat atop a throne of corpses. Blood staining the cuffs of his sable suit. Face tipped up to the ceiling and legs crossed at the knee.

"Who's next?" he asked the two advisors standing beside him. Two of the influential men who'd plucked him from the gutters of irrelevance and placed a stolen crown atop his head. Two of the people who had given him power.

The first traitor's body was still cooling on the throneroom's marble floor. One in a long line of rebels set to be executed today, or so he'd been informed. Threats that needed to be neutralized.

There was the sound of a scuffle... Sanghyuk dropped his gaze to the entrance. A man with pale blonde hair was being restrained between two of his mercenaries. A man Sanghyuk had grown up with, a man he used to trust more than anyone else. A man Sanghyuk knew much too well.

"We caught him and his militia force near the border, Majesty."

Rising from his throne, Sanghyuk descended the steps of the dais. Straightening his collar as the man was shoved down to kneel before him. Anger burning behind his eyes and betrayal bitter at the back of his throat.

"Lee Jaehwan, you are accused of high treason and conspiracy against the true king. For your crimes, you are sentenced to death."

Sanghyuk glared down at the man he used to consider his best friend, his closest confidant, his one true love. Overcome with hatred so strong that it threatened to suffocate him.

But Jaehwan looked back at him with barely a flicker of recognition. Like he was looking at a stranger, rather than the person he'd once sworn to protect with his life. The only discernible emotion on his face was pity.

"How do you plead, traitor?" Sanghyuk asked, gritting his teeth so hard it should have cracked a molar or two.

Jaehwan gave an exhausted sigh. He glanced at the advisors flanking Sanghyuk, and then met Sanghyuks eye a second time. Not even blinking as Sanghyuk drew the wickedly long knife from the sheath across his back.

"Oh, Hyukkie," he murmured, lashes fluttering as Sanghyuk took a step closer. So close that they were almost touching. “Sweet Hyukkie. What have they done to you?"

And then Sanghyuk plunged the knife, point-first, straight into Jaehwans chest. Piercing his unfaithful heart. Traitorous blood splattering Sanghyuks face and neck as he roughly ripped the blade free and Jaehwans body crumbled to the cold stone floor.

They were the last words Lee Jaehwan ever spoke, but they echoed in Sanghyuks mind for the rest of his life. Driving him so mad with rage and anguish and regret that, in the end, all Sanghyuk could do was scream.

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"Tell me," Wonshik begged, sprawled on a velvet sofa, half propped up by a mountain of pillows. 

Jaehwan smiled down at him. A hungry cat's smile. One of his hands slipped under the open collar of Wonshiks shirt. "Tell you what?" he asked, shifting so he was more comfortably straddling Wonshiks lap.

He bent to press a lipstick kiss to the pulse racing at Wonshiks throat and Wonshik couldn't help but groan.

Ignoring the money waiting on the dresser, convincing himself that he hadn't put it there just before Jaehwan arrived at the hotel, Wonshik circled Jaehwans narrow waist with both hands. Clutching him close. Listening to the soft sound of Jaehwans breath in his ear. "You know what."

Still smiling that hungry cat’s smile, Jaehwan raised his face and dropped a kiss on Wonshiks cheek.

"I love you," Jaehwan lied.

And Wonshik pretended to believe him.

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“You look so handsome this evening,” Jaehwan hummed, winding an arm around Sanghyuk's waist. Smiling as he raised his glass to his lips and swallowing a small sip.

Jaehwan's statement was not false; Taekwoon would concede that point, if grudgingly. Sanghyuk did look handsome that evening. His good looks were part of what made him such a popular bar tender. Men and women, young and old... None were immune to Sanghyuk's charms. He chatted well too. Had a keen memory for personal details and his banter was effortless. Made the patrons feel special. Sanghyuk kept them coming back for more.

“Not as handsome as you,” Sanghyuk replied, arm draped casually over Jaehwan's shoulders. Making Jaehwan giggle the way he always did.

The lounge had only been open for ten minutes and it was still mostly empty, but Taekwoon still felt himself prickle with annoyance. His star singer and his star bartender flirting so openly, being so touchy, when Taekwoon and Jaehwan's relationship was public knowledge... It wasn't a rare occurrence. They behaved this way all the time. And yet, each and every instance left a bad taste in Taekwoon's mouth.

“Flattery will get you everywhere with him, Hyuk, but please save it for the paying customers.” Taekwoon gently gripped Jaehwan's elbow and tugged them apart. “Come along now, Hwannie, you need to finish getting ready.”

Jaehwan graced him with a mischievous grin. “Are you getting jealous, Woonie?”

“No.”

“Well, you sound jealous.”

Taekwoon’s jaw firmed. “I’m not jealous. Come along.”

He could hear Sanghyuk chuckling behind him as he led his boyfriend away from the bar. Still holding on tight. Across the lounge's main floor and through a door marked private that took them into the section of the building reserved for management and staff.

“Why do you always snap at Hyukkie like that?” Jaehwan asked, fingers loosely looped around Taekwoon's wrist. Always happy to cling to the person closest to him no matter who they happened to be.

Taekwoon frowned but kept walking, eyes fixed straight ahead. “I don't snap at him.”

“Yes, you do.”

“I don't.”

“You do,” Jaehwan insisted, his tone almost sing-song, "He's such a nice guy, and he makes you such good money... You should treat him better.”

Taekwoon's frown deepened a touch. “I treat him fine. You're already running late; I was only trying to get everyone back on schedule.”

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“It must have been someone else. Not- he would never do this to me,” Jaehwan exclaimed. Stating that last sentence as a fact. 

Because it must have been someone else. Not Hongbin. Hongbin would never do this to him. 

Because if it had been Hongbin -his ally that helped him win victory against the titans, the man who gave shape and color to his most precious creation, the closest thing he had to a best friend- then that would mean Hongbin betrayed him. Went against his word. Challenged his authority behind his back. 

And if Hongbin had betrayed him now, how could Jaehwan be sure this was the first time? He’d gifted Hongbin his trust -blind, unshakable, unquestioning trust- so long ago now. There was so much that had happened around him, around them, as the centuries passed; what other acts of defiance had Jaehwan missed? What other hints of disloyalty had he failed to see? 

If Hongbin really had betrayed him… 

It felt as though the whole world that Jaehwan had fought so hard to claim had just fallen away beneath Jaehwan’s feet. “He wouldn’t do this to me. He wouldn’t.”

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Jaehwan walked into the living room and saw Wonshik sitting on the couch with his hands over his eyes.

“Why are you here? Taekwoon already gave me the lecture. Go home,” he snapped, walking right on past, only pausing when he reached the kitchen. 

Dropping his hands and sitting back on the couch, looking over with irritation, Wonshik replied, “Yeah I can see you're not in the mood.”

Jaehwan shot him a glare, dropping his bag on the counter and shrugging off his hoodie. "And where is Taekwoon now, by the way?”

Wonshik glared right back at him. “He's in his room, most likely writing angry lyrics about heartbreak or some shit because you just had to toy with him for some reason.”

“I'm not in the mood for that lecture either,” Jaehwan spat, leaning his back against the countertop, “I said; go home.” 

“No. I'm not just going to sit around and watch you hurt everyone around you,” he replied, standing up. 

“Where's Hakyeon? He's good at these kinds of talks. Plus, his lectures always come with handcuffs and a whip,” Jaehwan asked, in the smuggest tone he could muster, gracing his friend with a small smirk.

“He’s at the studio, comforting Hongbin because of what you did!” Wonshik’s voice was growing louder and his eyes narrowed, but Jaehwan really didn't care whether he was angry or not. This honestly wasn't any of Wonshik’s business.

“What do I care?” Jaehwan shrugged, turning to grab a glass off the shelf above him.

“Why are you acting like this?! You're behaving like a spoiled kid! You didn't need to hurt either of them the way you did!” Wonshik almost shouted, walking into the kitchen behind him. 

He was so infuriating. Jaehwan had had just about enough of that self righteous yelling, and he spun on his heel, glaring up into his friend’s stern face. 

“Shut the hell up, Wonshik! Why does it matter to you?! You no longer have the privilege of telling me what I can or cannot do! Just go back to Hongbin, I have to call Sanghyuk before he decides to come crying over here to look for undeserved sympathy,” Jaehwan huffed, and he spun back around, grabbing the glass and walking to the sink to fill it with water.

Wonshik didn't speak for a few seconds, until he asked, “Don’t I?”

“No,” Jaehwan whispered, sipping his water, “You don’t.”

Wonshik took a step towards him, and Jaehwan could hear him smirk when he asked; "Are you sure?”

When he turned quickly around and found his friend only a few steps away, eyes still narrowed, looking down at him with a hateful grin on his face, Jaehwan’s temper spiked.

“Fuck you, get out!” he shouted at him, but Wonshik didn't move.

Rather than getting out, Wonshik just laughed. 

“Are you jealous of Hongbin?” he asked, apropos of nothing. 

Of course, Jaehwan was jealous of Hongbin.

“No, I'm not fucking jealous! Now get out!” the elder shouted again, but Wonshik still refused to move.

“There’s no need to be jealous of Hongbin, we love you both equally,” he replied, in an intensely arrogant tone. Arrogant enough that it nudged Jaehwan’s temper over the edge.

“No, you fucking don't! You never have! He always comes first! Always! None of you have ever thought to ask how I feel about anything! All you care about is how poor sweet little Hongbin feels!”

Even Wonshik doesn't actually care. He was only asking now because Jaehwan assumed Hakyeon told him too! 

“I hate you! Will you get the fuck out of my house?!”

Breathing heavily as Wonshik closes the distance between them, caging him in against the counter, Jaehwan swallowed hard. Glaring up at the younger for all he was worth. 

“Are you feeling neglected, gorgeous?” 

Jaehwan looked away from him, trying to slide away as he hissed, “No! And if I was, I would call someone else.”

“Who would you call then?” Wonshik asked, his low voice dipping even lower, head dipping down a bit to look Jaehwan in the eye. 

“I don't know, Jinnie probably. He isn't complicated. Why do you care?!” 

Apparently impervious to Jaehwan’s shouting, Wonshik didn’t back off. 

“Go ahead, call him then,” he whispered.

Deciding to call him on his bluff, Jaehwan smiled his cruelest smile and grabbed his phone.

Wonshik’s eyes never left him, watching closely as Jaehwan dialed Seokjin’s number. Put the phone to his ear. Listened to dial tone. And, to Jaehwan’s delight, that lovely jaw clenched when Seokjin picked up after the second ring. 

“Hey Hwannie, what's up?”

Jaehwan gave Wonshik a sweet little smile as he said, “Hey! I was wondering-”  

Before he had a chance to finish the sentence, Wonshik had slapped the phone out of his hand. 

The next second, Jaehwan heard his phone hit the counter, but Wonshik had a hand on the nape of his neck and the other on his waist, pulling Jaehwan against him and kissing him hard. 

Grabbing his hips, holding onto him tight, Jaehwan kissed him back. Urgent and hungry. Barely noticing when Wonshik lifted him so he was sitting on the counter.

“You're mine, gorgeous,” he murmured, possessive hands keeping Jaehwan’s body close, “No matter what else happens, you're mine.”

He’d pulled away an inch to speak, but Jaehwan drew him back. Cupping his cheeks. Kissing Wonshik like it would keep him alive.

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“You have failed.”

“No, wait,” Hongbin sobbed, grabbing Taekwoon’s arm and holding on as tight as he could, “Wait, I’m not finished-”

Taekwoon shook his head, turning away the way a parent turned away from their poorly behaved child. Not angry, just disappointed.  

“Where did I go wrong?” He refused to slacken his grip even as Taekwoon began to walk away. Towing Hongbin along in his shivering wake. “Please, just tell me and I’ll do it again! I’ll do better, I swear!”

“It is too late,” Taekwoon replied, his tone as cool and impassive as his expression, “I have given you a second chance already. You will not be granted a third.”

Tears spilled down Hongbin's cheeks, frustrated and heartbroken. Crying out wordlessly when Taekwoon pried his fingers away. 

The last word that Hongbin heard spoken in Taekwoon’s voice was “Goodbye.”

Hongbin had failed. 

In spite of everything, Hongbin had failed. Again. 

He sank down to his knees, breathless from a desperate terror that he could not name. Hugging himself as Taekwoon vanished and the ravenous dark closed in around him.

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