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“Hyung, have you ever met a Cake in your life?” Jihoon asked.
The question hung in the quiet bedroom.
Hyunjoon did not answer right away. He put his phone down, his hand subconsciously touching the matte black leather collar secured around his neck—the official suppressor every registered Fork was required to wear in public.
Underneath the collar, the internal dampeners hummed softly, keeping his world comfortably gray, tasteless, and safe.
“No,” Hyunjoon murmured softly, keeping his eyes locked onto his phone screen. “Never, and I don’t really care. The collar keeps things stable. That’s enough for me.”
“Really?” Jihoon leaned back into his pillow, turning his head to look at his top laner.
Jihoon looked exhausted. His face was flushed with an unusual, deep pink, and sweat glinted along his temples. He had been complaining about the sudden, burning fever since their evening scrim, but he had brushed it off as mere fatigue.
“They say Cakes taste like whatever you crave the most or something like that,” Jihoon continued, his voice dropping into a raspy, gravelly register as he massaged the side of his neck. His skin was radiating an unnatural heat. “Doesn’t it bother you? Knowing you’re missing out on one flavor just because of a piece of leather?”
“It keeps people safe,” Hyunjoon said firmly, though his tone was gentle. He glanced over at Jihoon, frowning slightly at how feverish the younger boy looked. “It keeps me safe from doing something stupid. Besides, being a Fork isn’t a tragedy, Jihoon-ah. You just get used to the gray.”
Hyunjoon picked up a water bottle from the nightstand, gesturing for Jihoon to get up and take it. “Here. Drink this. You’re practically glowing. I didn’t know practicing in the room with the A/C on would be this bad on your health—”
Hyunjoon froze.
It was subtle at first. A faint, tiny electric crackle inside the lining of Hyunjoon’s collar, followed by the soft, dying chime of its internal dampening field giving up.
Then, the air in the room shattered.
It was not a slow leakage of scent. It was an absolute detonation. A thick, suffocating wave of heavy bittersweet dark chocolate and hot, bitter espresso exploded from Jihoon’s body, flooding the small bedroom in a fraction of a second. The flavor was so dense, so terrifyingly concentrated, that it overwhelmed the top laner.
He’s presenting, Hyunjoon’s mind screamed, his heart beating like a drum. Jihoon is presenting now.
The collar was supposed to suppress his urge. The collar was engineered specifically to mute Cake scents. But Jihoon’s raw, newly unleashed Cake scent did not just bypass the suppressor. It overwhelmed the device, burning through the leather barrier and hitting Hyunjoon’s starved, dormant senses.
He breathed in.
Sweetness.
The word bloomed in Hyunjoon’s mind with terrifying clarity. He had spent years believing he was not missing anything important. But as the sudden explosion of rich, dark chocolate filled Hyunjoon’s senses, the years of cold, gray emptiness broke down. It was the most beautiful, terrifying thing he had ever experienced.
Hyunjoon stood frozen like someone witnessing a miracle right in front of his eyes. He gasped, a sharp, choked sound tearing from his throat. His jaw ached with a sudden, agonizing hunger that he had never felt in his entire life.
“Hyung…” Jihoon panted, his own breath coming in shallow hitches as his presentation peaked, his body trembling from the heat pouring off his skin.
“W-what’s happening to us?”
Hyunjoon could not answer. He could not even look at the mid laner.
Every instinct in his body, the dark, predatory Fork instincts he had kept suppressed was roaring at him to crawl across the bed, grab Jihoon and sink his teeth into that warm, feverish skin until the taste filled his mouth.
Hyunjoon lifted his own hand and slapped himself, using the sharp shock of pain to drag his hazy mind back from the brink.
“Stay there, Jihoon-ah… Don’t move,” Hyunjoon said urgently, his hands trembling violently as he scrambled backward on his hands and knees, away from the bed, away from Jihoon, away from that intoxicating scent that was driving him insane.
“Hyung, don’t go…” Jihoon’s whisper made Hyunjoon flinch, but he did not stop moving toward the door.
He, no, they needed help.
“Hyukkyu hyung! Minseok-ah, Hong Changhyeon!” Hyunjoon cried out, hoping his shout would reach his teammates in the other rooms.
“Guys, you need to lock me in,” Hyunjoon choked out, his voice cracking with sheer panic. He was currently curled up in a corner of the sofa in the living room, burying his face in his arms, trembling as the residual scent of Jihoon’s fever still echoed in his blood.
“Hyunjoon-ah, calm down. We’re all here. We can help you and Jihoon,” Daeho said confidently, trying to reassure Hyunjoon.
“My guess it, this is Hyunjoon’s first time tasting a flavor he has never experienced,” Hyukkyu said in a calm voice as he looked at Hyunjoon with brotherly worry. “So I think this is a natural part of the process, just unexpected.”
Kneeling down beside Hyunjoon on the floor was Changhyeon, offering a sympathetic look at his friend, while holding his trembling hand. He hated seeing his friend break down. “Hey…” Changhyeon gave a quick squeeze, trying to stay strong for him. “Breathe, Choi Hyunjoon. Hyung is here. Everything’s gonna be alright.”
“We’re the same age,” Hyunjoon instantly replied, feeling slightly better now that he was surrounded by his friends.
None of them were Cakes or Forks so it was impossible for them to fully understand the situation, but it was at least assuring that they would do anything to protect them and resolve the issue.
“Yeah, your collar is right there, Hyunjoon-ah. Maybe it was just a glitch,” Daeho said. “But just to be safe, you can stay in a different room.”
Hyunjoon nodded. “Get the cuffs in my room. They should be in the emergency kit I keep for the Fork matter.”
Soon he was escorted to a room far opposite from where Jihoon was staying under Minseok’s care. His wrists were bound tightly to the bed, his malfunctioning collar still dangling uselessly around his neck.
“Hyunjoon-ah, you sure you want to stay alone?” Changhyeon asked as he put the handcuff key on the bedside table. “I can keep you company.”
“No need, I already feel a bit better. Maybe it really was just a glitch. I just need time to compose myself,” Hyunjoon said, giving a soft smile to his worried friend. “And you all need some proper rest. Sorry for causing trouble.”
“Hey, don’t say that. You’re very important to all of us, okay?” Daeho said, patting Hyunjoon’s head with affection and care. Next to him Hyukkyu nodded silently, giving a soft, reassuring smile to his younger teammate.
“Okay, then. Sleep well, Hyunjoon-ah. We’ll come and check you first thing in the morning."
“Yes, thanks, Daeho hyung. Good night, everyone.”
“Sleep well.”
Hyunjoon let out a long sigh and closed his eyes, believing he was finally safe.
In Hyunjoon and Jihoon’s shared bedroom, Jihoon sat calmly against the headboard, a cool damp cloth resting over his forehead. His chest rose and fell in slow, deliberate breaths, the residual heat of his presentation still clinging to his flushed skin. He looked sick, feverish and deeply remorseful.
When Daeho, Hyukkyu, and Changhyeon walked in, Minseok was wiping sweat from his forehead. Jihoon looked up with wide, troubled eyes.
“Is Hyunjoon hyung okay?” Jihoon asked, his voice weak and full of innocent guilt. “Daeho hyung… It’s my fault. My presentation scared him. He thinks he’s gonna hurt me.”
“It’s not your fault, Jihoon-ah,” Daeho sighed, resting a comforting hand on Jihoon’s shoulder. “It’s natural that Forks have a hard time when a new Cake presents nearby. His collar choked up, that’s all.”
“Yeah, you’re right…” Jihoon lowered his gaze, his fingers subtly tightening around the blanket. He looked up at his coach with worried eyes, tilting his head with quiet concern. “What if he’s still in pain because of me? Is anyone with him?”
Daeho shook his head, offering a gentle, reassuring smile. “No worries. He’s already feeling better, but to be safe, we have him in the room across the hall.” Daeho lowered his voice slightly. “He actually asked us to lock him in and cuff him to the bed for the night so he wouldn’t risk coming near you. So don’t worry. He just needs a night to calm his nerves.”
Jihoon’s eyelashes fluttered as he absorbed the information. A dark, quiet thrill stirred in his chest at the news. Hyunjoon was left alone, bound, and defenseless in the room.
“I see…” Jihoon murmured softly, letting out a small, relieved sigh.
“What about you? How are you feeling?”
“Much better. Minseokie gave me some water and I don’t sweat as much as before. I think the presentation is not as hard as I thought.”
“Still, be careful and let’s get you checked up in the morning. I talked to your mom and she will come and visit you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, hyung.” Jihoon yawned. “I think I need some sleep. Can I stay alone, please?”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, all these noises just make my head spin. I’ll call you if I need anything,” Jihoon let his eyelids flutter shut, slumping back into the pillow, looking completely drained.
“Alright, then. Sleep well, Jihoon-ah.”
“Yeah, good night.”
Jihoon kept his breathing slow and shallow, listening carefully as the footsteps receded down the corridor and the door softly clicked shut. The second the quiet settled back into the dormitory, his eyes snapped open—sharp, bright, and completely devoid of fatigue.
The sudden scent hit the small bedroom like an avalanche.
Hyunjoon’s eyes snapped open in the dark. The air instantly turned suffocating. A thick, heavy wave of bittersweet dark chocolate and espresso made Hyunjoon’s pulse jump.
The bedroom door, which the others had left slightly open, swung inward with a faint, chilling creak.
A figure in the shadow slipped inside, followed by a soft click as the door was locked.
Footsteps followed —slow, deliberate and completely unhurried.
A hand reached out, flicking on the small nightstand lamp. A soft orange light filled the room, revealing the figure standing next to the bed. Jihoon’s eyes held a strange, mesmerizing calmness.
“Jihoon-ah…” Hyunjoon panicked. “What are you doing here?”
Jihoon did not answer. His long, warm fingers found Hyunjoon’s sweating neck, lightly tracing the outline of Hyunjoon’s useless collar.
It was almost beautiful to Jihoon—how terrified Hyunjoon was of his own nature.
Hyunjoon thrashed, the metal handcuffs biting brutally into his thin wrists.
“Hyung, you’re hurting yourself. How will you play League of Legends if you hurt your wrists?”
Jihoon’s words stopped him dead.
“Good boy,” Jihoon chuckled softly. He reached out and gave a light pat to Hyunjoon’s head, his long fingers trailing down to scratch gently behind his ear, a patronizing gesture meant for a pet.
A sudden, violent rush of heat colored Hyunjoon’s face in a beautiful crimson. His chest rose and fell in rapid, shallow hitches, and the scent of dark chocolate and espresso was so dense that it felt tangible.
“Jihoon-ah…” Hyunjoon whispered, his voice trembling as he forced his eyes to meet Jihoon’s. “Go back to your room. You just presented, and I think my collar is broken.”
Jihoon stepped closer, getting onto the bed and positioning himself between Hyunjoon’s open legs.
Slowly, Jihoon reached out. He simply rested his palm over Hyunjoon’s hammering heart, feeling the frantic, panicked rhythm against his long fingers.
“Look at how you are shaking,” Jihoon whispered, a tiny, cruel smile playing at the corner of his lips, making him look like a cat. “Is my scent really that overpowering?”
He leaned in closer, intentionally exhaling his hot, chocolate-laced breath directly against Hyunjoon’s trembling, parted lips. He quietly watched as Hyunjoon’s eyes dilated, his mouth watering against his will as his Fork instincs screamed for satisfaction.
Jihoon liked seeing Hyunjoon like this. He liked knowing that he was the sole object of his beloved hyung’s affection.
Hyunjoon let out a pathetic, stifled sob, his head dropping as he tried his best to resist Jihoon’s mesmerizing spell on him.
Jihoon reached out, his long fingers gently pushing Hyunjoon’s chin up.
“Jihoon-ah,” Hyunjoon choked out, his eyes watering.
Jihoon leaned in and pressed his lips firmly over Hyunjoon’s.
It felt like a circuit snapping inside Hyunjoon’s head. The flavor hit him instantly. A rich, velvety wave of dark chocolate and bitter espresso lingering on Jihoon’s tongue. Hyunjoon gasped into the kiss, his body going rigid against the headboard.
Finally.
Jihoon took his time. He tilted Hyunjoon’s head, deepening the kiss until there was nowhere left to breathe. Slowly parting Hyunjoon's lips with his tongue to let the flavor flood every inch of his mouth. He felt Hyunjoon’s bound hands twitch frantically above his head, his top laner completely paralyzed by the sheer sensation of tasting something real for the first time.
When Jihoon finally pulled back, Hyunjoon’s eyes were completely dazed, his chest heaving as he stared at Jihoon, licking his own lips in shock.
Jihoon smiled a soft, satisfied smile. He dragged his thumb over Hyunjoon’s bottom lip.
"Just a sample, hyung," Jihoon whispered softly against his ear. "Now... Tell me you still want me to leave."
Hyunjoon's breath was coming in short, shaky gasps, his lips still wet and warm from the taste of dark chocolate. He was terrified—Jihoon could feel the frantic pulse beating right against the leather band of his collar.
"Jihoon-ah..." Hyunjoon murmured, his voice soft, rough, and trembling. He did not pull at the handcuffs. He did not try to chase Jihoon's lips. He just leaned his head back against the headboard, staring at the younger boy with sinking dread. "You can't do this."
Jihoon smile faltered, a flash of annoyance tightening his chest. Even after Jihoon gave him what he had been missing in his life, Hyunjoon did not take him, still pushing him away.
“I just did, hyung,” Jihoon muttered, his voice dropping into a dangerous, low edge. “You tasted me. And you didn't hurt me.”
Hyunjoon squeezed his eyes shut, swallowing hard against the lingering sweetness on his tongue.
“I’m barely holding on,” Hyunjoon said, his voice cracking with desperate fear.
“If I hurt you… Or if I leave a bad mark on you, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself,” Hyunjoon whispered, his chest hitching. "You're too important to me, Jihoon-ah.”
Silence fell over the dark room.
Jihoon sat there on his knees, staring at Hyunjoon in complete, stunned quiet.
Hyunjoon was simply terrified of hurting him.
The annoyance in Jihoon’s chest evaporated instantly. Instead, a strange, heavy warmth bloomed in Jihoon's chest, so intense it almost made his fever flare again.
"You really are an idiot, Choi Hyunjoon," Jihoon murmured, though his voice had lost all its cold edge. It was soft, almost fond. “That’s why I love you, though.”
He picked up the small key from the bedside table and turned to the bound Fork. He reached out, his long fingers turning the lock of the handcuffs that had been binding Hyunjoon’s wrists. The handcuffs unlocked with a soft click.
Jihoon looked down at his top laner, drinking in the sight of the older boy trembling in bed. His wrists were raw and red from the metal, his lips bruised from the kiss, and his eyes filled with pathetic devotion. Filthy thrill pooled in Jihoon’s stomach.
The dumbfounded Fork blinked, bringing his raw, red-marked wrists to his chest in shock. "Jihoon...?"
"I know you will never hurt me,” Jihoon said softly. “You won’t hurt your favorite younger brother, will you?” Absolute confidence exuded from the Cake.
Hyunjoon nodded absentmindedly. “No, I will never hurt you, Jeong Jihoon.”
Jihoon smiled like a satisfied cat, pleased with the answer of the older player. His long finger brushed against Hyunjoon’s lower lip, lightly teasing the sensitive skin.
“Since you’re such a good hyung, I’ll reward you.” With that, he slipped his index finger through the parted lips of Hyunjoon, gently stroking the soft palate. Hyunjoon’s breath hitched at the sudden stimulation, his entire body trembling involuntarily under the quiet torture. Saliva pooled in his mouth, his Fork instincs practically begging him to snap his teeth shut and sink into the intoxicating flavor coating Jihoon’s finger.
But he did not.
Even with his vision blurring from sheer hunger, Hyunjoon held his jaw still. He was terrified that a single slip of his teeth would cut the younger boy, terrified of betraying the trust in Jihoon’s eyes. He just quietly swallowed down his own saliva around Jihoon’s finger.
Jihoon smirked, throughly enjoying the show.
“Suck it, hyung,” Jihoon ordered softly, his voice low and dangerously sweet.
Hyunjoon’s pulse hammered in his throat. Hesitantly, the tip of Hyunjoon’s tongue flicked lightly against the pad of Jihoon’s finger. The contact drew another violent wave of rich fusion of dark chocolate and espresso and bittersweet coffee exploding over his senses. A needy, helpless shudder racked his body. The sheer sweetness broke something inside him, replacing his hesitation with sudden, eager boldness.
With his eyes locked on the mid laner, Hyunjoon wrapped his lips around the finger and began gently sucking it like a child with a lollipop, his wet tongue swirling eagerly around it, lapping up the sweet, silky notes of dark chocolate.
Jihoon watched with darkened eyes, a low hum vibrating in his throat. Without warning, he slid a second finger into Hyunjoon’s lips.
Hyunjoon let out a muffled gasp at the sudden intrusion, his eyes widening as his jaw was forced open, stretching his mouth wide to accommodate both digits. The moment both fingers touched his tongue, the flavor exploded, A thick, concentrated wave of bitter espresso and rich, melted dark chocolate coating his entire mouth, seeping into every taste bud.
Abandoning all dignity, Hyunjoon hollowed his cheeks and set a slow, rhythmic pace, drawing both of Jihoon’s long, delicate fingers into his mouth. He swallowed around them as the decadent flavor flooded the back of his throat. He took them all the way to the knuckles before sliding back out to tease the sensitive tips.
The quiet room was filled with the shamelessly wet sound of suction mixed with shallow, breathless pants from both boys’ lips.
Hyunjoon felt his jaw start to ache, his saliva pooling and dribbling messily past the corner of his lips trailing down his chin. But he did not care. He was completely hooked, worshipping the younger boy’s fingers just to drag every drop of flavor out of his skin.
Jihoon’s relaxed composure finally fractured. His chest rose in a sudden, ragged breath, his finger twitching slightly in Hyunjoon’s mouth as his heavy gaze darkened.
“Enough,” Jihoon rasped, his voice rough. The fingers were removed from Hyunjoon’s hot lips with a wet pop.
A small, pathetic whine escaped Hyunjoon’s lips, his empty mouth aching, already missing the rich flavor of the Cake.
“Shhh… I’ll put my neck closer to you and you will not bite it. Understood?”
Hyunjoon nodded eagerly at Jihoon’s words like an obedient puppy listening to its master. With a care, Hyunjoon raised his freed hands, resting his palms gently on Jihoon’s back to hold him steady. He leaned down, burying his face into the warm crook of Jihoon’s neck. The moment his lips pressed into the soft, warm skin, the pure, unfiltered essence of dark chocolate hit his palate. Careful to keep his sharp teeth hidden behind his lips, he flattened his tongue against Jihoon’s neck. He then ran it carefully along the soft curve of Jihoon’s neck like licking rich creamy icing off a freshly made cake. A long, shuddering sigh of pure relief poured out of Hyunjoon’s chest.
Suddenly, a very different kind of heat spiked through him. He felt a slick, uncomfortable pool of warmth gathering beneath his waist. His body had reacted entirely on its own, completely stimulated by the sensory overload of tasting a Cake for the very first time. A violent flush of heat rushed to his face, making his chest heave in rapid, embarrassed hitches. Jerking back as if he had been burned, Hyunjoon abruptly pulled away from Jihoon, turning his face away from Jihoon. His trembling hands frantically snatched the sheets, desperate to drag the heavy blanket over his waist.
“Hyung?”
Feeling the sudden shift in the air, Jihoon cast a quick look at Hyunjoon and his stiff body.
A soft, knowing smirk played on his lips.
Before Hyunjoon could hide his burning face, Jihoon made his move.
Shifting his weight, Jihoon snatched the blanket away and straddled Hyunjoon’s hips, pinning the top laner beneath his frame. He looked down at the flushed, mortified mess he had made of his hyung.
“Look at you, hyung,” Jihoon whispered, his dark eyes sparkling with cat-like amusement in the dim light. “You were lecturing me about keeping me safe, but you were already leaking in your pants just from tasting my neck.”
Without breaking the eye contact, Jihoon reached down, dipping beneath the elastic waistband of Hyunjoon’s pajama pants to wrap his warm fingers directly around the slick, trembling length.
Hyunjoon choked on a sharp, helpless gasp, his back arching slightly off the mattress at the unfamiliar contact. The contrast of Jihoon’s cool palm sliding directly over his length sent a violent shiver straight down his spine.
“Ji—Jihoon-ah, wait—”
“Shh, leave it to me, hyung,” Jihoon purred softly into his ear, his weight firmly holding Hyunjoon in place as his thumb smoothed over the sensitive tip. “Let me take care of you.”
It was the very first time another person’s hands had ever touched Hyunjoon like this. The sudden, intimate contact hit his body like an electric shock.
Jihoon began a slow, rhythmic pump along the length, making Hyunjoon gasp as he twisted his waist from the friction. Trapped beneath the younger boy, Hyunjoon felt utterly exposed, his pajama pants dragged down, his body weeping and squirming under the control of Jihoon.
Desperate for an anchor, Hyunjoon frantically tightened his hands around Jihoon’s neck, his hips twitching helplessly upward into Jihoon’s palm.
As his nose breathed in Jihoon’s espresso-scented neck, his mind went hazy, his senses paralyzed by the addictive flavor mixed with lust.
Above him, Jihoon’s steady, experienced stroke drove an agonizingly sweet friction straight up his spine. The more he tasted Jihoon, the higher his body arched into the touch. He was completely trapped in a loop of pure addiction.
“So sensitive, hyung,” Jihoon let out a dark chuckle, his breath hot against Hyunjoon’s ear as he worked at a punishing speed. “You like when I hold you like this, don’t you?”
“Ji-Jihoon-ah!” Hyunjoon sobbed out, a sharp, ruined sound echoing in the heated room.
“You sound so delicious, hyung,” Jihoon purred, his heavy, lustful eyes fixed on the older boy’s wrecked face as he relentlessly increased his pace. “Give it all to me.”
With a final, punishing speed of his wrist, Jihoon drove him straight off the edge.
A broken, breathless sob escaped Hyunjoon’s lips as his back arched violently off the mattress. His thighs shuddering uncontrollably beneath Jihoon’s weight as his very first release tore through him. A hot, musky release exploded, making a mess of Jihoon’s hand and his own stomach.
Jihoon held him firmly through every violent tremor, riding out the aftershocks until Hyunjoon finally collapsed flat back against the mattress.
Only when the hard spasms slowly faded into quiet, trembling twitches did Jihoon eased his grip.
“You did so well, hyung,” Jihoon said softly, looking at the completely spent Hyunjoon with satisfaction. His Hyunjoon looked utterly ruined, his chest heaving in shallow hitches while his dewy eyes remained unfocused, his red lips parted in a dazed stupor. Hyunjoon gave a small, exhausted smile at the mid laner on top of him, his heavy eyelids fluttering shut after a few blinks.
Jihoon wiped his slick, messy hand with wet wipes, his dark eyes lingering on Hyunjoon’s flushed, peaceful face. The cat-like mid laner was thoroughly satisfied.
However, that satisfaction was soon replaced by a small, petty annoyance.
“…Hyung?” Jihoon shook the top laner, but Hyunjoon did not open his eyes.
“Unbelievable,” Jihoon muttered under his breath, poking Hyunjoon’s soft cheek with his finger. Hyunjoon did not even stir, merely letting out a soft, adorable snore.
Jihoon’s eyes narrowed like an offended cat. He had done all the work until his wrist ached, only for Hyunjoon to immediately pass out without even thanking him or returning the favor.
“You’re so selfish, Choi Hyunjoon,” Jihoon whispered, though there was no real anger in his voice.
Jihoon meticulously cleaned the sleeping Hyunjoon and took a quick shower. Then he squeezed himself back into bed right beside him, wrapping both arms tightly around the sleeping Fork’s waist and burying his face into Hyunjoon’s shoulder.
“Just wait and see,” Jihoon grumbled softly into Hyunjoon’s skin, finally closing his eyes as a small, quiet smirk replaced his pout. “You’re paying me back double.”
“Hyunjoon-ah!” Changhyeon burst into the room followed by Minseok. “Is Jihoon—”
Both of them froze dead in their tracks.
The scene inside was completely unexpected. There was no struggle, no broken furniture, and no blood.
Hyunjoon, free of the handcuffs, was still lost in his dreams, half of his round face buried deep into the fluffy pillow. And sitting right beside him was Jihoon—unharmed, calm, looking down at the soundly sleeping top laner with deep affection. Jihoon looked up at the two intruders with nonchalance, one hand gently holding Hyunjoon’s.
“Hey guys,” Jihoon greeted them, his tone as relaxed as if nothing had happened yesterday. “Could you keep it down? You might wake up Hyunjoon hyung.”
“…Are you two okay?” Changhyeon asked in a confused voice, feeling awkward as if they had intruded upon a private moment.
“We’re both fine, as you can see,” Jihoon answered him with a sheepish smile, his eyes curving beautifully like a cat’s.
Changhyeon let out a long sigh of relief in an exaggerated way. “Fuck! We were worried sick, Jeong Jihoon! We went to your room and couldn’t find you—” While Changhyeon was babbling, Jihoon’s eyes quietly shifted to the support standing next to him. Under that subtle territorial look in the mid laner’s eyes, Minseok felt a sudden surge of panic.
“Hyung, let’s go. Leave them alone,” Minseok immediately said, pushing the jungler toward the door.
“Minseok-ah, what’s wrong? Can’t we—”
“I said let’s go. Let them get some rest. Hyung, let us know when Hyunjoonie hyung wakes up. The team doctor will come and check you two later.”
“Yeah I will. Thanks, Minseok-ah,” Jihoon said, sliding himself back under the cover.
Behind the closed door, Changhyeon complained to the support. “Why did you drag me out?”
The support sighed giving an annoyed look to the jungler. “You’re an idiot, Changhyeon hyung.”
“Hey! Why are you suddenly attacking me!”
“Come quickly, I’ll buy you your favorite snack.”
“Really? And a drink too?”
“Yeah, whatever.”
Walking down the hallway, Minseok could not shake the memory of that terrifyingly possessive glint in Jihoon’s eyes. In general, Forks were considered the dangerous predators holding the leash. But standing in that room, Minseok had realized the truth—Jihoon was no prey. The mid laner had the Fork trapped in a cage made of sweetness.
A small part of Minseok felt a bit of pity for Hyunjoon. His clumsy, gentle-hearted hyung was completely outmatched, completely unaware that he had just handed himself over to their mid laner. But as Minseok cast a quick glance back down the dark corridor, he felt a strange sense of relief.
Thank God it’s Hyunjoonie hyung, Minseok thought silently to himself, letting out a breath he did not realize he was holding. Jihoon was such a sensitive, cat-like person. Any other Fork trying to claim him would have met a cold, unyielding wall.
But Hyunjoon was the sole exception. Hyunjoon was the only person in the world who could make Jihoon drop his guard, soften his sharp edges, and look at someone with such helpless devotion. Hyunjoon was the only one Jihoon would ever allow to taste him, hold him, and keep him safe. They are both completely trapped by each other, Minseok realized with an amused smile. And neither of them was ever going to let go.
The team doctor had confirmed that everything was fine, and as far as the management was concerned, Hyunjoon’s collar had simply suffered a temporary glitch that was now resolved.
“Honestly, if it had been someone else, I would’ve been worried sick…” Jihoon’s mother said as she looked between Jihoon and Hyunjoon. “But since it’s Hyunjoon, I have no worries.”
“Don’t worry, mom. Hyunjoon hyung would never hurt me,” Jihoon said, his voice full of confidence and trust toward his teammate.
“I’m more concerned that you would bother Hyunjoon somehow,” she lightly scolded her son, letting out a soft sigh. She turned to Hyunjoon. “If he ever bothers you, you should let me know, Hyunjoon-ah. Do you understand?”
“Yes. Don’t worry, Jihoon never bothers me,” Hyunjoon said softly, giving a small shy smile to Jihoon’s mother.
“See? Mom, you’re overreacting. How come you trust hyung more than your own son?”
With a pout, Jihoon slung his arms lazily around Hyunjoon’s shoulder, pulling him tightly against his side. As he pulled the top laner close, a tiny trace of sweet dark chocolate scent slipped past his skin.
Hyunjoon briefly stiffened. The sudden, rich wave of flavor hit his senses through his collar. But when he turned his head, he was met with Jihoon’s innocent smile.
Hyunjoon blinked. Ah, I’m just overthinking, Hyunjoon thought to himself, completely dismissing the instinct. He let out a soft chuckle, raising his hand to fondly pat Jihoon’s arm to comfort him against his mother’s scolding.
A slow, wicked grin touched Jihoon's lips. Such sweet, blind innocence—he would not trade it for the world.
To the rest of the world, everything was back to normal.
Except it was not.
Not for Hyunjoon, who had finally discovered a world beyond the dull, quiet gray he had accepted for so long. And certainly not for Jihoon, who had just secured his favorite predator on a very sweet leash.