Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Shin Naruebet stood in front of the mirror, fingers trembling slightly as he adjusted the plain black hoodie over his uniform shirt. His reflection stared back.. cool, sharp-eyed and unreadable. He had practiced that expression for months, the kind that told the world don’t bother me.

The small vial of suppressant pills rattled in his pocket, a sound that had become his constant reminder. Every twelve hours, without fail. Every spray of scent-blocker carefully layered on his clothes. Every step rehearsed, every breath held steady. If anyone caught even a hint of what he was.. what he was hiding.. it would all collapse.

An Omega had no place in the Bangkok Academy - Elite Program. It was designed for heirs, future leaders, men born to command. Alphas and rare Betas were allowed. Never Omegas.

But Shin was tired of being told he was fragile.. precious.. meant to be locked away until someone powerful decided to claim him. He wanted to prove that he could stand among the strongest.. not as an Omega but as himself.

So he forged the medical papers. He bribed the scent registrar. He shaved away his softness.. trained with all his might, just to stand beside those alphas. 

His mother stood at the doorway, arms folded but eyes soft. "Be careful, Shin."

Shin looked up, meeting her gaze. He knew she wasn’t talking about classes or grades. She was talking about the truth pressed deep beneath his skin, the secret he had sworn to bury. He offered her the faintest smile, more armor than comfort.

"I will.. don't worry." He promised, voice steady though his hands curled tight.

He clenched his jaw, grabbed his suitcase and walked out of his house. One step forward with no turning back.

The university gates looked like they were built to intimidate.

Gold letters glittered across the arch: Bangkok Academy - Elite Program.

Shin tightened his grip on the strap of his bag. His nails bit into his palm, grounding him. One step at a time. Don’t falter now.

The courtyard was already a sea of broad shoulders and booming voices. Alphas and betas laughed, shoved, marked territory with invisible lines of dominance which Shin could feel prickling against his skin. Their scents filled the air.. sharp musk, cedar, spice. Intoxicating and overwhelming.

Every nerve in Shin’s body screamed run.

But he couldn’t. He had worked too hard to get here.

He lowered his gaze.. slipped a hand into his pocket and took his next step confidently. The small vial rattled softly with every step. 

He passed a group of Alphas wrestling playfully by the fountain. One of them turned, nostrils flaring. For a split second, Shin’s lungs seized. Did he catch something? Did the pill falter?

But the Alpha only barked a laugh at his friend and turned away.

Shin exhaled slowly and walked faster.

The auditorium was thick with Alpha energy.. rows of tall frames, proud postures and voices that filled every corner of the room. Shin took a seat near the back, shoulders squared and jaw clenched.

A senior Alpha stood at the podium, rattling off speeches about responsibility, strength, and tradition. Words Shin had heard a thousand times growing up.. words that cut sharper when you were born on the other side of them.

Shin’s throat tightened.

He tuned it out, focusing instead on the ticking of the clock. His head pounded faintly.. the suppressant side effects creeping in again. Nausea.. dry mouth. A fog pressing against his temples. He swallowed hard and forced his face blank.

When the orientation ended, groups quickly formed. Shin slipped away like a shadow. He couldn’t afford bonds. Couldn’t afford attention. The less anyone noticed him, the safer he was.

Meanwhile, across the city, Saint Thamnithit was already being smothered in affection.

"Don’t forget to eat, Saint! You’ll train so hard you’ll get sick if you don’t take care of yourself." His mother fussed.. piling extra snacks into his duffel bag.

"Ma, I’ll be fine." Saint laughed, trying to tug the zipper closed. His older brother leaned on the doorframe.

"Don’t let him fool you, Ma. He’ll eat three packs of instant noodles at midnight and call it a meal." The brother teased.

"Phi!" Saint groaned, shoving him lightly.

Saint had grown up as every inch the Alpha stereotype.. strong, energetic and a natural leader. He didn’t even try.. people just followed him.

He was.. magnetic and loud but in a way that made people gather.. not scatter. An Alpha through and through.. tall, broad, easy smile and confident stride. He didn’t dominate a room with aggression, but with warmth that left people unable to look away.

At the send-off, his childhood friends crowded around the car.

"Don’t forget us when you become Mr. Perfect Alpha, Saint!"

"Find yourself a mate too!"

Saint only laughed, tossing an arm over his friend’s shoulder. "I’m not looking for a mate. I just want to do well, make my family proud. The rest can wait."

The car ride to campus was loud, full of music and teasing, but as the university gates came into view, Saint felt a steady thrum in his chest. A new beginning. A chance to prove himself.. not just as someone born Alpha but as someone who deserved to lead.

By the time he reached campus, he already had two new acquaintances.. first-years who’d asked if he was on the basketball team. Saint had grinned and said. "Not yet, but soon."

The dorms buzzed with the same energy as the gates. Saint dragged his bag down the hall, humming under his breath. New room, new chapter, new everything.

Room 104.

He swung the door open without hesitation, dropping his things in a heap by the bed. "Nice!" He said to himself. 

"Bigger than I thought."

He sprawled into the chair, stretching his legs, tapping his fingers on the desk. He wondered what his roommate would be like. Hopefully not too stiff and hopefully fun.

The knob turned. The door creaked open.

And in walked someone who looked like the exact opposite of fun.

The boy was lean.. sharp-eyed, dressed clean and simply. His movements were precise, like every step had been rehearsed. He glanced once at Saint, cool and unreadable.. before setting his suitcase neatly by the other bed.

"Hey!" Saint grinned, lifting a hand in greeting. 

"You must be my roommate. I’m Saint."

A pause.

"..Shin." The boy’s voice was clipped, careful. 

"Beta."

Saint’s brows rose slightly. He wasn’t used to Betas being so.. icy. Most of them were chatty, relaxed. This one? He looked like he had an invisible wall around him.

But Saint’s grin only widened. 

"Nice! I’ve never had a Beta roommate before. You’re probably gonna balance out my mess. Look.." He gestured at his half-unpacked bags and scattered snacks. 

"Total chaos."

Shin ignored the joke, already unpacking his things with swift precision. Books aligned, clothes folded.. everything in strict order. He moved like a machine.

Saint leaned back, watching with open curiosity. "Wow, you’re neat. Guess that means I should try harder to keep my side clean, huh?"

No response.

Saint chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "Alright, Mr. Serious. I’ll keep out of your way. Just don’t get mad if I have friends over or play music sometimes."

Shin’s hand stilled for half a second over his drawer before resuming. "..Do whatever you want."

Saint tilted his head. Something about this guy was strange. He wasn’t just serious.. he was different.. like mystery 

And Saint had never been the type to let a mystery go unsolved.

The university prided itself on discipline. Classes weren’t soft lectures.. you were thrown straight into competition.

The first morning began with drills in the training hall. Rows of Alphas and betas lined up.. broad shoulders, sharp movements and confidence dripping with every stance.

Shin stood among them, muscles tense, suppressants clawing at his veins. The scent of alphas this close was suffocating.. dominance rolled off them like a storm, pressing on his chest, stealing the air from his lungs.

"Partner up!" The instructor shouted.

Bodies shifted instantly, groups of two forming in seconds. Shin froze.. no one reached for him.. no one even looked. Betas weren’t invisible but in a hall full of Alphas.. they might as well have been.

He clenched his jaw, stepping forward to pair with whoever was left. The taller Alpha who landed in front of him smirked, clearly unimpressed. "You sure you can keep up, Beta?"

Shin’s throat tightened, but he forced his voice steady. "Try me."

The match was brutal. Every clash of strength rattled through Shin’s bones. His arms ached.. lungs burned but he refused to stumble. Don’t give them a reason to look closer.. don’t break.

By the end, his palms were raw, breath ragged. The Alpha was winded too.

From across the hall, someone had been watching the whole time.

Saint.

He was supposed to be sparring, but his eyes kept darting toward his roommate.. the quiet Beta who moved like he was walking a tightrope every second.

Shin was storing almost the same strength as that alpha but Saint noticed the stiffness in Shin’s shoulders, the way his hands trembled ever so slightly, the stubborn line of his jaw when others sneered.

When the whistle blew, Saint was the first to clap Shin on the back.

"Not bad.. You didn’t fall once. That’s impressive." He said cheerfully.

Shin jerked slightly at the contact, quickly pulling away. "..I’m fine."

"Didn’t say you weren’t." Saint’s grin softened, almost gentle. 

"You’ve got guts."

Shin turned without replying, retreating to benches.

"Next group.. Thamnithit, you’re up!”"

Shin had just dropped to the sidelines after his own match.. he’d done well enough, but he was careful.. never to draw too much attention. He focused on tying his laces, on breathing through the sticky sweat under his collar.

Still, when Saint Thamnithit stepped onto the mat, Shin’s eyes betrayed him.

Saint didn’t even look nervous. He moved with confidence, rolling his shoulders, flashing an easy grin toward his opponent. The man facing him was broad, older, clearly proud of his build. For a moment, the class seemed to buzz.

Then the match began.

Saint shifted fast.. every strike clean, every block measured. His opponent swung hard, but Saint flowed around it, catching his arm mid-strike and twisting.. sending the man sprawling flat onto the mat with a thud that echoed.

The hall roared with approval.

Shin’s chest tightened. He told himself it wasn’t awe, it was instinct. Saint was strong, dangerously strong.. the kind of Alpha who could break someone in half without trying. The kind who saw more than he said.

Saint helped his opponent up with a grin that disarmed the sting of defeat and immediately his group swarmed him with praise and back-slaps. He didn’t strut, he didn’t brag.. he didn’t need to. His presence filled the room naturally.

Shin tugged his towel over his shoulder, forcing his gaze away. 

"Stay out of his way. Be careful around that one."

The scent of grilled meat and steamed rice hung heavy in the air. Long tables were already crowded with students laughing, shoving each other, claiming space like they owned it. Shin slipped through the room quietly, tray in hand.. searching for a corner.

He found one at the far edge and sat, shoulders hunched.. eyes on his food. He chewed mechanically, careful not to look around. The suppressants dulled the worst of his instincts but surrounded by this many Alphas.. every nerve screamed don’t get noticed.

Across the hall, Saint sat in the center of a group. People leaned in toward him without realizing it, like planets around a sun.

Shin stabbed at his rice.

But every so often.. when Saint’s friends were caught up in their own chatter, his gaze drifted. Past the tables. Past the groups. To the quiet figure sitting alone.

Shin kept his eyes on his tray, pretending not to notice.

And Saint.. frustrated with himself.. shook the thought away, diving back into conversation with his group. He had no business being curious about someone who clearly wanted to vanish.

Still.. his eyes betrayed him again.

And Shin, though he never looked up, felt it. The weight of being seen.

The room smelled faintly of soap and warm steam when Saint walked in.. towel still slung around his neck. His hair was damp, sticking in loose strands to his forehead, his training shirt replaced by a casual one. The exhaustion of the day weighed on his body, but there was still that ease to his movements.

Shin sat at his desk.. flipping through a textbook he wasn’t really reading. He hadn’t moved since Saint left earlier.. except to peel off his training jacket and fold it neatly on his bed.

Saint glanced at him, one brow lifting.

"Long day, huh?" His tone was casual, friendly, the way he spoke to everyone.

"Don’t you want to shower? You’ll knock out easier after."

Shin’s fingers tightened imperceptibly around the corner of the page. He didn’t lift his eyes.

"..I don’t like showering around others."

Saint blinked. That was unexpected. Most people didn’t care.. half of them bragged in the showers, flexing. He leaned against his bedframe, towel sliding from his neck onto the mattress.

"Not your thing, huh?" He let out a short laugh. 

"What, too proud to share space?"

Shin’s lips pressed into a thin line. The excuse was convenient.. let Saint think whatever he wanted.

"I’ll go now." He stood, sliding his toiletries into his hand with careful composure. His voice didn’t waver, but inside, his pulse drummed in his ears.

He left quickly, heading down the hall toward the common bathroom. By now it would be empty.. most Alphas already done with their showers and loud laughter echoing elsewhere. Shin timed it this way.. late enough to avoid others, quiet enough that he didn’t have to risk scent, skin or gaze giving him away.

Back in the room, Saint dropped heavily onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. His brow furrowed slightly.

"..Doesn’t like showering around others." He muttered the words, rolling them around. He wasn’t offended, just.. curious.

Most students here strutted around like they owned the place. This one kept slipping away, always quiet and careful.. like he didn’t want to be noticed. Saint couldn’t decide if it was pride, shyness or something else entirely.

Still, he shrugged it off after a moment, pulling out his phone. If his roommate wanted to be distant, fine. Saint wasn’t the type to force anything. But he’d noticed one thing already.

For someone who worked so hard to disappear.. Shin was strangely easy to see.

Chapter Text

The alarm buzzed far too early for how late Shin had stayed awake the night before. He cracked his eyes open.. the pale morning light spilling through the window.

Across the room.. Saint was already awake. Of course he was. The Alpha sat at the edge of his bed shirtless.. tugging on his training pants with the lazy confidence of someone used to early mornings. His broad back flexed with each movement.. the defined line of muscle making Shin’s stomach twist with a strange unease.

Shin turned away quickly pretending to shuffle through his desk for notes. He couldn’t afford to be caught staring.

"Morning." Saint’s voice was still husky with sleep.

"..Morning." Shin murmured.. barely audible.

Saint stretched.. rolling his shoulders before pulling a shirt over his head. "We should grab breakfast before class. You coming?"

Shin shook his head immediately. "I’ll eat later."

Saint studied him for a minute.. then shrugged. "Suit yourself."

The academy grounds were already alive with energy. The training yard buzzed with chatter.. the scent of Alphas and Betas thick in the air.. all that competition, pride and testosterone. Shin’s chest tightened with each inhale. He kept his head low.. slipping into the lecture hall, choosing a seat near the window where no one usually lingered.

He had barely set his notebook down when Saint appeared.

"Seat taken?"

Shin’s head jerked up.. startled. Saint stood there smiling casually. His presence was overwhelming up close.. the sheer weight of his Alpha energy impossible to ignore.

Shin froze. His body stiffened instinctively.. his scent threatening to flutter.. he shoved it down.. clamping every nerve tight. "..No. It’s not."

Saint slid into the seat beside him. Shin’s pulse roared in his ears. Why here? Out of all the places.

The lecture droned on but Shin could hardly hear. Saint sat too close.. their shoulders brushing briefly when Saint leaned to write something in his notebook. Shin flinched jerking slightly away.. his chest tight.

"Sorry." Saint said gently. But his eyes lingered on Shin for a second longer than necessary.

Shin gripped his pen so tight his knuckles went white. From the corner of his eye.. he saw Saint still watching him thoughtfully.. brow furrowed. Shin’s stomach sank.

It was only the first week and already Saint was noticing too much.

The sun was relentless that afternoon.. beating down on the training yard where students were already loosening their shoulders and warming up. The air smelled sharp and sweaty. Dominance, aggression.. an atmosphere that made Shin’s skin prickle like usual.

He tied his wrist wraps carefully, slower than the others.. buying himself time. His disguise was intact.. voice neutral, stiff posture and deliberate movements. Still, surrounded by so many Alphas.. he could feel his body protesting under the weight of their pheromones.

"Alright, pair up!" the Instructor yelled.

"We’ll be doing close combat drills today. Remember just train.. do not fight."

Shin’s eyes flicked around desperately. Everyone was already pairing quickly. He hoped just for today.. to get stuck with one of the less observant Alphas or Betas. Someone who wouldn’t look too closely.

"Shin."

The sound of his name made him tense. He turned and there was Saint.

Saint stood tall.. confidence radiating effortlessly.. his shirt clinging to the outline of his torso from the heat of warm-ups. He wasn’t grinning like the others.. just watching Shin with that relaxed expression like he’d already decided.

"Let’s pair up."

Shin’s heart stuttered.. he looked around and noticed.. everyone already had a partner. "..Fine."

Saint grinned.

The first clash came fast. Saint lunged forward.. testing Shin’s guard. His strength was immediate and overwhelming. Shin’s arms shook from the impact.. his body sliding back a half-step before he dug in his heels.

Too strong. Shin’s mind screamed at him to yield quickly but something stubborn inside refused. He adjusted.. sidestepped and used technique to deflect instead of meeting force with force. His movements were precise and calculated. Not Alpha like bold but efficient.

"Not bad." Saint muttered.. circling around him.

Shin ignored him.. focusing on his breathing. His body was already buzzing with tension.. don’t sweat too much, don’t breathe too hard and don’t let your scent slip.

Saint came at him again. This time Shin barely caught his wrist.. twisting away before Saint’s grip could crush his guard. He moved like water.. redirecting power instead of confronting it head-on.

And still, Saint adapted. Pressing Shin harder with each exchange.

Their spar drew attention. A few people slowed their drills to watch. It wasn’t often anyone lasted more than a minute against Saint.

But Shin was holding. Not equal or not quite but good enough to impress

Then it happened.

Saint feinted.. Shin dodged and in the next breath Saint’s arm hooked around his waist.. dragging him down in a practiced takedown. Shin’s back hit the mat with a thud.. the air punched from his lungs.

Saint landed above him, weight braced on one arm.. their chests almost touching.

They were too close and intimate 

Shin froze. Every nerve screamed. The press of Saint’s body.. the Alpha scent flooding his senses.. it clawed at the edges of his control, threatening to unravel everything he’d worked so hard to mask.

His hands trembled against Saint’s shoulder.. not from the spar but from sheer panic.

Saint should’ve pulled back immediately but he didn’t. Something made him pause.. gaze dropping to Shin’s face.

The expression wasn’t what he expected. Not the sharp competitiveness of another Alpha.. not the easy grin of someone enjoying a spar. It was.. tension. Raw tension. Eyes too wide.. breath caught shallow like Shin was fighting something invisible.

Saint’s instincts twisted in his gut. The strange pull slammed into him harder. His Alpha side reacted before his mind could catch up. A whisper at the back of his skull that said.. "Claim him."

He jerked back quickly.. masking his confusion. "You okay?"

"Fine." Shin’s reply was too fast and clipped. He scrambled up.. dusting himself off.. refusing to meet his eyes.

Saint frowned. That reaction.. it wasn’t pride or embarrassment or annoyance. It was something else entirely. Something he couldn’t place but his instincts wouldn’t let go of.

From across the yard, the instructor barked. "Switch partners!"

Shin exhaled in relief.. moving away quickly. Saint stayed where he was.. still watching him.. still feeling that strange pull gnaw at the back of his chest.

He had no idea what it meant. But Saint found himself distracted in training. Not by the challenge but by the boy who was trying too hard to hide something.

The training had ended with the instructor’s voice echoing. "That’s enough for today!" 

Everyone dispersed in loud and easy clusters.. laughing and shoving each other.

Shin slipped away the first chance he got.

The locker room was nearly empty by the time he entered.. and he hesitated at the rows of steaming showers. The noise of running water.. the haze of heat and the stench of Alpha pheromones clinging to the tiles.. it all made his throat tighten.

He gripped his towel so tightly his knuckles went white.. waiting. He lingered until the last of the voices faded. Only when silence pressed against the walls did he finally step into the far stall.. locking the door as if the thin metal could guard his secret.

The water rushed over him in harsh streams but it did nothing to wash away the phantom weight of Saint’s arm still locked around his waist.

The memory replayed, relentless.. his back hitting the mat.. Saint’s chest pressed down and that suffocating closeness. His body had reacted before he could stop it.

He buried his face in his hands.. muffling a sharp inhale.

He noticed. I know he did.

Shin’s pulse thudded against his skull. One slip and it was over. He’d worked too hard.. bled too much just to get here. If anyone suspected he wasn’t Alpha.. if anyone guessed what he really was.. this fragile disguise would shatter.

And Saint..

The thought of Saint made something twist in his chest. That strength.. that ease of dominance.. it was too dangerous. 

I can’t let him near. Not again.

He finished quickly.. scrubbing away the heat.. the memory and the fear. By the time he emerged.. the locker room was silent again.

Back in their shared room.. Saint sat on the edge of his bed.. hair still damp from his shower and towel draped carelessly over his shoulders. The space should’ve been familiar, routine.. but it wasn’t.

His gaze drifted to the opposite side.

Shin’s bed. Neatly arranged as if no one really lived there. The boy himself was still missing.. no doubt avoiding the crowds.

Saint leaned back against the wall.. crossing his arms. He’d sparred with countless people before.. some weaker, some stronger, some cocky and some skilled. But none of them had ever left him.. unsettled.

The way Shin had moved.. sharp.. efficient and almost calculating.. it wasn’t normal. And the way he’d reacted when Saint pinned him down.

Saint frowned.. rubbing at his jaw.

That wasn’t pride. It wasn’t anger. It was.. panic. Real panic.

And yet.. his Alpha instincts hadn’t backed off. Quite the opposite.. they’d leaned forward.. pulled him closer and whispered at the back of his mind. A wordless call that made no sense.

Why him?

Saint dragged his gaze back to Shin’s bed. He wanted to know more. He needed to know more.

Who even was Shin Naruebet?

Next morning.. Saint woke with a goal in mind.

He wasn’t usually the type to plan things when it came to people. Most people, they came easily.. drawn into his orbit by his strength and his sheer presence. He didn’t need to think about it.

But Shin was different.

Shin was a locked door. Cold.. precise and distant. The more Saint pushed.. the more he pulled away. And yet Saint couldn’t ignore the sharp edges of curiosity scraping at his chest.

He wanted to know him. No.. he needed to.

So, this morning, Saint decided. "I’ll start small. One piece at a time."

"Morning." Saint said casually when Shin stirred awake. His voice was lower than usual.. stripped of the loud cheer he gave his friends. Just enough to sound normal and not intrusive.

Shin blinked at him.. his lips parted like he wanted to ignore it but the pause stretched too long.

"..Morning." His voice was stiff but it was an answer.

Saint grinned to himself.. not pushing further. One word was enough for now.

At breakfast.. Saint spotted Shin sitting alone at the far edge of the hall.. picking at plain rice and soup with the air of someone who wanted to vanish into the walls.

Saint sat across from him. Not too close or not too far.. just near enough to make it clear he’d chosen this spot.

Shin looked up briefly. His brows pinched for half a second before he ducked back down.. pretending his food was fascinating.

Saint didn’t say anything but his attention lingered on Shin’s stiff shoulders.. the way he ate like someone guarding himself.

Saint wanted to be patient. He wasn’t planning to overwhelm Shin. If he wanted to solve the puzzle called Shin.. he needed to take it apart piece by piece.. carefully, without scaring him off.

It was.. fascinating. Most people crumbled quickly under Saint’s presence. Shin, however.. was building walls brick by brick.

Saint thought.. amused. "I’ll just wait at the gates until you open them."

In class.. fate worked in Saint’s favor. The only empty seat left was beside Shin.

Saint dropped into the chair.. letting his broad frame sprawl just enough to brush against Shin’s space without crossing into it. He didn’t speak.. just quietly copied the instructor’s notes.. kept his movements casual.

But out of the corner of his eye.. he saw Shin’s fingers tighten around his pen. The smallest crack in that perfect mask.

And Saint smiled faintly to himself.

"Relax.. Shin. I’m not going to bite. Not yet."

The lecture hall buzzed with chatter as the instructor announced.

"From today, you’ll be working in pairs for study sessions and assignments. Choose wisely.. you’ll be spending a lot of time together."

Chairs scraped. Alphas and betas immediately turned to their friends.. calling dibs.. voices loud and eager. Shin sat still, pen poised above his notes.. heart hammering.

This was the kind of moment he hated most. Too much noise and too many eyes. And if anyone chose him.. if anyone got too close.. there was always the risk. The risk of them noticing the subtle differences he fought so hard to hide.

He was calculating an escape route.. pretending to tie his shoelaces maybe or saying he preferred to work alone.. when Saint turned to him.

"Shin."

He looked at him.. pulse stuttering. Saint was looking at him, easy smile tugging at his lips, broad shoulders radiating the kind of casual confidence that made others instinctively look.

"Be my partner?" Saint asked. No hesitation.. no question of whether Shin might say no. Just.. direct.

Shin was thinking. Partnering with Saint meant proximity. Too much proximity. The one Alpha in this academy who already paid him too much attention.

But then he thought.. He’s my roommate.

If he refused.. it would raise suspicion. If he chose someone else, it meant more risk.. more interaction with someone else.. who might notice something off. At least with Saint.. he could keep things contained.

"Alright." Shin said finally.

Saint’s grin widened and he dropped into the seat beside him without missing a beat.

Inside, Shin’s thoughts were racing. Better Saint than someone else. Better the devil I know than the ones I don’t.

For Saint, it was a different story.

The second Shin agreed.. a quiet thrill ran through him. Finally, a wall had cracked. Finally, the boy who kept everyone at arm’s length had let him in.. if only a step.

He leaned back in his chair.. trying to play it cool though his pulse was a little too quick for his liking.

"Good choice." Saint said lightly, eyes flicking toward Shin’s tense profile. 

"You won’t regret it."

Shin didn’t respond but his pen scratched steadily across the page.. pretending focus.

Saint chuckled under his breath.

That’s fine. You don’t need to talk yet. Just sit beside me. Just get used to it.

The puzzle was finally opening.

The dorm hall was still buzzing faintly with voices.. doors opening and closing, footsteps echoing down the corridor. By now Shin had gotten used to waiting until it all died down before daring to head to the showers. Every day.. the same hesitation, the same worry.

This time.. he was sitting at his desk, rereading his notes, trying to distract himself until it was safe. The sound of the door opening broke his focus.

Saint stepped in.. his hair damp, a clean shirt clinging to his shoulders. He set his towel on the back of his chair and glanced at Shin.

"The showers are empty." Saint said casually, like he was announcing the weather.

Shin was caught off guard. "What?"

Saint shrugged, dropping onto his bed. "Everyone’s done. If you were waiting.. now’s the time."

For a second, Shin froze. He wasn’t used to someone noticing.. or worse, pointing it out. But there was no mockery in Saint’s voice of no smug grin. Just.. matter of fact.

"Thanks." Shin muttered finally.

He stood.. grabbed his clothes and slipped out. But before leaving.. Saint caught something he hadn’t seen in days.. Shin’s shoulders, usually stiff and guarded.. eased just slightly.

When the door clicked shut.. Saint leaned back against his bed frame.. an involuntary smile tugging at his mouth.

For reasons he couldn’t explain.. he liked it.

Liked that he’d been the reason Shin relaxed.. even if just for a breath.

The dorm was unusually calm that evening. Most students were either in the lounge.. boasting about their sparring scores or still lingering at the dining hall.

Shin sat at his desk, books stacked neatly.. notes arranged with meticulous care. He’d planned to study alone as always. But when Saint came in.. towel around his neck from an extra round of training.. he dropped his bag onto his own desk and said casually.

"Let’s get started."

Shin’s hand stilled on the edge of his notebook. "You mean.. now?"

Saint tilted his head with a grin. "Unless you wanted to wait until midnight."

"..Fine." Shin slid one of his textbooks open.

They worked in near silence for a while. The only sounds were the flipping of pages.. the occasional scratching of pens and Saint muttering under his breath when he forgot a definition.

Shin risked a glance across the desk. Saint’s brow furrowed as he wrote.. lips moving silently as he repeated a term until it stuck. He didn’t look intimidating like this. Not the strongest Alpha in training. Not the center of every group. Just.. another student.

"You have neat handwriting." Saint said suddenly..not looking up.

"What?"

Saint finally glanced at him.. a crooked smile forming. "Your notes. They look like a textbook. If you sell copies, I’ll buy."

Heat pricked the back of Shin’s neck. He didn’t know what to say to that, so he ducked his head and kept writing. But for the first time since he arrived.. the silence didn’t feel heavy.

Saint didn’t press him for conversation.. didn’t pry with unnecessary questions. He just studied, occasionally humming under his breath or tapping his pen against the desk.

It was.. peaceful.

And for Shin, who had been holding his breath since the day he walked into the academy.. it was disarming.

When they finally closed their books.. the clock on the wall read past eleven.

"Not bad." Saint said.. leaning back with a satisfied stretch. "I think we’ll make a good team."

Shin nodded once.. stiff but genuine. "We’ll see."

But as he gathered his notes.. he felt something unexpected. It wasn’t panic or not the usual fear of exposure.

It was calm.

Chapter Text

The faint hum of voices drifted in from the hallway.. muffled footsteps echoing against the dorm walls. Saint was lounging on his bed, absentmindedly flipping through his phone, when he heard a stiff but unexpectedly soft voice.

"Hey."

Saint turned his head. Shin was propped against his pillows, hair a little messy, eyes still hazy with sleep.

Saint smiled. "Hey."

It was small.. barely a whisper of interaction but it felt like the air in the room shifted.

As they moved through their routine.. Shin spoke again. Not much, just answering when Saint casually asked. "Slept well?" or "You ready for class today"  But unlike before.. his answers weren’t clipped or evasive. He actually looked at Saint when he spoke.

By the time they walked down to the cafeteria.. Saint’s chest felt oddly lighter.

Breakfast was the real test. Shin usually sat alone, head down.. finishing quickly before anyone could disturb him. But when Saint slid his tray onto the table across from Shin’s, instead of tensing up.. Shin glanced up, hesitated and then stayed relaxed.

There was no mask. He ate slowly.. shoulders loose.. not glancing around like prey surrounded by hunters.

Saint noticed every detail. How Shin’s fingers tapped absentmindedly against his mug. How his expression softened when he tasted something he liked. How his guard, brick by brick lowered.

"Food’s better today." Saint said casually.

Shin hummed.. nodding. "Yeah."

And then, shockingly he added. "That soup was awful yesterday."

Saint laughed, which make Shin glance up again. Saint caught it.. the tiny smile tugging at Shin’s lips.

And Saint thought, Alright. That’s it. I’m not letting him go back to being a mystery.

Their dorm room was quieter than usual that night. The lamps cast a low light across the desks.. books and papers spread between them. 

Saint leaned back in his chair, tapping his pencil. "So.. if the instructor asks about pack dynamics in smaller squads.. what’s the answer?"

Shin’s eyes scanning his notes.. he spoke without hesitation. "That they rely less on dominance order and more on mutual skill balance."

Saint smirked. "Not bad."

Shin raised a brow. "Not bad?"

"Fine. You are good." Saint chuckled and Shin’s lips twitched.

The hours stretched on and the air shifted into comfort. They spoke in short sentences, asked questions and traded answers. A small laugh even escaped Shin when Saint fumbled a word and Saint turned at the sound.. memorizing it instantly.

They finally closed their books and Shin rose to stretch, gathering his things. But as he stepped back from the desk, his foot caught on the strap of his bag.

"Ah.."

He slipped.. straight into Saint.

Saint caught him instinctively, strong hands steadying him by the waist. For a heartbeat.. the world narrowed. Shin’s breath caught, eyes wide.. their faces inches apart. Close enough to feel each other’s warmth.. close enough that Saint’s pulse thundered against his ribs.

It was like gravity shifted. A pull. Magnetic and undeniable. Saint leaned forward without realizing.. just slightly, just enough that his breath brushed Shin’s lips.

And then Shin froze. Reality slammed back. He jerked away, stumbling a step back.

"S-sorry." His voice was too quick, too tense. He turned immediately.. fumbling with his belongings before retreating to his bed. He slid under the blanket, facing the wall. Hand pressed to his chest as if he could cage his racing heartbeat.

Saint stayed standing.. his body still humming with the echo of that closeness. His mind spun. Why him? Why Shin? 

Finally, he lay down as well.. staring up at the ceiling. The room was silent again but the it felt charged.. heavy with what almost happened.

Neither spoke. Neither dared.

Sleep came slowly but the memory of that pull.. the brush of breath and the almost.. lingered for both of them.

The next morning, the air in the dorm felt different.

Saint stirred awake first, glancing across the room at the still form on the other bed. Shin’s back was turned toward him.. blanket pulled high, body unnaturally stiff as though he hadn’t slept much.

Saint pressed a hand against his forehead and sighed quietly. He could still feel it.. the weight of Shin in his arms.. the startled warmth of that near collision. He hadn’t meant to lean closer.. hadn’t meant to let instinct tug him forward but he couldn’t deny what he felt.

And that scared him more than anything.

The drills that day were brutal. The instructors barked orders.. pushing everyone past their limits. Sweat dripped down foreheads.. lungs burned and muscles strained.

Saint was used to this. He thrived under intensity.. shoulders rolling with ease, staff clashing in steady rhythm. But when he glanced sideways.. just for a split second.. his eyes snagged on Shin.

Shin, who was usually composed, sharp and almost eerily calm during training.. was faltering. His strikes grew slower, his grip weaker.

And then, Saint caught it. A faint tremor in his hands.. his lips parting like each breath was a battle. His skin was too pale.

Saint frowned.. lowering his staff. "Shin." 

He called, voice firm but edged with something else. "You okay?"

Shin blinked at him.. unfocused, almost dazed. Like usual, his guard wasn’t there. His eyes looked distant and panicked.. like his mind wasn’t even inside the training ground anymore.

"I.. I need to go." Shin muttered, voice hoarse.. almost begging. 

"Right now. Can you.. help me get out?'

Saint stiffened. What? Shin never asked for help. He never relied on anyone. But there was no mistaking the urgency in his tone.

Without hesitation.. Saint turned to the instructor. "Sir, Shin’s not well. I’ll take him out for water."

The instructor narrowed his eyes, skeptical. "He should hold.."

Saint cut in.. voice sharper. "He’s not fine."

For a moment, it looked like the instructor might argue. But Shin’s pallor spoke for itself. Finally, he waved them off. "Go."

Saint touched Shin’s elbow lightly. "Come on."

The moment they stepped out of the training hall, Shin jerked away. "I.. I’ll manage. Thanks."

And before Saint could respond.. Shin practically bolted down the corridor. His usually controlled steps turned into a desperate rush.. shoes pounding against the floor as he disappeared around the corner.

Saint froze. His chest tightened.. not just from the abruptness but from something else.. something that hit him in the space Shin left behind.

A scent.

It was faint but undeniable. Sweet. Clinging to the air like an invisible thread that wrapped around Saint’s senses.

He inhaled sharply, confusion flickering across his face.

That wasn’t the sterile scent of the training room. That wasn’t sweat or exhaustion. It was.. something else. Something that pulled at him in a way he couldn’t understand.

His brows furrowed. He stood there, unmoving.. his grip tightening around his staff.

"What the hell.." He whispered under his breath.

And Saint realized there was something about Shin that didn’t fit. A secret which is far too dangerous than he thought.

Shin barely remembered the path from the training grounds to their dorm. His legs carried him on instinct.. his heart hammering against his ribs.

The moment he slammed the door shut behind him.. he pressed his back against it. His chest heaving and hands shook.

Not now. Not here.

He stumbled toward his bag.. fumbling with the zipper until his fingers finally closed around the small glass vial hidden in the lining. 

His suppressant.

His breath came in ragged gasps as he unscrewed it, tilting his head back and swallowing the bitter liquid like a man drowning.

Seconds passed. His pulse began to slow, the overwhelming heat in his veins dulling, fading. His shoulders sagged in relief.

But his hands were still trembling. His mask.. always perfect and always seamless.. had cracked.

And Saint had seen it.

Meanwhile, down the hall.. Saint hadn’t moved far. He stood in the empty corridor, eyes fixed in the direction Shin had run.

That scent lingered, ghostly and maddening. Sweet and addictive. It wasn’t like anything he had smelled before.. yet it tugged at something primal inside him.

It was wrong. He shouldn’t have noticed it, shouldn’t have wanted to chase it.

But his mind kept circling back, the memory of Shin’s pale face, his unfocused eyes, the way his usually precise movements had broken apart.

Saint dragged a hand down his face.. trying to shake it off.

"Who even are you, Shin?" He muttered under his breath.

He should have returned to the training ground.. pretended none of this had happened. That would’ve been the easy thing.. the safe thing.

But instead, his feet carried him toward their dorm.

He stopped just outside the door.. hesitating. He could hear faint shuffling inside.. the sound of drawers opening and closing.. frantic movements.

Saint clenched his jaw. Curiosity gnawed at him.. urging him to push the door open, to demand answers. But instinct held him back. Shin wasn’t the type to hand over pieces of himself easily.

So Saint leaned his shoulder against the wall beside the door, arms crossed and waiting.

Inside, Shin finally collapsed on his bed, suppressant bottle tucked away once more. His breathing evened out but his heart still raced. He pressed his palms over his eyes, forcing himself to stay still.. to calm down.

He hadn’t lost control like that in months. And of all people, it had to be Saint who noticed.

Saint, his roommate. Saint, the one person he couldn’t seem to keep at arm’s length.

Minutes later, when Shin emerged from the room.. mask restored, posture rigid and face blank.. he nearly jumped at the sight of Saint leaning casually against the wall outside.

Saint’s eyes flicked up, sharp and unreadable. "You’re alive, then."

Shin froze, the smallest crack of hesitation in his usually steady voice. "..I’m fine. Thank you."

Saint tilted his head.. gaze narrowing like he didn’t believe a word. But instead of pressing.. he simply straightened and brushed past Shin.

"Good." He said.. voice deceptively light.

"Don’t make me drag you out like that again."

And with that, he walked off toward the cafeteria.. leaving Shin rooted in place.

Shin exhaled slowly, fingers curling into his sleeves.

Saint had seen too much.

And Shin had no idea how long he could keep his secret.

The room was too quiet.

Shin had expected Saint to come back after dinner... maybe flop on his bed with that easy grin of his.. maybe try to chat casually like nothing had happened earlier.

But the room stayed empty.

At first, Shin told himself it was fine. Better even. If Saint wasn’t here, then he wouldn’t have to worry about slip-ups.. about explaining the unexplainable.

Except.. the longer the silence stretched, the tighter the knot grew in his chest.

"Was Saint suspicious? Had he noticed too much?"

Shin sat at the edge of his bed, fingers tapping nervously against his knee. Then, with a sharp exhale.. he stood. Worry outweighed fear. His feet moved before his thoughts caught up.

He searched quietly through the campus grounds.. scanning the courtyards and the hallways, until finally.. he spotted a lone figure sprawled on the grass of the training ground.

Saint.

Lying flat on his back.. hands folded behind his head, staring up at the night sky as if it held all the answers he needed.

Shin hesitantly walked closer. But before he could even sit down.. Saint’s voice floated lazily toward him.

"Took you long enough."

Shin blinked, caught off guard. "You noticed me?”

"Hard not to." Saint shifted his head.. giving him a small, lopsided smile. 

Shin lowered himself beside him anyway. The grass was cool under his palms. For a long moment, neither spoke. The silence was oddly comfortable.. until Saint broke it, his voice softer this time.

"You okay now?"

Shin’s eyes widened slightly. He hadn’t expected that. After a beat, he nodded. "Yes. Thank you. For helping me earlier."

Saint didn’t answer right away. Instead, he let out a quiet chuckle, the sound low and unforced. "Why are you here, though? Shouldn’t you be glad you have the whole room to yourself tonight? No roommate to keep your guard up around."

Shin surprised himself by smiling.. just a little. "I should be glad. But it would bother me.. knowing my roommate is lying outside because he’s avoiding me."

Saint turned his head to look at him, brows lifting slightly. "..I’m not avoiding you."

"Then?"

"I just needed air." Saint said simply, eyes drifting back to the stars.

Shin hummed softly in reply, neither doubting nor pressing further.

They sat there side by side, in the quiet of the night.

After a while, Saint spoke again, voice casual but curious. "Why’d you join the academy, anyway?"

Shin hesitated. For a moment, the words stuck in his throat. Then, quietly, he said."..I wanted to prove myself. That I’m strong. I want a name for myself, not just what others expect of me."

Saint’s lips tugged into a smile, genuine this time. "Guess we’re not so different, then. I want the same thing."

Their eyes met briefly.. just long enough to spark something unspoken. Then both looked away.

From there, the conversation wandered easily. Families. Old childhood stories. Little things neither usually shared. For a while, the weight of earlier fears and unspoken secrets melted away.

Their laughter carried lightly in the empty training ground.. echoing against the night air. Shin didn’t even realize when his shoulders had eased or when the weight pressing against his chest had lessened.

Inside, Saint felt something he hadn’t in weeks.. peace. No buzzing thoughts, no restlessness tugging at him. Just this.. moment. Sitting under the stars, trading remarks with Shin like they weren’t two boys constantly watching their backs but just roommates.

And yet.. he couldn’t ignore the other things he’d begun to notice.

That faint sweetness that sometimes clung to Shin.

The way Shin carefully kept his distance from anyone especially alphas.

The way he flinched from close encounters.. avoided lingering touches and shut down interactions before they could go too far.

Saint knew there was something Shin wasn’t telling him. Something hidden behind the calm mask he wore every day.

But tonight, watching Shin’s faint smile under the moonlight.. Saint decided not to care. 

He shifted onto his back again, letting his gaze drift upward. Until he heard Shin’s voice again. "You know.. you’re not as unbearable as I thought."

Saint glanced at him. "That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me since I joined the academy."

"Don’t get used to it." Shin mumbled.

And just like that, another soft laugh slipped from them both. In this moment, they weren’t hiding or pretending.

They were just two boys, stretched out under the stars.. letting themselves breathe.

When they finally returned to their room that night, neither of them spoke. The quiet between them wasn’t tense this time.. it was soft and lingering like the aftertaste of laughter that refused to fade.

Shin slipped into his bed without overthinking it.. his breathing steadying as if the weight of the world had lifted slightly from his chest. He didn’t even bother pulling up his guard again, too tire or maybe too unwilling to lose that rare ease.

Across the room, Saint lay awake for a while, staring at the ceiling. His mind replayed Shin’s small smile, his rare laugh. The sweet scent that still lingered in the air when Shin had panicked earlier.

He told himself not to think too much about it. Not tonight.

So he closed his eyes and let the quiet wash over him.. finding an unfamiliar comfort in knowing Shin was only a few feet away.

Chapter Text

The morning light.. scattering warmth across the small room. Shin woke first.. stretching quietly before sitting up, only to hear a voice groggy from the other bed.

"Morning." Saint murmured, eyes half-lidded but watching him.

Shin smiled. "Morning."

Saint pushed himself up with a lazy grin. "Look at you, finally greeting me with a smile. I thought you planned to keep the stone face until graduation."

Shin rolled his eyes but his lips threatened to curl into a smile. "Stop talking before I start glaring again."

Saint raised his hands in surrender.

By the time they headed to breakfast.. their steps fell into an easy rhythm. Saint walked at Shin’s side.. close enough to feel the brush of his sleeve when their arms swung. It didn’t feel forced.. it just happened.

At the table, Saint placed his tray opposite Shin’s, ignoring the curious looks from others. Shin no longer seemed to mind.. his shoulders lighter than before. They even talked.. light conversation about the meal, about how exhausting yesterday’s drills had been.

Saint caught himself chuckling when Shin muttered something dry about their instructor’s obsession with running laps. 

"You’ve got a sharp tongue for someone so quiet." Saint teased, spearing a piece of food.

Shin gave him a side glance, unimpressed but amused. "Maybe you just talk too much.. so you don’t notice."

Saint laughed.. shaking his head.

The day passed with a strange new comfort. They sat together in class..During training, Saint caught Shin watching him again.. though this time Shin didn’t look away immediately. Saint smirked, flexing just a little harder in the drills, earning himself a faint scoff that sounded dangerously close to a laugh.

Later, as they walked back to the dorms, Saint nudged Shin’s shoulder lightly. "So, study partner.. how do you feel about carrying me through the next test?"

Shin’s brow arched but the corner of his mouth tugged upward. "If you’re hopeless enough to rely on me.. then maybe you should study harder instead."

"Oh, so you do care about my performance."

"Don’t flatter yourself."

Saint grinned, satisfied.

Now their silence felt like the silence between friends, not strangers. And though Shin kept his guard half-raised, Saint knew.. something had shifted. They were orbiting closer.. too close to pretend it meant nothing.

Saint had just finished showering. Damp hair clung to his forehead as he laughed with another trainee. "Where’s Ken? Let’s grab a deck of cards."

"Oh, Ken? He went back into the bathroom.. he forgot something there."

Saint froze mid-step. The word bathroom echoed in his skull. Instinct.. not thought, snapped through him. He didn’t fully know why but his chest tightened, a deep.. primal certainty that Shin was in danger. Without another word.. he bolted down the hall.

Steam curled from the bathroom vents.. carrying the faint scent of soap and water. Shin stood under the spray.. tilting his head back as droplets slid down his pale skin. Their was only sound of rushing water and silence.

Until it wasn’t silent.

The sharp tang of alpha scent suddenly cut through the steam. Not one but two. His blood ran cold. Their voices drifted faintly through the bathroom door.. muffled but far too close.

If they stepped in.. if they caught even a trace of the sweet undertone he fought so desperately to hide.. Shin’s heart raced, panic knotting in his chest. He pressed himself against the cold tiles.. desperately wishing his suppressant hadn’t worn thin.

As Saint neared, he spotted Ken and Nate lingering near the bathroom door, speaking in hushed tones. His pulse spiked. He couldn’t let them go in. Not with Shin inside.

Moving quickly, he slipped past them the second they turned, shoving the door open without knocking. Warm steam billowed around him as he stepped in fully clothed, shoes squeaking against the wet tiles.

Inside, Shin startled violently.. nearly shouting but Saint pressed his hand over his mouth before the sound escaped. Their eyes locked.. Shin’s wide.. filled with fear and uncertainty. Saint’s steady and firm, silently pleading with him to stay quiet.

The water continued to pour.. masking the faint exchange as Ken and Nate stepped in briefly, grabbed what they’d left behind and walked back out. They didn’t linger or notice. Because Saint was there.. his dominant alpha scent heavy in the air, completely shielding Shin’s.

The door clicked shut. Silence returned, broken only by the spray of water.

Saint lowered his hand but didn’t step back. They stood far too close.. Shin bare, Saint fully dressed but drenched.. water running down his jacket and hair. The unmasked sweet.. intoxicating omega scent wrapped around him now. His chest tightened.. instincts clawing at him. "Take.. Claim him."

Shin’s lips parted.. panic still in his eyes, waiting for Saint’s reaction.

Saint swallowed hard, forced himself to steady. He wouldn’t scare him. Wouldn’t cross that line. Instead, he gave a small, quiet nod. 

"Get dressed." He murmured, voice low and rough from restraint. Then, without another word.. he turned and walked out.

Shin stood frozen for a long moment before forcing himself to move. His hands shook as he shut the water off and quickly dressed. His heart still pounded when he finally stepped outside.

Saint was there, sitting on the bench.. jacket peeled off and clinging wetly to the floor beside him. Water dripped from his hair. He looked up when Shin appeared and Saint saw him. Not just as his roommate. Not just as a beta.. But an omega.

And Saint.. an alpha barely keeping himself steady.

The tension was unbearable until Saint suddenly let out a breathless chuckle. "I must look stupid, huh? Running into the shower like that.. fully clothed."

Shin blinked.. caught off guard. Then, unexpectedly.. he laughed. Soft at first, then fuller.. the sound warming the air between them. "You looked like a drenched puppy."

Saint huffed.. shaking his head but a smile pulled at his lips. 

The tension cracked.. just a little.

Shin sat stiffly on the edge of his bed.. hair still damp, towel hanging from his shoulders. His hands twisted together in his lap and knuckles pale. He didn’t look up.

Across the room, Saint leaned against the desk.. arms crossed. His voice was calm but firm.. less a question, more a certainty.

"So.. you’re an omega."

The silence stretched. Shin’s throat tightened. He didn’t answer.

Saint sighed softly, eyes narrowing as if weighing something. Then he said, almost matter of factly.

"To be honest.. it’s not that much of a shocker. I noticed something before but my brain just refused to name it."

Shin’s head snapped up, eyes flashing with unease.

"Don’t tell anyone." He said, voice low and urgent. 

"I’ll.. I’ll quietly leave if you want. Just do me this favor."

For a moment Saint just looked at him, then, unexpectedly.. he smiled.

"Why would you leave?"

Confusion flickering across his face Shin’s face.

"I’m not going to tell anyone.. if that’s what you worried about." Saint continued, pushing off the desk and walking closer, his tone steady. 

"You don’t need to run."

Shin’s chest tightened. He searched Saint’s face.. almost disbelieving. "You’re an alpha. Aren’t you offended that an omega’s been among you this whole time.. sparring, pretending to be equal?"

And that’s when Saint realized.. that this wasn’t just about the academy. This was Shin’s life. Always being doubted, always needing to fight for a place.

He dragged a chair forward and sat down right in front of Shin. Close enough to make Shin tense but his posture was relaxed not threatening.

"I don’t care who studies here." Saint said firmly. 

"That’s not my concern. And honestly? I don’t believe in hierarchy like that. Yeah, alphas, betas, omegas.. that’s biology, sure. But rules about who’s 'meant to study here and stand among alphas'? That’s just.. old thinking. I don’t buy it."

Shin stared.. every muscle tight as though waiting for the blow that never came.

Saint leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice.

"You can hide your identity. Stay. I won’t tell a soul. But Shin.. you need to realize what you’re doing is risky. What happened today? If someone else had noticed, you’d be finished."

Shin’s lips pressed together. His eyes flickered away, but his voice was steady when he answered.

"I know. I’ve always known. My cover could break anytime. But as long as I can hide.. just long enough to chase this dream.. I’ll risk it. Even if it burns out fast, I’ll try."

Something in Saint softened at that. He let out a small smile.. almost fond without meaning to.

"Alright then. I won’t say anything. You don’t have to feel threatened by me."

Slowly, Shin looked back at him. And for the first time.. the ice in his gaze melted.

Something shifted between them.. delicate and unspoken.. trust. A bond that hadn’t existed before.

Things between them changed after that incident.

Shin didn’t notice it at first.. not until small things began piling up. Saint started seeking him out more often.. nothing obvious. But when the instructor called for study partners.. Saint’s hand landed on Shin’s desk before anyone else could ask. When sparring pairs were rotated.. Saint’s eyes found Shin’s and he didn’t hesitate to stand by his side.

It wasn’t forced or a pity. Saint simply chose Shin. Again and again.

At first, Shin was wary. He waited for the catch.. for the teasing edge about being an omega. But it didn’t come. Saint sparred with him seriously, no holding back.. yet when he noticed Shin’s stance falter.. he corrected it instead of exploiting it. 

The strangest part was the showers. Shin had always been careful.. timing it so he’d never be too close to the other alphas.. never staying too long. But after the bathroom scare.. he noticed something. Saint was always there, at the same time. Not hovering or close.. just there. Enough that the sharper-nosed alphas didn’t sniff too close because Saint’s alpha scent blanketed the air. It wasn’t perfect but it was enough.

Shin knew. He wasn’t stupid. He saw the way Saint positioned himself subtly between him and others.. how he distracted them with conversation at just the right moment.. how he lingered when Shin lingered. It should have irritated him.. an alpha meddling.. an alpha protecting like Shin couldn’t protect himself. But it didn’t feel like that. It wasn’t pride or dominance.. it was care.

It was natural. Almost like Saint had just decided that.. he needs to be there for Shin.. and Shin didn’t have to worry about it anymore.

One evening, as they walked back from training, Shin caught himself laughing at some ridiculous story Saint told. The sound startled him.. even more than the warmth that followed when Saint grinned like he’d won a prize.

That night, as Shin lay in bed.. he realized something he hadn’t wanted to admit.

Not all alphas were cruel. Not all of them were proud.. waiting to claim and cage.

Saint wasn’t.

And somehow, that made Shin want to stay a little close to Saint.

Chapter Text

It happened during sparring practice.

The instructor had announced a rotation, pairing everyone with different alphas for the afternoon. Shin was already tense.. he relied on Saint’s presence to steady the atmosphere and now Saint was across the mat with another partner. Shin’s new opponent.. Ken, was strong.. quick and notorious for pushing boundaries.

At first, it was normal. Strikes and blocks.. the rhythm of training. But then Shin felt it. Ken’s nose flared, his grin a little too knowing. Shin’s stomach turned cold.

"You smell different." Ken muttered under his breath.. just loud enough for Shin to hear.

Shin’s blood ran cold.

Ken lunged, a little harder than necessary, driving Shin back. His voice dropped lower.. a taunting edge. "You are not like others."

Shin froze for a split second, panic threading through his chest. He couldn’t slip. His cover couldn’t break.

But before he could recover.. another presence cut between them.

Saint.

One second he’d been across the room.. the next he was there, intercepting ken’s strike with his own hand.. the crack of the block echoing across the mat.

"Careful." Saint said, his voice calm but carrying weight. He smiled but it wasn’t the usual easy grin. It was sharp like a warning.

"Sparring isn’t the same as picking a fight."

Ken’s jaw tightened. "I wasn’t.."

"You were." Saint cut in smoothly, stepping forward just enough that his scent rolled heavy into the space, covering Shin like a shield. "So if you’re looking for someone to push around, try me."

The room went quiet. Even the instructor glanced over but Saint’s tone had been light enough, casual enough, that it didn’t sound like open conflict. Just a playful jab. But everyone could feel the shift.

Ken backed down, muttering something under his breath before stepping away.

Shin was left standing there, heart hammering, staring at Saint.

Saint turned to him, expression easy again, and whispered low enough for only Shin to hear. "Don’t let him get to you. You’re better than that." 

Then, without waiting for an answer, he walked back to his own sparring match like nothing had happened.

But Shin stood rooted to the spot, something tight in his chest unraveling.

Because like always someone hadn’t just left him to fend for himself.

Saint had defended him. In front of everyone.

And that choice meant more than Shin was ready to admit.

A low buzz from the air conditioner lingered in the dorm. Shin sat at his desk, books open but untouched. His mind replayed the moment again and again.. Ken’s sneer, the way his words almost pierced through his guard, and then Saint stepping in, steady as always, shielding him without hesitation.

He heard the door click shut and looked up. Saint had just come back from washing up.. towel hanging loose around his neck. Their eyes met. For a second Shin wanted to look away, but instead he stood.

"..Thanks." Shin’s voice carried more weight than the single word should.

Saint raised a brow, half-smiling. "For what?"

"You know what." Shin’s hands tightened at his sides. He wasn’t good at saying these things, but he forced it out.

"If you hadn’t stepped in today.. he would’ve.." His throat closed. 

"I just.. thank you."

Saint dropped the towel onto his chair and leaned against the desk.. close enough that Shin could feel the warmth radiating off him. He crossed his arms, eyes steady on Shin.

"You don’t need to thank me. What you need is to stop hesitating."

Shin was caught off guard.

Saint tilted his head, his tone sharpening just enough to cut through Shin’s silence. "You can’t falter when someone gets too close. That’s when they notice. That’s when they smell weakness. If you want to keep your disguise, then act like an alpha. Stand your ground. Answer back. Fight back. Alphas don’t hide.. they bare their teeth and mark their territory."

Shin swallowed hard. "..You make it sound so easy."

Saint’s expression softened then, his voice dropping. "It’s not easy. But it’s the only way. You already have the strength and power, Shin. You just need the confidence."

For a moment Shin just stared at him, the advice sinking in deeper than he wanted to admit. Because it wasn’t just words.. it was faith. Saint actually believed he could do it.

"..I’ll try." Shin murmured, finally.

Saint smiled."Good. Because if you hesitate again, I’m not always going to be there to cover for you."

Shin nodded, but deep down, some part of him thought.. maybe Saint would always be there.

The next day, training grounds. The air was thick with sweat and the metallic tang of weapons clashing. Students sparred in pairs, laughter and taunts echoing across the field.

Shin tightened his gloves as he stood across from his assigned opponent from yesterday, Ken.

Ken smirked. "You sure you’re up for this, Shin? Don’t want you running off crying to Saint again like yesterday."

Shin froze for just a fraction of a second. Normally, he would’ve dropped his gaze, ignored it, swallowed the insult to keep himself invisible. But Saint’s words rang in his head.

"If you want to disguise as an alpha, then act like one. Stand your ground. Fight back. Alphas don’t hide."

Shin’s eyes lifted. His posture straightened. His lips curved into something sharp, almost amused.

"Funny." Shin said coolly, voice mocking.

"You talk too much for someone who always ends up on the ground."

Ken’s smirk faltered.

A ripple of surprise spread through the watching group. Shin never talked back. Never.

Saint, leaning casually against the fence nearby with his arms crossed, almost chuckled. His chest warmed with something like pride. That’s it. That’s how you do it.

The spar began. Ken lunged first, quick and aggressive but Shin moved with a sharpness that wasn’t just defense.. it was confidence. Every block had weight behind it, every strike was precise, his eyes never wavering.

And when Shin finally slammed Ken down with a clean takedown, pinning him to the mat, he didn’t hesitate. He leaned down just enough and said, low but cutting.

"Next time, keep your mouth shut."

The crowd went silent, then burst into whistles and shouts.

Shin stood, shaking out his gloves like it was nothing, like his heart wasn’t racing a thousand beats a minute.

From across the field, Saint’s lips curled into a grin. He didn’t say anything but the look in his eyes when Shin caught it said everything.

Proud. And a little in awe.

Shin didn’t even realize when his shoulders stopped curling inward every time someone walked too close. He no longer lingered at the edge of groups, waiting for moments to slip away unnoticed.

During lectures, when a senior Alpha asked a pointed question, Shin actually raised his hand and answered.. voice steady, gaze direct. No one expected it.

At lunch, when Nate tried to steal a piece of meat off Shin’s tray, Shin smacked his chopsticks down hard enough to make everyone jolt and said flatly. "Try it again and you’ll lose a finger."

The table went silent for a beat before bursting out in laughter. Nate cursed under his breath but didn’t try again.

Saint, sitting across from Shin, just leaned back and smirked.

"Look at you." He drawled. 

"Finally growing fangs. I was wondering when you’d stop pretending to be a housecat."

Shin shot him a sharp glare, but the corners of his lips twitched. "And you sound like you’re jealous that I’ll take your place.

"Oh, I’m not jealous." Saint leaned forward, elbows on the table, voice dropping mockingly soft. 

"I just think it’s cute. My little stray kitten finally learning how to hiss."

Shin kicked him under the table. Saint yelped dramatically and everyone turned their heads, confused at why Saint was half-laughing, half-grimacing. Shin quickly looked away.. biting the inside of his cheek to stop himself from smiling.

He didn’t understand it.

This.. this strange peace. The way he could sit beside Saint, bicker with him.. feel like he wasn’t balancing on a knife’s edge every second. He didn’t understand why his chest loosened whenever Saint was near.. why he dared to speak up when normally silence had been his shield.

But he knew.. He wasn’t afraid anymore.

Because somehow, some way, even without a promise spoken aloud.. he knew Saint would always be there if things turned bad.

And that knowledge was enough to make him.. confident.

Saint was sprawled on his bed, hair still damp from the shower.. flicking through notes with absolutely zero focus. His lips moved, half-muttering, half-whining about how boring it was.

Shin glanced up from his own book.

"Stop being lazy.. you puppy."

Saint went quiet for a moment. Then..

"You know.." Saint said lightly.

"Most people call me handsome, brilliant and devastatingly charming.."

Shin raised an eyebrow. "Delusional."

"..but puppy?" Saint pressed a hand to his heart dramatically.

"That one’s special. You must really like me."

Shin rolled his eyes, but his ears were still faintly pink. "Or I just think you’re annoying and loud. Like a dog."

Saint rolled over.. practically bouncing on the mattress like an actual dog wagging his tail. "That’s it. That’s my new favorite thing... you calling me puppy."

Shin gave him a deadpan stare. "If you bark, I’ll throw you out the window."

Saint laughed so hard he fell off the bed.

Shin had been always careful with pills and scent blockers routine. He’d trained himself to perfection. But even the most careful mask slips.

It hit him one evening in the dorm. Not all at once but like a slow-burning fever curling under his skin. The air felt too warm and restless. He sat stiffly on his bed, clutching the sheets, biting down on the inside of his cheek. His body was on fire.. every breath a battle to keep control. 

The last thing he needed was to let anyone know.. especially the alpha sitting across from him.

But Saint already knew. Of course he did. His nose twitched once, and his gaze sharpened.

"Shin." Saint said softly.

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing." Shin forced out, jaw tight.

"I’m fine."

He wasn’t. His scent blockers were failing, his body betraying him. Shin wanted to run, hide, bury himself under walls.. but Saint’s presence was too near.. too steady and too consuming.

And then it happened. Saint inhaled.. sharp and subtle. His eyes flicked over Shin’s face, reading him like a book. His voice dropped low.

"...You’re in heat."

Shin turned his face away. "..Don’t say it."

Saint’s throat tightened, his pulse surging low in his gut. His instincts roared awake.. dragging up every primal urge an alpha had. To claim.. to bite.. to mark.

For one terrifying heartbeat, he thought he’d move without thinking.. close the space, put his hands on Shin and mark him so no one else could. The thought alone had his jaw aching, his teeth pressing against his tongue.

But then his eyes landed on Shin.

Curled against the wall.. shoulders rigid, knuckles white where they clutched the sheets. He looked smaller than Saint had ever seen him. Not proud.. not sharp-tongued.. not composed.. just vulnerable.

And Saint’s instincts flipped.

Not to take but protect.

He forced himself to breathe, shallow and controlled like every inhale was measured by a blade at his throat. He walked carefully, each step against the urge to lung.. and stripped off his jacket, draping it around Shin’s shoulders. His fingers brushed fabric but not the skin. He didn’t allow himself more.

"Here." His voice was steady. Somehow.

The pheromone shift worked. Shin’s heat dulled by the alpha scent layered over him, the air a little less suffocating. It gave Saint just enough space to think.

Saint then retreated to the desk chair, dropped into it hard enough the legs squeaked and stayed there. Elbows on his knees.. fists tight, nails digging into his palms. He bowed his head and closed his eyes.. forcing the predator inside him back down where it belonged.

God, it was torture. His body screamed to move, to fix the scent wrapping the room, to answer the call begging from Shin’s skin. But Shin hadn’t asked for that. Shin hadn’t given him permission.

So he stayed far away.

Even when Shin whispered. "Why?"

Even when his voice cracked with the shame of it.. the question trembling with disbelief.

"Why are you stopping yourself? You’re an alpha. Isn’t this.. torture for you?"

Saint laughed low and almost bitter. Torture? The word didn’t begin to cover it. His whole body felt like fire under his skin.. coiled tight and restless.

"You have no idea." He tilted his head back to the ceiling, kept his eyes closed.

"But just because my instincts scream doesn’t mean I’ll betray your trust. I can take it."

The silence stretched. Then.. shin murmured softly. "..Puppy."

Saint’s eyes snapped open.

For a second, he forgot the fire crawling under his skin. A laugh cracked out of him before he could stop it.. melting the weight pressing against his chest.

"Careful." He teased, lips curving despite himself.

"Call me that again and I might get used to it."

As the silence between them stretched.. Saint stood up and headed toward the door. His jaw was tight.. his hands fisted but his voice stayed calm.

"I’ll sit outside. No one will come near you while I’m here. That’s a promise."

And he did just that. For the whole night, Saint sat by the door.. posture relaxed but eyes sharp. His presence was a wall.. a warning.

Every second a fight between instinct and choice. And choice won. Because Shin mattered more than heat. More than biology. More than Saint’s own skin trying to crawl with need.

Inside, Shin pressed his face into the jacket collar.. breathing in. The jacket smelled like Saint. Like safety. Like protection.

The first thing Shin noticed when he woke was the quiet.

The scent in the room had dulled, no longer sharp enough to choke him but faint, lingering like smoke after a fire. His body felt wrung out and heavy but the panic that had clawed at him last night had eased.

He shifted under the sheets and froze.

Across the room, slumped in the desk chair, Saint sat with his arms folded on the desk and his head resting on them. He was asleep, shoulders hunched.. hair falling over his face. He remembered falling asleep while Saint was outside.. keeping guard.

For a moment, Shin just stared. Saint must have come into the room late at night or early morning.

The last night rushed back.. heat, fear and Saint’s jacket around his shoulders.. the way he’d fought his own instincts like it was life or death.

Something twisted in Shin’s chest.

Quietly, he sat up, pulling the jacket tighter around him. It still smelled like Saint.. and beneath it, his own scent still clung, faint but undeniable. Shin’s ears burned at the thought.

He padded over, bare feet silent on the floor and stopped by the desk. Saint stirred at the shift in air but didn’t wake.. only shifting slightly, lips parting as he muttered something too low to catch.

Shin hesitated. His hand lifted before he even thought about it.. hovering just above Saint’s hair. The urge to smooth it back.. to thank him silently was overwhelming.

So he gave in.. letting his fingers brush through the strands with a gentle touch.

He whispered.. barely audible. "..Thank you."

Saint stirred again, brow furrowing, but didn’t wake.

Shin let out a slow breath and stepped back, retreating to the bed. For the first time in his life, he felt.. safe. Not because he’d hidden well enough, not because he’d outsmarted suspicion. But because someone had stood there.. between him and the world and refused to move.

Shin lay back down, clutching the jacket like a shield. And let himself close his eyes again.. not out of exhaustion but out of trust.

The second time Shin woke, the sunlight was stronger. He blinked slowly, disoriented.. before realizing he’d fallen back asleep curled in Saint’s jacket.

The room was quiet except for the faint hum of air through the vents. He turned his head and saw Saint awake this time.

Saint was still in the chair, chin propped in his hand, watching him with an unreadable expression. His shirt was wrinkled, his hair sticking out at odd angles from sleeping against the desk.

"You’re awake." Shin said softly, voice husky from sleep.

Saint’s mouth curved but it wasn’t his usual easy grin But something gentle. "Mhmm."

For a beat, neither of them spoke. The weight of the night before lingered, fragile and unspoken between them. Shin pulled the jacket tighter around himself, unsure if it was to hide or to keep Saint’s scent close.

"You don’t look so panicked now." Saint murmured.

"I.. feel calmer." Shin admitted, surprising himself with the honesty. He wasn’t used to saying things like that aloud.

Saint leaned back in the chair, stretching out his stiff shoulders. "Good. That means I did something right."

Shin glanced down, fingers fidgeting with the edge of the jacket. "..It must’ve been hard for you."

Saint tilted his head, brows knitting.

"Being here. Restraining yourself. You didn’t have to.."

"Don’t." Saint cut him off gently. His tone wasn’t sharp, but it held enough weight to silence Shin. He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees, looking directly at him.

"You don’t owe me gratitude for not hurting you. That’s not something you should ever expect from an alpha, Shin. It’s just.. the bare minimum."

Shin blinked at him, caught off guard.

Saint sighed, a softer smile tugging at his lips now. "But if it makes you feel better.." 

He reached forward and tapped Shin’s forehead lightly with two fingers. "You’re welcome."

The touch was brief.. gone before Shin could react. But the warmth lingered.

Shin lowered his gaze, heart tight in his chest.

Chapter Text

Ken had been watching Shin for days with sharp eyes and calculated mind. He’d noticed small things.. the way Shin avoided crowded alpha clusters.. how his scent didn’t always match the confidence he tried to show.. the subtle flinch whenever someone got too close.

"Something’s off about Shin." Ken muttered under his breath as he leaned against the wall after training. Nate and Knot were nearby.. following his lead as usual.

"I noticed too." Nate admitted.

Knot frowned. "You think he’s hiding something?"

Ken’s jaw tightened. "Yes. And I intend to find out."

Over the next few days, Shin could feel certain eyes on him like sharp and calculating.. always searching for cracks. Whenever Shin entered the training hall.. Ken would find an excuse to spar with him.. pushing Shin harder than necessary, trying to force a slip.

During one of those matches.. Ken leaned close, his voice low enough for only Shin to hear.

"You smell.. different sometimes. Not like the rest of us. What are you hiding?"

Shin’s heart jolted but he forced himself to meet Ken’s gaze with cold indifference.

"Maybe it’s the smell of your ego burning when I pin you down."

The jab earned a ripple of laughter from those watching and Ken snarled.. his movements turning sloppy with anger. Shin used it.. flipped him flat on his back, breathing hard but steady. 

From the sidelines.. Saint clapped louder and teasingly.

"Ken, man.. maybe you should give up. Getting beat by Shin this often is bad for your rep."

Ken shot Saint a glare but didn’t rise again. Instead, he sat up.. wiping sweat but his eyes never leaving Shin. A doubt flickered.. his suspicion sharpened.

Meanwhile, Shin sat in his room.. towel draped around his neck after the shower. He could still hear Ken’s words at his ear, those words. "You smell different sometimes."

Saint barged in then, tossing himself on Shin’s bed with a lazy grin.

"You got under Ken’s skin. I’m impressed."

Shin sighed, sinking into his chair. "He’s watching me too closely. He’s.. not stupid."

Saint’s grin faded slightly, though his tone stayed light.

"Let him watch. He’ll find nothing as long as you don’t falter." He stretched, eyes flicking toward Shin with a quiet promise hidden in his smile. 

"And if he does get too dangerous.. I’ll deal with him."

Shin glanced at Saint and managed a smile, but the worry lingered in his eyes.

The practice room was unusually quiet.Shin moved carefully across the training hall.. checking the mats but he sensed the shift before he saw them.

Ken stepped from the shadows with Nate and Knot flanking him. The three blocked the exit.

"Well, well.." Ken said, smirking.

"Looks like you are alone without your protective alpha. Let’s see how confident you really are now."

Shin froze for a second.. then forced his stance to relax, posture straight. "I don’t have time for your games, Ken."

Ken circled him slowly. "Oh, it’s not a game. I just.. want to know who you really are."

Shin’s hands balled into fists. He tried to keep Ken at a distance.. parrying subtle advances. But Ken and the two betas closed in from every side.. nudging him back toward the wall.

"Step aside." Shin said calmly, voice steady despite the pounding in his chest.

Ken smirked. "You’ve been dodging us a lot. Time to see what you’re really made of."

Shin’s fists clenched. He stayed low.. sidestepping Nate’s approach, ducking a slight shove from Knot and countering Ken’s push with precise footwork. Every step was calculated.. he blocked, deflected, and used momentum to keep at least a little space between himself and the three.

"Not bad." Ken said, leaning.. trying to get too close. 

"But you can’t keep this up forever."

Shin gritted his teeth, muscles coiling. He lunged forward and shoved ken.. making him stumble. His chest was pounding and sweat was slicking his skin, but his movements remained sharp.

Bit despite all the effort, the odds were still against him. Ken pressed harder.. Nate and Knot moving in perfect unison, subtly nudging him closer to the wall with each feint. Shin’s back grazed the cold wall and panic flared for a brief moment but he forced himself to stand firm.

He jabbed Ken’s shoulder.. spun and kicked at Knot’s midsection, trying to create distance. "I said step aside!" 

Ken grinned.. more intrigued than angry and pressed forward again. Nate and Knot mirrored him, tightening the trap. 

"Stand still for once, Shin." Ken taunted, stepping forward with force.. aiming to corner him fully.

Shin’s chest heaved.. he was cornered but he refused to show weakness. Every dodge and counter was an effort to maintain his mask.. to hide the tremor of panic bubbling underneath.

Ken raised his fist. Nate and Knot flanked him.. ready to trap Shin completely. Shin braced himself, blocking Nate’s approach and spinning away from Knot’s grab. 

Before Ken could strike, a dark shadow lunged from the hall entrance. Saint’s growl cut through the tension like a blade.

"Hands off him." Saint said, voice low and dangerous.. vibrating with raw alpha authority.

"You’ve crossed a line.. this time." Saint growled, appearing like a predator spotting prey. His blazing gaze locked on Ken.

Ken smirked briefly. "Saint.. what’s the matter? Overprotective much?"

Before Ken could react, Saint moved. His first strike caught Ken in the chest with a brutal shove that sent him crashing into the wall. Nate lunged but Saint twisted his body mid-step.. catching Nate’s arm and flipping him onto the floor with a forceful slam. Knot tried to step in but a sharp strike to his side made him stumble back, gasping.

With a blur of movement.. Saint closed the distance. He grabbed Ken by the collar, spun him around and slammed him hard to the floor again. Ken tried to rise but Saint’s knee pressed into his shoulder, pinning him without mercy. Each of Saint’s strikes was punishing.

Nate and Knot hesitated, watching Saint’s raw power.. their earlier bravado drained.

Shin’s chest heaved, eyes wide. He’d never seen anyone fight like this.. controlled.. each strike carrying dominance and intent.

Saint loomed over Ken, chest heaving, every muscle coiled and eyes blazing with danger. He was ready to strike again and Shin’s heart raced with awe and fear both.

"Saint.. stop." Shin said firmly, stepping forward. His voice carried just enough authority to catch Saint’s attention.

Saint froze, mid-step, eyes narrowing at Shin. 

"What?" He growled, still radiating raw alpha tension.

"It’s enough. They’ll leave now." Shin said, raising a hand gently to put a pause on Saint’s movements. 

Saint’s chest rose and fell rapidly.. the fight adrenaline still sharp. He blinked slowly, then exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "..You’re sure?"

Shin nodded, voice steady despite his racing heart. "Yes. It’s done. Let them leave."

A final shove sent Ken sprawling across the hall.. struggling to catch his breath. Saint turned slowly, muscles coiled.. aura sharp and dangerous, scanning Nate and Knot.

"Leave." Saint said, voice deadly calm.

"Before I make this worse for you."

The two betas stumbled back immediately. Ken’s glare was filled with frustration and anger. He coughed.. glaring at Saint but knew better than to approach again.

Once the hall was empty, Saint turned fully toward Shin. His expression softened slightly though his eyes still carried an edge of anger. He stepped closer, checking Shin carefully.

"You okay?"

Shin shook his head, trying to hide the lingering tension. "Yeah.. I am okay."

Saint’s jaw tightened as he scanned Shin for any sign of injury. Seeing none.. he exhaled slowly, still tense.

"You handled yourself well." Saint said softly. 

"Facing all three of them and standing your ground."

Shin swallowed, words caught in his throat. "Yeah..I tried."

He reached out, brushing a hand lightly over Shin’s shoulder, grounding him. "Just.. be careful from now on."

Shin nodded.. leaning slightly into the protective presence, feeling a strange warmth he couldn’t fully name. "..I’ll try."

Saint gave a small, restrained chuckle.. stepping back just enough to let Shin breathe. "Good. Now.. let’s get out of here."

Shin followed.. chest still racing but he realized that Saint wasn’t just protective.. he was terrifyingly and overwhelmingly capable. And the thought of being under Saint’s shield made Shin feel both safe and strangely exhilarated.

The door clicked softly behind them as they returned to the dorm. Saint dropped onto his bed with a groan.. flexing his hands. His hands were bruised from the fight.. dark purples forming across the skin.

Shin stepped closer, a small bottle of ointment in hand. 

"Here.. let me help." He said softly, kneeling beside the bed.

Saint smirked, though the pain made him wince slightly as Shin’s fingers gently rubbed the ointment over the bruises. The closeness was inevitable.. knees brushing, shoulders almost touching and the warmth of Shin’s presence made Saint’s chest tighten in ways he didn’t want to name.

Shin’s eyes flicked up.. catching Saint’s gaze. For a moment, they just looked at each other. Then Shin’s gaze drifted lower, almost instinctively, to Saint’s lips.. the curve of them, the faint sheen from his own moisture.

Saint noticed the look, a slow, teasing smile forming. His breath hitched slightly. Almost as if drawn by some unseen magnet, he leaned forward.

Their lips met.

Soft at first.. testing, questioning. Then Shin melted into it, kissing back with surprising confidence.. his hands resting lightly on Saint’s arms. Saint’s own restraint faltered, the kiss deepening naturally.

Time seemed to shrink around them, the bruised hands, the adrenaline from earlier, the closeness of their bodies.. everything fading except the feel of lips, the warmth and the quiet thrum of shared heartbeats.

Saint finally pulled back slightly.

The kiss ended and suddenly the air between them felt heavy. Shin’s cheeks burned.. his heart racing in a way that was both thrilling and unnerving. He hadn’t expected it, and yet part of him had wanted it all along.

Saint’s hands froze where they rested, his chest heaving slightly, mind reeling from the sudden closeness. He hadn’t meant to let himself get so carried away.. yet the pull toward Shin was undeniable.

Both of them lingered in that suspended moment.. close enough to feel each other’s warmth, yet uncertain of how to move. It wasn’t embarrassment that held them frozen.. but the sheer surprise of their own reactions made everything feel awkwardly delicate.

Shin shifted slightly, unsure where to place his hands, while Saint’s gaze softened, taking in Shin’s flushed face and wide eyes. The intensity of the moment lingered longer than either expected and the room felt simultaneously too small and intimate.

Their breathing slowed gradually, yet neither moved away.. each secretly aware of the new tension that had settled between them. 

After a moment ,Saint let out a short.. awkward chuckle. "So.. uh.. are we okay?"

Shin tilted his head, giving him a small nod. ".. Yes.. I think.. We’re okay."

Saint, sensing the awkwardness but secretly amused.. leaned back on his hands and let out a soft sigh. "..This is going to be interesting."

Shin let out a nervous laugh and finally the tension melted.

They didn't say anything again but stayed like that for a long moment.. suspended in quiet intimacy.

And for both of them, the unspoken bond grew stronger now.. a trust and attraction neither could deny any longer.

Over the next several days at the academy.. the rhythm between Shin and Saint subtly shifted.

At breakfast, Saint would reach across the table to grab a shared condiment.. his hand brushing Shin’s. At first, Shin had flinched slightly but now he only smiled and let the contact linger.. leaning just a fraction closer as if inviting it.

During sparring drills, Saint would lightly steady Shin’s shoulder or hold his wrist just long enough to guide a move. Each touch was fleeting but Shin’s calm response made it feel effortless. He learned to anticipate Saint’s movements and when their arms or hands connected, he subtly pressed back.. giving silent cooperation.

Even outside the training room.. in study sessions or carrying books across the hall, similar touches occurred. Saint would guide Shin past obstacles or reach to hand him something, fingers brushing. Shin’s shoulders would relax, his posture open.. no flinching or hesitation.. just natural awareness and confidence.

By the end of the week, these small, mutual touches had become second nature. Shin no longer viewed them as intrusive.. Saint no longer felt the need to overthink his proximity. The contact was functional.. natural and subtly reassuring.. a shared understanding that they could rely on each other, physically and mentally.. without words.

Chapter Text

The room was quiet.. the desk lamp the only light. Books and papers were scattered everywhere while Shin kept writing in his notebook. Saint sat beside him.. unusually quiet with his gaze fixed on Shin.

Shin paused mid-sentence and glanced at him. "What.. why are you distracted?”

Saint’s eyes held unwavering intensity. "..Can I... kiss you?"

Shin went silent.. his pen hovering above the paper. Then a slow and knowing smile spread across his face. "About time you asked."

Before Shin could say anything else, Saint leaned in.. capturing his lips with an urgent kiss. It wasn’t slow and gentle.. It was commanding and full of need. His hungry alpha instincts pressed forward.. demanding attention and closeness from Shin. It was the kind of kiss that made the world shrink to the space between them.. a raw assertion of need and dominance. His tongue swept boldly against Shin’s.. exploring. Shin’s body reacted instantly. His hands went to Saint’s shoulders, gripping firmly as he pressed closer, matching the force.. letting the contact ground him instead of overwhelming him. Every brush of Saint’s lips and teeth against his own sent jolts of heat through him.

Saint’s hands were everywhere.. one palm buried in Shin’s hair, tilting his head just so, the other hand firm against his back.. pulling him impossibly close. He could feel Shin’s pulse racing beneath his fingertips, his breaths coming in quick and shallow bursts.

Shin let himself feel it.. the heat, the closeness and the magnetic pull of Saint’s alpha presence.. without hesitation. 

They stayed locked together for a few minutes.. the world narrowed to the space between them, until finally Saint pulled back slightly.. just enough to let Shin breathe, though their foreheads rested together.

Saint’s eyes darkened with intensity, drinking in the sight of Shin.. flushed and wide-eyed, and the faintest curve of a smile.

"Finally." Saint murmured with rough restrained.. still holding Shin close, as if afraid that letting go would undo everything.

Shin’s lips curved into a teasing, breathless smile. 

".. Yes.. Finally." He whispered back.. the tension of the kiss lingering in every pulse and brush of skin.

Even after their lips parted, the heat between them didn’t fade. The air was thick with rising desire and the undeniable pull of something neither of them wanted to resist.

For some time, neither spoke.. letting the heat of the moment settle between them. Shin finally leaned back a little, brushing a hand against his own face, avoiding Saint’s eyes for just a second.

Saint chuckled softly, shaking his head. "So.. what are we?"

Shin looked at him.. lips curved in a small teasing smile. "What do you think?"

Saint’s grin widened. "Boyfriends."

Shin’s eyes widened slightly at the word.. then crinkled with amusement. Shin didn’t say anything, but the small smile on his face told Saint everything..

Saint’s hand slipped toward his, their fingers brushing lightly.. a small touch but it carried a quiet kind of intimacy. Shin felt completely safe letting himself relax.. leaning into Saint’s presence, letting the world fade out until it was just the two of them.

Saint, for his part, smiled contently.. his alpha instincts still simmered beneath the surface.. restrained by the gentle bond forming between them.

The days after that night had a different rhythm. Shin and Saint moved through the academy side by side.. their closeness now effortless. They walked together to classes, shoulders brushing.. gaze lingering. No one could mistake the subtle intimacy.. yet it remained quiet, private and a gentle secret between them.

The academy hallways were mostly empty as they walked back from the class, their footsteps echoing softly. Saint walked just a step behind Shin.. letting his hand brush Shin’s side whenever they passed a doorway or a corner. Shin didn’t pull away.. instead, he smirked slightly, leaning subtly into Saint’s touch.

When they reached a quiet stairwell, Saint stopped abruptly and pressed a quick and soft kiss to Shin’s lips, catching him off guard. Shin chuckled.. turning to meet Saint’s gaze. They lingered for a few seconds.. just long enough for warmth to spread through them, before Saint pulled back with a teasing grin.

"Always eager." Shin murmured.

"Can’t help myself." Saint murmured with a teasing glint in his eyes.

Later that night, in their shared dorm room, they settled on the bed with textbooks scattered around. Saint leaned against the headboard, and Shin nestled beside him, shoulders touching. Their legs brushed occasionally, hands resting close enough to to brush occasionally.

"I like being with you." Saint said softly.

Shin’s lips curved in a small smile. "I like being with you too, Saint."

Saint chuckled.. wrapping an arm around Shin’s shoulders. Shin leaned in, resting his head lightly against Saint’s chest. Saint tightened his hold and Shin sighed softly, feeling completely at ease.

They talked.. whispers about classes, small daily frustrations and silly observations.

Occasionally, Saint pressed a gentle kiss to Shin’s temple or the top of his head. Shin responded with light touches.. a hand brushing Saint’s side, a soft nudge with his shoulder, even a quick kiss on the corner of Saint’s mouth.

Eventually, they ended up lying side by side on the small but cozy bed. Shin’s hand reached for Saint’s, their fingers lacing together with ease. Before long, they drifted off, curled up in each other’s arms.

Over the next days.. in similar empty corridors or tucked away corners, they stole small kisses.. brief, gentle, playful. Shin had never let anyone get this close before and the thrill of these quiet moments made him feel lighter and freer.

The announcement came in the morning.. the semester was officially over and vacation had begun. Excitement buzzed through the academy halls but for Shin and Saint.. the reality of leaving each other loomed unexpectedly.

Saint walked beside Shin toward the main gates, their bags slung over their shoulders. He kept his tone light but there was a softness beneath it. "You’ll get your break.. You don’t have to pretend for anyone."

Shin glanced at him. "I know.." He murmured, then looked away.. a bit embarrassed by the intensity of the moment.

Saint leaned closer, cheekily lowering his voice. "Don’t miss me too much."

Shin froze, a slight stumble in his step. He mumbled quickly.. almost under his breath. "I might.."

A slow grin spreading across Saint’s face. "What did you say?"

Shin’s cheeks warmed. 

"Nothing. I said.. I’ll be glad I don’t have a puppy to annoy me." He added with a teasing smile, trying to deflect, though his tone betrayed just a hint of sincerity.

Saint laughed.. the grin never left his face. "You’re ridiculous." He said, shaking his head.

Then, gently.. he added. "I’ll miss you too."

Shin’s lips curved, a mixture of amusement and warmth settling in his chest. Their banter.. playful as ever, masked the small pang of separation neither wanted to admit. 

As they parted at the gate, Shin waved reluctantly and Saint gave a short, confident nod.. already counting the days until they returned to each other.

Shin’s train ride home felt unusually light. The usual tension he carried around alphas and betas seemed to melt away as the scenery blurred past. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he saw Saint’s name light up the screen.

"Hey.. Made it okay?"

Shin smiled, typing back quickly. "No, still on the train. How about you?"

Saint replied almost immediately. "Already home." 

When Shin got home, his mother was already at the door, pulling him into a hug. "Shin! Are you okay? Nobody at the academy knows where you are, right?" She asked immediately.

Shin knelt to hug his little sister first, then turned to his mother.

"I’m fine, Mom. Everything’s fine. Don’t worry." He reassured her.

Later, in his room.. Shin pulled out his phone again. Saint’s messages were still popping up.

Shin’s thumbs flew over the keyboard. "Just arrived."

A minute later, Saint’s reply blinked on screen. "And I already miss you."

Shin’s lips curved into a fond smile. Even though he was surrounded by his mother and little sister, safe at home, the warmth from Saint’s words.. the bond they had built.. lingered stronger than any physical presence.

Shin sat cross-legged on the couch.. his little sister sprawled beside him with a book while their mother hummed in the kitchen. His phone buzzed and he saw Saint’s name pop up.

Saint: [Photo of a plate of noodles] Lunch. Looks good, right?

Shin smirked, typing back quickly: "Looks decent. You call that a meal?

Saint: Hey! Don’t underestimate my culinary skills.

Shin: Yeah, yeah. Looks like a sad little heap of noodles to me.

Saint: [snaps another photo] Behold! With extra spice this time.

Shin laughed.. shaking his head: "Trying too hard to impress me, huh?"

Saint: Absolutely. I demand admiration.

Shin: Admiration? Maybe if you added some dessert.

Saint: You’re so demanding.

Shin grinned.. replying. "And yet you still listen to me."

Saint: With pleasure.

Later, Shin wandered into the kitchen to help his mother pack a few things. He glanced at his phone again.

Saint: What are you up to now?

Shin: Making tea. Nothing fancy. You?

Saint: [Photo of Saint stretching on the balcony] Training break. You’re missing out.

Shin grinned, typing quickly: Looks exhausting.. are you really training or just showing off?"

Saint: Both. Definitely both.

Shin: Typical.

Saint: Hey, someone has to stay in shape. You can’t steal all the glory just by being clever.

Shin: Clever beats sweat any day.

Saint was sprawled on the couch, his phone lighting up constantly. His father was reading the newspaper, his mother arranging papers on the desk, and his brother was lounging nearby, poking at his phone.

"Who’s blowing up your phone this much?" His brother asked, glancing at Saint’s screen.

Saint frowned slightly, trying to hide his grin. "No one. Just.. friends."

His brother leaned over, smirking. "Friends, huh? Looks like more than friends. You’re smiling way too much for just chatting."

Saint’s mother raised an eyebrow. "Hmm.. Who is it? Someone special."

Saint shrugged, pretending to be nonchalant but his fingers flew over the keyboard. "Just someone I met at the academy. Nothing important."

"Nothing important?" His father chuckled.

"Way too much texting for nothing important. Sounds suspicious to me too." His brother added.

Saint rolled his eyes but couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at his lips. "You don’t need to know."

His brother nudged him again. "I bet it’s someone you like. Admit it. Who is it?"

Saint glanced at the screen again.. Shin’s latest message popping up.. a small warmth bloomed in his chest.

Saint shook his head, feigning exasperation. "Fine. It’s.. complicated. Just leave me alone."

His brother laughed, clearly not buying it. "Complicated, huh? Sounds like a secret crush to me."

Saint muttered something under his breath and got up.

Meanwhile, across town, Shin was lounging on the couch at home.. scrolling through his phone with a contented grin. His mother peeked in, noticing how relaxed he looked. "You’ve been smiling at that phone a lot. Who are you texting?"

Shin just shrugged. "Just a friend. Nothing important."

His little sister peeked over his shoulder. "Is it someone you like?"

Shin’s cheeks warmed but he shook his head quickly. "Nope. Just a friend."

Shin was in his room.. staring at his phone for a moment before swiping to call Saint.The line connected and Saint’s familiar, calm voice filled his ear.

"Finally decided to call me?" Saint asked, teasing.

Shin smirked. "You’re always on your phone. Why didn’t you call me?"

"Maybe I was waiting for you to call." Saint shot back, grinning. 

"You’re ridiculous."

"But you like it, don’t lie." Saint admitted.. softening slightly.

They laughed together.. the sound comfortable in the stillness of their rooms. Shin leaned back.

A few minutes of playful teasing passed.. jokes about meals, little challenges and sarcastic remarks.. until a brief silence fell.

"I.." Saint’s voice softened. ".. I miss you."

Shin stilled.. a small flutter in his chest. His heart thudded as he felt the honesty in Saint’s words.

"I miss you too." He admitted, almost whispering with a gentle voice.

They stayed silent for a moment, letting the words hang between them.. each drawing comfort from the other’s presence even through a phone line. No further teasing or distractions.. just the quiet and steady warmth of knowing the other was there. Even apart, the bond between them felt tangible, quiet, and unbreakable.

Rest of the days passed with similar banter.. casual updates about meals, little playful jabs and shared snapshots of everyday life. Shin felt lighter than he had in months.. smiling freely as he teased Saint, while Saint’s texts were filled with subtle warmth.. protective undertones hidden beneath the jokes.

On the last day before vacation ended, Shin returned from visiting his cousins.. a thin sheen of summer heat still clinging to his skin. His little sister had already fallen asleep, curled up with her plush toys and the house smelled faintly of ginger tea drifting from the kitchen.

He slipped into his room with his phone in hand.. tossing himself onto the bed. A message notification lit up his screen.

Saint: You back home yet? Don’t tell me you got lost on the way.

Shin: I live here, idiot.

Saint: Still wouldn’t surprise me. Anyway. Look. A picture followed..[Saint holding a bag of roasted chestnuts.. grinning at the camera like a fool.] 

Shin felt his lips tug upward before he could stop himself. His fingers typed on their own.

Shin: You look like a street vendor.

Saint: Wow, your boyfriend buys you food and that’s how you appreciate him?

Shin smiled: Okay boyfriend. Thank you so much for your service.

A smile lingered on Shin’s face as he was looking at his phone.. too focused to hear the door creak when his mother came in.

"Shin."

He looked surprised as he pushed himself upright. "Mom.."

There was something heavy in the way she looked at him. She crossed the room, sat at the edge of his bed and smoothed her palm over his blanket. For a while, it was just quiet.. her gaze resting on him in that way only mothers knew how.

"You’re smiling more these days." She murmured.

"There is someone in the academy. Because of him. Right?"

Shin’s throat tightened. He wanted to scoff, deny.. brush her off but his voice betrayed him with silence.

Her hand moved from the blanket to his arm. Gently, she turned it.. exposing the faint red mark where a suppressant patch had been earlier that day. Her fingers lingered over it like a scar.

Shin’s heart stopped. "Mom.."

"You have a secret to hide." Her voice cracked.. trembling with something between sorrow and fear. 

"All this time.. you’re pretending, Shin. You are still an omega. And if anyone finds out.." Her words broke. 

"There would be consequences."

The room seemed to shrink around them. Shin sat frozen, staring at the floor.

"I saw how you spoke on the phone, how your voice changes.You think you can keep this up forever? The moment someone knows, you’ll lose everything you’ve worked for. Do you understand?"

Shin’s fists tightened in his lap. His mother’s words stabbed where he already bled. He had always been careful because if anyone suspected, if anyone knew, it would all fall apart. And now Saint.. Saint had slipped past his defenses without even trying.

"That alpha will be fine." His mother whispered, her hand trembling against his wrist. 

"But you? You won’t. Don’t let him drag you down. Don’t let this.. whatever this is.. ruin you."

Shin forced his face blank. His heart was hammering in his ribs but he bit it down, buried it under layers of ice. "I understand." 

His mother pressed a kiss to his temple before leaving. The door clicked shut. Shin sat there, motionless.. until his phone lit up again.

Saint: Hey. Don’t sleep yet. Wanna call?

His chest ached. His thumb hovered over the screen. For a long moment, he let the phone buzz in his hand.. his reflection faintly staring back in the black screen.

And that night Shin didn’t answer.

Chapter Text

Shin didn’t sleep that night.

He lay flat on his back, staring at the ceiling. His mother’s words pressed down on him, replaying in a loop until his chest felt hollow, brittle.. like cracked glass ready to shatter.

He curled his fists into his sheets, jaw clenched. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t thought about it before. Of course he had. Every glance Saint stole in empty hallways, every brush of their hands under the table and the kiss that still burn his lips.. all of it painted a target on their backs.

Saint had always been reckless with affection. Smiling too easily, reaching too quickly, laughing like the world would never turn against him. Shin hated how much he envied it.

And yet.. he loved it too.

That was the problem.

Shin rolled onto his side, pulling the blanket tighter over himself.. as if he could suffocate the feelings clawing up his throat.

He wasn’t just protecting himself. He wasn’t afraid of only his own ruin. It was Saint he saw in his nightmares. Saint, standing too close, grinning at him and then being ripped apart by whispers, by sneers or by cruel words.. tossed around like poison.

Saint was an alpha. Strong, radiant and untouchable. Everyone expected him to rise high.. to be good. What would they say if they knew he tied himself to someone like Shin? To someone branded weak, lesser, unworthy of standing at his side?

Shin pressed his hand to his chest.. where the ache pulsed like a bruise. He thought of Saint’s last message, waiting and unread. He thought of the warmth of his arms, the steadiness of his voice when he said boyfriends.

And Shin thought of what it would do to him if Saint lost everything because of him.

I have to protect him.

Even if it meant pulling away.

Even if it meant letting his own heart bleed out slowly in silence.

Even if it meant watching Saint’s smile falter.. watching confusion twist in his eyes.

Shin closed his eyes, whispering into the dark.

"I am sorry, Saint."

The phone on his nightstand blinked with one more unread message. Shin turned it face down.

The campus was buzzing with returning students, luggage rolling across the pavement and laughter echoing in the air. Saint stood waiting near the dorm entrance, a paper bag of souvenirs clutched in his hand. He had been fidgeting with it the whole time..  excitement bubbling in his chest at the thought of seeing Shin again.

And then Shin appeared.

Dragging his suitcase, hair slightly messy from travel.. and the familiar calm expression on his face. Saint’s grin spread instantly. Without hesitation, he jogged forward.. lifting his arms up.

"Shin!"

Shin stopped in his tracks. For a split second, something warm flickered in his eyes.. then vanished, shuttered like a door slamming shut.

"You’re here." Shin said, voice flat.. almost monotone. He adjusted his grip on his suitcase and gave a small nod. No smile. No hug.. Nothing.

Saint was confused.. his steps faltering. That wasn’t the welcome he had imagined. Still, he pressed forward.. trying to bridge the gap. He reached out, close enough to graze Shin’s arm but Shin instinctively shifted back. The movement was subtle but it might as well have been a slap.

Saint froze.

"What’s wrong?" His voice came weaker than he expected.. edged with confusion.

"Nothing." Shin replied quickly, too quickly. His tone was clipped and practiced. He tugged his suitcase handle upright.

"I’m just tired. Long trip." Without waiting.. he brushed past and header toward their room.

Saint stood rooted where he was.. watching Shin’s retreating back. His chest tightened with the unmistakable sting of deja vu. This wasn’t the first time he’d felt Shin pulling away, closing in on himself and building walls where there used to be none.

The distance was back.

And Saint hated it.

He gripped the souvenir bag tighter.. knuckles whitening as Shin disappeared into the dorm. A dozen questions burned on his tongue but he swallowed them down, left standing in the middle of the bustling courtyard with the sudden realization.

Shin wasn’t just tired. Shin was shutting him out.

Just like before.

The first night back, Shin went to bed early. He muttered something about being exhausted and slipped under the covers.. turning away before Saint even had the chance to say goodnight.

The second night, they studied together but not really. Shin buried himself in his notes, eyes never straying, hands never brushing against Saint’s like they used to. The air between them felt heavy and tensed. Saint tried to joke about how boring their professor was but Shin only hummed in reply.. not even lifting his head.

The third night, Saint caught his hands asking. "Did something happened?"

Shin just replied. "Nothing." and went to sleep.

The lie was small but it sliced all the same.

Each day, Shin grew quieter.. more distant as if he were sealing himself into some invisible fortress. His smiles vanished and his teasing gone. Where there had once been warm late-night whispers, stolen touches and laughter in the dark.. there was only silence.

And it was eating Saint alive.

He tried, at first. Small attempts.. brushing Shin’s sleeve while handing him a pen, leaning close when they walked to class, leaving snacks by his side. Each time, Shin pulled back, politely but firmly.. like he was refusing something unspoken.

By the fourth day, Saint was restless. His chest felt heavy, his throat tight, frustration clawing its way higher. He lay awake that night staring at the ceiling.. listening to Shin’s even breathing across the room.

How could Shin go back to this.. this coldness.. after everything?

After them?

The next morning, when Shin slipped out of the room without a word, Saint sat on his bed, fingers curled into fists. Enough was enough.

It had been nearly a week of this. A week of Shin’s silence, of half-hearted replies, of distance so thick it made Saint feel like a stranger in his own room.

That evening, Shin returned from class.. dropped his bag neatly by his desk and began arranging his notes like nothing was wrong. Like there wasn’t a war raging in Saint’s chest.

Saint sat on the edge of his bed, watching. Waiting. The longer Shin avoided his eyes, the tighter Saint’s fists clenched.

Finally, the dam broke.

"Enough." Saint snapped, his voice louder than he intended.

Shin’s hands froze mid-motion, the pencil trembling slightly between his fingers. "What the hell is going on with you?"

"I’m just tired." Shin replied flatly, without looking up.

"Bullshit." Saint was already on his feet.. crossing the space between them in two steps. He grabbed Shin’s wrist before the other could pull away, forcing him to look up.

"You’ve been 'tired' for days. You won’t look at me, won’t talk to me, won’t even touch me. Don’t tell me it’s nothing."

Shin’s jaw tightened.. eyes flickering with something Saint couldn’t read. "Let go."

"Not until you tell me why you’re shutting me out." Saint shot back, his grip firm but not bruising.

His voice cracked, frustration bleeding into desperation. "Did I do something? Did I mess up? Just say it, Shin!"

Shin finally met his eyes and the look gutted him. A storm of guilt, fear and something deeper swirled in that gaze.. something Shin was fighting hard to bury.

"You don’t get it." Shin whispered.

"Being with you. It’s dangerous."

Saint’s breath caught. "Dangerous?"

Shin yanked his wrist free, standing so suddenly the chair scraped against the floor. "People talk, Saint. They already talk. And if they knew.."

His voice faltered. "If they knew what I really am.. it would ruin everything. Not just me. You, too."

Saint went still, the pieces clicking together.. the secrecy, the hesitation, the cold distance. His chest ached, anger dissolving into raw hurt.

"So that’s it?" He asked, voice now low.

"You’d rather throw us away than let anyone whisper about you? About us?"

Shin flinched but said nothing. Silence pressed heavy between them.. louder than any fight.

Saint took a shaky breath, eyes burning. "You can push me away all you want, Shin. But don’t you dare pretend I don’t matter to you."

With that, he turned, retreating to his bed.. leaving Shin standing frozen in the middle of the room.. his walls still up but trembling now, threatening to crack.

The days bled into one another, heavy with silence.

If Shin had thought creating distance would protect Saint, the reality was far worse than he had prepared for.

Saint had stopped talking to him altogether. No teasing remarks, no casual questions.. not even the smallest acknowledgment. Instead, Saint slipped into a cold routine.. coming back to the room late, long after Shin had already turned off the lights and leaving early before Shin could even open his eyes.

At first, Shin tried to convince himself it was better this way. That Saint’s absence was a shield. But the longer it went on.. the more suffocating it became.

He noticed everything, because he couldn’t stop noticing.

How during training, Saint kept his face carefully guarded, his usual light gone.. never letting his eyes linger too long.

How in the cafeteria, Saint sat at a different table.. surrounded by others but never once looking Shin’s way.

And yet..

Shin also noticed the quiet tells Saint couldn’t hide.

The way he still would linger in the bathroom until he heard the sound of Shin’s door clicking shut.

The way his jaw clenched when someone nudged him playfully.. mentioning Shin’s name.

The faint pause before Saint walked out of the room as if he almost turned to say something but held it back.

The slight stiffness in his shoulders when he brushed past Shin in the hallway.. the tiniest slip of hesitation before he forced himself to keep moving.

Shin pretended not to see it. Pretended not to ache. Pretended not to care.

But late at night, lying awake in the dark, staring at the empty side of the room that felt emptier than ever before.. Shin realized the silence was worse than any fight.

Saint wasn’t just hurt.

He was disappearing.

And Shin was the one making him fade.

The gym was warm with the smell of sweat, leather and too much tension. The thud of fists against pads.. the slap of bare feet against the mats, the occasional bark of the instructor.. it all filled the air but for Shin, it sounded distant.

Training had always been their place. Here, they didn’t need words. Every spar was a challenge.. every punch a language of its own.

But lately, it was different.

The air between them wasn’t fire anymore. It was ice.. cold and brittle.

Shin had been distracted all morning. His punches landed too clean.. too textbook. His steps were precise but hollow.. his eyes unfocused. He wasn’t fighting, not really. He was somewhere else entirely.. mind echoing with his mother’s words.

"Don't let this.. whatever this is.. ruin you."

His grip on the gloves tightened until his knuckles ached.

Across from him, Saint noticed. He didn’t let it show.. his jaw was tight, his movements sharp, each strike rougher than the last.. but underneath, his chest was burning. Every wrong step Shin took gnawed at him. Every glance away was another cut.

When the instructor shouted. "Pair up. Full speed." Shin nodded automatically. His body moved but his mind was still spinning.

And that’s when it happened.

One wrong slip. One half-second too slow. The opponent’s kick arced dangerously high, aimed square at Shin.

He didn’t react in time.

Before he even realized the danger.. Saint was there. A blur of motion, body slamming into his. He shoved Shin out of the way with all the force he had.

The kick landed squarely on Saint’s side.

A sickening thud echoed through the gym. Saint’s grunt broke the rhythm of punches and shouts. He staggered back.. one arm clutching his side.

"Saint!" Shin’s voice cracked with panic. He dropped to his knees beside him.

"You.. why the hell would you.."

"You were distracted." Saint hissed, breath jagged. He forced himself upright, pretending it was nothing but the pain was obvious in his face. Classmates swarmed closer, concern painted on their expressions but Saint waved them off with a glare.

"I’m fine."

He wasn’t fine.

Shin knew it. He could feel it.. sitting like a weight in his own chest. The rest of training passed in a blur. He went through the motions but his eyes kept flicking back, seeing it over and over.. the kick, the impact, Saint stumbling.. Saint hurting.

By night, the guilt had rooted itself so deep it was all Shin could think about.

That was how he ended up standing outside his room, the light spilling faintly through the crack beneath the door. He pushed it open.

Saint stood there, shirt half off, staring at the ugly bruise blooming across his ribs. His reflection in the mirror looked stubborn.. tired and far too calm.

"You’re an idiot." Shin blurted. The words came out harsher than he meant.. trembling at the edges despite his effort to sound cold.

Saint didn’t flinch. He didn’t even look at him. He just kept staring at himself in the mirror, jaw set. "Better me than you."

Something in Shin snapped. He took a step forward, palms pressing against the cold porcelain of the sink as if to hold himself steady. "Why? You’ve been avoiding me for days, won’t even look at me, but the second I mess up, you throw yourself in front of me? What the hell, Saint?"

Finally, Saint turned, and the look in his eyes nearly knocked the breath out of Shin. Guarded.. Angry. And underneath.. something raw and hurting.

"Because I can’t help it." Saint’s voice was low but it cut like glass.

"Even if you push me away, even if you act like I’m nothing.. I still want to protect you. That’s what drives me insane, Shin."

Shin froze. His heart hammered so hard he swore Saint could hear it. His throat ached.. words clawing up but catching before they could escape.

Tell him. Tell him the truth. Tell him you’re scared. Tell him it’s not about him.. it’s about ruining him. About what would happen to them and to Saint.. because of him.

But all that slipped out was a broken whisper.

"You shouldn’t."

Saint let out a bitter laugh."Too late."

Shin stood there, fists clenched, nails digging into his palms.. a thousand confessions stuck in his chest. Saint turned back to the mirror, his face unreadable but his eyes.. were hollow.

The silence that followed was suffocating.