<Hoshi's apartment>

Woozi sat beside the older who was blankly staring at the floor. He kept a hand on his arm, "Soonyoung."

"I'm sorry." Hoshi muttered out, "I'm really sorry."

"What happened?" Woozi frowned.

"I can now understand why Seungcheol hyung used to keep away from having someone close to him, someone special." Hoshi chuckled bitterly, "For the first time in my life, I'm scared, Woozi."

"Why are you scared?" Woozi gently caressed his arm.

Hoshi looked at him, "Because you're a possible target of them. You're in trouble. And all of that happened because of me."

"Hey-" Woozi gently called, "It's not your fault. Plus, you're doing your best to keep me safe."

"Doing best doesn't equal to no threat." Hoshi scoffed, "I clearly made your peaceful life a mess. I'm extremely sorry for it."

"Soonyoung, stop it." Woozi scrunched his brows, "Did I ever say anything like that to you?"

"But I feel responsible for it." Hoshi sighed, "I'm the reason you're in this mess."

"Soonyoung, it's enough." Woozi assured, "Please don't say things like that."

"But it's true." Hoshi protested, "I put you in trouble, in-"

Hoshi was intervened as Woozi pressed their lips together softly, for a brief moment.

"I trust you." Woozi muttered as he parted away, "I really do."

"You shouldn't." Hoshi muttered, feeling utterly dejected on himself.

Woozi embraced the older, patting his back tenderly, "Don't think too much, Soonyoung."

Hoshi encircled his arm around the younger's waist, pulling him closer as he nuzzled his face into the crook of his neck, "I can't help it."

"If you focus on other things in my presence, I'll be upset." Woozi muttered.

Hoshi chuckled, all of his worries washing away, "A threat?"

"Yeah, a threat." Woozi nodded, "A serious one."

"A serious one, okay." Hoshi pulled back slightly, "And what will you do if I don't focus on you."

"Force you to do so." Woozi laughed slightly.

"You can?" Hoshi looked at his lips for a brief moment, "How exactly?"

"Kwon Soonyoung." Woozi inched closer to his lips as he whispered, "Don't expect too much, okay?"

"I ain't promising." Hoshi mumbled, "With you this close, I can't help but expect too much."

Woozi pressed his index finger on the older's lips, caressing leisurely, "Then, it's your loss."

"Loss?" Hoshi grinned, "Somehow it won't be a loss for me, I just know."

"Good night." Woozi whispered as he stood up.

"Very funny." Hoshi gripped his wrist, "Where do you think you're going?"

"To my room?" Woozi chuckled.

Hoshi pulled him closer, "And what's wrong in staying here a bit longer?"

"You want me to stay?" Woozi asked.

Hoshi grinned, taking the younger to the balcony under the night sky studded with stars.

Hoshi snaked his arms around Woozi's waist from the back, resting his chin on the younger's shoulder, "Let's spend some time together."

"You won't give my any space, will you?" Woozi joked.

"Isn't this better?" Hoshi chuckled.

"Hmm it is." Woozi scoffed, feeling the older's presence so close to himself.

"Admit it." Hoshi pressed a kiss on his neck, "You enjoy it as much as I do."

"For that, I need to know how much do you enjoy it?" Woozi grinned.

"Having you in my arms? Feeling you so close to myself? Inhaling your scent like my life depends on it?" Hoshi tightened his grip, "I enjoy it more than you can imagine."

Woozi closed his eyes, melting into the moment, "You make my mind malfunction, really."

"Thanks for the compliment." Hoshi's lips grazed over the younger's nape.

Woozi slightly turned his face to look back, "It's a stupid question I'm asking, but, do you like me, Soonyoung?"

"You really need to ask that?" Hoshi met the younger's gaze, "Of course I do. I like you more than I should."

Woozi turned around while remaining in his embrace which clutching his shirt, "It makes me wonder sometimes. It's not just a liking. Maybe, more than that?"

"Maybe it is." Hoshi wrapped his arms around the younger, "It's hard to define but I definitely want you, more than just a liking."

Woozi smiled slightly, "More than just a liking." He repeated.

"It's deeper than that." Hoshi whispered, "You've consumed me, totally."

Woozi slowly rested his face against the older's chest, "I like the sound of your heartbeat."

"I bet it's racing right now." Hoshi muttered.

Woozi placed his palm on his heart, "Calm down."

"One day." Hoshi whispered, "I'll lose all my self control, Woozi. Then you'll see, how much I want you, really."

Woozi chuckled, "Maybe, you'll get to see that too."

<Rose Quartz>

"Argh you're so annoying." Jeonghan whined while standing amidst the empty space of the home gym.

"Shut up." Seungcheol rebuked, "I can't believe you know just a little about self defence even after knowing a dagger."

"It's not that." Jeonghan rolled his eyes, "I'm just not in the mood."

"Oh right." Seungcheol chuckled sarcastically, "Enemies will come to you and interview you if you're in the mood to fight right now and if you aren't, they'll give you time to prepare, right?"

"I hate you so much." Jeonghan protested.

"Do hate me." Seungcheol glared, "But you're going to spend one hour everyday with me for this practise."

"I know how to fight." Jeonghan whined.

"You know it but you don't know how to apply it." Seungcheol stated, "So shut up and listen to me."

"You shut up." Jeonghan retorted, "I know how to defend myself, I can do it."

"Can you?" Seungcheol raised a brow, "Seventeen minutes. Land a single attack on me and you're free from these classes."

Jeonghan gasped in surprise, "Promise?"

"Promise." Seungcheol nodded, "But if you fail to do so, you're going to listen to me, got it?"

"I'm almost free." Jeonghan chuckled.

"First drawback darling." Seungcheol pointed out, "Overconfidence."

Jeonghan abruptly threw a punch but Seungcheol dodged it, "Nice attempt to cheat but nevermind."

Jeonghan frowned, picking up a high kick but the older escaped again, "It was a great move."

Punch. Dodge.

Kick. Dodge.

Back to back punches and kicks. Dodge.

As Jeonghan aimed another fist, Seungcheol gripped his wrist, pulling him towards himself caging him from the back, "One minute left baby, how about one last chance?"

"What chance?" Jeonghan immediately asked.

"Escape my grip in a minute and you're free." Seungcheol chuckled.

Jeonghan wriggled his wrist, using his other hand and legs to make the game as unfair as he could.

"Aww trying so hard." Seungcheol teased, "30 seconds left darling, good luck."

Jeonghan used more force but the older's grip on his wrist only tightened, "Ughh!"

"15 seconds left." Seungcheol muttered, "Not good for you."

Jeonghan becane reckless, using all his fair as well as unfair tricks to escape but failed.

"Over." Seungcheol chuckled, "Alright, so how much self defence do you know baby?"

Jeonghan looked away, clenching his jaw.

"Stop throwing those tantrums Jeonghan, I'm very strict when it comes to your safety." Seungcheol held his chin gently, "And I don't care if you get upset from me over this."

Jeonghan frowned, "But I know the dagger, what's the point?"

"And what if you accidentally lose it?" Seungcheol asked, "Listen to me Jeonghan, you'll either be learning these fights or will be locked up in a room for your safety. What will you chose?"

Jeonghan scrunched his brows, "Are you really trying to order me around?"

"I don't care how you interpret it." Seungcheol stared at him, "But you're learning this, and that's final. No ifs an buts."

"I-"

"Quiet."

"Seungcheol-"

"Can you please, for once, prioritise your well being?!" Seungcheol scoffed, "Jeonghan listen to me very carefully, a dagger is not something you can rely on.

I'm also not someone you can rely on. Of course I won't leave you in any case but situations can turn anytime without your expectations.

We should he prepared for the worst case scenarios. It's good if you don't get to use these lessons but it would he great if you know these when something goes wrong."

Jeonghan sighed, understanding the older, "Alright."

"No more attitude?" Seungcheol raised a brow.

"That, I can't promise." Jeonghan chucked mischievously, "But yeah, I'm taking your lessons."

"Finally, at least. " Seungcheol exhaled a deep breath, "I won't bother you a lot today but from tomorrow, he prepared, okay?"

"Okay." Jeonghan nodded.

"Good." Seungcheol caressed his arm, "Because I'm not going easy on you over this. You're going to be thrown on your back more times than you can count."

"Yeah of course." Jeonghan crossed his arms across his chest, "And then you'll be the one to make up for it as well."

"Fair enough." Seungcheol chuckled, "Now, stand straight, we'll start with little stretching."

Jeonghan nodded as both the males stood face to face.

The training began, Jeonghan following whatever Seungcheol was depecting as they completed a few basic stretching exercises.

"Now today, we won't do much. Just some punches, kicks and back kicks." Seungcheol went to bring focus mitts and kicking paddles.

"Punches, 100, in two sets of 50 each." Seungcheol displayed the focus mitts.

"100?! Are you crazy?" Jeonghan gasped.

"The more you'll talk, the more you'll be wasting time." Seungcheol stated, "C'mon quick, 50 for first set."

"Why am I stuck with you?!" Jeonghan cried out, getting ready to accept his fate.

He started off, landing punched uninterestingly.

"Keep going like this and I won't count even a single one of it." Seungcheol stated.

"If I punch your face then do remember that it won't he accidental." Jeonghan muttered.

"My pleasure, now stop talking." Seungcheol chuckled sarcastically.

Their practise went by until Jeonghan was utterly worn out. He trudged to the living room followed by Seungcheol.

"Here." Seungcheol handed him some water after a little while.

"Wow you suddenly care?" Jeonghan mumbled slowly.

"I care that's why I'm making you do these sessions against your will." Seungcheol sat beside him, "It's okay, you'll start enjoying it after a week or so."

Jeonghan rested his head on the older's shoulder as he sighed, "Why are you always right in wrong ways?"

"I don't know." Seungcheol caressed the younger's hair tenderly, "Please keep up these sessions, okay?"

"Hmm." Jeonghan nodded, "Thanks, though. I know I was being tough but bare with it."

Seungcheol laughed subtly, "I'm not even surprised anymore."

"I don't know if it's a good thing or bad one." Jeonghan grinned lazily."

"Doesn't matter." Seungcheol chuckled, "I can handle it just fine."

"Hmm means I need to find new ways to annoy you." Jeonghan mumbled.

"You can try." Seungcheol caressed his back, "But I'm pretty sure I can handle it all."

"Don't try to challenge me." Jeonghan fidgeted with the older's fingers, "You know who I am, right?"

"I'm very well aware." Seungcheol laughed, "Stubborn, feisty and extremely reckless."

"Stop bitching about me and better give me a shoulder massage." Jeonghan sat up straight.

"Okay, a little reward, you deserve." Seungcheol sat behind the younger, bringing his hands on his shoulder to rub them gently.

Jeonghan closed his eyes, melting into the touch, "You got some skills, darling."

"Definitely." Seungcheol inched closer to his ear, "There are a few more skills that I excel in."

"For example?" Jeonghan chuckled.

"Well, they are all practical ones." Seungcheol shrugged, pressing the younger's shoulders gently.

"You're being so cheeky these days." Jeonghan joked.

"That's new for me too though." Seungcheol smiled, "Never knew I could be like this."

"You thought you'll never develop feelings for someone?" Jeonghan turned around, "You don't consider yourself a human?"

"Not only me, my whole group." Seungcheol sighed, "After that one incident, we became so reckless, like some machines who only knew violence and power."

"What incident?" Jeonghan asked.

"The incident that got us into all this." Seungcheol scoffed, "You know how close I am with Jun, Hoshi, Seokmin, Mingyu, Vernon and Dino, right?"

"Yeah."

"We had one more friend in our squad." Seungcheol stated, "But he accidentally saw some confidential activities and was killed.

We were young back then, reckless and stupid. All we could see was a revenge for our best friend.

And with that everything started and we succeeded but what we didn't know was that there was no way out of all this.

A vicious cycle, it is. You harm someone, their well wishers harm you, there's a war and it simply goes on and on.

We had two choices. To either end up like our friend or make our own place. So, here we are.

And since then, we're just some power driven people, ready to do anything to maintain our place.

I know it's not justified and I know this is not a very good thing. But now this who I am and I can't possibly go back."

Jeonghan stared at the older, listening to him intently.

"One wrong step brought us here, Jeonghan." Seungcheol held his cheeks, "That's why I want you to stay out of it.

Until Hyeseok is not gone, there's no way I can keep you away from this situation but after that, I promise, you won't have to deal with any of it."

Jeonghan embraced the older, "Don't think too much, we'll be fine."

"Of course." Seungcheol chuckled.

A/n : Late update and probably typos as well, and I'm here with the same excuse lmao.

Anyways take care everyone!
-Jeonghanneyonghaseyo