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Chapter Text

Slim fingers pressed over bruises around a pale throat. Dark eyes taking them in through a bathroom mirror with a small frown on his lips. Lips that had a split in the bottom one that he could taste blood from with every little shift. The teeth that had ripped through it had left similar marks of blood on his chest and thighs that he traced with a distant thought. After a shower everything seemed more prominent.

He knew why he did this to himself. What drove him to ruin at the hands of the last man anyone would ever want fucking them. It was an addiction. To the freedom and pain and brush with death almost every night. There was no love involved, no emotional connection, no stability or faith or future. Everything was about the physical. The pleasure and pain. A twisted sort of trust in someone that had every chance to kill him but still released him before it got that far. It was a chase after that high that he couldn’t help needing. His body wanted everything he could get from that bastard.

It had been six months of this already. A month in and it had ruined his engagement, relationship with his daughter, friendships with the other S-Ranks, and he still came back for more. Soaked in the violence beneath large hands and returned it with a gentle bite of his own. He didn’t like to hurt people even if they were Hwang Dongsoo.

A call from the bedroom about him taking so damn long had Jinchul shoving back his hair and turning away from the mirror. It was no struggle to leave Dongsoo’s bathroom and step into the bedroom without clothes. In the low lights he caught a predatory grin aimed at him from where the man was sprawled out on the large bed. Dirty sheets pushed to the foot and most of the pillows on the floor. A beckon was given to have him climbing onto the bed. Into the waiting arms of danger and a mouth full of venom.

It’s a kiss that’s almost gentle. Hand holding the back of his neck and arm secure around his lower back. Pressed to a well sculpted chest with a seeking tongue against his lips, tasting the tear with a shark’s enthusiasm. Excessive messing breaking the fragile scab open. Soft laps at the beading blood that had him sliding a hand down firm abs. The hum of encouragement had him continuing lower.

This was a familiar practice. Dongsoo let him shower and clean himself up before yanking him into a make-out session with the expectation of being touched. It didn’t used to be this way at first but a couple months ago it was picked up. Something a little more intimate than what they had been doing. Jinchul wasn’t sure how to feel about it but he fell into it anyway. Took what little affection he got and promptly returned it. He wasn’t a greedy man. Never wanted to take anything from anyone unless it was handed to him. And even then he gave something back in return.

This wasn’t love nor was it even friends doing a favor for each other. It was taking from each other what was being given. Dongsoo took everything he could get his hands and teeth on, and Jinchul took what was offered in return for the sheer freedom of it. There was nothing suffocating about what they had, nothing that made him sick to his stomach. Not like it always had been with his fiancee when she wanted sex.

It could have been anyone, he had realized almost four months ago. Lim Tae-Gyu that had given him a dazzling smile when they first met and kissed him once during a work event after getting too drunk so he had to drive him home. (God, it could have been him if the second S-Rank in Korea had pushed just a little more instead of backing off when he recognized the engagement band.)

Park Eunseok had never failed to flirt when around, even offered to blow him in the gym showers, but he never pursued those teasing winks. (Jinchul would have let him if he had meant any of them.)

Choi Jong-in smiled and spoke like a gentleman. Treated him with respect. Had met his daughter and was so damn good with her. But he had said early on into their friendship that he didn’t chase taken men. (He wished he would, it might have proven to him that it wasn’t wrong to want him so bad.)

Baek Yoon-ho was a man that sparked desire like no other had but showed no interest in him. Remained polite but barely spoke to him beyond what was required. (Fuck, did that hurt. Because Jinchul had never wanted like this, never watched and wondered. Had never contemplated leaving his fiancee so much before just to have a reason to test that boundary with the man.)

And Min Byung-Gyu was so sweet that it hurt. Shy and quiet in the perfect way to have him willing to knock down every wall he might have to get to know him. (It never went anywhere. Not when Byung-Gyu and Eunseok found each other like a click of puzzle pieces together.)

Then, finally, came Hwang Dongsoo. A man that wouldn’t take no for an answer or listen to the warnings of the other S-Ranks. Held no regard for his fiancee or daughter nor his relationships with them. Stepped through any barricade Jinchul could have had with a flaming desire to make him his. (And he met it. Crashed into the friction and fire the moment Dongsoo didn’t back off. Let the heat consume him until it went up in a blaze.)

It burned almost everything to the ground. Jinchul had stared into the tear-filled blue eyes of his fiancee and watched a decade long relationship crash and burn. She had moved to South Korea with him when they were eighteen to join his father, given up everything to join him in a country she had never been to. They had built a life together even though he had never been attracted to her in any way. Had a daughter together when they were twenty despite his lack of interest in sex with her.

Kailen had cried the entire time she threw his stuff out of the apartment and he didn’t try to stop her. He only watched and gathered up the breakables before they met their demise. And they both ignored the family across the hall no doubt listening to the destruction of their entire life together.

The truth was, Jinchul had never been interested in women. Never would have dated Kailen back when he was sixteen but his mother set them up. Refused to have a son that wasn’t straight as an arrow and that wouldn’t give her grandchildren or a daughter-in-law. He hadn’t fought her. Had long since learned that if he wanted to keep the belt away from his back that he did as he was told and what was expected of him. It was easier and safer to pretend.

But that didn’t make this situation any less messy. He didn’t explain to Kailen why he had been caught with a man in their bed while she had been out dropping off their daughter with his father for the weekend. (They had planned a weekend to themselves that Jinchul really hadn’t wanted to do.) All he did was pick up the wreckage of his life and put it in his car.

Five days had been spent living at his father’s place as he searched for a cheap apartment. The man had not been happy to see him but despite the animosity, he wasn’t a bad person and let him stay until he found somewhere else to go. Jinchul barely had a chance to see his daughter before Kailen cut all contact with him. She had grabbed Ostara within the same hour that he arrived at his father’s home and he hadn’t seen either of them since.

Six months and he still hadn’t seen a glimpse of them. He still paid the rent for their apartment on top of his own and sent half of every paycheck to Kailen so she didn’t have worry about money. (Sometimes he just sent the entire thing because guilt was hard to drown and he knew that her teaching job didn’t cover everything.)

Every time that guilt came up he found himself back in the place that created it. In Dongsoo’s arms and sinning before God. Chasing a high that only he seemed able to give him. Living the life that his mother feared that he would.

The thick heat of sleeping tangled with Dongsoo was almost overbearing but Jinchul never sought to escape from it. Always pressed his face in close to the man’s neck and remained plastered to his side. A heavy arm was wrapped around him that curled tighter with even the smallest of movements. Possessive even while asleep.

And when morning came he was yanked back into bed when he tried to leave to get ready for work. The usual expectation to find a hand trailing between his thighs to tease didn’t come. Lips kissed his shoulders as a single leg wound around his waist to keep him pinned to the bed and to Dongsoo’s chest. It was a new position that had him squirming. The hand holding his wrist tightened and the man’s other one slid up his chest to wrap loosely around his throat. A threat of violence that didn’t match the nearly gentle kisses to his freckled shoulders.

“You’re coming to America with me,” Dongsoo murmured, lips still on his skin.

“I’m not.”

This had been a familiar argument in the last month since Dongsoo got the offer to join the largest hunter guild in the United States. Jinchul had been furious when the man accepted but hadn’t said anything. If he wanted to disgrace himself by turning his back on this country then that was his decision.

“What’s even keeping you here?” The hand around his throat lightly squeezed. Enough to give the sensation of losing air when he could still breathe fine. “You’re not a native to this tiny backyard of a country.”

“What’s keeping-” Jinchul cut himself off with a sharp inhale. “My daughter is what has me staying here. My father, my work, my love for Korea.”

“So learn to love America,” Dongsoo said, squeezing that leg around him tighter. “You’ll work with me and have more than enough money to send back to that cute daughter of yours.” Jinchul gritted his teeth against the disregard for his desires. “Isn’t that what every loving father would do? Make enough money so their kid never has to experience hardship or whatever? You love your daughter, don’t you?”

The heavy implication that he didn’t had him snarling. He loved her more than anything. A grin was pressed into his left shoulder, smug and full of teeth. Like a cat that got the canary. The trap was set and Jinchul had given up his hand.

“Your apartment lease is up anyway.” The hand around his throat forced him to tilt his head back as Dongsoo straightened up. Glinting red eyes looked down on him. “I’ll talk to Andre about bringing you into the guild while you settle your affairs here.” There was a vicious smirk. “Besides, you’re an American citizen already, aren’t you? Dual citizenship and whatnot.”

“...alright…”

(It could have been anyone else but this seemed the most fitting for him.)

Chapter Text

“You’re not serious.” Jong-in knew he was a lot of things but deaf wasn’t one of them. Yet, he could not have heard that correctly. “Heh, I’m sorry, but could you remind me where you set your sanity down so I can fetch it for you?”

“I just need something different right now,” Jinchul said, “and to visit home for a little while.”

“You hate America.”

That was one thing Jong-in knew for certain. Jinchul loathed the United States and the place that he grew up in. South Korea was more of a home to him than his birth country ever had been. He had heard it from his own mouth years ago. There was no way the chief would leave this willingly.

“What does he have on you?” He asked, mind already running the scenarios of how he could take out Hwang.

“Nothing.” The honest answer had his heart in a vice grip. “I’m choosing to do this.” Jinchul’s usually so shiny black-violet eyes were half-dead and dull. They had been since he and Kailen broke off their engagement.

“Why?” Jong-in wasn’t a man to plead but he could feel it crawling up his throat.

Just tell him why. Why abandon your life, your family, your home. Why do it for someone like Hwang Dongsoo. Why destroy yourself. He also wanted to know the what. What happened to you to make you do this. What changed in you. The where. Where did the man I could have loved gone to. Where did you set your heart so I can find it. And again, why would you give it to that piece of hot garbage.

“I need a change of pace,” Jinchul said, holding his eyes across the cafe table. It was so easy to read that he was lying. “I’ll come back.”

“It’s the Scavenger Guild,” Jong-in retorted, “there is no coming back.”

Once Thomas Andre had something or someone they were his forever. The moment Jinchul signed that contract, his life of freedom was over and had very little chance of being returned to him. There was still a chance to escape the cage and shackles but the man seemed too willing to lock himself inside. To close those manacles around his wrists and chain himself to someone that couldn’t love him.

“I’ll be back.” It was said like a promise but he could only hear a hopeless dream.

“I hope you will be.” And in one piece.

This was bullshit! Yoon-ho destroyed another punching bag as he continued to chew on what Choi had told him. Tore it apart with his fangs and still couldn’t determine the bitter taste. Chief Woo was leaving Korea with Hwang. Giving up his position in the KHA and pride to be some sort of glorified pet. He couldn’t stand it.

Fuck, that man had had everything. A loving and stable relationship with a daughter and a safe comfortably paying job that was a career. And he had thrown it away from someone like Hwang Dongsoo. Yoon-ho had nearly taken the newest S-Rank’s head off when he caught his scent all over Chief Woo and again when he learned that the bruises he glimpsed on the man’s throat had been from him. Chief Woo was a Goddamn treasure and should never be treated like that. Let alone willingly sticking with the piece of shit that did that to him.

He could give him so much more. Love and cherish him. If the chief hadn’t been happy with his fiancee than he could have stepped up. If he had known. Yoon-ho had wanted him from the moment they met but he had recognized the scent of a family man and seen the ring. That wasn’t something he would interfere with no matter how much he desired someone.

Whatever shot he might have had had gone right out the window. Chief Woo was throwing away his entire life for someone that couldn’t love him like he deserves. For someone that wanted to possess and own him, not start a life with him.

It was enough to drive him crazy.

Enough to have him giving chase. Breaking free of the guild gym to race for the car that he knew he shouldn’t drive because of his road rage. Everyone knew that Chief Woo and Hwang’s flight left at eight-fifteen that evening and it was currently seven-forty. It was enough to get to the airport and put some sense back in that pretty ginger head.

It was traffic. Yoon-ho knew what heartbreak felt like after losing his first love to a house fire. The sting and crack of the initial wound. He had missed the boarding by five minutes. Five fucking minutes.

And with that aching sting he watched from the terminal windows as the plane carrying the man he wanted so desperately to love departed from South Korea. To a country where he knew nothing was as it seemed and that Chief Woo would never be coming back from.

It was a little past seven in the morning when the plane landed. Jinchul was nudged awake by the shoulder his head was resting on, forcing him upright. He rubbed at his eyes with a yawn as he undid the belt to stand. Orange morning sun was on the horizon, highlighting the melting snow of late winter. The sight had his heart sinking.

The Scavenger Guild was almost smack dab in the center of the country in Kansas City and far too close to the place that he grew up in. Immigrant family from Ireland that threw a dart at a map that put them in this place. Jinchul had been born in the States, of course, but it had never felt like home. Not like South Korea did when he visited his father after his parents’ divorce. It made coming back here nearly impossible to bear.

But he sucked it up and grabbed his carry-on bag to follow Dongsoo. Not so casually slid under his arm when it was opened up in offering after they unboarded. Someone from the Guild was to be meeting them at KCI’s baggage claim to take them right to the headquarters. Jinchul had been in this particular airport almost a hundred times in his younger years but it was clear to see that they remodeled at some point. Expanded. It was much nicer than what he remembered.

“What a dump,” Dongsoo muttered.

“It used to be worse,” he replied quietly.

The arm around his shoulders slipped down to wind around his waist and slid a hand into his jacket pocket. Holding him close with a possessive touch no one could misinterpret. He knew it wasn’t for his comfort but he leaned into it anyway.

Most of their luggage had been sent ahead of time to the apartment the Scavenger Guild had graciously offered to house them in until they got settled. It left only their carry-ons and the clothes they hadn’t decided to leave behind in Korea. But they had to go through customs before there was even a thought to leave the airport with those suitcases. Something Jinchul was very familiar with.

Since Dongsoo knew only limited English, Jinchul took on the role of translator for him. The man was going to have to learn the language eventually since they were staying but for now it was easier for him to do most of the talking.

It got them out of customs and beyond the baggage claim a little over an hour later. Where several men in suits were waiting for them. Jinchul was well familiar with the security detail and what a country might do for a traveling S-Rank hunter. It had been part of his job. Which made getting into the waiting vehicle easier than it had ever been for him chaperoning S-Ranks in Korea. (Not that many had visited often.)

The drive through the morning traffic was horrendous. He had a thriving desire for a coffee and shot of caffeine straight into his veins as he watched the sun continue to rise. It was like this every morning when he woke up. Dongsoo at least wasn’t a grouch next to him. Hand tight on his thigh as they waited for the ride to the Guild to be over. There was nothing that needed to be said. Not when everything between them had already been discussed and what needed done with the Guild would be done in the headquarters.

And when they arrived at the skyscraper with a large LED billboard hosting the Scavenger logo, he resisted the urge to die on the spot. He had never wanted to join a Guild. Hell, he had been happy just being a lowly cog in the KHA machine even after he got promoted. But Dongsoo had made a very strong case about him joining the man in America.

They were led inside the building and through the lobby to an elevator. Jinchul internally cringed at his lounge wear but he would rather have a bad first impression on Mr. Andre than be uncomfortable for a thirteen hour flight. At least his hair was pinned back with a simple black band instead of the hairclips he tended to use. (His daughter used to mess with his hair like she did her mother’s and he couldn’t part with the clips when they reminded him of her.) It was far from a professional look but he would deal with those consequences later.

The elevator soon opened to a wide hallway on the top floor. A blonde woman greeted them politely and took over leading them to the office at the very end of the hall. It was far from a relaxing atmosphere. Jinchul was well-used to Dongsoo’s oily aura and oppressive mana but whatever was coming from the office was suffocating. Thick sand and drowning waves. Sunken feet with a flash rising tide that would swallow everything whole.

Knowing that it came from Mr. Andre made his nerves settle on a hairpin. This was his first time meeting a National Rank hunter. Meeting someone so strong that their sheer presence had bones quaking and hearts freezing. His own heart was skipping in his chest in a physical ache at the mana. (He had always been sensitive to it. To every dip and rise in the mana of others. The way it looked and felt and smelled. How it tasted if he ever got close enough. It shaped how he interacted with others down to the way he held his own mana.)

The tight coil of violet mana in his being was wound tighter as the office doors were pushed open. Holding it so close that it was almost non-existent. It was safer this closed off. So he didn’t get swept under the wave of power coming off the large blond man getting to his feet. (And he was certainly the largest man Jinchul had ever met.) Mr. Andre was someone he couldn’t afford to be unguarded around.

“One of you speaks English, right?” The rich, deep voice of the giant of a man came with red eyes raking over them.

“Fluently, sir,” Jinchul said with a bow of his head to him.

“That certainly makes this easier.” Mr. Andre made a motion towards the blonde woman next to him holding two files. “Laura, the contracts.”

“Here you are.”

The woman, Laura, stepped up to them and held out the two files. Dongsoo made no move to take it from her so Jinchul collected both of them. A quiet thank you was given to her before he flipped the first one open to read the what was within. The sight of the Korean had him tilting it towards the S-Rank next to him to see if he wanted to go over his own contract. There was no attempt to do so.

“You’re more than capable of going over them both, babe,” Dongsoo said, “I’ll use that woman as a translator to talk to Andre.”

“Please be polite.” Jinchul could almost beg for the man to remember his manners but he doubted it would help. “This shouldn’t take too long to go over.”

“Good. The faster we get this done the faster I can fuck you in a new country.”

The crass language had him holding back a sigh and stepping away from the man. A heavy hand grabbed his the back of his neck to stop him from going any farther, dark eyes warning him against pissing him off. It only had him pointing out that he needed to sit down to lay out the contracts on a table. The hand holding him tightened for a moment before he was released. Jinchul finally moved away to step towards Laura.

“Do you have a pen? I’d like to read these before signing anything.”

“Of course.”

The woman moved to the desk in front of the large windows and returned with a black pen. She kindly directed him to the lounge chairs with a low table for him to sit at before returning to Mr. Andre’s side. Where Jinchul could hear Dongsoo demand her help in translating. That man was going to be lucky to make it in America with that kind of attitude towards their employers.

It was twenty minutes later that Jinchul decided that the contracts were sound enough to sign. The one for Dongsoo was handed over to him along with the pen. His own was already signed and waiting. And when the S-Rank handed his over, Jinchul promptly gave them to Laura. They were officially hunters of the Scavenger Guild under five year contracts and within American jurisdiction for their actions. He tried to ignore how much it felt like he had signed his entire life away.

Chapter Text

It was a little over a week later when Jinchul was woken up by his phone ringing. The alarm clock read three in the morning that had him groaning and slapping at where his phone was. There was grumble from Dongsoo in his sleep next to him at the noise. Through blurry eyes he answered the phone without checking the number.

“Hello?” The automatic response in Korean had him repeating it in English just in case it was someone from the Guild.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Kailen’s voice had him sitting up right. “You moved to fucking America? And I had to learn from Jong-in?” Jinchul scrambled out of the bed to avoid waking Dongsoo.

“I didn’t know how to tell you,” he said while slipping out of the bedroom into the hall.

“Maybe anything would have been better than this!”

Jinchul cringed at her ire. It was well deserved for so many things. “I’m sorry,” he apologized while moving to sit on the couch in the living room. The large windows overlooked the city. “For everything,” he added. “For cheating on you and fucking everything up.”

“Are you still dating him?” The question was a loaded one. “Jinchul, I don’t care if you like men. I just wish you would have told me before we started a family.”

“I…” He didn’t know how to tell anyone. Not when he knew it was wrong and unnatural. “I am,” he finally settled on.

“Did you move to America for him?”

“Not him, truly.” Jinchul looked out over the cityscape with a frown. “To stay with him, maybe, but it was…for the money. To take care of you and Ostara.”

There was dead silence on the other end of the phone. “If it was just money,” Kailen started slowly, “you would have joined Jong-in’s guild. You’re running.” The call out had him ducking his head despite knowing that she couldn’t see him. “How long are you stuck there? Before you can come home to all of us?”

“Five years.” It was a heavy weight on his shoulders. A sharp breath was sucked in on Kailen’s end.

“Are you allowed to visit?” Her question had his brows furrowing. “Ostara’s been asking about you and I think we should talk in person.”

“I don’t know,” Jinchul replied while lifting his head, “but given how new this contract is, I doubt it.” He tapped a foot on the floor. “I could pay for you and Ostara to fly out for a week or so after things settle down. Probably let her finally meet my side of the family.”

The sharp scoff had a slight smile coming to his lips. “Your mother’s family is a disgrace,” Kailen snapped. “At most they can meet our daughter for an hour or two.” Her dislike of his mother’s family was probably one of the reasons they even got along. Their families had never exactly been the best for either of them.

“I’ll find a week,” he promised.

It would take coordinating with Laura about the guild schedule but since that used to be part of his job it wouldn’t be that hard. There might be some conflict with Dongsoo about meeting with his ex-fiancee but that could be worked around. Jinchul only truly worried about what his new boss would have to say about him taking time off so soon after starting.

And when he asked later that morning he was met with Mr. Andre staring down at him through yellow shades. The refusal to give him time off was easily read. What he got was permission for his ex-fiancee to bring his daughter to visit the guild office building for a little while. It wasn’t hard to see that the man wanted to scope out what might have him ‘trying to break contract’; as if he would ever do something like that. Jinchul didn’t say anything and simply accepted the limitation.

It made him anxious for when Kailen would show up with Ostara a month later. He spent most of that time in dungeons getting used to raiding instead of observing or stepping in when his job required it. A good deal of the Scavenger’s other hunters were standoffish with him for being from South Korea but it was easily proven that he was well above them in strength. Even the other A-Ranks.

(It was known around the KHA that he was only a few points shy of hitting the limit of the mana crystal tester.)

The day was soon upon him. Dongsoo had commented on his nervous pacing at home - they had moved into their own apartment finally - and even made a threat to cut his feet off it he didn’t stop. It was met with a huff but he continued to pace in front of the windows in their living room. When they finally went in for a late afternoon raid, Jinchul got a message from Laura about Kailen and Ostara being picked up from the airport.

It was no surprise that Mr. Andre wanted him in the top office for the meeting with his daughter and ex. There was a brief, possessive kiss from Dongsoo before he joined Laura. He would rather have stayed in the lobby but he went up to the boss’ office despite that desire. Resisted the urge to start pacing Mr. Andre’s office even under the man’s heavy gaze. The thick wave of ocean mana had him reeling himself in on instinct to avoid being caught in the crash of the tsunami. It had his foot tapping in rapid succession on the floor as he stood waiting.

“You’re like a fuckin’ squirrel,” Mr. Andre commented lazily from the lounge chairs, “all manic like that. Relax, your family’s not gonna be hurt here.”

“Apologies,” Jinchul said with a dip of his head to the man, forcing his foot to calm. “I’m not worried about them being hurt.” He knew that it was very unlikely for anyone in this building to harm his family.

“Bad break up?” The pry had him tensing. It had Mr. Andre laughing, loud and long. “Let me guess, it’s over Mr. Dongsoo.”

“I would appreciate some privacy on my personal relationships.”

That had a thick, suffocating press of salty mana over him. “You’re part of my guild,” Mr. Andre said seriously, “which makes you mine. If I want to know about all the dirty details about your personal life then I better get them.” The threat within there wasn’t subtle with the drowning presence filling the office.

“You own me in a professional capacity,” Jinchul replied calmly despite the way he could hardly breathe, “and you shall know my professional details. Nowhere in my contract did it say that I had to share my personal life with you or anyone else.” He didn’t look over at his boss, remained steadfast in staring at the large double doors and waiting for Laura to return with his family.

“Hah, I knew I liked you.” The raucous laughter didn’t have him startling. Mr. Andre pulled his mana back towards himself and allowed him to breathe easier. “Not many can stand up against me. You’ve been a good investment so far.”

Jinchul didn’t grace that with a reply. Not when he felt the presence of Laura coming towards the office with his ex-fiancee and daughter. The nervous tap of his foot started up again as he waited for the doors to open. A moment later there was a push of them and he was given the first sight of his daughter in six months. Looking so much like her mother with the same blonde hair and blue eyes. Dressed in Hello Kitty pajamas with dragonfly hairclips.

“Daddy!” The shriek of the six year old had him dropping to a knee on instinct to catch her hug. Wrapping his arms around her and doing his best to not cry at holding her again. This was his little girl, his baby. “Mommy said you got a new job and that’s why you’ve not been home.”

“Yeah, I did, sweetpea,” he replied, petting down her hair. “To take care of you and Mommy.”

“I missed you.”

Jinchul squeezed his eyes shut against the burn of tears. “I missed you too.” More than anything, he missed her. She was his main reason for following Dongsoo here so he could make enough to support her and Kailen.

“Let’s remember our manners, Ostara,” Kailen said as she approached them. “We need to introduce ourselves.”

“You gotta let go, daddy!” Ostara pushed back against his hug and he squeezed her tighter for a moment before letting go. She giggled and whirled around to where Mr. Andre had gotten to his feet. “Oh, wow! You’re like a mountain!”

“’Fraid I don’t speak Korean, little lady,” Mr. Andre replied while looking down at the girl.

The immediate relief at knowing that his boss wasn’t outright terrible with children had Jinchul standing up and nudging his daughter closer. “This is my boss, Thomas Andre,” he introduced. Both to her and Kailen. A look was given to him from the woman that he knew meant nothing good for him.

“I’m Ostara!” The six year old stuck her hand up and out at Mr. Andre in the American greeting she had been taught.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ostara,” Mr. Andre said while offering his hand back. Where the girl giggled and used both hands to grab his in a handshake. “You don’t look a whole lot like your daddy, do you?” The observation was simply that but Kailen bristled with it.

“Grandpa says I’m a ‘splitting image’ of Mommy,” Ostara replied proudly, grinning up at the large man.

Jinchul caught the nearly furious look on Kailen’s face and immediately drafted an apology for his boss in his head. Then he turned to Mr. Andre and his daughter. “Ostara,” he got her attention, “could you stay with Mr. Andre for a moment while Mommy and I have a talk?” A quick glance was given to his boss to see if that was something he could even do. There was barely there tip of the man’s head to Kailen that he took as a sign to go ahead with his plans.

“I can do that,” his daughter said seriously with a nod.

“C’mon,” Mr. Andre partially turned to the office lounge, “I want to pick your little brain about your daddy.”

“You can’t reach my brain,” Ostara replied.

“Would you like me to try?”

Jinchul watched Mr. Andre tap the top of the girl’s head with a finger as they walked away. Any lingering unease about the man’s actions towards his daughter dissipated with the teasing gesture. He had never been one that trusted strangers to watch out for his little girl but it was necessary at the moment; and his boss seemed comfortable around kids.

The moment he and Kailen stepped closer to the doors there was a striking hand hitting his upper arm. “What the hell were you thinking?” Kailen hissed with her hand changing to grab him. “Thomas Andre? Of all people to sign a contract with?”

“Dongsoo got an offer to join the Scavenger Guild,” he explained while holding her furious gaze, “I was given the opportunity to sign alongside him.”

“You better be in fucking love with this guy to risk your life like this!” She gave him a shake that he could have resisted but didn’t. “Christ, is he really worth it, Jinchul?”

“I’ve made my decision,” he said instead of answering the question.

Blue eyes stared up at him with a desperation he didn’t like to see. But it was the vivid hurt that forced him to look away. He couldn’t face what he was seeing. Of how much he had hurt her by doing this and everything over the last seven months. She wouldn’t be looking at him like this if he had just been a better man. A better fiance. (If he had been fucking normal.)

“I’m so damn upset with you right now,” Kailen muttered while letting go of his arm.

“I know,” Jinchul said quietly. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not about your move here,” she started slowly, like she was gathering her thoughts, “it's about the fact that you didn’t trust me enough to talk to me. To tell me that you weren’t happy in our relationship.” That was slap to the face that he hadn’t needed but was well deserved. “That you were unhappy enough to run half-way across the world to escape it.”

“I’m not running from you or Ostara,” he said, looking at her again and even holding her gaze. “I just…”

Kailen reached up her hands to hold his face and he couldn’t help leaning into the kind touch. “Jinchul, I’ve known you since we were thirteen,” her thumbs ran over his cheeks, “I know you’re running from something.” He was but it wasn’t from them. It was from something he couldn’t escape from no matter how far he went. “I just hope that you find your answers here and that you’re not sticking with this guy just because he’s familiar.”

“I love you.” Jinchul couldn’t help saying it even though he knew it had never meant the same thing to him as it did her.

“I know you do,” Kailen laughed, “and I love you too.”

“Let’s go save my boss before I get scheduled for three raids back to back.”

It was no trouble to separate Ostara from her long-winded story about the family cat. Jinchul made a mental note to check with Laura about sending Mr. Andre a gift for entertaining his daughter for those few minutes on his own. Thankfully the man didn’t seem annoyed with the girl. Not even after the hour long visit that took place in his office.

He was allowed to walk them out of the office and take them down the lobby on his own. Ostara didn’t want to let go of his hand after they exited the elevator, stomping her foot and pouting even as he and Kailen tried to get her to stop. It was clear she didn’t want him ‘leaving’ again. Jinchul ignored the ache that brought to his chest to explain to her once more that he had to stay for work. There was even a promise of them facetiming later in the week but she still refused to let go.

“You’re making a scene.” Dongsoo’s familiar voice came with the man’s presence approaching from behind. Jinchul had noticed him long before he made himself known. “This your daughter?”

“Yes.” Jinchul ignored the rise in tension from Kailen at his boyfriend’s appearance. “Ostara, sweetpea, please stop this. I can’t go with you.”

“Mr. Andre can’t have you all the time!” Ostara cried as she tugged on his hand again. “You’re my daddy!” Frustrated tears gathered in her blue eyes that sought to break his heart.

“He’s not gonna be gone forever,” Kailen said while carefully unprying the little girl’s hand. “We already promised to call every week and we’ll see him in person again soon.” She took hold of Ostara’s hand so she didn’t try to grab his again.

Jinchul couldn’t help tucking his hands behind his back to avoid giving the girl the temptation to reach out and take one. “I’ll call every night,” he promised his daughter even as she sniffled, “right before your bedtime. I’m not gonna be gone for such a long time again, I promise.” Now that things were somewhat worked out with Kailen, he could hopefully keep that promise.

A hand curled around his wrist behind his back in a possessive move from Dongsoo. Fingers tight as they watched Kailen get Ostara out of the lobby with the promise calming the girl somewhat. Jinchul expected some sort of scoffing remark from the man next to him but what he got was the hold around his wrist tugging his hands apart. Even more unexpected was the way Dongsoo changed to grab his hand instead.

“Worth taking this job now, wasn’t it?” A smug note in the man’s voice had him giving him a confused look. “Got your kid back, didn’t it? Your ex isn’t keeping her from you anymore, is she?”

“I…suppose not,” Jinchul answered while glancing back at the doors.

“C’mon,” Dongsoo walked away with a yank on their held hands to drag him along, “it’s a light raid tonight. If we get done before dinner time I’ll fuck ya in the shower before we go out.”

“I don’t believe I’ve never needed incentive to do efficient work.” He picked up his step to join Dongsoo’s side. “But I suppose I do enjoy a perk for it.”

The barking laughter came with him being yanked into one of the elevators. A hand reached out to hit the number for the armory floor before Dongsoo grabbed the back of his neck to pull him into a kiss. Jinchul leaned up into it with a rather excited race of his heart.

This was nothing like his relationship with Kailen. He had never once had his heart running like this when with her unless it was out of stress. There had been no arousal fueled adrenaline when kissing her or an addiction to her body like he had to Dongsoo. Not even in their drunkest college nights or hormone fueled teen years had they done this. It wasn’t even the kissing in an elevator, it was the challenge to each other to finish their work early for some fun before an evening out.

Somehow Dongsoo met a hidden requirement that Jinchul hadn’t even known that he had. A competitive drive that had him wanting to push the man for more. He wanted more of him and was more than willing to give himself in return. It didn’t even matter how wrong it was anymore. His daugher was back in his life, Kailen didn’t hate him, and there were plans for tonight that he looked forward to.

It could come back to bite him but as he was pressed against the back wall of the elevator with large hands moving to grab his hips, he didn’t care.

Chapter Text

There was a certain sort of freedom to driving. Jinchul had always found peace in a long drive after he got a restricted license at fifteen. Taking the back road to and from school just to make it take longer. Completely disregarding the restrictions in the countryside to drive for however long he wanted because he had memorized the routes for the county police. It was an escape from home, from everything.

It hadn’t quite been the same in Korea. In the eight years that he had lived there, it had strictly been in the city. The only time he got out of it was on work calls at gate breaks that hadn’t been discovered out in the forests. Which wasn’t the same as simply going for a drive.

Being back in the States and getting his license fit for the country again allowed that freedom. And after that first month of ‘observation’ in a raid party for the Scavengers more leniency was given to the frequency of raiding. Those had been training raids because he had never hunted properly before. Jinchul had been placed on a main raid team with Dongsoo and he had learned that they tended to only raid once or twice a week. It meant that there was more time for anything in between.

It was this unscheduled time that led to Jinchul being so far from the city that he hadn’t seen a building in the last half an hour. Music was playing from the speakers with the windows down. Spring was in full swing and he had never subscribed to the mindset of using air-conditioning just because the car had it. With the windows down and sunroof open, there was nothing but fresh air running through the car.

The sky was starting to turn orange with the setting sun when he was startled out of his zoning by the music changing mid-song. He glanced over at where Dongsoo had been napping in the passenger seat for the last hour. Sunglasses shielding his eyes and the seat leaned back as far as it could go, he had his phone held a little too close his face. It was a sight that had him snorting and turning his attention back to the road. No longer the double lanes but a back highway he was actually familiar with from his teenage years.

Getting Dongsoo to come with him hadn’t been an easy venture. The man didn’t understand the use of ‘driving without a destination’ and very nearly stayed home that afternoon. Jinchul wasn’t sure what changed his mind last minute as he was leaving but he was grateful for it. There was something so nice about sharing an important ritual like this with someone. This was an activity that meant a lot to him and it meant just as much to share it with Dongsoo. He hadn’t even taken Kailen out like this. They had never just gone for a drive and it made this so much more impactful.

“We stopping for dinner anytime soon?” Dongsoo asked with an adjustment to stick his legs out the window. “Fuck, why’d you buy such a small car?”

“It’s not small,” Jinchul replied, “you just have four or five inches on me.”

“Just admit that you suck at picking out cars.”

Jinchul would not admit that. Dongsoo simply had a different opinion on what was a good car. It’s not like the Mercedes was that small anyway, the man just had a touch longer legs than was probably comfortable. At least he knew he wouldn’t have to worry about him driving his car; not that the man had a license.

“We’ll stop at the next town,” Jinchul said, finally answering Dongsoo’s question, “and probably head back to the city after.”

“Where the fuck even are we?”

“About twenty miles out from Iola,” he replied, having caught a sign a few miles back. “Three-ish hours from the city.”

“What? Did you live out here or something?” The question had him wondering if he had ever told Dongsoo where he grew up. Knowing that the man was far from forgetful, he decided that he hadn’t.

“I grew up close to forty miles East of here,” Jinchul said, hand tightening around the steering wheel as he shoved back his hair with the other. “A few miles out from a small town on this terrible little farm.” He hated that place more than he ever thought he could hate something. “I’ve driven these highways far too many times.”

The only sound to come was the wind and music. He wasn’t sure what Dongsoo would think about him being a ‘country boy’ but there was a hit of anxiety that he wouldn’t like it. That knowing where he came from would break some sort of image that the man had of him.

“It’s not so bad, though,” he said, unable to stop his tongue. “I know where most of these roads lead to and some of the better places to see. I don’t know how much has changed in eight years but given how little changed while I was growing up, I doubt it’s a lot.” The hand on the wheel was tight and he couldn’t help the brush back of his hair again. “It might take a little while to remember a few things and memorize the quickest routes again but-”

“Jesus Christ, shut up.” The harsh snap had his heart freezing and fingers curling tighter.

“Sorry.”

Knowing that he had fucked this up by opening his mouth had Jinchul vowing to not mention anything about this again. They had already been together seven months without how either of them grew up being mentioned. It probably meant that Dongsoo neither cared about where he came from nor wanted him to know where he came from in return. He didn’t know if that was normal considering this was only his second relationship but he could take the hint to be quiet about it.

“Grew up in Seoul.” Dongsoo’s unexpected voice had him startling. “Parents died young, brother raised me.” Jinchul glanced over to find the man still lounging in the seat. “It’s not a big deal where you were raised.”

“I, uh, didn’t think that it was,” he replied softly. “I just…don’t know when to stop talking.”

“What? You gonna have a panic attack over me not knowing some highway in the middle of fuckin’ nowhere?” The harsh teasing had that frozen heart in his chest thawing out as he gave Dongsoo a small smile. “Get that look off your face.”

“You embarrassed to admit that you care enough to stop my very real anxiety about this situation?”

Jinchul looked back at the empty road again but dropped the hand in his hair to make a grab for Dongsoo’s. There was a slap at him but no other attempt to stop him. It was clear that the man cared in some capacity about him even if he wouldn’t admit it. Which was so far from where he ever thought this sort of relationship would go especially considering a month ago they were hardly more than bed partners.

He had never expected to share even this little ritual of his with anyone, yet here he was with a man he had left the only place he truly called home with. Kailen was right that he was running from something but it was in this moment that he realized that he could be running towards something as well. Something he had never had with his ex-fiancee. A little rough and far from polished, nothing meant for outside prying eyes to judge, but far more real than anything he could have had with a woman.

And it didn’t matter that it was wrong in the eyes of pretty much everyone else in the entire world. That he was living a life of sin before a God he had learned to fear at a young age. He knew it was disgusting and wrong and fucked up, but for the first time in his life he felt like he could be himself. Could actually breathe without the shackles of normal seeking to drag him under.

Right here and now, Jinchul was sure that it didn’t even matter if this was love or not. If it ever could be. If Dongsoo was someone that could or would ever see this as anything more than a passing fancy. He was willing to face whatever wrath of God waited for him at the end of his life if it meant experiencing this feeling again. Would probably set his own wax wings on fire to hold onto this little bit of sunshine for any moment longer.

There wasn’t a lot of space in his car. Not for this. Jinchul winced at the seat belt anchor digging into his knee and his feet pressed to the glove box. He curled his hands over Dongsoo’s shoulders with a dig of his fingers to match the tight grip on his waist. Given that this was a two-seat car there was only so much space the seat could be leaned back and it was already as far back as it could go. The fact that he had even managed to slot into Dongsoo’s lap was a miracle.

“Alright, fuck this,” Jinchul muttered. He pulled away from the bruises being put on his throat and let go of his left hand to pop open the door. “I’m getting you off then driving home so you can fuck me properly.”

“Your car fuckin’ sucks,” Dongsoo said as he released his waist. “We’re buying a damn SUV or something so I can take that ass of yours in the backseat.” A hand dipped down the front of his shorts to touch him as he got the door open. “Jesus Christ, what the fuck is that?”

“Huh? What?” He almost fell out of the car as he climbed off Dongsoo’s lap but got his foot under him just in time. There was a wave to the door that he followed. “Oh. I love that.”

“It’s fuckin’ excessive,” the man snapped. Jinchul didn’t say anything as he fixed his shorts from where Dongsoo had messed them up. “Who needs their damn logo lit up on the ground like that?” The complaint fell on deaf ears with him getting to his knees on the grass. “Do not tell me you bought this piece of shit because of that fuckin’ light.”

“I didn’t.”

Jinchul was only partially paying attention to what his boyfriend was saying, far more focused on his own plans. Steady hands pushed up Dongsoo’s red t-shirt so he could undo the button and zipper for his jeans. A hand landed on his head as he leaned in to kiss the exposed skin. This was a familiar practice even if the fact that he was on his knees outside was a little foreign.

The curl and yank of fingers in his hair were indications better than words for how Dongsoo wanted it. This wasn’t about teasing or pushing the edge until the man physically couldn’t restrain himself any longer and simply took what he wanted. They both wanted to alleviate some of the tension to make it home where they could do what they couldn’t in the car. With large hands leaving bruises and teeth marking him over and over again.

There was no such thing as spitting when it came to this. Jinchul hardly cared of the mess when he wiped the back of his hand over his mouth with a deep breath through his nose. Long fingers brushed back his hair even as he rose to his feet. Dongsoo didn’t let him go far, pulling him down low enough for a kiss. Then he was released and pushed back so he could get back into the car. Where he barely remembered to put on the seat belt with his impatience, left foot tapping on the floorboard.

They were still over an hour out from the city not including the time it would take to get back to the main highway. In truth it wasn’t all that long but it would feel like forever. Especially since he was the one driving.

“Hand job?” The offer came with a hand grabbing his upper thigh. “If you can drive at the same time that is.”

“I’d rather not ruin the leather,” Jinchul replied despite how much he actually did want to be touched. That hand crept higher and skimmed over the waistband of his shorts. “Any more of that and you’ll lose the hand.”

“Oh? You threatening me now?” Dongsoo asked, teasing fingers running down his inner thigh.

“I will cut off those fingers.”

The nearly cackling laughter was followed by Dongsoo putting his hand back on his thigh and simply resting it there. “Fuck, babe, I need to get you this wound up more,” he said, “it’s hot as fuck.” Jinchul partially rolled down the window while resting his head on his free hand.

“I’m glad you’re amused,” he muttered, trying to concentrate on which road to take.

“Don’t pout, you’ll get fucked just as you like it when we get home.”

“I fucking better.”

Dongsoo was good for his word. The reddening bruises on his thighs from his hands matched the ones lips and teeth put on his throat. He knew there were going to be some nasty scratches on his boyfriend’s shoulders in the morning but he had asked for them. Practically demanded it.

The lazy kisses weren’t new but Jinchul still wasn’t quite familiar with them. He traced the faint scars on Dongsoo’s chest with a turn of his head to kiss down his neck instead. The arm around his waist tightened as long fingers brushed aside his wet hair. This was much softer than anything they had done before. It had him pressing his nose into warm skin with a quiet sigh and moved his hand to place it over the man’s heart. Steady and calm beneath his palm.

“We scheduled for a raid tomorrow?” Dongsoo asked, breaking the quiet of their bedroom.

“Mm, I don’t think so,” Jinchul replied. “I can check?”

“Just do it in the morning.” The arm around him made no move to let him and he didn’t want it to. “If not, I’m not letting you leave this bed. And even if we are, your ass isn’t getting far from me.”

Jinchul snorted. “What? You keeping an eye on me?” It was a joke but the thought of that was nice.

“You’re mine,” Donsoo said seriously, “and I will kill anyone or thing that dares to think that they can take you from me.” The very real threat only had him humming and nuzzling into his neck.

“Mhm, thank you.”

The hand in his hair smoothed down the wet curls in a way that had him more than half-asleep. Jinchul sighed in contentment. He didn’t want this to stop or be cut short by anything.

Chapter Text

The soft rumble of the gate closing had Jinchul humming as he followed Dongsoo through the cracked marble and stone dungeon halls. Their raiding party was behind them talking in hushed whispers. It was far from an unfamiliar experience after nearly two months of being Scavengers. This was the party that they had been placed with after that first month so he was pretty familiar with the names and faces of them.

Their voices too.

“God, this is such bullshit,” the other S-Rank in the party complained. Jinchul tuned into the man’s voice from where he was a few steps ahead. “What’s the point of having a lead if they don’t speak fucking English? Translating takes too long.”

“It’s not so bad,” a woman replied, “Mr. Woo is efficient and direct with it.”

“Look, they’re in America, they should speak our damn language.”

“I do speak English.” Jinchul didn’t turn around as he addressed the S-Rank hunter. “As a matter of fact, it’s my first language. And I’d have you know that Mr. Hwang is learning so we’d both appreciate a little bit of leniency for the moment.”

There was silence from the hunters behind him and a confused hum from Dongsoo ahead. All he did was offer a small tap on the man’s arm to get him to continue walking, having stopped with his voice. Jinchul assumed that was going to be the end of the complaining as it remained quiet for the rest of the walk to the exit. With the setting sun breaking through the buildings he heard another comment being made.

“Fuckin’ immigrants,” the S-Rank muttered, “they should have a test before someone enters this country. Must speak fucking English in big bold letters at the top.”

“Timothy-”

“I will say this once,” Jinchul didn’t turn to face the hunter, “if you make another comment about Mr. Hwang I will have to do something about it.”

“Oh? What can a little A-Rank do?” The S-Rank asked snidely. “Gonna get your illiterate bo-”

In a swift turn, Jinchul put his gauntlet covered first directly into the S-Rank’s nose. Throwing his entire weight and mana behind it. Like a light switch being flipped, the man went down unconscious with a splatter of dark blood from his broken nose. He adjusted the strap of the gauntlet as he turned back around to continue walking away from the closing gate. Thick silence followed him.

“What was that about?” Dongsoo asked, peering at him curiously from the corner of his sunglasses.

“I refuse to entertain racists assholes,” he replied stiffly.

“Eh? You look pretty damn white to me.”

“It wasn’t about me.”

Dongsoo came to a stop on the sidewalk with a deadly glare over his shoulder at where a healer was rousing the other S-Rank. “I’m gonna kill him,” he growled, already turning around. Jinchul grabbed his arm to stop him. “You think you can stop me?” Sunglasses slid down the man’s nose with his glower turned on him.

“Murder is still murder,” Jinchul said, tightening his grip, “no matter how much of an asshole someone is.”

“So?”

The callous response had him letting go with a step back. He swallowed against his suddenly far too dry throat and tucked his arms behind his back. It wasn’t quite clear how he should react to that. To hearing that his boyfriend would readily murder someone no matter who they were. A drip of dread in his veins had him shaking his head and taking another step away from Dongsoo.

“Alright,” Dongsoo sighed while pushing his glasses back up, “the bastard lives another day. You happy?”

“I…”

“Get over here.” A hand grabbed his shoulder and tugged him into the man’s side. It slid over his armor to tap two fingers on his breastplate. “Got something special for you tonight.”

“Uh-huh?”

There was a turn of a head to kiss his hair that eased his twisted up heart. Likely as intended. “Gonna treat you real good,” Dongsoo murmured, “make up for scarin’ ya.” Jinchul wanted to argue that he hadn’t been scared but he couldn’t get his mouth to open. “Not gonna make you do any work for it. Hell, I won’t even ask for anything in return.”

“I like reciprocating these things,” he replied, lifting a hand to grab Dongsoo’s on his chest.

“I’m well aware of how much you like my cock.” The call out had his ears burning as he looked away from where they were walking to a parking garage. “You’ll get more than enough of it, babe, don’t worry.”

The haze of their bedroom was far calmer than Jinchul usually wanted but it wasn’t necessarily bad. Not with the soft kisses to the back of his neck and warm hand tracing over his chest. He was half-asleep in the tangled sheets with the heat of Dongsoo behind him pushing him closer to falling asleep fully. This was the first time something this…intimate occurred between them. It was normally clashing and taking and lust fueled desire but this had been far from that.

There weren’t even bite marks left behind. He felt a little off without the throbbing marks and tingling bruises. Not in exactly a bad way but in a different way. It had him grabbing Dongsoo’s hand off his chest and bringing it up to his mouth so he could kiss his fingertips. Things were only fair if he could show some care in return.

“What was earlier really about?” The question was on the edge of demanding as Dongsoo pressed another kiss to his skin. “You’ve got far better fuckin’ control than hitting a racist motherfucker.”

“I’m not sure what you mean,” Jinchul replied.

“Don’t lie to me.” It was a warning with teeth against his shoulder. “Why did you deck that guy?”

The direct question had him humming. Truthfully, the answer was a little more than hating racists bastards. He curled his fingers tighter around Dongsoo’s hand and moved to kiss his palm. It didn’t quite seem right to say why he had done it. Not when it sat wrong in his gut but so right in his chest. In even a normal relationship his reasoning would be skewed and messed up.

“Because…you said I’m yours,” Jinchul started slowly, quietly. Afraid, really, to admit this outloud. “So in return that means you’re mine. I guess I don’t like the idea of anyone messing with something or someone that’s mine.”

“God, baby,” Dongsoo pulled away with a press of his captive hand to push Jinchul onto his back, “I think you were fuckin’ made for me.”

The honest confession came with possessive kiss. There was a shift to have Dongsoo holding both of his hands and pinned them to the pillow on either side of his head. It was an easy slot between his open legs with the man’s weight pressing him down to the bed. Jinchul met the desire to own him with his own. If he was made for Dongsoo then it worked the same in return. A match made in fucking hell.

“So, why am I getting a report like this?” Thomas waved the tablet at where Laura was standing behind the couch. “Looks like a typical pissing contest between hunters.”

“Did you read it, sir?” Laura asked politely.

“Skimmed it.”

“An A-Rank knocked an S-Rank unconscious with a single punch,” the secretary explained. Thomas had to hand it to her, she knew that he hadn’t read even a little bit of the report. “According to the witnesses there was no warm-up or struggle present in the strike.”

Mm, that could be intriguing but only if the S-Rank was a fighter-type. “What’re their classes?” He asked, tossing the tablet aside without looking at it.

“An A-Rank brawler fighter-type and an S-Rank assassin.”

“Alright, yeah, that’s interesting.” Thomas crossed his arms behind his head and kicked his legs up on the table. “What’re their names and why did the scuffle even occur?”

“It was the new recruit Jinchul Woo,” Laura answered, “and a long-standing Scavenger Timothy Shade.” He certainly knew both of those names. “Once more according to witnesses, Mr. Shade was making racist remarks towards Mr. Hwang that Mr. Woo advised him to stop making. It was only after another remark was made that Mr. Woo hit Mr. Shade.”

“Well deserved, I suppose.” He was well aware of the racism that thrived within this country and had taken care of his fair share of assholes. “Take Shade off that raiding party, send him out to one not in the city.” There was a noise of confirmation from Laura. “I want to observe Woo personally so find a gate to test him. I doubt that guy’s actually an A-Rank.” Not just anyone could cold clock an S-Rank and knock them out even if they were only an assassin.

“Of course, sir.”

Whether it was luck or not, there was a dungeon break the next day. Thomas noted the reason behind Laura presenting this to him when Louisburg wasn’t within their homefield territory as he went to grab the raiding party he had the woman place Woo on. It was a High A-Rank gate that broke in the hills of the winery that the nearest guild wasn’t strong enough to contain. The guild in Overland Park technically had dips on the area but they slid it over to the Scavengers due to their S-Ranks already on a raid.

This wasn’t something he usually stepped in on but he wanted to personally observe Woo in the field. Even if it meant terrifying the raiding party that never spent extended time in his presence. The only one unbothered was Woo. It took entirely too long for the poor bastards to get themselves together and out of the building. Thomas made a mental note to get Laura to assign them extra boring raids for the next month for this sad display.

They were about an hour or so out from the dungeon break if they chose to do the speed limit but all guilds were cleared to break a few laws in certain cases. And no cop would be stupid enough to pull over a vehicle with the Scavenger logo plastered on the side. That was one thing Thomas could appreciate about this country. They knew when to shut the fuck up and let someone take care of a problem. Or, at the very least, they had learned the hard to way to do that.

(He had been there when the first gates opened and the military were wiped out. For when the soldiers tried to stop newly awakened hunters from helping and wound up as bloodstains on the ground. It had been a hard learning curve for such a military forward country. One that he had been damn near grateful for when it finally happened and gave some sort of balance back to the people after so much shit.)

The destruction from the dungeon break was clear long before they reached the actually gate break. Ruts put into the land and entire sections of highway ripped free. Definitely monsters on the bigger side of the scale that was for sure. Through the windshield of truck Thomas caught sight of the unfamiliar winged beast diving down towards the front of the convoy. Not dragons but similar looking. They didn’t spit fire or anything, actually. All the beast did was use its body to crush what was in its path.

He definitely understood why the Royalty Guild had thrust this at the Scavengers and it certainly wasn’t because of a scheduled raid.

The truck was thrown into the park after slamming on the breaks like the rest of the convoy. He shut it off and stepped out with an arm raised to shield his eyes from the sun to get a better look at the beast. There were at least five circling above them and who knows how many at the actual gate. Already orders being relayed through the raid party down the highway. This was certainly a good way to judge how well Woo did under pressure and gauge just how strong he truly was.

There was no such thing as sitting back and simply observing during a dungeon break. Thomas was a lot of things but letting innocent people get murdered in his country was not the type of asshole that he was. What he did do was keep Woo somewhere in his line of sight while yanking the winged beasts out the sky with twisted mana. It hadn’t taken a word for the A-Rank to understand his role in this fight. The moment a beast was down there was a brawler delivering the life ending blows. More so than the other ten members of the raid party.

And before Thomas could make the order for the hunters to find the broken gate, Woo was doing it. A well worn position of giving direction and dealing with dungeon breaks. He recognized when someone was in their element. This must have been a big part of Woo’s job back in South Korea working for their Association. It was certainly something worth noting.

What he had really been looking for in the hunter was his physical strength. It was shown to be at that of the highest A-Rank Thomas knew of but also that of the lowest S-Rank. Almost like it sat right on the cusp of being more. Which was certainly something worth watching out for and possibly making plans to expand upon. He would be testing how loyal Woo was to his contract in the coming months, that was for certain.

Chapter Text

Jinchul wasn’t quite sure how to feel about being observed by Mr. Andre while raiding. It had only been a couple raids so far but it felt like a lifetime. He wasn’t used to his bosses performing in person evaluations and not after only two months of being in a position. Part of him was anxious about what this could be about. Mr. Andre breaking his contract to remove him from the guild felt like a far too likely possibility.

To make matters worse, Laura scheduled a lunch meeting with Mr. Andre for him. He felt like he was about to have a heart attack as he paced the living room while constantly checking his watch for the time. There were twenty minutes until the meeting and he was sure he was going to have panic attack. If the heart attack doesn’t get him first.

“Will you stop?” Dongsoo’s annoyed voice from the couch was barely heard. “Christ, you’re gettin’ on my nerves with all the pacing.”

“Sorry.” It was automatic response even has he carried on what he was doing.

“What the hell has you so worked up anyway?”

“Lunch,” Jinchul replied with another glance at the watch, “with Mr. Andre.”

He needed to get going if he was going to make it a couple minutes early like he had planned. There was a check that he was in appropriate clothes and he almost made it to the door when a hand wrapped around his wrist to stop him. Dongsoo yanked him back with a little more force than usual and had him stumbling a step.

“What’re you-”

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me you were getting lunch with Andre?” Dongsoo asked, keeping him close by the tight grip on his wrist.

“I did,” Jinchul replied, “a few days ago.”

“You sure as fuck didn’t.” The growl on the edge of his voice wasn’t quite typical outside their bedroom. And it most certainly didn’t have the same implication.

“I’m also certain I told you. Maybe you simply forgo-”

The raised hand that struck him before he could finish talking was well beyond abnormal. Dongsoo went off about something but Jinchul hardly heard him over the rush of blood in his ears. His cheek stung. No one had slapped him since he was eighteen and still living with his mother. Fingers touched the heated skin as he stared at the rage coming to life in his boyfriend’s eyes. What…what had he done wrong here?

Was it because he suggested that Dongsoo forgot about his meeting with Mr. Andre? He knew the man wasn’t forgetful but he had been certain he told him about the meeting three or so days ago. Maybe he hadn’t? Dongsoo seemed pretty adamant that he hadn’t and now that he was thinking about it, he couldn’t be a hundred percent sure if he did say anything. Maybe he just thought he had. He wasn’t exactly a forgetful person either but he had been stressing rather hard about this. It could have slipped his mind.

“Are you even listening to me?” Dongsoo seemed to snarl while getting in his face.

“I’m sorry,” Jinchul apologized, “I thought I told you about the meeting.”

“What the fuck are you-”

“It must have slipped my mind.” He cut the man off without really noticing, eyes not meeting his. “I know you wouldn’t have forgotten if I told so I’m sorry for accusing you of doing so.”

There was a thick silence after he closed his mouth. The bruising hold on his wrist disappeared to finally allow circulation to come back. Jinchul flexed his fingers down at his side and ignored how they trembled. With a hesitant reach up of his other hand, he touched the side of Dongsoo’s face and leaned up to kiss his other cheek. The sting of his cheek from the slap was ignored. He could take a love tap or two.

“I’m sorry but I really need to get going,” he murmured. A much lighter touch came to the hand on Dongsoo’s cheek than the one that had grabbed his wrist. “I’ll make dinner tonight so don’t worry about it, alright?”

“Yeah, sure.” Dongsoo turned his head enough to kiss his palm as he pulled away.

Jinchul wanted to say more but he only took his hand back and turned away. Trembling fingers were brought up to his warm cheek as he opened the apartment door to leave. He hoped making dinner would help ease off the anger that he had ignited in Dongsoo. What he really hoped was that by apologizing and doing this that the man wouldn’t leave him for pissing him off like he had. He didn’t know if he could take it if he accidentally pushed Dongsoo away.

The rather upscale restaurant had him antsy again. He wasn’t comfortable meeting with his boss for any sort of meeting but especially outside of the guild building. There was no telling what Mr. Andre had planned and Jinchul really didn’t want to face being fired. That might be a little too much to take with his long since frazzled nerves.

There was no getting to the meeting point early but he thankfully hadn’t been held up long enough be late. He was polite in greeting Mr. Andre before taking the direction to sit across from him at the table. Intense red eyes stared at him and he could almost feel the questions. A single check in the car mirror had shown him that his cheek was already bruising but he hoped his boss had a little bit of professional decorum to him to not ask.

“Looks like a nasty bruise coming in,” Mr. Andre commented while meeting his eyes.

“I suppose it is.” Jinchul curled his fingers into his pants under the table but kept as blank a mask as he could. “If I may ask, what’s this meeting about?”

“Mr. Hwang do that?”

The weighted question had Jinchul taking in a deep breath. “I do believe I’ve already made it clear,” he said, “that my private life is none of your business in a professional manner.” His relationship with Dongsoo didn’t need to be picked apart by anyone.

“If there’s gonna be problems among my hunters,” Mr. Andre replied rather sharply, “then I need to know. So…what caused that?”

“If you really must know,” Jinchul found the most believable lie that he could, “then things got a little out of hand in the bedroom. And that’s as far as I’m willing to share with someone other than Dongsoo.”

“What? You smack your face off the bedpost or something?” The laughter on the edge of Mr. Andre’s voice eased a touch of tension in his shoulders.

“Or something.”

With that situation easily squared away, Jinchul found out what this meeting was truly about. His performance. The immediate anxiety at hearing that was only lessened when Mr. Andre talked about permanently assigning him to a raid party that usually dealt with dungeon breaks. About placing him as the party leader with his experience and expertise having already been proven. A promotion was so far down the list of things he thought could happen that he was almost certain he could have passed out from the relief.

It made him a bit impatient to get home to share the news with Dongsoo. This wasn’t something he expected to ever happen. When he signed that contract he expected to be placed with Dongsoo for the entire length of his time in the States. Being given lead of a team made it settle in that this was his career now. That he really was building a life in the place he had hated for so long and that he didn’t exactly mind it.

Lunch carried on a little longer than strictly a lunch hour. Jinchul hardly noticed that it was close to four by the time he and Mr. Andre parted from the restaurant. Conversation had gone a little off-track from his sudden promotion to what his job used to be in South Korea and possible talk of him getting a more office oriented position in the future. It was more than he could have ever hoped for. He didn’t really like hunting so much as he liked keeping hunters in line.

(It was only fair considering he went to college for Criminology and general Criminal Justice. He had been a detective before he awakened, after all.)

It all meant that he was getting back home at about the right time to get started on dinner. The apartment was a little more quiet than usual without the television playing some UFC fight or an awful horror movie. Jinchul was a little miffed about it and went to check that Dongsoo was home. Five steps into the living room he found the man asleep on the couch. He thought it better to leave him be instead of waking him.

The lights were turned on in the kitchen before he moved to get started on dinner. It was a little hard to keep quiet to avoid waking Dongsoo but he wasn’t unfamiliar with cooking as quietly as possible. It helped that he wasn’t making anything too complicated. They had been trying new and different recipes since moving into their own place so this wasn’t anything he had made before but the instructions were easy. The noisy part was probably chopping the onion.

About half-way through the cook time, Jinchul felt Dongsoo’s presence come towards the kitchen. He didn’t turn away from the pot on the stove but he tracked the man’s movement. Right up to his back where arms looped around his waist and a chin rested on his shoulder to watch what he was doing.

“I’m sorry for hittin’ you, baby,” Dongsoo said, sounding genuinely apologetic.

“It’s alright.” Jinchul dropped a hand to trace his fingers over the man’s arms. “Besides, I think I earned that.”

“The fuck is that supposed to mean?”

The rigid tension behind him had his chest tightening. “Just something my grandmother used to say,” he replied softly. “An open palm means you earned it, a closed fist means you walk away.” There was a lot he heard from his grandmother even if it wasn’t directly said to him. It was to his female cousins about their future boyfriends.

“That’s fucked up,” Dongsoo said seriously.

“Hardly,” he scoffed in return. “It’s just a little saying to gauge a few things.”

“Jinchul, baby, if I hit you again,” the arms around him tightened, “you need to leave me.”

His heart sank. “What?” Jinchul wasn’t sure if he could even properly find his voice. “No. I can’t-” The tightening of his throat at the very idea of leaving Dongsoo was suffocating. “It’s okay. I can take a love tap or two, I promise.” Besides, this wasn’t like any relationship with a woman. He could take a little violence now and again. It’s what they started off with anyway.

“It’s not about what you can take.” Dongsoo let go of him but before he could panic at that, hands turned him around. They left his hips to hold his face, forcing him to meet red eyes. “You’re mine and I won’t take you being hurt even by my own hands.”

“But it’s fine.” Jinchul didn’t know how well he could put into words what needed to be expressed. “We hurt each other all the time and-”

“Listen to me.” The commanding tone had him shutting up. “I will hurt you all you want in the bedroom, hell, I fuckin’ like hurting you in that way.” There was a lean as if to kiss him but Dongsoo didn’t go through with it. “But I need you to promise me that if I scare you or hit you like that again that you will fuckin’ leave me.”

Jinchul didn’t know where any of this was coming from when Dongsoo was the last person he would expect to feel this strongly about a single slap. It wasn’t that big of a deal. There was always a bit of smacking around in his house growing up between his grandparents and even with his mother and father before they got divorced. He knew when to back out if things got out of hand just like his father did. What he had with Dongsoo wasn’t anywhere close to what he had witnessed growing up. And besides, he was a man. He could take a slap or two, especially when he earned it.

“Fucking promise me, Jinchul,” Dongsoo almost snarled, red eyes burning with mana.

“I…” Jinchul didn’t think he could. “I can’t.”

“Do you need some kind of fuckin’ incentive?”

The hands on his face remained careful even with the threatening burn of mana surrounding him. A dip of Dongsoo’s head finally closed the small space between them. Pressing and violence laden kiss like those that they had first shared. Breathing a spark of passion into the fire that hadn’t even come close to burning out.

Jinchul reached behind him to shut off the burner on the stove with one hand while the other grabbed the necklace sitting on Dongsoo’s bare chest. It only took a couple steps to have Dongsoo’s pressing him against the counter next to the stove. Pinning him against the hard edge with far too gentle hands on his face for the aggression within the kiss between them. He easily pulled the man in as close as they could get, soaking in the heat radiating off bare skin.

A break in the kiss came with those large hands disappearing from his face. He almost protested the loss until experience fingers were unbuckling his belt and ripping it from the loops of his pants. The sparking excitement in his veins at the move had him leaning up to press kisses to Dongsoo’s exposed throat. There was a warning growl that he felt in his own chest. It only made him want to push for a little more but he backed off. Put his lips to a cheek instead and over Dongsoo’s nose in a return of that gentleness of hands from moments ago.

His belt was set on the counter before his dress shirt was being unbuttoned instead of his pants. Jinchul tried to not get impatient as his boyfriend took his sweet time with each damn button. That raging passion still burned between them even with the dip of Dongsoo’s head to kiss each new inch of exposed skin. It forced him to let go of the man’s necklace but he only gripped his shoulders instead.

“Promise me.” Dongsoo was nearly whispering into his skin. “I’ll fuck you when you promise to leave if I hurt you again.”

“What?” Jinchul opened his eyes to the brightly lit kitchen.

“If I’ve learned only one damn thing in my fucking life,” lips graced his collarbone as hands gripped his hips, “it’s that relationships built on fear only come back to fucking bite.” Dongsoo lifted his head to meet his eyes. To really look at him in a way Jinchul had only ever hoped for. “I want you to love me, not fear me.”

There was a confession waiting in those words to come out. Almost testing the waters between them before admitting them out loud. Jinchul held red eyes with a flicker of their entire nine months together to figure out when they had come to this point. It hadn’t started like this. Wasn’t started for even a hint of this coming. They had wanted to use each other, take what they could. Fuck to their heart’s contents, in all honesty.

He had used it to figure himself out. To find out if he had really been this fucked up since he was born or if all the attention he had wanted to give to other men had only been passing fancies. Temptations of the devil as his mother used to say. And if they had been then Dongsoo was Lucifer himself for how much Jinchul took from him.

He only wished he knew why. Why he needed to justify what he liked and who. Why this was a sin. Why he wanted someone so bad that it went beyond a physical desire. Why he felt so Goddamn awful about who he was. Why he still got a sick feeling every time he merely thought about mentioning having a boyfriend to anyone. Why it hurt to look in the mirror every day. Why he fucking hated himself for who he was when he would never hate someone else for being even a little bit like he was.

Why was it wrong in the eyes of everyone else for him to love another man?

“Why me?” Jinchul looked away from the burning eyes as too many thoughts swallowed the heat in his veins. “Out of everyone you could have picked to be with, why did you choose me?”

“I thought you were hot,” Dongsoo answered honestly. “Sexy in that suit of yours and in need of a good fuck with how uptight you were when we first met.” There was a small dip of his head to put his lips next to his ear. “And I wanted to break you for how you tried to boss me around like those other S-Rank fools.”

“Surely I wasn’t that good of a lay to stick with me.”

“Babe, you are the single best piece of ass I’ve ever had my hands on.” Said hands tightened their grip on his hips. “And one that I want to keep until I’m dead.” The press of him harder against the counter came with a sigh in his ear. “So you better fucking promise me that you’ll give me a damn good wake up call by leaving me if I hit you again.”

That single addition to the promise changed the entire meaning of it. Jinchul squeezed his eyes shut with the light-headed relief that coursed through his veins. He wrapped his arms around the back of Dongsoo’s neck to hold him close as all of his obnoxious overthinking drifted away.

“Alright,” he sighed softly, “I promise.”

“Good.” Dongsoo nipped at his ear. “Now, you want fucked now or after dinner?”

“Is that even a real question?”

“God, you speak my language like no fuckin’ other, baby.”

Chapter Text

“How’re the Sungs?” Jinchul had the phone sitting up on the counter with a face call on from where he had been saying goodnight to Ostara as he made breakfast. Kailen had come back to the phone a few minutes later so they could talk.

“Oh, busy as can be,” Kailen answered.

“I wondered since Jinwoo hasn’t returned my texts in the last month and a half.”

The thing was was that Jinchul and Kailen had moved in across the hall from a nice family when they first got on their feet in Korea and decided to stay in the apartment building. They probably would have failed a lot more than they had with Ostara at first without Mrs. Sung helping them. Even when she was taking care of her two kids on her own after Mr. Sung disappeared during a gate incident. Honestly, he was certain they owed that family their lives after what they did to help them.

“You need him for something specific?” Kailen asked, falling on the couch and setting the phone on the coffee table.

“I was actually thinking about offering to help pay for Mrs. Sung’s medical bills,” Jinchul said. “If you and Ostara are more than comfortable with getting a little less, of course.”

“As I’ve told you before,” a pointed looked was given through the phone, “you don’t have to keep sending us most of your paychecks.”

“The entire point of this was give you guys the money.”

To buy out his own guilt over what he had done even though he knew no amount of money in the world could fix that. He was going to carry that guilt until he died and probably still into hell afterwards. It didn’t even make him feel better to be sending Kailen the paychecks. It actually made him feel a hundred times worse. Like he was trying to buy back her trust and forgiveness, like he was paying to interact with his daughter even though he knew that wasn’t the case. All of the money that he made only ever turned his stomach.

He knew he wasn’t worthy of it. Of anything, really. It was all better off in hands that wouldn’t use it to make more mistakes. He kept just enough to pay his half of the bills and groceries along with some gas money but he couldn’t stand having more than that. It was suffocating. Knowing why he was making so much. Because he had fucked up and needed to pay back all of the hurt he caused.

“I can talk to Jinwoo for you,” Kailen said, cutting through the spiral of his thoughts. Jinchul set out the breakfast he made for Dongsoo at the kitchen table then his own. “But I doubt he’ll say no to the help. Not with Jinah needing money for university in a few years.”

“I could always help with that too,” he offered. “Since my promotion I’m making a more steady salary than strictly dungeon clearing.”

“I know what you’re doing.” The soft call out didn’t have him looking at the phone. “You don’t need to buy back anyone’s forgiveness, Jinchul. No one blames you for leaving.”

“I’m not doing that.”

There was a small pause from the phone that still didn’t have him looking at it. He couldn’t handle seeing whatever expression Kailen was making. “Drowning in work won’t help you,” she finally said quietly. “You need a therapist, not another twelve hour shift. Talk to someone about what’s bothering you instead of burying it like you always have.”

“You should get some sleep,” he said. “It’s late there.”

“You’re gonna burn yourself out if you keep going at this rate.” The warning was heavy with truth. “Take a break or two, if only for our sake. I don’t wanna have to explain to our daughter why her father isn’t ever gonna come home.”

“I’ll call tomorrow.”

There was barely a parting before Jinchul was shutting off the call. He placed the phone screen down on the counter and dropped his head to the cool surface afterwards. Burnout was the least of his worries. He was more likely to suffocate in the flames of this life than he was to make it to the point of them burning themselves out. And when it came to certain aspects of it, he would rather be scorched than escape the fire.

The living embodiment of hellfire stepped into the kitchen and for all of his life, Jinchul wanted to be damned to hell for immersing himself in the fire. Especially when Dongsoo came up behind him and crossed his arms over his shoulders with a drop of a chin on them.

“Shit call?” Dongsoo asked, warmth wrapping around him from how close they were.

“It could have been better,” Jinchul agreed.

“That mean you’re not going to drag me all across this city for your stupid museum?”

“Not a chance.”

The annoyed groan only had Jinchul smiling. He made an attempt to straighten up and dislodge the man draped over his back but didn’t make it far. Dongsoo uncrossed his arms to wind them around his waist instead and pressed a few kisses into his bare shoulders. It was rather sweet but breakfast was going to get cold at this rate. Something he pointed out and was met with Dongsoo yanking him back from the counter with a press of teeth into his skin.

The slide of a hand up his chest to wrap fingers loosely around his throat to tilt his head back was as intoxicating as always. There were a few sure fire ways to set his blood on fire and this was the fastest. Dongsoo’s other hand slipped beneath the waistband of his shorts to touch, getting his own hand to grab his wrist. Not to stop him but to be a part of it.

Fingers let go of him in all manners before they truly got anywhere. Jinchul opened his eyes to glare at the cabinets in front of him and turned it on Dongsoo walking away behind him. Completely ignoring him to sit at the kitchen table like he hadn’t just pulled the largest betrayal in their relationship to date. And before he could call him out, his boyfriend told him breakfast was getting cold with a stupid smirk.

He was a little impatient the entire time. Foot tapping under the table as he glared at the man across from him. It was rude to touch him like that then back off before finishing the job and Dongsoo knew it to. That stupid smirk didn’t leave as they washed the dishes nor when Jinchul forced the man into some decent clothes instead of lounge wear. Hands had grabbed his waist to pull him into a kiss as he finished straightening a gold necklace but it never went anywhere.

The teasing thankfully didn’t carry on in the car nor the drive to the art museum he had wanted to take Dongsoo too. He knew his boyfriend had a talent with a pencil and had been trying to encourage him to pick up drawing more on their days off. Hopefully something like this could help further that hobby.

What Jinchul got was pressed up against a bathroom sink with a searing hand in places not fit to be touched in public and a kiss that stole his breath away. The hand holding the back of his neck to keep him from pulling away was tight in an almost bruising way, keeping him exactly where Dongsoo wanted him even though he had no intentions of going anywhere. Not even with the very public setting they were in.

Not when that pent up energy from the morning was finally being addressed. Familiar touch with perfect skill. Dongsoo knew exactly how to get him like this after so many months of being together. His own hands were probably a little to harsh in their grip on the man’s shoulders but he knew there wouldn’t be a complaint. The nip of teeth told him as much.

There was a pull away from the kiss to put those same teeth to his jaw and down the side of his throat, forcing his head back. Jinchul was aware of himself enough to keep his mouth shut to avoid anyone overhearing what they were doing. The heat between them was almost suffocating but he did his best to breathe through it. Even with the rise in his heart rate that made it a touch harder than it should have been.

Then Dongsoo pulled away. Took his hand out of his slacks and stopped kissing him. Jinchul blinked at the wall over his boyfriend’s shoulder with an annoyed grit of his teeth. He was going to pull this twice in one day?

“Really?” Jinchul glared at the man when he backed off.

“Can’t have you in ruined pants, now can we?” Dongsoo replied with a shit eating grin. He hated it.

“You…”

Jinchul reigned in his irritation the best he could. What a prick.

Without a doubt, Dongsoo knew what he was doing. Jinchul was impatient and wound too tight to really enjoy the rest of the museum. It didn’t help that the man would place little kisses to the back of his head when he got the chance and grabbed his hips to tug him into his chest. The public displays were a little unsettling but the fire in his veins at each touch outshone the unease.

It eventually had him forgoing getting lunch to drag Dongsoo home. The victorious laughter from the passenger seat had him glaring over at the bastard. This was supposed to be a nice date, not whatever it had turned into.

His car keys were tossed onto the table behind the couch without even looking as he dragged Dongsoo to the bedroom by his necklace. There was no resistance to it. The door wasn’t closed behind them, not when Jinchul spun around to untuck the red polo his boyfriend was wearing. Impatience fingers went for the belt buckle next and undid it before pulling it out of the loops of black jeans. It was tossed to the side.

“You really are impatient,” Dongsoo commented as he yanked him in close by the grip on his hips.

“Shut up.” Jinchul ran his hands up under the shirt to slide it off. “You’re gonna finish what you started before you even think about fucking me.”

“Oh? You’re giving orders now?”

“Yes.”

He was going to get his way on this. The hands on his hips tightened but released him a moment later to undo his shirt buttons. Easy compliance for someone so bound determined to always have his way. Jinchul liked it, having a bit of power here.

Lips met his skin with each button undone. A step was taken forward to urge him back towards the bed that he followed. One for one until large hands forced him onto the black bedspread without removing his dark dress shirt. Jinchul was about to mention it when Dongsoo kissed him. Kept him pinned down with a palm flat on his chest while the other made quick work of his own belt. There was no attempt to actually remove his pants, though.

It seemed Dongsoo had his own requirements for this then. This wouldn’t be the first time they had been too impatient to lose all of their clothes. The return touch of fire was exactly what he wanted and something he was going to keep until he was done this time. No more of the teasing.

And when every noise he could have made was silenced in Dongsoo’s kiss he was willing to give up that little bit of demanding control that he’d wanted. Hands moved to finally take off his pants but it seemed his shirt was staying this time. Just like his boyfriend didn’t seem inclined to lose his own pants. Fair was fair, he supposed. Even if Jinchul knew that scrape of denim wasn’t going to feel all that nice later.

Not that he really cared when it was all said and done. Messy and utterly worn out but very satisfied - like always - and not all concerned about the marks to be found later. Jinchul rested his chin on his crossed arms over Dongsoo’s chest, eyes tracing the bruising coming in on the man’s neck and jaw.

“That was supposed to be a date, you know,” he said, lifting his eyes to Dongsoo’s face.

“Oh, I know,” the man replied, “I just liked this better.”

“Well that’s a little rude.”

There was a snort of laughter but Jinchul didn’t find it funny. He had genuinely wanted today to be a nice, official date for them. It wasn’t something they did and he was sort of hoping to start it. To give them something else to do as a proper couple. They didn’t seem to do a whole lot together beyond sometimes cooking and watching movies on their days off.

He knew he was part of that problem because of how much he worked. After getting moved to a different raid team, he went into the office a lot more to keep up with possible dungeon breaks. It meant that he spent less time at home and with Dongsoo like it had been back in South Korea. This had been an attempt to get some actual time spent together instead of only fucking like they tended to do.

But if this was all Dongsoo really wanted to do with him then that was fine too. They didn’t need to constantly accommodate his oddities.

“Get out of your head, baby,” Dongsoo murmured, hand moving to brush through his tangled hair. “You think too much about stupid shit.” Jinchul already knew that but he didn’t exactly need it shoved in his face like that. “We can go on your silly little dates but just know I’m going to fuck you like this every time afterwards.”

“You don’t mind?” Jinchul sat up to really look at Dongsoo. “I know this isn’t really something that’s normal and if you’re not comfortable-”

“The fuck do you mean it’s not normal?”

The layered aggression in the question had Jinchul glancing away. Unable to meet blazing red eyes. “I just meant that this-” he shifted enough to wave a finger between them “-isn’t…normal. Us being together.” Two men being together was what he couldn’t get himself to say outloud.

“Who the fuck told you that shit?” Dongsoo asked, the arm around his lower back disappearing. But only so a warm hand could be pressed to the scars there instead.

“It’s nothing,” Jinchul said, about to pull away, “just forget I said anything.”

“No.” The denial came with the hands on him making sure he couldn’t wiggle his way out of this. “There’s nothing fuckin’ wrong with us going on a date, babe. It’s what couples do.”

“I know,” he agreed, mind immediately working to backtrack, “I just misspoke. It’s really nothing.”

Dongsoo growled at him and in a fluid movement had him pinned to the bed beneath him. A hand grabbed his chin to force him to look at the man. “Do not fucking do that with me,” his boyfriend nearly snarled, putting them nose to nose. “You’ve obviously got some big fuckin’ issues with being gay that you need to work through.” Jinchul went to protest that he wasn’t gay but the sharp glare stopped him. “I’m not a Goddamn therapist and I’m not gonna be one either. What I am gonna do is fuck you and go on your stupid little dates until you get over yourself.”

Whether it was actually true or not, to Jinchul that sounded so close to a declaration of things they hadn’t said yet. To stick by his side even when he screwed up. To look past his issues and the fact that he was just so fucking wrong in the world. To pretend that they could be a normal couple.

“Why?” And yet Jinchul couldn’t help taking a sledgehammer to anything that could be good in his life. Exactly like he had with Kailen and that picture perfect life his mother wanted him to have with her. “What use is there in staying with me? Aren’t you afraid that I’m gonna cheat on you like I did Kailen? Or that I can’t give you normal?” He was anything but that and Dongsoo could so much better with someone else.

“What the hell are you doing?” Dongsoo asked in return. Red eyes were sharp even with the ignition of anger. “I’ll kill you before I let you slide into someone else’s bed, Jinchul.”

“How do you know that I won’t, though, even with your threat?”

“Because you’re too ashamed of who you are to go fuck with some other guy.”

The low and biting call out came with Dongsoo’s fingers tightening around his chin. Painful in the hold to the point that Jinchul was almost on the verge of jerking his head to dislodge it. What he did instead was stare up into the fire he purposefully started to watch it burn. There was a barely contained rage within that he had ignited. Close enough to the surface to leave bruises on his skin and spit barbed words in a painful truth that he deserved.

And, God, he was a horrible person. Because he had done this on purpose in some sick desire to prove himself right. Dongsoo deserved better than what Jinchul was giving. Better than what he was doing. No one deserved to be picked at until they blew up just because he couldn’t reconcile with who he was. Just because he wanted to hurt in a way that he knew he deserved.

There was so much that Jinchul deserved. None of which was this relationship with Dongsoo nor the one he’d had with Kailen. He hadn’t earned any of this, let alone the right to want to keep it. There had never been a moment in his life where he was worthy of these good things but he was too fucked up to let them go. The only way he could loosen his hold was if they took that first step to break away from him. Everyone he had a hand on needed to cut him off before he fucking broke them like he did everything else that he touched.

He would fucking ruin them.

It had never been Dongsoo that was the snake in the garden. Jinchul was the one that tempted and twisted others off the path of what was right and normal in the world. The devil in disguise. A fuck up just like his mother used to tell him.

And with the hand of a man moving to his throat, Jinchul knew that he deserved whatever was coming to him in hell. He had well past earned his place down there when he died.

Chapter Text

“What the hell are you doing?” An unexpected voice had Jinchul startling from the latest raid report he was reading. He lifted his head from the file to find that all of the lights in the office were off with the exception of the one his desk. Mr. Andre was standing in front of it.

“Um, working?” It was an uncertain answer for an uncertain situation. He hadn’t missed a raid summon had he?

“It’s almost ten-thirty,” his boss said, “and unless you’re on a raid, no one works past seven.”

“You’re still here.”

The call out on his boss immediately had him opening his mouth to apologize. He could pick at nerves with other people and get himself fucked over but doing so at work was a line he really shouldn’t cross. Things had just been a little tense lately. Mostly on his end. Too wired to relax in the face of a life he was realizing was too good for him.

“I own the building,” Mr. Andre replied, not sounding upset with him surprisingly, “and pay the staff. I’m allowed to stay as long as I want.”

“Of course, sir.”

“Get your shit,” the large man said while turning away, “you look like you need a drink.”

“Ah, I don’t hold my alcohol well…”

“Even better.”

Jinchul stared at the back of his boss’ obnoxiously patterned shirt with a sense that he had walked into a trap of some kind. Hesitant hands closed the file and shut down the monitor in front of him. His suit jacket was grabbed along with his phone and car keys before he followed Mr. Andre. This wasn’t exactly a situation he was sure he could get out of.

Nothing was said as he was led out of the office on the fifth floor and to the elevator. While he was rather certain that Mr. Andre wouldn’t fire him for working late, he wasn’t certain that this wasn’t some sort of punishment. A text was sent to Dongsoo about being a little later than usual in getting home as the elevator carried them down to the first floor. He didn’t expect there to be an answer as he put the phone in his pocket. Dongsoo was always asleep by this time of night.

The truck he was led to in the parking lot was obviously built just for Mr. Andre with his size. It felt like stepping onto a beach with a rising tide and storm on the horizon to get into an enclosed space with the man and his mana. Like there was no outrunning the towering waves about to come down on his head. Jinchul never liked the ocean.

It was a quiet drive to wherever Mr. Andre was taking him. Some upscale bar that he didn’t recognize but he wasn’t surprised by that. The place was actually a little too nice for him to be comfortable even without being there with his boss. There was an order for him to stay in the very back booth that he followed with a nervous tap of his foot. Jinchul didn’t drink after learning his lesson in college. It was much kinder and safer for him to avoid alcohol at all costs.

“Right, I’m a whiskey guy,” Mr. Andre said while rejoining him with a glass set in front of him, “so you’re drinking what I am.”

“Erm, thank you.” He didn’t like this. It was weird.

“You’re also going to tell me what the fuck has you working at ten-thirty at night.”

“Reports needed filed and there aren’t enough hours in the day.”

It was an honest answer even if it wasn’t the full truth. There were just as many gate breaks in Kansas City as there had been in Seoul but even with his workload only being to those in the Scavenger Guild territory there was a lot to get through. Along with wrangling the raid teams including his own that dealt with the surrounding gate breaks that no other guild wanted.

Actually, from what Jinchul had learned over the last few months, the Scavenger Guild was under partial control of the FBH so they were all contractually obligated to deal with any gate or dungeon break handed to them. At first he couldn’t believe that a National Rank would agree to such terms until he dug a little deeper with the older employees about how the guild was started. The FBH had promised Mr. Andre any hunter he wanted that they could get their hands on along with complete citizenship for any one of them that joined; that and a few regulatory rules dismissed for the man. It all made for a lot of work for the biggest guild in America and, objectively, the strongest in the world.

“No one else stays that late for paperwork,” Mr. Andre said and tossed back most of the amber liquid in his glass. “Give me a better reason.”

“That is the reason.” Jinchul would stubbornly stick to that no matter how many times his boss asked. A sniff was taken at his own drink before he took a cautious sip. It was awful.

“I’m not buying that crap,” the man said seriously, “I know the work limit for each of the office workers. Nothing happens in my guild that I don’t know about.”

“Sounds like a headache.”

Jinchul braced himself and tossed the liquid back like a shot to avoid whatever look would be on the National Rank’s face. He wiped a drip of it off his chin with a grimace. God, that tasted terrible. The burn down his throat was ignored along with the way his nose hurt. It had been a while since he took a shot.

“Why are you staying late?” Mr. Andre asked directly once more.

“I told you-”

“I’m not gonna have my hunters overworking themselves.” There was a red-eyed glare pinned on him and wash of sea salt mana that froze his heart. “So you better give me a damn good reason for you being at the office this late.”

“There’s been a steady increase of gates-”

“Try again.”

The fuzzy burn of whiskey had Jinchul narrowing his eyes at being cut off a second time. What the hell did his boss want to hear? He was working because there was work to be done. It didn’t stop just because people needed to sleep and eat. And he felt better about his shitty fucking decisions when he was making an impact at his job.

He turned over what he could say to get out of the bar faster with his job intact while Mr. Andre waved down a waiter. Clearly this place was fancy enough to have them. No answer had come for this dilemma by the time another glass of whiskey was set down in front of him. And Jinchul drank it like the last one in the hopes of finding the words. Not that he expected his brain to suddenly work better with the alcohol, he wasn’t stupid.

“I want to work,” Jinchul finally said, under the pressure of expectation from his boss.

“Rather than being at home?” The incredulous question had him refusing to meet the man’s gaze. “You having relationships problems or something?”

“No,” he denied sharply. It was met with skeptical silence. “The only problem is me.”

That had been far too personal but he’d always known that alcohol made his tongue loose. He talked too much with more than one drink in him. Got too honest and too personal with anyone that would listen. And anything more than two drinks and he was completely gone without many ways to remember what he said or did.

“Uh-huh.” Mr. Andre didn’t sound any particular way. “I would have expected Mr. Hwang to be the one causing issues.”

“It’s not issues,” Jinchul muttered.

“Sure sounds like it.”

He lifted his eyes off the dark table to squint at the blond man. “You’re suspiciously interested in my relationships,” he said. His observation was met with a loud bark of laughter.

“Color me intrigued,” his boss said, “and I’ve always enjoyed a good drama.”

“It’s not drama.” Jinchul dropped his chin to the rim of the empty glass sitting on the table. “Dongsoo just deserves better.” That got a snort from Mr. Andre that had him frowning. “He does. Nobody’s perfect but he’s not such a bad guy. I just…think he deserves someone that won’t drag him down.”

“Your boyfriend is major hazard,” Mr. Andre said. “Frankly, if he wasn’t one of the strongest S-Ranks in the guild I would never have signed him on.”

Jinchul frowned at the new information. “He’s got some quirks,” he replied turn over what he knew of his boyfriend, “but he’s working on them.” Doing so much better than he was in being a good person. “It’s why he needs someone that won’t ruin that progress.”

“Uh-huh,” the National Rank hummed, “so you’re overworking to make him break up with you? That’s stupidly roundabout and if you feel that strongly about it, you cut the ties.”

“I can’t do that.” Jinchul was too much of an awful person to be that kind. “He’s everything to me.” It didn’t even matter that it was wrong. “And-and I know it’s messed up and not normal and that I’m going to hell for it but I can’t let him go.”

“You’re all sorts of fucked in the head, aren’t you?” The question had an obvious answer. “You need therapy. It’s part your insurance so you should get that set up.”

“Therapy’s for people with real problems,” Jinchul muttered. “Problems that can be fixed and helped.”

They had tried all of this once. His mother and grandparents had sent to him therapy over the course of the summer before he turned fourteen to make him normal. All he had learned in those two months was that he was too broken to be fixed. That there was nothing in the world that could make him look at women like he did men no matter how hard he tried. The most that came out of that summer was the realization that he wasn’t normal and that he’d never be what his family could love.

“Look, I’m not a therapist,” Mr. Andre said with a clink of a glass being set on the table, “nor do I care to claim to be a good judge of anything. But if I don’t see a day every two weeks - fuck better if it was once a week - where you’re at a therapist’s office, I’m demoting you.”

“What?” Jinchul sat up straight at the threat. “No, that’s…I like my job, sir.”

“Then you better take it fucking seriously.” Another glass of whiskey was pushed across the table towards him. “I won’t have any of my hunters being a liability.”

“I won’t be, I swear!”

Jinchul could not handle losing this job. It was the only thing keeping his hands steady and mind focused. He needed it. Not just in the money for Kailen and Ostara nor for what he was sending to the Sungs. It was a stable comfort like working for the KHA back home had been. A lifeline. He would lose it if he wasn’t allowed to continue working.

“Then do what I said,” Mr. Andre knocked back his glass of whiskey. “Get a therapist and stop working past seven.”

“...of course, sir.”

“Good.” A nod was given to the glass in his hand. “Finish that then I’ll drive your lightweight ass home.”

“I can take the bus.”

“I don’t trust you to take the damn bus.”

The apartment was quiet when he stepped through the door. Jinchul tripped out of his shoes with a curse at his boss for giving him that last shot. He would have been just fine without it. His jacket and keys were dropped on the table behind the couch before he went right for the kitchen to find something other than alcohol to drink.

A glass was taken down from the cabinet and set on the counter before he dug through the fridge. Where he stared at the unfamiliar arrangement of juice, milk, and beer. Dongsoo must have done something. It had him pulling out things blocking what he wanted while muttering to himself about the extra steps. Just as he got what he wanted the presence of his boyfriend joined him. The specific juice that he wanted was set on the floor so he could put everything else back in the fridge.

“You’re back late.” It was an obvious statement but Jinchul nodded to it anyway. “Gonna give me a reason why?”

“Mr. Andre,” he partially answered.

A hand grabbed the top of the juice bottle before he could open the lid. It sat on the counter with Dongsoo holding it down so he couldn’t make a move to pour a glass. The interference had him frowning. He glanced at the man steeped in the low light of the kitchen watching him with burning red eyes.

“You were out late because of our boss?” Dongsoo asked, not budging in releasing the juice when Jinchul tried to pull on it.

“We had a few drinks,” he answered, eyes back on the bottle.

“You went had a few drinks with Mr. Andre instead of coming home.”

“Yes.”

The bottle was yanked from his hand and thrown across the kitchen. Jinchul watched it hit the wall blocking off the living room, low light making it hard to pick out the splatter of the juice and cracked drywall. That same hand grabbed the front of his shirt and a move had him pressed back against the counter. His fingers curled around the edge of the marble, heart racing in his chest as he stared at the fury in Dongsoo’s eyes.

“I’m sorry.” Jinchul lowered his eyes, unable to look at what he continued to cause. “You deserve better than this.”

“What the hell are you on about now?” Dongsoo asked, not letting up on the aggressive press. There was going to be bruise on his back in the morning from how hard the counter was digging in.

“I keep upsetting you and-and you deserve better than someone that does that.”

Alcohol made his tongue too loose but he’d had too much to care. Jinchul let go of the counter edge and touched light fingers to Dongsoo’s hand clenched around his shirt. Not to make him let go but to simply touch him. Traced over the little scars on his knuckles then down his wrist where he curled two fingers around it to feel his pulse. It was steady.

“Why’d you get drinks with Andre?” Dongsoo asked, calmer than a moment ago.

“To talk about my job,” Jinchul answered, head still down. “’Bout why I’ve been staying late.” He stared unseeing at the space between them. “He-he threatened to demote me if I don’t go to therapy.”

“Why the hell would he do that?”

“He said I’m a liability.”

He didn’t want to lose his job but he knew therapy would never work. There was a prick of tears as he finally removed Dongsoo’s hand from his shirt. It went without resistance. Jinchul couldn’t help lifting it up so he could press a kiss to each of his boyfriend’s fingertips.

“I don’t see why you’re making a fuss out of this,” Dongsoo said while taking his hand away. “Just do what the man said and keep your boring ass job.”

“Therapy doesn’t work.” Jinchul wanted to reach out for any part of the man but let his hands fall to his sides instead. “It can’t fix what’s wrong with me.” The blur of tears finally fell but he tried to stop them. He wasn’t supposed to cry.

“How the fuck can you know that if you don’t do it?”

“’Cause it didn’t work last time!” He’d had too much to drink. This was something no one else was supposed to know. “All it did was prove that I’m not normal and-”

The tears that he shouldn’t have cut him off. This was why he didn’t drink. He spilled too many personal details and cried like a child. It wasn’t the look of an adult let alone a man. But all he could do was scrub at his eyes and pray that Dongsoo didn’t leave him for it. Even if it would have been so much better for the man to turn around and never look back at him.

Familiar fingers moved to unbutton his shirt. Jinchul sniffled and watched through the stupid tears as all of the buttons were undone. He wasn’t sure what Dongsoo was doing. Not even when the edges of the shirt were pushed back and he was forced out of it. Then a far too gentle hand grasped his chin to lift his head up. The dress shirt was wiped over his face to clear away the tears, a little too rough but so out of the ordinary that it stopped his useless crying.

“There’s only one way I like you crying,” Dongsoo said as he tossed the shirt aside, “and it’s when you’re begging for my cock.” The hand holding his chin tightened as if to keep his eyes on him. “Or I’ve fucked you to that point.” Mana glowed in red eyes in a stare he couldn’t look away from. “You’re a damn lightweight and clearly had too many drinks so your drunk dumbass is going to bed.”

“M’sorry.” Jinchul leaned into the hold on his chin with a drop of his eyes away.

“You’re apologizing for nothing.” His chin was forced up so he had to look at Dongsoo. “Stop it.”

It wasn’t particularly comforting and the annoyance was clear to hear. Still, Jinchul found himself wanting more. He always wanted more from Dongsoo no matter what it was. Anything and everything the man would give him. But he could never outright take it no matter how much he desired it.

Except for a kiss. That he would take just for himself when he was given the opportunity.

“Don’t even think about it,” Dongsoo warned, fingers digging into his chin. “You need to brush your damn teeth before I even consider letting you close.”

“But-”

“Not a fucking chance.”

Jinchul groaned at the denial and completely dropped his head into Dongsoo’s hold. This had been too emotional of a night. He couldn’t help looking up at his boyfriend with the best pleading expression he could make to get even one kiss. That was all he wanted. Just a little something from Dongsoo to help this awful night end a touch better.

What he got was the man letting go of his chin and taking a step back. The second groan at the loss of him was met with an arm sweeping him up and over a shoulder. Jinchul let himself be handled like he was nothing, too tired to bother fighting. He’d had way too much to drink.

There wasn’t a chance for him to fall asleep as he was dropped onto the bathroom counter next to the sink. The lights were too bright and had him rubbing at his eyes against them. Dongsoo muttered to himself as things were moved and the water was turned on for a moment before it was shut back off. Jinchul listened to him without much thought for what he could be doing. Or why he was set on the counter.

“Open.” The command had Jinchul automatically opening his mouth. Instinct demanding that he do whatever Dongsoo wanted when he used that tone. His eyes took in the odd sight of his boyfriend grabbing his chin and bringing his toothbrush to his open mouth. “Jesus Christ, when’d I start treating you like a fuckin’ princess?”

Jinchul didn’t know if that was a bad thing but it sort of sounded like it. It had him looking away from the man as he brushed his teeth for him, still muttering about this and that. The gesture itself was nice and really sweet but he knew Dongsoo wasn’t doing it for him. It was because he was too much of a mess to do it himself. Not sober enough to follow through with a simple task and Dongsoo clearly didn’t want to smell the whiskey on his breath all night. This was for the man’s own comfort and he didn’t blame him for complaining about having to do it when it was something he should be able to do on his own.

“Spit.” That was an order that never came but Jinchul did it anyway. Spit the toothpaste foam out into a cup without looking at Dongsoo. There was the sound of it being rinsed out in the sink then mouthwash was being held up to his lips. That, too, was spit into the cup afterwards. “I’m not a fuckin’ dentist so you can floss in the morning.”

Hands grabbed his waist and lifted him off the counter to set him on his feet. He still couldn’t bring himself to look at his boyfriend even as he was nudged out of the bathroom and down the hall to their bedroom. Dongsoo unbuckled his belt and pulled it through the loops before chucking it somewhere that would need to be found in the morning. Then it was his slacks being undone. Jinchul went to go find sleep pants when an arm looped around his middle to stop him.

The unnecessary guidance to the bed left him uncertain on what Dongsoo wanted out of him. It had been an emotional whiplash of an evening that Jinchul would likely only remember in pieces in the morning and this was a little too much. Especially when a hand loosely wrapped around his throat when he was pinned to the bed.

“What’re you-”

“I’m not gonna fuck you,” Dongsoo cut him off, somehow already reading his mind. “You just need to get something through that thick skull of yours.”

“Oh.”

Dongsoo was above him with a pierce of red eyes through the dark of their room. Hand still loose around his throat but tight enough to feel the feathering threat that was waiting for him. Had he been more sober this would have been the exact start of a nice night together. What it was now, Jinchul had no idea.

“You are never getting rid of me.” The hand around his throat tilted up to get his chin to lift. “When I said you were mine, I fucking meant it. I will kill you before I give you up.” Dongsoo put a bit more pressure behind his fingers with the threat. “No one else can have you and nothing you do or say will make me let you go. You are mine, Jinchul.”

The weight of mana pressed to him had long since stopped feeling oily but only in the way that it changed to feeling far more comforting. Less oil spill and more scented body oil. Strong and slick and suffocating. For the first time Jinchul realized that it had gotten stronger since they left Korea but he didn’t know how. Dongsoo would have said something if he reawakened so he wasn’t sure what happened nor how it come along so subtly that he missed it.

(Mr. Andre’s comment about Dongsoo being one of the strongest in the guild came and went.)

But before he could give it any proper thought Dongsoo kissed him. Possessive and demanding. Jinchul met it with a push up against the hand around his throat as his drunken thoughts drifted off. The pull away was chased but he was kept pinned to the bed. Only for a moment longer before Dongsoo backed off to lie next to him, arm looping around his waist to yank him in close. He couldn’t help pressing his face into the man’s neck with a take in of the faint twist of coconut that didn’t used to be there.

“You’re everything to me,” Jinchul mumbled, more than half-asleep and falling more so with each passing moment.

“It’s mutual, baby.” Fingers brushed through his hair as he finally fell asleep.