The war was over.
The bodies had been cleared, the blood washed away, but the tension still lingered in the air like smoke from a dying fire. The mansion was eerily quiet, the aftermath of battle leaving a ghostly stillness behind.
Jisung sat on the couch in Minho’s office, wrapped in a thick blanket. His wrists were still sore from the ropes, his body exhausted, but his mind was wide awake.
Minho hadn’t left his side since they returned.
He stood by the window, arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness outside. Even though the enemy was gone, his instincts wouldn’t let him rest.
Jisung sighed. “Minho.”
Minho didn’t turn. “You should sleep.”
Jisung rolled his eyes. “And you should stop brooding.”
Minho finally looked at him, his gaze unreadable. “I’m not brooding.”
Jisung raised an eyebrow. “Right. And I’m a professional fighter.”
Minho let out a breath, shaking his head. “Jisung—”
Jisung stood, stepping closer. “Minho, it’s over. I’m safe.”
Minho’s jaw tightened. “That’s not the point.”
“Then what is?” Jisung pressed, his voice softer now.
Minho exhaled. “I almost lost you.”
Jisung’s breath hitched.
Minho turned fully toward him now, his expression no longer hard, no longer cold—just raw.
“I was ready to burn the whole city down for you,” Minho admitted. “And I would have. If I’d been even a second too late—”
Jisung placed a hand on his chest, feeling the rapid heartbeat beneath his fingertips.
“But you weren’t,” he whispered. “You saved me.”
Minho stared at him, something unspoken swirling in his dark eyes.
Then—
He grabbed Jisung by the waist, pulling him in roughly, their bodies colliding.
Jisung barely had time to gasp before Minho’s lips crashed against his.
---
It was nothing like Jisung expected.
It wasn’t slow, it wasn’t soft.
It was desperate. Hungry. Like Minho had been holding back for too long and couldn’t anymore.
Jisung responded immediately, gripping Minho’s shirt tightly as he kissed back just as fiercely.
Minho’s hands roamed down his back, gripping him like he needed to feel every inch, like he needed to prove to himself that Jisung was real, alive, his.
Jisung let out a soft moan as Minho deepened the kiss, tilting his head to take control. Their tongues clashed, their breaths mingled, and Jisung felt himself melting, drowning in Minho’s touch.
Minho walked him back until Jisung’s back hit the wall, pinning him there, their bodies flush against each other.
Jisung could barely think—could barely breathe.
Minho broke away just enough to press his forehead against Jisung’s.
His voice was low, wrecked.
“I don’t just want to protect you,” Minho admitted. “I want you. All of you.”
Jisung swallowed hard, chest rising and falling rapidly.
“Then take me,” he whispered.
Minho let out a shaky breath, pressing another deep kiss against Jisung’s lips, before pulling away just slightly, his eyes burning with emotion.
“I love you,” Minho murmured.
Jisung’s eyes widened. His heart skipped a beat.
Minho loved him.
Jisung let out a small laugh, breathless, giddy. “Took you long enough to admit it.”
Minho smirked, brushing his thumb against Jisung’s swollen lips.
“Say it back,” he murmured.
Jisung rolled his eyes. “You’re so demanding—”
Minho kissed him again.
Jisung melted against him.
And then, between kisses, he finally whispered—
“I love you too.”
---
Meanwhile, in the main hall of the mansion, Seungmin was pacing.
Jeongin sat on the stairs, watching him with amusement. “You’re going to wear a hole in the floor.”
Seungmin stopped, running a hand through his hair. “I need to tell you something.”
Jeongin raised an eyebrow. “Okay?”
Seungmin hesitated. For the first time in his life, he wasn’t completely composed. He wasn’t calculating his words. He wasn’t planning ahead.
He was just standing here, heart pounding, hoping he wasn’t making a mistake.
Jeongin tilted his head. “Seungmin?”
Seungmin exhaled sharply. “I like you.”
Jeongin blinked.
Seungmin groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “I really like you, Jeongin.”
Silence.
Then—
Jeongin grinned.
“You finally figured it out, huh?”
Seungmin blinked. “Wait, what?”
Jeongin stood, stepping closer. “You think I didn’t notice?”
Seungmin’s mouth opened, then closed. “You… knew?”
Jeongin laughed, shaking his head. “You were so obvious.”
Seungmin scowled. “I was not.”
Jeongin smirked. “You so were.”
Seungmin huffed, looking away. “Whatever.”
Jeongin reached up, gently pulling Seungmin’s chin back toward him. “You’re cute when you’re flustered.”
Seungmin felt his ears turn red. “I’m *not* flustered.”
Jeongin just grinned.
Then, before Seungmin could argue further—
Jeongin kissed him.
Seungmin’s breath caught.
The kiss was soft, playful, teasing—just like Jeongin.
When they finally pulled apart, Jeongin smiled. “I like you too, by the way.”
Seungmin let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “Good.”
Jeongin tilted his head. “So, what now?”
Seungmin smirked.
“Now,” he said, pulling Jeongin in again, “I shut you up.”
Jeongin barely had time to laugh before Seungmin kissed him again.
---
Upstairs, Minho and Jisung lay tangled in each other, the room still warm from their shared confessions.
Jisung traced circles on Minho’s chest, his head resting against him.
Minho sighed contently, running his fingers through Jisung’s hair.
For the first time in a long time…
Everything felt right.
Jisung closed his eyes, listening to Minho’s heartbeat.
They had been through hell.
But somehow, fate had always brought them back to each other.
Minho pressed a soft kiss to Jisung’s forehead.
And Jisung smiled.
Because no matter what happened next—
They were bound by fate.
And nothing would ever change that.
