Time: 12:04 AM
Location: Equinox Penthouse
The elevator doors slid open with a muted ding. Jiwon and Yul stepped inside, their hands brushing as if even the smallest contact meant something monumental. Neither spoke at first—the silence was heavy, filled with everything unspoken from the studio.
Jiwon's jaw was tense, his body rigid as though he were still fighting the echo of that manipulator's voice. But when his gaze flickered sideways, catching Yul's profile under the soft golden glow of the elevator lights, his body softened.
"You're still thinking about him," Jiwon murmured.
Yul's lips parted, but he didn't answer. Instead, he leaned closer until his shoulder brushed against Jiwon's. His voice was low, uncertain, trembling in a way Jiwon rarely heard.
"I'm thinking about you."
The words hit Jiwon harder than any blade, more piercing than any lie whispered earlier. His chest rose sharply, his hand twitching at his side before finally moving—slow, deliberate—to rest against Yul's hand. Their fingers threaded together in a grip that was both grounding and electric.
The elevator doors slid open into the private penthouse. Cool night air wafted in through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, carrying the scent of rain still lingering from earlier. Seoul's skyline glittered like scattered diamonds, the Monarch tower dominating the horizon.
Yul dropped his bag carelessly by the sofa, but Jiwon didn't let go of his hand. He tugged him gently toward the hallway, toward the bedrooms that only Equinox ever stepped foot in. His voice dropped, softer, deeper, almost a growl.
"Where's your room?"
Yul froze for a second, his golden eyes flickering with both nervousness and desire. "Why?"
Jiwon leaned in, close enough that Yul could feel the heat of his breath against his ear. "Because I don't want to lose you to shadows tonight. I want you where I can hold you."
Yul's breath hitched. He turned, finally guiding Jiwon down the hall. His room was dim, lit only by the faint glow of the city through tall windows. The bed sat low, sheets dark and inviting, and instruments were scattered in the corner—signs of sleepless nights filled with music and demons he couldn't shake.
The door clicked shut behind them.
For a moment, neither moved. They stood there, breaths uneven, hearts pounding. Then Yul stepped forward and pressed his forehead against Jiwon's chest, his hands gripping the fabric of Jiwon's shirt tightly, almost desperately.
"I don't want to be controlled," Yul whispered. "Not by him… not by anyone. But you—you're different. When you touch me, I don't feel chained. I feel…"
Jiwon tilted Yul's chin upward, forcing his golden eyes to meet his own. "Free," he finished softly. "That's what you're trying to say."
Yul nodded, lips parting slightly, vulnerable in a way that no one else ever saw.
Jiwon bent his head, finally closing the distance. Their lips met—slow at first, almost testing. The kiss deepened quickly, hunger breaking through hesitation. Yul clung to him, his hands sliding up into Jiwon's hair, tugging as if to anchor himself. Jiwon groaned low in his throat, one hand pressing against the small of Yul's back, pulling him flush against his body.
Heat surged between them, every point of contact igniting sparks. Jiwon's other hand cupped Yul's jaw, his thumb brushing his cheekbone as though he were afraid Yul would vanish if he let go.
When they finally broke apart, breathless, their foreheads stayed pressed together. Yul's voice was husky, trembling.
"Stay with me tonight."
Jiwon's response came instantly, firm and unwavering. "Always."
He pushed Yul gently backward until the back of his knees hit the bed. Yul sank down onto the edge, staring up at Jiwon with wide, glowing eyes—half hunger, half fear of how badly he wanted this. Jiwon knelt slightly, his hand sliding up Yul's thigh, fingers tracing slow circles through the fabric, teasing, deliberate.
"Tell me if it's too much," Jiwon murmured.
Yul's response was to grab the front of Jiwon's shirt and yank him closer, lips crashing into his again. There was no hesitation this time—only fire, only need.
The city glittered behind them, the world moving on outside. But in that room, in that moment, it was just them—two souls colliding in the quiet storm of desire, intimacy, and unspoken promises.