Taekyun stiffened inside Haneul's arms.
Slowly, deliberately, he pulled Haneul away from him.
"Let go,"
his voice dropped low, restrained, dangerous.
Haneul didn't resist.
He simply shifted and sat beside him instead.
Close.
Too close.
Then, without hesitation, Haneul leaned in and rested his head firmly against Taekyun's arm, pressing into him as if that place belonged to him.
His grip tightened slightly, fingers curling into Taekyun's sleeve.
Taekyun's muscles went rigid.
"Haneul,"
his jaw clenched,
"go back."
Haneul didn't move.
"I'm not scared of you,"
He said quietly but the way he said it wasn't soft.
It was daring.
Taekyun turned his head slightly, eyes dark.
"You'll only hurt yourself by doing this."
"I won't,"
Haneul answered immediately.
"Because when I'm next to you
it feels safe."
The words landed hard.
Taekyun's breath stalled.
Slowly,
He pushed Haneul's shoulder, trying to create distance.
"You have to go one day,"
He said coldly.
"This isn't your world.
Don't chase something you can never have."
Haneul lifted his head and looked up at him.
Their eyes met.
Then Haneul lowered his gaze slightly and said, calmly.
"Even if you throw me out, I won't go."
He leaned back into Taekyun's arm.
"I'll stay."
Then, softer but unshaken he said.
"You're my family."
Taekyun's eyes hardened.
"I'm no one's family,"
He snapped.
"And you're not my responsibility.
I'm doing all of this for my daughter."
Haneul looked at him steadily.
"I know,"
He said.
"And I'm doing this for Haru too."
He paused.
"….... And for you."
Their gazes clashed.
Taekyun searched Haneul's eyes, expecting fear, hesitation anything.
There was none.
Only honesty.
Haneul pressed his head more firmly against Taekyun's arm and muttered.
"You can't imagine how stubborn
I am when it comes to something I like."
Taekyun didn't respond.
Because the person sitting beside him didn't feel like the fragile, naive Haneul he once thought he knew.
This one was daring him.
Challenging him.
Willing to be pulled apart just to stay.
Taekyun turned his face away.
"Haneul,"
He said quietly.
"I know you hate me,"
Haneul continued, voice steady.
"But I'm still here because I want to heal you. And Haru."
Taekyun's jaw tightened.
"I don't know what happened in your past,"
Haneul said.
"What made you like this. What hurt Haru."
His fingers clenched slightly.
"But I want to help you."
He looked at Taekyun.
"I told you already. I like you."
The words were simple. Honest.
But heavy
"I want to do everything for you,"
Haneul continued.
"And I don't mind getting hurt by you anymore."
Taekyun inhaled deeply, sharply.
Haneul met his eyes again.
"I came here just looking for my hyung,"
He said.
"I never knew I'd meet you. Or Haru."
His lips curved into a faint smile.
"I never thought I'd fall for you."
Silence filled the room.
"Everything can change,"
Haneul said softly.
"I'm not asking you to love me.
Or like me back,"
He added.
"I just don't want you to push me away."
He leaned closer.
"Since the day I met you, I feel warm. Full."
His voice lowered.
"I'd rather stay here than go back."
Taekyun stared at him.
At his face. His eyes.
How could innocence look this resolute? How could someone so gentle speak with such certainty?
He had always thought Haneul was naive.
But this.....
This was maturity wrapped in softness.
Taekyun stood abruptly.
"Go back and sleep,"
He ordered.
Haneul stood too.
Before Taekyun could move away, Haneul reached out and held his hand.
Taekyun froze.
Haneul's hands were small compared to his
warm, steady.
"Have a peaceful night,"
Haneul said softly.
"I'll work hard from tomorrow."
He smiled.
"I'll help you overcome every trauma.
Every struggle."
Then he let go.
And walked upstairs slowly.
Leaving Taekyun standing alone in the study.
Taekyun's breathing was uneven.
His heart pounded violently.
"How am I supposed to handle this?"
He whispered.
He lifted his hands and pressed them against his head.
Upstairs,
Haneul shut the door quietly and leaned against it.
His heart was racing.
His breathing was fast.
"Did I really do that?"
He whispered to himself.
He walked over and sat beside Haru, who was still sleeping peacefully.
"I dared him,"
He muttered.
"I leaned on him. I hugged him."
His lips curved into a wide smile.
He kicked the blanket lightly in excitement.
"Ahhh"
Lying down, he pulled the blanket up and covered half his face.
"I called him my family,"
He whispered happily.
"I told him everything."
His eyes shone.
"Now he won't be able to push me away anymore."
He closed his eyes.
"Taekyun,"
He murmured softly.
"I won't let anyone take him away from me"
Haneul smiled, heart fluttering wildly, curling into the blanket like a little cat hopelessly in love with its master.