The rooftop was still buzzing with the weight of the unspoken, though the words had all fallen between Jiwon and Yul. The night air carried the faint scent of ozone, mingled with the perfume of city lights.
Behind them, the members of both groups lingered at the edges, careful to stay out of the invisible line that had drawn the leaders together.
Monarch:
Zayn's arms were crossed, jaw tight. "This isn't normal," he muttered under his breath. He had followed Jiwon into countless situations, but this—this was… different. Something alive in the air, almost dangerous, and yet… magnetic.
Min's fingers brushed against the railing, his eyes narrowed, lips parted slightly. He could feel the shift in energy, the subtle pull that made his stomach knot. "It's like watching two stars collide," he whispered. Not in anger, not in excitement, but awe. Something old and hungry threaded through the air.
Kai paced a small circle, snapping his fingers nervously. "I mean… am I the only one sensing the vibes here? This is like… cosmic horror meets rom-com," he said, voice half-laughing, half-panicked. "I don't… I can't…"
EO stayed frozen, hands clasped together. His wide eyes tracked every subtle motion between the two leaders. "They're… talking without speaking," he murmured. "I can feel it. Like… telepathy or something worse."
Equinox:
Juno's stance was rigid, arms crossed. Protective, alert, and furious. He wanted to step forward, intervene, shield Yul—but even he could feel the weight pressing down. "I don't like this," he muttered. "Not one bit. Something's stirring."
Dara leaned against the ledge, arms folded, eyes sharp. "It's not fear," she said quietly. "It's… recognition. They know each other. And it's not just history—it's… blood."
Rien's notebook was in his lap, but his pen hovered. He didn't write, didn't sketch. He only watched, sensing the ripples of power flowing outward. "They're syncing," he said softly. "It's subtle, but it's real. Like they're… speaking through more than words."
Nox, the maknae, bounced slightly on his heels. "I feel like I should leave," he said, voice trembling. "But I can't. I want to see what happens. I don't understand it… but I want to."
The Shared Silence:
No one moved. None dared. Not toward, not away. Even the wind seemed to hesitate, brushing only against loose coats and hair.
Jiwon and Yul, oblivious to everything but each other, stood less than a meter apart. The faint hum of Yul's aura brushed against Jiwon's skin, and Jiwon's pulse echoed in Yul's chest.
Zayn muttered under his breath again, "This is insane. Absolutely insane."
Min's whisper was softer, almost reverent. "They're not just leaders… they're anchors. And whatever this is… it's alive."
Kai groaned, "I need… caffeine, holy water, a lucky charm… something. I can't handle this much tension."
EO didn't speak. He only blinked once and murmured, "They're… dangerous together."
Juno shifted his weight. Protective, wary, but unwilling to interrupt. Even he could feel that whatever history or magic linked these two men, it wasn't something to break. Not yet.
And somewhere in the silence, Yul's hand twitched, brushing against the edge of his coat, the mark beneath glowing faintly, mirrored by the pulse of energy from Jiwon's wrist.
The rooftop became a stage of quiet, simmering potential—a tableau of recognition, danger, and unspoken desire, watched by ten sets of eyes, each member caught between awe and fear.
No one moved. No one dared.
And for a heartbeat—or a century—the world seemed to hold its breath.